This February, I began volunteering at the Lakeport library. It seemed a good way to give something back as a lifetime user of libraries.
If I”d wanted confirmation that libraries continue to be vital hubs of information, I needed to look no further than the list of requested items that I was given to pull from shelves. The two-page list attested to ongoing use throughout our network of libraries in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties.
Similar lists are being generated at least three times a day ? and not just at the Lakeport library. As the Sonoma County Library explained in its January 2010 newsletter, “Every day except Sundays, staff members at each of the county”s 13 libraries scour their shelves for books and materials listed on their respective ?pull lists.” The titles are placed on carts and held for the next day”s pick-up.”
The process begins when a cardholder requests a title through the library catalog, which is accessible online from www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library.htm. On-site terminals also provide access to the library catalog.
Once pulled from shelves, requested items are delivered to library branches throughout our three-county network. Requested items are checked in and shelved, awaiting pick-up by the user who requested them.
The Sonoma County Library, which hosts our shared catalog, calculated that library cardholders placed more than 800,000 holds during fiscal year 2009.
How exciting to be part of the process of connecting library cardholders with the items they want and need: books, audio books, CDs and DVDs. It seems only fair, somehow, since I”ve generated plenty of hold requests myself. My husband jokes that one day I might pull my own hold request.
And by talking about holds placed through the catalog, I don”t want to downplay in-person visits to the library. While I worked, I also observed plenty of people making use of the Lakeport library: browsing among books, magazines and newspapers or using library computers to obtain access to the Internet.
Talk about bridging the digital divide: when I was going to Sonoma State University and widespread use of the Internet was beginning to emerge throughout society, I relied upon school and public library computers to obtain access to the Internet. I didn”t own the tools that I knew would be vital in our changing society and the library filled that void for me.
Today, our Lake County Library provides free Internet access on public computers at all of its branches. Usage is subject to time limits and sign-ups; contact each library for more information.
Lakeport and Redbud libraries also have free wireless Internet connections.
So really, it isn”t a question of whether or not libraries are vital today; instead, it”s a question of how they provide so much benefit when constantly underfunded.
The Lake County Library receives the majority of its funding, 75 percent, from property taxes. Falling property values and rising foreclosures have impacted money available for libraries.
Among the remainder of library funding, 21 percent comes from California”s public library fund and transaction-based reimbursement and 4 percent from fines and fees. Friends of the Lake County Library and Friends of the Middletown Library donate money to supplement the budget.
For information about how you can help support our Lake County public libraries, look for Friends of the Library information at your nearest branch or visit Friends of the Library online: www.co.lake.ca.us/Residents/Disclaimer/ResourceDirectory/Organizations/Friends_of_the_Lake_County_Library.htm.
Cynthia Parkhill is the focus pages editor for the record-Bee and editor of the Clear Lake Observer?American. She can be contacted at ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or 263-5636 ext. 39.
