Library Planning

In the following study, a medium-sized public library in Palm Springs, California, will be examined. Palm Springs Public Library has served a growing community in its present location for approximately thirty years. The present facility was just expanded and renovated, thanks to a wealthy patron's grant. The library houses administrative and technical processing services, and exists as an independent city library, i.e., it is not part of a larger county-wide system. The library houses at least 300,000 books, 8,000 videocassettes, 800 audiocassettes, 800 audio CD titles, 200 magazines, 10 IBM-based patron access search stations, 10 computers (with Windows 95) for patron use, and numerous networked CD-ROM disks available to patrons from a main menu. The library's catalog is also available at home, via modem. This is a tremendous time-saver, because one can choose materials before arriving at the library.

Computers, software, and audiovisual materials are expensive, and P.S.P.L.'s provision of these services to its users is essential if the library is to truly represent the community. It c

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alm Springs High School, and the library has a large young adult audience. Most of the high school students do not congregate in the library's children's/YA Department, however; instead, they use the tables out on the main floor. One could expect that the same students select young adult materials from their high school library without feeling the stigma attached to checking out a "youth book." In planning libraries, it is important that young adult books be located outside the "youth services" room for the above reason. P.S.P.L. is very popular with both retirees and young working families. The audiovisual collection--specifically the videocassette--has helped to bring these two segments of the population together. Whereas the number of readers in the general population seems to be declining, the interest in items such as videocassettes and books-on-tape is on the increase. Young families find that they can check out videocassettes as a no-cost alternative to entertaining the whole family. Retirees love the classic movies which the library can acquire at very little cost, as well as the documentaries and instructional videos. Parents who wish to encourage their children to become active users of the library are prese
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1578
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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