Finding space at Lawrence's library

Posted by Chad Lawhorn August 27, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.

Think of it as a death match between Dan Brown and Leo Tolstoy. Yes, I know Tolstoy is dead, and some would argue Dan Brown - judged by his plots - never was really a part of reality. But hey, this blog has a literary element (not to be confused with a literary quality) to it today, so we can talk in figurative terms. Let's scour the shelves of the Lawrence Public Library. That's what leaders at the library are doing these days. [As we reported back in May,][1] the library is considering reducing its collection size from about 260,000 items to about 220,000 items. The reduction is an effort to free up more space for public computers, meeting rooms and reading space. So, who should go and who should stay? I'm hoping to soon get an update from library leaders on how the process is going, but what do you think? Are there some so-called "classics" that aren't worth the paper they're written on? Do we really need a magazine with the headache-inducing title Current History? Should a public institution really subject people to Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace?In all seriousness, what do you want to see in a reorganized Lawrence Public Library and what don't you want to see? As for fans of Tolstoy and Dan Brown, don't worry. Both are likely to come out unscathed. Popularity and literary merit are both likely to be factors in deciding what stays and what goes. Yes, I could take another cheap shot at Dan Brown here, but already I feel guilty. There's no doubt I would trade places - or even just paychecks - with the da Vinci dandy. As for Tolstoy, well, he's still dead. [1]: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/may...

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Solomon 4 years, 8 months ago

I'm in the library once or twice a week, and there doesn't seem to me to be a need for additional space. The meeting room just as you walk in the door is hardly ever in use, in my experience. It seems that about once a week they have a children's reading, and one other time I seem to see a bunch of ladies meeting--hardly the demand for additional space. They have gotten rid of the genealogical materia in the OSAMA room, so that space is available.They need to have a faster turn-over of books and of movies. I would suggest that popular books, which might have as many as 4 or 5 copies, be pared, after a time, to 3 then to 1, then be taken off the shelves.I don't know if their computer software allows for compilation of usage data, but if not, it should. Analyze usage and pare down or get rid of material that isn't used.

danah 4 years, 8 months ago

Hello community readers,FYI- by the drinking fountain in the library foyer near the auditorium is a weekly schedule of events using the Auditorium and Gallery for the coming week. This week alone, there are 10 Library storytime/youth activity sessions scheduled, and 6 community programs. The Gallery is also hosting 9 community groups. This accounts for a 7 day period. The slots for times are often scheduled months in advance, and most would consider this week to be "regular use".During the summer, there were even more Library youth programs, we offered 14 story times/clubs or activities, 2-3 special programs and 3 Young Adult programs, EVERY WEEK during June and July. During July, the Children's Department had almost 4000 people attend programs. We had 2500+ Summer Library Program finishers.Groups call daily and are disappointed that their desired date or time is already booked, we could easily use two more meeting rooms every day for community groups. Setting up meeting space in the OSMA room for adult groups is a fine idea, but children's programming cannot take place there, I'm sure you can imagine why.

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