Are libraries going the way of the dodo, or are they still relevant for readers and writers? I recently interviewed
Kristopher Jorgensen, a librarian/branch manager for the San Diego County
Library system. Here is his answer to that same question…and others.
1. Can local libraries still help and support their local
authors? Are primary sources available for research in the county system?
As
libraries, we can offer a space to work. Most writers do some research to use
in their writings, and we also have research materials that can be used. As a
public library, we don’t necessarily have a lot of primary sources with the
exception of some local materials. Another way we can support authors is to add
local authors’ books to the collection and organize author events to give
people a chance to talk about their work. Here in Fallbrook, we’ve offered a
writers’ conference the last 2 years to give people an opportunity to attend
lectures/classes and meet authors, agents, and editors.
2. Are ebook requests increasing or slowing down?
Demand for
ebooks is definitely still growing. We’ve been seeing 20-30% increases year
over year, and we’re dedicating more of the budget to these resources.
Circulation of ebooks is currently about 17% of our total circulation.
3.
In 2019, what
genres were most often checked out of the library system? What genre has peaked
and what is rising?
Mystery and
thrillers are the most popular genre with authors such as James Patterson,
Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, and Louise Penny being most popular. An area
of growth for ebooks has been the romance genre.
4. How does the library decide what books to purchase and put on their
shelves?
Our library system does the purchasing centrally. There's a team of people at our headquarters that keep abreast of the publishing world and work with distributors to keep new materials coming in. There are budget constraints
and other considerations, but the focus at SDCL is on popular materials.
5. What does the
future look like for local libraries? I notice that libraries sponsor events (musical, art displays, meditation groups, knitting & crafting groups, speakers, etc.) more and more. Do you think Google and social media are making libraries
redundant?
A couple of
years ago an opinion column was published in Forbes saying that libraries are
dead. People responded on social media en masse to tell their library stories
and push back against the author. They received so much feedback that they ended
up pulling the story. Libraries are local institutions that
consistently poll very high according to Pew Research. The people love their public
libraries. Here at SDCL, there has been a strong focus on developing events and
programs for the community’s benefit. This has made the libraries important
community hubs for people of all ages. The internet has changed what libraries
do as we aren’t asked as often for in-depth reference questions, but libraries
are not going anywhere. Sociologist Eric Klinenberg does a good job of seeing
what libraries contribute to the social infrastructure in his book “Palaces for
the People.” What we have seen is a need for information literacy as people
navigate a changing information landscape.
6.
Your top five favorite books?
How about
top 5 writers: Arundhati Roy, Naomi Klein, Luis Alberto Urrea, Kim Stanley
Robinson, Rebecca Solnit.
7.
Are you writing, or have you
written a book? If so, tell us a little about it.
I’ve never
written a book. Occasionally, I’ll have an idea for a story, but I don’t
currently have much time to dedicate to writing. Hopefully, in the future, I’ll
be able to spend more time on this.
I hope Kris’s answers have given you
some insight into today's libraries. They are still a valuable resource for the writer. Next time
you visit your local library, stop and say “Thank you.” Libraries contribute greatly
to your community.
Note: All photos from "pixels.com"
*
* *
Like my blog? Please click on the "follow by email" icon
to receive a notification when the next blog is posted.
See you next month.
* * *
Other
places to find me:
A man’s body washes up on a beach. He’s
identified as a man wanted for murder and thought to have drowned at sea twenty
years ago. Did he run away to start a new life, or was he searching for
the true killer? 
