P. Austin Heaton: February 2020

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.