San Diego County Library

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This library serves the county of San Diego. For the library serving the city, see San Diego Public Library.
San Diego County Library
Branches 33 [1]
Access and use
Circulation 6.6 million [2]
Population served 1,005,838 [2]
Members 641,276 [2]
Other information
Director Jose Aponte [3]
Staff 327 [4]
Website http://www.sdcl.org

The San Diego County Library is a public library system serving San Diego County in the U.S. state of California. Any person living in the state is eligible for a free library card. During the 2007 - 2008 fiscal year, the library circulated over 6.6 million materials and had over 641,276 members. [2]

Contents

[edit] Services

[edit] Circulation

The San Diego County Library circulates a variety of materials, including books, DVDs, compact discs, downloadable audiobooks, video games and magazines. The library carries materials in a variety of languages.

In 2007, the San Diego County Library joined The San Diego Circuit, a consortium of libraries that includes San Diego State University, UC San Diego, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego. Library cardholders with any Circuit library may request books to be transferred to their local library at no charge.[5]

The library is utilizing technology to improve customer service. Customers are able to browse the catalog via the Internet, enabling them to request items, and view their account.[6] Some branches of the library have express checkout machines that allow customers to check their items out themselves.[7]

Some customers may qualify for the library's award-winning Books-by-Mail program.[8]

[edit] Public Computer Services

Each branch library offers free computer use, including internet access and word processing. All branches offer Wi-Fi internet access. The library subscribes to a number of subscription online resources (e.g. Morningstar, ReferenceUSA, OverDrive downloadable audiobooks) that customers may access from home.[9]

[edit] Events

The San Diego County Library provides a wide range of programming for customers of all ages. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the library system hosted 13,858 programs.[2] The library often hosts performers, such as musicians, magicians, dancers, and puppeteers. Other events include book discussions, film screenings, and craft instruction. The San Diego County Library publishes a comprehensive print calendar detailing events at every branch library, as well as a web-based calendar, located on the library’s web site.

[edit] Literacy Center

L.E.A.R.N. (Libraries Empower All to Read Now)[10] is the San Diego County Library's adult literacy program. L.E.A.R.N offers tutoring in basic reading, writing and math skills, as well as tutoring in standardized tests, such as the GED and the ASVAB. L.E.A.R.N. also provides services for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.

[edit] Branches

The San Diego County Library is composed of 33 branches,[1] located in:

There are also 2 mobile libraries, which serve the east and north parts of San Diego county.

Anyone possessing a library card can borrow and return books at any branch. In addition, materials may be transferred between these branches for pickup by customers, at no charge.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "San Diego County Library "All Locations" Page". http://www.sdcl.org/locations_ALL-BRANCHES.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "San Diego County Library “About Us” Page". http://www.sdcl.org/aboutus.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  3. ^ "San Diego County Library "Director Biography" Page". http://www.sdcl.org/directorbio.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  4. ^ "California Library Statistics 2008 (2006 - 2007 fiscal year) (PDF)". http://www.library.ca.gov/lds/docs/StatsPub08.pdf. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  5. ^ "What is the San Diego Circuit?". http://circuit.sdsu.edu/screens/libinfoWhatSDC.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  6. ^ "San Diego County Library Catalog". http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/opacmenu.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  7. ^ Helen Gao. "Self-serve checkouts get good reviews". http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/27/1m27library234218-self-serve-checkouts-get-good-re/. Retrieved on June 5 2009. 
  8. ^ "San Diego County Library "Books by Mail" Page". http://www.sdcl.org/booksbymail.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  9. ^ "San Diego County Library "Databases" Page". http://www.sdcl.org/refdb2.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 
  10. ^ "San Diego County Library "Adult Literacy" Page". http://www.sdcl.org/Literacy_Main.html. Retrieved on December 23 2008. 

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_County_Library"
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