DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY STANDARDS FOR SERVICE
In 1997, the Library Board adopted this Mission for the Durham County Public Library:
The Durham County Public Library is dedicated above all to a standard of excellence in offering books,
information and other traditional and innovative library services to the residents of Durham
County through its network of libraries that are conveniently located and easy to use. The library
will provide residents with highly professional and cost effective service that will help its users continue
learning, enjoy reading, and enhance the quality of their lives.
Committed to developing and maintaining a standard of excellence, the Library Board defines in this
document a basic level of service to be offered for all Durham residents at all library locations.
These planning and evaluation guidelines are considered to be supplementary to established state and
national guidelines for public library service.
The standards were drafted by committees comprised of a cross section of Durham County Library staff and
submitted to the Library Board for review and adoption. The Library Board conducted a thorough review and,
following numerous revisions, adopted the standards on October 19, 1998.
DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY'S FACILITIES AND SERVICES SHALL BE:
Accessible
- Access to library collections and services shall be free to residents of Durham
County. Fines and other charges are established with due consideration
given to their impact on access.
- Easily accessible and visible, facilities shall be located on or near well-traveled
thoroughfares, and preferably convenient to public transportation.
- All Durham County residents shall be within a 15 minute drive of a Library
facility.
- Each facility shall be easily identified from the street, well maintained, and
invite users with well-designed signs.
Functional
- Library facilities shall be designed and equipped to accommodate the planned program
of service for the facility, and shall comply with applicable provisions
of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other relevant statutes, codes
and ordinances.
- Sufficient space shall be allotted for collection display, public seating, planned
equipment and technology, staff work and training areas, storage, and meeting
and program areas.
- Well-maintained and functioning equipment shall be available for public and staff use.
Responsive
- The Library shall have a written long-range plan that clearly describes the
purpose of the library, its role in the community, and its vision for the
future.
- The Library actively solicits and responds to citizens' suggestions for service
improvements and enhancements.
Convenient
- Library services shall be offered on a regular and consistent schedule, which includes
morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend hours.
- All services of a Library facility shall be available when it is open.
- Telephone reference service shall be available all hours the Library is open.
Connected
- Durham residents may obtain at any Durham County Library facility materials available
through intralibrary and interlibrary loan, as well as networked electronic information.
- Public access to the Internet shall be made available at all facilities.
COLLECTIONS AT THE DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY SHALL BE:
Planned
- The Main Library collection shall be comprehensive and developed to support
all parts of the library system. In addition to print resources, high quality
materials shall be provided in a variety of audio-visual and electronic
formats. The Main Library provides a core collection of large print materials,
which rotates among the branches. It connects visually and physically disabled
residents with the services of the Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped in Raleigh.
- Small and full service branches shall have basic reference collections, resources
to support elementary and middle school homework assignments, a selection
of popular materials, and access to periodical indexes and full-text data
bases via the network.
Current
- At least 15% of the Library's budget shall be allocated to collections. Allocations
of this budget shall be made according to requirements of collection development
plans.
- Materials shall be selected according to the Materials Selection Policy adopted by
the Library Board.
Available
- When Durham County residents use the Library, they shall find the materials
they seek.
THE PUBLIC PRESENCE OF THE DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY SHALL INCLUDE:
Community Service
- The Library shall be an active participant in community and inter-library planning
efforts to enrich educational, economic, cultural, and social opportunities.
- Meeting rooms shall be made available at the Main Library and at Full Service branches,
according to clearly defined policies.
- Public typewriters, computers, printers, copiers, and telephones shall be located
at the Main Library and full services branches.
Promotion
- A marketing plan shall be developed and implemented to ensure awareness of library
services among all constituent populations.
- Mobile and outreach services and programs shall address the needs of individuals
and groups who are unable to utilize services offered in library facilities,
shall expand the library's visibility in the community, and shall promote
reading, literacy, and equitable access to information.
- Programs shall be planned to meet the needs and interests of adults, young adults,
and children, and shall reflect Library service priorities and objectives.
- Programs specific to the needs of children and their caregivers shall be provided
in all facilities on a regularly scheduled basis. These include lapsit,
toddler, and preschool programs; programs for children in grades K-3 and
programs for children in grades 3-6.
Staff Service
- Durham County Library staff shall provide timely, accurate, and helpful service.
- Staff trained in advising adults and youth in their choice of reading, in responding
to basic informational and reference questions, and in use of library resources
shall be available at all service locations all hours the libraries are
open.
- Professionally trained librarians shall be available all hours the Main Library is open.
They shall provide a full range of children's services and assist customers
with a variety of specialized information and reference requests (e.g.
school and research assignments; business and investments; local, state,
and federal government information; local and state history; education,
jobs, and careers; and local community resources and services.)
- Full service libraries shall have at least three distinct staffed service areas:
circulation, reference and children's services. Professionally trained
librarians are available to provide children's and reference services all
hours the library is open.
- Professionally trained librarians shall be assigned to outreach services according to
the program of service.
SUMMARY CHART
|
Main Library |
Full Service Branch* |
Small Library** |
Mobile & Outreach Service*** |
| Service Area |
Entire County |
>20,000 population within 5 mile radius |
>10,000 population within 5 mile radius |
Communities outside service areas, special populations, outreach to groups w/o transportation |
| Location |
Central |
Main thoroughfare |
Main thoroughfare |
Bookmobile, satellite and neighborhood centers |
| Access to public transportation |
Essential |
Desirable |
Desirable |
N/A |
| Weekly Hours of operation |
65 hours Plus Sunday |
60 hours |
35 hours |
8 hours (outreach stations) |
| Collection size |
Comprehensive |
40.000+ books |
10,000+ books |
Bookmobile: 10,000; others vary |
| Non-print |
Comprehensive |
Books on tape |
Books on tape |
Varies |
| Periodicals |
Comprehensive |
100 |
30 |
Varies |
| Nature of collection |
Resource for entire system |
Basic, tailored to service area |
Basic, tailored to service area |
Tailored to service population |
| Reference services |
Comprehensive and specialized |
Basic reference |
Basic reference |
Minimal |
| Internet access |
Staff and public |
Staff and public |
Staff and public |
Varies |
| Adult services |
Comprehensive |
Basic |
Minimal |
Tailored to the service area |
| Children's services |
Comprehensive |
Basic, tailored to the area |
Basic, tailored to the area |
Tailored to the service area |
- * Stanford L. Warren, Southwest, Parkwood, North Durham
- ** Bragtown
- *** Bookmobile, OASIS, McDougald Terrace, Salvation Army
Last update: Aug. 24, 2007
