Northwest Branch Library scrapbook, volume 1 (1983-2009)

HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY Northwest Branch Annual Report 1985 AUTOMATION The major event at the Northwest Library in 1985 took place on April 8. We began checking out on the automated circulation system - ALIS. After excellent training by David Jones and the Cypress Creek staff, the transition was very smooth. The desk assistants are now comfortable with the system and still enthusiastic. There have been periods of downtime as improvements were made - the addition of the Doelz Box being one of the longest and most frustrating. However as operations are taken over, such as statistics and overdues,we are very glad of the time saved and the increased accuracy of our procedures. We are looking forward to using the holds function for Northwest reserves. CIRCULATION The Northwest collection has increased from 23,137 in January of 1985 to 28,213 in December. Circulation has varied from 18,449 in May to 27,017 in July. This has put the branch 3rd or 4th in the Harris County System. Since the number of books checked out per month is very close to the number of items in the collection, f helieve circulation would De considerably higher if we had more books on the shelves. The picture books have been in most demand. Adult non-fiction runs a close second. Northwest has a wide variety of readers. There are many young families but also a number of elderly persons from the nearby apartments. Recreation reading ranges from escape romances and mysteries to some quite sophisticated and intellectual works. In adult non-fiction, true crime, cookbooks and small business books are most popular. Computer books are no longer number one. Surprisingly we do not have an overwhelming demand for best-sellers. COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Our biggest effort this year was to increase and strengthen the reference collection. We have made some important additions. The Dun's Employment Opportunities Directory , Maps on File, Funk & WagnallTs Illustrated Wildlife Encyclopedia, and The International Encyclopedia of Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychoanalysis and Neurology have been particularly useful. Another target was the 500 section of adult non-fiction. Donations of wild flower books and purchases of field guides of all kinds have helped but zoology titles are still badly needed. The first major order of AV materials was made with gift money and focussed on language materials. We also ordered a cassette series on the life and music of major composers which has been popular. Additional titles of all kinds were ordered with budget funds. A problem that plagued Northwest for the better part of the year concerned our periodicals. It has never been quite clear how it happened but over 50 magazines were not renewed. This included the important Time-Life group. Sheila Whitfield at Northwest and Gene Rollins at Central made every effort but we were still not receiving many titles at year end. We are hoping the new agent will make 1986 a different story. STAFF In February our Branch Librarian, Rolando Romo resigned. On April 1, Shirley Ada moved from Assistant Librarian to Branch Librarian and on May 1, Jackie Davis moved