Computers and new technology aside, books are still the heart and soul of the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

For 15 years, the Library Board of Trustees has established a policy of earmarking approximately 20% of the operating budget to buy books, audio books and other library materials. This fiscal year, nearly $2 million was used to purchase everything you see on the shelves of the eight branches and bookmobile.

“Making sure we have the funds to buy a comprehensive and varied collection of fiction and nonfiction books, DVDs and CDs is important to the patrons’ enjoyment and needs, but getting the books in your hands is essential to our job as librarians,” said Lisa Sampley, the District’s collection management coordinator.

And that’s why the library has entered the era of “floating collections.” Say what?

“The idea of floating collections is not new,” explains Sampley. “Floating collections give customers better and quicker access to the books at all the branches. In effect, the communities of patrons that use each library shape—by their pattern of checking out books—their own collection at each particular branch.”

The traditional method, and the one the libraries used before floating collections were initiated about two months ago, was characterized by those white-and-black stickers affixed to the back of every book. Each one stood for a certain library, such as BWD for the Brentwood Branch, TLC for The Library Center; the book could be returned to any library or book drop, but it was always sent, via van, to its “home” branch as noted by its sticker.

Now, those stickers are moot. A book, no matter the sticker, stays where it is returned.

“The books eventually end up where they should be, by choice of the patrons,” says Sampley. “Our computerized catalog automatically re-sets the location of each book, so we—and you—always know where the book is shelved.”

And since the books don’t spend time on delivery trucks anymore, they are returned to the shelves faster, ready for you to check out. Over time, you should notice that the stock of books at your favorite branch (or branches—most patrons use more than one) is fresher and more dynamic.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LIBRARY ON HARRY POTTER DAY

On Harry Potter Day—the July 21st release date of the seventh, most recent and final book in the uber-popular series by J. K. Rowling—the Springfield-Greene County Library’s collection management coordinator, Lisa Sampley, will check in and hand deliver to each of the eight branch libraries copies of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Sampley says that the publisher’s contract restrictions are somewhat cumbersome, but she knows patrons can’t wait to get their hands on—or place a hold on—more than 175 of the books and audio books she’s bought for the District. Already, more than 289 patrons have reserved the book.

Jeanne C. Duffey, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at jeanned@thelibrary.org.