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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-03-17 Library Reflects Patrons (Palm Beach Post)Loren Mostck. THE POST Director Nancy Moore in. North Palm Library library Reflects Patrons By John Koopman Staff Wrihir • NORTH PALM BEACH — Nancy Moore has a special insight into the people of North Palm Beach, Mrs. Moore is the director of the village's public library and has worked there since it opened in 1963. -This is a warm friendly village with very intelligent people... she I said. "We have a large population of professional people which creates a demand for a good library!' She said librarians have a unique opportunity to examine a community based upon the type of reading mate- rial the patrons check out and re- quest. In North Palm Beach, the staff at the public library is a bit more accu- rate in its observations because the library is not a part of the county- hwide system and most of its patron are locals. Mrs. Moore said the village has a large number of retired people which accounts for the high demand for books of a leisure variety, especially best sellers. She estimated that 75 percent of all books checked out are for leisure reading. Mts. Moore said the library has a constant demand for high -quali- ty books and references because the majority of the residents are college educated. They also are well -trav- eled, which creates a demand for books on travel. Other subjects in high demand are 1 auto repair and anything of A tfrhni_ tits La& pitrgiz- arid €L'- lit North Palm Beach, the staff at the public library is a bit more accu- rate in its observations because the library is not a fart of the county- wide system and most of its patrons are locals. Mrs. Moore said the village has a Large number of retired people which accounts for the high demand for books of a leisure variety, especially best sellers. She estimated that 75 percent of all books checked out are for leisure reading. Mrs, Moore said the library has a constant demand for high-quali- • ty books and references because the majority of the residents are college educated. They also are well -trav- eled, which creates a demand for hooks on travel_ Other subjects in high demand are auto repair and anything of a techni- cal nature_ Karen White, reference librarian, said the most sought-after fiction au- thors are Danielle Steel, romance. and Robert Ludlum, spy and intrigue. In nonfiction. Mrs. White said the book on SAT Nests and Landmark Constitution Law Cases are most popular, especially among students. Mrs. White said the villagers pro- fessional population wants books like la Search of Krcelfence and What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Barsine= .School. Mrs. Moore said the subjects pa- trons seek often are tied to current events or issues, Recently, she said, there has been a high demand for hooks and maga- zines about teen suicide_ A couple of years ago, she said, adopted children and young adults came in looking for information on how to find their natu- ral parents. Mrs. White admitted to occasional- ly "spoiling" patrons. For one woman who is an invalid, she said, she picks up some hooks for her and saves them by the desk - "It's a very warm atmosphere here," she said. "For same of them, a book can make the difference be- tween a good day and a bad day." Mrs. Moore, who was a volunteer when the library first opened w 1983, said the library has a book budget of $25,000 this year to supplement the 38,C:10 books on the shelves_ The library isn't part of the county system and, therefore, doesn't honor cards from other area Iibraries_ Village patrons can get a card free. Nonresidents must pay $25, which is the approximate equivalent of what village taxpayers contribute, Mrs. Moore said the library pro- vides "comparable" service to other. county seared facilities despite its IIi' isolation. "1 guess it'll always be here," she • said, "Maybe our outreach won't be so far. but we'll always serve our 1 village,"