LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library is celebrating several milestones with the Zip Books program, which delivers library books from Amazon to library patrons’ home.
Since Lake County joined the Zip Books program in 2015 the library has received 1,500 requests from the public and added 1,000 books to the library collection.
The Zip Books program has supplemented the library’s book budget by about $5,000 per year.
Library patrons like the innovative service. In a recent anonymous survey, one patron said, “I love the Zip Books! I use it when I find an interesting review of a book that I can't get at the library.” Another said, "I wish Zip Books were available 50 years ago!"
In the Zip Books program, library patrons request regular print books, large print books and audiobooks that the Lake County Library doesn’t own.
If the library already owns the title as a printed book, the library can still order a audiobook or a large print book through the Zip Books program.
The Zip Books request form is on the Lake County Library’s Web site under the “Books and More.”
Requested books that meet the Zip Books program criteria are ordered by the library and shipped to the patrons’ mailing addresses. Each book is checked out to the borrower and has a due date. The patrons are expected to return the books to the library.
Upon return, most Zip Books are accessioned into the library catalog and receive a special Zip Books bookplate.
Zip Books patrons have diverse tastes and interests, all of which contributes to the diverse mix of titles for adults and children that have been added to the library.
In nonfiction, subjects include history, religion, fishing, woman suffrage, cooking, knitting, science and current events. In fiction, the library has added mysteries, science fiction, graphic novels, romance novels and general fiction.
Carolyn Brooks, California State Library Project monitor said, “The goal of the Zip Books Project is to expand the use of an alternative model for interlibrary loan service that, over time, has proved cost effective, easy to use, and extremely popular with the public. The project started in 2013 with 15 libraries; currently over 68 library jurisdictions across the state are participating, with more being added all the time.”
Brooks continues, “Zip Books is a partnership between the California State Library and the NorthNet Library System. It is supported with California Library Services Act funds.”
The California Library Services Board recently approved an additional allocation of $1 million for libraries across California to support and expand the Zip Books program through June 2022.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary. For more information about Zip Books or the library, call 707-263-8817.
Jan Cook is a library technician at the Lake County Library.
Library's successful Zip Books program marks milestones
- Jan Cook
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