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What We Own
Selecting from the enormous variety of published books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, databases, recordings and videos, our job is to provide access to what our customers want. The library's How We Choose: Materials Selection Policy, provides information on how materials are selected for the library's collection.
- Fiction: We purchase popular fiction by authors such as John
Grisham and Mary Higgins Clark. Genre fiction includes mysteries,
science fiction, romances, and literary award winners.
- Nonfiction: Examples include home repair, child rearing, medical
information, travel or cosmology. You can use materials from this
part of the library to satisfy your curiosity or do a research
project.
- Reference: We have up-to-date encyclopedias, directories, dictionaries,
handbooks, guides, etc.
- Magazines and Newspapers: Howard County Library subscribes to
over 1,200 magazines and newspapers, including non-English titles.
- Children's: In general, our collection for children mirrors
what we provide for adults. Children and their caregivers appreciate
the many picture books, toys for birth to three, easy readers,
fiction and nonfiction, magazines and databases we provide.
- Music: There is a large collection of popular and classical
music compact discs for all ages, as well as audiocassettes for
children.
- Audiobooks on cassette and CD: Try these to relieve the pain
of long commutes or family car trips.
- Videos and DVDs: The Library buys travel and "how-to" videos;
children's and family titles; documentaries; as well as selected
current and classic feature films.
- Databases: Search our outstanding number of electronic databases
including full-text access to magazines and newspapers, telephone
directories, dictionaries and encyclopedias. All can be used in
the library and many from your home or office PC.
- Foreign Language: We are enhancing this collection of books,
magazines, audiocassettes, videos, and DVDs to serve the needs
of an increasingly diverse community.
- Literacy: These materials serve the needs of adults seeking
to improve their ability to read, write, and speak English.
If you can't find what you want-just ask us. If we don't have what you need, we'll try to find a way to get it for you.
Finding What You Want In the Library
Materials in libraries are arranged to help you quickly find what you need. Items that share common characteristics are usually kept together. If you need help finding a particular item or using the Library Catalog, just ask at the Information Desk. We are ready to help you.
- New books are displayed together.
- Fiction books are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name.
- Nonfiction books are arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification so that books about a particular subject will all be together on the shelves.
- Biographies are arranged alphabetically by the name of the person about whom the book is written.
- Reference materials are also arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification in an area near the nonfiction materials. Reference books cannot be checked out.
- Paperbacks are kept together and arranged by genre (mysteries, science fiction, romances, etc.) or by basic Dewey Decimal Classification if they are nonfiction.
- Videos and DVDs are arranged in a variety of ways: children's and feature films are arranged by title; educational videos by Dewey Decimal Classification with biographies at the end.
- Compact discs are arranged by category; e.g., classical, jazz.
- Magazines are arranged by title on display shelves. Back issues are usually kept on a shelf behind or below the current issue.
- Newspapers are kept in the same area as magazines. Microfilm copies of selected newspapers and magazines are available at the Central Library.
- Databases are found on the Library Catalog (e.g., magazine and newspaper indexes, dictionary) and on computers in Children's.
- Children's materials are housed in separate areas in each library and are arranged by format as in the adult collection. Easy books and fiction are arranged by author; nonfiction and reference by Dewey Decimal Classification and so on.
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