San Diego County Library
Encyclopedia
The San Diego County Library is a public library
system serving San Diego County
in the U.S. state of California
. Any person living in the state is eligible for a free library card. During the 2009–2010 fiscal year, the library circulated over 10 million materials and had over 641,276 members.
During the 2009–2010 fiscal year the San Diego County Library had 33 branches and two bookmobiles; circulated over 10.7 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other material formats; recorded 5.7 million visits to library branches and hosted 21,132 library programs. The San Diego County Library is one of the 25 busiest libraries in the United States as measured by materials circulated. Despite budget cuts, the County library system has increased hours of operation.
s, DVD
s, compact disc
s, downloadable audiobooks, video games and magazine
s. The library carries materials in a variety of languages.
Books can be borrowed from the County library through the San Diego City Library
system. In 2007, the San Diego County Library joined The San Diego Circuit, a consortium of libraries that includes San Diego State University
, UC San Diego, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego
. Library cardholders with any Circuit library may request books to be transferred to their local library at no charge.
The San Diego County Library also participates in the Link+
borrowing consortium, loaning and borrowing books and media from over 40 libraries throughout California and Nevada, under much the same borrowing procedure as the San Diego Circuit.
The library is utilizing technology to improve customer service. Customers are able to browse the catalog
via the Internet
, enabling them to request items, and view their account. Some branches of the library have express checkout
machines that allow customers to check their items out themselves.
Some customers may qualify for the library's award-winning Books-by-Mail program.
access and word processing
. All branches offer Wi-Fi
internet access. The library subscribes to a number of subscription online resources (e.g. Morningstar
, ReferenceUSA, OverDrive
downloadable audiobooks) that customers may access from home.
s, magicians
, dancers, and puppeteers. Other events include book discussions, film
screenings, and craft
instruction. The San Diego County Library publishes a comprehensive print calendar detailing events at every branch library, as well as a web-based calendar, located on the library’s web site.
and the ASVAB. L.E.A.R.N. also provides services for English as a Second Language (ESL
) learners.
There are also 2 mobile libraries
, which serve the east and north parts of San Diego county.
Anyone possessing a library card can borrow and return books at any branch. In addition, materials may be transferred between these branches for pickup by customers, at no charge.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
system serving San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
in the U.S. state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Any person living in the state is eligible for a free library card. During the 2009–2010 fiscal year, the library circulated over 10 million materials and had over 641,276 members.
During the 2009–2010 fiscal year the San Diego County Library had 33 branches and two bookmobiles; circulated over 10.7 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other material formats; recorded 5.7 million visits to library branches and hosted 21,132 library programs. The San Diego County Library is one of the 25 busiest libraries in the United States as measured by materials circulated. Despite budget cuts, the County library system has increased hours of operation.
Circulation
The San Diego County Library circulates a variety of materials, including bookBook
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s, compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s, downloadable audiobooks, video games and magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s. The library carries materials in a variety of languages.
Books can be borrowed from the County library through the San Diego City Library
San Diego Public Library
The San Diego Public Library is a public library system serving the city of San Diego, California.-History:The San Diego Public Library was established on May 19, 1882, by an elected board of library trustees. The first location was rented space in the Commercial Bank building at Fifth and G...
system. In 2007, the San Diego County Library joined The San Diego Circuit, a consortium of libraries that includes San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, UC San Diego, CSU San Marcos, and University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
. Library cardholders with any Circuit library may request books to be transferred to their local library at no charge.
The San Diego County Library also participates in the Link+
LINK+
Link+ or LINK+ is a networked catalog of contributed holdings from participating academic and public libraries in California and Nevada. Through Link+, library patrons can check out a book from any participating library via their own local library and have it delivered to the library of their...
borrowing consortium, loaning and borrowing books and media from over 40 libraries throughout California and Nevada, under much the same borrowing procedure as the San Diego Circuit.
The library is utilizing technology to improve customer service. Customers are able to browse the catalog
OPAC
An Online Public Access Catalog is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries...
via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, enabling them to request items, and view their account. Some branches of the library have express checkout
Self checkout
Self checkout machines provide a mechanism for customers to pay for purchases from a retailer without direct input to the process by the retailer's staff. They are an alternative to the traditional cashier-staffed checkout...
machines that allow customers to check their items out themselves.
Some customers may qualify for the library's award-winning Books-by-Mail program.
Public Computer Services
Each branch library offers free computer use, including internetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access and word processing
Word processing
Word processing is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter.-External links:...
. All branches offer Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
internet access. The library subscribes to a number of subscription online resources (e.g. Morningstar
Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is an independent investment research company based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.-Businesses:Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of products and services for...
, ReferenceUSA, OverDrive
OverDrive, Inc.
OverDrive is an American digital distributor of downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video titles. The company’s core business is the management of digital content for publisher, libraries, schools, and retailers. According to the company, OverDrive’s inventory included more than 500,000...
downloadable audiobooks) that customers may access from home.
Events
The San Diego County Library provides a wide range of programming for customers of all ages. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the library system hosted 13,858 programs. The library often hosts performers, such as musicianMusician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s, magicians
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
, dancers, and puppeteers. Other events include book discussions, film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
screenings, and craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
instruction. The San Diego County Library publishes a comprehensive print calendar detailing events at every branch library, as well as a web-based calendar, located on the library’s web site.
Literacy Center
L.E.A.R.N. (Libraries Empower All to Read Now) is the San Diego County Library's adult literacy program. L.E.A.R.N offers tutoring in basic reading, writing and math skills, as well as tutoring in standardized tests, such as the GEDGED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
and the ASVAB. L.E.A.R.N. also provides services for English as a Second Language (ESL
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
) learners.
Branches
The San Diego County Library is composed of 33 branches, located in:
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There are also 2 mobile libraries
Bookmobile
A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
, which serve the east and north parts of San Diego county.
Anyone possessing a library card can borrow and return books at any branch. In addition, materials may be transferred between these branches for pickup by customers, at no charge.