Form allows all a say in library’s acquisitions

At the Aug. 14 East Bonner County Library Board meeting, one of the public comments stood out to me. The commenter was suggesting that the library create a procurement committee and that she would volunteer to join.

Back at the May board meeting, a presentation was given about how the library decides what books and media it will acquire — a presentation this person did not attend — and what was most interesting to me was that most books are acquired because of patron requests. That's right, if you are a patron of EBCL, you can request that the library acquire materials for you; it's easy to fill out a form on the website or at the circulation desk. I have personally filled out this form many times. I am happy to say, I already am a part of the procurement committee, and so is basically the whole county.

So, what is this public commenter suggesting? That she doesn't know about the request form? Or does she want to put herself between your book requests and what the library actually acquires?

AUDREY GATES

Sandpoint