Libraries respond to changing city

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 8:36 a.m.

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has a new mission statement that promotes more diverse materials, including more foreign language books and collections.

The Library Board at its annual retreat over the weekend at The Orleans also was told that circulation of materials is up 22 percent.

In the wake of such growth, board members were told, six new library branches in urban and rural areas are needed.

The new mission statement reads: "We enable the people of our community to pursue lifelong learning through our responsive collections, electronic resources and innovative services. Our inviting public libraries are the cornerstones of our diverse communities, where children and adults can experience personal enrichment and connect with one another."

Library officials said a new mission statement was needed to better address the goals of meeting the literary needs of a more diverse Las Vegas population with a burgeoning Hispanic community.

"There were some questions about the use of the term 'responsive collections' instead of 'foreign language collections,' " said Nancy Ledeboer, deputy director of the Library District.

"But staff explained that responsive was the best wording because it addresses more foreign language collections now and whatever the issue of responsive will be five years from now."

The board also learned that circulation of library materials -- books, audio tapes, periodicals, etc. -- grew from 5 million in 2000 to 6 million last year, and is on pace to beat that number this year, Ledeboer said.

"There has been a much higher use of area libraries," she said. "More people also are utilizing services like computers."