Collection Development Manual > Libraries & Collections > Special Collections > Library Outreach Services
Library Outreach Services
Collection Policy
The Library Outreach Service collection is located in the Library Outreach area of the library administration building on the 2nd floor and in the compact shelving on the first floor. This collection is not available to the public for browsing.
The Library Outreach Service collection reflects the diversity of outreach patrons. The clientele is divided roughly into thirds: patrons who are homebound or have limited mobility, inmates in Multnomah County jails, and shelter and transition home residents. These patrons have in common their difficulty in coming to the library, because of their physical inability to get there, or socio-economic barriers, such as homelessness or incarceration.
Our collection for limited-mobility and homebound patrons consists of large and regular print fiction and nonfiction, videos, DVDs and audio-books. The fiction leans heavily towards mainstream fiction with a strong narrative, and genre fiction, particularly mysteries and romances. Science fiction is not heavily bought for this collection. A few patrons in this category like westerns. As for nonfiction, biographies, travel, humor and adventure are popular. Many nonfiction categories that are popular elsewhere are not bought for this collection, such as business, education, parenting and home repair.
Incarcerated patrons are primarily men between 18 and 40 years old, many of whom are low-level or non-readers. Jails require all books to be paperback. The collection is specially geared to the clientele, concentrating on life skills, literacy, addiction recovery, and mental health nonfiction, as well as recreational fiction. It includes some materials in Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Korean.
Shelter and transition housing residents are about half women and children. 10%, approximately, are Spanish readers; Spanish materials are available for them. A variety of popular fiction is included in this collection. Nonfiction concentrates on life skills, literacy, addiction recovery, and mental health, taking into account the special needs of these customers. Children's books are included, as well.