St. Louis County Library: big plans for NoCo
Shannon Howard | Oct 30, 2009 | Comments 7
The newly remodeled Florissant Library branch is the first St. Louis County library to feature a modernized self-service model.
Of all the things to be thankful for in North County, having excellent libraries (and lots of them) is definitely near the top of my list. From my house in Ferguson, I can get to eight different branches in 10-15 minutes, and that’s not counting Ferguson’s own municipal library or the libraries at UMSL and Flo Valley.
Many people may not realize this, but in recent years, St. Louis County Library (SLCL) has been ranked among the best libraries in the country. Funded largely by property taxes, it offers far more than just book borrowing. Patrons can also check out CDs, DVDs, magazines and games for Wii and PlayStation, as well as access extensive genealogy and local history archives, attend lectures by well-known authors, and surf the internet for free.
In fact, the Natural Bridge branch in Normandy recently became the largest provider of free internet service in the St. Louis area, with 51 computers available for public use. The addition of 24 new computers was part of SLCL’s current strategic plan, which actually calls for significant investment in the North County branches.
Like the Jamestown Bluffs branch, Florissant Valley now offers quick and easy self-checkout. The computers can instantly scan up to five items at once.
The Florissant Valley branch, which SLCL is using a test site for its new customer service model, is the first library in the area to offer self-checkout, self-pickup of held items, and a smaller, centrally located customer service desk. “The new desk and self-checkout stations allow for more staff to be on the floor helping customers,” says Jennifer McBride, St. Louis County Library’s communications manager.
In the coming years, NoCo residents can also expect changes at other area branches, including Lewis & Clark, which has been recommended for demolition and new construction. At some point, Florissant Valley may also be designated a “regional library,” offering an expanded reference section and longer hours.
“The changes at our Florissant Branch are part of a broader effort to modernize the St. Louis County Library system, as outlined in our Strategic Plan,” McBride says. To view that plan or learn more about SLCL services and events, look here.
Filed Under: Community • Indoor Fun
Demolish the Lewis & Clark branch?!?!?!?! Why do the others get refurbished but this one is recommended for demolition? Makes no sense.
According to the library’s facilities plan, the Lewis & Clark branch is “inefficient in operation and outdated in design.” It has “significant repair or replacement needs in HVAC and lighting systems, in addition to general system wide deficiencies.”
Still, I don’t see why they need to demolish it. Those windows are fantastic, and the building is only 45 years old! In South County, the library also plans to demolish the mid-century Tesson Ferry branch.
NorCo.com must have already been taken . . . NoCo makes no sense to me.
Guess you’ve never been to SoHo in New York, or NOLA (New Orleans). In my mind, Norco is a soccer club. And NoCo, unlike Norco, rhymes with loco…as in, I’m loco for NoCo! Which, of course, is very fun to say.
Make sense now?
All the people I know call North County “NOCO”. It’s slang.
wow–it doesn’t look like the place I was kicked out of forty years ago for letting the check out person know young kids were smoking in the restroom
[...] in the profession. Under Kasak’s guidance, the Flo Valley library has implemented a number of positive changes, leading to a 26% increase in circulation over the past year – more than any other branch in [...]