Orange County Public Library

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The Orange County Public Library (OCPL) is a network of community libraries in Orange County, California. With 33 branches covering the county from the Pacific Coast to the inland canyons of Southern California, Orange County Public Library serves a diverse population of over 1.5 million residents. Administrative headquarters for OCPL are centrally located in Santa Ana, California.

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[edit] History

The Orange County Board of Supervisors established the Orange County Free Library on December 19, 1919 under state statute. At the time, there were eleven libraries operating in Orange County, including two subscription libraries.

Created with a mission to provide free access to library materials for all Orange County residents not served by existing libraries, the Orange County Free Library opened for business on August 21, 1921. That same year the first eight branches opened in the cities of Brea, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Laguna Beach, La Habra, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach and Westminster.

Renamed the Orange County Public Library by Board action in 1967, the library now operates 33 branches, including two technology branches. While the original mission of the library remains intact, the scope and services encompassed continues to change with the needs of the county (Porter, 2001).

[edit] Technology

Free Wi-Fi is available at all 33 OCPL branches. For those without laptops, public Internet access is also available. Costa Mesa Technology and Laguna Hills Technology branches are specialized branches that provide more computer terminals.

Remote access to OCPL’s catalog and subscription-based databases is possible, with the use of an OCPL library card and PIN. Immediate and reliable virtual reference is available throughout California 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through “AskNow.”

[edit] Branches

[edit] Collections

The system-wide collection consists of over 2.6 million volumes, featuring books, literacy materials, audio visual materials, downloadable eAudiobooks, large print and periodicals. Special collections include materials on Native American, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic American studies. Materials in languages other than English include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Farsi. The library system also houses many materials on California history, local history, literacy, and has an extensive collection of music scores.

[edit] Services

The Orange County Public Library offers personalized children’s and adult reference service, children’s storytime and reading programs, book discussion groups, public internet access terminals, interlibrary loan service, adult and teen programming, cultural events and lectures, and services for the homebound. OCPL also offers literacy services through READ/OC, which works to create a more literate community through individual tutoring and training.

[edit] Awards

  • Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy to John Adams, Library Director, California Library Association Literacy Section & California Library Literacy Services READ/Orange County and Literacy Services, 2006
  • Dun & Bradstreet Award for Outstanding Service to Minority Business Communities, American Library Association, Vietnamese Small Business Workshops, 2006
  • Digital Pioneer, OverDrive, Inc. eAudiobooks, 2006
  • Daily Point of Light, Points of Light Foundation, La Habra Branch Library Homework Help Teen Tutor program, 2006
  • John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, American Library Association, Egyptology Lecture Series, 2004
  • Acts of Caring, National Association of Counties, READ/OC Families for Literacy/Smart Start, 2003
  • Celebrate Literacy, International Reading Association, READ/OC Literacy Services, 1998
  • John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award American Library Association, Family Programs in Performing and Visual Arts, 1994

[edit] References

  • Porter, D. A History of the Orange County Public Library. Santa Ana, CA, 2001.

[edit] External Links

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