Sara Masarik
I’ve received several questions recently about our branch libraries—how they work, who owns the books, and how the cataloging and borrowing logistics come together. Since this is something more of you are beginning to discern, I wanted to share what we’ve learned so far.
The idea of opening branches grew out of both abundance and necessity. Our main library has become wonderfully busy—so busy, in fact, that the traffic and demand were beginning to exceed what one location could hold. Meanwhile, I was hearing from families an hour or more away who longed for access to our collection but couldn’t make the drive regularly. And then there were the books: excellent titles that simply didn’t fit on our already-crowded shelves, but which I wasn’t ready to let go.
Branch libraries offered a natural solution. They allow us to re-home worthy books, serve families in new regions, and ease the load on our main location—all while staying connected under one shared mission.
The organizational aspects, I’ll admit, can be mind-numbing at first, but they’ve begun to take shape through trial, error, and much learning. Here’s the structure that works for us now:
• Ownership and Setup: Each branch is responsible for furnishing its own space—bookshelves, décor, and the cozy touches that make it personal. Our central library provides the books and the essential mechanical tools: barcode scanners, an ipad, labels, and stickers.
• Cataloging: We use Libib as our catalog platform and pay for a separate branch manager account for each location. Within our main Libib account, each branch has its own collection, making it easy to see where every book “lives.”
• Interlibrary Loans: When a patron wants a book from another branch’s collection, they simply fill out an interlibrary loan form (created outside of Libib). The branches coordinate from there. Each branch has a dedicated tub for interlibrary loans, and we transport books back and forth about once or twice a month. We can have a dedicated post about this if it were helpful.
• Borrowing and Returns: Regular checkouts are 45 days, while interlibrary loans extend to 60 days to allow for transport time. Patrons may check out or return books at either location. Each book has a catalog sticker on the back that has a color coded logo to show which branch it belongs to, and when books are checked in, we sort them accordingly.
The result is a growing network of shared stewardship. Each branch remains distinct in personality but united in purpose. It’s not a system that emerged fully formed—it’s something we’re learning and refining together.
For those discerning whether to open a branch, know that it’s possible to start small and grow slowly. The work is detailed, yes, but it’s deeply rewarding to see good books find new homes and new families brought into the fold.