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Library reflects patrons - 19924-0TV1 "&&AnkFTKE POST
Director Nancy Moore in North Palm Library
Library
Reflects
Patrons
By John Kopp an
Staff Wriiyr
NORTH PALM 13EACH — Nancy
MOM has a special insight into the
people of tiorth Palm Beach.
Mrs. Moore is the director of the
village's public library and has
worked there since it opened in 1963,
"This is a warm friendly village
with very intelligent people'. she
said. "We have a large population of
professional people which creates a
demand for a good library.,,
She said librarians have a unique
opportunity to examine a community
based upon the type of reading mate -
r ai t4e pahvm check out and re-
quest-
In North ,Palm Beach, the staff at
the public library is a hit, more accu.
rate in its observations because the
library is not a part of the County -
wide system and most of its patrons
are locals.
Mrs. More said the village has a
large number of retired people which
accounts for the high demand for
books of a leisure variety, especially
best sellers.
She estimated that 75 percent of all
books checked out are for leisure
reading. Mts_ Moore said the library
hes a ctant demand for high- quaij .
ty books and references because the
majority of the residents are college
educated, They also are well-trav-
eled, which creates a demand for
books on travel.
Other subjects In high demand are
auto repair and anvthirta of A tfrhni_
In North Palnn Beach, the staff at
the public library is a bit more accu-
rate in its observations pause the
library is not a part of the county-
wide system and most of its patrons
are locals,
Mrs. Moore said the village has a
large number of retired purple which
accounts fear the high dennand for
books of a leisure variety, especially
best sellers.
She estimated that 75 percent of all
bosrks checked out are for leisure
reading, Nirs, Moore said the library
bAs a constan t demand for high- quali-
tv books and references because the
majority of the residents are college
educated, They also are well -trav-
eled, which creates a demand for
books on travel_
Other subjects in high derr nd are
auto repair and anything of a techni-
cal nature_
Karen White, reference librarian,
said the rnost sought -after fiction au-
thors are Danielle Steel, romance.
and Robert Ludlum, spy and intrigue.
In nonfiction. Mm, %lite said the
tarok on SAT tests and randmark
Corr at0tfon Law cases are Most
popular, especially among students.
Firs. White said the village's pro -
fessional population wants books lime
-L�r Seareb of Farceflerca and mart
TheYv Don't Teach You at Harvard
Busirae-sis k. boot.
Mrs- Moore said the subjects pa-
trons seek often are tied to current
events or issues.,
Recently, she said, there has been a
high deanand for books and maga-
zines about teen suicide_ A couple of
Years ago, she said, adopted children
and Young adults came in looking for
inforrnat o n on how to find their natu-
ral parents.
Mrs. White admitted to occasional-
ly " ili -ng" patrons. For one woman
who is an invalid, she said, she picks
UP some mks for her and saves
them by the desk.
"It's a very warm atmosphere
here „„ she said "For some of them, a
book can make the difference be-
tureen a good day and a bad day.”
Mrs, Moore, rwbe was a volunteer
when the library first opened iu 1963,
said the library has a book budget of
$25,000 this year to supplement the
M000 books on the shelves_
The library isn't part of the county
system and, tberef Ore, doesn't honor
cards from other area libraries.
Village patrcm can get a card free.
Nonresidents must pays $25, which is
the approximate equivalent of what
village taxpayers contribute,
Mrs. Moore said the library pro-
vides L'Comparable" sea-vice to other,
couuty ryed facilities despite its
isolation.
"I guess it'll always be here," she
sand, "Maybe our outreach won't be
so far„ but we'll always serve o r
village,"