Hi Everyone,

Thanks to all the answered the following question:  The Royal Oak Public Library is going to starting a Homebound program in the near future. We will be mailing out books, only books for now, to patrons with mobility issues. For those libraries with Homebound services, I am curious what areas of your collection seemed to get checked out more by those using the service? I am trying to get an idea on what should be purchased more in anticipation on this new service. Here are all the responding posts to the question.


Hi Mick,

 

Our entire collection is available to our homebound patrons, and they run the gamut on what they check out: magazines, DVDs, large print (fiction & mysteries), biographies, regular print fiction, and romances.  We have not had anyone ask for music or audiobooks yet.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Holly Hentz

Director

Hamburg Township Library

10411 Merrill Rd.  P.O. Box 247

Hamburg, MI  48139

810.231.1771

Hamburglibrary.org


Hi!  We’ve been collecting information on this type of program for some time now – both mail and physical delivery   I’ll attach it in case you are interested,  but I’m sure you have probably seen some of it.  If possible, could you let me know what your policy is or post the responses to your query below?  Thank you!

 

Melissa



I would be interested in what you find out. 😊


Julie Censke

Colon Township Library

(269) 432-3958


Mick,

 

At the Jackson District Library, our homebound often prefer Large Print Books and Books on CD. About 40-60% will also take regular print books.  Our readers tend to ask for much the same types of fiction as anyone else. Different readers ask for different things, like Patterson, Steel, and other bestselling authors.  Some prefer Christian fiction and clean romance and family stories, while others are happy to get more spice in their romance novels.  Your homebound readers will probably reflect the same reading interests as your general patron population. My patrons are homebound for a variety of reasons. Age, general health, mobility, vision issues, and lack of transportation can create a long-term, temporary, or seasonal need for home delivery. I have served an adult on a tether, and a teen dealing with health problems.  We check out and deliver all media, as well as MelCat requests.  Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Marcia Young

Outreach Services

Jackson District Library

244 W. Michigan Ave.

Jackson, MI   49201

517-788-4087 ext. 1343

youngma@myjdl.com


Kristen Tait <kristen.tait@baldwinlib.org>

Jul 31 (6 days ago)
to me
Hey Mick, so glad this job is moving forward for you!  I’m sure you probably have talked to Sarah about this but it’s large print, audiobooks, and sometimes movies (Classic collection is always a big hit) that we usually send out.  Any fiction that’s new is what is usually requested specifically by our patrons, and biographies are also popular.  I know you aren’t starting with media too, but consider adding audiobooks if you can.  Good luck!

Kristen

Ps they also get some MeL items.  I don’t know how you want to handle that part at Royal Oak, but we do send them with the MeL 3-week due date instead of the extended 4-week one we use for these patrons.

Large print is very popular, and front runner genres both there and in regular sized fiction are: westerns, inspirational, and romance.

 

Hope E. Nobel, M.S.L.S.

Director

Tamarack District Library

P. O. Box 469

832 South Lincoln Avenue

Lakeview, MI  48850

989.352.6274


My past experience: The same stuff your other patrons like, a little more large print, and mysteries slanted a little toward clean and cozy.      Connie

Since the Library is responsible for delivery and pickup of checked-out items, we have a policy of not charging Outreach patrons overdue fines. Patrons are still charged for lost items. Because of the 1 week checkout for CDs and BOCDs, Outreach patrons are not allowed to request these items from MelCat, but may request books.


Marcia Young
Outreach Services
Jackson District Library
244 W. Michigan Ave.
Jackson, MI 49201
517-788-4087 ext.1343


Thought I'd forward this on to you folks on the Outreach Services Committee listserve in case you hadn't seen this.


David M. Stokes
Adult Services Librarian
Adult Services Dept.
Milford Public Library
330 Family Dr.
Milford, MI 48381
248-684-0845, ext. 305
dstokes@milfordlibrary.info

Hi Mick –  Large Print best sellers, cozy mysteries and light romance would be your best bet.  No fat books even if they’re best sellers (Homebound patrons have a hard time holding heavy items).  Pay the extra for the library binding if you can afford it as the paper covered large print do NOT hold up well at all.  Don’t buy the $32.00 titles if you can help it as sometimes the homebound stuff never comes back.  There are plenty of alternatives out there.  Also, look at the larger print Love Inspired paperbacks.  They’re CHEAP and a great way to fill up the collection with disposable titles.  They have Love Inspired Romance and Love Inspired Suspense.  Nonfiction is not as popular although best-selling biographies do well.  If patrons need audio I would refer them to the Oakland Talking Book Library.

 

Hope this helps and good luck!  Sandy

 

Sandy Gilmore, Head of Adult Services

Oxford Public Library

530 Pontiac Street

Oxford, MI 48371

(248) 628-3034


Hello Mick,

 

Our Books by Mail program here at the Canton Public Library is a very popular service. As far as print material goes, large print books are the most circulated items for homebound patrons. Some patrons are able to read regular print but even if they can, large print are the preferred choice. Our Books by Mail participants read across all genres with Science Fiction and Fantasy being the least popular. Many stick with one genre, i.e. mystery, inspirational, suspense. Others prefer a variety and most will read bestsellers. It really does depend on the patron and their reading habits.

 

Additionally, books on CD are quite common among our participants given their demographics.

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions,

 

Colleen

 

Colleen O’Brien-Brumley, Information Services Librarian

Canton Public Library

1200 S. Canton Center Rd.

Canton, MI 48810

(734)397-0999 Ext. 1138


Adrienne Breznau

Jul 31 (6 days ago)
to me
Hi Mick!
Just curious-why are we limiting them to books only?  I feel like that could be viewed as discriminatory...  I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this. :-)

Adrienne

Adrienne Breznau
Head of Support Services
Royal Oak Public Library
222 E. Eleven Mile Road
Royal Oak, MI 48067

Tel: 248-246-3714

Michael Howey <michaelh@ropl.org>

Jul 31 (6 days ago)
to Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,

Books is only until we get the service running smoothly. We want to focus on working out the kinks, getting use to the process, and initially sending only books is a way to do that. I want to phase into other materials, and ideas, as quickly as possible. As quickly as possible means a month or two. 

Adrienne Breznau

Jul 31 (6 days ago)
to me
Is that because the due dates are different for DVD's?


Michael Howey <michaelh@ropl.org>

Jul 31 (6 days ago)
to Adrienne
Due dates were part of it. That we are not having overdue fines for patrons in the service factored in.  Another part was that DVDs, CDs, magazines, and paperbacks tend to have the greatest tendency not to make it back. I would prefer to keep it as simple as possible until the kinks are worked out. I foresee the city making sure they include return postage being the biggest issue. I hope that I am overly concerned about that. This being said, if only a few people sign up for the service, I would think we can include other materials. But that would have to be run past Mary and Matt first. 




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