We started about 2 years ago moving reference books to the public non-fiction section and also eliminated about half of what we had.  Our library had the same issues with no one using the reference materials in over 10 years.  Because of the physical location of the area, our friends group financed a wall with glass french doors to be put up and we now have a small conference room that gets used much more.

Good Luck with your changes!  It's nice to find new uses for the premium space.

Jane French,
Manager
Les Cheneaux Community Library
A Superior District Library
P.O. Box 99
75 E. Hodeck St.
Cedarville, MI  49719

906-484-3547 

jfrench@superiordistrictlibrary.org

lcclib.weebly.com
From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Deb Hemmye via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:14 AM
To: Mary Gallup <director@clinton.lib.mi.us>
Cc: Michlib <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Reference Section
 
We are on the small side of a Class III library and when I started 18 months ago, one of the first things I did was to cut our reference section more than in half.  It now takes up two columns of shelf space - about 10-12 shelves???  We then updated a few of the titles and moved others to the circulating collection.  

Space is also at a big premium for us, too, so my personal preference would be to ditch the entire thing.  I honestly don't think anyone comes to the library for printed reference materials any more, but I don't know that for a fact and not all my staff agrees with me.  So for now, we have two columns of reference at the back of the library.  :\

Deb Hemmye (she, her)
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI  48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686

From: "Mary Gallup" <director@clinton.lib.mi.us>
To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@mcls.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 12:04:17 PM
Subject: [Michlib-l] Reference Section

Let's talk Reference Section-
What does yours look like? About how many books do you have? How much shelf space do you devote to it?

We are a tiny Class I library with limited shelf space, and every single one of our Reference items is older than 10 years. I would like to (and have permission from my board president) ditch the entire section, but I was wondering what other libraries in the state are doing.

Thanks!
Mary Gallup
Director
Clinton Township Public Library
100 Brown St. Clinton MI 49236