[Publib] name for branches other than branches?

[Rebecca Bronson]

We struggled a bit with this when we opened the library where I currently
work, the Bowman Library in Stephens City, Va. In terms of square footage,
it equals the original library in the system, the Handley Library in
Winchester. The system name is Handley Regional, so the community tends to
think of Handley as the "main" library and our library as a branch. We'd
prefer the community to think of our library as a co-equal facility, but it
seems to make better intuitive sense to call us a branch. 
Becki

Rebecca Bronson
Reference Librarian
Handley Regional Library
 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Theyer, Hillary
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 1:28 PM
To: 'publib at webjunction.org'
Subject: [Publib] name for branches other than branches?

I'm curious.  Is the name "branch library" becoming out of date in the era
of pushing services out from the main library downtown?  Does "branch" imply
something peripheral, not vital, easily chopped off?

I'm reviewing my library's Strategic Plan and find myself wanting to cross
off the word branch and write something like "neighborhood" or "community"
or "local"

I think this comes from two work experiences - one where the system was
going to close the branches and people showed up at the board meeting
literally waving tree branches.  Another where we had different branch sizes
and called them "Regional" "Community" and "Neighborhood" libraries
(descending size order).

What do you think?  Am I crazy not wanting to call them branch libraries any
more?  Would non-library folk have no idea what I meant if I got up and
spoke about their neighborhood libraries?

Hillary Theyer
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