Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 04/20/1998 All articles from this issue

Tech advisors to discuss library book funding

printer friendly version

Town Crier Staff Report

Resource advisors will meet today at the Los Altos Main Library to discuss how to spend the remaining half of about $82,000 allotted for science and technology books.

At least a portion of the funding was raised through a 1996 "Vision 21" campaign that netted $300,000 for science and technology resources.

Vision 21 is a grass roots campaign formed by Los Altos and Los Altos Hills citizens to raise money for books and other science and technology resouces for the library.

Of the $82,000, library officials report $40,858 had been spent as of the end of December, which is about halfway through the library's fiscal year. The money is to be spent on books, data bases, periodicals, and videos.

The advisors meeting today are all specialists in their particular areas of science and technology, including areas of medicine, according to Graham Wallace, a member of the Los Altos Library Commission.

The eight-member resource advisory group has been researching what science and technology books are available and which ones to purchase. These purchases include books, data bases, periodicals and videos. The public is welcome to make suggestions at the library reference desk.

The discussion at the meeting will include what books and resource materials were purchased during the last year, Wallace said.

The advisors will share book sources they have found. They will also share their experiences as well as pass along suggestions to help in the search.

Each will give the group an update of their research since their last meeting.

Once the decision has been made about which books to purchase, library employees Bonnie Natsuhara and Karen Pranger will then make these purchases.

The committee expects to complete purchase commitments of $82,000 by July 1, Wallace said.

Research advisors make a one-year commitment to volunteer their time and expertise.

Because of this, Wallace said new resource advisors are needed because terms are up at the end of June.

The primary requirement for advisors is to be a specialist in their field of expertise.

Those interested can apply through the library's reference desk at the main library, 13 S. San Antonio Road.