We’re updating the collection to better reflect your needs and interests, with a balance of viewpoints and perspectives. Every check-out is a vote for the titles you enjoy.
Your Votes Count: Magazines at the Library
by Jamie Murphy, Technical Services & Acquisitions Librarian
Every checkout is a vote for the types of materials and topics you enjoy, and these checkout statistics help us curate collections that reflect your needs and interests. Thank you for your input!
Among those collections is the Library’s extensive selection of magazines.
Magazines offer something for everyone: hobbies, health, politics, art, literature, fashion, travel, sports, recreation, science, cooking, and more. The goal, with magazines and with all collections, is to span a broad range of interests while also representing a healthy balance of differing viewpoints and perspectives.
Enjoy a current magazine in the cozy chairs at either of our Fireplace Corners (both first and second floor), or check out back issues to read from the comfort of home; just tilt back the display shelf to find previous issues available for one-week checkouts.
As many people turn to digital reading platforms, it comes as no surprise that use of print magazines has trended downward over the years. This has resulted in many titles going out of publication, and perpetually low circulation of some titles on our shelves.
So we are gearing up to fine-tune our magazine collection to better serve you. While this will come in the form of a reduction in available titles, approximately 100 titles will still be available. Those that remain will better mirror your reading preferences — having “earned their keep.”
What to do if a title you valued is withdrawn from the collection? Know that we may consider another title covering similar subjects; you can suggest a purchase from the “We’ll Get It For You” link at estesvalleylibrary.org not only for title suggestions, but magazine topics of interest as well. Your input is valuable, and will be stored for use in ongoing evaluations of public reading interests within the periodicals collection.
And don’t forget that you can read a Library magazine anywhere you are, 24/7. There are more than two dozen titles in our digital collections, all in full color with the same content as the print edition. To access popular digital magazines to which the library subscribes, like HGTV Magazine, Food Network Magazine, Country Living and more, download the Libby by Overdrive app from the App Store or Google Play to get started on your phone or tablet. Reading from a computer? Visit Overdrive.com to get started. For help with account setup, schedule a Book-a-Librarian: Digital Collections appointment online or by calling 586-8116 ext 3.
The library’s acquisitions team is honored to provide collections that are both balanced and useful to the community. To learn more about our purchasing guidelines, view our Collection Development Policy at estesvalleylibrary.org/about/policies