Depository Spotlight: Longview Public Library
Our newest Depository Spotlight Library is the Longview Public Library in Longview, Texas. A community of about 81,000 in east Texas, about 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana and about 35 miles northeast of Tyler, Texas, Longview was named by Forbes magazine as the sixth-fastest growing small city in the U.S. in 2014.
The Longview Public Library was designated a Federal depository library in 1961, and serves the 1st Congressional District of Texas. The library offers a broad range of programs and services to its diverse community through its main library in downtown Longview, and its Broughton Branch Library on the East side of town. On a recent Tuesday morning, library users were lined up at the main entrance at opening time, eager to get to story hour in the Children's Department, the large bank of public-access computers, and the Genealogy and Local History Room.
According to Taylor Harding, Technical and Digital Services Supervisor, the best tool for encouraging the community to use the library is outreach. Having library staff out in the community raises awareness of library collections and services, like Federal Depository Library Program status.
“Seeing people's faces light up as I speak about the services we provide means so much to me, and I do see some of those people become regular library users,” said Harding. “We are proud to serve our community with programs as diverse as they are.”
The library maintains a substantial collection of print Government documents alongside full access to online Government information and has worked hard to find the right balance to serve its community. Print documents are being used consistently, and the library serves the needs of city and county government and courts, as well as its public patrons.
GPO salutes Library Director Jennifer Eldridge, Depository Coordinator Brandon Hunter, Taylor Harding, and the entire staff of the bustling Longview Public Library, working hard to keep their community, and America, informed.