In his annual overview of services and resources at the Barton Community College Library, Darren Ivey, told college trustees that the 11,657 print books in the collections is a little more than half what a library that size should have.
The good news is that the staff weeded out about 5,000 out-of-date books last year and is making improvements.
“We’re trying to align our catalog to the curriculum,” he explained.
Ivey recently started his third year as Barton’s director of library and college archives. He said most of the print books are at the Barton County campus, but there are also small collections at the Fort Leavenworth Campus and the Fort Riley Campus.
Those libraries didn’t exist before Ivey came on board, Vice President Elaine Simmons said. The Fort Riley collection of 106 print books is in a bookcase at the main office. Fort Leavenworth has 79 print books.
Barton’s Library holdings include 106 databases, providing access to nearly 300,000 eBooks and more than 42,000 streaming videos. The library also has:
• 219 DVDs
• 65 games
• 640 government publications
• 173 graphic novels
• 78 periodicals (print and electronic)
• 41 theses/dissertations
“We’re seeing more use of eBooks,” Ivey said. However, “research says actually holding a book increases reading comprehension.”
Students’ photo ID card serves as their library card for borrowing materials, renewing these items, and requesting books and periodicals from academic and public libraries throughout the state and the nation. Barton also provides patron accounts to community members residing within its service area. A valid driver’s license and a Kansas public library card are required when first creating the account. For more information call 620-792-9365 or email library@bartonccc.edu.
Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki noted that libraries have changed more than other departments in recent years.
The library also houses the Cohen Center, a valuable collection and research area dedicated to preserving historic resources of Kansas. It was made possible by a gift from Barton P. and Dr. Mary Cohen of Leawood. Lindsey Bogner, executive director of the Barton Community College Foundation, noted that the Cohen Center has been used for book signings with visiting authors. “We do have a library endowment,” Bogner said. Citizens can donate funds to purchase library materials.
