Reference

Staff members answer telephone calls during operating hours at all libraries. Generally, staff members can spend three to five minutes answering a call. Patrons in the library take preference over telephone callers. If the librarians are assisting patrons in the library, telephone callers may need to call back. Holds may be placed on books by telephone if the caller has a current Tom Green County Library card in hand. Interlibrary Loan requests may be processed at the Main Library by telephone in the same manner.

Audio-Visual

Video cassettes, audio cassettes, records, framed art prints, an overhead projector and projection screens are located in our Audio-Visual area at the Main Library. Listening stations are available for audio cassettes. A small area for tutoring students of the Tom Green County Adult Literacy Program is located in this area. Tutors may make reservations by phone or in person. The overhead projector and projection screens check out for 24 hours and must be reserved in advance. A patron must be 18 years old to check out video cassettes. The West Branch Library has audio casettes available for check out.

Newspapers and Magazines

P.A.L.S. (People Attaining Library Services)

The Main Library provides library materials, such as regular and large print books, audio cassettes, and large print magazines to people who cannot walk or take public transportation to the the nearest library. Volunteers deliver these materials once a month. If you need this service or are interested in becoming a PALS volunteer please contact us at the information desk of the Main Library.

ELECTRONIC SOURCES
The following CD-ROM programs are available for patrons at the Main Library. These programs are not available on-line.
 

• Infotrac Magazine Index: Infotrac indexes over 400 magazines for the last three years. Patrons type in the subject and online cues lead them to article citations and/or abstracts which can be printed. Tom Green County Library System may or may not have the particular magazine that is referenced.
• Granger Poetry Index: The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry indexes more than 135,000 poems. Patrons may search by title, first line, last line, keyword, or author's name. Successful searches lead patrons to an index. Our library may or may not have the referenced books.
• Exegy Current Events: Exegy provides current world information on countries, current events, people, and statistics of each country.
• Scribner Writer Series: This resource is designed for high school and college students and features over 500 full text essays on authors and criticisms of works. Essays range from ten to fifty pages and require critical interpretation.
• American Indian Encyclopedia: This resource provides information on native American tribes, people, legends, and museums. On-screen instructions are provided for patrons.
• Books in Print: Indexed by author, title, and subject, books can be looked up via this CD-ROM resource. Information is available on cost, publisher, and date of publication. Books listed here are currently available in print, but may or may not be in the Tom Green County Library System holdings.

Interlibrary Loan is a service to obtain materials which are not owned by the Tom Green County Library System. Materials which may be obtained include books and photocopies from magazines and newspapers. Requests may be made at the Main Library's Information Desk. Patrons need a valid library card number. If a database search finds no library who has the particular material and is willing to lend it, a staff member will call within a couple of days. If the material is located, it usually takes one to three weeks to receive it. There are no charges for Interlibrary Loan unless specified by the lending library. Patrons are expected to pick up the material promptly when it arrives and they are called. Interlibrary Loan books check out for two weeks. If the lending library permits, books may be renewed one time for an additional two week period. Sometimes, the lending library specifies that the item is for use in the library only. Overdue books may not be renewed.

Law Library

 The Law Library is located inside the Main Library itself. It is available to the public during regular Main Library hours. No one person is trained to help patrons use the resources, but staff members at the Information Desk can show patrons where the materials are located and how to use the general indexes. Librarians cannot interpret the law nor advise patrons on legal matters. Materials in the Law Library are selected by a Law Library Committee. The resources include Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, Supreme Court Reporters, Black's Law Dictionary, Texas Practice, Texas Jurisprudence, West's Texas Forms United States Code, Southwestern Reporter, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, and Shepard's Citations.

Literacy Shelf

 Materials on the Literacy Shelf at the Main Library were provided through library grants from the U. S. Department of Education, in cooperation with the Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley. Topics include reading comprehension, English as a Second language, pre-GED study guides, mathematics, and guides for teaching adults to read.  Low-level readiing materials are also available on employment, parenting, reading maps, keeping a checkbook, using the telephone, and other life skills.

Each of the libraries has a Potluck Shelf, with low-reading level fiction and nonfiction paperbacks for beginning adult readers.

Grants Shelf

In cooperation with the Junior League of San Angelo, the Main Library has created a special Grants Shelf, using funds from the League's TAP-IN program.  Materials located here include publications on getting grants, lists of foundations and what they fund, and information for nonprofit organizations.