Materials and Services

Books

Approximately 100,000 books are available for adults, young adults, and children. Several thousand new books are added each year.

Magazines

The library subscribes to approximately 225 magazines, from American History to Motor Trend to The Writer. Recent issues of magazines may be checked out at the branch library. In addition, electronic databases provide access to hundreds of magazines and journals.

Business and Financial Materials

The main library has Standard & Poor's publications, Barron's, Thomas Register of American Manufacturers, Value Line Investment Survey, Morningstar Mutual Funds, and other useful sources of business and investment information.

Interlibrary Loan

With other libraries in the Lewis & Clark Library System, the Six Mile Regional Library District participates in an automated circulation/catalog network. The main and branch libraries are able to borrow over two million items owned by members of the network. In addition, books and other materials may often be borrowed from other libraries throughout Illinois and elsewhere.

Newspapers

In addition to the Granite City newspaper and other area papers, the library has major newspapers including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the New York Times. The library also subscribes to Newsbank, which provides on-line access to several major newspapers.

Auto Repair Manuals

The main library has a large selection of automotive repair manuals including Mitchell and Chilton manuals as well as the Mitchell's Online database. Other self-help manuals on a variety of subjects are also available.

The Six Mile Regional Library District is a member of the Lewis & Clark Library System with access to an automated card catalog. This web catalog contains the holdings of SMRLD plus many other libraries in the Lewis & Clark System. In the web catalog, you can browse material holdings, view your library account, renew materials or request an item from another library to be delivered to SMRLD for pickup! To begin searching, please contact the library to get a PIN and login.

Because the library is financially supported by the taxes paid by residents of the Six Mile Regional Library District, it is necessary to charge persons living outside the library district a fee for a library card. An annual non-resident card may be purchased for use by the entire family.

Outside Book Return

For your convenience, a drive-up book return box is located at the main library and at the branch.

Audio Recordings

Musical and nonmusical audiocassettes, as well as recorded books, are available at the main library for home use. Compact discs can be found at the branch library.

Videocassettes and DVDs

Several hundred special-interest videocassettes on a variety of subjects, in addition to movies on video, are available at the main and branch libraries. Each library has a small but growing collection of DVDs.

Information/Reference Service

When you have a question or need information on any subject, come to the reference desk at the main library, call 452-6241, or send an e-mail to gceref@lcls.org. We will be happy to search the library's large collection of reference materials for the information you need.

You may search the Internet at either the Main or the Branch Library. Persons under eighteen need a parent's permission.  Internet computers may also be used for word-processing activities.

The Main and the Branch have wireless access for your own personal laptop or notebook.

A self-service photocopier is available for use at the Main and Branch locations. Copies are 10 cents each.

Activities for Children

Storytimes, crafts, and other programs for children are held at the main and branch libraries. An extensive summer reading program encourages children to use the library year round.

Genealogy Materials

To help you in tracing your family history, the main library has general how-to guides; books with information on marriage records, obituaries, wills, ship passenger lists, etc.; and some of the federal census microfilm for Illinois and Tennessee.

Two databases, HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry, provides computer access to federal census records for all U.S. states and to thousands of family and local histories; immigration records; and other sources of information for genealogists. HeritageQuest is available from your home computer as well as from computers at the main and branch libraries.

Extension Service

A delivery van takes materials to homebound residents.

Gifts

Monetary gifts to the library in memory of, or in honor of, a friend or relative are always appreciated. Special envelopes for this purpose may be picked up at either the main or the branch library.

Other Databases

In addition to online databases mentioned elsewhere in the this brochure, the library also subscribes to:

• Learning Express.  Offers more than 300 online practice tests for academic and career examinations.
• p4a Antiques Reference.  Gives current market values of a wide range of antiques and collectibles.

• Novelist.  Allows fiction readers to find authors and books similar to the ones they have enjoyed in the past.

Jeanette L. Kampen, Assistant Director
Lynda Seegert, Head of Technical Services
Gregg McGee, Branch Librarian
Donna Asbeck, Children's Coordinator
Michael Hillmer, Reference Librarian
Maureen Hayes, Administrative Assistant