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e e e nity library," which typically includes a selective, less broad collection of popular reading, with reference services available. This type of library is the type of library found in small outlying communities or in particular neighborhoods, such as the Albina branch of the Multnomah County Library. The Albina branch is located in a black neighborhood in Portland and the branch specializes in black history and interests. Ms. Hildebrand discussed the next type of branch library, the neighborhood library, primarily set up for popular reading and some homework help. This type of library has a limited collection geared to quick drop-in visits and would not have a meeting room or a specialized staff. These types of librar- ies sometimes share space in community centers and shopping centers. The last type of branch library, the self-contained kiosk, is designed to be trucked in and dropped off. These kiosks are dropped off in parking lots and are used to gauge the degree of local interest in bookmobile stops or actual branches. These kiosks have very limited collections and very small staffs. Ms. Hildebrand said in recent years, the trend in branches is to locate them in rented space. The bigger cities haVing public library branch systems in free-standing buildings have found themselves in the same situations as school systems when the configuration of a neighborhood changes: they own unused or underused buildings that are politically difficult to dispose of. Renting means that upfront capital costs are less and, if neighborhood pat- terns or financial stability changes, the buildings can be vacated. Ongoing building maintenance costs are less. The old tradition of putting branches in neighborhoods where people live is being replaced by locating them where people go, such as shopping centers. These locations have the advantage of being in a ready-made concentration of people, off-street parking, estab- lished shopping center advertising, and at night the branch is not isolated or dark. "Ms. Hildebrand said that another trend in branch libraries was to specialize, rather than create miniature libraries patterned after the main library. The staff pinpoints the use expected and designs the collection for the designat- ed population around the branch. For example, a senior center near a branch will mean the library carries more large print books. However, such librar- ies are limited. Ms. Hildebrand estimated that such a branch library would involve a collection of 10,000 items to cover all ages. There may not be items for everyone; there won1t be the depth and breadth of non-print materi- als, such as videocassettes or audiocassettes. Study space, magazines, story times, and programs would continue to be held at the main library. Ms. Hildebrand added that branch libraries do not offer much room for improvement of service, such as increasing the size of the collection. Branch libraries dictate the need for adequate budgets to purchase new books to make sure all the branches have adequate collections. Ms. Hildebrand said she had put together a "shopping center branch" budget. She said there is 3,000 square feet available at the Echo Hollow Shopping Center, and she has used this space to put together the budget. It would cost about $160,000 to set up the branch physically, depending on needed remodels, including equipment, furniture, telephone lines, and the opening MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 11, 1988 Page 6