Jefferson County Public Library uses a library management process known as a "shared collection."

This means books, CDs, DVDs and other library materials in the JCPL collection are not "owned" by a particular library, but "shared" by all of the libraries throughout the county.

When you return an item, it is shelved at the location to which it was returned and remains there until it is checked out at that location, or requested to be sent to another.

Since 1994, this shared collection has supported our library's operating principal of "one system - one collection," and the fact that Jefferson County does not have one central or "main" library.

In addition to being a cost-saving measure for the library, the most important benefits of a shared collection are that materials spend less time moving between library locations, our patrons have a constantly changing mix of materials at each Jefferson County library, and materials find their way to the location where they are most heavily used, and needed most.

Please note there are a few kinds of materials that always remain at one library location. If you have any questions about our shared collection, please ask any Jefferson County library manager.