709 Outlet Type Code

An outlet is a unit of an administrative entity that provides

direct public library service.

Select one of the following:

BM—Books-by-Mail Only. A direct mail order service

which provides books and other library materials. Booksby-

mail typically serves rural residents, the disabled, the

homebound, and others without access to another type of

public library outlet. Requests for materials are usually

received by mail and by telephone only. Only books-bymail

services that are housed separately from any other

type of direct public service outlet (that is, central library,

branches, or bookmobiles) should be coded here.

BR—Branch Library. A branch library is an auxiliary unit

of an administrative entity which has at least all of the following:

1. Separate quarters;

2. An organized collection of library materials;

3. Paid staff; and

4. Regularly scheduled hours for being open to the

public.

BS—Bookmobile(s). A bookmobile is a traveling branch

library. It consists of at least all of the following:

1. A truck or van that carries an organized collection

of library materials;

2. A paid staff; and

3. Regularly scheduled hours (bookmobile stops) for

being open to the public.

Note: A separate outlet record may be created for each

bookmobile. You may wish to create separate outlet

records for individual bookmobiles if (1) they have different

addresses and/or (2) they have different Metropolitan

Status Codes (see outlet data element #710).

Alternatively, a bookmobile outlet record may include

more than one bookmobile.

CE—Central Library. This is one type of single outlet

library (SO) or the library which is the operational center

of a multiple-outlet library (MO or MA). Usually all

processing is centralized here and the principal collections

are housed here. Synonymous with main library.

Note: Each administrative entity may report either no

central library or one central library. No administrative

entity may report more than one central library. If you

wish to identify a central library in the outlet file, identify

the library with the largest collection as the central library

for FSCS purposes, and report all others as branches.

Where there are several co-equal outlets and no principal

collection, report all such outlets as branches, not central

libraries.