When the California State Library’s ZIP Books program was discontinued due to the loss of state funding, we knew our patrons would miss this popular service. ZIP Books gave readers another way to access titles that weren’t already available in our collection, while helping us discover what our community wanted to read.
Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Colusa County Free Library, we’re excited to introduce our local answer: ZAP, the Zip Acquisition Program!
The Friends have committed $7,500 to help us continue the spirit of ZIP Books while creating a program that works for our library and community. ZAP gives patrons a direct voice in building the Colusa County Free Library collection by requesting books we don’t already own.
There are a few important changes from ZIP Books. Under ZAP, approved books will be shipped to the Colusa Branch Library first, rather than directly to a patron’s home. Library staff will catalog and process the book, and the patron who requested it will receive first priority to check it out. Afterward, the book becomes part of our regular circulating collection.
We’ve also added some flexibility: new releases may be requested through ZAP if the library hasn’t already purchased or ordered them.
Patrons may submit up to three requests per month. Requests can be made directly to your local librarian or sent to Circulation Librarian, Jill, at jalbano@countyofcolusaca.gov. ZAP is for books only, so DVDs and Blu-rays are not eligible. All requests are subject to staff review, available funding, and our Collection Development Policy. Submission of a request does not guarantee purchase.
We anticipate placing ZAP orders each Friday. Depending on availability, shipping, and processing time, our goal is to have most approved books cataloged and ready for the requesting patron to check out within two weeks. That’s a little slower than the old ZIP Books model, but it allows us to keep providing this service despite the loss of State funding and ensures every ZAP purchase becomes part of our collection from day one.
ZAP is new for us, too, so we ask for your patience and flexibility as we learn what works, what doesn’t, and where the process needs adjusting.
Most of all, we thank the Friends of the Colusa County Free Library for stepping up with funding and helping us find creative ways to meet our patrons’ needs. Their support lets us build our collection with direct input from the people who use it.
Your request. Your first read. Then a new book for the whole community.