Some libraries are displaying fiction books on available surface spaces, this helps patrons find new releases or popular authors.

The problem described below and summarized here, is that the Cobb County Library is, for unknown reasons, apparently buying far to many copies of the same title; the alternative scenario is, that they are buying enough, but for unknown reasons they are not being parceled out to other libraries and end up pretty much dumped enmass at various libraries.  My research is limited to my own area, I don't know what you might find in the other 15 libraries, quite probably the same situation.

One thing that I can say with absolute assurance is, that there is no way on Earth that we need 17 copies, or 13 copies of any book at any one library and of course there well may be other copies, over and above those on the shelf, that are checked out.  So the statistics of 17 and 13 might well be 25 and 20 if there are other copies of that title already in circulation from that library. 


We have so many multiple copies of books that there is not enough shelf space to put them on, many are stacked up on the top shelf (see photos).

This situation is a major waste of resources, both in the possibility of over ordering of individual titles and absolutely in the nonsense of having so many of the same title that they have to be stacked on top of the shelves.

I don't know what the reason for this is, terrible management comes to mind, but this must change.  I have written to the Director of the Cobb County Library and established this blog site so that the chaos of the Cobb County Library is brought to other Taxpayers attention as well as the Library administration, including the trustees.

I also know that my own Downtown Kennesaw library is getting short changed with many of the titles being kept at West Cobb Regional and none at the Downtown Kennesaw branch.

Here is an example of how many copies of various titles are at Cobb West Regional v. how many of the same title are available on the shelf, on the same day (3/19/11) at Kennesaw Downtown.

Johnathan Kellerman, ‘Evidence’

17 West Cobb Regional,  as of 4/1 there are 9 copies

1 Kennesaw Downtown

Jeffery Deaver, ‘Roadside Crosses’

9 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 8 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

Julie Garwood, ‘Sizzle’

8 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 7 copies

1 Kennesaw Downtown

James Patterson, ‘Alex Cross’s Trial’

8 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 7 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

James Patterson, ‘Cross Country’

6 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 5 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

Mary Higgins Clark, ‘Just Take My Hand’

13 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 7 copies
1 Kennesaw Downtown

Catherine Coulter, ‘Knock Out’

10 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 8 copies

2 Kennesaw Downtown

Michael Connelly, ‘The Scarecrow’

9 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 8 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

Pat Conroy, ‘South Broad’

10 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 14 copies

1 Kennesaw Downtown

Stuart Woods, ‘Lucid Intervals’

9 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 5 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

Stuart Woods, ‘Loitering with Intent’

11 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 3 copies

1 Kennesaw Downtown

J. D. Robb, ‘Salvation in Death’

11 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 11 copies

0 Kennesaw Downtown

J. D. Robb, ‘Promises in Death’

8 West Cobb Regional, as of 4/1 there are 9 copies

0 Downtown Kennesaw

Update FYI:  Kennesaw Councilmember Mr. Bruce Jenkins replied to my earlier emailed inquiry, this correspondence and reply is available at the bottom of this blogsite.

Library Problems in Cobb County

Reply of 3/30/11

Photo:  Library Director Helen Poyer

No library branch needs to have 17 copies
of the same title on hand!























Johnathan Kellerman - 'Evidence'
17 Copies at West Cobb Regional
1 Copy at Kennesaw Downtown

James Patterson  
'Alex Cross's Trial'
8 Copies at West Cobb Regional
0 Copies at Kennesaw Downtown


'Cross Country'
6 Copies at West Cobb Regional
0 Copies at Kennesaw Downtown






Stuart Woods 
'Lucid Intervals'
9 Copies at West Cobb Regional
0 Copies at Kennesaw Downtown

'Loitering with Intent'
11 Copies at West Cobb Regional
0 Copies at Kennesaw Downtown

Click on for larger copy:

Cobb County Public Library Board


Description: Consisting of nine (9) members appointed by the BOC this Board serves in an advisory capacity to BOC on items of interest and important relating to the public libraries of Cobb County. For full duties of this Board see O.C.G.A. Sections 20-5-40 through 20-5-44. Appointments are for three (3) year terms. Members receive no compensation.

Board Members:
Peggy Pool
Bernice Franklin
Cherrie Coleman-Graffread
Abby Shiffman
Don Elrod
Les Still
Sally Rhoden
Charles Switzer
Peggy Holbrook


Contact Information: Cobb County Public Library Director - (770) 528-2320

Here is an 'observation/comment', put last as it is reflective of my personal reading taste.

The author Lee Child is a popular author of fiction books and has written about 16 books.  He is someone I read whenever I can find one of his books that I have not yet read.  I was surprised to find only two of his various titles on the shelf at West Regional.

I have no complaint on the number of copies of those two titles, I just would like to know why more of his titles are not available?

Councilmember Bruce Jenkins Replies:

Click on page for larger view: