Opened as an experiment in summer of 1993, the Bookmark Cafe stays open due to popular demand both as a service to library users and as a source of extra revenue. In Green Bay, Wis., the Brown County Library and the Community Solid Waste Department have formed a unique partnership with reference librarians staffing the county's Recycling Hotline. More than 350 questions are answered each week. Residents of Orange County, Calif., can obtain copies of birth certificates on the spot at local libraries. The online service eliminates a visit to the recorder's service to place an order and a return visit the next day to pick up the certificate.
Users pay a nominal fee.
In Tucson, Ariz., concerned residents can obtain copies of floodplain maps and other documents on floodplain management from the library to help make decisions about purchasing flood insurance and protecting their homes.