• Interlibrary reference and information
• Direct reference and information as well as community information and referral
• Interlibrary loan supported by an interlibrary delivery system
• Consulting services and continuing education in various areas upon request
• Public relations and marketing
• A properly maintained resource center of books, magazines, and audiovisual media appropriate to district needs at the Main Library which is open 65 hours per week

District Collections

• Circulating Collection
• Reference Collection
• Books on Tape
• Language Tapes
• Large Print Books
• Magazines and Newspapers
• Pennsylvania Collection
• Pennsylvania German Collection
• Spanish Collection
• Videos and DVDs
• Music CDs
• Map Collection
• Pamphlet File
• Foundation Center Collection
• Government Documents
• Business Tools
• Children's Collection
• Literacy Collection

Reference Services
The reference collection of over 6,000 volumes includes indexes, directories, specialized encyclopedias, and reference works on almost every topic, as well as extensive information on business and investing; higher education and scholarships; careers; medicine for the layperson; and federal, state, and Reading city laws and regulations. The Reference Department also has a map collection and a pamphlet file which emphasize hard-to-find Reading and Berks County information.

Reference services are available during all hours that the library is open, for in-person and telephone inquiries. Reference services include answers to fairly simple questions; assistance in researching in-depth questions; and instruction in using the online catalog, the Internet, CD-ROMs on the Local Area Network, and microfilm readers for viewing magazines and newspapers. The Reference staff tries to fill all information needs, and refers the patron to an appropriate outside agency if necessary.

The Reference staff oversees the Interlibrary Loan department, the Pennsylvania Room, and the Foundation Center; administers the periodicals collection, the federal depository program, and the government documents collection; and selects most print materials for the Main Library circulating collection, as well as all Spanish Language materials.


Interlibrary Loan
If the library does not own an item, we can usually borrow it from another library upon request. The Reading District has successfully established and maintains a cooperative working relationship with RPL patrons, all system libraries and school librarians throughout Berks County, as well as other Pennsylvania District Libraries. Reading Library's Interlibrary Loan Department has been evaluated as a model of organization and efficiency.


Consulting
The Reading Public Library provides consulting services in various areas of library operations upon request.


Technology and Electronic Information

• ALIN: The library's electronic card catalog, better known as ALIN (Advanced Library Information Network) lists the holdings of Reading Public Library, other members of Berks County Public Libraries, the RACC library,and the COCA library. Dial-in access from personal computers at 610-655-6364 is also available. Starting in 1999, the ALIN catalog can be reached via the World Wide Web at www.reading.lib.pa.us.
• LAN: The library's local area network makes a large number of electronic databases available to library users. The databases available include Magazine Index, American Business Directory, National Trade Data Bank, Phone Disc, Books in Print and many more.
• Internet access was initiated and has been promoted at most local libraries because of district grants.
• Electronic information, such as full-text periodical databases (some in Spanish) and CD-ROM reference sources, has been purchased and made available with district grants and cooperation.
• Websites for the Reading Public Library (which has links to thousands of excellent informational, educational, and recreational Internet sites) and other district libraries have been created through district efforts.
• WAN: Wide Area Network has been funded via a district grant to bring many more online reference materials to local libraries
   

Other Library Services
Children's Services (Computer Learning Center, Story Hours & Programs)
Request for purchase of library materials
Copiers
City Bookmobile
Branch Libraries
Spanish Language Community Outreach Program
Reading Eagle Archives
Computer Workstations
Web Site - http://www.reading.lib.pa.us 
Web Catalog - http://ipac.reading.lib.pa.us/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=ml&lang=eng#focus

Public Relations
Brochures, Booklists & Handouts
District Trustees Workshop
BCTV Program - "Inside Berks Libraries"
BCTV Program - "Story Web"
Boscov's Summer Reading Outreach Programs
"Young Poets" Poetry Contest