Vertical file travel collection at Sterling Municipal (Baytown, TX)

From David Bigwood's comments on Ryan Eby's blog:

For several years I worked nights at a local public library, Sterling Municipal. They had an extensive vertical file collection part of which was travel brochures and maps of many locations. They received the material by being on mailing lists of chambers and travel and visitor organizations. When the staff went somewhere and picked up that kind of material they would bring it back and dontate it to the collections. Even some patrons would bring in material. Some local travel agencies would pass on maps and flyers. The collection was very well used. Folks would stop by before a trip and pick up the brochures and flyers to decide where to stay and what to see. They could get the addreesses for the Web sites of the items, for another look. They they would check out the maps for the trip itself. Works well.

As an aside, Sterling Municipal is announcing availability of a patron reading history so that patrons can see what books they've checked out (opt in, of course). I recall being sternly lectured by a senior librarian at a library conference that that was a dangerous thing to do, even if it's what people wanted.