Your Local Library Offers Far More Than Just Books to Read

One summer when I was a child, I decided I would read every book in our small town library, starting with authors whose name began with A and going right on through the Z's. You can imagine how that turned out-but I did read straight through several letters of the alphabet before I gave up and became a bit more selective in what I chose to read.

In middle school, called Junior High in those days, I discovered that the library also had resource materials I could use to write reports for class assignments, and I made frequent use of the rather outdated encyclopedias that sat on a huge table in the middle of our library.

Only as an adult, did I discovered that a library could be much more to a community than just a place to borrow books or find information for writing a report. A good library is, in many ways, the most valuable asset a city can have.

I have been fortunate in that I have access to two libraries. The closest to me is small but adequate for most things I need to know. The other, in a larger town 3 miles from where I live, is very up-to-date and provides services to meet the needs of every interest level imaginable.

Here are some services a good library might provide. Check them out to see how your own local library measures up, and to see if there are some areas that could use improvement.

1. Children's Services.

Even very small libraries should have a system in place for small children to apply for and receive their own library cards. Fines for overdue or damaged books teach children responsibility and that there are penalties when responsibility is shirked.

Story hours at different times during the week are great activities to get kids interested in reading. Usually someone on the library staff does the reading, but authors or parents are often willing to share this chore.

Groups from around town may provide programs for children at the library. One such program I remember was on the subject of magic which ended with the man presenting the program performing a number of simple magic tricks. The kids were thrilled. Another about safety was presented by the local fire department-followed by a trip out to the parking lot for a chance to sit behind the wheel of a real fire engine. Once a group of older students from the high school drama class put on a play for the children, and another time a professional clown told them how she got into making her living as a clown. After she spoke, the clown and one of her helpers painted designs on the faces of the children who wanted them.

One library I frequent has hand puppets, activity kits, children's videos, CD's, and even stuffed animals available for checkout in the children's section. The librarian usually makes a comment reminding the child that they need to take extra care with these items, and to bring them back in good shape for the next borrower.

Several children's computers loaded with educational programs are always in use when I go to the library. Each child has to sign in and is limited to 15 minutes at any one time so that others will also get a chance to use a computer.

2. Adult Services.

Both libraries I use have online services so that I can check to see if a particular book I want is on hand before I make a trip to the library. If it is, I can place a hold on it so that it won't be checked out by someone else before I arrive, or if my library doesn't have it,

they will request it from another library and tell me when they expect it to arrive so that I can time my library trips accordingly.

If I have a number of books ready to return, I can also check online to make sure I haven't overlooked one or more as I gather them together for their trip back to the library.

Our library has a whole area dedicated to magazines and many tables and chairs where you can sit comfortably to read them if you decide not to check them out. They keep older copies of many of the magazines in a storage room and will find them for you if you fill out a request at a nearby desk.

There is also an adult computer room where about 20 computers are always in use. These, like the children's computers are on a first come-first served basis, but you do have to sign up for a specific period of time to use them so that everyone will have a chance. For those who prefer to bring their own laptops, Wi-Fi is installed throughout the building so you can find a comfortable niche to sit and compute to your heart's content. (Or for as long as your battery lasts.)

Groups that aid community members such as AA, or Narcotics Anonymous, a garden club, Diet Groups, and a host of other groups meet on a regular basis in one of several meeting rooms at our library. For many years, until we outgrew the room, I belonged to a writer's group that met there once a week. As far as I know, none of the groups are charged for the use of a meeting room.

Tapes, DVD's, videos, etc. are available for check-out just like regular books. A few, such as a new movie release, may be in great demand and have a time limit.

Newspapers, both current and on microfilm, are readily available. I have often used newspapers dating back into the 1920's and 30's for writing an article.

There are copy machines in a small alcove where you can, for 5 cents a page, copy information you may want to save for one reason or another.

Paintings, (or copies of paintings) by famous people hang on the walls and a number of artistic tapestries, sculptures, and frequently changed exhibits are situated around the building for perusal, and I often see several people gathered near a particular exhibit enjoying the opportunity to learn about another culture than their own.

Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention that the larger library near my home has added a small coffee shop which offers, for a price, coffee, tea, soft drinks, donuts and bagels, and even a small sandwich or salad. Of course the food isn't allowed inside the library part of the building, but I thought that it was an interesting addition to the services the library already provides, which are many.

What about your own local library? Does it provide things you haven't even discovered yet? Why not plan a trip there soon to find out? You may be pleasantly surprised.