WebJunction

A library is much more than just a collection of books and information. It is a communication center, a gathering place, an information center, a community hub of activity for all ages and interests. I learned in the first month to expect anything. I don’t think my definition of libraries has really changed that much. My knowledge of what it takes to run the library has certainly broadened a great deal. I think most of our community views our library as a place to get a good book to read and where kids come to hang out and play computer games. However, the people who actually use the library see it as a busy and active place, with events for all ages throughout the year. We just celebrated 60 years with an open house last Saturday. I had pictures from the inception of the library with the Williams Womens’ Club, when they moved into the new building and on to present day. There was a lot of discussion about how the Library had changed and grown. I think our library is appreciated by the communities it serves even though it is a minority of people who actually use the library on a regular basis. Of course they look at the library differently than 20 years ago. Twenty years ago we barely even had vocabulary for computer technology. We have services that didn’t exist 20 years ago. I am new, but I think that the former director tried to meet the changing needs of the community, especially when it came to technology. I also feel that we need to do more to provide services to the older population and the teens. These changes will come with time.

I define the library as a community center when anyone and everyone are welcome to learn and enjoy life. When I first started I knew that libraries were a community center open to all, but I didn’t take to heart the aspect that people enjoying and using the library make it what it is…after all library’s need people otherwise we are just a storage place for books. I think that the community would describe the library as community centers as well as we are always working on new things and always busy. Our community does look differently at the library from even 5 years ago as we have moved to a new building and seen growth in almost all aspects of the library since then. The library has been and will change as time and the community and the field changes.

Before taking PLM 1 & PLM 2, I thought the Library was a social enterprise. Manly being open during stated hours and checking in & out books. My definition has changed greatly since completing the 2 courses. It is a business to be run by rules and regulations, policies & proceedures, with continuing changes. I am sure the community sees the Library the same as I did before becoming Library Director. Especially the City Council. I am trying to change their way of thinking. The community definitely needs to be educated about the services of the new Library.

I believe the library should be the center of information - whether it be for personal improvement or for recreation - for everyone. I'm not certain if my definition has changed. I believe it has evolved due to learning there are more aspects to the Library than I had considered over the last year. Our Library had a director for 15 years who did nothing other than the minimum that was expected (that's probably due to the years of POOR wages.) She basically sat, read books or played computer games. With this behavior, I believe the town and especially the city council did not expect much more. The Director I replaced made the Library nothing but a gossip center and a place for all of her relatives to hang out. Not a good impression either. I believe the perception is changing as we continue to add more programming in all areas as well as expand into the community. Hopefully, over the next couple of years, the community will see us as an engaged library.

It was not so much after PLM 1& 2 that my definition of a library changed as after I had started working as a director of one. I had always considered it a place to check out books and find information, but it is a place to socialize and gather material of all kinds to enrich your life. My opinion was formed when I began working here; I never really considered the library's role in the community before that. I guess I was one of those who took it for granted. I think our community sees the library as a friendly place to go for their books and movies and internet access. We have some recreational walkers in town who use the library as a port in a storm, air conditioned on hot days, warm on cold days, dry on rainy days, and a pit stop on those long walks. They never get books, just stop on their way through and maybe chat for while with whomemver may be around, or read the paper till they are ready to go on their way again. I do not know how community perception may have changed library operations; the hours have been constant for the 20 years I have lived in Earlville. I know that the Internet has brought people into the library that otherwise would not have used it (the library) and we have had children attend our programs that do not visit the library any other time. We are still filling a story hour role, and an SRP role, but I am working on some adult programming to reach more adults. I think that a lot of townspeople still take the library for granted and that makes it hard to convince city leaders that funding for operations and staff is not something to be taken lightly, especially with school libraries struggling under budget cuts. I would like to see a way to convince the city council that librarians are worth more than mimimum wage.

I love your word picture difining the library as "the living room of the community"!!.......nice welcoming idea......the living room I'm
picturing of devoid of a television......just a nice quiet relaxing place to sit down.

I have some walkers too that come in to use the facilities, but one lady also checks out books on tape to listen to while walking, so that helps our circulation.

I also have had an aah haa moment after becoming the director. Who knew that you had to do reports like there is no tomorrow! But you're right about the majority of patrons just taking the library for granted. And that reflects in budgeting and being worth only minimum wage. I'm a card carrying member of the minimum wage club too. But I'm willing to prove my worth and hopefully cast a new light on the worth of the library for the community.

session 16 1b
Now it is is not just books. The INTERNET has arrived! Now you can look up information on the internet. The young children are learing it in school so they will be better informed on how to move in the computer world. If our power source would one day fail, I hope we never did get rid or our books.

session 16, 1d
Yes because of the internet, but there still needs to be more education for the older group of people to get them interested in
learning the new tech.