My name is Sharlene Hakes. I have lived and worked in this community for over three years now. In that time, I have spent ample time at the library, borrowing books and using the computer and copy machine. I am currently working my second internship at the library. The library director, Samma, asked me to write this blog to share my perspective on working in the library versus being a patron of the library.
I did my first internship last year as part of a course at CVTC. The reason I chose the library is simple, I love books and reading. When I was a kid, libraries were a magical place where stories abound. I imagined working at a library would be fun; what is more fun than being surrounded by hundreds of books? Imagination versus reality in this case is not too far off for me; I have enjoyed it and have been pleasantly surprised at some of the things the library does for the community.
One thing that surprised me was the amount of events provided by the library. It takes a lot of planning and consideration of the community’s needs to create an event. Our librarians put in a lot of effort to make the events. It all starts with an idea. After that, they create a plan that includes research, advertising the event, and leading the event. One example of an event provided by the library is the Stitch-In wherein patrons can come sit and stitch or can learn a new skill involving stitching.
The way the library maintains an updated selection of books is another factor that I had not considered before. I figured libraries had to get rid of some books in order to get new ones in, but I did not know how much thought and care went into the process. Some of it is simple; an updated version of an educational book replaced the outdated version. A book that was hardly checked out is easy enough to exchange for new book in its stead. However, some of it is more complicated like a beloved but dilapidated book or a book that is more difficult to replace because there are not newer versions of it. An example of beloved but dilapidated books that needed to be replaced were several of the Garfield Fat Cat 3-Packs. I am sure many of you noticed the new copies in this set. Of course maintaining an updated book selection comes down to the funds the library receives; only so much of it can be budgeted toward buying new books.
The total budget for the library is over ninety thousand dollars a year, but only about eleven percent of it is for materials or just over $10,000 this year. The materials bought include adult books, children’s books, young adult books, audiobooks, board games, DVDS, and replacement items for damaged material. That is a little to stretch to cover so many materials. The remaining budget goes toward bills, supplies, service contracts, and wages for staff. The limited budget means that materials are selected carefully. The librarians do a great job of selecting appealing materials that appeal to the majority. They are a valuable source to the community.
The library provides many resources for the community. Members of the community can come in to borrow books, movies, or magazines or to use the computers. They can also come to various events like the Stitch-In or Book Clubs offered where they can learn new skills or continue recreational activities and have stimulating conversations. Whether for recreational or educational purposes, the library provides for the community.