Folks, libraries are sure not what they used to be! You know ... Shhhhhhhhh!
Chloe Fingerstickle recently recommended I visit the public library to see what’s happening there. Well, I do visit the library. I get books on loan. “No kid, I mean it’s wonderful what’s going on. Go and see.” So I did.
“Tell me everything,” I asked. The staff gave me a run-down of all that goes on in this place. I was stupefied. (No wise cracks from the peanut gallery, now!)
Oh my. What a change. Hey, I come from the generation where you tiptoed and whispered in the library; where you roamed the bookshelves trying to figure out the Dewey Decimal system.
I peered into Debbie Gore’s busy office. She is the head librarian, but gives all the credit to her staff. However, she is the impetus.
“Are we changing? Well, yes. There isn’t a choice. Change is happening so rapidly, we have to keep up. Every day we are reassessing what we are doing before the public is aware of what’s next. We want to stay ahead of the curve, not behind it so that we can stay relevant in the community.”
She remarked that the Larned Library contains over 40,000 books.
“If my concern was just books? Oh my, my job would be so easy! We want to be the hub of community activity, and that means providing much more. Relevance is the key.”
Allen Mead, the lone man among the staff, remarked how the meeting room stays busy with Bridge clubs, Mahjongg tables, and other social activities. “There’s also a group of women who meet regularly in the library sofa-area weekly. They do something with needles” I laughed. They knit. One of Allen’s many projects is woodworking classes from pre-cut kits. Allen is energetic and full of ideas.
“I love this job. And I work with people who do a terrific job with innovative ideas. Since I started (working here) last year, it’s turned 180 degrees,” he commented.
Christy Meyer, and Dava Makings are always thinking up new, creative ideas. Christy heads a T-shirt project. Bring your T-shirt, pay $5, and decorate it. Dava showed me her “designer” T. The girls will soon offer an earring class, using faux leather as the medium. Christy also hosts an American Girl class on Thursdays once a month
“Where do you get these wonderful project ideas”, I asked.
“Pinterest. Then I put my own little twist to it”, explained Christy.
The first Friday of the month the staff hosts a lunch and a program for “Lunchbites.” The cost is $5 per person. One can find out more on the Jordaan library Facebook page. In addition to Allen, Dava, Christy, and Debbie, Rita Ansberry and Janet Olson are vital to pulling it all together.
There’s so much more, and not enough room to tell all.
Of course, the computers for the public are popular. No cost. And there’s a beautiful grand piano in the main library room where anyone can practice their art on this instrument.
Gore explained how they will be offering more and more STEM activities this year. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.
“We have done some really fun things; one being “Makey, Makey.” It involves attaching electrodes to a portable laptop, and using gummy worms, marshmallows, or whatever. The users connect every day objects to computer programs, using a circuit board, alligator clips, and a USB cable. The toy uses a closed loop to send signals of different kinds to the computer. That’s all this columnist can figure out. But the kids catch on fast and continue to amaze the staff with their innovative tunes, and images that they create. It’s over this reporter’s head.
“Kids are completely un-intimidated by these challenges. There is no limit to what they can do,” Gore added. “We even borrowed a 3-D printer for a while and created some interesting objects.”
Isn’t this new definition of a library exciting and stimulating? Take advantage of your local library, everyone. These facilities are on the cutting edge. You will be like me, amazed.
Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at bluegrasses@gmail.com. Visit her website juditabler.com.
