National Library Week: What is a Library?

By Kate Mutch, Public Services Librarian

April 16, 2008

April 13-19 marks National Library Week, an opportunity for people across the nation to consider the contribution libraries make to their lives and communities. Although some predicted the internet would render libraries obsolete, the past 10 years of increased library usage nationwide have dispelled that notion. In just the past 5 years, your library has seen a 53% increase in visits, and a whopping 74% increase in items checked out.

Here are just a few reasons why your public library continues to be relevant to Natrona County:

NCPL is open to the public and is for the public, a place where anyone, regardless of economic status, has access to the holdings. It is an essential part of promoting an educated and literate population.

NCPL saves our citizens money. Libraries buy ONE item and MANY people use that item without having to purchase it. Numerable NCPL books have circulated over 55 times. Using figures from FY07, the collective cost avoidance for our citizens just in adult fiction books exceeds $1.3 million.

NCPL is a location to get unrestricted information, using the collection of data and knowledge, resources, and services available. Natrona County residents can ask a master degreed information specialist for assistance with any question.

NCPL is a central gathering place for social and civic engagement. In addition to providing reading material, your library provides a central location for community events, such as civic meetings, storytimes, and after-school programs.

NCPL is a destination that adds to the economic and social vitality of our community. Your library helps boost civic pride and performs critical roles as a community anchor and a cultural center.

The long and short of it is that NCPL is “a happening place.” It is a safe haven for the community, a place we all treasure.

As NCPL looks toward building a new library, our focus is on further improving our relevance to Natrona County citizens. The new building will better promote education and literacy through a larger and more versatile youth department. It will increase community access to technology, provide more opportunities for civic and community involvement, and provide enough library books and other materials to meet the needs of our growing population.

In addition, we plan to include an expanded collection devoted to Natrona County and Wyoming’s culture. In particular, we are looking to increase the number of local yearbooks from our high schools and colleges. We would especially appreciate donations of old NCHS, KW, Casper College, and UW yearbooks to start building this collection. If you would like us to pick up some old yearbooks, please call Kate Mutch at 237-4935 ext 111. Thank you in advance for helping us in this endeavor.

As we imagine the many ways a new library can benefit our community, the NCPL staff remains focused on providing excellent library services to the people of Natrona County. Most importantly, we always remember the library belongs to our citizens, providing free access to a world of knowledge and possibilities.

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