Your “Home” Library

By Brenda Thomson, Community Relations Coordinator

February 8, 2012

Do you have a “home” grocery store?  You know, the one you run to when you just need a stick of butter or some baking powder?  It’s the one where you could walk in, grab the exact jar of pickles you want and head to the register within seconds.  The clerks recognize you, you know where the restrooms are, and can actually find what you want in the produce department.

The library is the same to those who use it often.  It becomes a familiar and safe place, where you know exactly where to find what you are looking for.  Often the librarians know you by name, and you wouldn’t think twice about asking for help.

But others feel like I do when I go grocery shopping in my old hometown rather than here.  Things have changed.  The aisles are all switched around, and I don’t recognize a single person. 

If it has been awhile since you visited your public library, we would like to welcome you back, and help you feel more at home. 

First, you need the lay of the land.  Here it is, bottom to top.

The basement houses the children’s department – all fiction books for young readers up through 6th grade, children’s audiobooks and movies.  Our program room where you can watch and discuss independent films, learn about social issues, meet authors, and attend after school programs, is also in the basement.

On the main (first) floor is the checkout desk where you can checkout or renew items, receive a library card, pay fines, request books and get help finding things. Materials on this floor include magazines, regional newspapers, movies, music CDs, audiobooks, large print books, old and new fiction for adults.  The tech center is here as well, providing free internet access and computer classes.

On the mezzanine level, just above the tech center, you’ll find the Teen Zone with books for 7-12 graders and library administrative offices, including a notary.

The second floor holds nonfiction books on every topic, reference books, Consumer Reports magazines, documentaries and instructional videos, plus reference librarians to help find what you need.  Because we have run out of space in the children’s department, children’s nonfiction books for school projects and research are on the second floor as well.

Second, you need to know the people.

Your library staff is friendly, supportive, and will not think you are dumb if you need help finding or doing something.  Believe me, I have asked their help many times myself!

The librarians are more than happy to help you navigate the online version of the card catalog, which is understandably strange if you learned with the physical cards and cabinets!  They can help you find a new author to read, apply for a job online, print off car repair instructions, or download library eBooks.

At your “home” library, there are great resources relevant to every stage of life, and great people ready and willing to help you. If we haven’t seen you in a while, we hope you will stop by soon.

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