Think libraries are obsolete? Yes, libraries are obsolete. You are absolutely correct.
Well, not exactly, unless you are talking about the stereotypical library atmosphere that shushes people, or the quiet place for dusty books with dour librarians. That library is gone. Maybe you remember the library that primarily serves scholars who request research books from a far-flung archive. The library that demands you spit out your gum and pour out your beverage before entering. A dark, chilly old building that creaks and is rumored to have ghosts. That library is obsolete, thank goodness. But the Internet, you say! But the Kindles! Well, Kindles and the Internet have no more replaced libraries than elevators replaced staircases.
We saved some of the best characteristics from that library of old. Books and lifelong learning remain our hallmark. We still borrow the research book you need and get it into your hands as soon as we can, still love our books and expect you to return them. Libraries work best when people are good stewards and follow a code of conduct of so as not to disturb the peace, and still maintain areas in the library that are quiet. We have buildings, physical collections, comfy furniture, and an online social presence all folded into our purpose.
But that stereotypical library of old is not the kind of library that we have in our City. In fact, it hasn’t been that for a very long time, and very few libraries across the nation fit that description at all — if any. We have a library that is a cultural center, a gathering space, the community’s “great room”. The building is energy efficient; our librarians are friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming; and our gardens celebrate sustainability and creativity. We have a cafe where we welcome coffee lovers; we have spaces that are designed to be quiet, but other places where conversation happens. We care less about whether you prefer to read a book or a tablet and more about providing it as soon as it is published.
Because we craft programs designed to respond to the needs and most pressing social issues of our community, because services that represent both tradition and technological changes are present, because we offer a collection of books based on your requests and interests, and above all, because we grow, adapt, and shape-shift our way to relevancy within your reading life, we will remain the literary and community social glue for our citizens. If you are not an avid reader, that is OK; we provide meaningful services regardless.
The obsolete library stopped responding to changes in our world.
What does our vibrant and relevant library of today look like? It looks like over 6,000 library cards issued to people from all over The County. Your citizenship to Presque Isle comes with a membership to the library. For those without Presque Isle citizenship, we offer a yearly fee-based membership to all others. It looks like an active online social profile with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit followers that communicates our value to you as a citizen. It looks like 30,966 books, CDs, DVDs, or magazines checked out from January through September 2017, 112 library-sponsored programs attended by thousands of persons of all ages, 32,712 persons walking into the adult section or children’s room from January to Septembe, and it looks like about 300 passports facilitated with thousands of dollars in revenue that comes back to the city as a result. It looks like over 2,000 eBooks downloaded by our citizens and nearly 4,000 reference questions asked and answered each year.
With art exhibitions and openings, tours, galleries filled with local artisan works and book signings that shine a positive light on our local authors, our impact and relevancy is strong.
The fullness of our placement in the community can’t be told in a few lines on paper, statistics, and examples of activities, but is perhaps understood by the well over 300 hours donated each month by volunteers rolling up their sleeves and helping us achieve our project and service goals. Or maybe the partnerships we form with other organizations locally and worldwide.
But, really, don’t take our word for it. Come have a cup of coffee with us, explore our library, experience the atmosphere and then be part of today’s library. Or, join our online conversations. There is something here for you and your perspective is invaluable to our continuous growth. Maybe the infant pushed by his caregiver in a stroller through the library reaching for a board book today is the same one who grows up to be that scholar tomorrow or, maybe, someone who greatly improves our community and quality of life.
Sonja Plummer Eyler is librarian at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle. She can be reached at 764-2571 or via email at pimelibrarian@gmail.com.
