By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In the 1950s, local librarians feared that libraries could soon be obsolete.
“What are we going to do with these paperback books? Is this going to be the end of the library?” Michael Penrod, the current executive director of the Wood County District Public Library, said about his predecessors.
But libraries survived paperbacks and so much more. Videos, DVDs, internet, e-books.
None of that has doomed libraries, Penrod said earlier this week during a brainstorming session for the library board on the facility’s vision, mission, core values and core services.
The library continues to be a place where people come for education and entertainment.
“The library is still a destination,” said Brian Paskvan, president of the library board.
Penrod said he didn’t want the board to experience “paralysis by analysis,” so he didn’t present lists of statistics. However, he did say the door counts and check-outs remain strong.
“Library use has hit an all time high,” he said.
So the question now is – how to keep those numbers strong. There are a lot of external issues that could impact the library. The senior center will be moving from next door to a new site. The city schools plan to consolidate the elementaries. And funding is never a complete certainty.
“There are lots of external influences,” Paskvan said.
To make sure the library remains a vital partner in the community, a survey will soon be conducted to determine community expectations and needs. Shannon Orr, a political science professor at Bowling Green State University, and her students will conduct the survey. Orr has done similar efforts for the city parks and recreation department, and the city schools.
The board discussed updates to its vision and mission statements. The vision statement’s focus on “learning and entertainment” spurred quite a bit of discussion.
To some board members, the term “entertainment” seemed to cheapen the purpose of the library. It was suggested that perhaps “exploration” would be a more appropriate word.
But library staff stood firm that “entertainment” was a worthy goal.
“Libraries are no longer the quiet, stoic places where you go to better yourself,” Penrod said. Patrons need not feel guilty about enjoying “cheesy mystery novels,” he said. “Sometimes we do things just because they’re fun.”
Penrod and staff assured that learning is still paramount. “We are the people’s university” and it’s free, Penrod said.
The mission statement addresses that, by saying the library “encourages lifelong learning and advances knowledge through literature, information and creative experiences.”
The core values include:
- Accountability: We take responsibility for our resources, actions, services, collections and facilities.
- Expertise: We deliver quality, user-focused services and collections through a skilled staff.
- Freedom: We are free and open to all. We support the free exchange of knowledge.
- Innovation: We explore new ways of doing things and new things to do.
- Passion: We love our communities and the role libraries can serve in them. We love what we do.
- Teamwork: We build connections. We celebrate our diverse experience. We trust each other.
- Respect: We treat everyone with respect.
The board discussed the lofty value of “freedom,” but decided it should remain on the list especially in the face of threatened censorship.
“We need to push back this cloud of narrow-mindedness in this political world,” new board member John Fawcett said.
The core services recognize the fact that the library cannot compete with Google. “But we can be the Google for our local community,” Penrod said. And unlike Google, the library provides a physical gathering place for the community.
The core services listed include:
- We offer traditional and virtual services that extend beyond library walls to the entire service district.
- We have robust, in-demand, diverse collections that meet the needs of our diverse community.
- We are the “doorway to learning” for babies, preschoolers and families to build early literacy skills.
- We collect and share the history, genealogy and stories of our services district.
- We engage our patrons with learning, literacy and cultural opportunities that gather us together.
Brian Paskvan thanks Jane Robb for her service on the board.
Also at the meeting this week, the library board said farewell to veteran member Jane Robb and welcomed new member John Fawcett.
“We’re going to miss her greatly,” Paskvan said of Robb, who served on the board since 2003.
As an educator and school counselor, Robb offered a different perspective on the board. She served on committees for the levy, personnel and the annual John Gibson Award. Robb also walked in the city’s holiday parade with the library entries, dressing as a ghostbuster, wind turbine and Dewey’s angel.
“You added a wonderful flavor to the board,” Paskvan told Robb.
