By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The changing nature of libraries came up several times during the meeting Tuesday of the Wood County Board of Trustees.
In his report, Library Director Michael Penrod noted that some people are surprised that though space at the Walbridge branch will double when the new addition is completed, the stack space for books will not.
At least, he told the board, space for books will remain constant. Often, he said, when libraries renovate that space is reduced.
Why? Well, Michele Raine, adult services librarian, provided part of the reason. The library now circulates more than 4,000 e-books a month. That tops the target staff had set.
All major publishers now make their newest books available, while before they only allowed their back catalog to be circulated in the electronic format. That comes at a price, Raine said. Publishers can charge three times as much for an electronic version of a book as they do for the hard cover, and they restrict how many times it can be borrowed by patrons before requiring the library to repurchase it.
Increasingly libraries are about more than books. Among the adult activities offered at the library were a ukulele club, attended by 18, and a session on straw bale gardening attracted 28. And library staff in April helped 10 people put together resumes and do job searches.
“This is a place you can continue to learn and grow for the rest of your life,” Raine said.
She also announced that the piano recital series presented in conjunction with the Bowling Green State University piano faculty will continue next year.
Raine said she especially like the recitals because the performers took the time to talk about the music they are about the play and explain what to listen for. “It’s a phenomenal opportunity to learn more about music,” she said.
For all the constant updating in services, the need to pay for them is a constant.
Penrod announced that the library foundation’s benefit at Schedel Arboretum and Gardens in Elmore will be held Thursday, July 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event features hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, and beverages. Tickets are $100 and available at the library.
“It’s that time for this magical event once again,” Penrod said.
This will be the eighth year the foundation has sponsored a benefit at Schedel. The previous seven, Penrod said, raised a total of $470,000 that goes toward the purchase of books.
Penrod also said he has applied to a grant from library services firm EBSCO to install solar panels as part of the addition to the Walbridge branch. The company installed solar panels at its headquarters, he said, and that proved such a cost savings that it wants to help libraries do the same.
Penrod said he expects that the bids for the project will be advertised in June with the bid opening in July.
