By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library’s strategic plan that started in 2019 called for becoming a Library of Things.
The library wouldn’t just loan books, in all their forms, it would let patrons borrow stuff – musical instruments, tools, and such. And the library has been successful in that, Library Director Michael Penrod reported to the library’s Board of Trustees Monday.
In the past year that stuff has included COVID-19 test kits.
Back in 2019, the plan’s first year, no one was anticipating that the library would be a hub for handing out COVID tests.
“This was something we did not anticipate,” Penrod said.
The kits, he said, were provided both by the state and by the county Health Department.
The Health Department reached out, Penrod said, because the library is open nights and weekends.
“This has been an opportunity,” he said. So many of those who came in for tests were people who had not been in the library in years, or ever.
The library started providing tests in March. At first it was 20 a week. Then in summer as the omicron variant took hold it was 20 a day, then 50 a day.
The demand was especially strong as the holidays approached, he said. Earlier this month the library received a shipment of 1,500. Those were gone in five hours.
Penrod said the library staff would deliver the tests to people waiting at the curbside pick-up area at the west entrance.
In all, the library distributed about 11,000 test kits.
At this point, with the state receiving fewer than expected, shipments to the library have halted.
“I don’t know if and when we will get additional tests kits,” he said. The state is prioritizing schools and higher education.
Penrod said the vision laid out in the strategic plan proved helpful during the pandemic.
The use of online programs have greatly expanded the reach of those events.
And curbside delivery was met with such enthusiasm that it will be a permanent fixture. No longer does a parent have to trek into the library with a crew of kids in tow to pick up armfuls of books. Now they can stay in their car and a library staff member will bring the items out.
Now the library is looking to bring back some live events.
Those include:
- A visit by Carole Lindstrom author of the Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book “We Are the Water Protectors” on April 2 at 11 a.m. in the library’s atrium. The illustrator Michaela Goade will participate remotely.
- The return of the in-person Novel Night, the Library Foundation’s major fundraiser, July 21 in the Veteran’s Building. The event had been held in the library, Penrod said, the Veterans Building will allow attendees to spread out more.
- The Foundation Series of speakers will also resume in October. Penrod said the library was in negotiations to bring in a best-selling author who is also a Hollywood actor.
Board President Brian Paskvan said it was time the board started to work on a new three-year strategic plan.
That plan will likely include developing plans for the library’s next expansion. Within a couple months the library expects to get a proposal DesignGroup of Columbus for an extension on the east side of the building.
Paskvan was re-elected as president. Also re-elected were Becky Bhaer as vice president and Ken Frisch as treasurer.
The board also swore in a new member, Greg Esposito, who will take an unexpired term left open by the departure of John Fawcett.
Also, at the meeting the library accepted $214,996.98 in donations, that includes $105,000 from money raised by the virtual Novel Night held last summer. Just over $166,000 came from the foundation.
