Castleton Public Library, NY: Friendliness Reigns
-- Library Journal, 03/23/2009
We use a very personal approach at the library. We know the names of nearly all of our patrons, and have taken the time to get to know their interests and what brings them into the library on a given day. The feeling at the library is one of friendliness—it’s more like a local coffee shop where people stop to chat than a “be quiet—this is a library” atmosphere. The small size, familiar faces at the desk and genuine concern for them make patrons feel at ease and not intimidated. Staff members are encouraged to attend customer service and program workshop opportunities to sharpen their own skills, and requested to train their fellow employees to make the library as inviting as possible to our public. We also try to lure our patronage with incentives like Fine Free Days, free contests, donation drives, volunteer programs such as Earth Day projects, and recently inviting the community to celebrate our 100th year by offering space and public relations skills to honor their special interests each month of 2009. We host free babysitting, neighborhood improvement tasks with utilizing our local youth and scout troops which are the best human resources a library could ever ask for!
We provide a good balance between consistent programming that people can count on always happening and new ideas, many of which are thought of and implemented by patrons. We realize that anyone who steps through our door is a potential volunteer, someone whose time and talents are valuable assets to our community. Simply taking the time to notice what a patron is reading and initiating a conversation with them about their interests and passions can have far-reaching results for the library. From such roots, we have offered services as diverse as the organization of an autism parents support group, health and wellness classes, and artists and crafters volunteering to conduct programs such as a sew-your-own-purse workshop to an all ages knit and crochet group that creates clothing items for our local pantry that is in desperate need to serve our area.
Our library is not an island unto itself in the community. We have worked long and hard to develop mutually beneficial relationships with the local school districts, civic organizations, government agencies and representatives, and private businesses. The library is but a small part of a vibrant whole in which we all draw upon the specialties of each other. One of our most successful programs was an end-of-summer “Royal Ball”, a medieval street fair that showcased the cooperation between the library, the local Kiwanis club, girl and boy scouts, teachers, administrators and students from the school district, home schooling families, a local church, as well as village and town government officials. Grants have also been reliable sources to serve our patrons in creative ways.
Our staff and volunteers all realize that it’s up to them to make things happen at our library. There simply are not the numbers of people to form committees to do things. It’s up to the individuals here to come up with the innovative ideas, formulate a plan to implement them, and see them through to realization. We take “thinking out of the box” to the next level through necessity—limited budget, time, and staff have altered our way of doing things in order to maintain the level of service we have. These one-person “committees” have taken on everything from organizing a fund-raising book fair at our local bookstore, to providing annual field trips to our local dairy farm, and lunch tours to the Culinary Institute of America!
The Castleton Public Library is perhaps the only place in our community that appeals to all ages. It is a gathering place where anyone feels at home, and is invited to interact. Our society is increasingly turning to computer technology as a source of human connection. While we at the library embrace this technology, we also value our role as an old-fashioned type community gathering place, where conversation and the sharing of ideas can take place. At our library you can not only keep up with your “Facebook” connections, you can enjoy some “face time” with your neighbors.—Darlene Miller, Director
