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| Paris Carnegie Public Library |
2009 no. 21 |
| Library Profile |
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| What is unique about your library?
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| Our building is 105 years old. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings. We have had people come into the library because they told us they had driven by the night before and it was so beautiful all lit up. In 1992 we finished an addition, which gave us more space and helped us to be handicapped accessible. When adding on to the building, we made sure to keep the same Carnegie feel, using wood trim and matching the windows. |
| What are the primary goals and objectives of your library? |
| We do the best with what we have to provide the services that meet our patrons' needs. We try to keep up with the materials and services that people are asking about. We are starting a book club in the library, because patrons have been asking for it. We also added a coupon sharing box from a patron recommendation. We are currently focusing on raising matching funds for the Gates computer grant. We are halfway to the first phase match. |
| What cooperative efforts are you currently doing? |
We do a lot of cooperation. We have a legal self-help station thanks
to Edgar County Legal Aid. We have a compact fluorescent bulb recycling bin thanks to
EnerStar, a local utility company. We work with Lakeland College and the adult education
programs. One of the elementary schools gives us a copy of every textbook for
students to use in the library in case they forget their copy at school. We
partner with the Marion Carnegie Library and as a result we have a small
Japanese language collection. This spring we are going to be part of the Vigo
County/Terre Haute Big Read. We are always interlibrary loaning books to and
from other libraries thanks to LTLS. |
| Tell us a story about your library. |
Recently, we had a young patron who had his first chance to
explore the library without being in his stroller. He went around the library
saying hello to everyone and “driving” his truck around the library. It was
great to see him (and his mother) so comfortable in the library. Another one of
the highlights of the library for the children is the elevator. There are only
3 buildings with public elevators and the other two are the hospital and the
courthouse. It is definitely a very popular thing at our library. Since it was
added, I have heard many children refer to it as the alligator. I think that it
would be great to paint an alligator around the frame of the elevator coming
out to the children’s department. |
| If money were no object, what services would you add? |
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| What is popular in your library? |
| The computers and the wi-fi are probably the most popular thing in our library. As far as the collection goes, our large print materials are most popular, followed closely by DVDs. |
| How does your library use online tools to connect to your users? |
| We have a website and use Book Letters to help promote our collection. We send a monthly newsletter through email. We also have a Facebook page. |
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Request a visit to your library Library of the Week Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes |
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