Library A Week

Georgetown Public Library

2009 no. 24

Library Profile

Library Name: Georgetown Public Library Location: 103 West Street, Georgetown, IL 61846 Type: Public Mission: The mission of Georgetown Public Library is to be a center of community life. The library provides recreational and educational reading and access to the universe of information that exists as the common purpose of all libraries. LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/gen.html LTLS Member Since: 1967 An interview with Librarian, Linda Davidson.

What is unique about your library?

It is not the most unique thing among libraries, but we offer a very friendly, personalized service to our patrons. In a small town, we know most of the people who come in and always greet them by name. If one of our regular patrons hasn’t visited the library in a while, we sometimes call them to make sure everything is going okay. We also do our best to offer our patrons as many services as we can. We have a book club, preschool reading time, art classes, offer tax forms, and have author readings and signings. We offer our space to the community for different groups and projects. We offer our patrons the best service possible and do it with a smile and a personal touch.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

Our main goal is to adequately serve the community by providing access to a variety of services that allow the patrons to pursue their interests whether those interests be leisure time, recreational or educational pursuits. We also make it a goal to offer the latest technologies for our users.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

We are part of LTLS and our patrons use interlibrary loan. We also participate in a cooperative of 6 libraries in the area: Westville, Catlin, Ridge Farm, Sidell, Chrisman, and Fairmount. A few years back, the cooperative received an art grant. It also helps us to get new collections.

Tell us a story about your library.

Just the other day, a little boy about three years old came into the library for the first time. He and his mother were there to get a library card. He looked right at me and asked if we had any books. It was so cute. I took him over to the children’s area and we he saw all the books he got so excited. His mother only allows him to check out one book at a time and so they have been coming back to the library everyday to get a new book.

If money were no object, what services would you add?

I would love to have the library open 9-5 everyday. Our library staff consists of 2 part-timers and myself. I would have to hire more staff to work those hours. With more staff I would be able to offer more programming as well. We do as much programming as we can for a small library, but it would be nice to offer more children and adult programming. I would also hire a staff member to be in charge of technology and would add more computers.

What is popular in your library?

Our best sellers are probably the most circulated materials. Authors such as: Stuart Woods, James Patterson and Nora Roberts are always being circulated. The computers are heavily used. We just added WiFi in November and we are seeing more and more patrons coming in to use their laptops in the library.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your users?

Since we are such a small staff, we don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to online tools. It would be nice to get a website up and running, but as of right now, our patrons can email me if they have questions or issues.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes