Library A Week

Homer Community Library

2010 no. 29

Library Profile

Library Name: Homer Community Library Location: 500 E. Second St, Homer, IL 61849 Type: Public Mission: The Homer Community Library facilitates the education and entertainment of library patrons through materials owned by the library and those provided by the interlibrary loan system. Library Webpage: http://www.homerillinois.blogspot.com LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/hrn.html LTLS Member Since: 1974   An interview with Librarian, Christine Cunningham.

What is unique about your library?

Our library was started by the local Girl Scouts and Women’s Group in the early 1970’s. They went door to door to get money and book donations and staffed the library by volunteers. Later, a tax referendum was passed. We were originally housed in a historic building, but the building was dark and musty and not a place that was inviting to people. About 4 years ago we moved into our current building. It was originally a church and the library is housed in the old sanctuary.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

We try to keep up with both fiction and non-fiction printed materials for adults and children to keep the community at large current and informed. We place special emphasis on the youth of the community through programs to familiarize them with the library. Currently, we are working with the school to get our Advanced Reader books tagged. The school is undergoing construction and they won’t have a school library at the beginning of school.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

Like I mentioned before we are working with the school and the AR program. The parent teacher organization is working with our collection to purchase AR tests for books that the library owns, but the school doesn’t. We also enjoy being a part of the Lincoln Trail Libraries System.

Tell us a story about your library.

We moved into our current space 4 years ago and within that time all of the books in the collection have been moved 4 times. The fire department, and other volunteers, originally did the move from the old library to the new, but when we moved in, our space wasn’t ready. We manned the library out of 2 open offices before moving into the current space. After that we had to catalog our materials for our stand alone automation system. Every book was then moved out of the library and back into the offices to be cataloged and then moved back to the shelves.

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

I would love to be able to automate with LTLS. It would be great to give both children and teens their own designated spaces. I think our hours are fair, but if money weren’t an object, I would add more hours.

What is popular in your library?

Our computers are always in use. Best-seller fiction tends to circulate the most. Teens love to use the computers and easy readers are popular with children.

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

We have a blog to market the library’s programs and happenings. We also have a link to our online catalog.

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