Library A Week

Watseka Public Library

2010 no. 38

Library Profile

Library Name: Watseka Public Library Location: 201 S. Fourth St, Watseka, IL 60970 Type: Public Mission:The Watseka Public Library serves as a community center for reading, personal enrichment, and lifelong learning. Website: http://www.watsekalibrary.org LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/wan Member Since: 1967 An interview with Library Director, Kim Zumwalt.

What is unique about your library?

Our library first opened its doors on June 26, 1898, occupying rooms on the second floor of the Harry A. Warren Building. Fundraising and planning for the permanent library building, with an estimated cost of $16,680.00 was to be realized over a period of years. In November 1904 the permanent library building was constructed and the doors opened for services. Since that time our library has seen quite a few changes. We are a library that is constantly making adjustments to better our community and our patrons. In our children’s area we have a beautiful mural that was painted in commemoration of our area. This is just a small symbol of the pride and determination that has been and will continue to be in our library

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

Our main goal is to continue to provide services and materials that serve our community in a changing environment. We feel we need to help people make the connections between what information they need and what information is available.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

We participate in both LTLS and OCLC interlibrary loan. We are constantly working with the schools to encourage after-school programming and teacher input. We strive to work with community groups to promote their programs along with ours. We host meetings for nonprofit groups and culture groups.

Tell us a story about your library.

We had a gentleman come to us, who did not speak English very well, and asked us to help him apply for unemployment online. The website is not user friendly so it was difficult for him to understand and difficult for us to explain the information. After some time the application was finished and he asked how much money he owed for our assistance. When it was explained that we were glad to help him, he had tears in his eyes. He told us he had four children and a wife to care for so he really needed the help. He left with a smile and we felt that we had helped someone along life’s way.  He has since come into the library, with a new job, and is learning English very well.

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

Programming is a big must in our library. We conduct many children’s programs and adults, but our young adults need more encouragement. We have added two more computers to our internet area in the last two years. It would be nice to have more, because the circulation in a day is unbelievable.

What is popular in your library?

Our computer labs and WiFi are very popular. There isn’t a day goes by that we have people using them. Our children’s programs are very well attended and now we have started a teen game day one Friday a month. They really seem to enjoy it. We have noticed that our books on disc circulation have increased over the months. We feel largely because people are having to travel to their jobs more.

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

We have a website that our patrons use continually. We have just joined the community website which will enable us to reach out to more people in the community who may not know about our library services. We also contact patrons through email when requested.

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