April kicks off a month of celebrations to honor libraries and literacy, the first of which was National School Librarian Day on April 4, followed by National Library Day on April 6. Other designated days are April 16, National Librarians Day, and the week of April 23, National Library Week.
The Mount Vernon News is focusing this edition on the resources offered by one of our hometown libraries, the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County. (Other libraries, such as the one in Centerburg and the Homer Public Library, will feature in upcoming editions). We recently spoke with the library director, John K. Chidester, about various subjects, including the significance of libraries in a world dominated by technology.
Chidester said libraries remain a practical resource, despite the internet and other media platforms.
“The celebrated author Neil Gaiman once said, ‘Google will bring you back, you know, a hundred thousand answers. A librarian will bring you back the right one,’" Chidester said. "The internet and all the wonders of the digital world have not made libraries obsolete or irrelevant. Rather, they have made libraries more critical than ever. We use a broad array of digital resources to provide quality information services for our patrons. We use many of those resources to give our patrons direct access to the best of the digital world."
Indeed, the library’s website displays the vast array of services and assets it offers, from books, magazines and newspapers to CDs and DVDs. There’s also a “Beyond Books” collection to whet patrons’ curiosity.
Chidester said the public’s demand for CDs, DVDs and streaming services is “off the chart.” These newer formats complement books and traditional print media.
“Our CDs and DVDs are trendy,” Chidester said. “So are streaming services online that we provide access to. Everything in our collections and the reference and informational services we offer are helpful to thousands of people in thousands of ways.”
Many libraries, including the one in Mount Vernon, rely on the library review media, such as Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist and The New York Times Book Review to stay aware of new publications.
“We also get announcements from major book and library materials vendors (Baker & Taylor Co., Ingram, several others),” Chidester said. “Baker & Taylor’s Forecast is a guide to hundreds of upcoming releases, with analytic information on the expected popularity of the items.”
Coping with COVID-19
During the pandemic, the library stopped charging its visitors fines for overdue material. It was something administrators had discussed previously. After the pandemic started to ease, the library board decided it was the right time to remove the policy permanently.
Cassandra Peters, assistant director of the library, said the most significant change during the pandemic was the Beyond Books collection.
“The biggest change for our library is that we had added a whole new collection of Beyond Books items during the pandemic,” she said. “The Beyond Books collection includes unusual library items like cake pans, giant yard games, sensory toys, craft kits and Wi-Fi hotspots.”
Since the pandemic shutdown has ended, Peters said many things are business as usual, such as in-person programming, storytimes and movies in the building.
A Storied History
Mount Vernon isn’t the only location under the direction of the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County. The first branch in Fredericktown opened in 1948, Chidester said, followed by Danville in 1965.
The Gambier Village Council opened an unofficial branch around 1980, which became an official branch five years later.
“Under formal agreements enacted with the respective village councils, the villages provide premises and furnishings,” Chidester said. “The library includes everything else: staff, materials (books, periodicals, A-V materials, computers, internet services). They have their own materials collections, but their patrons have rapid access to all of the resources of the entire library system. Our Outreach Services Department makes daily deliveries to each branch.”
The Knox County Park District partnered with the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County to create a Storybook Trail located at Wolf Run Regional Park. According to a Park District release, the trail combines fun and learning into an activity that places the pages from a children’s story along a trail and encourages participants to read the book page by page on their journey.
“Imagine walking through the park while enjoying a children’s book simultaneously,” Chidester said. “Children and adults can enjoy the outdoors while reading a book with their family and friends. The featured book will change quarterly on the trail. The current book title is 'Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear' by Monica Carnesi.”
Curating the Collection
Patrons who want to research their ancestry have welcomed the genealogy program.
“Our local history and genealogy room, adjacent to the reference desk, is stocked with many local history books, family histories, high school yearbooks and many other materials,” Chidester said. “We also have a collection of the Mount Vernon News on microfilm from the 1880s until 2020. The editions of 2021 and 2022 are being microfilmed now and should be available soon.”
Shortly after the Mount Vernon News started publishing a digital online edition, there was a time when it was virtually impossible to get microfilm copies because production ceased.
Then the Ohio History Connection (formerly known as the Ohio Historical Society) stepped in and arranged for copies to be made available.
Chidester said the Friends of the Library, chartered in 1990, is an independent, nonprofit organization operating a used book warehouse on Coffing Road.
“Their charter states that they aim to support the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County,” he said. “They have a governing board elected by the membership. Membership is open to anyone.”
Timeline to Remodel
Chidester said the library’s renovation is moving along, but like with any big project there have been obstacles.
“The biggest and most cumbersome is replacing a 60-ton chiller unit that’s been in service since 1989,” he said. “It’ll cost about $250,000 to replace, and the project requires a complex bidding process. Bids will be received until April 20. After that, the whole thing will take until the end of this year. The other projects are smaller and more manageable.
"Replacement of window casings in the west stairwells should be done in two or three months. The repair and replacement of shelving in the Audio-Visual area should be done sometime in the fall. The carpet and furnishings on the Youth Services floor are being worked out right now. New flooring in the Outreach Services Department has already been installed.”
A Timeless Resource
This month, a pair of days are set aside to honor librarians: National School Librarian Day, which took place on April 4, and National Librarian Day on April 16. The culmination will occur with National Library Week, April 23-29. The theme for 2023 National Library Week is "There's More to the Story." These days remind us of the importance of libraries, books and reading in today's world.
“These are still indispensable parts of intellectual life in America and remain vital to culture and learning,” Chidester said. “Libraries provide all that for free, along with professional reference and information services to help people get the necessary resources and information."
