Most little libraries are in the same boat

     Yesterday one of our staff members gave me an article she cut out of the September 25th Parade magazine from the Sunday newspaper.  The article was about "The Little Library That Could," a small library in Parker, Arizona.  Did you see the article, too?
     This little town has no central movie theater or bookstores.  The public library is THE place to go.  It's one of the busiest libraries in the country, but like so many others across the United States, it's struggling to stay alive.  Most little libraries are in the same boat.
     The Parker Public Library in Parker, Arizona is doing the same thing we are here in Moultrie, Georgia.  They're providing free use of computers to their patrons and Internet access to research school work, hunt for jobs, check out their Facebook pages, etc.
     More people are visiting their libraries all across the nation than in previous years.  And although some states have reported closures, others have decided to only reduce hours...for as long as they can.
     Annual budgets have dropped like a rock, book purchases have ceased, hours are being cut, and in many libraries some staff are being cut, too.
     In reading the article about the Parker Public Library, I see they "fell back and regrouped."  They opened their library to also hold free health screenings, lectures, movies, reading groups, and story times.  Anything they could do to bring people in.  Preschoolers are brought there often to enjoy the "pretty things the kids are allowed to touch."  Teens visit the library to check their Facebook and MySpace pages, play games, study, and "slouch on the worn couches."
     Also, their Friends of the Library group increased their membership in order to better help the library.  Organizations in town gave donations.  The town has worked at ways to ensure their library's long-term survival.
     So, here I go again, relating something I've read (this time a small town library) to our Moultrie-Colquitt County Library.  What would the people of Moultrie, and even Colquitt County, do if this library had to shut its doors?
     If our public library closed, the Doerun Municipal Library would close also, as would the Ellen Payne Odom Library.  And our Bookmobile into the county would stop running routes.  We're all in the same library system.  And we're considered by many to be small town libraries.
     Granted we're doing our best to make library-life interesting to the community, in order to keep bringing the people in.  We have 20 computers for free use to our patrons, free WiFi when they bring their laptops, and provide Internet access so they can research school papers, look for jobs, and email their loved ones in the Armed Forces in some foreign country.  We have free blood pressure screenings in February during Heart Month, open our doors to the AARP tax helpers for low income people, hold authors readings and book signings, have a library book club meeting once a month, give preschooler and school-age children story times, and provide reading/research areas where children and adults can study. 
     Our auditorium and classroom is available to the community for educational meetings and programs.  The genealogical library has staff to assist not only our community, but many people traveling from other states and countries.  The Doerun Library provides service Monday through Thursday for any number of patrons using the computers and library facilities.  And our Bookmobile covers miles and miles of roads, taking reading materials to those patrons who are not able to physically visit the city libraries.
     Will it come to the place where our Friends of the Library group will have to solicit donations from local organizations to help the library purchase new books or maybe just to keep the lights on?  Will we eventually have to cut staff and/or hours?  How will our community feel about that?  How many people will it affect?
     We're doing our part to keep our doors open, just like that little Parker Public Library in Arizona.  We're always looking for ways to cut costs and yet still provide the community with high standard service. What else can we do?  If you have a suggestion, please share your comment.  We'd like to hear from you.  We'd like to always be here for you.