Library

I have been a library user my whole life. My first library was the Vinita Public Library, then Claremore, then the massive Tulsa City-County system, not to mention various school and university libraries. As a library user, I understood how libraries work – I want or need a resource, the library either has it or the staff helps me get it. Pretty simple. 

Once I started Library School and began working in libraries, I discovered the simple experiences I had as a library patron are not quite as simple for the staff to deliver. At its core, every library and every job inside the library is focused on customer/patron service. The entire institution exists to provide our patrons with the simple experience of getting information and resources they need.

This requires a whole host of decisions behind the scenes. Beginning with the materials and resources we purchase – what will our community want? What will benefit the community most? Then, we have to decide how to catalog and promote what we purchase – what subject headings make the most sense? Where will people be most likely to find the item on the shelf? Where should we put the labels and barcode stickers?

In order to make these decisions well, we have to know our community and keep learning our community as it changes. I feel thankful that the staff at the library takes this responsibility seriously. I am even more thankful that our patrons are not shy about communicating with us what you want and need. 

If you’re ever curious about a decision we’ve made, please ask! (you might want to do so when you’ve got a few minutes. I tend to get passionate about this stuff) Also, if you have a suggestion for how we can do something better, please let us know. We are not afraid to examine our practices and try new things if it makes sense to do so. 

I am officially in a book-reading slump. For whatever reason, I can’t seem to read traditional print books right now. I get distracted by Life or daydreams and the books continue to go unread. I have a long list of things I want to read – some have been on there for a significant period of time – but no matter the book or author, I seem to not be in the reading mood. Not even audiobooks hold my attention. 

I still read, but what I read right now tends to be news articles, comic books, bedtime books with my kids, and a lot of material for work. This doesn’t make me (or anyone) any less of a reader than when I was reading a book each week. It just makes me a different reader. 

Even though I’m not reading fiction books, I’m still able to find plenty of material at the library. We subscribe to newspapers, magazines, and comic books (both monthly issues and volumes). Plus, the library keeps me inspired with ideas and patterns for my knitting habit that seems to have taken the place of my reading habit. Not to mention the selection of movies and TV shows we have to checkout so I can knit and watch something at the same time. 

If you’re headed to the Pryor Creek Comic Convention this Saturday (Jan. 18), come by the Mayes County Libraries table and get your official comic convention BINGO sheet. Or just say “hi.” We’ll be happy to tell you about our services and/or fan-girl over the special guests with you. Muriel Fahrion, creator of Strawberry Shortcake, is on the top of my personal list. 

If you haven’t gotten your tickets for the Friends of the Pryor Library fundraiser mystery party, “Homicide at the Harrison House,” you’d better act fast! You can get them through the Friends’ Facebook page at facebook.com/pryorpubliclibraryfriends. $35 for a single ticket, $60 for two.