Ashland Public Library working to achieve extra adults locally

The library moved into its present constructing 9 years in the past. After the transfer, the employees’s fundamental focus was on a youthful demographic.

“The main focus had actually been kids’s programming, constructing that and making {that a} massive a part of the library,” library director Tanya McVay mentioned. “We’ve got executed a very good job of that, so this final yr the main focus has turned to grownup programming and making this a spot the place adults wish to come and do the completely different actions.”

When planning out the grownup programming, McVay and the library employees checked out what already existed locally and centered on the gaps they may fill.

The library presents packages akin to Sew Collectively and Puzzle Chat, which permits members to do sometimes solo actions, akin to knitting or puzzles, in a social setting. Present grownup programming additionally contains bingo, e-book membership, Let’s Play Playing cards, yoga, seasonal Pinterest events and puzzle challenges. Grownup programming is open to all ages.

Senior programming contains Gerifit train courses and Understanding Medicare. Details about the entire library’s programming might be discovered on their web site and Fb web page.

“We’re simply attempting to determine completely different markets to have the ability to let individuals know what’s supplied, particularly as a result of, for probably the most half, library packages are free. Which isn’t the norm in society,” McVay mentioned.

Due to on-line posting and word-of-mouth promoting, the library’s grownup programming has had a great response from the group.

“It’s not the identical individuals in any respect of those grownup packages, which has been actually attention-grabbing,” assistant library director Caitlin Henry mentioned. “Completely different packages pull from completely different demographics, so it’s been enjoyable … to attempt to attain as many individuals as we will.”

When planning a brand new program, the library employees thinks in regards to the group wants, what has been requested and what must be executed to tug it off.

“As with every part, we intention to essentially simply be a group useful resource and to have the ability to meet the wants of the group and all of the demographics,” McVay mentioned.

The library typically receives optimistic suggestions from the group.

“I really like listening to from people who they’re excited to have the ability to come to issues and take a look at new issues free of charge that they won’t in any other case do,” Henry mentioned.

Past the library’s program choices, they intention to function a useful resource for the adults within the Ashland group. The library employees is offered to reply questions on expertise, family tree and the group’s choices.

The library’s greatest useful resource is, after all, their books. The library presents a wide array of titles for all ages, and is all the time open to taking e-book requests from guests.

“We aren’t in a position to buy the entire books that folks request, however generally we will get them from one other library,” Henry mentioned. “We’re excited to have individuals form our assortment, as a result of we wish to be sure that we’ve got books for our group.”

Ashland Public Library patrons have entry to bodily copies of their books, on-line audio books and audio e-book CDs to suit each studying desire.

“We acquired the kids’s programming executed however we received’t cease including,” McVay mentioned. “It’s actually making it an lively place to be and it’s so nice having a employees to have the ability to pull it off.”