A common theme in many conversations heard by librarians is whether libraries still play a vital role in our communities.
As the director of Sunderland Public Library, I have variations of this conversation many times each year with our funders, legislators, patrons, and others in the community. Sunderland Public Library is lucky to be in a supportive and active community, which has rallied around its library throughout the years. While many libraries across the country have seen circulation and visitors decline, our circulation and visitors continue to increase each year. This is not an anomaly — most of our region’s libraries are thriving too.
This is, in large part, due to the creative community outreach efforts of our librarians. Libraries in Franklin County and beyond have proven time and again that libraries are a place where communities come together.
One of the ways they do this is by bringing the library to patrons who can’t come to the physical building. For years before New England Health Center on Old Amherst Road closed in February, the Sunderland Public Library brought a ‘pop-up library’ to residents who lived there. This was a fantastic opportunity for the residents to get the feel of visiting the library without having to leave their residence. Our volunteers made book recommendations, brought a selection of books, audiobooks, and movies for the facility’s residents to browse and borrow, and ordered other items to bring the next time.
Following the facility’s closing, we have been looking into other locations to host a ‘pop-up library’ and are hoping to offer a similar service at a few of the town’s apartment complexes soon. Be on the lookout for more information later this summer.
In addition to ‘pop-up libraries,’ Sunderland Public Library also offers a ‘Library at Your Door’ program. We will bring library materials and pick up returns at the home of any patron who cannot make it to the library due to a permanent or temporary illness, injury, or impairment. This is a great opportunity for patrons — who may have recently had a child or are recovering from surgery — to receive books or movies that could help them in their recovery or pass the time. Please contact the library at 413-665-2642 to learn more about this service.
Elsewhere in the region, Wheeler Memorial Library in Orange also brings its books into the community. Wheeler Memorial Library hosts a mobile library from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Monday of every month in the Community Room of King James Court, an apartment complex on East River Street. Anyone can come to check out materials, request books from other libraries, learn how to access e-books and e-audiobooks, and sign up for a library card. Contact library director Jessica Magelaner at director@orangelib.org with any questions.
Another important service libraries provide to communities is space where people can gather to discuss and work on social issues. Recently, our Sunderland library has offered two programs on the topic of race.
In February, Sunderland’s popular Short Story Series featured two local African American actors providing dramatic readings of short stories by noted African-American authors.
Over 60 people attended this standing-room-only program, which sparked a fantastic discussion on the intersection of race and literature in our lives. Following up on the reading, our library hosted a workshop titled “Talking about Race: Staying Curious, Moving Forward, and Being Part of the Solution,” in which three African American residents from nearby New Hampshire had an open conversation about how race has impacted their lives in a rural New England town. This workshop inspired members of the community to start their own group to further discuss race and racism in our community.
Elsewhere, Arms Library in Shelburne Falls will be hosting the same workshop on Friday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level meeting room.
Summer provides ample opportunities for libraries to get out into their community and show off the creative public programming we do so well. Libraries frequently partner with local businesses, artists, and musicians to provide exciting experiences for our patrons.
Sunderland Public Library’s summer “Down by the River” concert series is one such example and will take place in the library’s backyard under the shade of our historic elm tree.
The series starts on Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. with the Bluegrass Jam All Stars, a group of local musicians who began playing bluegrass music together at The O’s Music Bar’s weekly jam session.
July’s “Down by the River” concert will be on July 13 at 6:30 p.m. featuring The Nields as the closing event of a full day of celebrations of Sunderland’s new Riverside Park grand opening. Sunderland’s fire department, recreation department and many other community groups will be contributing the day, exemplifying the tight-knit and generous spirit of our town. On Aug. 30, the series will cap off at 6:30 p.m. with local country music band Lonesome Brothers.
Sunderland Public Library isn’t the only library that hosts concerts in the summer.
Cushman Library in Bernardston offers outdoor concerts by their pond each year, and Leverett Library offers “Music on the Patio.” Tilton Library in Deerfield and many other libraries also host concerts. Please check with your local library to see what they are offering this summer. All of these concerts, and most all library events in general, are free and open to people from all towns.
While libraries may put a lot of focus on community outreach, access to information still remains our number one priority. Yes, that does mean that the almighty book is still a favorite for library patrons. (Perhaps a future article will be on the public’s strong preference for books over e-books). Information reaches people in so many ways in modern society, but the most important source still remains through human contact. By providing community experiences, libraries are able to convey not just current information, but the cultures and histories of our communities.
Libraries provide the space and context in which these cultures and histories are developed and later understood. If you are still not convinced of the valuable role libraries play in society, visit your local library and see for yourself.
Happier Valley Improv Comedy Show, today at 7 p.m. in the Leverett Library (sponsored in part by a grant from the Leverett Cultural Council, a local agency, which is sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency).
“A Conversation about Racism: Staying Curious, Moving Forward, and Being Part of the Solution,” Friday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Arms Library, Shelburne Falls (lower level meeting room).
Bonjour! Bernardston Conversational French Group. Tuesday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Cushman Library, Bernardston.
History of the Book: The Early Years, Thursday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Tilton Library, Deerfield.
Outdoor Concert with the Bluegrass Jam All-Stars, Friday, June 14 at 6:30 pm in the Sunderland Public Library.
Sunderland Sumer Reading Kick-Off Event – Giant Balloon Art Sculpture Show, Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m. in the Sunderland Public Library.
Leverett Summer Reading Kick-Off Event with Henry Lappen the Juggler, Tuesday, June 25 at 3 p.m. in the Leverett Library.
Music on the Patio with Bruce Colgrove, Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. in the Leverett Library.
Riverside Park Opening Celebrations, Saturday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverside Park, behind Sunderland Public Library.