This week is National Library Week, and Independence Township Library joined in the commemoration.
‘National library week itself it kind of an opportunity to celebrate the contribution libraries have made to communities or to whatever academic group they serve,? said Keegan Sulecki, head of teen services. ‘For us it would be whatever strides we’ve made towards our patrons and taxpayers.?
This year’s theme is ‘Communities thrive at your Library,? which Sulecki sees as an important role in the current poor economic conditions.
‘Libraries are kind of a way to ease the burden a little bit,? she said. ‘That’s kind of the role we’re trying to take on.?
On April 12, between 1-6 p.m. workers and friends started the week by handing out cake and beverages in the lobby to people that came in. In the community meeting room they also played a video paid by the Friends of the Library, which featured patrons of the library explaining what services they enjoy and how they feel the library has been important to their lives.
‘Friends of the library have always been very dedicated the money they raise goes towards buying a lot of things,? Sulecki said.
She said they had a scavenger hunt to help people find and locate things in the building as well as questions they might need to ask staff members which can generate dialog.
‘Maybe because I’m new to it I still get excited when I tell somebody about something they didn’t know we provided before,? Sulecki said, who’s been working at the library since September. ‘I started as a volunteer at this library, I’ve known Julie (Meredith, library director) since I was 13 years old. I’ve been part of this community for a long time.?
Those who finished the scavenger hunt correctly were entered into a drawing for a prize of either a $10 or $5 dollar gift card to Dairy Dream, or a $5 fine forgiveness voucher.
‘This will be if people use the library regularly you maybe always forget your dvds for a day or something like that,? she said. ‘They can use towards waiving their late fines.?
For the last part of the day they also had ‘Read to Paws? dogs.
‘It is for young children who are struggling to read or maybe they’re intimidated by reading to an adult or someone else who can hear them, so we have a whole group of trained therapy dogs they can read to,? she said. ‘National Library Week is about letting people know about the programs and hopefully those are things they latch onto.?