Library looks to add deliveries

The Gibson Memorial Library has applied for another American Library Association grant, this one focused on accessibility in rural communities. The goal is to provide home deliveries for home-bound patrons, as well as acquire more large-print and audio materials.

The Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has been working with the ALA to provide grants to small and rural community libraries. According to the ALA, 465 libraries have received grants through this initiative so far. Through four rounds over four years, more than $7 million is to be given.

Grants awarded range between $10,000 and $20,000. To qualify, a library must be in an area with a population of 25,000 or less and be located at least 5 miles away from an urbanized area. Creston’s library certainly fits these standards, and its staff is pushing for the largest dollar amount.

Assistant director Jordan Foote applied for the third round of the grant, the winners of which will be notified on March 3. Foote said the inspiration came after seeing many well-loved patrons no longer able to make it to the library.

“We have personally noticed a lot of patrons of ours that no longer are able to make it into the library because they physically can’t,” Foote said. “With this, there would be a two-pronged approach, the first one being doing monthly deliveries to those within city limits. If they’re not within city limits, then actually physically mailing books to them.”

Regarding in-city deliveries, Foote hopes to utilize volunteers. However, the staff is willing to step up to the plate if needed.

“With it being only once a month, hopefully that won’t be a big burden on staff time,” Foote said. “For those that live in Afton, I live in Afton, so hopefully that can also be an end of the day trip for me.”

The library also plans to create better relationships with places such as assisted living or nursing homes in order to do bulk deliveries and reach more people. Library director Danielle Dickinson Thaden said she is open to other “hotspots” as well.

While deliveries would be a big deal to those no longer able to come to the library, it’s only part of the plan. If the full $20,000 is awarded, half of the money will go toward purchasing new large print and audio material.

One struggle the library has seen in recent years is the decline in physical audiobook use, despite the interest. This is largely in part due to the lack of accessible CD players.

“We get a lot of comments about folks that no longer have a CD player, no longer have a CD player in their car since they don’t really make cars with CD players anymore,” Foote said. “But from what we know, there’s still an overwhelming desire for audiobooks.”

Here enters the Playaway, a small digital device similar to an MP3 player, which has an individual audiobook downloaded onto it. All a patron needs is a set of headphones or earbuds to plug into the device and they’re good to go. Gibson Memorial recently received a handful of Playaways from another library, which they hope to promote until new editions can be bought.

“They still make them (Playaways) with brand new books, but they are pricier,” Foote said. “That’s where we’re also thinking some of that budget that’s been put towards audiobooks, if people really like them, could be put towards those.”

While the library won’t know if it is awarded the grant until March, the goal is always to reach more people.