News: Archives
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Making its way
With changes at state library, Rawlins sees increase in users
By Kate Turnbow
Capital Journal
PIERRE - While the South Dakota State Library will continue to function as a public library until January, Rawlins Library is already seeing an increase in patron traffic because of the changes made at the State Library.
According to Dan Boyd, director of information services at the State Library, as of January 2007 the State Library will officially begin working with public libraries rather than the general public, but transitional phases to cease operating in a public library model have already begun at the State Library.
These changes are directly affecting Rawlins Municipal Library in Pierre, and according to Beverly Lewis, library director at Rawlins, this is a good thing for the city library.
"It's a very good thing, and we at Rawlins will deal with it. We are thrilled to have new patrons, so we're excited about it," Lewis said.
The State Library has already limited its public access computers, and according to Lewis, some patrons who only used the State Library are now using Rawlins Library, not only for materials but also for public access computers and for reference information from the librarians.
"So, yes, we are seeing more patrons come down here to Rawlins," said Lewis.
In the transition phases this is also creating growing pains for Rawlins.
Lewis said that the problems come into play with the library's ability to provide reference information in a timely manner and facilitate interlibrary loan requests.
"So this has some implications on our staff time, but I believe that the changes that the State Library is making are good changes for the citizens of South Dakota," said Lewis.
Also presenting a staffing issue is the expansion of the library's outreach program.
This expansion, according to Lewis, was made possible by a "new" used vehicle that was provided to the library through the city.
The van was transferred from another city department and is currently being refurbished.
Lewis said it should be on road, with its large library logo on the side, sometime in January.
"We've been able to do things like poolside reading parties and taking our outreach collection to retirement centers and senior centers, but we have been really limited in our ability to transport materials," Lewis said.
The outreach program is one that Lewis said is important for those who are "geographically challenged."
"So we like to take a bit of our library to those who can't get up here to the library on the hill," Lewis continued.
Now the library will have the use of a book cart in the van, and while that makes the library more mobile, the expansion of the outreach program is now a matter of scheduling staff for trips with the van.
"The van won't drive itself, so now we are working on getting a plan in place for a delivery schedule," Lewis explained.
