Dear Friends,
Libraries are in some ways a contradiction to themselves. Libraries will always be a place of egalitarian access to the facility, and anonymous and equitable access to information. But Libraries are also dynamic places, changing with times to reflect the changing needs of the community, changing resources, and changing interests. I’d like to talk this week about a change we are planning for our floorplan.
In response to the increased teen interest in Skidompha, we will be making the current Computer Room by the Main Street entrance our new Teen Room. We will maintain a collection of public access computers, but they will be moved to the space behind the stairs against the large windows on the east wall. That computer space will also have tables to work at, and comfortable chairs and space to relax, read the paper and photosynthesize in the seasonal sun. We will have to move a couple of the affected collections to facilitate this change as well, but we promise to do our best to make certain they are all fully available and easy to access.
Skidompha is for everyone, and we are proud and grateful that our local teens consider us a “Destination” after school to relax, hang out, chat, and do homework. As a valuable and welcome group, teens deserve space in Skidompha to call their own, and be themselves. Currently they have no such place and are relegated to searching for a spot somewhere in the building like an afterthought. We want to change that by creating this new space for them.
Space is one of our greatest resources, and I recognize we never have enough. As we move forward, we will do our best to minimize the impact on our patrons, but this is a big project, significant in time, labor, and cost, and I ask for your patience as we move forward.
Be well,
Matthew
Matthew Graff
Executive Director
Skidompha Public Library