It’s member visiting season again – yay!
We love to visit our members, and to see all the neat things they are doing. Have we been to YOUR library yet?? If not, then email us and let’s set it up!
I was invited to come visit a small but very active library in the St. Cloud VA Health Care System. (Okay, I kind of invited myself over. It still counts!) And this was a small but mighty library, lead by Patricia Grelson.
I found it! (I’m always absurdly proud when I find a new library!) To be fair here, a very nice person on the floor above this one showed me where to go. She brightened up when I asked for the final stretch of directions to the library. “Oh yes! I can take you there!” I tried to just get directions, but she escorted me nearly to the door. So nice!
It’s not huge, space-wise. A lot of the tour took place with me sitting at Pat’s desk and admiring things as I turned my head. A lot of their work takes place online, as is true in so many libraries! Sharing information that way makes it convenient for community members spread across a huge physical campus.
Sorry about the terrible shot here. I was literally sitting in a chair, and probably waving my other hand excitedly as Pat and I chatted a thousand miles a minute about all her cool library work!
That’s Pat! Everybody wave! *waves* Don’t be fooled by the sign; she’s fiercely devoted to her library and to serving her community – but not scary. She is a great example to us all – joining every committee and group she can find, to be sure she’s there to tell people about the things her library can provide. That’s good advocacy, right there!
Again, sorry about the poor picture quality. (Did I stick my hand on the lens? Entirely possible.) You can see the materials in the boxes, all labeled and ready to share. And the tubs are book group packages – organized by month, so they can keep track of books shared and people can easily check into it again.
And check out these signs of the coolness of this library!! Sparkle is key for us all. And I am in fact a stress/happiness researcher, so I can tell you this correlation referenced on the right is correct. Implement it in your library today!
Libraries are important parts of their community. This library serves the information needs of the community of professionals working at the VA, across a huge range of specialties. As a librarian – I’m impressed! As the daughter of a veteran wounded in combat, who has been using VA services for nearly 50 years now, I’m kind of in awe of the work they are able to do.
Can I can visit your library in November??? I’m scheduling visits NOW!! I’m looking forward to coming there and gushing over your stuff and your work!! Let’s set it up – email me at admin @ cmle.org.