by Shelly Potts, Stevensville
Is the institution known as the library an archaic has-been? The North Valley Public Library building is certainly old, having originally been constructed in 1910 with additions in 1940. However, despite many societal changes in the ensuing years, libraries are as vital as ever. Benjamin Franklin promoted the first public library in America with the goal of benefiting the common people, and by 1865 the idea of spreading knowledge and education in this way took root in America. While the offerings of libraries have certainly evolved since Ben’s time, their significance remains steadfast.
As a resident of several towns throughout my life, the local library has always been a consistent positive. As a young person, the library opened the world of reading to me as I pored over Trixie Belden mysteries and the comical Pippi Longstocking paperbacks and later classics such as “To Kill a Mockingbird.” After high school, the library was a place to use reference materials to launch my career search. When my children came on the scene, weekly library outings were a highlight as we struggled to keep track of the countless titles in our loaded book bags. As time progressed, our selections expanded to audios, movies, and computer-based media. My high school aged son even worked at the library where he gained valuable experience about people, literature, and employment expectations. Now that my husband and I are practically empty nesters, we enjoy hobby books along with date night documentaries and botany classes. I must admit I have a few sad stories too, such as the time I backed my van over a bag full of library material that I left behind the car and promptly forgot as I strapped my daughter into her safety seat, then walked around the front of the vehicle to depart! There was also the dismal day when the chocolate milk in the trunk somehow spilled on the costly vintage books!
Whether curling up in an inviting nook to escape to another place via colorful, well-chosen words, turning a stranger into a friend while playing with toys in the specially decorated children’s area, or attending an evening lecture by a guest author, I’m sure you have your own stories to share. Please put them on paper and bring them to the library’s circulation desk to inspire others to discover the many benefits of the North Valley Public Library (NVPL).
The NVPL in Stevensville is more than a receptacle for books; it provides classes, including technology-based, for all ages, a meeting space for clubs, movie and music rentals, a wide variety of children and youth activities, and a communication hub for the town. The mission of the NVPL sums it up:
“…to strengthen and support our community by:
• Fostering a welcoming and comfortable setting for all people to gather, explore, and discover;
• Promoting literacy and lifelong learning;
• Providing exemplary programming, service, and quality, timely materials.”
This mission is now in jeopardy and the library needs your help. I spontaneously attended a recent town council meeting and discovered that the library infrastructure is in dire straits. In the last seven years more than $42,000 has been spent to repair and remediate problems due to the age and construction of the building to ensure the safety of patrons and staff. To learn specifics, scan the Current Building Issues binder at the library’s circulation counter. The binder provides the details of professional environmental reports outlining everything from asbestos, mold, uneven flooring, inadequate structure support and water damage. The current building is clearly a money pit at best and a potential hazard at worst!
The library staff deserve recognition for making every effort to keep operating despite hardships such as setting up displays around a labyrinth of support posts, having limited storage due to inaccessible attic/basement areas, and dealing with too little usable space to host desired programs. The library board is working with the town council to find a suitable solution to the situation, but your support is vital! Please take time to stop in at the library, talk to the town council, and spread the word to your neighbors, friends, family, and business connections. Attend the community forum on Wednesday, October 25 at 6 p.m. to share your ideas on a new library location. The library needs a viable land plan in place quickly so a capital campaign can begin. Your support enables the Stevensville community to continue reaping the benefits of a thriving rural library.