Hope library expands outreach to community

As the Hope Branch Library has worked to grow its programming over the years, its community presence has expanded beyond what many expected.

“I think that libraries in small towns are, by necessity, more integral to their towns and communities than necessarily libraries in big cities are,” says Branch Supervisor Dave Miller. “That dovetails well with my personal philosophy of libraries and so I’ve taken that aspect of what the library can do to heart. I’ve tried to be involved more with town events and make that a bigger presence for myself and the library as a representative.”

Compared to the Columbus branch of the library, Miller says Hope has never had a large staff and that is something libraries have begun to emphasize in recent years. However, back in the day, libraries weren’t necessarily viewed as places of programming compared to today.

“It was a place to get books,” Miller says. “And that, for sure, is what Hope was.”

The Hope library’s story-time offerings and kids’ programming has increased with a big impact, he says.

“It’s a good way for the library to be a more three-dimensional presence in kids’ and families’ lives,” Miller says. “And I feel lucky I get to do that.”

Compared to Columbus, Hope doesn’t offer quite as much adult programming, but that has afforded the Hope branch an opportunity to focus more on family-oriented, all-ages events, which makes more sense for the community, Miller says.

“Most of the stuff we are doing is similar to what Columbus is doing,” Miller says. “But we get to pick and choose best what we want to do.”

Brenda McKinney has been a member of the Hope Branch Library staff for more than 10 years and says collaborative efforts and communication between the Columbus and Hope locations has increased.

“We are having a lot more programming than we ever have,” she says. “And I think that is because now we are more combined with the Columbus library and there is more communication between the two and that plays a bigger role.”

One interesting trend McKinney says she’s witnessed is the recent change in why area youth are making the Hope Branch library one of their first stops after school.

“We have a lot more kids coming in,” McKinney says. “When I first started here, the computers were all the rage, but now it is kids coming in and getting books, which is great.”

Putting a number on just how many people come and go through the Hope Branch library doors is difficult, Miller says. If you are talking about programming, the number of those who attend is entirely dependent on the program. However, the overall number of programs offered in a given year is easily about 75, Miller says.

Library program growth in Hope has also helped to evolve the library’s positive impact and presence in the community. And part of that comes from its community involvement.

The Hope Branch Library is regularly represented at community events, such as the annual Christmas of Yesteryear and the fall favorite, Goodies, Goblins and Ghost Stories, which Miller organizes.

When the town of Hope offered its Groundhog Day event, featuring Grubby the Groundhog, in collaboration with Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators this year, Miller saw another opportunity to expand the library’s presence, he says.

“They needed a few people who would dress up in formal wear and hold rodents and there is a short list of people in town who will do that, but I am happy to,” Miller says. “With me being involved, I’m a representative of the library and it gives the library a presence at these kinds of events.”

As Miller looks to the future, he sees not only an increase in library-oriented program offerings, but also events that expand beyond the confines of books and storytelling.

“I think we will end up doing more all-ages programming,” he says. “We have done a couple of animal programs that have been very successful, like last year when we brought in sharks from an aquarium in Cincinnati and had a presentation. I think we will continue to do that kind of stuff when it makes sense and budgetary resources are available for that.”