GPL Blog

by Noelle Thompson

From the Director’s Desk — How Green Is Your Library?

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

We are about a year away from moving into our new facility and are taking steps to ensure the library is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable in our new space. Some of the sustainable initiatives we’ve taken include planning for an electronic vehicle charging station in our future parking lot, building a skills lab with tools for patrons to use and share, and adding solar panels to our roof through the Solar for All program. In the meantime, there are several ways we are practicing environmental responsibility for our library and our community.

Libraries, by the very nature of our existence, reduce waste by sharing materials with our communities. We own over 134,000 items that can be accessed by and shared among our community members, including items that can be borrowed, like books, movies, music, magazines, toys, games, hot spots, etc., and items that are shared within the library like public computers, newspapers in print and on microfilm, and a public meeting room. Lending and sharing reduce consumption and waste, save our community members money, and create more equitable opportunities for all Galesburg residents.

Some of the items we lend encourage and allow library users to reduce their environmental impact, including bike locks to support cyclists and Kill-A-Watt electricity usage monitors. Our seed library provides fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds available to the public at no cost, and we provide many paths for patrons to recycle, share, and rehome their own materials, including our blessing box, our annual Halloween costume drive, and, new this spring, a puzzle and board game swap.

Outdoors, our Monarch Waystation supports butterfly migration and survival, and we plan to include another at the new library location. The windows of our new building will have bird-safe glazing to reduce bird strikes and lessen our impact on migration patterns.

If you are interested in discussing the environment and sustainability with other community members, please consider joining the Food for Thought Book Club which meets monthly at Cornucopia and discusses books about food, climate, and the environment. The current read is Wastelands by Corban Addison, which is available for check out at the library, and the next meeting is Thursday, March 30, at 11:30.

From the Director’s Desk: Patron Satisfaction Survey

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

In October and November 2022, the library conducted a patron satisfaction survey led by Knox College social service intern, Justin Vega. One hundred forty-eight patrons responded with feedback about the library’s services, programs, collection, and staff, and the responses are helping us refine our current offerings while planning for the future.

About half of those who responded visit the library at least once a week. 87% of respondents have checked out a book in the last three years, 64% attend programs, and half come to the library for computer or internet access. While most people reported not facing many challenges when considering attending a library program or using a library resource, those who did reported scheduling to be the biggest obstacle they face.

We received over sixty comments about our services, including suggestions for improvement. Some requested additional evening and weekend hours, and some suggested program ideas, like sign language classes, history lectures, and yoga classes (stay tuned for new classes in January!) We received an overwhelming number of responses about the helpfulness and friendliness of library staff, and to that we say “Thank you!”

Reviewing the survey results has been a great way to close out the year. We feel encouraged by the support of our community and are excited to start the new year with some new ideas and a better understanding of how to serve. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback; we always welcome your input and value your ideas.

How do you learn about library services and programs?

How do you get to the library?

What library resources have you used in the past three years?

What challenges do you face when considering attending a library program?

What challenges do you face when considering using a library resource?

 

From the Director’s Desk: So You Want to Work in a Library?

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Librarianship is a broad field, delivering all kinds of information to all kinds of people. Library work is possible in schools and colleges, hospitals and government agencies, museums and theaters. Libraries come in all sizes and a range of systems.  Galesburg Public Library has a staff of fifteen full-time and thirteen part-time positions, and if you’ve ever considered working in a library like ours, some of the steps below can help prepare you for a role in public librarianship.

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From the Director’s Desk: A Day in the Life

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Ever wondered exactly what our director is doing every day? Here’s a peek into Noelle’s “typical” day:

8am: I arrive at work and before settling into my office, I do a quick walk around the building to look for any problems. I notice the blessing box is nearly empty so I grab some food items and water bottles from our breakroom to restock it (staff may wear blue jeans on Fridays and Saturdays if we donate something to the blessing box.) An indoor garbage can is filling up, so I empty it in the dumpster, and I stop to chat with a regular patron in the parking lot.

9am: Time for emails. I read and respond to emails about new procedures, meeting schedules, library law, new tech purchases, vendor pricing, and donor information. I add a…

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From the Director’s Desk — May 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Galesburg is full of extraordinary women, and many of them are contributing to Galesburg Public Library’s capital campaign.

As part of the campaign to raise $3.75 million for the construction of a new building, the library joined the 100 Extraordinary Women program, a national fundraising platform. The library’s goal was to recruit one hundred women to each pledge $1,000 and collectively raise $100,000 for the new building. By May 18, 208 had joined the cause, raising $208,000 and becoming the most successful 100 Extraordinary Women (100EW) campaign in the county. Approximately one third of participants made their pledges in honor or in memory of someone else.

To celebrate the success and thank the community of donors, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation hosted a recognition event at The Vault. The energy in the room was palpable…

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From the Director’s Desk — March 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Connect with your library this National Library Week

April 3-9 marks the 64th anniversary of National Library Week, and we hope you’ll celebrate with us. The annual celebration began in 1958 when the National Book Committee pledged to combat the decline of reading and celebrate the freedom to read in communities throughout the country. This year’s theme, “Connect with Your Library,” emphasizes the versatile offerings of libraries and the core theme of connection achieved through library services.

The Galesburg Public Library helps our community connect to distant friends and family, to neighbors, and to community leaders by providing public computers, meeting spaces, and educational events. We help our community connect to the internet by sponsoring…

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From the Director’s Desk — February 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

“When women come together, extraordinary things happen.”

The Galesburg Public Library Foundation (GPLF) has joined the national 100 Extraordinary Women initiative, engaging women throughout the community to pledge their support to the new building project. The GPLF is asking one hundred women to come together to pledge $1,000 over five years (less than $20 per month) to the library.

The funds will be used to sponsor the Skills Lab in the new building, an interactive classroom for adults and teens to use tools, equipment, and training simulators to develop skills that may equip them for the workforce or empower them to live and thrive independently. The contents of the lab will rotate depending on community needs, and…

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From the Director’s Desk — November 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

Giving Tuesday is an international event celebrating generosity, community, and collaboration. This year, we’re asking our community to work together to support the construction of a new library and fill our bookshelves. The new library will have room for 30,000 more books, movies, music CDs, and magazines. On Tuesday, November 30, you can give to the Galesburg Public Library Foundation and fill the new building with books on opening day.

Increasing the number of bookshelves is vital for several reasons. First of all, that means

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From the Director’s Desk — October 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

The Register-Mail recently asked me about common library myths. My answer is included below along with other common misconceptions.

Myth: Libraries are silent, somber places.

Fact: Libraries are places of learning. Sometimes learning does require quiet environments so students can read, research, and study without disruption. Other times, learning is loud. We learn through play, through conversation, and through collaboration. The new building will have study rooms for students to read undisturbed and spaces for exploration…

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