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Pictured are Briar Johnson and Library Board Chair Susan Goodwin in the foreground and Commissioner Tommy Powers and Joy Walker in the background discussing the significance of the information provided at the Meet & Greet. Photo submitted.
ZEBULON - On Thursday evening, Feb. 25, a Meet & Greet was held at the J. Joel Edwards Public Library. In attendance were all nine members of the library board, the county commissioners and county manager, and two city mayors. The purpose of the meeting was for all those in attendance to get to know each other and for the library board to inform the local county and city leaders on the status of the library.
The group began with a tour of the facility. Manager Rosemary Bunn showed off the many improvements the library has seen in the past few years, including new shelving arrangements that make more efficient use of space, fresh paint in the public areas, the new AWE computers, a new computer island designed to accommodate ten computers, tinted windows, and the newly-established young adult area. The group were also invited to test the sample furniture and provide feedback on their preferences.
Library board member Curtis Ward shared a PowerPoint presentation to inform the commissioners and mayors of the importance of the library in its community. “In the past six months,” said Ward, “8182 patrons have visited the library, and there have been 2958 sessions on the public computers. That doesn’t include the number of wireless users, because we have no way of calculating that number.”
Ward also pointed out that the library provides regular preschool story programs each week as well as adult and family-oriented classes on Saturdays, and a summer reading program which has grown from 93 registrants in 2012 to over 400 in 2015. Throughout the year special programs and contests are also presented, such as the annual Seussabration, the bookmark contest, p.j. parties, and an annual Santa visit.
A lively and productive question and answer session followed, allowing the invited guests to probe the immediate needs of the library, both material and financial.
“On behalf of the board and the library staff,” says manager Bunn, “I would like to again thank our county and city officials for taking the time out of their busy schedules to see what the library has to offer to them and their citizens. We look forward to continuing our upward trend of providing quality service to all of our patrons and establishing strong collaborations in our community.”
Library staff sporting their shirts, “Behind Every Great Community Is A Great Library!” L-R: Paula Harden, Linda Harden, Emily Evans, Kim Mason, Rosemary Bunn. Photo submitted.