As a trustee of Neill Public Library in Pullman, I’m delighted to announce the library is re-opening on Sunday afternoons. Since this coming Sunday is the 4th of July, a national holiday, Sunday hours will commence July 11.This is good news for everybody.
Patrons will have seven-day-a-week access to their library. The staff, which is eager to serve, will have more opportunity to meet patrons’ needs. And Pullman taxpayers will receive more value from a priceless civic asset.
Resumption of Sunday hours is a major step on the road back to where Neill Public Library was one year ago.
Back then, all of the senior staff positions were filled. But in August, the Adult Services Librarian moved on to his dream job – years sooner than expected – back in his hometown in Texas. A month after that, the library director -- who was new in the job -- recognized the fit wasn’t good and graciously stepped aside to make way for a new director.
As you can imagine, these vacancies had a major impact on the rest of the staff. There were fewer hands to perform an ever-increasing amount of work. Employee burn-out was a real concern.
That’s when the library board chose to ease off the throttle a bit. We cut back the hours of operation, eliminating four hours on Sundays and another six hours spread across three weekday evenings.
It wasn’t popular, and we got some complaints. Most folks, once they understood the situation, were supportive of a temporary reduction in hours. A few critics continued to be critics.
But the library marches on, busier than ever.
Last year, according to the Washington State Library, Neill Public Library’s status in its size category (25,001-100,000 population) was:
• No. 1 for library visits per capita, at 14.47
• No. 1 for library programs per 1,000 residents, at 17.86
• No. 1 for library attendance per 1,000 residents, at 637.31
• No. 2 in circulation per capita, at 15.18
Those are impressive figures, given Washington’s population, literacy levels, and degree of civic participation. They are especially impressive because Pullman’s library is in the same category as libraries serving communities nearly four times larger.
Here are some other statistics from last year that paint a revealing picture of Neill Public Library:
• Public internet use increased 31 percent
• Library visits increased 29 percent
• Circulation increased 12 percent
• The number of registered borrowers increased 8 percent
Public libraries across America have seen similar, though less dramatic, spikes in use because libraries are where people go during tough economic times. They cancel their internet service at home and head to the library. They cancel their newspaper and magazine subscriptions and head for the library. They switch off their furnaces and air conditioners and, yep, head for the library.
Why?
Because you don’t have to open your wallet to enjoy a public library. You simply walk in, select the materials you want, and savor the experience in peace and quiet.
Public libraries in general, and Neill Public Library in particular, are exemplars of civil society. They are a bricks-and-mortar affirmation of the noble ideal that all of us can work together for the common good.
Apropos the common good, Pullman’s library is in good hands.
The new Adult Services Librarian, Cheryl Brinkley, is doing fine work on a number of fronts -- not the least of which is writing grants and leveraging the library’s assets upward. Systems Administrator James Morasch is another masterful grant wrangler and Youth Services Librarian Kathleen Ahern leads the finest children’s programs on the Palouse.
A director search is under way, but until that position is filled, day-to-day operations are being capably handled by Joanna Bailey, temporary library services manager.
There are many others who deserve recognition, but the important thing is that good things are happening at Neill Public Library. Starting July 11, they’ll be happening on Sunday afternoons.
--by William Brock,
Chairman of Neill Public Library Board of Trustees
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