If your public library’s mission is to promote community success, what exactly should the library do to achieve that goal every day?  We frequently ask ourselves that question as we develop our services at CCPL, because our mission statement says exactly that.  We are very pleased that the American Library Association chose to promote public libraries’ unique role in promoting successful communities for National Library Week in 2013.  Here are some examples of what we do in Cecil County to show Communities Matter @ Your Library!

1. We—our citizen Board and staff—pay attention and get involved.  We learn about community challenges from the library users who walk in the door with their questions and concerns, AND from our work on boards, committees and volunteering activities around the county.

2. We are committed to being part of the solution. We work hard to anticipate what the “game-changer” insights, knowledge, books, services, technology, presentations or classes will be, AND we aim to have them at the library for you and your family or business when you walk in our door or click on our website.

3. We strive to serve the whole community and every community in Cecil County.  Our mission statement says something else special—that we provide educational and cultural resources for all.  Whether you are in kindergarten, college or AARP, wealthy or cash-strapped, studying for the GED, ASVAB, or MCAT, working to find a job or get a promotion, starting a business, or craving a good book, we are here, and we are often there, to give you access to those game-changing insights, knowledge, and services and to promote you and your community’s success.

4. It is not just a job to us.  Cecil County is, after all, a fantastic place to live, work, study and grow—a community of communities that really matter.  You inspire us with your creativity, determination, and accomplishments every day.

Visit us to celebrate our community in Cecil County Public Library branches for National Library Week, April 14 to 20.

We work hard to keep all Cecil County Public Libraries up-to-date, efficient and comfortable.  The Elkton Central Library opened in 1987—a lot has changed since then and a few updates are in order! Here’s an overview of what’s going on:

Changes in collections.

• Librarians are still able to find knowledge, information, evidence and data on the topics and issues better than anyone.  But reference collections are very different than in years past.  We now buy many reference books in digital formats and access them online.  The space needed is less than it was, so we can allocate that important resource in new ways.

• Audiobooks and DVDs are more popular than ever, and Elkton’s shelving is overcrowded and deteriorated.

Library users are changing, too.

• Teens are proving to be the fastest growing demographic of library users today, and they read a lot.

• All library users expect to “plug in” a device at the library.

• The Perryville Branch Library café has proven to be a very popular place for study or work, and the ability to get a decent cup of coffee, snack, or even lunch in the library is appreciated by many library users.

The improvements: We are moving a lot of things around, adding some shelving, a bit of furniture, and paint.

• The reference collection is moving to the previous teen space. This will provide a quieter area for reference research and for reference computer users.

• Teen seating and books will get the larger space previously occupied by those outmoded reference books. This will be a safe and constructive environment for teens to study together, use technology, and read (and the new comfortable space will be there for adults and others during school hours).

• The audiovisual collection will move to new mobile shelving, and the magazine shelving will be consolidated to higher shelving, yielding more space. Mobile shelving allows for flexible use of library space, as well as better security.

• A linoleum floor and a new counter (with plug ins) where the audiovisual shelving used to be, plus vending machines and tables, will become a new café area for Elkton library users.

We started this transition in early December.  Things may be a little harder to find at first, but we will still have all the tables, study seating and chairs we had before—and great books and magazines to check out and read.  Please just ask if you are trying to find something.  Already, teens are moving in to their new area and loving it. We will work hard to complete the rest of these improvements with as little disruption as possible.  Thanks for your patience and flexibility!