Connecting with our families is the best part of working in a library. The mamas and the daddies coming in with their little ones for storytime reminds me of raising my own daughter right here in Southlake. Those were such sweet times. There were crazy times too, but that’s family life.
And it’s why a library is so important to a community. We are helping people build lives and connect with their neighbors. Everything about the Southlake Public Library is customized for this community, from the collection titles to the programs we offer to the furniture and decor we have. Even the coffee bar is designed to be a tasting experience with unique blends from around the country. We really want this to be the community’s space to gather, relax and grow with each other.
The pandemic was hard on everyone, and it was challenging to be in public service during that time. How did we help our customers and staff feel safe but still offer our services? Of course, I think we disinfected everything that stood still, but we also ventured into new territory. We were doing our storytime programs and lots of other creative ideas on video for the first time. That was new for me and my storytime partner, Ms. Heidi. Even our pets got into the act at home! Admittedly, they may have been even more popular than we were.
Now that we seem to be finally moving past this thing, we are excited to offer live programming in the library once again. The energy of a dynamic library lifts up the whole staff and gives us such a strong sense of purpose. Everyone is glad to be back with an entire summer full of programs and activities. The response has been great, and it’s such a joyful place to be.
Before I began working in libraries, I had no idea how they worked behind the scenes. How do they get to know the community and what it needs? So much research goes into the collection decisions. Our librarians look at national publishing data and review Southlake’s specific reading trends to determine which titles and how many of those titles we need. They also look at Southlake’s demographics to make sure our collection reflects the cultures of those who live here. Reading trends also determine a lot of our program choices. The high demand for cookbooks led to our cooking classes. History and business book readers find programs that build on those interests. We also listen. Every comment, suggestion or request is essential to us. If we can say yes, we do. But we also evaluate customer feedback data to watch for significant trends that help us to improve.
Our goal at the Southlake Public Library is to see our community and serve it the way it wants to be served, with a bit of delight and surprise mixed in. It’s why we say we have the best jobs in Southlake — but don’t tell anyone!
Karen Jolley is a librarian who regularly hosts storytimes at the Southlake Public Library.
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