New library creates new connections
“Yellow Submarine” fills the air along with a cheerful energy as library patrons share smiles for an oldie but a goodie. Next up is “Brown Eyed Girl.”
Light applause and encouraging chatter pepper the break between songs in the live set. It’s the second Monday of the month, which means the Trussville Public Library is hosting a jam session.
Nearby, a group of students erupts in laughter as the project they’re attempting to construct has collapsed. Multiple conversations are occurring at once — at full volume.
“This is not your grandmother’s library,” Library Director Emily Tish said.
“Now we have to designate quiet space, where it used to be an entirely quiet space. We like to say that ‘hush’ as left the building,” Tish said.
The biggest shift in how people experience the library is through the programming that has been added after the building’s 2018 renovations.
The auditorium can house multiple events throughout the day, such as storytime for kids in the morning, an afternoon STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) event for teens and a reading by a local author for adults in the evening.
“We can shut the doors to the auditorium and be as loud as we want in there,” she said.
American Girl events hosted in the auditorium draw an average of 65 girls in kindergarten through 6th grade, according to Children’s Librarian Karen Davis.
“We meet once a month and study the timeframe of the different dolls. We study the history of that timeframe, do a craft or activity and have a snack that goes along with that time,” she said.
Two meeting rooms house smaller programs such as Chess Club and book clubs. Tami Dalton facilitates a ukulele beginner’s workshop in one of the smaller rooms, as well as the monthly jam sessions.
“The workshops are designed for the absolute beginner. They learn their chords, music notation and rhythm. In the jam sessions, you play what you learned in the workshops. A lot of friendships started in the jams. I have met quite a few people that I can’t imagine my life without them. And I met them here,” Dalton said.
Edith Gierlatowicz learned to knit through the library’s class and now assists with facilitating the group.
“I’d tried to learn on my own and that didn’t work. Going to this class gives you someone to ask when you get stuck. Getting to know people has been the highlight. There are people that come to learn and there are experts that are just there to enjoy each other’s company,” Gierlatowicz said.
Jennifer Bain takes advantage of the library’s genealogy workshops as an outlet to combine her passion for history and family.
“I’ve always been a history buff. And it makes me feel closer to my mom and her family since she’s passed away,” Bain said. “When I’m studying all that, it makes me feel closer to her. And every time you go to one of the classes, you always pick up something new.”
Electronic door counters can attest to the community taking advantage of the increased programming, as they clock an average of 22,500 visits per month. June and July typically see an uptick of about 10,000 visits per month due to the Summer Reading program.
This year’s program will launch through a Family Night event June 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a new twist. Rather than holding separate events for each department, the various department heads have combined efforts to offer a collective launch. The evening will include live music, laser tag, free food, a gaming truck and petting zoo. Registration for the summer reading program will extend throughout the summer for anyone interested but unable to attend the June 3 event.
The combined launch is in an effort to clarify the common misconception that Summer Reading is a program intended for children only.
“With Family Night, we are hoping to get more adults to participate. Many people are aware of the activities for kids, but don’t realize that we have adult programs,” Adult Services Librarian Maura Davies said.
While children and teen summer readers check in weekly, adult readers submit their completed reading logs at the end of summer. Participants who read the most books receive the top three prizes and others are entered into a drawing for remaining prizes.
“I always look forward to our Summer Reading program, but I’m very excited about our kickoff this year,” Adult Services Librarian Susan Matlock said. “I really enjoy seeing the community come together and us being able to house that. We have a great community, and I hope this will bookmark that we are a staple in the community.”
To learn more about programs offered and summer reading, stop by the Trussville Public Library at 201 Parkway Drive, visit trussvillelibrary.com or follow the library on Facebook @TrussvillePublicLibrary.