O’Fallon Public Library adapts to the times, perseveres through COVID-19 pandemic
As the O’Fallon Public Library has pivoted during the coronavirus pandemic, Library Director Ryan Johnson said they are seeing some positive trends.
They continue to be a valued resource for information but helping people with certain needs because of the COVID-19 impact has become an appreciated service.
For instance, helping those not familiar with technology register for vaccines and providing young people with only Smart Phones the capabilities of applying for unemployment benefits online have been two pandemic outcomes, he said.
Johnson referred to it as the “Digital Divide,” to help people maneuver the technology landscape, as they might not have such resources at home.
The library service model has expanded, not only because of the digital age, but also the restrictions of a national public health crisis.
“Numbers are one thing but seeing how our work impacts the lives of others in a positive way is what the library is all about,” Johnson said.
Because of the ever-changing coronavirus public health crisis, the library has not been planning activities too far ahead and has become used to adapting to serve the community needs and local mandates, with safety a top priority, he said.
“The city does a good job of keeping us informed,” he said
The library resumed in-person programming in June. They also launched a homebound delivery service to better reach an underserved community, Johnson said. They had also made curbside delivery available in 2020.
“Physical checkouts are up from the previous period and inching toward the pre-pandemic standard,” Johnson told the O’Fallon City Council’s finance and administration committee during a quarterly report at summer’s end.
“Likewise, our active user counts remain very strong as more folks have shifted to digital options. Along those lines, our digital checkouts remain strong, up significantly from the same period last year,” he said.
Johnson said he is pleased about the collaborations the library has instituted, one being two initiatives with O’Fallon Township High School — a summer reading program for teens and an e-book content-sharing agreement that also included District 90.
“We reached out to Central School District, but they were unable to partner with us at this time,” he said.
They added a set of Launchpads to the circulating collection, which are pre-loaded learning tablets that can help strengthen academic performance.
The events and attendance numbers were low because the library sponsored virtual programming only, but autumn has been filled with activities.
The library’s decision to go “fine free” in April received overwhelming support and numerous notes of thanks, Johnson said.
“This will go a long way to build goodwill within our community,” one resident wrote.
“As a dad to two kids under 4 in a family that checks out like 20+ kids’ books at a time, that will be a huge blessing. I hope it increases engagement and sign-ups at the library,” another wrote.
“We eliminated overdue fines in an effort to remove barriers to access and better serve a larger portion of our community,” he said.
Activities Geared for Teens, Families
As much as possible, activities for young children were planned for outdoors this year, he said.
“We only had to cancel two events,” he said. “We took advantage of good weather outside.
A new teen book club started Sept. 28 and will meet monthly at 6:30 p.m. at the library. “Fiction Addiction” is different than most book clubs — people don’t read a selected book, just bring anything they have read recently to share with the group.
“Attendees will talk about the books, play a game or two, and then pick a genre — (fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, etc. — for the next month,” he said.
To register for Fiction Addiction: https://forms.gle/a6McdL1D7fAqvHEYA.
To learn more: https://ofpl.info/events/teen-tuesday-fiction-addiction.
The Youth Services Department is hosting Campfire Tales at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, behind the library for families.
This event features time around the campfire for s’more style snacks, not-so-scary stories, and maybe a song or two. Bring a blanket.
To register and to get more information go to: https://ofpl.info/events/campfire-tales.
Some Success Nuggets
The library also added a new collection of large print young adult books to the second floor.
They worked with OTHS Interact Club on donation drives and launched 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten campaign.
Study room usage and computer sessions/hours of use remain strong.
“It is worth noting that we still only have half of our patron PCs active, so all of that traffic is coming from just nine stations,” Johnson said.
The library coordinated with volunteers from the AARP Tax Aide Program to offer a modified version of that annual service. Despite the changes necessitated by COVID, helped 409 clients to file their taxes this year with combined refunds totaling $511,984.
“What’s more, we helped clients save roughly $102,250 in fees that would have been charged through paid preparation services,” Johnson said.
They have also provided information on vaccines and provided resources.
Continuing to adapt to the times
The library will continue to adapt with the changing needs, he said.
Johnson praised the staff for their innovative thinking, and their willingness to keep up with training and learning to provide more services to the community. They shared ideas on new approaches during the 18 months of uncertain times.
“We tried to keep it simple,” he said.
Last year, when remote learning was used in schools, some people wanted a change of scenery or work in the library without distractions at home, and preferred the library over a coffee shop, Johnson noted.
Book Sale
The Friends of the Library will host a book sale from Thursday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Oct. 31. Used books are now spread throughout the library, and not just in one corner, as had been the previous custom, he said.
To sign up for a free event, visit: https://ofpl.info/calendar.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 3:55 PM.