Drive for Excellence

When I was four years old, my mother took me to a library and suddenly the whole world opened up to me.  From that moment on I was an avid reader who could never get enough of books and spent countless hours in the shelves and collections of my childhood library.  I want to see that passion in every face that enters the library.  I believe that every child and every adult should have access to libraries and the resources they hold. The library is an exciting place, a magical place, a place to learn new things and to get things done. 

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Our library district is small - two rural libraries with a total of 20,000 titles and 8,000 residents.  We are isolated without access to the big city amenities.  It is vital that this library district provide opportunities and resources to our county population of economically challenged agricultural citizens. They should have the same opportunity to read books and use computers and access the world. That is my goal and my promise in my role in the library - to make it a vital, useful, and friendly place.

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I know it works because I can see changed hearts and minds every time someone walks through the doors and feels welcome in the library.

Changing Lives

Computer classes abound at the heart of the Public Computer Center in both La Jara and Antonito libraries.  I teach classes on basic computer use, Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Greeting Card Design, Digital Photo Managment, How to Navigate the Internet, Security and Virus Protection, Email, Resume Writing, and a lot more.  Classes are sometimes in groups and sometimes one to one.  The next project is to bring Universal Certification Courses Online to library patrons so they can learn new skills in over 500 different subjects including pet care, accounting, math skills, language arts, biology and more, all with the support of our IT staff - me!

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The feedback we get from the classes is overwhelmingly positive. Resume writing helps patrons get new jobs.  When Family Dollar was hiring locally, over 185 job seekers used the library to go online and fill out an application.

"The library helps me look for a job and my son keeps up with our family in California."

"Having public access to the internet is crucial."

"It helps me enrich my life by taking part in online classes and research. I love it!"

"I looked for a job on the computer and I have found a job. Thank you very much."

"Every community needs a library."

"The computers are easy to use and everyone is very helpful."

"I like being able to have technical support for my laptop when I use it at the library."

                             (actual quotes from survey forms filled out from February 2012 to May 2012)

Don't believe me? Listen to our Patrons!