[theme music] ANNOUNCER: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

Thanks for joining us and welcome to "Sense of Community."

I'm Michele Skalicky.

Whether you're a bookworm or looking to dive into a great story for the first time, the Springfield-Greene County Library has something special just for you.

My guest is Vickie Hicks, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

She'll talk about the library's summer reading program, give an update on building projects, and much more.

Please stay tuned.

Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Hi, Vickie.

Thanks for joining us today.

I appreciate you coming and talking about the library.

Happy to.

Well, I want to start first with the summer reading program because it's a very popular program with families.

Parents are always looking for something for their kids to do in the summer.

Kids are always looking for something to do, and they get excited about the summer reading program.

I've heard people talk about how that's something that their kids look forward to when they get out of school.

So first of all, let's talk about its popularity.

How popular is the summer reading program with area families?

We had about 5,000 participants last summer in the traditional program that is at the library.

But we also have Summer Reading to Go, where our Outreach Department takes the summer reading program to day camps and daycare programs.

And so we had another 5,000 participants through that, so about 10,000.

We're trying to build back up from the COVID days.

But we're very pleased at the speed of which we're gaining ground.

How does the program work?

So children and their parents come into the library, and they can pick up a game board.

Or they can do it all electronically on a link that's available on our website, thelibrary.org.

And so they track their reading time.

And then there are activities around those-- their reading time as well.

So we have a host of summer performers that are funded by our Friends of the Library.

We have magicians and musicians and mad scientists.

And so all of those program activities also count towards their-- their game board.

And once they complete their game board, they get a summer passport.

And the passport has free gifts throughout the community-- a free ice cream cone at one place, free swim lesson at another place.

So there's a lot of motivation behind those.

We ask the students and parents and children to continue reading beyond the game board, and there are additional prizes available if you keep reading.

And this year, we're also offering an adult summer reading program.

Oh.

Tell us about that.

And we even have an adult game board so that you can stick them all on the fridge, and the adults can track their reading as well.

And they get summer prizes for how many books they finish.

And it's three-- three books over the course of the summer.

Do adults get ice cream-- free ice cream, too?

They do not, but they get some fun prizes, and they also get entered into a gift basket.

MICHELE SKALICKY: Oh, that sounds fun.

So, yes.

So I was going to ask what ages can sign up, but it sounds like-- is it-- is there a minimum age to sign up?

No, actually, there is not.

We have great activities for infants and newborns.

So infants, can-- they benefit from being read to.

And so we encourage parents to even start their littlest ones on the summer reading program, track those times.

And the activities also generate an interest in reading and also interest engagement.

So yes.

How can somebody sign up?

How can they get one of those passports?

They can come to any one of our 10 library branches and also on the mobile library, which is our bookmobile.

And lastly, you can just go to thelibrary.org/summerreading, and you can get-- access all the information there too.

You kind of touched on this, but I'd like to go into it a little deeper.

What are the benefits of taking part in a program like this?

It helps students maintain their reading level.

Oftentimes when you get a big break, you might have a step back.

So teachers are very thrilled when students are reading throughout the summer.

So it keeps them at a level.

Plus, there's an adventure in every book.

You and I both know and can probably remember books that we read that made a difference to us, and maybe even changed our thinking or maybe opened up new horizons.

And so getting kids into books and off of screens is very valuable.

Yeah.

I know maybe some people can relate to this, but I've gone back to a book that I remembered very fondly as a child and read it as an adult, and it just takes you back to like an old friend.

Exactly.

We have a staff member who actually, during the pandemic, went back and read all the "Little House on the Prairie" books because she remembered how good they made her feel.

And so, yes, there's fond memories of reading when we were children.

That's something that I'd like to do as well.

What does it take to put a program like that together?

It takes a lot of time.

We start planning summer reading as soon as one year wraps up.

So since last September, we've been planning this year's summer reading program.

We have to coordinate performers for all of our branches, as well as we want the books that children receive as a reward to be very relevant and something they want, not just a book they get.

So we have a huge selection of books.

And we order books all throughout the year so that when a student completes a certain level and they get to go pick a book, they pick a book they want.

And so it's fun to watch all of those books come in and get relabeled and ready for the summer reading program.

Just looking on your program schedule for July alone, I mean, you've got such a wide variety of topics.

I was looking online.

There are different story times, of course, as usual, a needle felting workshop for adults 55 and older.

You've got a computer class, a train day, where kids in grades K through 5 can build a giant train layout, a lifesize library Clue for teens and preteens.

And there's a pow wow with the American Indian Center of Springfield.

And there's much more.

That's just going through about mid-July.

I'm curious how the library chooses what programs that it offers.

Well, one is past history predicts future performance.

And so some of our performers that we bring back for the summer reading program are ones that have been successfully attended in the past or really engaged with the kids that we like.

Our adult-- we have an adult programming coordinator, as well as a youth services coordinator.

And the adult programming coordinator is looking at what grants can she get to bring funding to our area.

So like the felt class that you brought is a creative aging grant.

And we were able to offer that class.

We also, though, have people reach out to us in the community.

And we are really trying to focus also on Gen Z. Gen Z is returning to the library.

Actually, the largest generation that utilizes the library these days are the Generation Z.

And so we're looking at what programs can engage parents as well as children?

And so we look at-- we have a Great Books on Tap that is held at Wire Road Brewery, where we have a book discussion at a brewery.

We also have Film Stubs, which is a great program that's offered through The Moxie.

And so we're trying to bring in Gen Z activities to engage parents, as well as children.

I've noticed you have several offerings that are rather unique, like you've got the 3D printer.

You've got a makerspace.

Computer classes, of course, you've offered for a while, a heirloom seed library, voter registration, and passport Services.

Can you talk more about those and, you know, just how people can find out more about those services.

Well, we invite you to explore our website, or even just come to the library.

The makerspace, though, is currently closed.

It is-- it's housed at our Midtown Carnegie Library on Central.

And we've closed that branch for 10 months while we do some extensive renovation work.

But we've moved the most popular items, the 3D printer and some of the digitization equipment, to the library center.

So people can come into any of the branches, stop by the reference desk, and ask what services are available and talk more about what they might be interested in doing.

And that kind of leads me to another question.

I feel like, clearly, libraries are more than just a place to check out books and other materials like CDS, DVDS, things like that.

What do you see is a library district's role in its community?

We-- there's a lot of talk these days about social capital, how we need to be a part of a community and how we all get more engaged, the more we are in a community.

When we think about Rotary Clubs and Junior League, these organizations that used to be so popular among individuals-- bowling leagues, you know, some of those types of things-- the library is a space to connect with other people through book discussions, program attendance, even just talking about your favorite book as somebody's looking at one o'clock in the aisle.

We have regulars that make us a part of their routine.

We have one gentleman who brings his wife with Alzheimer's every day because it's a routine for her, and it's a chance to get her out.

So there is just a sense of community.

I like to-- I like to think of a library as an organized quiet place, which is not my house.

And so it's clean.

It's organized.

Everything is in shelves.

And so it's just a place to escape.

And so I think that that just helps further enhance our community, create a sense of place, and help people build a connection to the community.

It does seem like, just from what I hear, people love their libraries.

We have tremendous support here in Springfield for our library system.

And that's what made taking this job a sure thing for me was because I just knew that the community was so on board with our library system.

And that's evidenced by our book sales, as an example, that we have every year.

And I want to just talk about those in just a moment, but I want to talk, first of all, about some items that you have available.

And of course, item checkout is still probably high on the list of why people use a library.

But-- and that includes ebooks and audiobooks and things like that.

How popular are those?

And what is the cost to the library to provide those kind of services?

That's a great question because we're getting that so much now.

People think, well, I can download an electronic book, and it's free because it's just out there, right, and I'm downloading it.

But it's quite the opposite.

Print books are less expensive for the library.

Now, how that happens that it's less expensive to print a book and bind it and mail it to us than it is to just download an e-version.

But the publishers control a lot of that.

And so for us, an example, we had a book in 2005 that we bought called "The Ice Queen."

It's been checked out 40 times, which is a lot for a book to still be on the shelf, but it is still on the shelf, so it cost us $40.

It became available for a download for our e-reader in 2012.

We've continued to offer that version, and it's cost us $265 to do so.

So the e-versions, the prices are variable, according to the publishers.

And so we have to balance what we spend on print versus what we spend on electronic resources.

Last year was the first year that it flipped, and we spent more on electronic resources than we did on print materials.

But it's still important to offer those because of access.

Is that why?

That's it.

And then people are just loving to have it on their phone.

They love to have it easily accessible on their e-reader.

They like not having to go to the library to return a book.

So those are very important for readers in our community.

And the generation that is very digitally minded, very tied to their phones, this is just yet another way that they can read.

Yeah.

Several media outlets in the Saint Louis area are-- reported recently that the St. Charles City County Library is looking at branch closers-- closes-- branch closures and layoffs.

And part of that is because of the high cost of electronic books.

So are you concerned?

I mean, what are you doing to prevent something like that from happening here?

That particular library system was facing $60,000 a month in electronic resources expenses.

I'm unaware of whether they have limits, but we have a limit of the number that you can check out so that we can keep control of those expenses for the time being.

We judge it every day.

There is somebody looking at.

OK, so this new book, James Patterson's coming out.

How many electronic copies do we make available?

How many print copies do we buy?

And then when do we not need so many electronic licenses.

And so we've got to judge all of that.

And it's a giant dance.

And I'm very proud of our staff for being able to do that.

So right now, it's not an issue for us.

But we are looking at trends, to follow trends as to what the future holds.

Now let's talk about the book sales because that's what a lot of people look forward to every year.

You've got one in the fall and one in the spring.

And they're hosted by the Friends of the Library.

That's a group that supports the library and provides funds for different things.

Tell me more about the Friends and how important they are to what you guys are able to do.

Well, not to brag, but we do have the best Friends group in the country.

We go to conferences and things, and people will say our Friends Group, you know, raised $5,000 this year.

And we're like, oh, that's sweet.

Ours raised $209,000 in just our spring sale alone.

And that is a part of the community's dedication to the library.

That's so important to us because that funding supplements what we're able to do.

But the fact that 75% of those books are donated by the community to us, those aren't all books that we just retire off of our shelves.

And so to think about the magnitude of books, there were six tractor-trailer loads full of books that were taken to the E-Plex for this spring sale.

And the fact that we had so many dedicated volunteers-- each book that is donated is handled up to 10 times by the time it's put in a box to be donated, to the time that it's reviewed and it's priced, and it's repackaged and resorted, and then taken to the library-- I mean to the sale and taken unboxed and sorted and then checked out.

It's amazing at the work that this group tirelessly does for-- on our behalf, such a dedicated group of volunteers.

One of our volunteers passed away last year.

And we put a statue in memory of her out in front of the library.

And now that is one of the favorite items for kids to just hug when they come in because it's two kids reading a book on a bench.

And there's room for people to sit next to her-- to those two kids.

And so that just epitomizes the love that this community has for books and the love that the Friends of the Library have given us.

So we're able to use that funding to supplement the summer reading program.

They pay for all the performers that come.

We have a great series in October called Oh, the Horror.

And it's a focus on horror books, and we are able to bring in authors, and they sponsor that for us.

The musical performances that are held at each of our library branches are paid for by the Friends of the Library.

And they just recently made a $200,000 contribution towards our library center expansion.

And so we're very impressed and very thankful for our Friends.

How can somebody get involved with the Friends of the Library if they're interested in volunteering and helping with the immense amount of work that it takes to put on those book sales?

The Friends are always looking for volunteers.

All you need to do is actually just join the Friends, and they'll reach out to you.

On the Join the Friends form, it says, are you interested in volunteering?

And so you can see that form online at thelibrary.org/friends.

Or you can stop in any of our branches, and there's paper copies for that.

It's so inexpensive to join that group.

It's $5 a year for an individual, $8 a year for a family.

And so they just do tremendous work.

And you get into members preview night for the book sale.

VICKIE HICKS: You do.

You do.

I want to get an update on some of the projects that are underway because I know Friends-- some of the Friends' money, of course, goes to some projects.

Talk about the Midtown Carnegie branch library first.

What's going on there?

And I know you said it's closed now.

When will it reopen?

So we received $2.5 million in ARPA funds, American Rescue Plan Act money.

And so that is a $0.50 match for every dollar that we spend.

So it's like a rebate.

So we have to spend out of cash for these projects, and then we get the rebated amount, so to speak.

So on Midtown Carnegie, that is an original library built and opened in 1905 with Carnegie funds.

And we have had a struggle getting proper ADA access in that building.

And so we are repairing the elevators so that people can get into the various levels of the library.

We're creating a new entrance with ramps, so if the elevators aren't functioning, they can still get in.

The piping to the building is original to 1905.

MICHELE SKALICKY: Is it really?

And so we're replacing that.

And then we also are updating the HVAC unit, which was out of date, but also wasn't able to give us the fresh air we needed during COVID.

And so we're very excited that we're able to update all of those with the help of the ARPA funds.

Now let's move to a project across town at the library center.

You're putting in a new 500-seat auditorium.

What is that going to look like?

And what is the cost to that?

And when is the start and completion date?

Just to go back real fast, the Midtown will open up in 10 months.

We're expecting that to be next spring.

So I wanted to say that before we forgot.

The library center auditorium project is about a $6 million project, and we're building that onto the west side of the library center.

So if you look at the library center, you see the lumberyard area that used to be back-- in the back.

That's where you used to have the book sales years ago.

And that's where this is.

So we will remain open during this construction project.

We're doing just a few things inside the branch.

But we realized a need.

We have a 125-seat auditorium now, which I don't know if you would really call that an auditorium.

But we are-- to be able to have a community space that the community can use for various purposes, and then we can use for our programming.

We recently had an event, the Geezer Fest, the final chapter in the fall, and we welcomed 1,500 people inside of the library center, and we can't do that regularly.

And so many of our recent events, we've been reaching 500 attendants.

And so we're very excited to offer this.

The Hatch Foundation has come on board, and they've made a very generous gift also, as well as the Friends of the Library.

So we're very excited about the new auditorium.

And again, when will that auditorium be open?

We're looking at early 2026.

So we start construction this fall.

Now there's a new branch plan for Republic.

And I remember there were some folks who didn't want the library to move too far from its current location.

What was decided on that?

Where is it going to be?

And when will construction start?

Construction starts on that one in beginning of 2025.

And it's going to be a 2,200-square-foot facility on the existing land where we are.

So we're staying where we are, but we are going to keep the current branch open while the new construction's going on the same lot.

Then we will tear down the current branch and create more green space to highlight that area.

That one will be done in early 2026.

It has to be completed by 2026, the end of the year, for the ARPA reimbursement.

So it sounds like there won't be any time where the Republic community won't have access to a library.

That's very true.

It's going to have a 150-seat auditorium and a business center, which the city of Republic is giving us money towards that.

As we all have seen, there's so much growth in the Republic community.

We have moved our branches many different places throughout the years in Republic, and we're very excited to have one central location that will serve all.

Is there anything else you want to add about those projects before we move on?

We're very excited about all of those.

We do have Take a Seat, which is a project if you want to have your name on a seat that is inside the library center auditorium.

That's available for you too.

And we have information about that on our website.

But that's one of the fundraising opportunities that are available for the public to be involved.

I want to talk about your $90 million budget for '24, '25.

What are some of the key funding areas that contains?

And along with that, how many staff members do you have?

There are over 220 staff members.

About 110 are full time, and the rest of them are going to be part timers that work for us.

Typical budgets for libraries, generally, 60% is used for fundraising-- I mean for personnel, 60% for personnel, 25% for operations and buildings.

And 15% goes towards the collection.

And so we are sticking within that time-- that-- those frameworks on our budgeting.

And so we realize we have 10 facilities.

Well, one's closed right now, but we have 10 facilities.

That's a lot of upkeep.

And so we're very frugal in our ways of.

And interest rates have been good this year for the library.

So we take all of that together to maintain our facilities and be able to expand.

What are some ways the community can support the library?

I want you to come to the library.

I read a startling statistic last year that the age group that is not coming to the library anymore are the Boomers.

MICHELE SKALICKY: Really?

And it's scary to us to think about that.

Reading helps with cognitive-- stops cognitive decline.

Reading helps socialize.

Reading is such a valuable tool in helping us to stay alert throughout our-- our later years.

And so we want people to come to the library.

We want your support in just frequenting our branches and using our facilities.

We also believe that we are the people's university.

I once heard somebody famous say that.

Libraries are the place where everybody can have access to materials.

And we have something for everybody.

So I ask that people continue to come to our branches.

But I also want you to talk about books.

What's a good book you've read recently?

It's a great conversation with other people.

And if you know somebody who hasn't been to one of our programs, bring them along so that we can show to the community how valuable we are as a resource for everybody.

And if somebody wants to donate books for the Friends of the Library book sales, how can they do that?

Oh, please do.

Please do.

Make sure, though-- we have a few caveats on donations.

So we don't need any waterlogged books.

And we don't want any that smell of cigarette smoke.

We have to recycle those because people don't want to repurchase those.

You can donate at any of our branches.

If you have a large donation, I get calls.

Those calls come to me.

And maybe somebody's passed away, and they have bookshelf after bookshelf.

We will actually come to you and box those up and bring them over to our sorting facility.

So you can go to any branch.

And the library center's the best for the big donations because we have a shed that is right by our drive-through.

And you can just leave your items in there.

Well, Vickie, this has been so much fun.

Thank you so much for talking to me.

Thank you so much for having me.

And we want to leave you with where you can find out more information.

I'm Michele Skalicky.

Thank you for watching our program.

And until next time, goodbye.

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