Mount Jewett Memorial Library Plans for Additional Future Programs
The Mount Jewett Memorial Library (MJML) has begun to plan and prepare for additional fun and educational programs for next year.
Library Director of the Mount Jewett Memorial Library (MJML), Kelly Barr Hughes explained the Open House event held at the MJML on Sunday.
Hughes said the items on the table were a collaboration of all the programs held in 2022 and future programs for 2023.
Next year, Hughes plans to invite local authors into the library for events. Another new idea includes knitting.
The Mount Jewett Hilltop Heritage Coalition has a Summer Lunch program that has been successful for the past two summers with the MJML working in collaboration and housing the food. The Coalition provides the food for the program from donations.
Hughes explained that the library houses meetings for organizations in the back room of the library with a tv for presentations and a 360 camera (Owl Labs) for those who can attend meetings but cannot attend in person.
The library is a participant in Wreaths Across America for the last three years.
Hughes said the library has just started assisting the Second Harvest Food Bank. To see if you qualify, the library has applications available. "We had our second pick-up on Friday," Hughes said.
Hughes said future events and programs to look forward to at the MJML include ADAS (Alcohol Drug Abuse Services), STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics), bingo, a book club, a knitting club, meeting local authors, pre-school story hour every week, board game night, and a chess club to be held on Thursdays.
Hughes said the MJML is open to suggestions for events. "The Knitting Club was suggested to us last week so we will be adding it in January. It adds another generation of people and another interest group that we haven't touched on in the past," Hughes said.
"So far this year, we have had over 4,700 people come to the library which is a very successful year for us," Hughes added, “And we have 70 new members with library cards."
Secretary of the MJML Board, Melissa Mcguire, said that having finally recovered from all of the things the library could and couldn't do regarding COVID-19 and being able to get back up and truly have a year of the library being open has been a wonderful thing for the community.
Mcguire said the library has increased the number of patrons and the number of books.
She stated that the library is working to have area authors available at the library along with other ideas that they want to spend more time on and improve to bring into the next year.
Mcguire said the MJML has many good ideas for programs during school and after school for adults
While the library does receive some state money, Mcguire explained that the MJML is always looking for donations such as volunteered time. "Because if we don't have the volunteers, the hours that we hope to be open may not be covered," she explained.
"The library is truly the center of the community and we need to do everything we can to keep it going," Mcguire
added.
John Orr, a Board Member of the MJML was also at the Open House event and stated that the event raises awareness for the programs within the community that the MJML supports. "The Open House event raises awareness for the community to see what the library has to offer and to help people understand the programs beyond the books," Orr said, "All of the programs for kids and adults fit the community. We are raising awareness for that and also asking for community support."
Andrea Allen, an MJML Board member, said she is very pleased with what Hughes has done with the library. "She has brought programs to the library for adults and kids. That is awesome. The more community members taking part in the library the better," Allen said, "That is the goal and she has provided."
"I'm hoping for bigger and better in the new year," Allen added.