Bringing the library home to book lovers
Angela Martin found age and accessibility were barriers to one of her favourite past times.
The Niagara Falls senior citizen is an avid reader but was no longer able to get to the library.
So, the Niagara Falls Public Library brought the library to her.
The Visiting Library Service program provides services to residents who are unable to visit the library due to age, disability, or illness.
Through the program, a volunteer delivers a bag of library books to her door every four weeks or so.
“I get my books now,” said an ecstatic Martin. “I love having books around me.”
The program began in May in response to the library wanting to be fully-accessible to all people in the community, said Carrie Bosco, community development and programming librarian at the Victoria Avenue branch.
Patrons fill out an application form which asks them to list what they like to read and what format is most comfortable for them.
Library materials — books, magazines, DVDs and audiobooks – are selected by staff based on each customer’s interests and requests as indicated on an application form. Customers can also request specific materials.
For Martin, she devours history books, the occasional novel as well as biographies.
She has also become the unofficial cheerleader for the program.
“I will be front and centre for them because it’s such a wonderful program,” she said. “It’s a beautiful service and I hope more people will take advantage of it.”
Bosco s aid t he program wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers.
“By and large, our volunteers are also our customers so we recruited from within our walls,” she said. “They love the library and want to share it with rest of the community.”