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By Letha Miller
Special to the Miner
Mammoth – As the new Head Librarian at the Mammoth Public Library, I come from a background of sales management and business ownership, and, have found those skills to be useful in running the local library. I, also, find my volunteer background of Sunday School Teacher, Youth Group Leader and Art Teacher to be of utmost value to me. My background, collectively, helps me to run both the business end and the programs needed to involve the community.
The Mammoth Public Library has been working to develop a collection of books, audio books, playaways (audiobooks on an MP3 player), games, DVDs, and Spanish books and DVDs to fill the needs of our local community. We listen to our patrons and make suggestions, so our library fits you, the patron. We also offer several digital media options and educate our patrons on how to access these great programs offered to us through the Pinal County Library District. On your personal computer, tablet, or Smartphone, you can access eBooks, audio books, magazines, and, now, even movies and music, all free; just sign in with your library card.
At the Mammoth Library, we are always hosting programs to keep the community involved and educated. We are starting our Tutoring with Tablets program. We are able to do this with a grant won from the Arizona State Library. We have free guitar lessons every Wednesday at 4 pm, the Saturday Morning Movie with free popcorn every Saturday morning at 11 am, and we are already getting ready for our Summer Reading Program with help from grants provided by the Arizona State Library and the Pinal County Library District. This summer, our program will be great. We have hosted authors and storytellers, as well. While we did offer a computer class, we found that offering computer instructions on an as needed basis works better for our patrons’ individual needs.
One big change to our library is that we have become an Access Point. This is great news for our patrons, who are seeking a job. Partnering with Gila County and the Arizona Workforce Connection, we will provide free printing, faxing and computer help for our patrons who need to fill applications and create resumes. As an Access Point, we will soon be provided with web sites and instructions on how to best help those of our community that are looking for work.
To keep up with the other libraries in the state, I make sure to take advantage of the education provided by both State and County. I feeling attending webinars, seminars and educational classes offered by the State and County is the best way to help build a strong, usable library for the community. So far I have been to classes to gain instruction on how to apply for grants, where to find these grants, how to create our Tutoring with Tablets program, collection development, and in June I plan on taking a course from the Library Institute as provided by a grant from the Arizona State Library.
Education is important and I will seek it, every chance I get, so that I can provide the most up-to-date information to our community.
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