Introduction

The Happy Valley Public Library is the public library that serves the community of the school building I work in. While I have visited this branch several times to pick up resources that I have needed for my own library, or for other MLIS class assignments, I have not had the opportunity to visit it as an “independent” patron, so to speak. It gave me a lot of insight into what our community wants and needs from their library based on the curations of book lists, the services offered, and the way their staff showed up in the space.  

Digital Access

The website is very easy to navigate. It is organized by the landing page, programs, connections (both to the community and the library), and an about section that outlines a variety of library policies. Their pages are aesthetically clean, well organized, and it is clear that the nesting of resources was incredibly intentional for each page.

This library serves all age ranges of the community of Happy Valley, which is evident based on the extensive programming lists available for each age group mentioned above. In the Early Childhood section, there are storytime videos available for both infants and ages 3-5. In the Storytelling class that I took with Dr. Burns during the Wintermester, I was exposed to the great amount of planning that goes into storytelling activities. The fact that so many have been curated and appear to be very high quality in their recordings tells me that it is important to this library that young families feel welcome here, and that the Happy Valley library was invested in keeping that demographic engaged during the time that COVID restrictions prevented libraries from operating at full capacity.

There are many book lists available for infants, children, teens, and adults featuring a variety of life experiences. They even offer a “Book Bundle” Service, which they describe as “like a book sommelier” (Adult Programs, n.d.). As a high school librarian, I found their “Favorite Books of 2021” list for the high school age bracket to be very well curated in regard to recreational interest, varied life experience, and relevant cultural conversations.

The public can access the library’s catalog from the website. What I found particularly pleasing as a user was to click on titles on the curated book lists and immediately be brought to that book’s page in the library catalog for LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County). As far as virtual programming, not only do the early childhood learners have access to story time, adults and teens alike have access to an online Book Group, and the adults have access to a Genealogy club. Teens have access to a “Book Box” subscription, which is quoted to have, “two books and assorted goodies!” (Happy Valley Library). 

Figure 1

Book Bundle Service Display

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The Space & Physical Access

The location of the library was initially odd to me, but after spending the last 8 months working in the community, I now have a better understanding of why the building exists, where it does and what informs the floor plan.The Happy Valley branch of the library was originally a library branch in the Clackamas Town Center area, which is a more centralized location for the school district I work in. When the library outgrew that space, it was moved and reinvented into the building of a former community center.

With that being said, the floor plan is incredibly open, and the library staff have used the furniture in the space in a very clever way to create distinct areas on the first floor in particular. Mathews (2020) states, “The configuration of the furniture affects the way people engage with one another and the manner in which topics are discussed” (para. 22). It is clear that because the library does not have natural “nooks” for the necessary division of sections, the furniture was arranged in a way to encourage teens to find space away from their adult guardians, children are encouraged to keep within a space that allows them to move more freely than perhaps someone perusing the new non-fiction is looking for.

When you enter the building, there is a vestibule area with fliers and information catered primarily toward young families, English Language Learners, and community members looking for DMV info. 

Once you step through the foyer, there is a small bookshop to the right run by the “Friends of the Happy Valley Library” that has a variety of books for sale that benefit the library.  Once you reach the front desk and turn to the collection space, you will see to the right various sections such as teen, audiobook, “Lucky Day”, periodicals, and holds ready for pickup. To the left, you will find the General Adult collection. The computer area is in a cozy middle section that lives beneath the stairs that lead up to the Children’s Library, which is the only collection found on the second floor. The best way to describe the aesthetic is like walking into a two story Barnes and Noble with a more modern architectural feel. 

There is a community room available for use for up to 75 people, and a variety of spaces available for leisure reading (with comfortable chairs) and studying (with both low and high top tables and wooden chairs). There are no areas according to the website or in the physical building that would indicate there are collections that require staff assistance. The space as a whole is welcoming. Additionally, the furniture caters to a variety of ages of users, and each space offers accommodations for users with physical needs such as elevator access, additional specialized restrooms on each floor, and appropriate aisle space for navigation.

Figure 2

Middle aisle that leads to the general adult collection on main floor

Services & Intellectual Access

In the physical library space itself, the only visible sign of special services or programs observable are the previously mentioned “book bundle” service as well as a “holds ready for pickup” service. As a user of several different branches of this library system, it stuck out to me that holds, whether from the home library or through interlibrary loan, were available for patrons to simply grab themselves and check out through the self checkout stations. This is unlike any other branch of this system, and indicates to me that time is a valued resource of a patron of this branch.  

The signage, which consisted of painted typeface letters, functioned as a way to indicate the specialized sections of the library such as the audiobooks, computer, printer, copier, teen, and children’s spaces. The general collection did not have an apparent sign. I personally did not find the services or access inadequate in any way.

 There were multiple search stations available on both the first and second floor, all of which had the library catalog clearly accessible. The library is organized by Dewey Decimal, although they do keep mass market paperback romances as a section all to itself towards the front with new fiction and nonfiction titles.   

People – Patrons & Staff

As I perused the books and activities offered, I felt that great care had been taken to ensure that displays were curated to be not just inclusive, but educational. Given the community that this library serves and the books that were curated in the children’s section and New- Nonfiction specifically, it is clear that the library holds strong beliefs supporting racial and gender equity. If you were someone who held racist or misogynistic beliefs, you would likely feel uncomfortable by elements of this space.

Today when I entered the space, there were no staff members tending to the front desk. My assumption is that they were taking advantage of the slower time in the afternoon to attend to housekeeping tasks such as checking in books in the book drop area, straightening up displays, and shelving. There were two media technicians on the floor at the time of my visit; all librarians had left for the evening. 

One thing that stood out to me about this branch has to do with the lack of a homeless population that was utilizing the space. In every public library that I have visited in my life, there has always been at least a small group of homeless people utilizing the space either for internet access, reading for enjoyment, or shelter from poor weather. In the Portland area, our weather is often cold and rainy, so the library becomes a safe haven for many people. At the Happy Valley branch of the library, there were no patrons who appeared to be experiencing houselessness utilizing the space. While the library seems to be very welcoming for many people, I do not get the impression that the patrons of this library would welcome homeless clientele into the branch if they exhibited great needs.  

Collections

Figure 3

Lucky Day Display at the Happy Valley Library

One collection in particular that I find to be incredibly engaging as a patron is the “Lucky Day” collection. “Lucky Day” items are typically newer materials that have long waiting lists. As shown in the photo above, the “Lucky Day” circulation rules are a 14 day loan (as opposed to a 21 day loan), no renewals, and a 3 item limit (as opposed to the 60 item limit I have as an educator to the general collection). As a patron, I have been lucky enough to find items on the “Lucky Day” shelf in other branches that I have been 96th on the waitlist for! 

As far as the types of technology that are evident, there is little beyond the computers available in the internet area for patrons to access.

An additional special resource that patrons of this library system have access to is “Cultural Passes”, which includes museum passes to The Portland Art Museum, the Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo, various Oregon State Parks, and the Evergreen Aviation Museum. 

Free craft kits are available at the front desk for children to pick up to take home and put together. 

Other

According to Rubin & Rubin (2020), the mission of a public library has evolved to respond to local community needs as they arise, and that most public libraries aim to serve “the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural needs of their communities” (p. 106).  I believe that the Happy Valley Library is doing just that. There are many young families in this developing area, and the children’s library is well curated and maintained with opportunities for families to engage in the space and with the materials. Additionally, the Happy Valley community has struggled in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the past. The Happy Valley libraries curated book lists, exhibits, and recommendations speak to their desire to respond to and provide education on community issues. 

References:

Adult programs. (n.d.). Happy Valley Library. https://www.happyvalleyor.gov/community/happy-valley-library/adult-programs/

Library policies. (n.d.). Happy Valley Library. https://www.happyvalleyor.gov/community/happy-valley-library/library-policies/

Mathews, B. & Soistmann, L.A. (2020, September). Encoding space. American libraries. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2020/09/01/encoding-space-library-design/ 

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science. American Library Association.