For the public library, I visited the library where I did my informal library interview, Williamsburg Library in Williamsburg, VA.

The Space, Access, and Services

Delvers, S. (2022). Williamsburg library entrance [Photogragh]. CC BY-NC

The library is located near The College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg and is part of the Williamsburg Regional Library. It’s not a large building, very much having a feel of an old local library. Outside of the building and across the street is a sitting area for people to sit and relax in the shade or in the sun. There is a small parking lot but there is also one-hour street parking if the parking lot is full. If you do not wish to park, there is a return box outside that you can just drive up to. There are stairs and a ramp to enter the building so disability friendly. In fact, when you walk in there is a wheelchair as well as carts if you need help either getting around or carrying books. Next in the entrance, patrons drop off books to return with two slots for children’s books, one for adults, and one for video/audio. Above that is a board for members of the community to put flyers and posters for different events or advertise local businesses. Beside the book return, there is a stand that has magazines the library puts out with information on adult, teen, and children programs. The first desk you hit when you enter is the check-out and help desk. The library has self-checkout and has actually updated it during the pandemic so you just stack all your books and the computer reads all the RFID tags versus having to scan the spin of each book. The help desk is right behind it for patrons to ask questions or to pick up books they have placed on reserve or requested through the interlibrary loan systems.

Delvers, S. (2022). Williamsburg library checkout – learning to go – book nook [Photograghs]. CC BY-NC

Also by the entrance is their Learning To Go board where parents can check out a toy, game/puzzle, electronic, or craft for their child. They have it set up so that what is available is at child height and what isn’t is at adult height. Right behind the help desk as you start to walk further into the library they have a Friends Book Nook. The library gets lots of donations and if they already have plenty of copies of a book or if the book isn’t up to library standard, they will sell the book for cheap. I picked up one for $1 and one for $0.50. As you continue to walk, there are signs on the second-floor balcony that point to references and computers to the left, and children and teens to the right. You have to walk further into the adult section straight ahead to see a sign for non-fiction upstairs. The children’s section is in its own part of the library with a ramp taking you from the main part to the children’s section. In there you will find toys, books, an arts and crafts room, as well as children-friendly computers.

Delvers, S. (2022). Williamsburg library computer – makerspace – job resources [Photograghs]. CC BY-NC

When you go to the left, you will first come across the reference and adult services desk. It had flyers and information available for people to grab as well as staff members there to answer any questions you have. On the wall, there was information on voting such as registering as well as job resources. There are computers, printers/copiers, a clear view to enlarge print, a microfiche scanning machine, and many other technical machines. The printer and copier do cost money with prices ranging from $0.10 for a one-sided black and white letter size copy, to $1.00 for a two-sided color print ledger size. The computers have a 45 min time on them. You do not have to have a library card to use them so those who are homeless or those who cannot afford a library card are still able to use the computer. I saw two homeless people using the computers and the staff member was friendly when one asked to use the computer. The section is also where the makerspace is that has a 3D printer, circuit machine, sewing machines, and laser printer that people can use to cut wood and make personalized keychains for example. You do not need an appointment to use it but the hours it is open are different from the library hours. This section really reminds me how much the public library “performs several critical functions such as giving people a chance to succeed and improving the quality of life in the community” (Rubin and Rubin, pg 84, 2020).

There are plenty of tables and chairs around the space. They range from wooden to cushiony and the tables also range in size so it doesn’t feel like the library is trying to rush you out the door.

The library has meeting rooms available to reserve in both library locations, Williamsburg and James City County, as well as in the Stryker Center which is right across the street from the Williamsburg Library. The Stryker Center is where the city council holds their public meetings and it has an exhibition space that had a Juneteenth exhibit when I visited. The Williamsburg Library also has a threatre that can be reserved. All information on room policy, reservation, rates, and additional information can be found here on the Williamsburg Regional Libraries website.

The library uses the Dewy Decimal system to organize the books and the catalog is available on the computer. They have a few computers around the library dedicated to accessing the catalog.

The People and Staff

Delvers, S. (2022). Williamsburg library signs – desks and chairs [Photogragh]. CC BY-NC

The library serves a wide range of clientele having books for children all the way up to adults. Lots of the patrons I saw were elderly or families with young children but there were a few students doing homework on some of the tables. Mainly I saw patrons using the technology that the library has available and the tables to get work done. In the children’s section, you had moms chatting while their children played together or read books. There was always at least one staff member at each desk so patrons didn’t have to wander around trying to find a staff member. In the beginning, I mentioned that there were a few disability-friendly aspects of the library such as ramps and wheelchairs but there are a few aspects that aren’t such as the self-checkout desk being very high, patrons would need help getting books off the top shelf if not able to stand on a stool, and to use the elevator a patron has to find a staff member to operate it. While I was there, I did ask the staff about having books in different forms depending on what a patron may need. While they do have large print and audiobooks, the only books they have in braille are Harry Potter.

Digital Access

Williamsburg Regional Library (2022) WRL website [Screenshot]

The library has a website, wrl.org, as well as an app. There is a wide range of things that can be accessed on the website such as your account, event schedule, library catalog, and digital content like ebooks and audiobooks. I like the fact that the website also has a children, teen, and adult tab so you can go to a section and it has everything there that caters to that age range. Under the ‘About’ tab there is the library division that lists the directors for each department and by clicking on their name, you will be given their work email. I think one job that I did a second glance at was Marketing and Communications Manager. I am not sure why the library having a marketing department threw me off when I really thought about it but I never thought of a library having to market itself or what the library does. If a patron has a general question there is a contact form that can be filled out and a separate form for suggestions. They have a phone number listed as well if that is preferred. Patrons can also ‘Ask A Librarian’ and have the option to email, book a librarian live or virtual, call a librarian, text a librarian, or live chat with a librarian during library hours. The library’s social media is listed but I am not sure how often messages on Twitter and FB get checked but they do post frequently. The website is easy to navigate and very pleasing to the eye. It is not very wordy so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I did not see any type of option to view the website in a different language or anything to read the text for anyone visually impaired but I know there are programs that do that.

Other

One thing I really would like to do is go to this library’s sister library in James City County to compare and see if there are things available at one but not the other. I remember when talking to the librarian I informally interviewed he mentioned that the building was 50 years old and is in need of renovation. The director really pushed for the makerspace to be put in to start the process of updating the space. While not terrible and very much reminds me of the libraries I went to when I was younger, there are things that need some TLC as well as updating things such as the elevator and getting some better signs.

Reference

Rubin, R. E. & Rubin, R.G (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed). ALA Neal-Schuman.