While on vacation in the Outer Banks, I chose to visit the Kill Devil Hills library for my public library visit. 

SPACE

Kill Devil Hills Library was built in 1990 and is one of three public libraries in Dare County North Carolina. The building is inviting with a large parking lot and well maintained gardens out front. The library is single story with gray siding. Upon entering, you are immediately faced with a large circulation desk. There is no one getting in or out of the library without being seen by the staff manning that desk. The building is small but bright, clean and inviting. It has a home feel and actually looks more like a home on the outside than a commercial building. One side is completely dedicated to children and the other to adults. Near the entrance, there is an alcove that houses new release books. It’s an attractive area that stayed busy the entire time I was there. There is a row of computers for use next to the circulation desk. There are two areas in the adult library that have tables to sit and study. One is a teen area that posts signs that after 3pm the area is only for teens. The teen area has a few high top tables and designated space away from the adult section for teens to use. In the children’s area, there are a few child size tables along with a few bean bag type chairs and a small play area with toys. 

The outdoor space of the library is not large but it is well maintained. The wifi works in the parking lot and around the building. There are a few benches outside on a sidewalk that wraps partially around the building. Lesneski (2016) states “outdoor spaces can feature public art, offer serendipitous encounters and encourage community interactions.” I saw evidence of this from a 2019 article from The Coastal Times on the Kill Devil Hills library hosting a  “Forest of Hope”. This was an outdoor art installation done by a local artist, where community members could leave messages of hope or healing and enjoy the outdoor space at the library (Puleo, 2019).

DIGITAL ACCESS AND SERVICES

The website for the Dare county Library system is easy to use and informative. The Kill Devil Hills Library can be found at https://www.darenc.com/departments/libraries/kill-devil-hills-library.  There is information about each branch as well as the system as a whole. There is information on the summer reading program, how to book a public meeting room for free and looking up books in the library catalog. One thing I found unique is that the Library system offers home visits for homebound people and the elderly. A librarian will bring books to you at home.  I immediately thought of the Rubin and Rubin (2020) section that discussed what they call “neighborhood services” (p. 98). These types of services that allow the library to reach out into the community are vital to the library and patrons. 

There is also an entire webpage devoted to genealogy services at the public library. There seems to be extensive catalogs of local genealogy research as well as resources for patrons to look into their own genealogy. 

COLLECTIONS

The library had clearly designated sections for teens, children and adults. It uses the Dewey Decimal system for nonfiction and alphabetical by author’s last name for fiction. There were two computers designated solely to look up books. One in the adult section and one in the childrens. The library is small and the signage was adequate but not very engaging or alluring. There was one display in the adult section that offered beach reads. This was decorated with a large sign from the ceiling and streamers.  

The children’s section boasted a lively colored quilt on one wall and bright primary colors throughout. There were storybook character decals on many walls as well. The shelves were short and the furniture was child size. The signage here was a little more engaging, using a few pictures and more color. There was some signage for parents to look for books for their children that engage with preschool skills such as number identification and alphabet skills. 

PEOPLE

While I was observing, there were two female employees working the circulation desk. Another female employee sitting at a desk labeled reference out in the adult sections. Then two more female employees back in the office areas. All the employees were white females looking to be middle aged.

The two librarians at the front desk greeted everyone entering the building including me. They were very friendly and immediately engaged me in conversation and shared some of their own experiences in the field. They helped a lot of people at the circulation desk while I was there. The Library was busier than I expected for a Tuesday afternoon in a small town that is mostly tourists in the summer. They were signing people up for the summer reading program, checking people out, and assisting people to get on the computers. Most of the patrons during my time there were mothers with children or older community members. There was one particularly loud and rude patron I observed. She was attempting to get a list of books that her granddaughter had checked out and all the due dates. The patron often berated the librarian during the encounter for allowing children to check out so many books.The librarian assisting her, did not address her complaints directly but gave her factual information about what books were out and when they were due. She maintained a professional and calm manner even when the patron was clearly trying to get her to argue. 

I did not see any of the librarians in the offices or the one at the reference desk assisting any patrons. The staff member at the reference desk was busy most of the time on her computer and the two in the offices came in and out of the office area and the main library. They all looked busy but it was unclear to me what they were working on. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

This was a pleasant space that was small but inviting. The staff was friendly but not diverse. I saw little to no evidence of an emphasis on diversity while there. I was surprised how vibrant the library was for a small town on the Outer Banks.

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References

Lesneski, T. (2016, August 3). Why outdoor spaces are essential for the 21st- century library. Demco Interiors. https://www.demcointeriors.com/blog/why-outdoor-spaces-are-essential-for-the-21st-century-library/  

North Carolina Dare County. (n.d.) Departments: Dare County library. https://www.darenc.com/departments/libraries 

Puleo, D. (2019, December 1). Forest of hope: Growing through what we go through. The Coastland Times. https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/2019/12/01/forest-of-hope-growing-through-what-we-go-through/ 

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