Posted: May 05, 2008 10:41:19 PST
Community members are invited to take a behind-the-scenes look at the busy Bellingham Public Library by attending one of ten public tours scheduled during the first two weeks of May. Tours will follow the path of a book as it makes its way through the system - from the book drop to the check-in room, to the sorting area and beyond.
Library Director Pamela Kiesner, who will be conducting many of the tours, says, "Even long-time library lovers haven't experienced the whole story."
Tours will explore places normally off-limits to the public, such as the closed stacks area, which houses tens of thousands of books, back issues of magazines and newspapers, historical documents and duplicate copies of popular titles. Shelving units in this area are integral to supporting the building-yet the narrow stairs and dim lighting makes it inaccessible to the general public.
"A ride in the 1950s-era freight elevator is like visiting the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland," says Assistant Director Christine Perkins. "Our staff use it to haul heavy book carts up and down floors every day."
Stop by the Outreach Department, which serves over 400 seniors and homebound library patrons each month in a tiny space with floor-to-ceiling shelving. See the mendery, where regular books become library books. Check out the loading dock, where frequent deliveries from the Fairhaven Branch, Whatcom Community College and three Community Book Drops at Haggen stores contribute to the nearly 1.3 million items circulating through the Central Library each year.
"We want people to understand what needs to happen before a hold placed on your home computer results in a book ready for you to pick up," says Kiesner. "And how the inefficient design of the Central Library, built before computers, makes it that much more challenging to meet the growing needs of the public, who are checking out items in record numbers."
All tours meet in the main lobby of the Central Library at 210 Central Avenue.
Scheduled tour dates are as follows:
Tuesday, May 6
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 12
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 14
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 15
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Private tours are available for groups of 5 or more. Book clubs, neighborhood associations, PTA groups, service clubs and homeschool organizations are among the groups who are encouraged to attend. Please contact Christine Perkins at 778-7206 to schedule a time.
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Media Contact:
Christine Perkins, Assistant Director
Bellingham Public Library
360-778-7206
cperkins@cob.org
