‘Snapshot of Indiana Libraries’ captures a typical day at the WCPL

SENIOR COMPUTER CLASS – Chronicling a typical day during “Snapshot of Indiana Libraries” on April 12 caught the senior computer class in action at the Wells County Public Library. The library teams with the Bluffton Senior Exploration series to offer basic computer instruction to area residents. Pictured are students Kathleen Swinford and Jane Carpenter. (photo provided)



The Wells County Public Library teamed up with libraries across the state to take a “Snapshot of Indiana Libraries” on Monday, April 12. Headed by the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, this state-wide project was a creative way to highlight the services, programs and opportunities available to every person on any given day of the year at their own local library.

Throughout the day, WCPL staff members took photographs and collected statistics, patron comments and other informative data chronicling a typical library day. The results were sent to the Indiana State Library where they will be added to those of the other Hoosier libraries to show the tremendous impact that libraries have on their communities.

Today’s library is much more than bricks and mortar depositories of books. Libraries are community centers that connect Hoosiers to endless sources of information and activities all in one location. Thousands of Hoosiers rely on their libraries to search for jobs, provide homework and research assistance, and gain free access to modern technologies and the Internet.

Just a few of the statistics gleaned from the one-day snapshot on April 12 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wells County Public Library include:

· 658 people walked through the doors of the WCPL
· 1,221 books, movies and other items were borrowed
· 57 questions were asked (and answered) in person, by phone or by email at the reference desk
· 229 people used the public computers
· 657 people visited the website at www.wellscolibrary.org

“Snapshot of Indiana Libraries” is a project of the Indiana State Library and supported by the Indiana Library Federation and Indiana Public Library Association. The event was held in concurrence with National Library Week - an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians.
(Submitted)