Patrons welcomed back for National Library Week

April 3-9 is National Library Week, a time designated to promote and celebrate libraries nationwide, as well as the impact they have on our communities and the librarians that make them possible.

The Eddy-New Rockford Library has been serving the communities of New Rockford and Eddy County for more than a century, and librarian Susie Sharp is hoping her community will take advantage of this week to extend their appreciation to the long-standing New Rockford library.

"If you haven't ever been to the library, you should stop in!" exclaimed Sharp. "It's a really cool place to be."

National Library Week was first sponsored in 1958 by the American Library Association (ALA), which is around the time studies began showing that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments.

Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed the National Book Committee in 1954, a nonprofit citizens organization.

The committee's goals ranged from "encouraging people to read in the increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing strong and happy family life." The first National Library Week was later held in 1958 with the theme, "Wake Up and Read!"

Considering the advancements in technology that have emerged in recent decades, one might think libraries should be even more worried about becoming obsolete now, than they were seven decades ago.

However, Sharp believes the opposite to be true. When asked if she's worried about libraries becoming obsolete, she simply said "No."

"We offer e-books in addition to paper books," explained Sharp. "... the e-books check out about 1.5 times what we do in house."

The Eddy-New Rockford Library checks out around 150 paper books per month, which is "pretty good" for a small town library, Sharp said. However, she estimated that they also check out an additional 200 e-books every month.

"We do offer, free with your library card, e-books, audio books, and videos through the Libby app," she said. "And that's been huge that we are able to offer that."

Those that want to take advantage of online content from the library should be sure to update from their old OverDrive reading app, to the newer Libby app.

Meanwhile, the library has also come a long way in recent months as pandemic restrictions have eased, said Sharp, but there still aren't as many patrons visiting as there once was.

"It's been hard," she said. "I miss the kids the most because they haven't been coming in as much. We had a smaller summer reading program last year, but this year we're having a big splash -- 'splash' being the key word."

The library's next summer reading program is coming soon, and it will be their first big program since COVID first emerged. This year's theme is "Oceans of Possibilities," said Sharp, "so we're making a splash!"

With events like the summer reading program, the Eddy-New Rockford Library, and others like it across the country, is just now emerging from COVID-19 with hopes of finally returning to normal, so this week be sure to stop by and support the local library for National Library Week.

The library is always appreciative of donations, which can be sent to their address, 10 8th St North, and anyone interested in volunteering can stop by and see Sharp at the library.

Aside from thousands of books, including some of the very latest and most popular releases, patrons can also utilize the library's office room, which seats up to 12 and can be reserved with a phone call to (701) 947-5540.

The library also offers copy and fax services, has public computers, movies, audio books, and currently boasts a "fabulous" selection of brand new middle grade books on display, courtesy of grant money. "We have everything you need for your reading needs!" proclaimed Sharp.

"The summer reading program will be coming up the first part of June, so if you have school-aged children, keep your eye out for that," she added. "We love our patrons, we love our community, and more people should come check us out!"