Centerville Community Library, SD: Taking Advantage of a Combined System
RSSLinda Holmberg, School Librarian, and Mary Ferwerda, City Librarian -- Library Journal, 02/15/2009
We feel our library is a five-star library, first and foremost, because it is a combined City/School library. Being combined is a win-win situation and a great asset to the community.
The main thing is using “common sense” and avoiding conflict by thinking this is just “a single library” not two libraries under one roof. The interaction between the adults and students can be a wonderful thing to observe. The interaction between the different ages of students, this being a K-12 school with Pre-School, also is a great thing to watch. The high school students can be here for a study hall when the little ones are here for their library time. There is not any difference between the school librarian and city librarian when it comes to waiting on patrons and students. The purchasing of supplies is shared, although the school supplies a larger percentage since the school use is greater. Our budgets are separate (city and school) giving us more money to work with. Books and materials are not duplicated, and we are able to have more computers for patrons and students to use. The library is open more hours since it is a combined library. The community room is used by organizations and clubs as well as for school library time. After 14 years of working together we think alike and sometimes even read each others thoughts! It is a HAPPY place to be for all, students, adults, teachers, and the librarians.
I think this section will be good for us to make our library better!! And libraries thinking about forming a combined libraryare welcome to contact us for advice.—Linda Holmberg, School Librarian, and Mary Ferwerda, City Librarian
