Story By: Grace Smith, Community Resources Editor
Photos By: Jillian Richardson
Many think of a local public library as only a place where you go to check out books, but they may offer more than most are aware of. Mesa County Public Library is just one example.
“We are perhaps most well known for helping people to find and borrow things like books and audiobooks, and now ebooks,” said Head of Information Services Austin Mullenix. “But we’re also a bit of a hub for the community, as we offer different programs and events.”
Mesa County Libraries has several branches, including locations in Fruita, Clifton, Palisade and Orchard Mesa. The largest Mesa County library location is the Central Library, which is located in downtown Grand Junction. This branch is where many programs take place, though other branches have programs as well.
“A program is basically a way of saying events for libraries,” said Mullenix. “We do things like storytimes and puppet shows for children, and for adults, we offer all kinds of different programs on things like local history events.”
“We try to offer something for everyone, and I would say that what we offer people to borrow and use in the library alongside our events, that those are the two ways that the library tries to have a presence in the community,” said Mullenix.
In addition to programs, the library also offers many services that community members can utilize.
“We have scheduled times where people can drop in and attend things like Tech Table,” said Mullenix.
Tech Table is a service at the Central Library offered every Monday from 5-6 p.m. and every Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. for those needing help with their technology. Anyone can come by the library to receive help with a variety of things just as social media, website navigation, connecting to printers, or troubleshooting any issues.
The library also offers free computer classes, which cover a variety of topics that people can sign up for depending on what they are interested in learning. For individual help that is needed outside of the drop-in time or not offered in a class, the library offers the opportunity to schedule a time to meet with a librarian and get assistance.
The Adult Learning Center is another resource at the library, which offers free classes for those looking to do things like earn a GED, learn English as a second language, achieve citizenship in the United States, or improve reading and writing skills.
“Pretty much anyone over 17 who has the ability to get a library card can access our program,” said Adult Learning Coordinator Monica Westerling.
The GED classes are intended to prepare adults to pass all four GED test subjects and are offered in person as well as online. The in-person program is intensive, and the schedule includes six hours in the classroom each week split between two days with three hours of learning each. Classes are offered in the morning or the afternoon, and every class is offered twice so that people have the flexibility if they cannot make it to a session.
In addition to the GED program, the library funds Career Online High School, which is an online program where a high school diploma can be earned as opposed to a general education diploma.
Classes for other things such as English as a second language classes are offered in a similar intensive format. However, volunteer-led classes are also offered through the Adult Learning Center on a more relaxed schedule.
“If a learner only has an hour and a half, or if they need an afternoon and we don’t offer the other classes in the afternoon, or they need a later evening, then they could do those classes instead,” said Westerling.
“All of our classes are leveled based on intake tests,” said Westerling. “They’ll do a speaking and a reading test for us on intake and then we group them with learners of a similar level.”
Westerling spoke about the impact she has seen the Adult Learning Center have on people enrolled in the programs.
“You see it even just in our program, as people move up in the English language and people are able to get a job or start a business successfully, and you see people who have been here and been working towards citizenship be able to get citizenship and be able to feel more confident and be able to really participate in the community.”
“You see people who get their GED as a really effective stepping stone, whether it be into college or whatever their next thing might be,” said Westerling. “We work with Western Colorado Community College and Colorado Mesa University and so we do have quite a few GED students ending up in college there, which is really cool to see.”
More information about the Adult Learning Center and other services or programs can be found on the library’s website. All that is needed to utilize these services is a library card, which can be obtained in person at a Mesa County Libraries branch.
“You just need a photo ID and something with your address on it to prove your residency,” said Head of Public Services Elizabeth Bush. Bush explained that a driver’s license can work for both, but a piece of mail is also an option to prove residency.
The public services department is focused on circulation at the library. While there are many different things the library offers, providing the community with books and information is still one of the most important services.
“A lot of it is just making sure patrons get the books that they want, that they can find the books that they want and they can check out the books,” said Bush.
“The way I look at the public library is that it is the people’s university,” said Mullenix. “We have wonderful resources in our library and online that allow people to prepare for tests and explore different careers, and just gain knowledge and improve their skill set so maybe they can change jobs, find a more appealing career, or just educate and empower themselves.”
blockpartygj.net 