A Library Story: Libraries and Vision

Dr. Tamara Mathison is an optometrist at Lifetime Vision Source in Jamestown, ND —Lifetime Vision Source is the proud sponsor of the new bookmobile that arrived in Jamestown on Monday, January 30, 2017.

When I received the information brochure regarding fund raising for a new bookmobile, I immediately knew it would be a community project I wanted to support. I remember as a kid waiting for “Bookmobile day” to exchange my pile of library books. I was fortunate to learn firsthand the importance of the library to a community as I worked as a circulation clerk through my high school years at my local public library. 

I see the library as a hub of the community; as the place for all community members to have access to books, art, music, technology and gathering place. The bookmobile is an outreach of these services to students and community members that otherwise could have a difficult time accessing.

A part of the “why” I became on optometrist was to work with students that have learning difficulties due to vision deficiencies. One of the questions I always ask students when I see them for a vision exam is if they enjoy reading? If not, my goal is to determine whether their visual system has anything to do with that and what I can do to help them to make reading easier and more enjoyable. 

            It’s one of my greatest feelings of accomplishment when a student returns and reports they now enjoy reading! Similarly, maintaining the ability to read is a very important goal for many of my elderly patients. I’m thrilled to be able to be a part of a project that ensures access of books and services these populations.

 

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DID YOU KNOW?

1. “Modern Computing 101″ will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at Alfred Dickey at 6:00 pm, taught by Justin Batz, a computer whiz.  Register on line at: www.friendsofjrvl.org/projects/current  Or just show up.

“Today there are many electronic devices that connect us with family and friends. Some are more complicated than others, some are larger than others and some do more than others. What sets the Computational Devices available today apart from one another? Which ones are available in town and how much do they cost? How can we make use of these new gadgets?  These are the main questions that will be answered.” Instructor Justin Batz,

2. “Read Local” will be held at UJ Reiland Hall Thursday on April 9, 2015, 7:00 pm. Refreshments Served. Authors: Bruce Berg, Bill Kennedy, Nancy Kuykendall, Keith Norman, Larry Woiwode, Laurel Woiwode, Jim Stone.  Violist: Brooke Carroll       Benefit:  James River Valley Library receives 20% of the proceeds generated at the reading.

3. 99,644 patrons visited the library in 2014.

4. 112,491 total items were checked out in 2014. 6,437 were electronic materials. 59% were children’s books. Many children’s books are taken out by parents that read to their kids. It is said that if every child was read to from birth, illiteracy would disappear within two generations.

5. Computers were used 23,254 times in 2014.

6. There are 9,359 registered library card holders in Stutsman County.

7.The Bookmobile makes 23 stops each month checking out over 1,100 books. 14 of these stops are in Jamestown. On days it is out, it is 35% of the total circulation.

8.You can borrow e-books and e-audio from Overdrive/Library2Go on the library website. Streaming movies, e-magazines and other resources are also available.

9. You can see a list of books that you have checked out over the last 12 months on-line.

10. You can set up a “Watch List” by author. An email will be sent to you when the book arrives.

11. You can renew on-line.

12.Our staff will find just about any book you want through “Inter-Library Loan.”

13.There were 194 kids programs in 2014. 4,388 attended.

14. JRVLS has Jamestown High School Yearbooks going back to 1946.

15. JRVLS has microfilm of Jamestown newspapers going back to 1878.               http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042404/

Did You Know?

DID YOU KNOW?

1. You can see a list of books that you have checked out over the last 12 months on line.
2. You can set up a “Watch List” by author. An email will be sent to you when the book arrives.
3. You can renew on-line.
4. You can borrow e-books and e-audio from Overdrive/Library2Go on the library website. Streaming movies, e-magazines and other resources are also available.
5. Our staff will find just about any book you want through “Inter-Library Loan.”
6. There are many, many kids programs year round.
7. Our first adult program, “Computer 101” will be on April 14th at Alfred Dickey taught by Justin Batz, a computer whiz.
8. The Bookmobile makes 23 stops each month checking out over 1,100 books. 14 of these stops are in Jamestown.
9. 9,000 patrons visit the library every month.
10. JRVLS checks out 10,000 traditional materials every month.
11. JRVLS has Jamestown High School Yearbooks going back to 1946
12. JRVLS has microfilm of Jamestown newspapers going back to 1878.

New Library Update

Today’s Jamestown Sun’s article by David Luessen gives a good recap of the libraries continued effort to bring a new library to Jamestown and Stutsman County. Over the next few weeks, new ideas about the library will be shared.

Library Plans Developing

JLG Architect Interior Renderings

These are the interior design renderings from Architect JLG. North is left, East is on top.

Computers, Children’s Collections, Children’s Program Ares, Community Meeting Room, Bookmobile Garage

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE

Enter the library off 1st Ave, on ground level, into the expanded Children’s Collection area and plenty of computers. (Tan) Step down into what is now the current lower level of Alfred Dickey (Grey), into the new Children’s Program Room, Stage, and plenty of computers. In the southwest corner is the new Community Meeting Room that will seat up to 70.  The New Bookmobile Garage is on the northeast side. 

Computers, Adult & Young Adult Collections, Study, Tech Classroom, Audio/Visual, Local History, Large Print, DVD’s.

 CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE 

The Third Level (Grey) which is the  current Alfred Dickey Adult collection,  houses the Adult Fiction Collection, Large Print Collection and Local History Collection in addition to the Drewello, in honor of Daphne, Reading Room. Step up to the Fourth Level (Tan) into the Adult Non-Fiction Collection, Periodicals and Reference area. There is a new Young Adult Collection with plenty of computers and an adjacent Tech Classroom. Other highlights in the Adult area include Archives for Stutsman County History, Study Rooms, Communication (Skype) Room,  lots of computers and plenty of comfortable places to read.

Why A Bookmobile?

The bookmobile serves over 2,000 square miles of Stutsman County. It provides over 35% of the circulation for the James River Valley Library on the days it travels. Early readers, elementary students, high school students through seniors are given an opportunity to read and learn.  This opportunity would not exist without the bookmobile. Bags of requested materials are included with the typical shelves of books and magazines to choose from. These are books that seniors, parents, teachers and students have asked to be delivered. Couldn’t they just go pick up what they wanted at Alfred Dickey or the Stutsman County Library?  No. If the bookmobile did not exist, these early readers, 3rd graders, high school students, parents, teachers, seniors, would go without.

It is one thing to say that the bookmobile is important to the county as I sit at my desk in the Stutsman County Library. It is a totally different experience after I have had the opportunity to visit a few of the 23 locations that  the bookmobile serves. The importance of the bookmobile to the kids in Medina and Cleveland, Ypsilanti, Montpelier and Adrian can only be shown by the expressions on their faces as they find the book they were looking for.

It can only be understood after personally delivering bags of books to the James House after Bookmobile travel was cancelled because of weather. Thanks to Maybelle and Virgina for being patient as their bags of books were delivered. Maybelle says that she is “so happy that the bookmobile comes. I’m not driving anymore.”  Virginia says that the “Bookmobile is my lifeline.”

Maybelle & Virginia At the James House

Often, the love for books makes new friends. Maybelle told Alethea about the Bookmobile and Althea’s first words were, “Get me a schedule!” She went on to explain that “I get great joy out of reading. I am one with the characters.”

Maybelle Tells Alethea About the Bookmobile

The importance of the Bookmobile can only be understood after seeing the smiles and hearing the thank you’s from students and parents. Those thank you’s and smiles deliver the truth about the importance of the bookmobile.Thanks to Bryce, Lane and Jason in Montpelier for their excitement. Thanks to Megan, Makenna, Alexis and Chloee in Medina for their love of books.

Bryce, Lane & Jason

Megan, Makenna, Alexis & Chloee

If you have any doubt about the importance of the bookmobile, make a visit to one of the many locations the bookmobile visits.

For more information, give us a call at 701-252-1531. For a schedule of the days and locations visited, click on this link:   Bookmobile Schedule