Libraries are rooted in the community and here your story can grow

I am often asked, “Do we need libraries in an information age?” And my answer is always the same: Unequivocally YES!

Libraries and librarians play such a crucial role in the well-being of our communities, and the Delaware public libraries are no exception. We are not a disparate collection of books,: Today’s libraries function as vibrant community centers that contribute to the social, cultural, and educational fabric of our neighborhoods, enriching the lives of young and old.

Libraries help our communities face the rising challenges of the modern world, such as isolation, disparity and misinformation. The services they provide and the programs they deliver are aimed at connection, compassion, truth, and equity because our mission is rooted in the needs of our community.

Despite the misguided perception that libraries are unnecessary, evidence continues to support what those of us in the library community have known for a long time: libraries benefit us all.

Founded in 1847, the Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library, where I serve, is the oldest free public library in Delaware. Over the years we have expanded and evolved, provided innovative and creative programming, and become a beloved Odessa institution.

Here we sponsor some 200 programs annually, attracting upwards of 10,000 attendees, and we are particularly known throughout the area for the quality of our children’s programs. In the last 30 years we have consistently been named one of the top five libraries for summer reading program completions.

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Our library is also fortunate to house the A. Leslie Calloway Delmarva Collection, which documents the rich cultural heritage of the Delmarva Peninsula. It currently features more than 9,000 books, maps, postcards, pottery, ephemera and framed artifacts.

Local history resources like ours can be priceless to those researching their personal lineage, and community history. In fact several libraries in Delaware offer free access to genealogical research databases and offer specialized ancestry services.

Libraries like ours, and the libraries throughout our home state, are safe havens for visitors from preschool to high school, adulthood to retirement and beyond. At Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library the feedback we cherish the most is that of patrons who have attended our programs as children, returned as parents and grandparents, and even great-grandparents! In this way libraries are a multi-generational, life-long, constant resource that transcends the class divide.

One way we address inequity and accessibility is through a partnership with Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. At 19 libraries spanning the three counties, in house Social Services Specialists, available by appointment or walk-in, which support our patrons in the application process for food benefits, Medicaid, nursing care, childcare, energy and housing assistance, and offer referrals to other DHSS agencies and partner organizations.

Other examples of the Delaware Libraries meaningful work and content includes the Library of Things, innovative programs, and more. You can stop by any library to take advantage of an unusually vast inventory of objects that includes sewing machines, board games, medical devices like blood pressure cuffs, and even musical instruments like ukuleles. The Library of Things provides library users free access to a variety of tools, games and equipment, and we also offer mobile hot spots that deliver free Wi-Fi to our patrons.

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Housed within the walls of the 35 public libraries spread across the First State, you will find over a million novels, picture books, DVDs, games, music CDs and audio books. If your local library does not have an item within their collection that you want or need, the Delaware State Libraries offers a free currier system and Inter-Library Loan services, where materials from are transited between libraries to you.

And on equal footing is the quantity and quality of our programs offerings like Delaware City’s Kids Cook program, Corbit-Calloway’s celebrated weekly Pre-K story programs, and Wilmington Public Library’s nationally renowned Speaker Series. All of the Delaware Libraries excel at delivering FREE innovative and enriching programs to our community.

In the library community there is a well-known proverb or sentiment of sorts that says, “You become what you read.” When we read, we expand our understanding of the world around us, of others and ourselves. And in a time of unprecedented challenges, where we often struggle to make our way in the post-pandemic world, libraries remain committed to being the heart of our communities.

I encourage all of you to visit your local library, attend our programs, browse our extensive collections and in the process, discover a place where your story grows. 

Erica Jones-Wilson M.L.I.S is principal librarian of the Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library.