FAIR HAVEN – The function of a public library has slowly altered over the years – going from a place to check out books, to a hub of activity where there is something for patrons of every age and skill level, according to a local library director.
“The modern library has become more like a community center today,” Donna Powers, the library director of the Fair Haven Public Library, said in an interview Sept. 16.
“No longer do we see the old-fashioned libraries, but libraries have now become more lively and full of activities that aim to meet the different needs of its patrons,” she said.
With a collection spanning approximately 22,000 volumes and a monthly circulation of about 4,000 books, magazines, DVDs and other resources, Powers said providing different tools to assist patrons in need is a top priority for her library.
“The patron is always number one,” she said. “I feel that in order to be a vital part of the community you need to know what your patrons want and need and we are always open to suggestions and inputs.”
Being a member of the Monmouth County Library system has been an important benefit for the borough library and has given patrons an even greater database of resources to access, Powers said.
“There are two streams of revenue that support our library,” Powers said. “One is through the portion of residents’ property tax bill that gets paid to the county library each year and the second is through donations.”
“The money we give to the county they give back to us through computers and other technology, a children’s librarian, a yearly book budget … so I think it’s a very important thing to be a part of the Monmouth County Library system.
“Many of our neighboring communities are not, so we are very fortunate to have access to all these different services.”
Services include access to recent best sellers, books on CD, an expansive e-Book catalogue, magazines and lynda.com, which Powers said helps patrons with HTML and setting up webpages.
“We have three Internet computers that are pretty much used all day long,” Powers said. “One of the best things I think we offer is that individuals who have an I-pad or a Kindle or Nook or some other reading device, they can call and we can walk through with them step-by-step if they are having trouble so they can get back to enjoying their e-Book or other service they were using.”
Along with online services and programs, Powers said that Fair Haven’s library, which opened in 1933, has a multitude of programs for children and adults.
“We try to reach out and serve the needs of all our community members and the one thing I always stress is that while the programs are fun and the children have a great time and their parents love seeing them having a good time, there always has to be something they get out of it, something that draws them in and that would make them want to come back to the library,” she said.
“The main goal is to show children that reading is a very important part of their life. We always like to make sure we match stories with specific themes and lessons.”
Discussing the library at a Borough Council meeting on Sept. 14, Powers said this summer the theme was “everyone is a hero” and children had opportunities to meet local heroes and becomes heroes themselves.
“The idea was to emphasize the heroes of the local community so children got to meet members of the local volunteer fire company and just were completely mesmerized and learned to appreciate that this a volunteer program and that these people give their time freely,” she told council members.
“They also had a chance to make capes and become superheroes themselves which they absolutely enjoyed and had a great time doing.”
From book clubs, photography club, knitting club, yoga, dog and horse therapy reading programs, Powers stressed that libraries have become so much more than a place to borrow a book.
“Today so many people purchase their books from sites like Amazon and that’s great, but I think a library offers so much more,” Powers said.
“We really get to know our patrons, get to know what types of books they like or authors they enjoy, hobbies that interest them and by getting to know them and making that personal connection we can expand their knowledge, introduce them to other authors they may like, or other interests and it is something that can open up new doors for them.”
The Fair Haven Public Library is located at 748 River Rd.
Library hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday; 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit the library online at www.fairhavenlib.org or call 732- 747-5031, extension 220.