Huron County's Librarian and Director of Cultural Services Says Staff At The Library, Museum And Cultural Services Are Getting Out A Lot More

by Bob Montgomery

Huron County's Librarian and Director of Cultural Services brought county council up to date on the Library's strategic plan recently, and last week she updated council on the strategic plan for the Museum and Cultural Services.

But, Beth Rumble says the expectations from the public are similar for all three sectors in that people want more programming, more hours and more access to things, whether it's the library branch or the museum. “Where we're really starting to see more changes is the recognition in all three, the library, the museum, culture, playing a lead role in creating welcoming, inclusive communities, and that is a strategic priority in all three of the plans.” Rumble says all three parts of the department are doing really good work in that area as far as welcoming newcomers, whether its through programs that they offer, the stories that they tell, and just being one of those places where everyone is welcome across the board.

Rumble says something else that has changed over the years is the stereotypical quiet library. It's gone. It's very much a thing of the past. Rumble says there are often fairly loud things going on in today's library, and they do have to keep reminding themselves that some people still need a quite study space in the library. So they still have to provide that, but there are also lots of other things happening at the library.

Something else that's grown in the last few years is the frequency with which the library goes out to the people, rather than waiting for people to come to the library. Rumble says there is a growing expectation and recognition that events being put on by the library or museum don't necessary have to be events that take place in the library or the museum, and library and museum staff are reaching out beyond the four walls of their building and becoming a more active part of the community and taking their services to the community. Rumble says a number of communities are celebrating their 150 birthday this year and the museum staff have been active in taking artifacts that match the period and the town out to those communities to help with the celebration. And library staff have been busy going up to farmers markets or other programs that are happening in the community.

Rumble says as those things start happening more, the community expects them more often, and that's a good thing.