Director wanted library to be a welcoming place

Patty Hall takes a last look at some of the books at the McCook Public Library. Hall recently retired as the director of the library. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge]

Patty Hall was never a big one for "shushing."

Retiring last week after 24 years with the McCook Public Library, the past nine as Library Director, Hall said she used to get flack now and then about noisy kids who stay at the library after school. But for Hall, the library should be a place kids -- and adults -- feel welcomed.

"I remember growing up, having to walk past a librarian who never smiled. I would run in and out as quickly as possible, just to get out of there," she recalled. "It wasn't a comfortable place to be."

In fact, the biggest challenge the library faced in her tenure wasn't talkative kids but the switch to the electronic age. Libraries are not just about books anymore, but information sharing, which caused a few changes along the way.

A few strokes on the computer keyboard now tells patrons if a book is available, thanks to the automated card catalog. Books on CDs have exploded in popularity, Hall said, along with those who use the computers at the library to access the Internet. Plus, patrons can download books on their own computers for free with Nebraska Overdrive.

As the role of the library continues to evolve, it may become more that just a warehouse of reading materials but also for social networking. Those who use the computers at McCook's library do so for recreational purposes, she said, such as checking e-mail, Facebook or eBay, instead of primarily for research.

But despite the shifting landscape of public libraries, the bottom line for Hall had always about reading materials, she said. She ordered about 100 new items per month, most from Baker and Taylor, a supplier of books and multimedia material to libraries and retailers. The lure of holding and touching a new book also had her buying a few from bookstores in Kearney or Lincoln, "just so I could pull them down and touch them," Hall said.

The freedom to read is critical, she believes and the library annually participated in "Banned Books Week" in September, with a week-long display highlighting books that were banned in the past, such as "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Hall said she never had to pull a book from circulation but to do so would require more than several complaints, plus a form filled out explaining the offensive content of the book. Even then, the decision to ban a book would be discussed among staff and the Library Board.

Still, the public library belongs to everyone, she maintained.

"The library survives on tax dollars," she said, "and every taxpayer has their own choice of reading material. There's always the option not to check out a book."

Hall also felt the library should fit its patrons. There's still lots of readers out there, she said, but more are reading non-fiction or Christian fiction. And what works in urban areas may not work in smaller ones, she added, such as drive-thru windows. People in smaller communities tend to make the library more of a social visit and still like to come inside, she said.

Hall plans to move to Wyoming, where she will live with her son-in-law and daughter and help out with the grandkids. Hall said she'll miss the friendships she's made over the years and the opportunity to buy new books, but one thing she won't miss is the complaints.

"We once has a lady complain about a $1.50 fine," she said.