COLUMN: More than books: The evolving story of OCPL

Time has certainly flown at the Owen County Public Library (OCPL).

As I sit here writing this article on my eight-month anniversary as director, I'm amazed at how quickly the days have gone by. In some ways, it feels like I've been here forever; in others, it feels like I just walked through the doors for the first time.

Each day has been filled with new learning experiences. I've discovered things I never imagined I'd need to know, like elevator maintenance and construction processes. But above all, I've learned just how vital the library is to our community. The days of libraries serving solely as places to access information are long behind us. Today, a library is a resource for space, knowledge, connection and time.

On any given day, all our reservable rooms are bustling, social care workers meeting with clients, online students focused on their coursework and groups of friends using the library as a welcoming home base. Our Community Room regularly hosts local organizations and groups, and we've welcomed many classrooms who visit the Read and Feed Garden as a field trip destination.

I would be remiss not to highlight the importance of our programs and outreach. We continue to maintain strong partnerships with each Spencer-Owen Community Schools school, whether through program visits or weekly bookmobile stops.

Here at the library, our programming has expanded significantly, offering Owen County residents a growing variety of free activities and resources. Some of our newest offerings include legal advice from the IU Maurer School of Law and in-depth genealogy programming. And this is just the beginning—keep an eye out for author visits and more exciting events to come.

Our adult education program has also grown tremendously. This year, we added four new certification classes to the schedule, all at no cost to students. We are thrilled to see this program continue to expand and support the needs of our community.

We also continue to curate a robust collection of nonfiction and fiction books, movies and CDs for patrons to enjoy. This year, we launched our new Library of Things, allowing patrons to check out items like wagons, tents, tools and yard games. And of course, Libby remains your portal to e-books, magazines, podcasts and audiobooks. OCPL truly has something for everyone.

If you haven't been to the library recently, I encourage you to stop in and see what we can do for you. We are a lot more than a place for books these days. The OCPL is located at 10 S. Montgomery St. in Spencer and can be reached by calling 812-829-3392.