National Library Week is the perfect time to celebrate the many ways our libraries have evolved and adapted to our communities’ changing needs to enrich lives.
“Whether you connect with us virtually or in person, HEPL is here to help transform lives and communities. By providing access to technology, resources, programs, and experiential learning opportunities for all, the library is an essential partner for lifelong learning and discovery” says Hamilton East Public Library Director Edra Waterman.
10 Ways the Library is Enriching Our Community
There are many ways the library enriches our community and provides residents of all ages a library experience inside or outside of our buildings’ walls. For National Library Week, I have highlighted ten ways the library works to make our community exceptional.
1. Assisting residents in scheduling their COVID vaccine.
2. Providing taxpayers quick and easy access to downloadable tax forms and tax assistance resources through our tax preparation webpage. Learn more here.
3. Offering 121 varieties of seed packs (vegetables, herbs, and flowers) through our Seed Library here. There is something for all gardening interests and experience levels.
4. Digitizing historical records, including some city directories, so that residents near and far can research the history of their homes or trace their ancestors’ whereabouts through our Indiana Room, located on the second floor of the Noblesville Library.
5. Circulating more than 2.3 million books, digital and other library materials during the 2020 pandemic year, and processing more than 3,500 physical items returned daily.
6. Issuing more than 4,308 library cards during the 2020 pandemic year and processing more than 3,500 physical items returned daily.
7. Offering three new Fab Lab Certifications (3-D printing, the laser engraver, and vinyl cutter) with 676 patrons completing certifications on multiple pieces of equipment through our Ignite Studio . HEPL’s award-winning Ignite Studio offers a variety of equipment, including sewing machines, digital media and production equipment, and a Cricut machine. Since the pandemic began, Ignite has distributed 10,950 DIY activity packs.
8. Serving more than 17,700 attendees to our programs during the 2020 pandemic year.
9. Adding more than 34,000 new physical items to our collections and 6,388 Overdrive copies for digital reading during the 2020 pandemic year.
10. Encouraging our residents to join our reading programs. In 2020, our readers logged 5,230,626 pages/minutes through Beanstack.
As a recipient of the 2020 SirsiDynix Power of Libraries Award in recognition of our exceptional maker space, our residents can be proud of how our library and its Ignite Studio are changing lives and inspiring and sustaining our community’s creativity. Check out the Hamilton East Public Library website here and follow us on social media. Please view our calendar of events here to learn more about our programming for all ages.
Shelley Huffman is the Marketing and Communications Manager of Hamilton East Public Library. Shelley has lived in Fishers for more than ten years and is proud to live, work, and play in such a vibrant community. She began her married life in Fishers, moved away, and then returned because it is a great place to raise a family. Shelley and her husband enjoy spending time outdoors with their two sons, boating, playing pickleball, hiking, biking, or walking their miniature wirehaired dachshund, Gus. She and her husband also started their own small business in Fishers and have been in business for 25 years, and sees the city as a great place to launch a business.