Celebrating Books, Learning

As the digital wave continues to wash into every area of life, staff at the Salina Public Library have embraced new technology and kept a human touch in helping patrons gain knowledge.

Library Director Joe McKenzie tells KSAL News that one- on -one help is just part of their day, “A lot of our techs are helping with tablets, smatphones, Kindles and E-readers,” he said.

The technology department gained a foothold – and a space of its own at the library back in 2005 McKenzie added.

The printed word on a page is also holding its own, “Books and reading are very popular,” he said.

“We still get a thousand new items into the collection every month. That includes video games, DVD, audio tapes but a majority of it is books.”

McKenzie notes that sometimes late fees can discourage patrons from coming back in, so a new program called “Read Down Your Fines,” is beginning for children who are 17-years-old and younger. Fines can be whittled away by simply reading inside a designated area in the Youth’s Services Department.

McKenzie says, “For every 15-minutes of reading, kids can take a $1 off their fine.”

Book House

Salina Public Library Director Joe Mckenzie also says it’s time for Salinans to “Take a Book and Return a Book.” The program celebrates reading by putting books in little houses for neighbors to enjoy by taking a giving a book back.

One of the book houses can be found on the campus at Kansas Wesleyan University, while a second is near the Spray Park at Jerry Ivey.