This library resides in a community of 2,500 yet has approximately 5,000 borrowers! The community is very involved with this library and, as Judy pointed out to us, they made suggestions readily for additional programming and services. In the past this has included computer classes, scrapbooking classes, family game nights, and (most recently) family movie nights.

Judy has some ideas of her own – hoping to meet the needs of the community members even before they identify them – and hoping to draw even more community members into the library. Her ideas include a gardening class and a quilting demonstration and class.

The Richwood-North Union Library also houses a genealogy department with its own display cases. There are also display cases in the alcove of the library and in the entrance area. These cases give community members a chance to share their special collections with others.

Thank you, Judy, for taking the time to meet with us and show us this beautiful library. Again, here it is apparent that the residents of Ohio truly value their libraries.

Our next stop was Ashley where we met with director Liz Barker of the Wornstaff Memorial Public Library. This library was created in memory of Albertus Wornstaff whose portrait hangs in the entry way. He died in his late 20’s and his parents endowed the memorial library in his name in 1928. This library, too, has had two additions which allowed for the collection to expand and for additional seating. (Left picture: Photograph of Albertus Wornstaff) While Ashley serves a community of approximately 1,200, there are many more borrowers because the library serves member of the Oxford Township and has many patrons from Morrow County. Liz explained that it is difficult to give a number of individual users because this library issues a “family card” rather than individual cards.

The collection supports the needs of the community, paying particular attention to homeschoolers who use the library a great deal. In addition, the library offers DEMCO Discovery Packs which include multi-media on a specific subject (e.g. a pack on farms might include toy tractors and toy animals, books, a video, and a CD on farming).