By Lyndsie Ferrell
DEL NORTE—The Del Norte Public Library will be expanding their hours beginning in May and will be open on the first Saturday of the month for the remainder of the summer.
The library has been working to become more active in the community and be available to those who reside in the area offering services that were previously unavailable. In recent months the library has spent a considerable amount of time and money to enhance patron experience and the efforts are beginning to pay off.
In the fall of last year, the library was awarded a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helped with costs of a remodel and purchase of new technological equipment, something the library hadn’t been able to do for many years. The grant purchased new furniture, a new book drop, computers, printers, scanners and other advancements that made them a local hub for services that people previously had to travel to neighboring communities like Monte Vista or South Fork to receive.
Now, with the increase in activity, library Director Susan Williams announced that the library will be expanding hours to Saturdays, beginning May 5. “For now, we are going to start with the first Saturday of each month and we hope we can increase the hours from there,” said Williams. The library has had restricted hours up until this point due to a lack in funding and operation costs. Williams and the library board are hopeful that with their new-found status in the community, they will be able to increase funding and pursue an addition in the near future.
In addition to expanding hours, the library will also be working again this summer with the High Valley Community Center (HVCC) to gain new, young readership. “We want to encourage new, younger readers to come and use the facility and all we have to offer, so we will be doing a book themed class with HVCC called ‘Libraries Rock’,” said Williams.
The program will entail book reading, an activity of some kind and a craft that the children of HVCC can participate in. “We are partnering with HVCC to provide the youth with activities and opportunities to read that go along with the summer reading program and this year’s theme. We will incorporate music and actual rocks into the fun,” continued Williams. This will be the third year the library has participated in the HVCC summer program, and they hope to continue the partnership.
Williams also stated that the library will be pursuing additional grants this year, hoping to continue their improvements. For now, though the library will be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  For more information, please call 657-2633.