After 21 years leading the Prescott Public Library, Roger Saft retired on June 30, and Melissa Orr has taken the reins as director, promising still more outreach and connection with the community.
I sat down with Orr to learn what’s in store for the library’s future. When we met she was barely one week into the job, but her clear professionalism and extensive experience promise that she’ll be a superb choice.
Originally from Colombus, Georgia, Melissa is a married mother of one. She began her career as an elementary-school librarian, later working as the youth-services supervisor at a library in Littleton CO, and brings over 25 years of experience in education and library-media technology. For the past 18 years she held positions in the Scottsdale Public library System, and had been interim director of the Scottsdale Public library for ten months. As a degreed, certified pre-K–12th-grade library specialist, she brings a wealth of education and experience where most school libraries are run by aides, not certified librarians.
Recognizing the library is a hub for community involvement, she wants to make sure that everyone feels welcome, supported and safe, including the unsheltered who come to the library to use the restrooms and job-search resources. One gradual change for most librarians has been increased need to provide social services. Older patrons often need help with online services, the unemployed need support navigating the often degrading hoops of job applications, and so on. The modern librarian is both a literary and information guide and social worker.
This system is working. The library’s existing services are broad and effective, including providing meeting and study rooms, technology help, including printing, scanning and faxing, employment, education and advocacy services, art days, family yoga, book clubs for kids and teens, preschool story times to encourage early literacy, and the list goes on. While these services are listed on the library website, they are not heavily advertised. Orr is looking into doing more marketing to get the word out about these services and increase participation.
Rising technology has not diminished the importance of libraries. The internet makes research faster, but there’s nothing uite like a physical book. For some the library is a portal to technology they don’t have at home, and the library uses tech to make the learning experience more accessible.
One example is the Integrated Library System, which allows anyone with a library card to browse the collection online, reserve a selection and pick it up at the library. Technology also allows patrons to use their Prescott library cards at multiple libraries, including Prescott Valley and Chino Valley. Older technology combined with a librarian’s knowledge of the community means that the Prescott Public Library maintains an extensive selection of large-print books for the visually impaired. Surprisingly, e-book technology hasn’t really caught on at our library, where most readers prefer actual, physical, printed books.
Orr expressed concern that “libraries don’t tell their stories well.” Libraries are resources that we typically expect to be there when we need them. Most people don’t really think about the library and have no idea of all the wonderful resources it provides. Its new director promises more extensive marketing of the library’s offerings and special programs.
The Prescott Public Library is essentially a nonprofit organization with about 80% of its funding coming from City tax revenues and the remainder from other taxes, grants and gifts. An increasing share of that funding is earmarked for social services.
The library is about so much more than checking out books. For free or nearly free you can bring your kids to story time, listen to live music, attend myriad meetings and presentations on a wide range of subjects, join a book club, use a computer, view art, look for a job, and much more. Libraries have been principal centers of culture for over 5,000 years, and public libraries for nearly a millennium, and with our continuing patronage they’ll be working for us for another 5,000.
The Prescott Public Library is at 215 E Goodwin St. in Prescott, open daily. More at 928-777-1500 and PrescottLibrary.info.
