New Services, Technology Part Of Library's Strategic Plan

Wireless printing, a tablet station, and new e-readers.

These are some of the proposed additions and enhancements to the . They are included in library’s four-year-long strategic plan. The library board approved the plan in June.

The plan outlines several areas that library officials want to enhance and improve upon by 2016.

‘It’s a fine balancing act that we have to do to meting all of our patrons’ needs,” Tradway said. “Ebooks are still becoming popular but the bulk of our patrons still want the physical book so we have to balance what technology comes out with tradition.”

Among the proposed changes to the library are:

• Installing a Wi-Fi print station.
• Creating a tablet station. Patrons would be able to come in and use tablets in the library, but not check them out.
• Provide e-readers that patrons could check out.
• Installing a station where files could be converted to PDFs for printing or saving.

“We’ve always embraced technology, we’re just solidifying what we want to do with the technology that’s out there,” Treadway said.

Treadway said that creating a third library branch on Route 23 could happen too. The branch could be located on Route 23 and contain a limited amount of popular books and DVDs and nothing would be more than 18 months old.

The influx of technology with e-readers, electronic books and magazines, the Internet, and tablets has changed the way librarians work. No longer to patrons needs to know what a state capital is, they need to know how to conduct research online. They need help sifting through the myriad of information that exists.

Patrons also need to know how to operate the newest technology.

The library is also trying to serve children better. An overhead projector and sound system might be installed in the story time room.

The children’s and adult departments might sponsor family night events once a month. More weekend events for children might be offered. The library might provide more outreach to local schools and daycares.

One thing Treadyway said the library isn’t planning on changing is children’s story times.

“There’s still something magically about story time. Children love it,” Treadway said. “We have parents who were children who went to story time who are now bringing their children.”

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.