ARLINGTON, Texas—Everyone knows that libraries house books, but libraries offer so much more.
Arlington Public Libraries offer a large array of resources and programs throughout the year for Arlington residents.
“Arlington Public Library has programs for all ages,” library services manager for special projects Julie Crisafulli said. “From storytime for babies to healthy living programs for seniors, there is something for everyone at the library.”
These programs consist of different activities or events for the community hosted by one of the seven libraries in Arlington.
“We offer entertaining craft programs, literacy building early childhood programs, social gatherings for teens, beginner to advanced Makerspace programs and even career growth opportunities through Adult Education,” Crisafulli said.
Programs range from fun activities to educational classes open to the community.
“We offer a wide range of adult programs designed to engage and serve the Arlington community,” community programming librarian for adult services Angela Harris said. “Offerings include author talks, entrepreneurship programs, and large-scale celebrations that highlight Arlington’s diverse cultural heritages. We also provide life skills workshops on topics such as health and wellness, computer literacy, financial literacy, career development, genealogy and sustainability.”
Harris said the library also offers activities designed to build community.
“In addition, we deliver a variety of fun, social opportunities, including book clubs, writing clubs, a spice club, Dungeons & Dragons, murder mysteries, game nights, open mic gatherings, dance classes, concerts and more,” Harris said.
When coming up with ideas for these programs, library workers draw inspiration from everywhere.
“Our program ideas come from a lot of different places,”, library services manager for youth services Katie Talhelm said. “Sometimes it’s something we saw in our community, on the internet or that another library was doing something similar. Sometimes people and organizations will reach out to us to see if we have the opportunity to partner.”
Library staff also collaborate across library departments and with community members to come up with beneficial programs.
“Program development is both an individual and collaborative effort,” Harris said. “We hold seasonal planning sessions to brainstorm and map out upcoming programs, ensuring they align with both library and city strategic plans while addressing community needs. Many of our ideas also come directly from community members, and we strive to implement their suggestions whenever possible. When we identify programs that are especially successful, we refine and expand them each year to maximize their impact and reach.”
After coming up with an idea for a program, the library team must evaluate different aspects of the program before choosing to host it. Having enough money, time and staff are some of the main struggles that come with planning and hosting a program.
“Regardless of where the idea originates, we weigh the program idea against the library’s strategic initiatives, any current programming gaps that we see, as well as budget and staffing to ensure coverage before we make a decision about hosting a specific program,” Talhelm said. “We must always be mindful of the constraints of limited finances, resources, staffing and time. We have to balance these factors to maintain a well-rounded but balanced program schedule while also managing the many other responsibilities of our roles.”
Though the planning for a program can be hard, the team behind it finds the finished product rewarding.
“It’s nice to see everyone’s hard work pay off,” Talhelm said. “Knowing that everyone put their best work forward and having the result be so amazing is really rewarding.”
Staff members also enjoy seeing the impact the programs have on people’s lives and the community as a whole.
“It feels great seeing your vision come to life and people engaging with it in meaningful ways,” Harris said. “It takes a lot to organize these events, and the payoff is seeing all your effort make a real and lasting difference. The most rewarding part is seeing people achieve greater success, access more opportunity, make a new friend or reach personal and professional goals because of a program they attended or assistance they received at the library.”
Because the library offers programs that help with education and developing professional skills, these programs can have life changing effects.
“My job is rewarding because of the change we see in our students,” library services manager for adult education Cristen Williams said. “We change lives of individuals and families in providing them the tools to move up, which we see when they return and thank us for what we do. It keeps us going through the hard part of working with the [adult education] grant and all of the twists and turns of this grant.”
Upcoming events include a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and a Community Seed Swap scheduled for Oct. 14, also at the downtown library.
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