A story about a small library by Dee Brennan

A couple of weeks ago I visited the Maquon Public Library District to deliver a foam check in the amount of $6,530 for their grant to join RSA (one of RAILS’ four Local Library System Automation Programs, or LLSAPs).  RAILS established this grant program at the beginning of FY 2015 to encourage and assist libraries to join LLSAPs.  To date, this program has resulted in $ 240,248.51 going to 18 libraries to join PrairieCat, RSA and SWAN.

All of these grants and libraries are success stories for resource sharing.  But something about Maquon really got to me.

In the 2010 census, the population of Maquon is 284.   The library is correspondingly small, and has a staff of only 2 and a collection with 14,580 items.  They are still using paper and pen to keep track of circulation and additions to the collection.

Thanks to our grant, they are busy cataloging their collection with the assistance of temporary help - librarians from their local school district - which also recently joined RSA. The day I was there they had input 150 items.

 This collaboration between the public and school libraries that serve the Maquon community will certainly increase through their membership in RSA and provide additional benefits and cost savings to community members.  

I was deeply impressed by what this library staff and community and board of trustees are determined to accomplish.  Think of what a difference RSA membership is going to make in what resources they can make available to their community!!  Through interlibrary loan and delivery, the 284 residents of Maquon will have access to over one million titles and almost five million items when they go online with RSA at a cost of approximately $1,300 annually.

Resource sharing is going to mean a lot to the community of Maquon.  What does it mean for your community?

What could it mean for your community?