News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The White County Public Library has been moving books and shelves over the last week, as it expands its Teen Services section and transfers most of its Genealogy collection to digital storage.
Teen Services Librarian Julie Randolph said around 43,000 titles were rearranged in an effort to increase the space for young people.
“We have a bigger dynamic of teen population coming in and they are needing a place to sit and study and a quiet place they can get away from everything,” Julie said. “Its really hard to find something for teens where they can go and hang out, and its a safe environment. We are trying to give back to the community a little more in that aspect.”
Cemetery records, family histories, and census records for White County and other counties were all housed in the Genealogy section. Randolph said these materials made the most sense to digitize and put original copies in storage.
The Teen Services section of the library is catered to grades sixth through 12th. It is the section where young adult books are kept and also provides study areas for teens. Randolph said she expects the Teen Services section to continue to grow into its new space.
“Now that people are getting the word out that we have a space available where teens are welcome at that are separate from children service and separate from adult service,” Randolph said. “Its a little more of a protected area. I feel like people are more prone to come in and take advantage of our services.”
Randolph said many people from out of the county out of the state often request the genealogy materials. She said having digital versions easy to send over the internet made sense.
The project took five days to complete. The Library reopened Monday.
“I’m hoping we are done for a little while,” Randolph said. “I think we have moved the spaces that needed to be moved right now. It gave us an open floor plan for teens and gave Genealogy a cozy place to house those materials. I think we are good right now. I’m hoping there’s no major projects any time soon.”
The Library plans to put in more comfortable casual seating and a television for movie nights and video games in the Teen Services section in the future.
