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By CHRISTIE
MASTRIC
Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE -- There are many issues that libraries have to consider that patrons don't realize -- such as what the patrons actually check out of the facility.
Peter White Public Library Director Andrea Ingmire said the PWPL Board of Trustees has been reviewing policy for the last several years.
"We just want to make sure all our policies are sound and solid," Ingmire said.
PWPL staff, she noted, has been undergoing a lot of training regarding those policies.
One of the policies concerns privacy, but that doesn't necessarily involve patrons getting enough space to read off by themselves.
"It's increasingly important that our staff are diligent and maintaining a high level of privacy for our patrons," Ingmire said.
That privacy instead is related to library records.
"That gives a lot of weight to the fact that you come into the library and you check out a stack of books, I cannot talk about what you've checked out with somebody else," Ingmire said. "So, it's that kind of privacy, and, of course, keeping people's personal information -- address, phone number, all of that -- private, too."
She acknowledged that many people don't realize that the PWPL has a high standard about what staff can talk about regarding what a person checks out at the library.
Ingmire pointed out that Michigan has its own guidelines for libraries and personal information, which includes security footage as well.
On May 24, the PWPL board denied a request to remove the book "This Book is Gay" following a complaint from a patron on the grounds that it contains information of a sexual nature.
"People have expressed dismay that we weren't able to publish the name of the person who challenged books," Ingmire said. "I've gotten a lot of questions about that, and it's because it's a library record. In the same breath that we can't say what you've checked out, we also can't say what somebody objects to."
The library, of course, is not all about books.
Ingmire said the PWPL has fall programming coming up, including programs for school-aged children as well as adults.
"We're doing more crossover programming between teens and adults, so we're going to be interested to see how that is received by the community," Ingmire said.
What already was well received by the community was this year's summer reading program, which had a great turnout, she said.
"I think we gave out more than a thousand books as prizes for the kids," said Sarah Rehborg, director of youth services at the library, at the Bubble, Bubble, Splash event held for kids on July 28. "We've had close to 200 gift cards for the teenagers, lots of really fun programs."
Ingmire said the art galleries also are busy, with the the PWPL being the official location for the Lower Level Lobby Gallery as well as the Huron Mountain Club Gallery on the main floor. The Deo Gallery is located in the lower level but is part of the city of Marquette Arts and Culture Center.
"We've got a great art lineup for the remainder of this year and for 2024," Ingmire said.
Library staff, she noted, works on the PWPL public gallery program in which receptions and exhibits for the Deo and Huron Mountain Club galleries are held simultaneously in the hope that visitors will see multiple artists' work at the same time.
"It's working really nicely," Ingmire said. "We've had some good feedback, so we're going to continue to do that through 2024."
However, she noted that the library is pulling out of the public gallery program regarding the Lower Level Lobby Gallery.
"It's not a full gallery space," Ingmire said. "It's just a wall for exhibits. Starting in 2024, we're going to handle that more with helping local groups publicize what they're doing locally, and highlighting library collections and library events."
It also will be a more frequently changing space for events such as the Winter Wonderland Walk that features area groups' holiday trees.
Ingmire said local artists prefer the Deo and Huron Mountain Club galleries anyway.
"It is more an enclosed gallery space," she said. "It's better display space. The lighting's better. It's got a better 'gallery feel.' That wall is really wonderful for exhibiting work, but it's not a true gallery."
For more information on the library, visit pwpl.info.
Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.
