News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Alachua County Libraries Are Expanding Programs To Meet Influx of Readers

Alachua County Library
Laurie May has been a librarian at the Alachua County Headquarters for nearly 15 years. She works mostly in the children's department. (Spencer Harvey/WUFT News)

Children in Alachua County are increasingly hitting the books -- and Legos and karaoke and crafts.

The Alachua County Library System is thriving, with a 100,000-person increase in visitors between 2010 and 2015, according to Nickie Kortus, spokeswoman for the Alachua County Library District.

The increase in visits is most likely due to of new weekly programs that occur in the 12 libraries throughout the county, Kortus said.

"We have been evolving with the needs in the community," Kortus said. The library services have expanded beyond books and DVDs. People now come in to the library to attend wellness programs, use computers or enjoy free Wi-Fi.

To fuel its rise in visitation, the library district has created more programs catering to babies, children and teenagers. Kids can enjoy Legos at the library, karaoke and homework help time each week.

Laurie May has been a librarian at the Alachua County Headquarters Library for almost 15 years. She currently works in the children's department. May said her goal is to bring even more children to the library.

She said she tells stories to babies and kids with music and rhyming because it helps with their language development.

“The library has many wonderful children’s programs,” May said. “We have been trying to incorporate even more craft programs, especially around the holidays.”

The library has also emphasized the importance of childhood literacy, said Debbie Lewis, also a librarian.

“We want them to enjoy being here and not feel like this is a structure, like school,” Lewis said. "The trick is pulling kids into the library. It’s bringing them in to do something fun.”

 

Alexandra is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.