INSPIRING IDEAS, ENRICHING LIVES, CREATING COMMUNITY
Making A Difference
The Stark County Library makes impacts in the community in a multitude of ways. Below the impacts are split into three categories; technology, education, and communication. There is also a reflection of the overall project.
TECHNOLOGY
Supporting The Community
One of the major changes the library has had is the creation of The Smart Store, where everything is free.™ With the smart store, customers are able to hold books they want but can’t pick up right away, renew books without having to go to the store, and have an online library card in case they misplace their actual card. The staff specifically hired for the smart store abide by three community priorities, “Start smart, an early childhood learning initiative; stay smart, promoting lifelong learning; and share smart, creating community connections” (Giammarco 2014). Just like anything else the library offers, the smart store is useful for everyone.
EDUCATION
Reinforcing our Commitment
With this initiative, the goal is to promote great opportunities for those in need. With access to the right resources, people can become empowered by their own abilities and gain the confidence to fulfill their potential. The Stark County Library is able to assist age groups from kids to adults in multiple ways. From tech classes to story time the library has many ways to educate the community!
Find out upcoming events at the library by clicking here
COMMUNICATION
One Step at a Time
Throughout the library it is clear that the main tool for communication is through technology. Using technology has the biggest impact at the library compared to anything else. The very few conversations held at the library are made for the purpose of finding a book or asking what time an activity is. No matter what form of communication, the Stark County Library does a fantastic job of getting their message across to the community. The employees and atmosphere show that the library is a place for learning and growing as a person and a community. To learn more about communication in this library click here.
REFLECTION
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During the process of writing my observation and interview essay I have learned multiple things. It was very crazy to see that a library, naturally known for books, utilized technology more than anything. I enjoyed getting insight from the manager during my interview essay. It provided valuable information that could only come from a manager's perspective. It was rewarding to see one cohesive piece of all of my work on this website and I also enjoyed collaborating with a partner that had similar points in her topic. I feel like I have just scratched the surface and I have many unanswered questions, but I had a fun time doing this project. If you would like to read more on the Stark County Library, my observation essay is attached under communication and my interview essay is attached at the bottom of the page.
For more information on the Stark County Library click here
A BIT ABOUT US
Turning Interest Into Action
At the Stark County Library, they're committed to investing their expertise and resources in order to further achieve their cause. For 130 years, they’ve been supporting their community members in a variety of ways and measuring their success not by monetary size, but by more qualitative measurements such as the scale and effectiveness of their efforts. Just imagine what we can achieve together!
