Get to Know Your Public Library with New Monthly ‘@ Your Library’ Column

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Hello, my name is Julie Dinville, and I am the library director at the Bellevue Public Library. I have been with the library almost 24 years, starting as the Adult Services/Technology librarian in 1999. The library thanks The Bellevue Times for giving us an opportunity to share with you many of the programs, collections, and services that we offer. Many of you are already our friends and patrons, and we hope that others may find interest in the information the library staff shares in this column to come visit and take advantage of the services the library offers to the community.

In October of this year, the Bellevue Public Library will celebrate its 94^th anniversary. Many things have changed since those first days of the library, started in the back room of the J.C. Larson residence by the Bellevue Junior Woman’s Club in 1929 with 12 donated books.

Since then, the library has moved five times. In 1930, the library moved twice: first to a small room in the south wing of the Presbyterian Church and then to the historic courthouse (It was at the end of this year, that the city took over the library, though the Woman’s Club remained actively involved). In 1938, the library was relocated to a room in the adobe firehouse building in Washington Park, and, later in 1948 occupied the whole building. Then in 1961 the library moved into a red brick building built in Washington Park. By 1972 with a population of about 22,000, the library looked for a new site to meet the needs of Bellevue’s growth. A building was built at the current site, 1003 Lincoln Road, and opened in 1975. We have remained at that site for the past 47+ years as the city’s population has grown to over 60,000.

Even with the advent of new technologies, patrons continue to check out nearly 300,000 physical items in a year. Over 65,000 digital items are downloaded. With nearly 30,000 cardholders, the library offers over 150,000 physical items in its collection and access to over 230,000 digital items. The library is averaging nearly 120,000 visits per year and over 140,000 website visits.

In addition to providing both print and digital materials, the library offers so much more. Some of our services include programs for all ages, storytimes, Pawsitive Reading (children reading to therapy dogs), guest speakers, test proctoring, homebound delivery, Interlibrary Loan, one-on-one digital help, FAX service, WiFi, book club kits, a Foundation book sale room, public computers, Tai Chi programs, a public copier, meeting spaces, hotspot checkouts, the full Consumer Reports online, leisure passes (Fontenelle Forest, Durham Museum, Children’s Museum, Lauritzen Gardens, Bcycle), Summer Library Programs for children and young adults, an Adult Library Program, special collections (cake pans, jigsaw puzzles, tabletop games, craft stamps, movie binge boxes, break-in boxes for children), notary services, and a makerspace.

We are constantly seeking ways to serve the public and use our allocated resources in the best way that we can to provide useful and interesting programs and collections. In the coming months, we hope to share with you some of what the library offers in a variety of feature articles. We hope that you will find something that will interest you. In the meantime, you can find out more about the library by going to our website at www.bellevuelibrary.org.