The Salida Regional Library has launched its summer programs, making the local library a central hub for education and purposeful recreation in the southern part of Chaffee County. The library, located at 405 E St, Salida, has always offered several programs for adults, but this year is the first year they are offering a summer reading program for those over school age.
Library Director Susan Matthews, who has been with the library for three and a half years, feels that the adult programs are a direct way to encourage the largest demographic in the area to rediscover the joy of reading and learning. Matthews says that she and her staff “try to come up with programs that benefit the community” and, as a result, have a full calendar for all ages throughout the summer.
The Salida Regional Library sees approximately four hundred unique visitors a day, served by a diverse and capable staff. Library card holders enjoy free Wi-Fi, over two hundred magazines and access to e-books as well as the traditional paper books.
This year’s adult programs include free legal clinics with lawyer Rick Morgan out of Denver and their “Ask a Tech” program where patrons may have one on one help with operating tablets, mobile phones and laptop computers. They also offer book clubs for those over eighteen and readings by local authors.
A 5:30 p.m. June 22 program will feature a book by Tracy Beach titled “Frozen to the Cabin Floor: The Biography of Baby Doe Tabor”. The new reading program this year offers a chance for adults to read a book, then enter to win one of three grand prizes. The contest continues through August 2, 2019.
When speaking about the accomplishments of the library in the past few years, Matthews highlighted the immense growth of the library’s children’s’ programs. Average attendance for these programs sometimes exceeds fifty individuals she says, and often times must be held offsite to accommodate the large numbers of children attending.
Salida Regional Library Director Susan Matthews, with Staffer Joy Jackson, says the response to the library’s summer reading programs is excellent.
The library is in the process of obtaining permits to expand the library in order to alleviate the crowding. When completed, the new addition would house the children’s section and will provide four hundred additional square feet for programs and storage.
In addition to their hugely successful children’s programs, Matthews said that staffer Joy Jackson has been working on the library’s archives for more than five years. Using this system is free and offers patrons an extensive database, high resolution pictures and simple, easy to use keyword style searches.
This wishing to use the libraries resources, need a library card; which is free and easy to obtain. For an in-district library card, which covers Nathrop to the Fremont County line, one must present a photo ID and proof of address, such as a utility bill. For those who have held a library card within Colorado or those in Fremont County, out of district cards are available.
For more about the library’s summer reading programs go to: https://www.salidalibrary.org/
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