A young boy climbs on a play structure, evading his brother in a game of tag. The click, click, click of a computer mouse can be heard as a duo of young boys play a video game. An older woman has picked a book from a shelf and is perched in a corner, reading the first few pages. In a back corner, there is a youth book club in session.
Circulation Clerk Zowie Pritchard describes this as a typical day at the main Licking County Library in downtown Newark.
The Licking County Library system includes six branch locations — the main location on Main Street in Newark and branch locations in Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Johnstown, Utica and in west Newark — as well as two 24-hour kiosks and a mobile library. There are a few stand-alone libraries in Licking County that are not a part of the Licking County Library system.
Since 2022, Licking County Libraries have seen an increase in both in-person library visits and circulation of books and other materials. The Annual Ohio Public Library Survey conducted by the State Library in 2023 estimated average library attendance for Licking County Libraries was 3,714 people per week — nearly 200 more each week than in 2022.
Julia Walden, executive director for Licking County Libraries since November 2023, expects this pattern to continue to build.
“Our communities are seeking us out as a wonderful public space. It’s a comfortable and safe public space. We have had an increase in wifi logins, we have people that use the library as their office during the day. Our space is prime real estate, quite frankly, because it is such a welcoming space,” Walden said.
Walden is confident that brick-and-mortar is here to stay, as they slowly build up their attendance, because it is still not as high as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Books in print aren’t going anywhere. Even though we have been seeing disappearing media, I lived through the records disappearing, now CDs and hard copies of music. I’m confident books in print aren’t going anywhere,” Walden said. “The future will be a busy one for the library growth and the population. I don’t think we will have any problem finding a way to remain.”
Walden expects an increase in mobile services, such as the library kiosks — standalone “vending machines” for books — and bookmobiles.
The Licking County Library offers two library kiosks, each open 24 hours. The kiosk in Pataskala — the first 24-hour kiosk in the central Ohio area — was installed in 2016. A few years later, Licking County Library added another 24-7 library kiosk in Legacy Park in the village of Hanover.
These kiosks act as library book vending machines. With a quick scan of the library card and a few inputs on the keypad, one can leave with a new book. Additionally, if a visitor wants to request a book, they can do so. The requested books will be added to a personal locker, also located in the 24-hour kiosk stand. This is just another way for patrons to easily receive library services. Individuals can pick up their book requests from the lockers at any time convenient for them. The 24-hour kiosks are strategically located in areas where residents are farther away from an in-person branch.
Another way the Licking County Library is aiming to increase circulation is the mobile library. The library on wheels served 7,147 visitors in the first 10 months of 2024 alone.
“It’s a mode of accessing your favorite materials more conveniently,” Walden said. “It’s a way for us to bring the services to the people.”
Until 2020, Licking County had a bookmobile. After a few years of no portable book service, Licking County Library re-introduced the book mobile in October 2023, but this time rebranded as a mobile library, emphasizing the full array of services.
“It’s more than books,” explained Laura Appleman, the marketing and public relations manager for the Licking County Library. “It provides wifi access, dvds, magazines and music. It’s a good community engagement vehicle that can go to things like farmers markets, festivals and fairs. It’s much more than a bookmobile.”
The mobile library stops at parks, community hubs, schools and more. They aim to reach all edges of the library service district with scheduled stops in places like Heath, Toboso and Hanover.
At a scheduled stop, the mobile library will open its doors wide. There are glow-in-the dark stars stuck to the ceiling, a cat in the hat drawing on the whiteboard and as many books fit on the rows of the vehicle as possible.
“A lot of people are surprised when they get on and they’re like, ‘Oh, you have movies and you have [more than just books].’ It’s like an actual library, we have a little bit of everything,” said Andy Scaggs, mobile services specialist.
Scaggs said the mobile library’s stops at elementary schools are typically the busiest, and he regularly helps visitors sign up for new library cards right inside the colorful vehicle.
“I think it brings back memories too, because bookmobiles have been around for a long time. We get a lot of comments like, ‘I remember that when I was a kid.’ It’s kind of cool for them to reminisce,” said Bethanie Cop, mobile library assistant.
The first bookmobile in Licking County ran from 1938 to 1950. Licking County Library was able to provide the “book car” through the assistance of state grants. The bookmobile aimed to serve areas with limited access to the public libraries, such as the more rural areas of the service district.
“There is a rich tradition that we are building on,” Walden said. “Libraries for decades and decades have been delivering books. Women would ride horses and deliver services to people. It’s something we are continuing, carrying that torch but with a different vehicle.”
The new mobile library vehicle was launched last October. The Licking County Library was excited to bring back the tradition.
Licking County Library, self-proclaimed “champion of access,” is working to bring the library to people who may not be able to go to their brick-and-mortar locations. Accessibility to their wide range of services is at the forefront of their decisions. As Walden said, people have barriers that prevent them from accessing libraries. So the Licking County Library brings its services to its patrons.
Aside from the mobile library, there is also a home-delivery service. This is for elderly individuals or people with medical conditions that prevent them from attending the libraries in person. Anyone who is under any sort of physical or mental constraints and is unable to leave their house is able to have books, CDs and more delivered to them.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Pritchard said “We deliver books to people that can’t get out, we deliver right to their door.”
The delivery service is another way to ensure accessibility for all patrons.
“We want to be accessible to all ages, all walks of life,” Appleman said. “It doesn’t matter where you live within our service district, your economic background is. What your education level is. We have something for everyone.”
In addition to the wide array of mobile services, the library offers on-site programs. These range from programs to help new readers, regardless of age, to programs for caregivers of kids with disabilities.
Beth Haines, youth services assistant, works specifically with elementary school programming. Currently, she is leading a traditional book club. The elementary school kids, of various reading levels, join together. Haines hopes to instill the joy in reading with the kids in this book club, even if they are struggling with the words.
“Everybody can read. If you recognize your name on a piece of paper, you read it,” Haines said. “Reading should always be your safe place.”
Licking County Library offers many programs like Haines’ youth book club, but it also serves as a community space.
After school, nearly every day, two middle schoolers hang out at the library. They settle down at a table in the back. Here, they do their homework, and occasionally check out a book. The older of the two says she often has to help her brother with his work. They stay in the library until one of their parents is available to pick them up.
Five-year-old Kaymion Talley plays with the wooden train set in the back. He says he likes the library trains because at home, he has lost most of the important pieces.
His older brother is running around the play structure.
“Libraries are one of the only things still in existence that are there to serve everyone,” Haines said. “You don’t even have to have the ability to come in. We have outreach services, we’ll come to you. The library is truly for everyone, and the library does not care who you are or where you came from. There’s a place for you here and there’s a service for you.”
Ella Diehl writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.