Bedford Central Library

Keranakis, L. (2024). Main entrance of the Bedford Library. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The library from the garden. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The original Bedford Library. [Photograph]. https://www.bplsonline.org I pulled into a perfectly shaded parking lot and made my way up the handicap ramp to the entrance of the Bedford Central Library. Immediately upon arriving, I noticed how lush and beautiful the landscaping was. Although the Wharton Garden is not a part of the library, it is directly across from the main entrance. I can’t think of a more peaceful combination, a library with a community garden right beside it. Before entering the automatic doors to the library, I noticed there were book lockers to the right of the door. The Space Keranakis, L. (2024). The library cafe. [Photograph].

The central library’s building is not small but it’s not particularly large either. When you first walk in you can see that the library is a squarish room with a wraparound balcony upstairs. Downstairs is the computer access area, teen services, children’s services, staff offices, adult print section, and the circulation and reference desk. There is a small yet cozy café off to the left of the circulation desk. I thought that was a neat feature for a small-town library. There are print materials that are at various heights. There is also an elevator to the left of the circulation desk that goes to the second floor.

Upstairs there are meeting rooms, the Friends of the Library book sale and sorting room, and the Virginia History Room. Although the interior design was not modern like many metropolitan libraries, I still found it to be a comfy and adorable library. It was also very clean and had no offensive smells. I think the décor and furniture could be upgraded but they certainly are functional and serve their purpose as is.

I really liked the open floor plan and the view from the upstairs balcony. I felt safe and it was a peaceful environment. Rubin and Rubin (2020) stated that “70% of American adults felt that the library provided a safe place to spend time” (p. 84). Keranakis, L. (2024). The open floor plan. [Photograph].

I used to help in the sorting room for the book sale at the public library I used to work for. I was surprised that the sorting area for this library was a relatively small space. I would thoroughly enjoy learning more about this library’s sorting process and procedures. Although Bedford County Public Library is a smaller library system, the librarian working said that the book sale makes about $1,000 a month from sales.

Digital Access  I didn’t find the library’s website to be too difficult to navigate but it is severely outdated. A solution to this problem would be to incorporate user design into a new website or hiring a UX librarian or design specialist. However, this may be a challenge for a smaller library system because of budget restraints.

I did not think that the catalog as a different web page was exactly user friendly. I’ve seen other library websites that have the catalog as a search bar directly at the top of the home page. I think that makes it easier for patrons to immediately access the catalog without going to another page. Under the drop-down menu, there is a page on the main website called “Digital Library.” It provides links to Hoopla, Newsbank Digital Newspapers, Duolingo, Ancestry, Encyclopedia Virginia, Novelist Plus, and various other digital learning platforms.

While I didn’t see any virtual programming, there is a calendar that shows all the events among the six branches. Each library has a different color tab so that it is easy to see which events are where. There is a page under “Services” on the website that is called “Homebound Services.” The library provides a delivery service to county residents that cannot visit the physical library due to age, disability or any medical conditions. The library provides a specific phone number extension for this service. Rubin and Rubin (2020) state that 7% of the low engagement population group “tend to be older, and many are living with a disability or have experienced a recent illness in their family” (p. 83). Bedford County Public Library system has an entire staff member dedicated to reaching this group of individuals.

Services, Intellectual Access and Collections I just happened to visit the library on the first day of the summer reading program. The staff were busy getting programming ready for a busy summer. There was also signage that showcased artwork from the teen art night. There were standing desks in various locations of the library that had the catalog readily accessible for patrons. The Bedford County Public library system uses the Dewey Decimal system. The catalog is LS2 PAC from The Library Corporation.

People (Patrons and Staff Members) This library serves Bedford County residents. Staff are listed under the “Contact Us” tab. Bedford is a small town in Virginia, yet the Bedford County Public library system has six different locations. Each location has just one staff librarian. I did find it interesting that the central branch has a Technology Librarian. I also appreciated that there is a designated staff member that caters to homebound services. Under each staff’s name and title is their direct phone extension and email address. It was evident from my visit that this public library served a wide variety of patrons. From the elderly ladies who were the first patrons to visit the book sale that day to the school children excited for story time. The patrons felt at home to me. Many of the staff members knew them by name. One of the children lived next door and was there by herself. I visited on a Saturday so there were only two staff working at the circulation desk, the staff librarian and a desk assistant. I only noticed white staff members. However, there were just two staff members working the day I went so I do not know the true diversity of the staff. This may make certain populations uncomfortable and having a diverse staff is crucial for inclusivity. According to Rubin and Rubin (2020), “the need for a diverse and inclusive workplace is vital” and “must reflect the diversity of the increasingly heterogenous population it serves” (p. 70). I cannot make the clear assumption that Bedford Central Library does not have a diverse staff, but today’s staffing did not reflect that. Nonetheless, I didn’t once feel that certain populations weren’t welcome in the library. I saw diverse patrons enter and exit the library. Both staff members were pleasant, kind, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable.

Collections

In the Virginia History Room I noticed there were record books from the surrounding counties, passenger and immigration lists, and census indexes. It also has the entire printed code of Virginia. On the first floor to the left of the main entrance is an area where five computers are available for patrons to access. I did not notice any special collections that circulated.

Final Thoughts

The Bedford Public Library System’s mission is to “provide equal access to library materials, information, and services relevant to the community for the purposes of learning and enjoyment in the areas of personal, professional, and educational needs. To fulfill its mission, the library system employs a knowledgeable staff committed to excellent public service” (Bedford Public, n.d.). I am not a local to this library, but it seems from an outsider perspective the staff are experienced, and the patrons are happy. Although there are improvements that could be made, I really enjoyed my visit to this library.

References

Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman. Bedford Public Library System. (n.d.). Strategic Plan. https://www.bplsonline.org/about/mission/ Keranakis, L. (2024). Main entrance of the Bedford Library. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The library from the garden. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The original Bedford Library. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The library cafe. [Photograph]. Keranakis, L. (2024). The open floor plan [Photograph].