By Chuck Stinnett
Contributor
In his newspaper comic strip “Peanuts,” cartoonist (and avid reader) Charles Schulz repeatedly had his child characters celebrate getting their library cards.
In one strip, Linus showed off his new library card to Charlie Brown and Lucy, declaring solemnly, “I have been given my citizenship in the land of knowledge!”
Or as Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, once said with a contented sigh, “Happiness is having your own library card!”
Thanks to a new program this year by the Henderson County Public Library and Henderson County Schools, more than a thousand more students here can embrace that happiness.
Starting last spring, when enrolling their children online for the upcoming school year, parents were given the option to also request a library card for their youngsters.
“It came about through the strategic plan” that the library developed last year for the period 2022-2027, library Director Shannon Sandefur said. “When we did community surveys (in early 2022), getting library cards into students’ hands, if not the top opportunity, was one of the top three.
“We went to (Henderson County Schools Superintendent) Dr. (Bob) Lawson about … adding an option to get their child a library card (when registering for school). He loved that idea,” Sandefur said.
“At last count, we were able to issue 1,125 library cards” to HCS students over the past six months, she said. That boosted the number of library card-holding youngsters ages 3 to 18 to 5,558, and the total number of library card holders to 28,506.
The cards not only allow students to check out books and other materials, but also to use one of the five computers in HCPL’s Teen Library.
Library cards issued to youngsters ages 3 to 16 years old are “juvenile cards” while patrons 16 and 17 years of age receive “young adult” cards that allow them to check out PG and PG-13 DVD movies. Young patrons can check out up to 20 books at a time.
The library card also opens doors to a vast amount of online assets available through the library’s website and computers: e-books, e-magazines, audio books, movies, language services, tutoring services, ACT preparation materials, GED materials, the LearningExpress Library, EBSCO professional journals and much more.
While a library card isn’t a requirement for entering the Teen Library inside the HCPL, it can inspire teens to visit.
“After school it’s a place to get away from a little sister,” — younger patrons have their own Children’s Library across the hallway — “and mom,” Sandefur said.
“We get a lot of studiers,” said Glennese Patterson, who is a teen librarian. “It’s just a safe place, and (Monday through Thursday) we’re open until 8 p.m.”
Closing time is 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Teen Library has a collection of 7,717 materials, including young-adult books, novels, nonfiction works and graphic novels, including the popular Japanese manga books.
“Basically, anything that interests middle schoolers and high schoolers,” Patterson said.
There are video games available to play on large flat screens and a running schedule of activities for teens.
“Glennese and (teen services assistant) Azura (Sinnett) do a fabulous job making something to do,” whether it’s organizing crafts or getting out board games, Sandefur said. At 4 p.m. each Thursday, there are Teen Hangout events; among those on the calendar this month are making no-bake cheesecakes on Oct. 19 and “ghosted games” on Oct. 26.
“It just provides that environment that’s totally for teens,” she said.
On a recent Thursday, they organized a structured program that attracted about 18 kids.
On one Friday each month, the Teen Library stays open until 7 p.m. “The library is closed but the kids can hang out,” Patterson said. The next such Teens After Hours begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. As many as 35 teens attend such events.
“I’m proud to see friendships form,” Patterson said. “They come in a stranger and leave with a friend.”
Patterson said she has “noticed a big uptick” in teen traffic since seventh graders from South Middle School started coming to the library as part of end-of-school-year tours of Downtown Henderson. “Once students see what’s here, they understand what we’re trying to do, and (they) come here.”
Having a Henderson County Public Library card provides another new benefit to children, teens and adults: free admission (on non-event days) to Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve at 551 N. Boeke Road on Evansville’s East Side. The preserve features 200 acres of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest with numerous wildlife and four miles of trails. Admission cards are available at the library’s circulation desk.
A similar agreement is in the works with the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science.
