County library has something for everyone
The Humboldt County Library is not just a place to go check out books. The library offers an extensive amount of resources to people of any age and library staff work hard to provide as many assets as possible to create an environment where people can easily access information and enjoy the public space.
The Youth Services Department curates exceptional programs for parents and children to enjoy. Jasmine Mendoza and Jayme Wells lead the programs designed for teens, tweens, and children. Both are mothers and have passion for seeing all the little ones smile. When asked what they find rewarding about working at the library, they said “the kids!”
Wells grew up in Battle Mountain attending the library there, and said that her childhood librarian joked with her that she would become a librarian one day. Her love of reading and motherhood has made her five years at the library in Youth Services her passion.
Mendoza, a mom of two, was born and raised in Winnemucca. She was an enthusiastic volunteer at the library throughout her teen years and has spent six years at the library.
Their combined love of both children and the library make the resources they organize a hit with youth.
Kirstan and Jacob Carver, regulars at the children’s programs and parents of two, explained their love of the programs at the library and the benefits they bring to their children.
“This is a fun activity for kids to do to socialize with other little kids and that is really important. This is their first time interacting with other kids their age (since COVID) and it’s critical,” said Kirstan Carver.
Mendoza explained the significance of the library and what it offers people.
“It’s the one place in the community you can go and not be expected to spend money. You are welcome no matter what and people don’t feel like they’re a burden,” said Mendoza.
“It’s a place in the community where people can just exist,” added Wells.
The programs available to the children and adolescents are based off of a S.T.R.E.A.M.—Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math.— system.
“A good library has something for everyone, “ said Library Director, Jessica Anderson.
The library provides all of the materials that the kids use to design crafts and projects, like paper, glue, scissors, markers, pipe cleaners, and many, many more supplies. According to Wells, the supplies have been inherited from years past and they will “probably never run out of paper”, but the library does have county funding, grant funding and donation funding as well.
“We are so much more than just a place to check out books; we are a community center,” said Anderson.
The library currently offers a multitude of diverse programs and services that many may not even be aware of.
According to Anderson, the library offers extensive resources to adults as well, like: , language programs, online tutoring, Internet hotspots that can be checked out, chrome book laptops for checkout, cornhole boards, yoga mats, and weightlifting kits, and even spaces in the library to hold private meetings with Internet access. Their online digital content even has manuals for automotive repair.
Anderson explained that the only requirement to utilize these resources is a library card, which is easily attainable online or physically at the library.
“We have some conduct rules, but they’re only in place to make sure everyone is welcome. We are truly a public space,” said Anderson.