30Y.30L Tour (#1): Moore Public Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Tuesday, November 15 I had the honor of touring Moore Public Library in Lexington, Michigan thanks to Director Beth Schumacher and her friendly staff. Far from the "shushing" library of the past, this community-centered library is quite the gathering place and has been described as having a pseudo coffee house-feel. The classic furniture and the warm stains used for the shelves create a rich and welcoming environment. Throughout my visit, there was a steady stream of patrons coming and going from the library.

Moore Public Library is the by far one of the most beautifully preserved historic libraries that I have had the privilege of touring. Thanks to the support of the community and the Friends of the Library group, MPL has been able to renovate the building and restore the beautiful stained glass windows. Please take a moment to view my slideshow at the end of this post.

Location
For those not familiar with the area, MPL is almost exactly 80 miles (79.7 miles to be exact) north-east of the School of Library and Information Science (Kresge-Purdy Library) on Wayne State University's campus. Lexington is the second town north of the Fort Gratiot/Port Huron area on M-25 along the lake shore.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping by this library and surveying its beauty. A unique idea: Moore Public Library has a guest book! Be sure to sign it, if you visit.

History 
If you know anything about me, I geek history and Moore Public Library has a very rich history. From the library's website:

The Charles H. Moore Library of Lexington was opened in the present building January 17, 1903. Mrs. Mary Moore Sleeper, married to Albert E. Sleeper, governor of Michigan (1917-1920), along with her sisters Ella and Emma, deeded the property and building to the Village for library purposes only. They named it in honor of their father. The building had been constructed in 1859 by John Devine for his law office and was remodeled for a library during the early part of the 1900’s. The library was launched with 1300 books from Oscoda, donated by J. L. Wood, an uncle of the Moore sisters.

Throughout the library, numerous framed pictures adorn the walls which help depict the library's rich history.

Service Area
Moore Public Library, designated a district library in January of 2004, provides library services to the Village of Lexington and Worth Township which consists of about 5,000 citizens. Because of the location of Lexington, situated on the Lake Huron shoreline, the area plays hostess to numerous summer cottages and vacation rentals. I was pleased to find out MPL offers library services to out-of-town patrons, too. Their library away from home...

Size
According to the Library of Michigan, MPL is a Class 2 library which meets the following standards:

• Serves a population of 4,000 to 6,999;
• Be open a minimum of 20 hours per week;
• Employ (at least 20 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate. 

Moore Public Library is now open 42 hours a week -- up from just 21 hours per week.

Programming Idea
Rather than give the book club a formal feeling, I especially liked the idea of focusing on an author rather than a specific book. In other words, occasionally the facilitator will announce an author and members can choose any book written by the him/her. At the next meeting, the group will discuss the author's writing style and themes. 

Collection
MPL has roughly 24,000 items in its collection and circulates around 32,000 materials annually. According to the library's materials selection policy, "The Library Director, who administers under the authority and guidance of the Board of Trustees, has the final responsibility for material selection and library activities." In practice, collection development is a collaborative effort between Schumacher, staff, the library board, and the community. Local professionals, such as the town's pharmacist and several teachers, have contributed to the development of the library's non-fiction collection. Great idea!

Two special and unique collections housed at Moore Public Library: antique books (under lock and key) and smattering of genealogical works.

Intellectual Freedom
Last year, when I was required to visit several libraries for LIS 6010 with Dr. Maria Gonzalez, I began asking librarians how the Harry Potter series was received in the community. The series has experienced controversy over the years and has landed itself on the frequently challenged materials list compiled by the American Library Association. I am pleased to note that the Harry Potter series received a very warm reception in the Lexington community.

To date, since Schumacher took the helm as director, Moore Public Library has not experienced a challenge or request for re-evaluation of materials. In the event of a challenge, the library has a specific procedure it follows which is made available to the public via their website. A patron form, making the request official, is also available for download.

Advice to Those Entering the Profession
If you are interested in being a library director in a small library, take an accounting class! Always keep up with technology.