The Emporia Gazette

March 17, 2010

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“EVERYTHING we have, we give away,” Sue Blechl told me.

That’s the business model for the Emporia Public Library. Blechl is the library’s director.                             

“Businesses keep secrets,” she said, “But here, everything we do is pushing information out. We move it from the source to the person who needs it, at no cost. Well, at no direct cost to the individual.”

So if you need a gallon of information, well, head over to the library. If you hold the bucket, they’ll turn on the spigot.

Recently I had lunch with Sue Blechl and Lynette Olson. Olson is the library’s coordinator of adult services.

In anticipation of National Library Week (April 12-18), I thought I’d interrogate the librarians and find out what’s going on at our house of knowledge.

A lot, as it turns out — the library is one happenin’ place.

They read stories to children seven times a week and offer book delivery to homebound residents. There are adult book discussions. And if you’re a teen who likes Japanese animation, Lynette Olson sponsors an Anime club.

Once a month, the library has a free Friday afternoon film for youngsters, popcorn included.

Every year during tax season, the library hosts VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). In 2008, volunteers prepared 549 tax returns for individuals.

Also, through the generosity of the Loretto Langley Trust, the library is currently offering classes in basic computer operation.

Coming up this summer is the ever-popular Brown Bag Concert Series which is held on the library courtyard at noon each Wednesday during June and July.

And for the summer reading program, children are encouraged to read at least 100 minutes a week. If they meet the set goals, they will receive a free ticket to a celebration at the Jones Aquatic Center — plus their family members also receives free admission that day.

This summer’s art theme for kids is “Express yourself at your library” and there will be opportunities for music, dance, drama and art.

Blechl said the library is also planning a big summer finale. Children’s entertainer Monty Harper will perform at the Granada Theater. “We hope to fill the Granada with 800 people that day,” she said.

The library accomplishes all these activities with 27 employees, only nine of whom are full-time.

And they get by with a little help from their friends.

Right now, those ambitions Friends of the Library are preparing for the spring book sale which opens to the public on Friday. From April 17-22, you can drop by the library during regular business hours to browse countless items for sale: books, CDs, DVDs and more.

Sue Blechl is very passionate about the library, so when I asked her whether she’d always wanted to be a librarian I expected the answer to be yes.

But, no. She said she earned a general B.A. degree and “I was working at the post office in Milwaukee (Wis.) and wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do.”

A career suggestion came from her mother whose job it was to start 4-H groups for the extension office.

Blechl said, “It’s very plain in my mind. One day my mother came home and said, ‘I met the coolest woman and she’s a librarian and I think you’d be good at that.’ And so I pursued it and it’s the best thing I could’ve done.”

Sue Blechl first managed a branch library in Green Bay, Wis., then worked in Michigan. She’s been in Emporia for 14 years.

And her goal here?  Well, she’s just a pusher of information, hoping to serve this community well.

“We want to give people as much as we can,” she said. “We want people to say, ‘I love the library.’”

Cheryl Unruh can be reached at cheryl@flyoverpeople.net.

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