Library staff looks to expand services

Ramona Library offers more programs than 27 of the 33 county library branches, and staff says more are in the works for 2016.

“We’re striving for more programs,” said Assistant Branch Manager Wesley Jackson. “We’re not done yet. We have something for all ages.”

“The community is wonderful,” said Branch Manager Chelsie Harris. “People who come in are so nice, so engaged.”

Harris and Jackson are relatively new to Ramona Library, but not to the county library system.

Bringing a wealth of experience, Harris began working part time at Ramona Library in September 2015, and full time in December, replacing Ellie Slade, who is on leave of absence. Most recently Harris worked in community relations at the county library headquarters for nine years. She attended the opening day of Ramona Library’s new building five years ago, as well as the dedication of the library’s Dick Wayman Technology Center in April 2015.

Ramona Library is planning to celebrate the five-year anniversary of its building at 1275 Main St. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. with entertainment, technology demonstrations, e-book help, crafts and refreshments.

Harris has worked in other county library branches, as has Jackson.

Jackson got his start at age 17 in the Carlsbad Library, where over time he spent a total of 13 years. About seven years ago, he started with the county library and has worked at its branches in Solana Beach, Vista, Encinitas and Poway, giving him knowledge about demographics and communities.

In Ramona, he said, the library is not just important as a library, but “more so like a community center.”

Among recently added programs are Bilingual Storytime on Monday mornings, Teen Wii on Wednesday afternoons, and Rockin’ Recess on Thursdays where children can play with such equipment as hula hoops and parachutes, overseen by a staff member, and have a healthy snack before the Homework Club starts at 4 p.m.

The library now has more programs on Saturdays, with Exercise Dance, Family Storytime, Teen Music Shop and Beginning Computing, which usually attracts 10 to 15 people who can receive one-on-one help.

Harris said Ramona Library is one of the few in the county that is getting an influx of Spanish materials.

“We’ll be offering more services to the Spanish-speaking community,” she said.

The library also offers e-book help to show patrons how they can access books and magazines for free with a library card.

Harris and Jackson said they are working with the county library’s facilities team to determine the feasibility of creating a patio outside the children’s section where they could have seating and hold programs.

To make the library more user friendly, they rearranged areas to provide more visibility to the different sections. They also refreshed the displays in the entryway, with one exhibiting Star Wars items created on the library’s 3-D printer that is available to patrons.

Other new staff members include Judy Garbo, a part-time library technician, and Josh Mitchell, the children’s librarian. Cecilia Salgado, who has been at the library for three years, continues to oversee teen services and is looking at adding more.

Harris and Jackson credit much of the programs’ success to the Friends of the Ramona Library and to the many volunteers.

“We can always use more,” Harris said of volunteers. “Especially for technology.”

Jackson said they keep their ears open for new ideas.

“One of the keys is that we’re working for improvements, not changes,” he said.

Harris added: “Whatever the community needs, we’ll try to provide it.”