The Flossmoor Public Library — it’s not just for books anymore.
In actuality, it has not been all about the books for quite some time. Books still make up the bulk of circulation, according to Library Director Jamie Paicely. But the single most-checked-out item of last year? A hotspot that went out the door 94 times. And people remain continually surprised that the library has so much more than print material, Paicely said.
“I think there’s always going to be people that until they’re exposed … don’t realize what a resource the library is,” she said. “We’re trying to fix that. We’re trying to get word out.”
In May, the library announced that it added Nintendo Switch games such as “New Pokemon Snap” and “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” to its list of materials. Those follow the PlayStation and Xbox titles already offered.
Paicely said the library is starting with popular family games from the Mario Kart, Kirby and Zelda series, “just that we know a wide age range likes and enjoys to play.” But plans are to add from there, utilizing a special budget line the library has for new collections each year.
“Any time we see our patrons ordering items regularly from other libraries with a steady demand, we usually look at seeing if it’s something we can offer or carry or something that we can increase in our own collection, as well, just so they’re able to get it a lot quicker through their home library,” Paicely explained.
Circulation of the games has been frequent, Paicely added, with titles typically going back out within a day or two of when they are returned. Also popular are the backpack hiking kits the library announced in June. The library has three kits — each containing Illinois hiking and nature guide books, binoculars, a compass, and a walking pole — in circulation, and they typically don’t stay at the library for more than a day or two.
The library bought the kits with funds from an AgeOptions grant, which focuses on senior citizens. The library first got the grant in 2020 and used the money to buy iPads and the aforementioned hotspots. Staff also created instructional videos so that seniors could connect with family through the technology during the pandemic. The library got the grant again in 2021 and used it to buy Launchpads — tablets with preloaded brain games.
But this year’s grant focused on physical well-being, and the summer reading theme is “Read Beyond the Beaten Path,” so the library purchased the backpack hiking kits. The idea was inspired by how many people have been requesting hiking and guide books, Paicely said.
“We just thought it would be a tie-in that would also help people get outdoors,” she said.
The library also used the grant to purchase workout kits. And materials for home yoga, chair yoga and yoga for seniors will be rolled out in the fall, Paicely said.
Last month, the library also added monthly take-home craft/DIY kits for adults ages 18 and older. That adds to grab-and-go craft kits already offered to seniors, children and teens. Paicely said parents were the driving force for the adult kits.
“It was just a comment that several of the parents were making: ‘Oh, I wish there was something I could do,’ or ‘I like these because I help my child with them,” Paicely said. “Was it a need? Maybe they all needed a little mental break where you can just put things together and create something. So, we saw that as an opportunity.”
Paicely said the library had funds set aside for some of the usual resources they could not get during the pandemic, so they put that money toward the adult kits instead. No matter the age bracket, the kits continue to be a hit, even as people slowly return to in-person programming.
“We still run out of the craft kits every month,” Paicely said. “We’ve done 12; we’ve done 24; we’ve done 48. No matter how many we make, it seems like it’s never enough. … I see that as something we will probably keep doing here at the Flossmoor Public Library, even when it’s all the way returned prepandemic.”
All of that said, libraries are practically synonymous with literature for a reason. And even in the digital age, print materials are still a major driver for people visiting the Flossmoor Public Library, Paicely said.
“People are still coming out for their books, especially now because you don’t have to buy them,” she said. “With gas prices rising, entertainment prices rising, we see that demand for our materials back. … We slowly see the demand for our collection coming back, because it’s an expense you don’t need to make yourself.”
For more information, visit flossmoorlibrary.org.