What I Sent in for the Lake Mills Main Street Newsletter.

I'm not sure when the newsletter comes out. I need to send over some photos to go with this.

Lake Mills Main Street has worked hard to bring new businesses and visitors downtown. New and old businesses have drawn together to encourage more people to visit downtown Lake Mills. But, among all the current businesses is one you may often overlook.

The L.D. Fargo Public Library has been a downtown fixture in Lake Mills since its grand opening in October, 1902. Except for a major fire in the winter of 1980, the Library has been in continuous operation for 107 years. Through the years the Library’s popularity has weathered multiple challenges, including motion pictures, radio, mail-order book clubs, television and – yes – the internet.

In fact, the Library’s popularity and usage increases every year. In 2008, more than 1000,000 items were checked out or renewed. The library hosted almost 200 programs for children and adults with a total attendance of 5,525 people. Attendance for the Summer Reading Program events has outgrown the Library’s meeting room, and are now held in the City Hall’s Community Room.

Over the Library’s 107 years of business our customers’ interests and service demands have constantly changed. Twenty years ago, libraries focused mainly on books and magazines, with an increasing range of VHS titles. Today, DVD titles and public internet access are a big draw. (Not to mention the over 1200 VHS tapes that still – still! – circulate.) However, contrary to some popular misconceptions, the printed page is alive and well. Book borrowing is still the leading reason people use the Library. Circulation is strong and children’s books and adult fiction dominate the list of check-outs.

Electronic gadgets such as cell phones, video games, and the internet may get more attention than books, but do not forget the importance of literacy. Learning many new skills is still dependent on reading. Pleasure reading is the surest way to encourage more reading. More reading leads to stronger literacy skills and better reading comprehension and communication skills. Better reading comprehension and communication skills lead to greater success in school and work.

The link between reading and school success highlights the vital importance of LD Fargo’s children’s collection and children’s services. The Library’s weekly story times, Summer Reading Program, and various after school and special event programs bring everyone from infants to teenagers into the Library. The Children’s Librarian regularly visits local 4K, pre-school, and daycare facilities for story times, and organizes and collects “book boxes” to help support and advance their curriculums by putting books directly into the hands of kids.

Need more incentive to come to the library? Look at the numbers: the average price of a pre-school picture book is $18.97. Consider that families will check-out anywhere from one to 20+ picture books at a time. How about adult fiction? If you’re buying new books every month then STOP! An adult novel goes for about $22 on average. Yeah you’ll find heavy discounts on books by popular novelists, but checkouts are free at LD Fargo.

“But, I don’t want to get on a waiting list for that book.” Okay, but do you realize the Library gives you access to about 1 million books? Yes, really. LD Fargo’s membership in the three county Mid Wisconsin Federated Library System (MWFLS) gives you access to the SHARE online catalog. SHARE allows access to all 27 libraries in MWFLS, plus the 26 member libraries in the Lakeshores Library System in Racine and Walworth counties. That’s 53 different libraries sharing resources of almost a million items. Place a hold online through the Library’s webpage or with the help of library staff, and you will almost always have your item in a couple days.

How is all this paid for? Okay, it’s not really free. The cost for Library services is carried by you and me, of course. The Library receives funding from two main sources: the city of Lake Mills and Jefferson County. The city collects local taxes and the county provides reimbursement for services to rural residents. Smaller amounts of funding come from MWFLS (including some state and federal funds) and various fines and fees charged by the Library.

Don’t use the excuse, “I’m too busy” to cheat yourself from enjoying a good book. Reading is an escape from the hectic pace of daily life. Skip a night of boring channel flipping on television shows, pick up a book. Re-read a favorite author, or share one of your childhood favorites with your own children. Pick up a short stack of novels and try each one out. If a book does not click with you, then set it aside and start another. If that fails, get a DVD.

LD Fargo is open from 9 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday and 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday and Saturday. If can make a virtual trip to the Library too. Visit our webpage at www.lakemills.lib.wi.us. See the list of all the new adult books and DVDs at lakemillslibrary.blogspot.com. Hear about some recommended books on our award winning YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ldfargolibrary.