The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library is preparing for the future as it celebrates 10 years of clean audits, hits its stride with long-term support and enters new frontiers of digitization.
Library Director Shannon Midyett said business services associate Pat Cozort is responsible for the library’s excellent audit history. This will give the library a strong line of credit for future projects.
“We have deeds to property. We have a healthy reserve account, and now 10 years of clean audits. That really puts us in a strong position to be able to look to the future when we go through our master plan and strategic plan process,” Midyett said.
The strategic plan Midyett mentioned is an upcoming information-gathering endeavor. The library will engage a consultant to collect information from a variety of sectors to determine the community’s goals for the next several years and how the library can help them achieve those.
“We’re going to rely on that consultant in their experience to help us flip data, help us talk to the different community segments, business sector, education, health care, nonprofits. We need information from those folks on what they’re looking for,” explained Midyett.
“Help us get unbiased information,” added Belinda Birrer, assistant director. “We really want to know what the community wants, not what we think the community wants.”
As the library plots out a master plan for the library’s growth, the library foundation will likely intersect with it.
“As we look at what our master plan might be for the next 5-10 years, there may be an opportunity for the foundation and the library to partner together to make some of those master plan goals come to fruition. As I sit here today, that’s all very abstract. As I look down the road, I think that’s where I see the library and the foundation partnering and coming together,” Midyett said.
The library foundation was formed in 2017. According to Kathy Sanders, board president, it has taken time to get nonprofit status, formulate bylaws, assemble a board and other necessities. The process is ongoing, but the foundation is currently operational.
“The foundation’s goal is to be able to support the long-term financial interests of the library,” Sanders explained.
This long-term support will come from donations such as stocks, bequests and real estate. The money they raise will fund capital projects and operations needs, such as hiring new staff or sending library employees to conferences.
Midyett believes in the years to come, the foundation will be vital to growing Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.
“So with this property and with these buildings, is there a way to expand them, grow them, change them to better meet our mission and our vision and our goals that we outlined in the strategic plan?” she asked. “That’s what the master plan will do.”
Sanders added the foundation is not to be confused with the Friends of the Library, which provides short-term fundraising and volunteers for specific events.
“They’re both very different and we have tried very hard to differentiate between the two because we don’t want to step on their toes. They’re doing a wonderful job,” she said.
Inquiries about the library foundation can be directed to Birrer at assistantdirector@poplarbluff.org, or 573-203-4676.
The library is also unveiling new digital resources. They recently introduced access to Mango Languages, a flexible language learning app accessible via library card.
The library has also partnered with Rust Communications, owner of the Daily American Republic, to digitize local newspapers on newspapers.com. This collection will eventually encompass publications from 1877-2014. A library card is required for access.
A separate local history collection on their website brings together a wealth of reference resources in an accessible, keyword-searchable format. The “Genealogy and Local History” tab on the library’s homepage delivers an expanding catalog of materials and records from genealogists, local historians, the National Register of Historic Places, city directories and yearbooks. Even the Butler County Veterans Memorial Wall can be searched for names with a click. This service does not require a library card.
Midyett believes these upgrades will remove barriers for local historians and researchers.
“These books are only in print. They’re only on our shelves, they’re only in reference, so if you’re not able to travel to this building to use these books while we’re open, you don’t have access to this collection. So digitizing it means it’s available 24/7 to anyone anywhere,” she said.
More information about the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, its resources and upcoming events can be found at poplarbluff.org. The library’s Main Branch is located at 318 N. Main St. and the Ridgel Branch is at 3398 Kanell Blvd.