RAGBRAI riders are relaxing and cooling off in the library community living room. They are reading, visiting, checking their phones and putting a puzzle together.
Special to the Times Vedette
Last Monday, I had the best job ever; I worked in the library while RAGBRAI was in town.
Why was a 13-hour shift with 100-200 people in the library most of the day my favorite day at work? It was a great day because it showcased all that was good about libraries, small towns and people in general.
Although it was a busy day with a lot of people with varied needs, the day was really easy. Mainly, it was an easy day because our library director is extremely organized and good at anticipating what people will need. We were well-prepared, well-staffed, and well-stocked with what people might need.
It was also an easy day because we had great support and excellent volunteers. Friends of the Library provided volunteers to work at the library. The Friends volunteers sold T-shirts, pickles, and pickle juice shots. The pickle cut-out outside provided a lot of fun photo ops, and the funny pickle names were a great icebreaker for people as they hung out in the library. Volunteers also helped with traffic flow and attended to the bathrooms.
For all the volunteers who took time to help in any way, please do not underestimate the value of your contributions. When I thanked one of our Friends for all of her help, she replied, “Oh, I just put toilet paper in the bathroom.” Trust me when I tell you, to the woman with serious digestive issues who had just taken medication and stopped at the library to use a clean, cool restroom, the volunteer who stocked the toilet paper in our bathroom might have been the most important person in her world. Every volunteer and every job mattered.
Looking for a favorite author in the book sale to take with me on the ride.
Since the second day of RAGBRAI peaked around 100 degrees, working inside in air conditioning felt like a pretty good gig. It turns out, when it’s sweltering outside and people have been riding a bicycle for 50-plus miles, they are pretty nice to anyone who says, “Hey, come in. We have air conditioning!”
Every person who walked through our door thanked us profusely as if we were somehow responsible for the cool air coming through the vents. They were appreciative, kind and respectful of our library and the fellow RAGBRAI riders.
After buying one of the T-shirts from Friends of the Library, a librarian from Ohio took her shirt around the library to show everyone. I overheard her telling a group of people, “Isn’t this a great shirt? It only costs $30. You’re sitting here soaking up their air conditioning and hanging out in this awesome library. Go buy a shirt.”
Pretty soon, people began to purchase more shirts. One gentleman said, “I don’t need a shirt, but I sure appreciate your library. Here’s $30. Give a shirt to the next kid who comes up and wants a shirt.” Classy people who love libraries and who pay it forward. Those are my people!
My soul was overjoyed by the number of people who love libraries. One man told me that the first night of the ride, he and his wife discovered the library in Harlan. There weren’t many people at the Harlan library that night, so he and his wife decided to stop at libraries in all the towns and keep it their little secret. He said, “Apparently, someone told everyone how wonderful libraries are because look how crowded it is here!”
One guy literally skipped through the door and loudly announced, “I just love libraries!” He promptly purchased books from our book sale and settled in to read in the air conditioning for a while.
Several people came in search of a specific book. To simplify packing, they started a book at the library in Harlan, memorized what page they were on, and then sought out the book at our library. Genius way to read across the state!
Some people played checkers, chess or board games. Others played the Wii. Puzzles were completed, conversations were shared, and phones were charged. Some folks just took advantage of the cool environment to take a quick nap; turns out there’s plenty of room to stretch out between the bookshelves.
Not everyone on RAGBRAI was on vacation. One support vehicle driver who works remotely came in early with a computer Wi-Fi connectivity problem for Jerri to solve. A nurse used our small meeting room to do telehealth conferences. Later in the day, a student needed the room to take a test. Jerri’s office became the site for a Zoom job interview for one rider. A business owner needed a quiet place with Wi-Fi to complete that week’s payroll. Later, the KCCI news team used the office to edit their RAGBRAI reports.
Though the day was long, time went quickly because it was a fun and gratifying day. Our staff was happy to contribute in small ways to making the trip across Iowa better for the people who sought out our library. The day felt easy because guests were so polite and appreciative, and we were able to help with most of the requests we got.
At 8:30 p.m., when people finally left our library, we couldn’t tell that hundreds of people had been in the building all day. They picked up after themselves. Sure, we had extra chairs that had been moved in from our meeting room, but all the garbage had been disposed of, and areas tidied. Only an empty Gatorade bottle and a small book cart of books that had been enjoyed indicated that the library had been used. Otherwise, it would be impossible to see the difference between the beginning and the end of the day.
We were left with wonderful memories of interesting people who brightened our day. I realized early on that people tend to see what they are looking for. Those who look for positives will find them, and the opposite is also true. This was evident last week when a group of strangers discovered how refreshing a day spent in the library could be. Was the day perfect? Probably not. No one would have chosen that type of weather, but a library is a fantastic place to be, especially when it’s hotter than ever outside. In such cases, a library truly is the best refuge.
The RAGBRAI guests we spent the day with were kind, respectful and incredibly generous. The staff enjoyed the experience and appreciated everyone who volunteered or contributed in any way.
Most importantly, I felt a deep sense of pride for my hometown, especially for our remarkable library. For those who use the library and understand why hundreds of bikers were excited to spend the day there, thank you. Please continue to utilize the many resources available to everyone.
For taxpayers who have never visited the library, we invite you to stop by and get a library card. With your card, you can check out books, download Libby (an app that provides access to eBooks, online magazines, and audiobooks), and enjoy Kanopy, a streaming service available for free to patrons with a Guthrie Center address.
Take advantage of a family outing by using an adventure pass, or explore our collection of DVDs, audiobooks, and board games. You can also put together a puzzle or participate in one of our many programs and events. Our computers are available for use, and we have meeting rooms where you can hold private Zoom meetings.
Visit the library and see how your tax dollars are being utilized. Last fiscal year, Mary J. Barnett Library saved our patrons an impressive $601,327.33. That’s a significant return on the investment of just five minutes and no cost to obtain a library card.
So, please, stop by and check us out. Hundreds of RAGBRAI riders can’t be wrong!
Spending time at the library in every available spot. I love the bean bag chairs for a nap. Had a quick game of chess with a friend and provided Lego for the children to play with.