By Paula Scott

The Bluffton Public Library is continuing its “Home for the Holidays” fundraiser–a stay at home style event–that was started in 2020. It has been so successful that the library has not returned to the silent auction format. It is an opportunity to remind people of the opportunity to support the library during this season of giving, notes Library Director Jessica Hermiller.

While there is a target date of December 31, donations are welcome at any time of the year. Ways to donate are listed HERE.

“Fundraisers really do impact the collection and services we are able to provide,” she told the Icon. “The money that’s brought in through fundraisers goes immediately to what we provide the community. It goes to books, movies, newspaper and magazine collections, the Children’s Storytime program, and when we bring in outside speakers, that sort of thing.”

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State funding of libraries is holding steady, according to Hermiller. She credits this to the large amount of services that Ohio libraries were able to provide during lockdown, when other places were closed.

While there were some “big waves” of interlibrary loan requests (deliveries are known among the staff as "cargo"), demand for this service has become more steady. Curbside service is here to stay, says Hermiller, because of its popularity. This service and sanitation practices are really the only prominent carryovers from COVID.

What most surprised Hermiller was the communication from library users about their appreciation of library staff and services. “The thoughtful comments, the letters, people dropping off cookies… stopping at the desk and letting us know how much they appreciated the services that they were able to get here.” She continued, “the connection that it makes you feel to the community–I think that’s what a lot of us missed during that time frame.”

She underlined, “We enjoy being able to reflect what the community needs. And as the community grows and changes, I hope we’re growing and changing along with it.”

When asked about the future of the Bluffton Public Library, Hermiller said that she would like to see families continue to make the library a part of their daily lives. She has watched young students go away to college, then return to Bluffton to start families. “That cycle of growing and learning and enriching the community. I look forward to watching that continue, for sure.”