Shreveport Memorial Library at 100 Years

BOOKS Beyond

The Shreve Memorial

Library At 100 BY SCOTT ANDERSON

The Shreve Memorial

Library is celebrating its centennial year of turning pages and changing lives. The library has come a long way in those 100 years.

“It started off with a subscription service, where people subscribed to get their books,” said Samantha Bonnette, marketing and development manager for SML. “A hundred years ago, they for SML. “A hundred years ago, they passed legislation to form a united Shreve Memorial Library to serve all of Caddo Parish.” Shreve Memorial Library has expanded Shreve Memorial Library has expanded through the years to 21 branches — through the years to 21 branches — 11 in the City of Shreveport and 10 in Caddo Parish. The leadership of the public library is grateful to the residents for their ongoing support, including the renewal of tax millages to fund the library that passed on the to fund the library that passed on the ballot last November. “It is funded completely by that tax millage,” Bonnette said. “We are very thankful that people of Caddo Parish love and support the library and see that it’s a valuable institution for our community.” The library’s leadership closed 2022 with a strategic planning initiative to identify its focus areas for the next five years. As the library looks to its future, it remains committed to helping people of all ages learn, as well as fulfilling its goal to expand universal digital access. Much has changed since the days of subscribing for books. Today the of subscribing for books. Today the Shreve Memorial Library has books, art, activities and more for all ages, all free and accessible with just a all free and accessible with just a library card. GENEALOGY RESEARCH Interest in family trees has grown in recent years, thanks in part to the popularity of ancestry.com and home DNA kits, Bonnette said. The library’s Broadmoor branch is a ready resource for uncovering a family history in its Genealogy Department. Genealogy Department. Library cardholders have access to a variety of online research databases at the Broadmoor branch, including the the Broadmoor branch, including the library edition of ancestry.com, Find A Grave, the Ellis Island Records and a database of Civil War soldiers and sailors. database of Civil War soldiers and sailors. The library staff is available to assist with research, and the library hosts a number of learning sessions as well.

“People are more aware we have it, and there is a larger interest,” Bonnette said. “The staff is well versed in doing research. The Broadmoor branch has a notebook to help get started. We also provide one-on-one assistance.” BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE Expanding internet access in underserved areas of Shreveport is one of the library’s goals this year. The library has a pilot program at four branches — Atkins, Hollywood/Union Avenue, Wallette, and Cedar Grove/ Line Avenue — in which residents can check out a free home Wi-Fi kit. “The city and the library have partnered to create what they call Universal Digital Access,” Bonnette said. “They city has built a new cellular network, and there are cellular towers attached to the library. If you live within a radius of the library, these WiFi kits will allow you to use Wi-Fi from home.” The kits include a wireless router and antenna, along with instructions for setting up the router and access SML’s wireless network. Bonnette said the pilot program shows promise, and the library hopes to expand the program to other branches. All the library branches offer free Wi-Fi access in the buildings. Some branches also have mobile hotspots available for checkout. HELP FOR STUDENTS Shreve Memorial Library has a number of resources available to students of all ages. For the youngest learners, the library makes available Playaways and Launch Pads — tablets preloaded with educational games and books they can check out and use at home. The library also has STEAM kits for children. “They are STEAM projects in a bag,” Bonnette said. “You get a kit that has instruction in whatever the STEAM concept is and experiments they can do at home.” The library also offers Homework Louisiana, an online tutoring platform available live from 2 to 7 p.m. seven days a week for Kindergarteners through college students. All you need is library card to access the free service at homework.org. “You can get one-on-one tutoring help, test prep, practice for the ACT/SAT,” Bonnette said. “You can submit your research papers for review and have someone look it over for you. Homework Louisiana is a great program to use.” She added that students who do not have a physical library card have a virtual library card through their student ID numbers. Students can log into Homework Louisiana to be matched with a tutor in 64 different courses, include math, science, English, foreign language and more. “It’s a really great tool that we hope the students like to use,” she said. NON-TRADITIONAL SERVICES Shreve Memorial Library is committed to helping the community grow and learn, and that goes beyond loaning out bound books. The library offers ebooks and audiobooks for download as well. Bonnette said those have become popular options for people’s busy lives. “What we find is there are people who love ebooks and they love audio books,” Bonnette said. “They will download and read and keep that going. And there are

some who love the actual feel of a book,” Bonnette said. “It’s all about preference. The ebooks and audiobooks are perfect for traveling. An audiobook is perfect for the car or working out. You don’t have to worry about holding a book. The ebook, you can take that anywhere and you can check out more and not have to carry books around. They are perfect for people on the go.” She said patrons also can stream music and TV shows through the library’s digital platforms. “People are more aware we have it, and “Those things are great, because you don’t have to worry about when you have to check them back in. They automatically check themselves back in.” a notebook to help get started. We also Some branches of the library have CDs and artwork available to be check out as well, Bonnette said. Shreve Memorial also hosts adult book clubs, crafting clubs, computer classes and more. The one of the library’s goals this year. library also hosts story times for children, after-school programs, and teen times throughout the week. “It’s a time for teens to come hang out with check out a free home Wi-Fi kit. their friends, and also to learn,” Bonnette said. “Kind of a peer support thing.” CONTINUING TO EVOLVE The Shreve Memorial Library is adapting to better meet the needs of the community. In addition to digital offerings that check themselves back in, within a radius of the library, these Wi- the library has eliminated a pesky part of its legacy. “About a year ago, we eliminated all overdue fines,” Bonnette said. “While we have due dates on the library books, we automatically renew your checkouts up to five times, depending on the item. And there are no late fees associated with it. If you don’t get back by the due date, you’re not penalized. expand the program to other branches. We do ask that you bring the book back, but you’re not penalized for not getting it back on time.” also have mobile hotspots available for Bonnette said all of the library’s checkout. programs and event are free to the public. There are nominal fees for making copies, but even the materials for the arts and crafts activities are free to the public.

HELP FOR STUDENTS Shreve Memorial Library has a number of resources available to students of all ages. For the youngest learners, the library makes available Playaways and Launch Pads — tablets preloaded with educational games and books they can check out and use at home. The library also has STEAM kits for children. “They are STEAM projects in a bag,” Bonnette said. “You get a kit that has instruction in whatever the STEAM concept is and experiments they can do at home.” The library also offers Homework Louisiana, an online tutoring platform available live from 2 to 7 p.m. seven days a week for Kindergarteners through college students. All you need is library card to access the free service at homework.org. “You can get one-on-one tutoring help, test prep, practice for the ACT/SAT,” Bonnette said. “You can submit your research papers for review and have someone look it over for you. Homework Louisiana is a great program to use.” She added that students who do not have a physical library card have a virtual library card through their student ID numbers. Students can log into Homework Louisiana to be matched with a tutor in 64 different courses, include math, science, English, foreign language and more. “It’s a really great tool that we hope the students like to use,” she said. NON-TRADITIONAL SERVICES Shreve Memorial Library is committed to helping the community grow and learn, and that goes beyond loaning out bound books. The library offers ebooks and audiobooks for download as well. Bonnette said those have become popular options for people’s busy lives. “What we find is there are people who love ebooks and they love audio books,” Bonnette said. “They will download and read and keep that going. And there are some who love the actual feel of a book,” Bonnette said. “It’s all about preference. The ebooks and audiobooks are perfect for traveling. An audiobook is perfect for the car or working out. You don’t have to worry about holding a book. The ebook, you can take that anywhere and you can check out more and not have to carry books around. They are perfect for people on the go.” She said patrons also can stream music and TV shows through the library’s digital platforms. “Those things are great, because you don’t have to worry about when you have to check them back in. They automatically check themselves back in.” Some branches of the library have CDs and artwork available to be check out as well, Bonnette said. Shreve Memorial also hosts adult book clubs, crafting clubs, computer classes and more. The library also hosts story times for children, after-school programs, and teen times throughout the week. “It’s a time for teens to come hang out with their friends, and also to learn,” Bonnette said. “Kind of a peer support thing.” CONTINUING TO EVOLVE The Shreve Memorial Library is adapting to better meet the needs of the community. In addition to digital offerings that check themselves back in, the library has eliminated a pesky part of its legacy. “About a year ago, we eliminated all overdue fines,” Bonnette said. “While we have due dates on the library books, we automatically renew your checkouts up to five times, depending on the item. And there are no late fees associated with it. If you don’t get back by the due date, you’re not penalized. We do ask that you bring the book back, but you’re not penalized for not getting it back on time.” Bonnette said all of the library’s programs and event are free to the public. There are nominal fees for making copies, but even the materials for the arts and crafts activities are free to the public.