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The Bulletin
  • Q&A: Putnam library director Priscilla Colwell

  • Since 2006, Priscilla Colwell has overseen the Putnam Public Library, a facility that has expanded beyond its original mandate — ensuring books are available to residents — to include the offering of DVDs, computer accessibility and classes. Colwell is one of several library officials working to decide whether ...
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  • Since 2006, Priscilla Colwell has overseen the Putnam Public Library, a facility that has expanded beyond its original mandate — ensuring books are available to residents — to include the offering of DVDs, computer accessibility and classes. Colwell is one of several library officials working to decide whether the existing facility will be expanded on-site or moved to another location to meet the needs of its growing clientele.
    Q: How have libraries changed since you started your career?
    A: My first library job was at the North Scituate Public Library in Rhode Island, where I started in 1997. The card catalog was already gone at that point, and the computer was used for many of the functions that we still use it for today. I came to the “library world” right after major changes, and those changes are still happening today.
    Q: There have been several conversations involving either expanding or relocating the library. What’s the need behind the proposed change?
    A: The most pressing need is for handicap accessibility for the entire library. Right now our program room is on the lower level, and people are not able to attend because they can’t go up and down the stairs. We also have increasing demands for use of the program room by community groups, and need more room for all of the programs and services here at the library, such as teen programs, adult programs, storytimes, tutors, literacy groups, tax help, bridge and Book Nook. I just saw a woman at the Adult Desk talking about how she used to go down to look at the books downstairs, but she can’t take the stairs anymore. We need more room for people. We have no quiet space right now, and after school, every table and chair is occupied.
    Q: In an age when electronic books are becoming more and more popular, is there still value to the traditional book format?
    A: I haven’t started compiling this year’s statistics, but for the last six years, our circulation has gone up every year. We started an e-book subscription with Overdrive last year, but it is not a very big part of our circulation. There is a certain segment of our population who will never use an e-book, and so far, the phenomenon has not affected us very much. I brought an iPad full of e-books on vacation, which was very convenient, but I prefer to read ‘acoustic’ books when I’m not on an airplane.
    Q: The Putnam library, like similar libraries across the country, is not just a place to check-out books. What kind of programming will the library offer during the summer months?
    A: Our summer reading program for children started on June 15, and we offer the reading ‘treasure map,’ as well as great programs until August 16. Mad Science will be here for three programs in July, as well as Bingo every Tuesday, a book/craft program on Thursday and free summer lunch every day at 11:30 am. We’re very grateful to the Friends of the Putnam Public Library for enabling us to offer so many great programs. The Family Resource Center is also presenting Music and Movement for the little ones on Tuesday mornings. The teens and adults have reading programs as well, with opportunities to win prizes.
    Page 2 of 2 - Q: Who are a few of your favorite authors and why?
    A: I’d have to say that my favorites genres are biography and mystery, but I love a good Grisham now and then. I rarely read a bestseller, but I will always go for an ‘I cooked like a vegan for a year, and this is how I did it’ type of book, like those by A.J. Jacobs and Julie Powell. I am a big fan of cooking memoirs — with recipes, of course — with Ruth Reichl my favored author in that genre. I guess that my favorite book is the one that I just finished.
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