During the assessment of students, parents, and staff, one need that was identified was access to materials.  Teachers in particular voiced their concern that nearly 25 percent of our students had little access to the public library.  These students live within the Marion School District, yet outside the city limits of Marion.  They live outside the tax base that supports our public library.  In order for these students to get a public library card, they must pay $33.00 per individual or $85.50 for their family.  This cost was prohibitive to most of our families.

The director of the library met with the library board and presented a plan to offer a “free” library card to Marion students who lived outside the tax base for one year.  The plan was passed by the board and put into action.  At the end of that year, a proposal was made to the Grant County Council to add the Marion Public Library to the county tax base.  This proposal was defeated.

During this time period, the library staff and teachers developed a strong commitment to continue to work together to serve our students.  The library staff began to publish a monthly newsletter (In the Middle), initiate a book club for middle school students, host grade-level field trips to the library, host author visits, and cosponsor author visits with the middle schools.

In the Middle is a two-page newsletter.  The newsletter shares information on new books, the book club, authors, reference material, Web sites, and special events.  Activities such as puzzles are often included.

For 20 years, the middle schools have included Grades 5-8.  Each fall during National Library Week, fifth grade classes are invited to visit the library.  Staff members explain the various programs and activities available to the students.  Students are also given a tour of the different departments available for their use.

Author visits are a favorite of all the students.  Many of the visits are cosponsored with a middle school.  This allows students to meet authors at school in convocations or small workshops.  Students at other buildings may meet the authors at the evening sessions at the library.  Since the library shares the expense of the visit, nationally known authors are often recruited for these visits.

The library book club meetings are usually advertised in the schools.  Books are chosen from various genre and student requests.  The meetings allow students to discuss the topic book and to socialize with students from other middle schools.

These activities have continued successfully for the last eight years.  In 1998 new legislation went into effect that provides for every student in a city school district to have a free library card even if they live outside of the library tax base.  The Marion Public Library initiated a campaign, “Get Carded @ Your Library!” to give free library cards to all students in the Marion Community Schools.  Students who received a new card had their picture taken and displayed on a wall called the Card Holders’ Wall of Fame.

Of the 550 students who live outside the Marion library tax base area, only 130 received the new cards.  Only 19 McCulloch students received their cards.  The Children’s Services Director and staff from the public library were invited to McCulloch to talk with students.  They brought forms for the children and their parents to complete for library cards.  We hope that in the future, students will receive forms for library cards when they enroll in school.

The commitment to foster a community of readers by the Marion Public Library and Marion Community Schools continues to strengthen each year.  Both the schools and library discuss and support new ideas and programs to teach our students the love of reading.

 This poster greets patrons at the entrance to the Marion Public Library.