The last 40 years have transformed how public libraries operate. Gone are the days of card catalogs; computers have taken on that role, and many others.
But the overall role of the library as a hub of community knowledge and resources remains. The Peoria Public Library's Roberta Koscielski has been around for all of it.
"All of our aspects are evolving. For example, just the materials. Now you can get materials electronically," she said. "And then in terms of programs and services, especially programs, those have changed through the years. We're much more varied in our programs," she said, noting that eclectic activities like crocheting are now emerging amidst the book clubs and discussion groups.
But Koscielski is now preparing to pass the torch. She's retiring later this year after 38 years on job.
She is the co-founder of the one-city, one-book initiative, Peoria Reads. The program started in 2001 - with the first meeting scheduled for Sept. 11 at the former Common Place.
"It was quite an interesting day to have that first meeting, when you've got the TV off to the side of Common Place, because a lot of places had their televisions on that morning," Koscielski said. "And so we thought, well, what better better time to get a program like this together to bring people of different ages and races and socioeconomics together to read one significant book and talk about it?"
Each book selected for Peoria Reads has sparked community conversations on topics ranging from the Black Lives Matter movement to the opioid epidemic.
"I think everyone gets more out of their reading. Because when people when one person reads one book, they get whatever they get out of it," she said. "But then once you talk about it with one or two or three or four people, you get their perspectives, and it just builds the conversation, builds the knowledge, and maybe encourages people to take action."
One such action borne from the Peoria Reads program was training up library employees on the administration of naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug. Koscielski said interest among the staff was pretty limited, at first.
"But then we had an overdose happen in the library," she said. "And that's spurred signups because, yes, this can happen, not only here in Peoria, but right here in the building. So we had, I think, about between a half and a third of the staff get trained at that point."
Today, there are staff at all library branch locations trained in naloxone administration. She said though first responders always arrive quickly in the event of an overdose, having someone trained on how to help someone overdosing can make a difference in saving their life.
Koscielski's last day on the job is May 13. She said she plans to get more involved in various community organizations, and perhaps pursue becoming a Master Gardener in the University of Illinois Extension program. PPL's manager of public programming, Alyce Jackson, is now head of the Peoria Reads committee.
But even though she's leaving the job, Koscielski still remains an advocate of the public library system.
"It's different every day when you work there. You never know in a public library, what somebody is going to come up and ask you, and we've got kind and knowledgeable staff who help," she said. "And I encourage people to come in. You don't need a library card to come into our locations and see what's going on."
