At Stark Library we’re always looking to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. The sudden shift to a mostly virtual world— from schooling, to working, and even shopping— has shown us just how varied these needs are. Through community collaborations, we hope to meet the unique needs of our community— in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.
“Our goal is to enrich our community by opening doors to information and experiences that ignite a passion for lifelong learning and transform lives. This is at the forethought of everything we do,” said Mary Ellen Icaza, CEO and Executive Director of Stark Library. “That’s why we’re excited to share some of the unique ways we are meeting some of the needs of our community.”
One of these unique needs the Library is meeting is perfect for drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles! We have installed a ChargePoint electric vehicle charging station at Main Library in downtown Canton. Now patrons and visitors with electronic vehicles can charge their vehicles for FREE when they download the ChargePoint app.
Derek Gordon, Director of Special Projects for the Library (and hybrid driver), led the charge in collaborating with AEP Ohio, to acquire a grant allowing the Library to install the fast-charging station. “We are excited to add a free charging station to the list of things you can do at the Library! It’s a great way to encourage people to be more eco-friendly, but you don’t have to go out and buy a hybrid to make an impact. Recycle, shut off the water, ride your bike—small choices really add up, too.”
He also heads up the Library Sustainability Committee to identify, develop, and implement sustainability opportunities in the county. These opportunities include programs to teach the community new ways to be eco-friendly in their daily lives, improvements to become more sustainable operationally such as reducing paper waste, and environmentally friendly investments like solar, wind, and geothermal equipment.
During construction of the Jackson Community Branch, we took special care to use locally-sourced and recycled materials when possible. We will continue this attention throughout the system as we begin our Re|imagine project. Re|imagine is our plan to live out our mission and vision in Stark County, creating inviting spaces that inspire and empower all people to pursue creativity and lifelong learning. It is a multi-year plan to renovate our buildings, upgrading our technology, and creating more flexible spaces for a wide range of use.
Our first branch to undergo renovations is North Branch. When possible, materials that can be removed and repurposed, will be. For the safety of our patrons, furniture that is too worn to be refurbished in our branches will be replaced with something easier to sanitize and disinfect. We are partnering with ReStore and Stockpile to donate the furniture that is still in useable condition. The same arrangements will be made throughout our Re|Imagine projects whenever possible.
We are also donating computers that are outdated and no longer compatible with our system. Stark Library has partnered with PCs for People to collect our out-of-date PCs and other equipment no longer needed for library purposes. PCs for People reallocates these items to low-income individuals and nonprofits to benefit from the life changing impact of computers and mobile internet.
“The goal of this project is to help empower people by providing them with access to technology so they may enjoy the personal, economic, and educational benefits of owning a personal computer that many of us take for granted," said Casey Sorensen, Executive Director of PCs for People. “This is a win-win for organizations who need to update their technology and for the community.”
Did you know that in Stark County, 11.1% of residents don’t have a computer in the home and 17% don’t have internet access? This number is even higher in rural and urban areas. With the shift to virtual schooling and remote working in the past year, access to both is vital.
“One of our core values is access— access to essential devices needed for virtual schooling, career assistance, and more. In today’s virtual economy, not having access to a computer or the internet can be crippling,” Icaza stated. “We offer free WiFi, computers, and mobile hotspots, but we have to find more ways to bridge the digital divide if we want to level the playing field.”
In the Spring, the pandemic caused a sudden shift to remote learning. Because many families without internet access needed ways to help their children continue with their schoolwork, Stark Library responded by increasing the WiFi range so students could access it from our parking lot and providing more than 45 free WiFi hotspots for local students and staff.
In 2020, more than 1,215,396 people accessed the internet using the library’s free WiFi and computers sessions, and 315 WiFi hotspots connected students and remote workers to the internet more than 1,355 times. Our bookmobile even traveled throughout the community providing mobile WiFi access and summer meals!
Libraries excel at adapting. From charging the family car to accessing the internet—Stark Library is always discovering new ways to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Learn more about how we make an impact in Stark County every day with virtual programs, computer and WiFi access, food programs, digital materials, early literacy initiatives, and more at StarkLibrary.org.
