The Pioche branch of the Lincoln County Library system. Director Sharron Faehling is working to provide more services to the community through the local libraries.
Sharron Faehling’s main goal as Lincoln County Library Director is to mold the libraries in Lincoln County into places that will benefit the community.
Faehling, who became the director two years ago, has worked to make the libraries more a part of the community.
First, Faehling set out to remodel the Pioche branch. The books and supplies were out of date. She added and painted a room just for kids. She is now working on getting an automated checkout system instead of using cards.
But she isn’t planning on stopping there.
“We want to know what we can do for this community,” Faehling said. “We just want to get the word out there about what we have available.”
The Book Mobile is an RV-turned-library that travels around Pioche, Panaca and Caliente. Faehling wants the community to utilize it as much as possible.
She noted, “The Book Mobile is one of the only ways Panaca can check out books. It’s really convenient. We want to bring up the numbers so they don’t take away the funding.”
The library system has an amount of money it needs to spend each year, and Faehling wants to spend it on what the community wants.
The libraries in Pioche and Caliente don’t just provide books for the community either. Anyone is welcome to use the library’s free Wi-Fi, computers, make copies or use fax machines.
As well as the many services available at the library, Faehling wants to hear from the community about what they want to see.
“Let us know what you want to see,” she said. “If there’s something you want to read, tell us. We’ll do our best to get it. If there’s a parent looking for a book about speech problems or any special needs like that, we would love to get it for them so they don’t have to put out their own money. We need the community’s input to better our system.”
Each town branch can get different books depending on what their town wants. Faehling said they are working on getting book drops in each town, but for now, any books checked out can be returned at any library.
Starting in January, Summer Bradshaw, from Caliente, will be teaching classes at the Pioche library on Fridays. Her classes will be on healthier living, eating, oils and how to use them.
“This is what we need to be used for,” Faehling said. “Summer Bradshaw approached me about doing these classes. If there’s anything our community needs, classes, adult education and GEDs, or just keeping kids busy. We want to provide that.”
Volunteers are needed to start a summer reading program, and that is something they are looking into as well.
Faehling can be reached at (775) 962-5244 or email her at piochelibrary@yahoo.com.
