Cappuccino anyone? 

"Butter Pecan”, “White Chocolate Caramel”, or “French Vanilla”---what’s your choice? A cappuccino machine has been installed in the Columbus Public Library. Oh, the bones of previous librarians must be doing flip-flops in their coffins. In their day, no fluid of any sort was allowed on the premises.

But, just as that old Bob Dylan song goes, “The time’s, they are a-changing”, the library--- “it’s a-changing” --- whether we like it or not. First, we relented and allowed coffee cups with lid covers. Eventually, we gave up all restrictions when we became overwhelmed with aluminum soda cans. Now, we are on the offensive. For just $1.00 you can purchase a 12-ounce cup of tasty cappuccino to sip while reading a magazine or using a computer. The Barnes and Nobles of the world take notice, at the Columbus Public Library, customers can drink a cappuccino, browse through newspapers and magazines and even check out books.

The Columbus Public Library has always been more than just a library to its constituents. While books and reading materials remain the primary siren’s call, many come to check out audio stories or new and popular DVD titles.
There are those who only use the library’s internet lab. They walk in and out without a glance at the newest books. Still others come solely to visit the art gallery, attend meetings, or literacy or GED classes.

The new automatic doors, which welcome 20,000 or more visitors each month, will probably wear out years before their time. But, that’s just fine, as a library building and its fixtures should wear out through use, not disuse.

Readership is changing. Whereas fiction and non-fiction used to run neck-and-neck in checkout, it’s now three books of fiction to two of non-fiction---often the percentage is even more weighted to the fiction side. The library has adapted to that reading shift by purchasing many more fiction titles and purchasing greater quantities of duplicate titles.

Marketing of library books has changed too. In the fiction collection, no shelf-setting and dust-covered books are allowed. Each must earn its valuable space. Also, just as in the supermarkets, positioning is important. Books must be shelved at eye level. Who wants to bend down to find a book on the bottom shelf?

And what about silence? In the olden days, we shushed people. We really did! And look what we got for it. We’re stereotyped as sour-puss-looking people blowing air past our index finger. I can tell you for certain that the library—particularly the Columbus Public Library---is not a quiet place. There’s too much going on for silence. If a patron really wants that “s” word, however, he can ask to use one of our study rooms.
 
Children and young students have re-discovered the “Children’s Room” since this past summer’s remodeling project added a 20 by 25 foot skylight to brighten the room. The wall colors and the decorations have been modernized and thus made it a “destination location” for the young.

Our Latino population has also discovered the benefits of our library thanks to the efforts of the Library’s Platte Valley Literacy Association. Whereas most public libraries are seeking ways to attract this portion of their communities, the Columbus Public Library is a gathering place for them. Nearly 20 years ago, the Literacy Association began actively working with our Hispanic neighbors. We now have adult patrons who, as children, came to the library with their parents to learn English.

We hope you will think of the public library as one of your daily, weekly, or even monthly destination places. If only for a cup of cappuccino and a brief scan of the “National Inquirer”. Oh, I forgot, the cappuccino machine also pours a delicious hot chocolate