When Richard Groves started his term as director of the Catoosa County Library four years ago, he said the library brought in about 5,000 people a year. Now, it’s bringing in about 23,000 visitors yearly.
What’s changed, Groves said, is a shifting focus from a library being a place to pick up books, to a library becoming a place to socialize.
“Our collection is still important, but a library is one of the few places anybody can use and be comfortable,” he said. “People will say to me the social connection they get here is one of the only reasons they’ll leave the house.”
Nearly every day the library is bustling with activities. Groves said the library makes it a point to not prioritize or single out certain groups, instead offering a variety of events. His role is to see that the library continues to prosper through its diverse programming.
On a recent Thursday, the library hosted a ventriloquist show at 10:30 a.m., stories with a therapy dog at 1 p.m., a crafting workshop at 3 p.m. and board games at 5 p.m.