Catoosa County Library is meeting expanded needs

The Catoosa County Library in Ringgold has over 30 different program offerings. / Staff photo by Sabrina Bodon
The Catoosa County Library in Ringgold has over 30 different program offerings. / Staff photo by Sabrina Bodon

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.

Ashlee Reed started out as a part-time employee about a year ago. She was drawn to the position for the atmosphere that's geared toward learning. She even moved from Dalton to Fort Oglethorpe to be closer to her job.

"People are happy to be in the library," she said.

Reed has watched the growth of the library over the last year, and said some of her favorite activities, as well as patrons', are the family programming that gets everybody involved.

"We all take pride in our events," she said.

One of the most popular events at the library is game night, said Groves. Both the adult and teen/tween sections offer Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying. The teens have a strong group of about 20, and the adults have about 10. Other popular programming includes knitting, book clubs and storytime.

In the last year, the library implemented a strategic plan to bring about growth. Groves said that prior to his tenure, the library only really had storytime for children.

The library is now bringing about 400 people each day during the summer, according to Groves.

The library has also been getting more involved with the community, he said. Through partnerships with schools, local restaurants and the parks and recreation department, more residents are signing up for library cards and returning for different events.

At the Catoosa County Library Board meeting on July 16, Groves shared that while programming is a top priority, the catalogs are, too. In the past year, the team has added Spanish-language books for children and a graphic novel section.

Jennifer Brock visits the library every so often to pick up sci-fi books for her and her two teenagers. She travels from Rossville to Ringgold because the library in Catoosa has more of a selection of young-adult books focused on vampires and zombies, which she loves. While she doesn't participate in the programming yet, she said she's interested in coming out more to see the offerings.

"You can come here and hang out all day," Groves said. "Everyone is welcome."

Email Sabrina Bodon at sbodon@timesfreepress.com.

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