Leelanau County libraries collaborate, provide community oases during COVID
From staff reports
Your four Leelanau County Libraries—in Empire, Leland, Suttons Bay and Northport—will host a special community screening of Neither Wolf Nor Dog, available for home viewing during the last week of January. Adapted from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Kent Nerburn, the film follows a white author who is drawn into the heart of contemporary Native American life in the sparse lands of the Dakotas by a 95 year old Lakota elder and his side-kick. Originally released in 2017, this independent film has been enjoyed by audiences and critics around the world.
Contact your local Leelanau County library for the streaming link, which will be active from January 24 to 30. The number of viewers will be limited to 100. Viewers are also invited to join a Zoom discussion session with the film director, Steven Lewis Simpson, on Thursday, February 4, at 1:30 pm. Meeting information will be forwarded to program registrants. For more information, visit glenlakelibrary.net.
The Glen Arbor Sun spoke with David Diller, director of the Glen Lake Library (based in Empire) about the collaboration between Leelanau County libraries during COVID, special services they are offering, the importance of these libraries to the community, Diller’s favorite moments in the Glen Lake Library’s new space, and what he’s currently reading. Read more about the new library, and watch a video tour here.
Diller’s answers are below.
Glen Arbor Sun: Is the Glen Lake Library (and other Leelanau County libraries) offering any other special screenings or services during this COVID winter that I should note?
David Diller: All public libraries in Leelanau County are offering some sort of online story hour, either via Facebook Live or Zoom. Our sessions will take place on Thursday mornings at 11, beginning this week. Next month, we’ll host a series of cooking demos by Abra Berens, author of the award-winning Ruffage. Details are being finalized, and should be posted shortly. In March, we’ll host a presentation by Evergreen Organics about their hemp growing and processing operation located just south of Empire. More online programs are under development, and will continue as long as the pandemic prevents us from hosting in-person gatherings.
Glen Arbor Sun: Tell me about the collaboration between Leelanau County libraries? How did that get started?
Diller: Libraries are all about sharing, and our current ventures are a natural extension of that mindset. Our programming collaboration began last year during what would normally have been a busy Children’s Summer Reading program. We agreed that with in-person gatherings not feasible, we’d pool our resources to plan, promote and host online programs. Since then, we’ve co-hosted various programs, including a county-wide Leelanau Read of We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels. The pandemic has helped foster closer library partnership in general. Being able to share notes, ideas and policies to shape our COVID response has been extremely helpful.
Glen Arbor Sun: What special services or programs are libraries offering during COVID?
Diller: Most are offering curbside pickup of reserved materials, even if the library itself is closed to the public. Recently, we each received Family Book Bags from the MSU extension/4H program, with six wonderful children’s books celebrating diversity, along with related learning activities. We’ll soon have a collection of STEM learning kits available for checkout, provided through Newton’s Road, a regional nonprofit. Public computers, WiFi and printing services continue to be in demand. Electronic books, audiobooks and streaming movies have been increasingly popular. Libraries are also doing a great job of sharing COVID information via their websites and social media.
Glen Arbor Sun: In general, what special role does the library play for communities during this challenging time—and during winter, no less?
Diller: Thankfully, we’ve been able to remain open, due to our COVID safety protocols and vigilant cooperation from our visitors. This has allowed us to continue serving as an outlet for books and media, individual work & study spaces, and computer access. We’ve also been an oasis of sorts, a safe haven for a temporarily escape of the confines imposed by COVID. Winter is a slower time in this area, with the annual migration of seasonal residents, now compounded by COVID concerns. However, we continue to welcome new patrons. Those that choose to visit the library are taking full advantage of our resources. Our circulation statistics for the past four months, since our reopening, show a dramatic increase in usage over previous years.
Glen Arbor Sun: What have been your most gratifying moments in your elegant new space since the Glen Lake Library (re) opened?
Diller: Like everything else, the completion of our library was delayed due to COVID. And, a Grand Opening was deferred until we can safely gather and celebrate. Still, opening the doors on September 8 was immensely satisfying. Response from our visitors, both old friends and new patrons, was and continues to be overwhelmingly positive. A few images stand out: seeing families explore the new Young Learner’s area, lounging on the window benches, then checking out stacks of books; a presentation by the League of Women’s Voters, in full suffragist costume, commemorating the 19th amendment; a knitting group happily stitching and visiting in our program room (prior to stricter COVID measures); an elderly gentleman reading the paper in front of our fireplace on a cool fall day.
Glen Arbor Sun: What are you reading (or watching) right now that you’d recommend?
Diller: In addition to book review journals and local newspapers, I’ve been reading The Atlantic magazine. It offers great insights into current events, social and political issues, literature, and more. I listen to Interlochen Public Radio, typically their news/talk station – Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me is a Saturday morning treat. At the suggestion of my brother, I recently read Ruthie Fear, by first-time novelist Maxim Loskutoff. Fascinating story, but a bit hard to categorize: coming-of-age, rugged western, cautionary tale, even a little bit of SciFi for good measure. I also finally tackled Barkskins, a sprawling family epic by Annie Proulx. My current playlist includes a Christmas album from Los Lobos, and a recent Billy Strings album. I’m fortunate to have access to our library’s extensive DVD collection — though I did stream all four seasons of The Crown, too.
