Middlebrook Library Station

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Upon the loss of the county’s bookmobile, citizens of the southern region of Augusta County had a serious need for a convenient library service. For many of the county’s residents, especially those focused around the town of Middlebrook, a drive to the closest library could take upwards of 45 minutes. Also, because high speed Internet service is not available in most parts of the region, residents were not able to access the main library’s website and database. Because of this challenge that many residents faced to get books, the county opened its third “library station” in the town of Middlebrook. County library stations serve as satellite locations of the main library, open twenty hours a week. Since its opening, the Middlebrook library station has experienced the highest monthly circulation and patron count at of all the county’s library stations. Centrally located next to the town’s post office, the convenient location has become a major reason for the library’s success and its place in the community as a spot for gathering. The library now contains three new computers with high-speed internet and complete access to Wi-Fi service. A large portion of the start-up resources for the library station were donated by patrons and other county departments. The county also utilized the assistance of a work crew from the regional jail to spend a day installing shelving and moving boxes to offset additional costs.