Mckenna (left) and Katherine, the children of John and Piper Hodge, read books at the Nelson Public Library, Saturday morning. The library offers an area just for children and their activities. Crafts, several scheduled events, and a large assortment of books and videos are offered to children of all ages. For an itinerary of events and activities, the library has a website which is easily accessible for everyone. The library is open to the public: Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, 2 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. November is National Family Literacy Month and National Young Readers Week.
How often does the average person use the Nelson library and all its assets? Where would you go if you couldn't use the library? And what would the cost be to you if you were to use a computer elsewhere, buy a book or a CD-DVD, eBooks and Audiobooks or Wi-Fi use? Where and at what cost could you use a meeting room, get homework help, use Makerspace equipment or have computer-electronic device training and assistance and have access to local newspapers and many magazines?
Many of us take the Nelson Library for granted, along with the employees and equipment. The library has just always been there, evolving with time with technology, publications, after school programs, community outdoor movies and collaborating with other local and state organizations to bring many different programs to the adults, young adults and children of the community.
Recently a compilation of information was received, taken from the data supplied by our library in an annual report to the Nebraska Library Commission. The following is a brief summation of items and average cost if purchased by users in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
356 non-electronic items, for instance books, by adults - $20 each
932 electronic items (eBooks-Audiobooks) - $10 each
474 non-electronic children's items - $15 each
162 electronic children's items - $10 each
315 computer uses, average cost is $.49 per minute at office supply fa-cilities, average cost $29.40 per total time used
Added up, the total amount residents would spend without the library is $34,420.00.
The Nelson Library also offered during that time span 20 children's programs with 244 attendees, possibly with duplication of attendees attending various programs. Adult-general interest programs, 114 with number of attendees being 723, also with duplication of attendees within various programs.
The local library has within the regular operating hours various meeting groups, such as The Book Club and The Prayer Shawl Group.
Free Wi-Fi is available at the library. Wi-Fi is available at such places as restaurants also, but with the expectation of a purchase. Makerspace equipment is available for use, with employee assistance and training. The library has become a repository for vintage pictures of Nelson events and people of years passed.
To those people who take advantage of the library it is invaluable. Are you one of them? If not, call and ask questions, or stop in during open hours and look around, view the old pictures on display. Maybe you or your ancestors are featured.
The Nelson Library is located on Fourth Street, east of the Commercial Bank, on the south side of the street. Hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
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