A library that provides a Commons environment helps address the need of people to meet and interact with others in their community and to participate in public discourse about community issues.
The library provides public space for meeting and gathering that is inviting, neutral, and safe for all individuals and groups in the community. The library may provide a variety of meeting and gathering spaces including large meeting rooms, small group meeting and study rooms, and open public spaces that invite conversation and discussion. The library may provide electronic means of assembling, such as videoconferencing facilities.
The Archdale branch (3,600 square feet of public area) of the Randolph County Library System has established itself as a welcoming resource to all people in our community. It has a meeting room with a capacity of 50. Most evening programs are held on nights when the library is closed, in order to accommodate attendees comfortably. The branch is next door to the Archdale/Randolph Community College.The City of Archdale (pop.8529) is located in the fastest growing section of Randolph County. Explosive growth is both positive and disruptive, bringing to a traditionally conservative, rural area a diversity of education and life-style not previously encountered. Archdale-Trinity is experiencing an influx of residents with college education, many of whom work in neighboring Guilford County. In Randolph, 48% of the population has less than a high-school diploma. Businesses are small; 70% of the working population work for companies that employ 10 or fewer employees. Residents traditionally claim more ties to the High-Point/Greensboro communities in Guilford than to communities in Randolph.
An African-American community has deep roots here but the Archdale-Trinity community had no cultural activities for families or out-of-school adults. For humanities enrichment, they went to Guilford County. The African-American community did not use the library, and later reports indicated that they felt "left out" as a community from area activities.
To welcome the entire community to the Archdale Library by providing a center for life-long cultural and educational activities and information.
Some of the programs initiated include the following:
- "Lets Talk About It" Adult Discussion Series.
- "The Nation That Works" Adult Discussion Series -- one of 20 libraries nationwide selected by a grant to the American Library Association from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
- Motheread -- first in the area.
- Bookfind, in cooperation with the Greensboro Library. Books were presented at special storytimes at St. Mary's United Methodist Church. Follow-up storytimes and adult programs were offered. This program continued two years.
- Children's programs include Toddler, Preschool, and Daycare (Asheboro staff) storytimes. Weekly family storytimes have also been offered in the evening. First in the area to have corporate sponsorship of Summer Reading.
- New in 98: the Mitford Book Discussion group -- first in area to offer a daytime adult discussion group.
Services offered include:
- The Bill Aldridge Adult Learning Collection was established to make available materials for Adult Continuing Education. NCHC, ALA, NEH, Archdale Library Friends, Randolph County Library, High Point Library, First National Bank, Archdale-Trinity News, Greensboro Public Library, Duke Power, Captain Ds, Elizabeth Aldridge
Most of our measures are word of mouth and consistently high enrollment for our offerings. Most of our attendees are traditional library users. We still seek more involvement with our minority populations. Our meeting rooms increased use and the increased diversity of users reflects a rising awareness of the library's presence.