Go as far as your imagination will take you!

Gazette City Editor

There's a place where you can go as far as your imagination will take you. You can fight villains, fire-breathing dragons and rescue maidens in castles. You can even take a trip around the world and visit the Great Wall of China, or learn how to surf, without the ocean.

This adventure won't cost you a thing and you may even go on more than one in the same day! This place, this gem - some consider the heart of any city. It's not too far to get to, in fact, you can probably walk - right up Main Street, to the Bellevue Public Library.

Although they have been utilized frequently over the years, for some, libraries are a thing of the past - especially with the World Wide Web at their fingertips. Molly Carver, director of Bellevue Public Library (BPL), will disagree though, citing libraries are more important than ever.

"I'd like to think of the library as the best use for creative use of your leisure time," Carver indicated. "In the past 20 years, a lot has really changed - and the library is keeping up with those changes."

Over the past 10 decades (the library is 105-years-old), BPL has had several facelifts - inside and out. The addition - where the entrance now is - was added about 20 years ago. Before that time, space was limited, as were program options. Today, however, with double the space - not to mention a new parking lot - BPL has something to offer all of its patrons - from babies to senior citizens.

"Before 1989, we owned a property next to the library called the library house," Carver noted. "It was used for some programs because the actual library didn't have the space for any. For a while, we were hauling items back and forth. (After the renovation) we brought the programs under the same roof as the main library."

Aside from having the convenience of having everything in one building, there were other improvements as well. The library was now handicap accessible, which included handicap accessible bathrooms and an elevator. Shelving was also increased, as well as leisure seating and a separate staff workspace.

The next big change, Carver said, came in 2003 when the library purchased additional property and expanded their parking lot. An outside book/video return was added as well.

"That added lots of spaces," Carver added. "It improved the entrance and exit from Main St. and we also added an exit to Sandusky St."

Since that time, BPL has blossomed into a wonderful space, offering educational and interactive programming.

"We have programs for all ages," Carver said. "For newborns we have a lap/sit program. We also have Toddler Time, Book Brunch and Rappin' Readers, for our pre-teen readers. We're starting to add a lot of things for teens and we still have our summer teen reading program."

"Last year, we had about 5,500 people participate in these programs," continued Carver. "They are all free of charge too. The community definitely utilizes the library."

What residents may not know about BPL, is that they are keeping up with the times. In 2005, WI Fi was added.

"People can come in with their laptops - people traveling through town, for instance - and they can hook up to one of our WI Fi stations," Carver said.

The library is also a member of CLEVNET, which began in 1982 when the Cleveland Heights/University Heights Library asked to share the benefits of the Cleveland Public Library's automation system. Since that time, CLEVNET has grown to include 30 libraries, including BPL. So if there's a book or resource that BPL does not have, they can search through CLEVNET and find it for you. That item is then shipped right to Bellevue.

"This has increased the demand for our services," Carver indicated. "We can get books for patrons faster."

Another title BPL holds is "teacher." In 2001 they added Know-It-Now, a live, online information service provided free by the State Library of Ohio and BPL. Know-It-Now provides professional librarians 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, to answer reference questions and find information. BPL offers this service on their website - www.bellevue.lib.oh.us - so you don't even have to leave your home to use it!

"A lot of our website is self-serve," said Carver. "You can renew materials, put materials on hold and use other resources."

BPL most recently added Book FLIX, an online literacy resource, where children can hear, watch and read a story online! It's interactive, educational and fun, says Carver.

"Book FLIX allows the reader the opportunity to interact with a book," she added. "This program is geared toward younger readers. We work hard to incorporate the pre-school literacy effort. We used to have dial-a-story. Now, online, you have pictures, audio and visual. It just keeps expanding and getting more enriched."

And of course, BPL has books, DVDs, CDs, books on tape (even mP3 players) and VHS tapes available for patrons to check out.

"Books are still as important as ever ," Carver said, "They provide good reading and reliable information."

As for the future of BPL? Carver indicated as the community grows, so will the library.

"We'd like to keep offering more services, including 24/7 accessibility. The potential also exists for the library to be a community center - a gathering place for residents," said Carver.

Long-time Library Board member and president Lois TerVeen concurred.

"I think the library could be the heart of the city," said TerVeen. "The public library is the people's university. It's also really contributing to the vitalization of the downtown. You can go around the world - and you can do it right here, at Bellevue Public Library."

--------

On the Net: www.bellevue.lib.oh.us