As I quickly drove down Versailles road I scanned the line of buildings looking for a library. I was sure that I had missed it, when I noticed a small sign that said, “Lexington Public Library: Village Branch”. Wedged tightly between a Save-a-Lot and an old pawnshop was a small building that I was sure was a practical joke. lexpublib There is no way that a building this size could serve an entire community! As I pulled into an open spot, put my car in park, and walked up to the “library” I quickly noticed the writing on the glass. Like most businesses, the hours of operation were clearly printed on the door, however what stood out was the language in which they were presented. Clearly ascribed below the English announcement was an equally sized Spanish translation. I was intrigued, and quickly noticed that all of the signs were bilingual in nature. lexpublib I entered and was blown away as soon as I walked in. This building, smaller than many homes, was packed with people. I knew immediately, that this place was much more than a mere library.
As I entered the building I barely had enough time to set my bag down when a friendly young lady approached me, with a smile that lit
Carolina Fernandez, the Head Librarian for the Village Branch Library, poses for a photograph, next to some beautifully painted pumpkins.
up the room, and said, “Is there anything I can help you with?” With a slight chagrin I responded, “Why yes, yes there is.” After clearly explaining that I was a student from the University of Kentucky and was interested in doing a research piece on the Village Branch Library, the young lady, who I soon came to find out was a recent addition to the Village Branch staff, directed me to the head librarian, Carolina. I knew immediately by Carolina’s kind smile and gentle demeanor, that she was a truly lovely woman. Her distinct accent indicated to me that she was of Latin decent, and later I would find out that she was an immigrant from Venezuela. Overjoyed that the Village Branch Library had academic attention placed on it, Carolina was glad to give me a tour of the premises. The passion behind each word quickly illuminated to me that Carolina loved her work, and, more importantly, the people that she served. After sitting down with Carolina, for well over thirty minutes, I felt like I had attained a plethora of information that would become an invaluable asset for my WRD 110 project. Not only did Carolina illuminate the demographic of patrons, but she also went in to great detail describing the wonderful outreach programs that the library offers. Through peer mentoring, homework help, English as a Second Language classes, and free computer access, the Village Branch Library is an asset for the Cardinal Valley community. lexpublib, after my interview with Carolina concluded she said in her sweet voice, “Want to interview some patrons?” I smiled and rebutted, “Of course!”
In a small office, the size of a janitors closet in many commercial buildings, I was told to
Maria Ruelas, and her son Jonathan Nararrete, smile for a picture after their interview.
leave my stuff and prepare for the interviews. The white walls were splattered with artwork and uplifting posters. Upon a wooden desk sat a pile of papers and an older desktop computer. I soon realized that this was the main office for the library. When Ms. Maria Ruelas and her son Jonathan Nararrete entered the small room for the interview I politely smiled, extended my hand and spurted, “¿Hola, como esta usted?” With a slight grin Maria responded, “Bien, gracias.” With Carolina as my translator, I was sure to prevent any valuable information from being lost. I began my questionnaire, “¿Es la bilioteca que visita más regularmente?” (Is this the library you attend most regularly?) With a nervous, “Sí” as my response we continued. After some warming up, Maria began to elaborate on the cordial staff, the plethora of books, the amazing English classes, and, most importantly, the invaluable help on her son’s homework. When I thought that the interview had come to a close, the patient Jonathan piped in, “I like how they help me with my homework… they tell me what the homework means” (Nararrete). This brief statement said it all. This kind and well-mannered boy summed up in few words how important this library is to the Cardinal Valley community. This place offers an opportunity for academic growth through both peer tutors and staff instruction. After many interviews, I discovered this underlying theme. After seven interviews, with both parents as well as students I realized how much of an asset the Village Branch Public library was. I was quickly developing a sense of pride in one of my cities establishments. I was deeply impressed with the people and staff I encountered whilst there. The kids, and adults, were truly grateful for their place of study. It was, in all actuality, the epicenter of the community.
As my interviews came to a close, I allowed Carolina to get back to her very busy job. I quietly moseyed around the all-but-quiet library, being a silent observer. On the white tile floors, children were scattered with a multitude of books surrounding them. It appeared as though they were incased within a bubble. Laughter and chatter echoed throughout the space. Passing a shelf full of bilingual books, I selected one and briefly flipped through the pages. The smell of paper and the feeling between my fingers as I flipped the pages reminded me of my very own library experiences. As I was observing, I overheard a conversation between a librarian and a boy, who looked to be around the age of fifteen. With proud eyes I heard the librarian complimenting the boy for not giving into peer pressure and trying drugs. He had successfully turned down his friends when they had offered him a substance that he had grown up knowing was wrong. I realized then that this was not only the epicenter for the community, a place of learning, and a not-so-quiet study, but it was also a safe haven for teenagers. This was a place where one could escape the rigors of life and fall into a world of safety and security. I was amazed by the sense of community that was present all around me.
After thanking Carolina multiple times for her generosity with her time I decided it was time to depart. As I left, I stopped for a brief moment. Turning around I took another long moment to soak in this amazing place. Amongst the sea of children strewn across the tile and carpeted floor, the freshly painted pumpkins atop the shelves of bilingual books, and the smiles radiated from the cordial staff and happy patrons, I saw a community at work. People interacting and laughing, teaching and learning, mentoring and receiving advice, and I finally understood what Carolina had said earlier, “This place is much more than just a library.”
Works Cited:
Fernandez, Carolina. Personal Interview. 24 Oct 2012.
Nararrete, Jonathan. Personal Interview. 24 Oct 2012.
“Village Branch.” Lexington Public Library. Lexington Public Library, 1999. Web. 11 Oct 2012. <http://www.lexpublib.org/location/village-branch>.
WRD 110-023: Mason T. King 
