DeKalb Times

At its Feb. 27 meeting, the DeKalb City Council welcomed DeKalb Public Library Director Emily Faulkner who presented the state-mandated annual report.

Faulkner said that 2022 felt like the first year the library could return to normal operations after the pandemic. She reported a huge boost in the numbers attending its programs, especially the children’s events which often have standing-room-only remaining. She said the library is planning to schedule programs several times so that people have a chance to attend and participate in smaller groups. Faulkner said the Pokemon and Beyblades clubs are still well attended, and the homeschool programs are booming.

“Our teens and tweens have rediscovered the library,” Faulkner, said. “We get a lot of kids from Clinton Rosette. There was sort of a dip for a while, but they're back. We're kind of one of the only afterschool hangout spots in town. The teen room has kind of been turned over to sort of louder activities, video games, air hockey, different kinds of craft activities and things like that. And we've actually expanded the space during the daytime upstairs to have a teen lounge area so they can play quiet board games and be sophisticated. So far, so good.”

The council uploaded a livestream of its public meeting to the city’s YouTube channel.

Faulkner told council the library also had other programs for all ages that have been extremely successful, most recently its after-hours jazz event brought out more than 100 people, more than expected. 

The library also has art and creative workshops for all ages, with painting classes being some of the most popular, both for adults and young children. The community also utilizes its voter registration information services and its free black-and-white printing, as well as its notary services.

Faulkner said future projects include more daytime adult programs, like regular lectures, financial workshops, arts classes, and some book clubs. She said the library has seen an uptick in requests for meeting rooms for various clubs and organizations, so it is redoing some of those rooms to provide more space and options for interested parties. 

Faulker said the library is finishing its three-year strategic plan despite the pandemic, and will be posting its new plan in the coming weeks.

In other business, council voted to pay approximately $2.8 million in bills and payroll.

The council will meet again at 6 p.m. on Monday at the DeKalb Public Library’s Yusunas meeting room at 309 Oak St..