Kimmy King, of Belpre, holds her son, Ronan King, on her lap, inside the Belpre branch of the Washington County Public Library as she decides what to print for Ronan’s upcoming birthday party, that will help guests have a visual when selecting foods from the buffet, or when wondering where they should place gifts. Off to the right, Kimmy’s niece, Vanessa Daughtery, stays entertained with the free internet available to patrons of the library. (Photo by Maria Rutherford)

MARIETTA — How do we define what a library is, what it means to the community?

The traditional definition of a library is; “Library — from the Latin liber, meaning book.”

Merriam Webster’s definition of a library is: “a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (such as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale.”

Libraries have always been the epicenter of information for every established community. Even with the new technologies that are available in the world today, libraries still play an essential role in everyday life.

From the ever common need for research development to the less formal element of being able to dive into a good book, libraries offer the best sources of information, for whatever subject matter is of interest, with materials that are derived from facts.

Regan Curry, of Barlow, assists a patron in the drive-thru of the Washington County Public Library’s Lafayette location, in Marietta, on Friday. (Photo by Maria Rutherford)

Before the internet, the most common way for people to source information, was through the use of published texts. Ranging from encyclopedias to newspapers, libraries offer an endless array of factual knowledge that gives every reader the opportunity to be able to provide supporting evidence for the views and ideals held by individuals, and gives anyone a place to learn, through reading and researching about various topics.

Washington County public libraries have several different branches throughout the county, with locations in Belpre, Marietta, New Matamoras, Vincent and Beverly. The Marietta branch has even added another location, that features a drive-thru, located in the Lafayette Square, and although it may be a small version of the central location in Marietta, patrons are still able to check out anything that would be available at the main branch, by request, and simply drive-thru when the books are available for pick-up at the Lafayette location.

Regan Curry and Dylan Richards, both Barlow residents, enjoy working at the Lafayette location, and know the importance of public libraries in small towns.

“Libraries are essential to our community, as they offer a place for everyone to be able to go when they need help finding information,” Curry explained, and continued, “Without them, individuals might never read the traditional copy of a book, and there’s an added element of magical nostalgia that comes with an authentic copy of a book, from the feel of it in our hands, to the smell of the paper it was printed on, there is a specific charm that engages us as readers, that can only come from the experience of reading the actual textbook. Libraries can offer that experience, free of cost.”

Richards appreciates how much a library can do for any individual that walks through the doors.

“Libraries are the modern version of the everyday person’s office, as they offer individuals free internet, varieties of printing options, the ability to have documents faxed or scanned or copied, and generally all of that can be done here for free, and with inflation, the rising costs of materials needed to help an office operate accordingly, it’s wonderful to know that we offer those same amenities for free,” Richards said.

Curry and Richards were also in agreement on knowing that the information that comes from a library is always backed by facts.

Aside from learning, libraries can also be a good source for fun, as one Belpre mom suggests.

“I came here to use the computers to print out materials for my son’s upcoming birthday party,” said Kimmy King, of Belpre, while she views different fonts and color arrangements for small signs, that were Sesame Street themed, to help give her guests, of the party, a clear visual of where gifts should be arranged and what foods are going to be offered.

Public libraries offer the community so much, and all the information within, is always free with a library card. Anyone over the age of 5 can apply for and own a Washington County public library card, and there is no cost associated with doing so, as long as books are returned before the deadline, after they are checked out.

For more information about Washington County public libraries and for a list of community events offered through each location, visit their Facebook page or www.wcplib.inf.

Maria Rutherford can be reached via mrutherford@newsandsentinel.com