Libraries have been a cornerstone of enlightenment and education for centuries. One such center of knowledge is the Washington-Centerville Public Library (WCPL), where Kevin Risner serves as the Adult Services Specialist.
Kevin's professional choice is also a familial legacy. Growing up with a mother who was a librarian at the Dayton Metro Library, his formative years were spent surrounded by books. Later, during his enlistment in the U.S. Army, libraries provided him solace and a quiet escape from the barracks. This rich history culminated in his pursuit of a Master of Library Science, fueled by a passion for research and service.
Can you tell me about the WCPL’s Adult Education/Workforce Development programs?
Approximately 10 years ago WCPL received a grant from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and American Library Association (FINRA/ALA) to present adult programs on financial literacy. That led the library to invest time and effort to form partnerships with organizations that continue to this day. Popular programs from outside speakers include estate planning, home buying, elder law, scams and fraud targeting seniors, social security and Medicare.
WCPL staff provide instruction on Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher), using various devices (smartphones and tablets) and database/internet searching. I regularly provide instruction on the equity research/investment databases. Sometimes these are held in a class setting, but we have a popular Book a Librarian service where patrons can schedule a 30-minute to one-hour one-on-one session with a librarian on the topic of their choice.
WCPL provides online access to LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and JobNow with a library card. My colleague Gregg also hosts a monthly Job Seekers Networking group on the third Thursday of each month.
Do you have college-age programs?
While we don’t have any college-specific programming, the reference librarians frequently assist college-age students in their research projects, and we have an Anime program and hands-on instruction on the equipment at the Creativity Commons that attracts this age group.
Are there any patron success stories that are memorable for you? How do the library's investments enrich patrons' experiences?
The library has invested in resources that assist small business owners and sole proprietors. The A-Z database and Reference Solutions are resources that can assist in researching competitors or creating mailing lists. Gale Legal Forms will provide support to business patrons or patrons who represent themselves in court. Patrons with no computer experience still come to us for basic instruction. The Book a Librarian service has been a great help in getting people online. I’ve recently assisted patrons with setting up their first email accounts, using the local grocery apps for digital coupons and accessing the local newspaper.
Ron Draving, the owner of the Classic Limo Co., is an example of a small business success story. I’ve helped him edit a promotional video, set up business pages on Google, Microsoft Bing, Yelp and Facebook and assisted in setting up payment methods on Venmo and Cash App. My colleague Felicia Brock has assisted him in creating invoice templates to bill his corporate clients.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the residents of Centerville and Washington Township for their investment in the library. Most of our revenue is derived from the local library levy. Without its passage, we would not be able to provide the range of services that we currently offer.
"I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the residents of Centerville and Washington Township for their investment in the library."