As part of Read Across America celebrations, the Raymond Blasco M.D. Memorial Library highlighted the process of obtaining a library card and the range of services available to Erie County residents.
To sign up for a card, applicants must provide proof of address within Erie County, according to library staff. The library reports several hundred new library card registrations each month.
After completing a brief form, new members receive a card that grants access to far more than traditional book borrowing. Alyssa Johnson, communications outreach coordinator for the Erie County Public Library, offered a tour of the facility’s key spaces, including a teen-only area for ages 13 to 18.
“You might notice that it feels kind of vibrant in here,” Johnson said. “It’s comfy, it’s exciting. We’ve got the lounge-style furniture, all of that kind of taking cues from a college dorm.”
The second-floor features fiction collections, study areas, and the Heritage Room, which houses local historical materials. “We’ve got county records; we’ve got maritime history. We’ve got regional assets, even things like family newsletters,” Johnson said. The room also includes a digitized obituary index that helps visitors locate publication dates more easily.
For patrons interested in media production, the library offers dedicated spaces for editing, filming and recording. “There’s just so much barrier to even getting started,” Johnson said. “We try and take that away when you visit here at the library.”
The Idea Lab provides free access to crafting equipment, with materials available for purchase. A “brag wall” displays completed projects from community members.
One of the library’s most far-reaching services is its mobile library, which brings books, media and Wi-Fi access to remote areas of the county. Patrons can also access digital resources from anywhere through mobile apps such as Hoopla and Libby.