Description
The library currently features a children’s activities room with child-sized furniture, materials targeted to the community’s youth, and several story hours for patrons to attend. In order to maintain a safe environment, programming is currently limited to 20 children at a time. The current library has 1900 square feet and holds a collection of over 25,000 volumes.
Library services have been important to the community of Saratoga Springs. The library began as a volunteer effort and as a result of many people’s hard work; however, out of hundreds of volunteers, Sue Alexander was the real leader. She oversaw the opening of the children’s area in March 2011 and added adult and young adult materials in June 2011. After being appointed Library Director, Alexander worked tirelessly as a full-time volunteer at the Library for two and a half years overseeing almost 200 volunteers that donated over 12,000 hours to grow the Saratoga Springs Public Library to include 5,000 users and over 25,000 items in its collection.
Over the past several years the library has continued its growth and addressed many community needs. This growth includes offering merit badge classes, expanding literacy center services to provide tutoring in reading four days a week, and partnering with the Civic Events department to offer other community events such as parenting and art classes. In addition to these services, the Library has developed a partnership with New Haven Academy to provide a rotating collection of Young Adult materials. Our picture book collection has been revised into Picture Book City; as indicated on the survey sent to residents in 2013, this new format makes it easier for parents and children to locate materials based on subject or topic. Finally, with the support of our many volunteers, we have been able to provide additional story times. Originally the library provided two story times a week on Tuesday morning; currently we provide 6 story times, one weekly crafting session, and offer additional story times to groups who book a tour or class visit.
In the spring of 2014 the library received its Certification from the Utah State Library, which allows us to apply for grants provide by the State. Since we’ve received this certification we have become a partial member to the North Utah County Cooperative, which allows Saratoga Springs Library cardholders to access five of the surrounding libraries to check out materials at a reduced non-resident fee. It is the goal of the Library and Literacy Center to continue their growth and provide valuable services to the residents of Saratoga Springs.
