Saturdays are short days at the West Deptford Free Public Library.  The library is only open from 10:00 am  to 3:00 pm.  Staffers get many words of thanks from weekend users who relish the weekend hours at WDFPL.  Here’s a small snapshot of the last Saturday I worked at WDFPL…

• www.gloucestercountyvolunteers.org is an accessible connection to many resources in the area.  Two university graduates were in search of volunteer opportunities in the county and stopped by the Library.  The graduates checked out the site on a computer workstation. It was fun to listen to the students share volunteer work they had been involved in during the college years.  Feelings of accomplishment were obvious.  I recall admiring their enthusiasm and their potential for change.
• Several adult learners stopped by to use the online database access in the Library.  West Deptford Free Public Library card holders can access database links in house and remotely.  One user was particularly taken with the Jersey Clicks portal.  Librarian assistance is sometimes necessary to introduce users to database content.  At first glance, the database interfaces appear much more complex than Google’s homepage.  Once users uncover the scholarly nature of many journal articles available, most confirm that the extra effort pays off.  Ciatitions are easier to develop and the full text option available in many databases brings the journal content directly to users in seconds.
• Children filed in during the day with caregivers to pick up some new books, use the stand alone Little Tikes computers (especially sized and configured for the younger set) and persuade the tag-a-long adults to pick up a few movies to watch for free over the weekend. 
• A senior couple stopped by the Library after a visit to the Riverwinds Community Center to see if WDFPL subscribes to Valueline.  They were happy to checkout their stock activity from WDFPL. 
• Two teens used the wireless Internet access from their own laptops while lounging in the art gallery of WDFPL.  Questions arose on saving to jump drives. 
• A member of LVA (Literacy Volunteers of America) signed up to use the quiet study room for tutoring sessions.  A staff member gave her a brief Library tour to uncover the location for quiet study. 
• A mother and two sons were in search of a certain book for a sixth grade assignment.  Luckily, it was on the shelf right where it belonged.  The study buddies shared in a staff demonstration of how to search the Library collection on the computer.  In the future they may be placing books on hold from the computer in their home as they liked the idea of having the book waiting for them when they step foot into the Library.
• I almost forgot to mention the two hour introductory computer class in the Leo Crispi Computer Room.  A fun time was had by all!

What do you like best about Saturdays in the Library?