Why Stevens County is home to one of the
 best rural libraries in the country

BY SOPHIA ALDOUS
S-E Staff Reporter

    Amanda McKeraghan’s im¬age looks out from the pages of Library Journal, a cheery smile gracing her face, two books written in Russian held in her right hand.
    Library Journal, a monthly periodical highlighting libraries across the country and new books, recently published their mov¬ers and shakers edition. The issue featured librarians from vari¬ous states, all the way from Alaska to North Carolina, just to name a few.  
    McKeraghan, who can be found on page 33 of the issue, was com¬mended for rural improve¬ment, a goal that has been close to her heart for a long time.
    But even then, the Stevens County Rural Library District Director takes the accolade humbly.
    “It’s a nice compliment, but it’s a reflection of all the li¬brary staff in Stevens County,” said McKeraghan. “It was great that they chose to put Stevens County in their publication, because it’s so easy to just focus on the big libraries in big city’s and all the amazing things that they do. So it’s great to be recog¬nized on that same level.”
    Stevens County’s eight li¬braries serve a population of 40,000, which also includes a lively Russian and Ukrainian community. The Library Journal has recognized the Colville Public Library as one of the best rural libraries in the country.
    McKeraghan attributes that success to a time-honored, proven business essential, which is good customer serv¬ice.
    “We recognize that the tax-payers support us, so we try to tune into what the public wants,” explained McKer¬aghan. “We try to met the needs of the people, because they pay the bills.”
    Wireless high-speed Internet access, numerous databases and upcoming access to downloadable media are just some of the facet that are at¬tracting residents in Stevens County to their local libraries, whether it’s students, home school parents, farmers, ath¬letes, or just someone looking to pass the time.

 A gathering place for communities
 
    “It’s important that our staff stay ahead of the curve, and they really do,” McKeraghan praised. “To be a librarian, you have to have a willingness to learn and accept that change is happening. The staff at all of our libraries are con¬stantly pushing themselves to evolve and go with the times and with what people want to see in their libraries.”
    McKeraghan admitted that as a grad student at Oregon State University, she didn’t really think that being a li¬brarian could make much of a difference.
    “I was majoring in anthro¬pology with a focus on rural development when I got a job in a library,” McKheraghan recalled. “The librarian asked me what I wanted to do, and I told her I wanted to help im¬prove life in rural communi¬ties. When she told me that I should become a librarian, I was like, “she needs to get a life.” ”
    But McKeraghan has since discovered that her former boss was right on. Libraries are often cited as resource centers, references sources and a community nucleus all rolled into one.
    “We have different organiza¬tions and groups get together in our basement here at the Colville library and many of our libraries have a teen night as well,” said McKeraghan. “We have people come in here to connect with different gov¬ernment entities, look up law and medical resources…the possibilities really do go on and on.”
    In fact, Colville’s library has become such a popular hang¬out spot and information catalogue in itself that it is looking for a way to expand in the future.
    “Someday we’d like to do an expansion so we can have room for the influx of material that we are getting, and would like to receive,” McKeraghan stated.
    But McKeraghan said all the libraries in Stevens County will work toward becoming community leaders and mak¬ing those communities better places to live.  

  

 Stevens County Library Director Amanda McKeraghan.