“Today is National Library Workers Day, and I am so grateful for the team that we have here,” Library Director April Ide said. 

She described the staff as talented and knowledgeable, saying “I just couldn’t work with a better team.” 

Ide said her staff works to stay on top of a wide variety of services, programs, and collections while ensuring the community is educated on how to access resources.

Staff members Ann Anderson and Isabella Tice expressed fulfillment in their work at the circulation desk. 

Children and families enjoy the bright, colorful children’s area at the New Ulm Public Library. (Photo by Amy Zents)

“It’s a wonderful job,” Anderson said. “I love it. I think it’s so fun to be part of the community, see people, and be around books all day.” 

Tice said she enjoys the constant educational environment the library provides for both the public and employees. 

“I love it,” Tice said.”It’s so much fun to be surrounded by books again, helping people learn new things. We learn new things every day as well as the patrons that come in.”

Ide said the library is observing National Library Week by focusing on its regular services rather than hosting special celebrations. 

She said the building serves as a vital physical space for the public and remains one of the few locations where residents can gather without a requirement to purchase goods or services. 

New Ulm Public Library Director April Ide in her office. (Photo by Amy Zents) 

“The library is open,” Ide said. “It’s available for people to use.” 

She said the library’s study rooms and meeting rooms are available at no cost, providing an accessible environment for families, students, and remote workers.

The library has seen a resurgence in physical attendance in recent years. Ide said she is encouraged to see patrons utilizing the space for study groups and family meetings as the community moves further away from the pandemic era. 

“One thing I am really excited to see is people using the library space more again,” Ide said.

A recent interaction at the block table in the children’s room served as an example of the organic community connections the facility fosters. 

New Ulm Public Library staff members Ann Anderson (left) and Isabella Tice smile behind the Service Center desk on National Library Workers Day. (Photo by Amy Zents)

Ide said a group of young children from different families gathered around the oversized building blocks and spontaneously began singing together without adult prompting. 

“That was fun to see that they were just enjoying their time in the library together,” Ide said. 

She said the spontaneous harmony illustrates the library’s ability to create conditions for community connection beyond traditional book lending.

Youth Services Librarian Kathryn Tatnall said the children’s room is a central location for this activity. Tatnall said she frequently observes “library joy” among the children who visit. 

During a recent storytime session, Tatnall said a group explored the topic of baby animals and engaged in a discussion about animals they had encountered in person.

The work of the library also extends beyond the building through local outreach. Tatnall said she is visiting a local day care on Wednesday to bring storytime to a group of children under the age of four. She said the sessions include books, singing, and activities with shaky eggs. 

“It is literally the best way to start my work day,” Tatnall said.

Preparation for the summer months is already underway. Tatnall said she has been working on the youth services’ largest reading challenge, the summer reading program, since January. This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story,” and the department plans to feature dinosaur-related programming and decorations.

The library supports traditional literacy and modern technology access through a diverse array of programs. 

Ide said foundational initiatives like story time and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program remain central to building early literacy skills. 

To bridge the digital divide, the library offers public computers and Wi-Fi within the building, along with a collection of lendable hardware. 

“We have a variety of technology available for patrons to use or check out,” Ide said. “We have public computers and Wi-Fi in the space itself. We also offer Wi-Fi hotspots and Chromebooks for checkout.”

Staff members provide technical support for these library-provided resources and assist patrons with their personal electronic devices. 

“Library staff are here to assist with all of those items,” Ide said. “Patrons also bring in their own items, like e-readers or smartphones, and we do our best to help them with those as well.” 

This assistance ensures that residents can navigate the digital world regardless of their personal experience with new technology.

In addition to her administrative duties, Ide remains an active participant in the community’s reading culture. She recently finished the novel “Yesteryear,” by Carol Clare Burke, which follows an Instagram influencer who finds herself transported back to the pioneer era. 

“I enjoyed it,” Ide said. “It was very interesting.” 

Ide is also preparing a segment for this Saturday’s “Off the Shelf,” found on the New Ulm Public Library’s website, which she said will focus primarily on the daily contributions of library workers.

As National Library Week continues through Saturday, the New Ulm Public Library stands as a reminder of the enduring value of shared community resources. 

By providing professional expertise and a welcoming atmosphere, the team ensures the library remains a responsive institution that adapts to the shifting needs of its patrons. 

“The biggest joy in library work and at the New Ulm Public Library is the people,” Ide said. “Creating connections within our community is a huge part of library work. We offer space, events, and tools for our community to connect with knowledge, resources, and one another.”