By Nicole Bowman-Layton

EDENTON — The Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library recently received a thoughtful donation of several books focused on empowering young women in STEM fields, underscoring both community generosity and the ongoing challenges facing public libraries nationwide.

Lisa Laws, who originally purchased the books for her own personal collection in anticipation of future grandchildren, was so impressed by their content that she decided the library needed copies as well. The donated collection includes books spanning ages six through teens, featuring titles such as Girls Who Code and books celebrating female inventors and heroes throughout history. According to Librarian Anna Kallas, these donations align with the library’s mission to expand its collection’s diversity and inspire the next generation of young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“One of the things I’ve noticed is that we don’t have a lot of diversity in our collection,” Kallas explained. “Books like these, promoting young women in STEM, are exactly what we need.”

Laws plans to dedicate one of the books to her mother, a personal touch that Kallas will accommodate with a commemorative placard inside the book. Kallas intends to create a special display featuring the entire donated collection to highlight the importance of representation in STEM fields.

The Reality of Library Budgets

Like many public libraries nationwide, the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library operates with limited financial resources. Kallas noted that adult hardback books now cost $30-40 each, making it difficult to keep the collection current with every new release the library would like to offer.

“My book budget is nonexistent,” Kallas said candidly. “It’s just so low. It makes it difficult for me to add brand new books.”

The situation has been further complicated by the recent closure of Baker & Taylor, one of the largest book distributors in the United States. The Charlotte-based company abruptly shut its doors, leaving public libraries across the country scrambling to find new sources for books and materials. Many libraries had standing orders with Baker & Taylor that automatically delivered new releases, and they are now playing catch-up to establish new ordering systems.

How the Community Can Help

Kallas said, the library is actively seeking community support through several channels:

Book Donations: The library welcomes donations of books in good condition, preferably published within the last three years. The library cannot accept encyclopedias or medical books due to quickly outdated information. All donations should be relevant and modern.

Volunteer Opportunities: The library needs volunteers for various tasks including weeding outdated books from the collection, organizing craft supplies, helping with summer reading programs, and assisting with special events like the upcoming Harry Potter celebration.

Author Networks: Kallas is reaching out to authors she knows personally, including Chris Bohjalian, to request book donations for the collection.

Library Networks: Some larger library systems, such as those in cities, receive additional copies of books. Kallas hopes to work with some of the systems she knows to have unnecessary book copies sent to the library.

How to Donate

Community members interested in donating books or volunteering can visit the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library during regular business hours. Donations can be dropped off at the circulation desk, and prospective volunteers can speak with library staff about current needs and opportunities.

For those unable to donate books or time, the library also benefits from participation in its programs and events, which help demonstrate community support when applying for grants and other funding opportunities.

As Kallas emphasized, “When you have limited funds, you’ve got to be creative and think outside the box.”

Looking Ahead

Kallas said she is taking creative approaches to building the library’s resources. She’s writing grants, including a $1,000 grant application through the Friends of the Library. Lowe’s Corporation has committed to renovating the library’s community garden in March at no cost to the library system. She’s also reaching out to other library systems, including the well-funded Annapolis, Maryland, library system where she previously worked, to collect duplicate copies they’re weeding from their collections.

The librarian is particularly focused on engaging underrepresented populations in the community, including teens and the Black community, and is working to ensure the library’s collection reflects the diversity of stories and experiences that matter to all residents.

“If you don’t see it, you can’t be it,” Laws quoted from a Sally Ride biography in the donated collection.

“That’s what this is all about — making sure every young person who walks into this library can see themselves reflected in the books on our shelves,” Kallas said.

With community support, the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library can continue serving as a vital resource for education, inspiration, and opportunity for all residents of Edenton.