By Jaclyn Hicken
According to a new book, the Orem City Library is the Heart of the Community.
The coffee table book, 'Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love,' is specifically designed to feature America''s favorite libraries. Both the Orem library and the Salt Lake library were ultimately chosen as libraries that Utahns love, and were included as two of only 80 libraries featured in the book.
Each library nominated had to meet specific criteria. Berkshire Publishing used each library''s association with important events or people, historical significance, architectural design, or special significance to community life as criteria for judging the entries. However, according to www.librarieswelove.org, the Web site established for the book, the committee examining each submission ultimately chose libraries that stood as 'beloved center of the community.'
The Orem City Library, located at the Orem City Complex, is currently being renovated. Half of the library''s collection is currently being housed at University Mall in Orem, while the other half was rearranged to absorb other books displaced by the renovations.
'Our library is known for its open, beautiful feel,' Louise Wallace, director of the Orem Library, said. 'But half of the Orem library is in rubble right now. It will be beautiful when it''s done; the original architecture and brickwork of the new wing will remain in place, but it will be polished.'
Despite the construction, the Orem Library still has many features that benefit the community in various ways. Monday and Friday programs are held weekly, both at the Mall Branch and main library, featuring performers ranging from national storytellers to Native American dance groups.
Information on upcoming events at the Orem Library are available on the website, http://lib.orem.org. Found under the heading of 'Monthly Calendar,' these events include story times for children, weekly chess games, book clubs, demonstrations, plays and puppet shows.
For students at BYU and citizens of Provo City, having the Orem Library close by can be very advantageous. In addition to the programs and books offered by both the Provo and Orem libraries individually, these two libraries have worked together to develop a reciprocal borrowing agreement.
'These two cities are so alike in citizens and goals, it''s very advantageous,' Wallace said. 'Orem citizens can go to Provo, Provo can come here.'
People who would like to participate in the reciprocal borrowing policy can simply bring their current library card to the other library and register. According to Wallace, the Provo Library buys multiple copies of best-selling books, while the Orem Library works for more breadth and depth. In this way, the libraries can work together to cater to the many different tastes of their readers. The Orem Library alone houses 260,000 items and features a large media library with hundreds of ebooks, CDs, tapes and movies.
The book 'Heart of the Community: Libraries We Love' is scheduled to be published in December. Each of the featured libraries will be shown in an article featuring photographs, library activities, interior and exterior photographs, histories and text about what makes the library special.