Coffee and Conversation connects East Lake library to the community

Article and photos by MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN

On the fourth Wednesday of each month from 9–11am, a cart loaded with hot coffee (from Peace Coffee), refreshments and a tall pitcher of fresh cream is rolled into the East Lake Library foyer. Called Coffee and Conversation, the four-month-old community-building initiative is an opportunity for library staff to get to know their patrons better.

Photo left: "I’m at the library a few times a week," said Raquel Leyla. "It’s a great place for me to hang out, and sometimes I meet up with friends here. I don’t think I’m very photogenic, but you can take my picture if you want to."

In addition, each month there’s a different activity people can choose to participate in. The activities aren’t necessarily group activities, but patrons can interact with staff and others as much as they like.

Adult Services Librarian Anna Sheppard said, “This is one of several ‘micro-activisms’ we’re trying, as we experiment with subtle ways of using our library space to welcome the whole community in.”

While anyone can participate in Coffee and Conversation, the program is particularly geared towards patrons who may be housing insecure (homeless or between homes). “Patrons who have a strong personal or social need are most likely to come to the library right when it opens,” Sheppard said.

Previous activities have included planting marigold seeds to bloom in library planters, and writing memoir poems. The May activity was themed around postcards. Participants were asked to reflect on three questions and use a post-it-note to post their answers on a common wall. “Can you remember getting a postcard when you were a child?”, “When did you last send a postcard?”, “Have you ever received a postcard from a faraway country?” Participants could also choose to write a postcard, with the library providing postage and mailing.

Sheppard explained, “For recent Library Science graduates, we’re re-thinking the ‘library narrative.’ Libraries have had to change because communities have changed. We have 41 libraries in the Hennepin County system. Coffee and Conversation is one of the ways we’re helping to keep this particular library relevant.”

Photo right: Richard Olson said, "I was doing a trade job for a while but I got injured. I’m working on getting my GED across the street from the East Lake Library now, so I’m over here almost every day. I think I’ll send a postcard to my Mom."

Throughout the Hennepin County system, patrons without a permanent address can apply for library cards. “We think it’s worth the risk of possible loss,” Sheppard said, “to give people access to good reading materials. We’re working hard to build not just a better library, but a better community.”

Toward that end, the East Lake Library has a large Community Food and Housing display to the right of the Lake St. entrance to the library. There’s information about St. Stephen’s Human Services, nearby food shelves, adult basic education, ELL classes and much more.

There are also adult easy reader books there, for adult readers with a lower literacy level.

“While libraries are not social service agencies,” Sheppard pointed out, “they should at least be able to direct people accordingly.”

Photo left: "I’m going to send a postcard to my girlfriend. She’ll be beyond tickled. I come here every day. I’m 53 years old, and I just started reading books for fun about three years ago. Now I read all the time." said Russ Perkins.

“We have all kinds of informal learning opportunities set up throughout the library,” Sheppard said. “When East Lake Library was remodeled several years ago, patrons felt the new space wasn’t all that welcoming. We’ve added a chess board, a joke jar (take a joke, leave a joke), free brain games and crosswords, and all kinds of interactive programming. We hope, as librarians and library specialists, to be able to give anyone that needs it at least five minutes of positive interaction.”

Sheppard concluded, “Coffee and Conversation is one of the ways were working to meet that goal. If we can’t greet our patrons as they enter, then all of our programming doesn’t mean a thing.”