Imagine My Surprise!

I’m a reader. As a child, libraries were kin to sanctuaries to me. I loved the smells and the silence. I appreciated the simplicity and enormity of the card catalog, each drawer a box of unknown wonders. I sometimes played “librarian” when I was alone at home, checking my real library books in and out…to myself!

I’ve lived in Mentone for many years now, but only recently learned another one of its many “secrets.” All these years, I’ve been buying books to read, or borrowing books from the Kindle library. I don’t know exactly why, but I never ventured into our community’s little library, other than to donate books for their book sale.

Imagine my surprise when I learned the true nature of the Moon Lake Community Library. It is not part of the DeKalb County library system, as I’d presumed it was. Rather, it is an independent library run by a volunteer board. Once I heard this, I was enormously impressed, and the next day I dropped in to be a supportive neighbor.

I met Dianne Kuehl, who’s really the rock of our library. She supervises librarians, coordinates a group of dedicated volunteers, and has served on the community library’s board since its inception 15 years ago. Dianne mentioned they were in need of a librarian, and I bit the hook. In late July, I started my new part-time “dream” job as the librarian at Moon Lake Community Library. And I’ve loved every day of it.

For any of you who may be as uninformed as I was: “Moon Lake Library” serves as Moon Lake Elementary School Library during school hours. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and on Saturday mornings, when it opens to the public, it serves as Moon Lake Community Library. It is one of two shared library systems in the state.

In 2002, the DeKalb County school system constructed the building, largely aided by substantial donations from local folks; these donations were matched by a generous patron.

Since then, a board of directors has made it possible for the library to serve the larger local population. The board raises funds through patron donations, book sales, and sponsorship of a free annual calendar. These funds are used to purchase new books and DVDs, pay the community librarian’s salary, and pay the summer power bills, so the books are able to stay in a year-round climate-controlled environment.

Moon Lake Community Library has more than 4,000 books in its holdings, including a special collection of local history. More than 800 DVDs are available to borrow, and hundreds of donated books are for sale. Such a valuable resource!

Come on in and see what jumps off the shelf—it may be just the book you “need” to read. Our hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 3-6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. See you at the library!

Kelly Leavitt
Community Librarian