REORGANIZING — Mary H. Weir Public Library Director Rick Rekowski and cataloguer Roberta Fedoush stood by a cart serving to differentiate early reader books from other literature in the children’s collection. -- Christopher Dacanay

WEIRTON — According to Library Director Rik Rekowski, the Mary H. Weir Public Library has seen a major increase in public usage of library materials, particularly paper books.

In 2024, individual uses increased by 500 July to December, compared to the same period in 2023. That trend has carried into 2025, with 300 more uses reported in January, compared to January of last year.

Rekowski said this means people are checking out more paper books in all categories — both children’s and adult literature.

Interestingly, while other libraries seem to focus on electronic materials, the Mary H. Weir library has witnessed a resurgence in the traditional format.

Rekowski attributes that to a post-COVID-19 mindset. Simply put, people are “just coming out of that behavior of being isolated, and they want to be with people.”

INTERNING — Naedia McCann, a software engineering student at West Virginia Northern Community College, worked at a computer during her first week as the Mary H. Weir Public Library’s new intern. -- Christopher Dacanay

That swelling of usage coincides with some changes at the library.

From sorting improvements in the children’s section to technical help from a student intern, the Mary H. Weir Public Library is making advancements to benefit library users and create a more pleasing environment.

Part of those advancements is geared toward future readers, by making early reader books more accessible, Rekowski said.

Not long ago, the library sorted all of its children’s books by author’s last name. So, if a parent was trying to find an early reader book — literature specifically designed to help children develop reading skills at various levels — he or she would need to sift through picture books and other early reader books of the wrong level.

That’s a problem observed by library cataloguer Roberta Fedoush, who witnessed parents repeatedly asking for staff assistance when looking for certain early reader books.

In response, Fedoush spoke with Rekowski about making early reader books easier to access. Within the last month, the library has begun sorting early reader books into their own section, organized by reading level — pre-reader through level five. Although the books will eventually have their own shelf, they’re temporarily housed on a cart, as staff members continue sorting.

The library aims to have books sorted by summer, Fedoush said. Progress is time-consuming, as books must have their locations changed in the card catalog and be re-labeled. In the end, Fedoush said, the change will be “very beneficial” for parents.

Possible changes to the furniture in the children’s section are being considered, in order to make the space more comfortable for parents accompanying their children.

Fedoush said the increase in material usage could be caused by parents, who nowadays seem to be “much more interested in ensuring their kids are learning.” That claim is evidenced by the many parents who have recently come to the library when school is canceled to print their children’s assignments and make sure they’re getting done.

To see more parents and their children using the library is “very encouraging,” Fedoush said.

Rekowski said of the increase, “It really is wonderful to see parents with their children coming into the building and sharing those experiences — looking at books and not having those distractions where you can have an instantaneous download wherever you want at any time — but in a space or environment that’s conducive to learning. And that’s where the public library comes in.”

The Mary H. Weir library has many resources for children, including activities and crafts by the lobby, as well as kids’ magazines and story hours.

Children and their families can check out various kits — bags filled with materials to provide them with a tactile learning experience that teaches different concepts.

Additionally, the library is working with the Family Resource Network to present science workshops from the NASA center at Fairmont State University. Those will begin in early spring, Rekowski said, noting the Family Resource Network is coordinating training for local individuals to become certified in presenting those workshops.

Sorting through books in the children’s section has provided an extra opportunity for library staff to retire old books and add new ones. This lifecycle of books is always in motion, Rekowski said, noting the library is constantly adding updated books for children and adults, particularly in the nonfiction categories of science, medicine and geography.

The influx of new books is another contributing factor to the usage increase, Rekowski said. Those new books — for children and adults — are placed on their own designated shelf.

In general, the library is set to benefit “immensely” from a new intern from the West Virginia Northern Community College computer science program, Rekowski said.

WVNCC and the library have had a longstanding partnership that’s yielded around nine different interns who’ve contributed their skills at the library. Rekowski said the library’s newest intern, who started Feb. 10 and will continue at least through the summer, is going to help resolve hardware and software issues, aiding staff and the public.

“We are excited about this partnership with West Virginia Northern Community College,” Rekowski said. “It is a great opportunity to represent the computer curriculum of the college to the community on the floor of the public place, in an information center — the Mary H. Weir Public Library.”

The individual who applied and was accepted as this year’s intern, was Naedia McCann, a student in WVNCC’s software engineering program.

McCann heard about the opening through individuals in the community college’s information technology department, who put in a reference for her.

“It’s a very cool opportunity because in most software engineering jobs, you don’t really get to work with the public as directly,” McCann said. “And something that a lot of people in my field lack is just basic human experience and how to interact with people. It’s nice to be able to work with the arts in my field, as well.”

One of McCann’s roles will be assisting with the library’s poster printer, creating 2-foot-by-3-foot displays for the library’s outdoor gallery. Perhaps one of the only outdoor galleries in West Virginia, according to Rekowski, the library’s gallery is composed of several boards on which pieces are displayed.

About 15 years ago, the library and the West Virginia Humanities Council collaborated to present the Smithsonian Institution’s first traveling exhibition in the Northern Panhandle.

When the exhibition required more space, the library had its outdoor gallery and surrounding garden created, with help from the Weirton Public Works Department, Rekowski said.

Various displays have graced the gallery, ranging from historical to artistic, for about four weeks at a time. Rekowski said he’d like to revitalize the gallery with more “culturally enriching” displays, with help from McCann.

McCann is expected to help with the library’s monitor display project. Located in the lobby are multiple digital monitors intended to present various displays with changing images — art, illustrations or new happenings at the library.

Rekowski said McCann will work with the library’s software vendor and West Virginia Office of Technology to update the monitors and get them running.

The library has plenty of other programs and resources for patrons to enjoy or utilize, including federal and state tax forms at the library and on its website.

The library continually exhibits artwork from the local arts council and conventions bureau in its lobby, in coordination with the other Hancock County libraries.

April is Poetry Month, and Rekowski said the library will have special displays to commemorate. On the first Saturday of May, the library will host a performance from the Marionettes, a historical entertainment troupe with music and sound — volunteers are being sought to help manage the event.

As Mary H. Weir Public Library staff continues to sort early reader books, and as McCann lends her expertise to staff and users alike, time will tell if usage rates carry on with their upward trend.