Libraries house books; everyone knows that.  And, libraries house any number and variety of archival and historical materials, documents, photos, recordings and so on.  Few people, though, may be aware that libraries are increasingly offering purely practical services.

Sure, the library is a cultural center, says Joan Rhoades, director of the Vespasian Warner Public Library, but the library also is heavily invested in offering social services.

“I think, probably, most people don’t realize how much of that we do,” Rhoades says.

At a fundamental level, people filing for state unemployment insurance must now access the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) online.

“Maybe people have lost their jobs, so they may not have Internet capabilities at home or they may not have the know-how to know how to use the program,” Rhoades says. 

The same is true for Social Security.

“All those offices that used to be in town are now in Bloomington or Decatur.  That all has to be accessed online now.”

When a senior citizen comes into the library and needs help accessing their Social Security account, library staff can help them.

“We sit down with them and do a one-on-one computer tutorial,” Rhoades says.

A large number of Clinton residents take advantage of that library service. 

Warner Library also offers free income tax return preparation through its TaxAid program.

“It files their federal and state taxes free, any age, any income,” Rhoades says.  “The only thing we don’t do is farm depreciation.”

Just recently a patron wanted to draw up her own living will.  The library was able to help her through the legal aid program.

“We also have notaries on staff so they can do their own preparation for something like that.”

Rhoades says those types of service are especially important in a community that is home to a significant portion of lower income residents.

Of course, the library has books, too, but it also has multiple methods for providing those books, and it is home to large DVD movie and CD audio collections.

“People think of libraries in terms of the physical book,” Rhoades says.  “We check out NetFlix, we have streaming E-books — the library is open 24/7.”

Warner Library also is the major local repository of historical archives.

“We’re taking WWI letters and digitizing them so that they will be available in the online community.”

And the library is planning to work with a woman who is producing a documentary film about WWII veterans.

During January, people accessed the library’s archives online some 1,000, according to library assistant director Bobbi Perryman.

“Yearbooks are the biggest, Clinton, Wapella and Kenney,” Perryman said.  “Also, photographs, letters, anything related to DeWitt County history.”

And, the library continues its homebound program, delivering library materials to patrons who are unable to leave their homes on a regular basis.

Rhoades is active in the DeWitt County Substance Abuse Coalition. 

“We’re using the library as the number for people to call in to get rehab resources,” she says.  “We don’t think a lot of people who are addicted will feel comfortable calling the sheriff’s department.”

The library is seen as a neutral contact for people who want to find help.

“The churches have been very open, too.”

But, Rhoades says a person with a substance abuse problem often wants to avoid the possible stigma associated with drug addiction., another reason that person might feel better calling the library.

“We’re seen as that confidential, neutral place.”

Rhoades says her staff frequently hears people comment that libraries are obsolete because of the Internet.

“We’re not,” she says.  “The library bridges the technology gap.”

Check out all that Warner Library has to offer by visiting vwarner.org.