New Library Manager in town

Timberland Library Manager Devon Bergeron

Winlock Timberland Library has a new manager, Devon Bergeron. Devon has been busy getting programs together and meeting new people around town. She is also the Manager of the Salkum Timberland Library where she is a couple days a week.

"I came to the Winlock Timberland Library in a round-about way," said Devon. "I started out with the Timberland Regional Library system as an assistant in 2015, was promoted to youth services associate, and eventually, after completing my masters library science degree, I became manager of the Salkum branch. Since I had worked with Winlock Library staff and done outreach in the area, when the Winlock Manager job re-opened in June of 2022, I went for it. Now, I am currently managing both the Salkum and Winlock Timberland Libraries, and I think it is going well!"

"One of the biggest things I have learned working in Winlock is just how different each library's community is," she continued. "The Salkum branch is right on the side of Highway 12. There is not too much infrastructure or a community within walking distance, so a lot of our patrons there are traveling. The Winlock branch is right downtown, and we get much more drop-in foot traffic. We are also within walking distance from the elementary school, and this year I have been able to collaborate with the Winlock School District to get classroom visits inside our little library. It has been awesome having so many kids' checking out their local library!"

"We have been slowly ramping up our in-person programming, with a focus on early literacy, ages birth to 5," Devon said about her efforts to recover after COVID. "We are now doing weekly family story times, every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Our Winlock Friends of the Library group sponsors ongoing library scavenger hunts and they also purchased some new toys and a dollhouse for our children's area. For bigger kids, we hold a Teen Only Night, the last Wednesday of every month, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. And this year we also started offering a once-a-month arts-and-crafts program for teens and adults. So far this year we have done a candle-making workshop, mosaic bookmarks and watercolor painting. On May 13, we are hosting a Collage Art Workshop, and then in June it will be Acrylic Painting."

Devon continued, "We don't currently have a lot of volunteer activities available in the library, but our Friends of the Winlock Library are always on the lookout for volunteers! They hold bi-monthly book sales and are doing a big plant sale on May 6. If you are interested, give us a call at the library! Over the past couple years, between pandemic and politics, there has been a loss of community connection. My goal is to reestablish both the libraries as community connection hubs and to boost awareness of library resources and engagement with programs."

There are lots of virtual programs still available online at TRL.ORG/EVENTS. Select 'TRL Online Virtual Events' for the location and you will see programs ranging from Library Film Club, a Typing Club, several different book clubs for teens and adults, Listen Here: adult story times, Bilingual Story Times for babies and toddlers, and even gaming groups for teens.

"Today's libraries are so much more than quiet buildings full of books," she said. "We are community spaces where you can connect to wifi and use computers for free. Yes, we have loads of books, but we also have movies and tv shows, audiobooks, printing, play spaces for children, and even a growing Library of Things (guitars, light therapy lamps, chromebooks). We also have some amazing staff that can help you with resources ranging from small business and employment help, homework help for kids, genealogy, online learning and all sorts of information research."

Today's libraries are different, they offer so much more than ever before. If you have not checked out the local library, please do so and introduce yourself to Devon. She is a great addition to the City of Winlock!