Magic City Neighbors Episode 6 - Ann Hutchison

We sat down with Ann Hutchison of the Barberton Public Library to really find out what a gem we have right downtown, right on the lake. Ann truly has changed the role of the Barberton library from a place for books into a community hub and trusted resource. The library offers so much more than just books and constantly reinvents itself to serve the community. They collaborate with schools and organizations to bring services to the community and work to eliminate barriers to access. The library provides study spaces, social activities, and various programs such as chair yoga, passport services, notary services, and job assistance. Ann has such a passion for the community and is excited to be able to help the community through the library. She also starts to talk about the possibility of a museum collaboration to showcase the town's rich history.

Transcript

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Hey everyone. I am Josh. And I am Jack. And this week we have Ann Hutchison from the Barberton library. This is going to be informative. We'll be back in a second. You're listening. The Magic City neighbors on the mike, where we talk to your Barberton neighbors about their stories, their insights and what gets them laughing. Make sure to like, share and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And now to the show. Welcome back, everyone. As I said, we've got an interesting episode this week, but this week's episode is sponsored by Pedal Stomper Productions as we get into summer. There's all sorts of events and activities that you want to capture memories from, but do you really want to do those things through your cell phone? It's less expensive than you may think to have Pedal Stomper Productions come out and take great photos of your event that will last a lifetime and also be great marketing material if that's what you're looking for. To go to pedalstomperproductions.com today to get your event on the calendar now. As before. I said, I am Josh. Last time I checked, I'm still Jack You are? I am. But I'm graduated now, actually. Congratulations, Adult. Now. Thank you. That's. That's scary. You're up there. It's wonderful and scary. And across the table from us, we have. It's the director of the Barberton Library, correct? Correct. Ann Hutchison. So we've got some big questions for you. We've also got some small questions for you. And then we've got some usual questions for you. So I'm going to start with one of my big ones. So follow the library on social media and it's crazy, the amount of stuff. There's always a new thing, a new event, a new service, whatever. I'm assuming the library is a little more than just books. That's new to me. It's the I'm. I'm assuming there's still books there. There are still books. Good, good, good, good. Glad to hear that. So what? I mean, how do you see the library now? Because obviously it's not just the spot for books. So, I mean, how do you see it? I guess I would say I see the public library as kind of the hub of the community. You know, we're a trusted resource. Everybody knows we have books, but we, you know, the public library, you know, we we are the place we serve everybody from birth to to the end of life. And we're always constantly reinventing ourselves, thinking of new ways we can serve the community. And, you know, that's what we've been doing. So we have books, we have audio books, we have streaming services, free. You know, you don't need to subscribe to Netflix. We have a number of streaming services. We have service called Hoopla, which is downloadable media, fabulous music movies. We are looking, you know, we do programing or very involved with early literacy and the importance of that. We work closely with the schools. We work closely with essentially all all the organizations in the community to to bring services. If we can't bring them to us, we look to bring the service to them. So we've recently I'm excited to say we went find free in 2022. That's you know, we're always looking also for ways to eliminate barriers to service and in our community finds are barriers to service. So just bring it back. There's no fine if you have that you know from back in the sixth grade that you've been hanging on to bring it back, maybe it maybe it might be that. No, I won't come fast. You can just put it in the book drop while we're closed and we'll never know. So I'll blame it on Jack. Yeah, I'll bring his for him. Now, you know somebody that works there. So, you know, you get the connection. Yeah, we've got a connection. That. That, that. So yeah, I mean, and with all the programs that I see, I mean, there's stuff for kids, there's stuff for adult, there's stuff for, like you said, end of lifers. I mean, it's everything. And that to me that's the community hub is is that that seems like a good label. And it's also a meeting place. It's a place where you can come. You know, we talked a little bit about co-working space. You know, you can you can bring your you could bring your office. You know, you don't have Internet here. You can bring it to us. You know, we have some quiet study spaces you can use. We are, you know, just come and hang out. You know, we love no matter what your age, just come and hang out and, you know, we've got something for you to do or just just a social place. Yeah, we have chair yoga. We do. We do all sorts of programs for all ages. Yoga. Yes, that sounds interesting. We have a certified yoga instructor that's been doing it for us for years.

And so every other Tuesday at 12: 4:59

00, come on down and meeting room and you can do it for all ages and abilities. But it's gentle, gentle yoga, yoga if there is such a thing. So I don't need to stand on my head if I can't do that. Oh, no. See, that's that's that's different. That's different. Yoga class. That's when you go to. No, that's when I would go to now that would end up in a hospital because I would end up at Barberton Hospital for that. So yeah. No I'll pass on that and helpful to the. Yeah. We also added we do passports or passport acceptance facilities. You can get your passport with us. We do notary service now. Oh we have you know we're aware of needs in our community. We have a representative from Ohio means jobs at the library every Wednesday from 10 to 6. They'll help you with everything from your resume to, you know, job searches. And we're looking to partner with more community organizations like that to bring more services into the community. Wow. So, I mean, there is there really is there is a broad reach of everything there. That's awesome. So, I mean, so like, let's say I need a question. I know the library's been a resource, too, in terms of looking things up, like legal stuff in terms that's still the case. I can find all that stuff there and we can we can if we don't know the answer, we can usually find the answer. So, you know, you don't know who to call called the library because if nothing else, we can put you in the right direction. Wow. That's that's interesting. So what to me, what keeps you thinking about, Oh, what do we bring in here next? I know you said there's this constant evolution, There's this constant change. What I mean, what drives that for you? You know, I work. I've worked in the public library for over 40 years now, and I figure I've still got so much energy. And you know what? What can we do next? We have the most amazing staff at the Barber and Public library, and we're always they come to me and, you know, I have this idea, you know, what can we do to better serve kids at Van Buren homes or or we're trying we're always trying new things. You know, if it works, great. If it doesn't, and we might dusted off and try it again in a different way. But just, you know, I. I have such a passion for this community. I wasn't born and raised here. We moved here actually, we moved here accidentally. We were turning around and a driveway and there was a little for sale sign in the garage window. And I joked, you know, hey, maybe the house is for sale. And it was never intended. I actually I spent most of my years in Coventry and Coventry. I graduate right next door. I had never been to Barberton. I honestly I had never been a barber and ended up here. And it's been actually this August will be 27 years. Wow. Lived lived here intended when my kids got old enough to go to school that we transfer them and looked into it and barber in the school. Our school systems are amazing. There's just so much here for them. And so I'm a proud parent of three urban high school graduates who are very successful. And I, I mentioned earlier that I worked for the Akron library system for many, many years. And when the position opened at Barberton, I thought, gosh, the chance to work in a community that I've really grown to love maybe make a difference. I got a try for this. And you know, when I came about four and a half years ago, my my feeling was, you know, the library is at every table, the library's at every meeting because we can we can we may not be able to meet every need, everybody's need, but we can serve in ways that no other organization really can. And we're really open to working with, you know, everybody out in the community to make this community better. That's awesome. Yeah, I'm I'm astounded enough. You you go while I sit here. I'll go to my. Yeah. What role do you see the library having in five to even ten years? Where do you see it at? I see. I see. We need more space. I see too many books. No, no, too many services. You know, if you've ever been to the main library in downtown Akron, the text on it mean. That was my that's my probably my proudest. That was my project. And I want to bring that to Main or to to the main Barberton library you know final final printers, laser engravers tools that people can, you know, use to enhance their business. Yeah, that's how that's how we brought it to Akron was from the micro business perspective. But you know, as as things happen and grow in Barberton with all the new businesses coming in and you know, we might have the tools that, you know, you could come and you know, do do your you know, at our gallery we had a recording studio, we had a bunch of different equipment where you could use to make marketing materials. You know, there's a T-shirt press so you could make your T-shirts. So the plan is to bring that to Barberton. We just need more space and more money and more people and more time. And anybody, anybody that anybody that knows teams knows. The other thing that I'm really passionate about is bringing having a museum here in Barberton. The time is right with, you know, for the library in the historical society and in the city to collaborate. There's such a rich history here in town. And with everything happening, you know, with Main Street, Barberton and, you know, all of the new, new things that are coming just prime opportunity. And my, my plug to the mayor was just imagine if we had a meeting or a museum here. People will come to town specifically to see, you know, all those artifacts that are in people's basements and garages and attics. Oh, yeah, Yeah, that's a great idea. I love that. Yeah, definitely. Elm, how did you end up there? How did you end up at the library? I ended up my first job. That my first job actually. I was a carnival worker. Which carnival worker? Two librarians. Yes. Yes. So it seemed like a stretch. Yeah, that was that was interesting. I think I started at with the Akron system when I was in high school right before I graduated. My dad made me apply for a job at the Coventry Branch Library, which is no longer No, it's Portage Lakes. But my dad made me apply and I finished throughout through high school. And then when I was in college, it was a pretty good job to have because I had benefits and went to I got my master's in library science, kind of as something to fall back on. I thought, I'll get a good job and then I'll go back to my true passion, which was psychology. That's what I that was my field of interest. And it just sort of, you know, I I've never actually been the librarian, even though I have the degree. I've always been involved with technology and knew, knew and, you know, my last few years at Akron, I was the technology director and then the customer experience director. And I think that's, you know, my boss at the time said, you know, what do you see yourself doing? You know, many years? And I said, you know, I'll do whatever, whatever you want me to. And he said, Well, at Akron, they're colors are blue and orange. She said, I know you're blue, purple and white at home, but here you bleep blue and orange and your passion is really the customer. I think that's, you know, made me the customer experience director. So I think about that when I'm thinking about the Barberton library to what can we do to make it as easy as possible for people to use us and get access to the resources and services that they might need? Hmm. Yeah, that's wow did come up story. Yeah that really that really is I mean and 40 years later I'm still working at a library and I joke that I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up because I have made that same joke. It was not not a librarian. That's. That's for sure. Yeah, but I've, you know, I'm I'm kind of a bloom or you're planted kind of person. And I just I love I love everything that I do. It's it's obvious to I think I speak for most people that are watching this. It's obvious. And when we look at the library, that that is very much the case that that you do love what you do. To me, I think we're kind of moving to the lightning round here. What do you think, Jack? Think so? So our lightning round is we're going to ask you some simple questions. One, two sentence answers, and we'll go from there. So and I think Jack's last question is going to be a very deep one. People have been waiting for this. Yeah, people have been waiting for this for sure. So what is your I mean, quick off the top of your head. Favorite thing about the library. And I just think that we're in a place to serve serve this great community, I guess, you know, and and that we are always transforming and adapting to whatever the needs of the community at the time are. You know, COVID was a rough that was a rough time. I hadn't been in my job very long and I had to make a decision to do. We closed the library, and that won't take that one lightly. You know, at a time when people needed us the most, we're still we're still people still use us for our wi fi, for our public computers, for printing, for faxing. So, you know, and sometimes where else can you go to get help with that in the public library, right? Yeah, for sure. There's another big one. What is your favorite book? Oh, you know, I'm not I have to admit, I'm a big Stephen King fan. I love I love Stephen King. Nice. And I also have to admit that I'm not a big reader. I love to read. I do love to read, but. But don't seem like you have much time for that. Everything else going on, you seem busy. I you know, and I've had the fortune. You know, I've gotten really involved in the community, just especially in the last year. But I serve on the community Foundation board now. I'm on the main street, Barrington Board, and I think, you know, talking about you didn't ask, but something that I'm most excited about is I just the main street. Barberton Every meeting that I come away from, I think I think we all feel the same that this is going to happen. I know you know, you've talked about it before, but I know people say, well, we you know, we've tried all that before, but I really think this the people that are at the table, this this is going to happen. And it's just such an exciting time to be a part of this community. Our next guest will be able to speak about the Mainstreet program very deeply. Well, well, well, we will allude to that. I think I know who you're talking about. Maybe. Maybe, just maybe so. Yeah. Another big question for me is if not the library and I know you said some psychology is is what you what you kind of initially thought, but if not the library knowing what you know now, where would you be? Maybe a teacher. Interesting. Either a teacher or you know and I also I've often often thought I have a good friend who teaches kids with special needs at one of our elementary schools. And hearing her passion for these kids, I think if and when I retire from the library world, I might just go back just to be a teacher's aide, you know, just to be able to work with the kids, maybe make a difference in somebody's life, you know, let the teachers do the do the hard stuff. And I'll just just be there to work with it. Just be there to smile and for playtime. Well, that to me, that's I mean, that sounds like a big win. Yeah. Yeah, I'm in for that. And our fan favorite. How many times a day do people get shushed at the library? Yeah, it's just amazing. You guys haven't been to the library in a long time. We are not a. Although I have to tell you, I did get crushed by a patron not too long ago. Really? I was talking with a person who's a little hard of hearing and I. Boy, I got shush. I did. I got shushed. Wow. But, you know. No, we're not. You seem to recover from it. Yeah, Yeah, yeah. It's, you know, don't. It's not, it's not this. It's not a standard traditional library. It is not The library is not stuffy anymore, is what I'm pulling away from this. That would be my. That's what I would say. Now, someone else might say something different, but now I take your word for it. Yeah. No, I just, you know, So to me, this we have to ask you our big questions that we're asking everyone else. And so far, we realize that there are a ton of bowling balls at the bottom of Lake and which is somehow also bottomless because there's a German U-boat that came from Lake Erie. Yes. So what is your favorite Barberton folklore slash tall tale slash rumor? Well, that's I mean, it's hard to top for sure, but my kids, all three of my kids went to Portage Elementary, which is now one of the Christian health care ministries. Yeah. Buildings and I spent a lot of time in that school with the kids and volunteering and doing destination imagination. And Mr. Six was the custodian at Portage Elementary, and he would would take us down into the recesses. If you've ever been in Portage, there are a lot of nooks and crannies and little, little rooms and things. And he took us back into the back and supposedly it was haunted. And when you walked back, you felt that you felt the cold, cold air and the presence of I don't remember who it was and try as I might every time he took us back there, I'm like, okay, be quiet. Let's, you know, never felt it. But Mr. Six said that it was there, so it must be so I don't know if any of my anybody at Christian Health Care Ministries has experienced, you know, in the basement the FDA sent it out or they have just avoided it. Maybe just they knew about it. And that's the reason you don't hear about it anymore. They stay away. That might be they just said they decided to keep their mouths closed. They didn't. Yeah. No, I get I understand that. And then I'm just to top it off, what do you see as the future for Maryland and where do you think we're headed or in like what are the bright spots? I think there's so many bright spots. I mean, are schools are you know, are city the the things that are happening in the city right now, I just it's it's just exciting. And I think we're moving in the right direction. You know, is it going to look like it did 40 years ago or whenever, you know, downtown was in its heyday? Yeah, No, it's going to be something different. It's going to be something for today. And I just think, you know, I'm hopeful that we can keep some of our graduates here in town and, you know, they can they can make a life for themself here and, you know, give back to the community that raised them. But I think I think we're headed in the right direction. I think, you know, it's exciting. It's an exciting time to be a barber, Tony. And I agree. I agree. I agree. Everyone we've had on has so many great things to say about the community as a whole. And then when you look at the direction that so many things are taking right now, you're right. This is the right time to be here in Barberton and is be at the front of it. To me, that's that seems like a good spot and good ending. Good ending. And we want to thank you for being willing to come on this week. We really appreciate it. And as I alluded to before, we have an interesting guest. They've all been interesting haven't. Yeah that's we have we do not have guests here. We have another interesting guest coming up in our next podcast. So make sure that you like, subscribe and share this with your neighbors because we want your neighbors to get all this information, too. We'll see you guys later. Thank you. Thanks for having me.