Sponsored by Community First Bank
Photos by Abbie Willans
In 1902, a local library was most known for having books. Today, it’s a place to not only borrow books, but also get a coffee, rent a mixer or use a 3D printer. After officially opening at a new location on June 1 of last year, the Westfield Washington Public Library has become a great place to read, learn, work and meet new people.
Erin Downey is the executive director of the Westfield Library Foundation, which was launched in 2019 to help keep pace with the growth of the city. Shortly after that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. One of the first steps the foundation took was extending Wi-Fi from the building into the parking lot. The library was closed, but people could still use this resource to work and complete school assignments. The foundation was also able to help pay for tutors for Westfield students during that difficult time.
“When I started here, one of the things that I really worked on was changing the image of the library, because it does so much more these days than books,” Downey says. “It’s more of a community center and a gathering space.”
Some of the amenities at the new building include a coffee shop, private study rooms, computers and printers, as well as a lactation room sponsored by the Kiwanis club. In addition to the smaller rooms available to reserve, one feature that the community requested was larger rooms for meeting spaces, so the foundation made sure to prioritize those. The library hosts several clubs, from mah-jongg to Girl Scouts to book clubs.
The foundation is proud to sponsor the Annie Gotwald Makerspace and STEM Lab, and honor the life of 9-year-old Ann Gotwald, who loved science and wanted to be an engineer for NASA. It includes 3D printers and a recording studio for guests to use.
The children’s section features a play area and a “library of things,” which contains kits and materials that kids are able to check out and take home. The foundation is working on an adult library of things, with items like tools and kitchen equipment. There is also a seed library sponsored by Community First Bank of Indiana, where visitors can get seeds to plant in their gardens. The library is expanding its collection of Spanish books, and holds both English and Spanish story times for children.
Sheryl Sollars has been the executive director of the library since March of 2003. She’s looking forward to the spring author event that the foundation is organizing for 2025.
“I’m excited to have a big-name author come to the library,” Sollars says. “It’s been a goal of mine for many years. I always look forward to all of the wonderful programs my staff plan and execute during the Summer Reading Program.” This program is the biggest one of the year and encourages children to read by rewarding them with parties and special events.
All of these programs are possible due to the Westfield Library Foundation and the donations from the community. The 1902 Society was started to get local businesses involved in supporting the library, and was expanded after individuals and families also wanted to participate. Members have their names engraved on the wall and have access to special perks.
The Westfield Washington Public Library is located at 17400 Westfield Boulevard in Westfield. You can reach them by phone at 317-896-9391 or email them at librarian@wwpl.lib.in.us.
