The Osterhout offers programming for all ages, as seen here with their Do It Yourself program in the fall. Please note: This photo was taken prior to the pandemic.
Courtesy of Amber Loomis | Osterhout Free Library
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The Osterhout Free Library provides a welcoming experience for all members of the community. Whether it’s browsing for a leisurely read, doing studies for school, professional work, or numerous other things, the Osterhout is happy to provide.
Courtesy of Amber Loomis | Osterhout Free Library
Staff and guests take part in the Osterhout’s Children’s programming, which includes a vast array of activities. Please note: This photo was taken prior to the pandemic.
Courtesy of Amber Loomis | Osterhout Free Library
The Ken L. Pollock Children’s Library, opened in 1982, is proudly celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year.
Courtesy of Amber Loomis | Osterhout Free Library
The Osterhout Free Library Staff stop to pose for a photo. The Osterhout saw the pandemic as a challenge to meet head-on, and evolve their lengthy list of services to the community, which they’ve been proudly supporting since 1889.
Courtesy of Amber Loomis | Osterhout Free Library
WILKES-BARRE — Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.”
Fortunately, the Osterhout Free Library boasts several locations, and within each are all of the materials you could ever need to continue learning —or simply explore a new hobby.
There’s the Central Branch, 71 S. Franklin St.; the North Branch, 28 Oliver St.; the Plains Branch, 126 N. Main St.; and the South Branch at 2 Airy St.
The Central Branch was established on Jan. 29, 1889, as part of the last will and testament of merchant and real estate tycoon, Isaac Smith Osterhout. He had passed away in 1882 and wished for a large portion of his estate to go toward the establishment of a public library, and thus, the Osterhout Free Library was born.
In the present day, Osterhout’s Director of Development and Community Relations, Amber Loomis, says the library didn’t ask, “How will this affect us?” when the pandemic came. Instead, they asked, “What can we do to help the community?”
“We have over 100,000 library card users,” Loomis said. “We wanted to just really ensure that individuals in the community knew that we were still there, you know? That our services were still there.”
One of those services that really boomed for them over the last two years was the Library of Things.
The Library of Things was in existence prior to the pandemic, however, those involved worked to broaden the horizons of the program. Loomis pointed out that folks are able to check out board games, take-home crafts, cameras, tools, sewing machines and even guitars. So if a child had an interest in a hobby, rather than paying for a brand new instrument, parents could borrow one, and see if their children would want to stick with it or not, allowing them to “try before they buy”.
The main point, Loomis says, was the realization of how many families in Luzerne County are still without internet. “It’s easy for us to take the internet for granted,” Loomis says. “We’re always glued to our phones.” For those who are still without, the Osterhout invested in dozens of hot spot devices, allowing families to get on the web and search for vaccination locations, or even get involved with job searches if they happened to be laid off, or for children to get on the web for virtual school.
And if that isn’t already going above and beyond, the Osterhout was also able to work with the Diamond City Partnership to not only fundraise for themselves, but to benefit more than 40 downtown businesses.
“While we wanted to raise money for the library, we also wanted to give back to all the businesses that support our annual rooftop event each year,” Loomis says. So, they came up with a coupon book. Folks were able to purchase the book from the library, and then turn around and use the coupons to support local businesses, during these especially trying times.
As the Osterhout moves forward into 2022, they’re celebrating ‘Love Your Library’ month here in February. Folks are encouraged to visit the Osterhout Free Library Facebook page, and comment on the pinned post with their favorite memories of the library, or just why they appreciate the library.
With Love Your Library Month in mind, the Osterhout is also currently trying to raise $50,000 to invest in further equipment for the Library of Things. Specifically, they’re looking to invest in more hot spots for folks to check out, and a few Chromebooks as well.
The library is also proudly celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Ken L. Pollock Children’s Wing. A portion of proceeds from the current fundraiser will go toward installing a kids-only restroom in the Children’s Wing, so they’ll have their own facilities and won’t have to leave the wing.
If you’d like to get involved with the Osterhout Free Library, or donate, you can visit the web page at osterhout.info, or contact Amber Loomis on her office phone at 570-823-0156, ext 218, or via email at aloomis@luzernelibraries.org. You can also check the calendar on the site for upcoming events, like the Brewsterhout Rooftop Party, set for October.
It’s also important to remember that the Osterhout offers a Cloud Library with eBooks and magazines, so in-person borrowing isn’t required.