Why do libraries matter? Learn more in panel series

The Bakersfield Californian
Updated ·2 min read

Apr. 10—Libraries offer an amazing free resource for the public to gain knowledge, gather, communicate and overall improve their quality of life.

Yet one of their biggest struggles is getting the word out about all they have to offer the community.

Hoping to address this, the Kern County Library, Bakersfield College and the Shafter Library & Learning Center have teamed up for the Libraries & Learning panel series, which kicks off Thursday.

The three free panels each focus on different topics including libraries in Kern County, their educational and community impact and their trajectory into the future.

First up is Thursday's "Uncovering Our Roots," which will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Beale Memorial Library Auditorium, 701 Truxtun Ave.

Panelists are:

—Daniel Cater, principal architect of Cater Design Group, which is responsible for a number of high-profile projects including The Cue, downtown's latest high-end apartment community.

—Kristie Coons, retired librarian who oversaw many community efforts including coordinating One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern from 2002 to 2013 and Partnerships for Change, a state grant focused on redesign in public services serving diverse populations.

—Emma Gallegos, former Bakersfield Californian reporter who now covers equity in education for the nonprofit news organization EdSource.

The series continues Saturday with "Treasuring Our Rural Libraries," which will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the McFarland Branch Library, 500 W. Kern Ave. in McFarland.

Panelists are:

—Melissa Mejia, a Central Valley native and branch manager of the rural Marina Branch of Monterey County Free Libraries who previously managed the McFarland Branch and the Cesar Chavez Branch of Salinas Public Library.

—Marisol Barrios, a McFarland resident and library volunteer who uses the library daily for her and her son.

Being held April 20, "What's Next for Central Valley Libraries?" will conclude the series with the panel from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Shafter Library & Learning Center, 236 James St. in Shafter.

The location is key, given the library's success story moving under the operation of the city, which runs it with help from Bakersfield College and continuing support from the community.

All three panelists were involved in helping last year's campaign to preserve the library.

—Ariel Dyer, a reference librarian and Shafter Library liaison for Bakersfield College, also advocates for public libraries and public library funding in Kern County.

—David Franz, director of education partnership for the city of Shafter, led the city's effort to form a municipal library as well as helped create programs serving thousands of students from preschool to adults.

—Katie Wiebe, president of the Friends of the Shafter Library, led the group's "Save the Shafter Library" effort and also serves as a literacy champion at Grow Academy Shafter.