C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library Director Bill Pixley makes deliveries. Over the course of the last year-and-a-half Pixley has started a delivery program which involves visiting local seniors, taking their respective media requests then bringing those items the following week.
The director said he previously organized a similar program while he was employed at a library in Calvert City. He has been employed at C.E. Brehm Library for nearly three years.
Pixley loaded up his van at the library Friday morning then drove to Rome Meadows Senior Living Facility in Dix. Rome Meadows is the only facility outside of Mt. Vernon that he currently visits. Upon arrival, Pixley passed out individualized requests for media items he delivered such as DVDs, books and magazines to residents at the facility.
"Many of the residents can't get around very well and a trip to the library is difficult," Pixley said. "Many of general ideas of what they would like and others are very specific. I just try to bring stuff and figure out what they want."
When he began taking and filling requests last year, Pixley said he would visit three or four locations such as adult day cares, senior living centers and assisted living facilities.
"I started out with three or four and gradually worked up to 10 locations," he said. "There are still a few more I need to include but need more staff to do so. I go somewhere every day and Janeta Sutton makes trips to four locations on Wednesdays."
The challenge for Pixley is to keep acquiring fresh media to bring to his more active participants.
"Some authors have 30 or 40 books but some can go through a couple a week so it doesn't take long to get through a list," Pixley explained. "When I run out of a particular area or focus I try and find something else for them to read or watch if they're more into movies."
Pixley added Jefferson County residents, other than Grand Prairie, can register for a library card at no cost. Registration must be completed in person. Two forms of identification are required. One form of ID must have current address and photo.
In his visits, Pixley provides a list of available movies, in DVD format, which can be checked out. He also takes individual inquiries on other forms of media. Pixley said many of the books he can access for residents are donated to the library.
"Some of those books are in our library or at other places and some of them are used as items for our program." - http://goo.gl/COVRy
