>> WELCOME TO "NEXT UP" A PART OF "DONNYBROOK" ON 9 PBS.

I'M WENDY WIESE.

200 YEARS AGO FIRST MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARIES WERE OPEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

CREATING FREE OPEN COMMUNITY HUBS, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES.

IN TODAY'S DIGITAL WORLD, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RELY ON LIBRARY FOR MORE THAN JUST BOOKS.

FOR MANY LIBRARIES ARE THEIR ONLY ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

RECENTLY, LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN IN THE HEADLINES FOR CHALLENGING A BOOK BAN IN MISSOURI.

AS A RESULT, THE MISSOURI HOUSE VOTED TO DEFUND LIBRARIES IN THIS STATE.

HOWEVER, BUDGET WRITERS IN THE MISSOURI SENATE RESTORED THE FUNDING JUST YESTERDAY.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE UPS AND DOWNS LIFE IN THE LIBRARY IS KRISTIN SORT, SHE'S DIRECTOR AND CEO OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

BILL AND I ARE BOTH GRANDPARENTS AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN LOVE THE LIBRARIES.

WITH MISSOURI'S ACTION YESTERDAY GOING AHEAD AND RESTORING THE FUNDING, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE BATTLE IS OVER AND THE SKIES ARE BLUE?

>> WE HOPE SO.

IT HAS TO GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT GOES THROUGH CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND GOES BACK FOR THE VOTE.

WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE FUNDING WILL BE RESTORED.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOOK BANNING AND AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS AND WHATEVER THE LEGISLATURE TALKING ABOUT, ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO CARD KIDS WHEN THEY COME IN AND LOOK FOR CERTAIN BOOKS?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> FOR US AND FOR LIBRARIANS, WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

WE SELECT KELLERS -- MATERIAL THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

WHAT ONE PERSON MAY LIKE ANOTHER PERSON MAY NOT LIKE.

WE LEAVE THOSE DECISIONS UP TO THE PARENTS.

WE FEEL THE PARENTS ARE AND GUARDIANS ARE THE BEST DECISION MAKERS FOR THEIR CHILD AND WHAT THEY SHOULD BE READING.

>> WHAT I MEAN, IF A CHILD COMES IN AND WANTS A BOOK THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT'S AN ADULT BOOK.

DO YOU QUESTION THAT?

>> WE LET THE PARENTS DECIDE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE DO.

WE DO HAVE CHILDREN'S SPACES AND TEEN SPACES.

WE DO HAVE BOOKS IN THOSE COLLECTIONS THAT ARE GEARED TOWARDS THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS OF KIDS.

>> IS DEFUNDING IS EVER ON THE TABLE AGAIN?

AS YOU SAID, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE CAN BE HOPEFUL.

WHO IS MOST IMPACTED?

IF THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US ANYTHING, WE KNOW WE'RE ALL MORE UP TO DATE ON THE PROBLEM OF FOOD DESERTS.

THERE'S A BROADBAND DESERT OUT THERE.

THE LIBRARY FILLS REALLY SIGNIFICANT PLACE IN THAT IN TERMS OF ACCESS.

WHO WOULD BE MOST AFFECTED IF DEFUNDING EVER ACTUALLY MATERIALIZE?

>> MOST PUBLIC LIBRARIES GET THEIR DOLLARS FROM TAXES.

RURAL LIBRARIES IN PARTICULAR, STATE AID MAKES UP A MUCH LARGER PORTION OF THEIR BUDGET.

FOR US IT'S ABOUT .8%.

IT'S NOT A HUGE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET.

FOR RURAL LIBRARIES, THEY ALSO GET A FEDERAL MATCH.

WHAT MATCH IS BASED ON STATE FUNDING.

IF THEY DON'T GET STATE AID, IT'S A DOUBLE HIT TO THEM.

LIBRARIES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY ARE A SAFETY NET FOR MANY PEOPLE.

REALLY STEPPED UP DURING THE PANDEMIC AND CONTINUED TO STAY IN THAT PLACE.

>> IS SUMMER A BUSY TIME FOR LIBRARIES WHEN THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL?

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER?

>> IT IS CRAZY.

IT'S THE BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR FOR US.

KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.

WE HAVE SUMMER READING CLUBS.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF FUN PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, TEENS AND ADULTS.

OUR READING CLUB IS FOR KIDS TEENS AND ADULTS.

WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO READ DURING THE SUMMER.

WE ALSO HAVE ALL KINDS OF OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES.

WE ARE EXPLORER STORY, WHICH GETS FAMILIES OUTSIDE FINDING NEW PLACES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY THAT PAIRS IT WITH A BOOK.

WE HAVE STAR WARS FAN DAY COMING UP AT ONE OF OUR BRANCHES IN MAY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

SUMMER IS REALLY BUSY FUN TIME FOR US.

>> THE LIBRARY, I LOVE TO HEAR YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF IT TOO, BILL.

GROWING UP, I STILL VOTE AT DANIEL BOONE.

THAT'S WHERE MY DAD WOULD DROP ME OFF TO DO MY HOMEWORK.

THAT'S WHERE I WENT TO STORY TIME.

THOSE MEMORIES THAT WE HAVE ARE THERE.

THEY RUN VERY DEEP.

IT'S SUCH A PEACEFUL PLACE.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE A CHILD GETS TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE THROUGH THE BOOKS THAT THEY READ.

NATURALLY, WHEN YOU STUDIED LIBRARY SCIENCES, YOU KNEW THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A POLITICAL FIRE STORM.

THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.

LIBRARIANS JUST LOVE TO BE IN THE POLITICAL SILOS.

WHAT HAS THE CONVERSATION BEEN LIKE AMONGST YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE'RE IN A PLACE THAT IS VERY UNEXPECTED.

PARTICULARLY, I THINK BECAUSE LIBRARIES PROVIDE SUCH A VITAL RESOURCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU'RE THERE AS YOU SAID, PROVIDING MEALS AND DIAPERS AND WiFi, EVERYBODY EXTENDED THEIR WiFi ON THEIR PARKING LOT.

PEOPLE WERE COMING TO THE LIBRARIES ALL OVER THE MOSS AND UNITE--MISSOURI AND THE UNITED STATES.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THINGS REALLY SHIFTED INTO A DIFFERENT PLACE THAT IS UNEXPECTED.

THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BANNING BOOKS, THAT HAS GONE IN AND OUT THROUGHOUT MANY DECADES.

THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT.

THIS SEEMS VERY DIFFERENT.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW?

>> I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN SO MANY STATES ALL OVER ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHERE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIBRARIANS ARE COMING UP.

I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME LIBRARIANS THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE REALLY LASHING OUT AT THEM PERSONALLY.

THAT'S REALLY HARD.

LIBRARIANS ARE THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE.

THEY ARE HERE TO HELP.

THEY WANT TO PROVIDE WHATEVER THE PATRONS NEED.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO SEE.

IT MAKES ME SAD TO SEE THEM UNDER ATTACK.

>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MISSOURI HAVE TAKEN CERTAIN BOOKS AWAY.

THEY ARE FEAR THAT THE LIBRARIANS COULD BE ARRESTED.

THAT'S JUST THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

HOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

TAKEN ANY BOOKS OFF THE SHELVES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY?

>> THE LAW THAT IMPACTS THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, THAT REALLY, I THINK, HAD A CHILLING EFFECT ON THEM.

THEY WERE REALLY UNCERTAIN AND CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

MANY PEOPLE TRIED TO THINK REALLY HARD ABOUT WHAT CAN IMPACT THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIANS.

FOR US, WE ARE NOT TAKING BOOKS OFF THE SHELF.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO BANNING BOOKS AS THE HEAD OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY, AND AS A READER.

ARE YOUR CONCERNS DIFFERENT AS THE HEAD OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS FOUND WHO SHE IS THROUGH THOSE BEAUTIFUL BOOKS?

>> I THINK MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WE WANT THOSE BEAUTIFUL BOOKS AND THE LIBRARY.

WE TRY TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

AS YOU SAID, MANY PEOPLE DISCOVER THEMSELVES THERE.

SOME PEOPLE'S WORLDS ARE VERY SMALL.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE LIBRARY, YOUR WORLD IS SUDDENLY ENORMOUS.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT REMOVING BOOKS, WE TRY TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MIGHT WANT TO READ THEM.

AS I SAID, ONE PERSON MAY LOVE A BOOK AND ANOTHER PERSON MAY NOT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS.

>> BEFORE ALL THIS BOOK BANNING AND QUESTIONABLE BOOKS CAME UP, THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSY I CAN RECALL WITH THE COUNTY LIBRARY WAS MOVING YOUR HEADQUARTERS AND BIG LIBRARY FROM LINDBERGH ROAD OUT TO TOWN AND COUNTRY.

>> FRONTENAC.

YES.

>> IS THAT MOVE COMPLETED NOW?

HOW DO YOU LIKE THE NEW PLACE?

>> THE MOVE IS COMPLETED.

IT'S OUR ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING THERE.

THE OLD HEADQUARTERS ON LINDBERGHINLIND --LINDBERGH IS DOWN.

WE'LL HAVE A BRAND NEW BEAUTIFUL HEADQUARTERS BUILDING.

THE CLARK FAMILY BRANCH.

IT WILL BE ENTIRELY DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT BUILDING BEFORE HAD A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES PEOPLE AND ABOUT 180 PEOPLE.

THEY ARE NOW IN THE NEW BUILDING.

TEEN SPACE, CHILDREN SPACE, SMALL BUSINESS CENTER AND 800 SEAT AUDITORIUM EVENTS FOR ALL OUR INCREDIBLE AUTHOR EVENTS.

>> HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO REINVENT YOURSELF AND TO REDEFINE THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARY DURING SUCH A TUMULTUOUS, THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC, IT HAS BEEN A FAIRLY TUMULTUOUS ERA.

POLITICALLY, IT'S BECOMING EVEN MORE TUMULTUOUS HOW DO YOU STAY AHEAD OF THAT?

I THINK LIBRARIES ARE INCREDIBLE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND SEEING WHAT PATRON NEEDS ARE AND RESPONDING TO THOSE.

WE JUST -- FOR US, WE WENT THROUGH THIS CONSTRUCTION THIS HUGE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

WE WERE CHANGING WHAT OUR PHYSICAL BUILDINGS WERE AND WE DECIDED AT THE SAME TIME WHERE WE WOULD START STEERING OUR PRIORITIES TO BE CENTER OF COMMUNITY.

THAT MEANT HAVING COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE OPERATION FOOD SEARCH AND THE DIAPER BANK AND ALL THESE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS IN ST. LOUIS.

LIBRARIANS TRY TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY.

WE JUST CAN'T.

THERE ARE INCREDIBLE PARTNERS IN ST. LOUIS THAT CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

PEOPLE COME TO THE LIBRARY.

THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO SAY LIBRARIES WILL BE EXTINCT SOME DAY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT COME TO THE LIBRARY AND SAY I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO TONIGHT.

CAN YOU HELP ME.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M GOING TO EAT TONIGHT.

CAN YOU HELP ME.

IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING.

WE'RE A SAFE SPACE.

WE DON'T ASK QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE HAVE ACCESS TO WiFi AND PUBLIC COMPUTERS.

>> SHE UNDERSTANDS THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> HAVE YOU HAD TO GO DOWN TO JEFFERSON CITY AND TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE?

DO YOU HIRE LOBBYIST.

WHO REPRESENTS YOUR INTEREST?

>> I HAVE NOT HAD TO GO.

I'M ACTUALLY FROM JEFF CITY.

THE MISSOURI LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HAS A LOBBYIST.

THAT PERSON DOES WHAT LOBBYIST DO.

THEY TRACK LEGISLATION AND HELP THE ORGANIZATION WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN JEFFERSON CITY.

I CERTAINLY HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS AND CONTACT WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

I HAVEN'T HAD TO GO TO JEFF CITY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS THAT HAVE BEEN SCRUTINIZED, WHAT ARE THE RULES OF WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PUNISHMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED?

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR ANY LIBRARIAN WHO IS FOUND TO BE LIABLE OR GUILTY OR ACCUSED OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

HAVE YOU LOST LIBRARIANS ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE OF THIS?

IT SOUND LIKE THEY'RE RECEIVING THREATS.

>> I WILL SAY NATIONALLY, I THINK THERE ARE LIBRARY DIRECTORS THAT ARE RETIRING.

I THINK SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC TOO.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TIME FOR EVERYONE.

I THINK THE LIBRARY IS A FIELD WHERE PEOPLE STAY FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN AWESOME PLACE TO WORK.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE MA ARE LIKE, I'M READY.

I COULD HAVE RETIRED A WHILE AGO.

I THINK IT'S TIME.

STATEWIDE, I THINK SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

THE TEACHER PROFESSION AN SCHOOL LIBRARIAN PROFESSION ARE TALE STRUGGLING TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THOSE JOBS.

IT IS SO CHALLENGING NOW FOR THEM.

NOT AS MUCH FOR US.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL ENTERING THE FIELD OF LIBRARIANSHIP.

WE STILL ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.

I THINK SCHOOLS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

>> IS THERE A LOT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS REGIONS LIKE WITHIN A STATE, LIKE WITH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, ST. LOUIS CITY, CHARLES COUNTY.

DO YOU WORK TOGETHER?

>> WE DO.

WE WORK TOGETHER AS A REGION.

WE MERGE CATALOGS LAST YEAR WITH ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IT'S A FINE EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

IT REALLY GAVE OUR PATRONS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS TWO GIANT HUGE AMAZING COLLECTIONS THAT REALLY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER WITH ONE LIBRARY CARD.

JUST BEING ABLE TO LOG IN.

WE HAVE BORROWING WITH EVERY LIBRARY IN THE COUNTY.

CHARLES, THE CITY, JEFFERSON COUNTY AND SCENIC REGIONAL WHICH COVERS FRANKLIN AND WASHINGTON COUNTY.

AS A STATE, THE LARGER LIBRARY DIRECTORS GET TOGETHER.

THE DIRECTORS OF LARGE PUBLIC LIBRARIES GET TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH, VIRTUALLY.

WE JUST TRAVEL TO COLUMBIA TO MEET.

WE DO TALK ALL THE TIME.

IT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT, WE NEEDED EACH OTHER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> DID YOU ZOOM?

>> WE DID ZOOM.

WE ZOOMED ALL THE TIME.

THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE WE WERE LIKE -- IT'S REALLY HARD TO RUN A PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

THERE'S SO MANY PLACES WHERE PATRONS CAN COME IN.

AT ONE POINT, WE THOUGHT THAT COVID COULD LIVE ON BOOKS.

WE WERE QUARANTINING BOOKS FOR DAYS.

IT WAS SO MUCH HARD WORK FOR EMPLOYEES.

LIBRARY EMPLOYEES ARE INCREDIBLE.

THEY JUST RISE TO THE OCCASION.

>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE I MENTIONED, HAVE DECIDED NOT TO CARRY CERTAIN BOOKS.

DOES THE PUBLIC LIBRARY THEN SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CARRY THOSE BOOKS OR DO YOU KIND OF TRY TO FEEL YOUR WAY AND SENSE HOW THE WATER IS?

DO YOU CARRY EVERYTHING?

>> WE HAVE A COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

OUR POLICY IS THAT WE PROVIDE A COLLECTION THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE AND FOLLOWS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'VE GOT THOSE BOOKS.

THAT PARTICULAR LAW IMPACTED SCHOOL LIBRARY THAT'S WHY THEY REACTED THE WAY THEY DID.

IT REALLY IS SOMEWHAT PATRON DRIVEN.

WE BUY THE MATERIALS THAT OUR PATRONS REQUEST.

OFTEN, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO READ.

THEN WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS THAT SELECT BASED ON PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR BOOKS.

>> HOW ABOUT POLITICAL.

MOST OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN BOOK HAVE TO DO WITH SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

HOW ABOUT POLITICAL?

>> WE HAVE BOOKS, ALL KINDS OF BOOKS IN OUR COLLECTION.

WHAT ONE PERSON LIKES, ANOTHER PERSON MAY NOT.

WE REALLY TRY AND HAVE A COLLECTION THAT IS DIVERSE AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT IS LOOKING FOR MATERIAL.

THEN THEY CAN REQUEST IT.

WE HAVE A REQUEST SYSTEM.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE LIBRARY SUPPORTS THE OPINION IN THOSE BOOKS.

JUST MEANS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A VERY BROAD COLLECTION THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.

>> WHAT DID YOU MAKE, KRISTIN, OF THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMPONENT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN JEFFERSON CITY?

>> IT IS -- THE LIBRARY, AS I MENTIONED MANY TIMES, WE VALUE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND BELONGING.

BELONGING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENT I THINK FOR THE LIBRARY AND FOR OUR WORLD.

>> PRETTY BASIC.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.

THAT DID MAKE ME PAUSE.

AS I'M SURE IT DID LOTS OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS A WORLD FILLED WITH ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE.

WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.

SOMETIMES I'M NOT SURE THAT'S EASY.

>> YOU'RE NOT A POLITICAL PUNDIT.

I'M NOT PUTTING ON THE SPOT.

I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHERE THE LAWMAKERS TRYING TO GET IT OUT THERE TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES THAT WE'RE TOUGH ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

THEN THEY BACKTRACKED.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT AT ALL.

THEY SAW THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS.

>> I'M NOT VERY -- I DON'T KNOW OF ANY ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE SOME SORT OF DEI STATEMENT.

FEELING LIKE YOU BELONG IS AN IMPORTANT THING AS A PERSON.

WE ALL WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION.

THERE'S POLITICALLY AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS WHO ORCHESTRATE PROTESTS.

IS THERE ANY ORCHESTRATED EFFORT PROTEST AT THE LIBRARY?

>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

IN OTHER LIBRARIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES THAT PEOPLE COME DURING PROGRAMS OR DO ENGAGE IN PROTESTS.

>> MAY BE TO GET A YOUNGSTER TO GET A CERTAIN BOOK THAT HE OR SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE.

DOES THAT GO ON?

>> DO I THINK THAT DOES HAPPEN.

WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THAT AT ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

THERE ARE LIBRARIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

>> THE EASIEST WAY TO GENERATE INTEREST IN A BOOK IS TO BAN IT.

AS WE'VE SAID MANY TIMES.

ASK SOME OF THE BOOK SELLERS ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED OR APPEARED ON THIS LIST AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

IT IS KIND OF A DIFFICULT MINDSET TO UNDERSTAND.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LIBRARY SCIENCE LOOK LIKE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> I THINK I CAN.

I THINK THAT WE STILL ARE VERY TRADITIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE.

PEOPLE STILL CHECK OUT BOOKS.

THEY STILL COME TO PROGRAMS.

WE ALSO ARE ABOUT TO START CHECKING OUT PICKLEBALL KITS.

IF YOU LIKE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL AND TRY IT OUT IN ST. LOUIS, WHICH I THINK IT'S POPULAR.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE REAL SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR PICKLEBALL.

YOU CAN THEM OUT AT THE LIBRARY IN MAY.

WE TRY AND THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO TRY.

YOU CAN COME TO LIBRARY AND GET YOUR DOCUMENTS NOTARIZED ABOUT I THINK FOR US, THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF DIDN'TAL NAVIGATORS IS HERE AND NOT GOING AWAY.

EVERYONE THINKS PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY.

THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY TO ASK.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OFFER RESOURCES, TECHNICAL RESOURCES, TECHNICAL TRAINING, ASSISTANCE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BOOKS.

WE HAVE eBOOKS.

THEY ARE WILDLY POPULAR.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT KINDLE.

I STILL READ BOOKS, PAPER PRODUCT.

MY WIFE, WHO READS ALL THE TIME T READS KINDLE.

DO YOU DO KINDLE?

>> I'M GOING GET IN TROUBLE HERE.

I READ BOOK ON THE KINDLE.

I READ BOTH.

I ENJOYING ABOUT ABLE TO MAKE THE FONT BIGGER.

I'M STARTING TO HAVE A HARD TIME READING THE LITTLE PRINT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS ON TELEVISION.

IFTY TRAVEL GETTING TO LOAD ALL THOSE BOOKS ON A KINDLE.

>> HOW ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

YOU HAVE KINDLE?

>> WE HAVE TONS OF eBOOKS.

>> IS THAT THE SAME THING, EBOOKS AND KINDLE.

>> YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY ON YOUR KINDLE.

>> YOU HAVE THE BIG FONT PRINT BOOKS?

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE LARGE PRINT BOOKS.

WHICH I IDENTIFIED IF I CHECKED OUT THOSE, THAT WILL BE -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> THIS IS HOW OUR BRAINS HAVE BEEN HARD WIRED.

IF I'M READING A BOOK, I DO THIS.

I'M TRYING TO GET THE FONT BIGGER.

IT'S VERY STRANGE.

WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FOR THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY, WHAT'S THE FORMULA?

>> ABOUT 97% OF OUR BUDGET MADE UP OF TAXES, WE GET STATE AID.

WE HAVE A FOUNDATION.

WE HAVE THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

PRIVATE DONATIONS COME IN AND THEN WE FUND ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS.

WE GET GRANT, STATE GRANTS, CENTRAL GRANTS.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE POSITION THAT THE LIBRARY NOW FINDS ITSELF IN, YOU ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY COMMUNITY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ONLY ARE YOU HELPING TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE BRINGING KIDS TO BOOKS.

YOU'RE BRINGING BOOKS TO KIDS.

>> WE ARE.

WE HAVE ALL THE BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY.

OF COURSE, WE ALSO TAKE THEM TO THE KIDS ON BOOK MOBILES.

I'M SURE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS HAVE VERY FOND MEMORIES OF BOOK MOBILE.

>> THAT WAS THE BIGGEST DAY.

THAT AND PIZZA DAY.

>> I AGREE.

OUR BOOK MOBILE FLEET IS AGING.

WE ARE REPLACING ALL OUR BOOK MOBILES.

WE JUST ANNOUNCED DONATION FROM GREAT SOUTHERN BANK FOR A BRAND NEW BOOK MOBILE.

WE PLAN TO REPLACE THREE IN THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING THOSE BOOKS TO SCHOOLS.

THEY GO TO PRESCHOOLS, TO SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES.

WE TRY TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT IN OUR BUILDINGS.

>> DO YOU THINK KIDS ARE READING AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO OR MORE?

HAVE ALL THESE DEVICES HELPED CHILDREN?

>> I THINK KIDS ARE STILL READING BOOKS.

IN SUMMER, LOT OF OUR BRANCHES LIKE DANIEL BOONE, IT IS A VERY KID HEAVY BRANCH.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE -- THEY CAN TELL THEIR COLLECTION IS MUCH LESS BECAUSE ALL THOSE BOOKS ARE CHECKED OUT BY KIDS.

WE HAVE PARENTS WHO COME.

WITH THEIR KIDS CHECK OUT LIKE 50 BOOKS.

I STILL THINK KIDS ARE READING.

I THINK THEY ENJOY THEIR DEVICES.

THEY LOVE BOOKS.

TEENS READ.

THEY HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE BOOKS FOR TEENS THAT ADULTS LIKE AS WELL.

I THINK TEENS ARE READING TOO.

WE HAD A TEEN BOOK FESTIVAL LAST FALL.

WE HAD OVER 300 TEENS ON A SATURDAY COME TO A LIBRARY EVENT.

>> WHAT IS THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY WEBSITE?

>> IT IS WWW.SLCL.ORG.

>> KRISTIN SORTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

THE WORLD MIGHT CHANGE FOREVER.

IT MAY NEVER BE THE SAME.

YOU CAN NEVER RECREATE THAT FABULOUS SMELL OF A LIBRARY BOOK.

EVER.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE.

OR OF A LIBRARY.

>> IF SOMEONE HAS AN OVERDUE BOOK -- [ LAUGHTER ] HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WE DON'T CHARGE FINES ANYMORE.

WE HAVE NO FINES.

WE HAVE SOMEONE MAIL BACK A BOOK THAT WAS CHECKED OUT IN IN THE '60s.

>> YOU TRUST PEOPLE TO BE HONEST AND IT WORKS?

>> WE WANT TO REMAIN BARRIERS TO ACCESS.

>> A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.

KRISTIN SORTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BEEN BEHALF ALL OF US AT 9 PBS, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY.

GOOD NIGHT.

* >> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT BY THE BETSY AND TOMMY PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF 9 PBS.