After literal years of anticipation, and even in the midst of rolling power outages, I was able to get my library card on Friday morning.
Moving here in the spring of 2020 gave me a weird perspective on St. John life. I made the decision to move pre-pandemic and, once the ball was already too far rolling to turn back, I ended up arriving (and quarantining) during the first island shutdown in May of 2020. A lot of businesses were closed or on limited hours, so I ended up very much in a cycle of going straight to work and coming straight home for the majority of that first year.
One thing that kept coming up as a craving during this time was access to books. I left the majority of my beloved book collection in the states. A professor friend of mine in Arkansas sent me five books to start my home library that summer (thanks again, John).
As I have mentioned before, I worked at a library in Kansas City for a few years. The access a library card gave my students was virtually endless. I have been SO looking forward to the opening of the Elaine Ione Sprauve Public Library and Museum and I am so grateful that we are finally here.
On Friday morning, I set out for Cruz Bay to acquire my library card and let the access begin! I was planning to make it a whole family affair, but my 1-year-old intern/sidekick decided to fall asleep in the car, so my husband stayed with her while I went in to get started.
Ms. Pam Richards let me inside the gorgeous, historic building and aided me with the application process. Though it was quick and easy, there was a bit of misinformation circulating the internet and I did not arrive with the necessary paperwork. Fortunately, Pam was able to direct me to alternate options.
To get your library card, you will need to prove St. John residency. They will need your VI Drivers License, Voter ID Card, or a copy of your current lease with photo ID verification. If neither of these things are available, they will accept a utility bill with photo ID verification (but not your vehicle registration, despite what Facebook might tell you – haha).
While Pam finished up my paperwork, she encouraged me to snoop around and get acclimated with the space. It is absolutely stunning. I am so excited to take Maizie for weekly visits and to explore the collection.
A HUGE benefit of getting your VI library card is that it will also give you access to Hoopla, a site that allows you to borrow media digitally. I was so excited to redownload the app after years of not using it! I previously used Hoopla for audiobooks and eBooks, but you can also access music, movies, TV, magazines, and comics.
If you have any questions or concerns about how to get your library card, the staff will be more than happy to assist. The library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 7pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. They are closed Sundays and Mondays.
My husband and I are still hosting Pop-Up Children’s Storytime at the Gazebo in Franklin Powell Park every Monday at 4:30pm. I am so excited to expand our story offerings now that we have library access.
WONDERFUL NEWS THAT THE LIBRARY IS OPEN! BUT WHO IS THE BRILLIANT SOUL WHO THINKS THAT MAKING GETTING A LIBRARY CARD SO TOUGH IS A GOOD IDEA?* DOES ANYONE BELIEVE THAT THRONGS OF PEOPLE WILL BE BEATING DOWN THE DOORS OF THE LIBRARY TO READ?* (JUST AS BAD AS MAING IT TOUGH TO VOTE.) I AM A LIFELONG VORACIOUS READER. BUT MOST THE THE WORLD WOULDN’T READ A BOOK IF YOU PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEAD. THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE THINKING OF WAYS TO LURE READERS IN. NOT THROWING UP ROADBLOCKS TO KEEP THEM OUT.
* THESE ARE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
Loving libraries as I do, I think an awesome fundraiser would be to allow off islanders to apply for a library card for a fee. Then when visiting can make use of the library. It’s also fun to have library cards from other libraries
It reminds me of the multiple trips to provide “required documentation” to get a drivers license, to renew your auto registration……real island life.
Can those of us who are nonresidents (and not qualified for a card) visit the library and read books there?
I have reached out to the DPNR Territorial Director of Libraries to find out. I will let you know as soon as I know. Thanks for asking!
I went to the library on Saturday. I’ve had a VI library card for years, but the system was down so she couldn’t verify it.
Getting a library card is no more difficult than getting any other government issued ID – proof of residency and photo ID.
ID REQUIREMENTS FOR A LIBRARY CARD ARE GUARANTEED TO KEEP CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF THE LIBRARY
Mine and my three sons best experiences was getting our library cards! Me, taking my boys to get their own cards and they were thrilled to pick out their own books and learn the responsibility of reading and getting the books back in time! It was always a most welcoming, quiet, calm place that took them away to so many different places and the knowledge they gained was priceless! Congratulations on your new library!
Are you still doing a book swap on Mondays as well?
I’m just guessing that a copy of my property tax bill would be sufficient also.
It certainly used to be the case that anyone could use the library. A card was only needed for checkout. Our son and his family have lived on St John since 2004. I took our grandson to get his first library card when he was 3. Sometimes we would go and just play with the Legos downstairs.
This library is a little jewel. The children’s and local collections are impressive. It’s a crime that it’s been closed so long, but a great joy that it has reopened.
I agree that a non-resident card, for a fee, would be a fun fundraiser. I’d be first in line.
The libraries are open to any and everyone, and visitors on St Thomas used to visit from time to time mostly to use the computers.
You only need a library card to check out books or other materials. There are book exchanges that offer free books. One is in Franklin Powell Park.
The St Thomas Historical Trust Museum has library status, and refers people to Internet Archive. I was able to borrow Queen of the Virgins before I bought the book.
https://archive.org/about/
Can books be donated to the library? Are there rules regarding this?