Welcoming the New with the Old
If you have joined GPL in the past year, then you may have received your cards in a unique way: integrated into a special bookmark!
Read on if you’re curious about their origin story, and what makes these bookmarks extra special.
Going Digital
Over the past decade, Gretna librarians have been steadily working to make their records as paperless as possible. These records show how many people visited the library, used its resources, and more.
As a result, many of these paper documents have been recycled. But throughout the years, the thrifty librarians have tried to reuse the same manilla file folders. Labels have been put on top of other labels, and/or folders have been turned inside-out.
But, the digitization eventually emptied all of these file folders. They were set aside with the thought that they’d eventually be recycled.
A Growing Problem
In early 2021, GPL finally unveiled its first-in-the-state fully online library account management system. This was developed during the pandemic to create a way for new patrons to get their library cards in a contactless manner. It was also designed to help busy people renew and/or update their accounts from anywhere in the world as long as they have Wi-Fi access.
The way in which the library cards were given to new patrons, either via mail or in-person, was by using a glue dot to attach the cards to the inside of a welcome brochure. Over time, the librarians occasionally heard complaints about the glue dots, or sometimes that someone had received the brochure, but not the card. The librarians realized that there was a chance that someone might not open the brochure and find their card.
A key skill for librarianship, especially in a smaller library, is problem-solving. Once the librarians saw a trend with these issues, they began to brainstorm ideas on how to make receiving a card a much more positive experience. After all, a goal for the GPL team is to make great memories for everyone, and either not getting a card or dealing with a sticky glue dot, do not make good memories.
Eventually, a solution was realized…
A Unique Solution
We wish that we could remember the exact moment this idea was born, but what matters is that after very little trial-and-error, a novel way to welcome new patrons was created. Pun intended.
The old file folders were cut in half, and then fed through the printer twice to gain a special design on both the front and back of the folder halves.
Then the four designs were cut into bookmarks, sliced, and hole-punched to create a custom card holder that gives a heartfelt nod to libraries’ histories.
The final step would be to tie the small key fob portion of each library card onto the bookmark, and slide the library card into the two sliced sections.
No one could miss their card with this special presentation.
We even suspect that we’re the only library in the world who has created this unique way to welcome new patrons to Gretna’s unique library.
Heading Into the Future
With Gretna’s impressive growth that shows no sign of stopping, the library will eventually run out of folders to recycle into these bookmarks. Here’s where you can help: If you have old file folders in decent condition that you would like to donate to the library, then we will take them!
We hope that we can continue to utilize recycled folders for this purpose, but if we do run out, we will likely purchase card stock to continue this special tradition.
