Show notes
In this episode of the Explore Eagle podcast, Mayor Jason Pierce interviews Steve Bumgarner, the Library Director for the City of Eagle. Steve shares his background and experience in the library field, including his time as a prep chef specialist at Walt Disney World. He explains how the Eagle Library has evolved over the years, expanding its collection to include not just books, but also a wide range of items such as cake pans, fishing poles, and even video games. Steve discusses the importance of listening to the community and meeting their needs, which has led to an increase in library usage and circulation. He also highlights the library's digital resources, including subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, as well as its support for homeschooling families. The episode concludes with a discussion of the library's upcoming summer reading program, which aims to prevent the "summer slide" and keep kids reading throughout the summer.TIMESTAMP0:00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest, Steve Bumgarner0:00:30 Steve Bumgarner's background and experience0:02:12 How Steve Bumgarner became the Library Director in Eagle0:02:51 Steve Bumgarner's tenure as the Library Director0:03:11 Expansion of the library beyond books0:04:16 Introduction of the Library of Things concept0:05:23 Creation of the game and video game collections0:06:24 Increase in popularity of graphic novels and comics0:07:23 Success of the School Success collection0:08:18 Impact of the library on the community and forming connections0:11:58 Utilization of the library by homeschooling families0:13:29 Sponsorship of the family play space by Valnova0:15:11 Description and popularity of the family play space0:18:03 Certification of the library for early childhood literacy0:20:01 Digital resources and subscriptions available through the library0:22:21 Services provided for Curbside Pickup and Doorstep Delivery0:23:17 Increase in circulation over the years0:24:05 Introduction of drop-off curbside pickup during the pandemic0:25:11 Accessibility services, Idaho Talking Book Service, for individuals with mobility or vision issues0:26:19 Adventures in Eagle Summer Reading Program0:28:45 How the Library benefits communities