Libraries have always been community centers where people of all ages go to learn, communicate and stimulate their imaginations. The Joyce K Carver memorial library in Soldotna has been expanding those primary services in the comfort of an expanded new facility while adding more and more family minded services. According to librarian Rachel Nash starting in April the Soldotna library will become part of a network of libraries in Alaska that will more than triple access to titles, “We’ll be joining a consortium of Alaskan libraries that includes Anchorage public library, Juneau public and UAA in Fairbanks and Juneau which so we have a lot of support and will give all our patrons access to over 3.7 million titles and be able to place a hold on any of the holdings in any of the libraries and you will not have to come to the library to but have access through our on line catalog. We always love to have you come in and we can help you, but it is not necessary you can log on just like you do now with your library card number and you’ll have access to millions of more titles for you to find,” she explained.

The Soldotna library continues to stay on the cutting edge of hi-tech services by providing audio books and DVD’s to borrow, “We will also be able to borrow DVD’s from other libraries in the state when we join the joint library catalog. Up until now we have had to go through interlibrary loan which only allows us to borrow books, but not CD’s, DVD’s or audiobooks, but that all changes the first of April,” said Nash. Many other community activities are coming to the Joyce K Carver memorial library this spring including. On St. Patrick’s Day the library had their first ever “Sensory Story Time” in the community room. “This is especially designed for children ages two though thirteen that are sensitive to sensory overload. These are kids who might have a hard time with large groups or maybe on the autism spectrum or loud noises may affect them and this is a way for them to come here and enjoy the library in their own way,” said Nash. The library also has a new pre-school story time every Thursday at 10:30am for ages 3-4 but everyone is welcome to come says Nash.

April fool’s Day promises to be a big day at the library as they host the first ever “Batman vs. Superman Day.” It’ll get underway April 1st (no joke) at 2:00pm in the community room at the library, “It’s really a celebration of all superheroes but especially Batman and Superman and we’d love for everybody to come in costume if possible similar to our Harry Potter Party that was a great success and we’ll have snacks and games and have a really good time, but Batman fans will have to check all kryptonite at the door to keep a level laughing field for kids of all ages with plenty of parking for the Batmobiles,” said Nash. The library during March also had a fun family fitness day. To find out all the planned activities at the Soldotna library, log on to soldotnalibrary.org.