Almost all libraries run short on space. It comes down to balance, meaning that for every book that comes in, one must go out.

Florence Evans with the Mineral County Library in Superior said that this is, and it has been, a problem. 

“We haven’t had a sale in a few years, and we’re really backed up on our books,” she said. “We just want people to take them for whatever reason. If they know somewhere that they would like them, like a veteran’s home or if they have a little library. People can just come and get all of the books that they want."

She explained that they are trying to keep it comfortable inside so that they are not so tight and with the new shelving they recently received and installed, they are vigilant on keeping it comfortable to move around. 

“Before we were super tight and had older books that nobody was looking at any longer. If they are not going out, they cant’s stay.”

There are books downstairs. There are books in their shed. There are books in the hallway. Evans said that they have a volunteer that examines and discards books. She looks at the last dates of checkout and if they haven’t left the building for some time, they are placed in the "last chance" section for people to get one more chance to read them. If it does get checked out and returned a few more times, they keep it a little longer. However, there are so many that advance to the hallway section. 

“It’s quite a process to keep everything moving.”

Keep in mind that libraries today are not just book depositories. 

Guna Chaberek, Mineral County Library Director, wants to remind people that they have portable Wi-Fi hotspots. 

“Though the (state) program has ended, we lost the use of most of our hotspots. The rules here in Superior are different now, as checkout is only for seven days at a time.” 

She only has one but because usage time has been reduced, it’s available more often to library card holders. 

“And remember we have a blood pressure kit that people can also check out,” she smiled.  

The Alberton branch is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The St. Regis branch is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2.pm. The main branch in Superior is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2.pm. (406) 822-3563. www.mineralcountylibrary.org.