The Patoka Library’s 90th Birthday became the theme of this year’s Fall Festival Parade after an earlier celebration at the school.
Also notable is the Library Board President Susan Landreth who has held the position for 48 years. She was busy running the library’s desert table after the parade to raise money for a Halloween book program for young people.
Landreth says technological improvements have brought about the biggest changes over the years.
“You can come into our library or you can get on your phone and you can order a book,” Landreth said. “If we don’t have it, we can get it from any library. Or you can get your books online, on your iPads, on your phones, that type of thing. So, technology has really been the biggest (change).”
But Landreth says with all the changes young people still read books.
“We have a summer reading program, and it will surprise you. They come in, and they check books out,” Landreth said. “In the fall, we always have a book giveaway at trick-or-treat. Lots of kids use the library that night to come in and get free books and type of thing.”
Landreth was honored the parade theme was based around the library. While the first library opened 90 years ago, there was a period of time there was no library before it started again in their current building.
Many past librarians and library board members walked or rode down the parade route with a float containing a large birthday float.
