As area residents begin their holiday shopping and looking for the perfect gift, the James V. Brown Library is offering patrons the opportunity to buy a day for a friend or family member.
By giving a $100 contribution to the library, an individual has the ability to honor someone with their own day.
The day will honor the individual by having their name appear on monitors around the library, on its website and on receipts for every book checked out that day.
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"We make sort of a fuss about it," said Robin Glossner, director of development for the library.
The program has been around since 2009, and Glossner said it keeps growing.
It originally started with the honoree having their name just on the receipt and a paper sign, but quickly grew to what it is today.
Glossner called it a "feel good program."
"It took off like wildfire," Glossner added.
Once a day is sold, it can't be purchased for another person, Glossner said.
"We don't take two separate people on the same day so it's truly your day," she said.
Glossner said most are "delighted" when they find out about having their own day at the library.
"People get a big kick out of it," she said. "People get a kick out of buying it."
Most find out when they receive a personalized card from the library telling them when their day is.
Having their name on a public screen, it a big deal to some, as well.
"I had a lovely, older lady get dressed up to get her picture taken in front of the flat screen on her day," Glossner said.
But it's not just humans who are getting their own days at the library.
"We get people buying a day for their dogs and cats," Glossner said.
And on their day, the furry friends make an appearance and visit with library goers, she added.
Glossner said she believes the program has successfully allowed community members make a "connection" to the library.
"I think it's just saying, 'This is my day at the library,' more than the recognition we put up," Glossner said.
And it also is a way of saying thank you to all those who support the library, as well.
"This is your library and this is your day," Glossner said.
On average, about 100 days of the calendar year are bought.
And the library is being noticed for the program.
A book with fundraising tips for public libraries contacted JVB in order to add the idea to its publication.
"I had libraries call me and ask, 'How did you do that?' " Glossner said.
She said it's not difficult once set up.
"It takes more coordination to set up but once it's coordinated it rolls along," she said.
Glossner would like to see some sort of sign outside the library that would display the person's name in the future but for now, she's happy with how it's running.
"We don't anticipate the program ever going away because like I said, it's fun," she said.
