SPRINGFIELD – As this special Springfield Public Library series comes to an end, one relationship that is deserving of a mention – arguably the most important one – is with city departments. Security and custodial staff help the library operate smoothly every day to guarantee its functions for the community.
“We really couldn’t offer all that we do and be open and ready the way we are if we didn’t have their help,” library director Emily David said.
Elmeran Stewart works with the city security staff and helps keep the library safe and in order. She has 25 years of experience working security, six of which were spent protecting the library.
“We do make relationships with each individual person that comes into this building, and that gives us an outlook on how to deal with them, so we can de-escalate situations,” Stewart said.
Security staff are dedicated to building relationships with everyone who goes into City Hall. That way, when there is a problem, they can help direct people to the help they need. They notice when people are having a hard day and interact with them rather than immediately just kicking them out.
Stewart said she tries to have a friendly, outgoing personality and takes the time to listen to what’s going on with them.
“Some people come in here, and you don’t know what they’ve been through during the day, you don’t know what they’re going through, and so you approach them in a nice manner,” she said. “Sometimes I will just listen to them, and I’ll find out what’s going on with them, and I’ll help them out any way I can.”
She said she likes the family atmosphere the library gives off.
“It’s an amazing place to work, and I like being in security. It’s a happy place to be, and everybody depends on it. A lot of times, people come in here, and if it’s not open, or if it’s closed for the day, they do get upset because they do depend on the library, because it’s their happy place, it’s their place to come.”
David said approximately 300-400 folks use the library every day, so keeping it clean and tidy takes a lot of effort. The custodial staff might be small, but they are mighty. Linda Keller has been part of the cleaning crew since 1991 and said helping the library is her favorite.
“It’s nice being around the public and hearing the happy noises,” Keller said. “The library is a welcoming place with visual order and beauty. The library staff are enthusiastic and encourage all ages to love learning.”
The help of the maintenance crew and the facilities manager, Mike Espinoza, ensures the library functions properly. David said they help shift furniture, fix burnt-out lights, clear sidewalks in inclement weather, address leaks, and so much more. With the library being in an older building, you never really know what issues are going to pop up.
She also said the library depends on all other City departments for assistance. Human Resources helps with hiring, training, risk management, and making sure people get paid. IT supports tech needs, and finance processes payments, drafts contracts, and prepares the library’s budget. Police are always quick to respond when needed and to help prepare for emergencies.
“The City Manager’s Office supports the library in a variety of ways. They help with our public communications, press releases, and our communications with the City Council. We work with the City Manager’s Office to address emergent needs of the community, for example, when we are open during weather events as a cooling or warming location,” David said.
All of the city councilors and the mayor have library cards. David said she has seen Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon’s children grow up in the library, and councilors and their families come to the library for materials and programs.
“The Springfield Public Library has always been an important place for my family. My kids grew up spending time there, exploring books, asking questions, and discovering new interests. For a lot of families in Springfield, the library is where those early moments of curiosity begin,” VanGordon said.
“What makes the library special is that it serves everyone. It is a place where children discover a love of reading, where people build new skills, and where neighbors gather. The partnership between the City and the Library helps ensure that access to knowledge, learning, and community remains available to everyone in Springfield. Libraries help strengthen communities, and I’m grateful for the role our library continues to play in the lives of so many residents,” he said.
“We like to call the library the community’s living room – a shared, welcoming space where, as our mission statement says, everyone is invited to discover, connect, and grow,” David said. “Our amazing library staff work to create spaces of inclusive social connection through kindness, respect, service, and commitment. At the library, children discover stories that spark curiosity, students work on assignments, job seekers search for opportunities, and neighbors meet through book clubs, programs, or in the stacks. We are a space for all. We don’t care who you are as long as you follow the rules, you are welcome, and you belong here. Consider this your living room.”
You might be familiar with the term “it takes a village.” Well, at the Springfield Public Library, it takes a community. With the support of many partners, departments, and volunteers, the library can give back to the community in great ways.
