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Libraries are “so much more than books”

COLUMBUS—Polk County’s Public Libraries has a new logo. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met earlier this month and heard from Library Director Marcie Dowling about the new logo. 

“Literacy will always be at the heart of our mission, but we’re so much more than books,” Dowling said. “Of course, we check out books, music, DVDs and audiobooks. We’re proud to have circulated over 129,000 of these items this year.

Most residents don’t know we also check out ecoExplorer backpacks from the N.C. Arboretum, early literacy tablets, cake pans and board games, with a plan to add STEM learning kits to our circulating items.” 

The new logo has fern fronds and says “Create Connections; Ignite Imaginations.” 

The old logo had an open book with the outlines of trees on a green background. 

Polk County Libraries recently did a 5-year strategic plan to focus on reaching all Polk County residents through increased marketing and outreach activities. The staff said they wanted a new logo that embodies the vision for the library’s future. 

Polk County has 2 libraries. The main branch is in Columbus and another branch is in Saluda. Over the past year more than 55,000 visitors have come to the Columbus and Saluda branches and more than 15,000 residents have attended library programs. 

There have also been more than 7,400 computer lab sessions, more than 39,000 wireless Internet sessions and almost 26,000 digital ebooks and audiobooks that can be checked out 24/7 without having to visit a location. 

“Clearly, the libraries offer more than the printed book shown on our old logo and these exciting ways we serve our Polk County communities reinforce our need for a new logo,” said Dowling. 

This month is Library Card Sign-up month. For more information about Polk County Libraries, people can visit polklibrary.org.