BEMIDJI, Minn. — Paul Ericsson will explain how recent national trends and changes affect the Bemidji Public Library during a 10 a.m. lecture Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation, located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North.

Free and open to the public, the 90-minute program is part of the fall Tuesday morning lecture series sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning and coordinated by the CRI.

Ericsson, the branch manager of the local public library, will discuss such issues as the shifts in programming caused by demographics and an aging population; the operation of a physical library facility as compared to online and virtual services; and increased demand in times of shrinking budgets. Other topics on the agenda include technology programming, marketing and staff development.

“Public libraries in the United States have gone through enormous changes in the recent past,” said Ericsson. “Seen against background trends, we will explore how these play out in our day-to-day frontline services at the Bemidji Public Library.

“The community of Bemidji has shown real support for its library, both through heavy use of the facility and services as well as generosity in donations. This presentation should interest those who want to learn more about the significant growth that our library has experienced and those who may want to become more involved in the library.”

The Bemidji Public Library was established in 1907 and has been at 509 America Avenue NW since 1995. It checked out more than 195,000 items in 2007 and houses a collection of over 64,000 books, CDs, videos, DVDs and other materials.

In 1970 it became a branch of the newly formed Kitchigami Regional Library system, which serves 130,000 residents with nine branch facilities and a mobile library in Beltrami, Hubbard, Wadena, Cass and Crow Wing counties.

Ericsson, who first worked in a large library system as a teenager in Stamford, Conn., was named the branch manager of the Bemidji Public Library in 2007 after holding several positions at libraries in Connecticut and New Hampshire. Most recently, Ericsson served as the head of adult services for the Concord, N.H., Public Library. He also was a trainer and consultant for the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System, which serviced over 250 public, school and academic libraries.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning offers humanities-based programs made possible in part with private donations and support from Bemidji State University. Individuals who wish to be added to the ALL mailing list or have questions about this program should contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; email, cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Oct. 28 – 10 a.m. – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation hosts Academy of Lifelong Learning lecture on trends affecting the Bemidji Public Library. Presenter: Paul Ericsson, BPL branch manager. Location: CRI; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N., Bemidji, Minn. Cost: free. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; http://www.cri-bsu.org.