With a Lane Public Library card, Oxford community members have access to more than the books, magazines and newspapers within the walls of the South College Avenue location. Rebecca Smith, Oxford Branch Manager of the Lane Library, said the biggest changes over the years to the library are with electronic options for library card holders. “We have e-readers and electronic books now,” Smith said. “That has really taken off. And starting in November we are circulating e-readers for patrons to check out.” Library patrons will be able to load books onto their electronic reading devices, such as the Kindle and Nook. There is also free access to music downloads and digital magazines.

Various programs for loading electronic books are available through the Lane Public Library website.

“I think people have a perception that we are just books, but we are so much more than that,” said Smith. Junior Kim Foster said she reads an average of one book a week and up to twenty books during winter break. She does not have a library card but does use a Kindle. “I would be really interested in getting books on my kindle from the library,” Foster said. The library tries to keep a balance of traditional resources and new technology for patrons, according to Smith.“I think that the library for many people is a community center,” Smith said. “We have regular patrons that come here every day to read the newspapers and magazines...It is a balance between electronic books and paper books. ”

David Dunn is one of Lane Library’s regular patrons. Dunn is usually the first one to arrive at the library every morning to read the paper, magazines and occasionally a book. It has been this way since the 1970s.

“I think [the library] is very important because it is a popular gathering place for the community,” Dunn said. “It is just a place to go to relax and read and think.”

Dunn is currently reading When the Hating Stops by Nancy K. Stozich about a family murder in Hamilton, Ohio.

The library also offers a series of programs for people of all ages, according to Smith.

One program the library offers for children is Read to a Therapy Dog. “Children that are struggling readers get to read to Sugar [the therapy dog] in a safe environment for them to practice reading,” Smith said.

For adults, the library has programs to teach how to use electronic readers and provides individualized computer lessons.

For college students, the public library is a quiet place to study, use free wifi and access leisure reading materials, according to Smith.

More information on the Lane Public Library can be found on its Facebook page and website, http://www.lanepl.org/. Oxford residents can get a library card at the Lane Library with a picture identification card and proof of their address.