By Jason Scheer
According to Trina Reed, the library's director, 25 people in Lakeview are classified as homebound. They are confined to their homes and have been unable to take advantage of all the library has to offer. Until now. The library has recently instituted a Homebound Delivery Program, which features free delivery of library material, books, videos and tapes to those who are physically unable to visit the library.
"I know what it's like to be shut in and not able to get out, and to feel isolated," said Brenda Murphy Miles, a library trustee. Miles introduced the idea of such a program to the board of directors after learning of its success in neighboring Rockville Centre.
"I just thought it would be good for the library, and that's what we're supposed to do: reach out to our patrons," she said. "And if there are those that can't actually make it to the library, I think we need to offer them a service and reach out to them."
Anyone who is eligible for a library card qualifies for the program. To enroll, patrons must first submit applications, which will be mailed to potential participants. Once they're enrolled, volunteers from the library will pick up and deliver packages of up to four items once a month. The selection will be based on requests or answers to the questionnaire.
Currently, there are four volunteers for the program, including Miles. They will make deliveries on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
Both Miles and Reed encouraged more people to volunteer. "Anyone who is interested in helping their community [should sign up]," Reed said. At the very least, she said, volunteers will get "a feeling of self-satisfaction that they've done something to help someone else, that they reached out to someone who can't do this for themselves."
Reed said that the Homebound Delivery Program is part of an ongoing effort to expand the library's presence in the community. "The library should be important to everyone," she said. "We serve everyone from infants to seniors ... we have parent-child workshops and a teen advisory board."
Reed said that homebound residents shouldn't be excluded, but rather embraced. "We have several new programs, but if you can't come to the library to participate in them, you're not going to get excited about the other things going on," Reed said. "But now, if the library comes to them, then there will be something to get excited about.
"I feel it's very important to keep everyone in the community involved, and we want them to be a part of us."
Reed said that many of the initial 25 residents who were sent applications expressed excitement about the program. However, she wants the program to expand and make a difference in the lives of more people in the community. She urged residents to tell their neighbors about the program in an effort to spread the word. "The main thing is getting the word out," she said. "I think once the word is out there, more people will start to call us and give us names of other people who would like our service."
"I'm just hoping the people who are eligible will take advantage of the program," Miles added.
The program is still in its planning stages. Applications were mailed out less than two weeks ago. However, Miles is confident that the program will be functional soon. "I'm hopeful that we're up and running next month," she said. "And that we'll be out there doing deliveries and servicing the community."
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