The Irene Ingle Public Library is experiencing a programming boom. “Our goal is to have something available for every age group,” said Sarah Scambler, library director.

A mix of new ideas and some that have been on the to-try list are now being offered. Some are scheduled to correspond with regular library hours, while others are intentionally scheduled during off-hours.

Scambler said the increase in programming options was made possible with the hire of Chana Garrett as a programming librarian, through a federal Institute of Museum and Library Services two-year grant, in cooperation with the Wrangell Cooperative Association.

Garrett taught in international settings from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan for the past 20 years before moving to Wrangell last year. “She brings so much value to the table,” said Scambler. “She has energy and imagination and expertise. She’s also really upped our social media presence, so it if feels like you are seeing more information about all of our programs, it’s because you are.”

Having that additional staff member also increases the library’s flexibility for alternative programming.

“We wanted to offer a safe space for high schoolers and young adults, without it being an overly structured time. The After Hours program, Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., gives them a dedicated time to just gather and connect over iced coffee or Italian sodas,” said Garrett.

Middle school students are invited on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. for a variety of games, including traditional board games, Magic: The Gathering, and Nintendo Switch options.

“I’m still figuring out how to communicate the invitations to these kinds of activities, especially with the younger crowd, “said Garrett.

Students enjoying themselves and then inviting others is probably going to be the best connection. “I heard one young person say they hadn’t been in the library since she was 8 years old, so that’s exciting,” Garrett added.

Some of the program initiatives come from networks like the Association for Rural & Small Libraries, but a number of them come from patron requests.

“One example is the Spice Girls Book Club,” said Scambler. The library offers a traditional book club, where members read one book of note or popularity and come together to discuss it (the second Saturday of each month at 2 p.m.). But some asked for a different kind of book club experience.

The Spice Girls Book Club is an adult book club for women who enjoy a little heat in their fiction, from mild to spicy. The meetings will be held in the back room of the Marine Bar, and participants can bring books they want to discuss and share.

“We really appreciate the cooperation of local establishments, and this seemed like a great match,” said Scambler. The meetings will be on the third Thursdays of the month, at 6 p.m. Participants need to pre-register at the library ahead of the meeting, to ensure there is enough room at the Marine.

All of the new programs will be evaluated in May, to assess what has made an impact and what might be adjusted.

The number of participants is one factor. However, as Garrett noted, “The Craft and Chat sessions on the first and third Sundays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. has consistently had around 12 participants, but it’s never the same group. So it’s working for a lot of different people.” The sessions are a time for adults to bring their own craft projects to work on at the library.

Also for adults, the library offers what it calls Admin Day, the last Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. It’s billed as “a quiet, focused time for adults to pay bills, plan schedules or catch up on tasks.”

“There is more to come, “said Scambler. “We are not at capacity yet, and with the new position we can do even more for the community, to serve this community even better.”

A printed schedule of all the program offerings is available at the library counter.