Beyond the Bookshelf

When the snow drifts get deep, the temperatures dip for days on end, the sun sets well before dinnertime and the novelty of winter starts to wane, Teton Valley can feel like a small and isolated place. The wintertime blues can sneak up on anyone. But thankfully, the community has a wonderful resource that can help stave off boredom and isolation: Valley of the Tetons Library.

With three locations throughout the valley — Victor, Driggs and Tetonia — the local library is far more than just a place to check out a book or two. It’s a vibrant, thriving organization that contributes directly to the community’s wellbeing in a surprisingly diverse number of ways. 

“We deeply value community, value literacy, freedom and people,” says Susan Strayer, communications director for Valley of the Tetons Library. “We provide a space for people to connect, especially in those long dark winter months. People can connect with one another, to their creativity, with new ideas. It’s a place to enjoy lifelong learning and relationships.”

There’s no question that cracking open a highly-anticipated new novel or thumbing through an exotic cookbook can brighten a dreary day — and of course those are plentiful on the shelves of the library’s locations. But there’s much, much more. 

“The darker winter months can be tough, and we offer programs to get people to come and connect in person,” Susan says. “They’re awesome programs; one of the most popular is ‘Cook the Book’ where we create recipes based on the story or a food-related part of the book. There’s storytime for the youngest members of the community and their caregivers, which is great for parents to make connections and see others in their stage of life.”

“Through a partnership with the Mental Health Coalition, we offer the opportunity for patrons to check out light therapy lamps to help alleviate seasonal depression,” Susan says, offering an example of an unexpected resource. “We also have a tool library based in Victor. People aren’t used to thinking of the library as a hardware store! We’ve got a weedwhacker, shop-vac, pressure washer, a whole bunch of power and hand tools, too.”

In a similar vein, Valley of the Tetons Library is home to a unique “Makerspace” facility. “Every year people come to visit and ask, ‘Wow! Why doesn’t my library have a place like this?’” laughs Susan. Located in downtown Driggs, the Makerspace includes an audio recording studio, sewing stations, computer stations and crafting stations — all available to community members. “It’s also focused on renewal and use of resources, how consumption and recycling impacts our larger environment,” Susan adds. 

The library, which was recently recognized as one of the Best Small Libraries in America by Library Journal Magazine, has even more exciting things on the horizon. “We received a generous land donation for a future building site in Driggs. It’s an ideal location, and we’re so grateful for the community support,” Susan says. 

In the meantime, Valley of the Tetons Library continues to offer programs that engage all area denizens, recognizing that genuine, heartfelt connection is key for individual and community wellness alike. “This winter we’ll have reading groups, writing workshops — we seek to connect with people in different ways. That commitment to creativity, learning new things, to growing in unique ways… it really emphasizes our mission to inspire lifelong learning, encourage exploration and creativity, and enrich our community.”

Valley of the Tetons Library has a reciprocal library card program with Teton County Library in Jackson, too. That means any library card holder on either side of the pass is welcome to access resources or events held by the other. “It’s just another way that we’re connected as a larger community,” Susan says. 

So, if you’re feeling a tad short on sunshine and camaraderie this winter, you’re probably not the only one. Plan a visit to your nearest branch of Valley of the Tetons Library and see what’s on the shelves and on the calendar. Who knows? A new and unexpected adventure just might be waiting. All you need to do is turn the page.