Bright lights mirror the futures of the elementary and middle school children that walk through the doors of Elmont Memorial Library. To the left is the Children’s room, where children from grades K-6 can interact, get help with homework, and play with engaging learning materials. To the right is the young adult section, where teens congregate around computer screens while surfing the web or sit at round tabled to do homework while chatting with friends. Straight ahead at the reference desk is Lee Gorray, Librarian and director of Homebound Services, one of the many services offered by Elmont Memorial Library.
The program started about 6 years ago. According to Gorray, there was not much planning for the program to begin, the spark came from a person who requested it. “I don’t really remember how it started, but I guess someone called the director of the library and asked if they had Homebound Services. The director contacted me and all I know is that the program started with a few and then it grew to be more,” said Gorray. She was not aware at the time that this service would grow to be a major part of her job as well as a major part of the lives of those who are homebound.
Homebound Services is a program for Elmont Memorial Library cardholders living in Elmont, North Valley Stream, and East Franklin Square who are not able to leave their homes to come to the library. Usually, those that are a part of Homebound have been with afflicted with a disease such as AIDS. Lee Gorray works in conjunction with the library’s custodian to deliver books and DVD’s to participants of Homebound services.
Gorray chooses the books that are distributed from book discussions held at the library, recommendations from her co-workers, and her own recommendations. “Sometimes they are in pain, sometimes they want something very light, so you give them humorous books, light books,” said Gorray. Also, Homebound members are able to request what books they would like to read or what DVD’s they would like to see. If the books are not available, as soon as they come in Gorray puts them on hold to be delivered. They are put in bags with names and addresses and are ready to reach their assigned homes.
Gorray chooses not to publicize this service online or throughout the library, rather she gains participants through word of mouth. She said that if it was widely advertised, she would have too many people to deliver books to and it would become overwhelming. As of right now she has 8 people who she delivers books to every 2 weeks.
Gorray showed me her records and books of names and addresses that she has kept over the years of different people who have used Homebound Services. Her logs are from when the program started 6 six years ago. She mentioned different names and what books they like to read. “You get to know what they’re like,” said Gorray. Gorray pays very close attention to the preferences of the people she visits, discussing if they need books with large font or if they only want DVD’s instead of books.
Lee Gorray’s role as a librarian helps her as director of Homebound Services because she is very knowledgeable about the books in the library and stays on top of the circulation of books. Some people wish that Gorray could visit them every week in order for them to get new material. “I can’t do it every week, it would be too time consuming. So i give them enough to cover them for two weeks, maybe I would give them two or three books or four or five DVD’s instead of just one,” Gorray said. This allows Gorray to have time to to sort through more books and fulfill her duties as a librarian as well.
This small community service is making a big impact and will continue to make and impact thanks to Lee Gorray. She has planted a seed that will continue to grow at the Elmont Memorial Library. Homebound Services gives those that are afflicted with disease and cannot leave their home something to look forward to and a way to lift their spirits. Reading can help to provide a temporary escape and a distraction for such people.
Gorray’s genuine care for people that are no longer able to leave their homes and her enthusiasm for this service is exactly what is necessary to keep such a program going. “I enjoy being the director of Homebound Services. It’s simple and they like it,” Gorray said.
Very good first draft here, Sarah. We should go through it to eliminate some sentences which are repetitive. Also, it is best when quoting a source to have a quote run one sentence and then to interrupt with a sentence that you have written before giving the second part of the quote. At one point in the story, you mention serving people with serious diseases and then cite AIDS. I think you should expand this so that the reader sees the range of illnesses that her clients face.