By Mike Finney

DOVER — The Kent County Public Library might be limited when it comes to space, but its possibilities for the public are endless.

Last month, the location’s variety of programs led it to be named the 2024 Library of the Year at the Maryland/Delaware Library Associations’ annual conference in Cambridge, Maryland.

It is an honor the library’s director, Dr. Hilary Welliver, does not take lightly. She gives credit to her staff of 14 for making sure the shows and activities go on.

“Oh, my gosh, this is an enormous honor. Delaware has terrific libraries,” she said. “In Wilmington, (libraries) had A-list celebrities like Nikki Giovanni and LaVar Burton and Misty Copeland coming to visit, ... and down in Sussex County, they had A-list authors like James Patterson, Nora Roberts and Erik Larson coming to visit, and then, there was us.

“We’re one of the smallest libraries in the state of Delaware — 10,200 square feet, including the boiler room — and it was sort of a David-Goliath kind of thing, wasn’t it?”

It is that “little place that gives individuals a sense of community” that makes the location at 497 South Red Haven Lane so special, she added.

The library offers more than 300 initiatives a year, including a New Zealand Pen Pal Program that serves hundreds.

Another highlight is the Young Authors Workshop, which brings youthful writers and professional authors and illustrators together for a day of fun and learning, while their parents attend a program on fostering creativity.

It also organizes “Arts in the Park,” a popular weekly summer music series at Brecknock County Park.

It was resources such as these that earned the library its recognition, Dr. Welliver said.

“We had seven people who nominated us, and they ranged from members of the Council on Libraries down to members of our public, which was something that was really unusual,” she said. “The other thing I think that really drew the attention of the committee that makes that choice is that our programs are (varied) and not terrifically expensive.

“I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s one of the things that sets us apart.”

She pointed to the pen pal program as an effort that just unexpectedly took off.

“Right now, we have more than 600 participants in that program,” Dr. Welliver said. “That’s a lot of participants for a snail mail pen pal program. It’s been showcased at the Delaware Library Association Conference, and the American Library Association wants us to come talk about it next year at the annual conference.”

The library’s activities are either affordable or free, and they keep staff plenty busy.

For about two years, Alicia Cacioppo of Magnolia has often worked the front counter.

“It just a community here, you know?” she said. “Everybody’s, like, always working hard and just doing nice surprises for everybody. We have fun here when we can. I love working here.”

Regarding the recent prize, Dr. Welliver said, “I can’t take the credit for this. This is a team effort, and it also feeds on the energy that the community gives us, and in effect, we listen to them, and they listen to us.”

The small building is one of two public libraries in southern Delaware that are open seven days a week, with weekly mobile library stops throughout the county.

On Wednesday, the facility hosted its “Touch-a-Truck” summer program for kids. It was attended by dozens of children who gathered to hear stories that Dr. Welliver read about police cars. Afterward, the attendees were able to explore similar vehicles in person.

“Touch-a-Truck started off with the (Kent County) Mobile Library in the beginning of June,” she said. “We tell a couple of stories that are related to the type of vehicle we’re seeing that day.

“We talk to the drivers and find out what it is they do for a living and how they got involved and all that, and then, we let them loose on the truck. It’s exciting for the kids.”

Following Wednesday’s event, staff were off to prepare for the next gathering, like the monthly meeting of the Delaware Anime Society, a “Spotlight on Delaware History” presentation, a free family film or anything else patrons may be interested in.

Dr. Welliver explained that things are just a little different — and busier — at her library — for example, “we have an annual fundraiser where we do a car show. That’s not something that most libraries would do.”