Hometown Hero: Kim Ingram

To some, the library may just be a place to go to borrow books or to use the computer.  But to Kim Ingram, director of the , a library is so much more.

Serving as director of the township library for nearly three years, Ingram began her studies at Temple University and received her Master’s in Library Science at the University of Northern Texas.

Before becoming a librarian, Ingram worked as a travel agent and in sales—which—collectively were not her cup of tea. After working at the circulation desk at the Glenside Free Library, she realized she really enjoyed library life. Later, she became the branch manager at East Cheltenham Free Library of the Cheltenham Township Library System and worked her way across the country to the Shasta Public Library in California to the position of assistant director.

Ingram said being a librarian is a “much nobler profession” than her previous career experiences.

“You get the benefit of helping people,” she said.

Ingram’s responsibilities and duties as a director include not only interacting with the public and aiding her staff, with whom she has a strong relationship, but also assisting patrons find specific materials.

Her work is also highly administrative. Ingram is responsible for writing several reports, laden with statistical data, indicating what exactly the library needs in terms of renovations/space configurations and even its own inventory on the shelves and, of course, on the computers.

She said she prefers this position to her position in California as she able to have more frequent communication with library users and the Southampton community—as she does attend many community meetings.

“I make sure we’re all on the same page,” she said.

Although Ingram is able to easily reflect on the merits of library life, during economic downtown, she said, libraries do have to adapt and often suffer. State funding has been decreased each year since she has started, and although she hopes  the same does not occur this year, she intends on writing grant proposals in order to endorse her plans for renovation and updating.  

Ingram's goals for improving the library include re-configuring the layout of the main floor, including updating the arrangement of the work stations and even upgrade the additional furniture and equipment.

She said in this current tight fiscal situation, maintaining that level of service becomes all the more crucial.

“People need libraries in economic downtown,” said Ingram, stressing that not everyone has  home computer, contrary to popular belief.  “But [during unfavorable economic times is] when the library budget gets cut.”

Moreover, she is often confronted with this dilemma: “Spend on services or advertising?”

Defending the value of a library, Ingram said, can be exhausting, but her reports often have to delineate quantitatively what the branch is doing in order to “stay fluid.” People often question the existence and longevity of libraries since the creation of the e-book, which the Southampton branch does have in their collection. However, according to Ingram, library advocates are unwavering.

“You couldn’t sway them,” Ingram said. “The community is outraged [when libraries close].”

Ingram, however, believes that the township has been very generous in that, so far, the library has not had to minimize its weekly hours or cut staff, but other local community libraries have had to so do.  She also thanks the Friends of Southampton the Library who raise $20,000 a year which is put toward programming and purchasing of materials for the library.  Additionally, there is a collective effort among each of the Bucks County branches to market library offerings.

The merits of working at the Southampton Free library, for Ingram are truly about the people interaction. She said she has a wonderful staff and when she is able to help a patron, it is “a very good feeling.”

When Ingram leaves the library at the end of her day, she returns to her home in Fort Washington where she lives with her husband and cat. And while she is a Glenside native and a resident of Fort Washington, Ingram truly believes that Southampton has everything —“awesome parks, great restaurants”—and admits that she may even know it better than her own neighborhood. But, she feels that the township could use a nice Indian restaurant.

“Then it would have all the bases covered,” she said.

Ingram enjoys hiking, biking and, of course, reading. (And, she finds it comical when people are surprised that she gets paid to be a librarian). She also likes to listen to her new iPod while she hikes, which interestingly enough, does not contain any songs on it.

“This is really dorky,” Ingram said. “But I listen to books (including what she believes is her most embarrassing download, works by Nora Roberts); I’m fitting the old stereotype!”