Books bringing people together

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Checking out a new book or renting a movie are easy things to do for many of us. But for people who cannot leave their own home, staying in touch with what's current can be difficult.

A program at the Tippecanoe County Public Library is linking volunteers with people who physically can't leave home.

Amanda Worrel thumbed through a book inside the Klondike Branch of the Tippecanoe County Public Library. Nine months ago, Worrel was looking for a way to volunteer. She found her match while on the computer.

"I was perusing their website one day, volunteer opportunities, and saw this link, the Library Link program, and thought that that was something that definitely could be of interest to me. I've always enjoyed reading and sharing what I read with other people so I thought that that would be something good to volunteer for," said Amanda Worrel.

The Library Link program joins volunteers with people who are homebound because of illness or disability. Volunteers like Worrel check out books, magazines, or DVDs from the library and take them to a person who can't leave their own home. Outreach librarian Kristin LoDolce said volunteers spend a couple hours every month checking out new material. She said people are matched according to their own interests.

"And I think the nicest thing that we've seen is you know there are friendships that grow out of these arrangements and I think that that's rewarding for both the volunteer and the customer and that's always nice to see," said Kristin LoDolce.

Audra worked for 42 years at Purdue, mostly in a campus library. Audra is now homebound, and relies on the Library Link program to bring her new books to read, and new shows to watch.

"Oh, you stay mentally engaged, and that's important.  I'm not really cut off. I have a lot of friends, and people that drop by, and Lilly," said Audra. Lilly is Audra's five-year-old four-legged companion.

Audra said she looks forward to the time she spends each month with her Library Link Volunteer.

"We somehow found a connection, and they would stay, maybe half an hour and chat and we would have books to talk about in common or just everyday living, and their lives are always interesting to me, so I love to hear what other people are doing," said Audra.

Worrel is matched with a Lafayette woman in her nineties who can no longer drive. She said the time they spend together once a month, is a time she looks forward to. Worrel said she has a new friend with more in common than just the books they like to read.

"She has a lot of time with not a lot to do in her home so, by myself making the time, just the two or four hours each month which is nothing to me compared to all the good that I'm doing for her. Yeah, it definitely makes me feel good to help her out," said Worrel.

The Tippecanoe County Public Library is looking for more volunteers. To find out more, you can call the library at 765-429-0193.