Resident Highlight: Roberta Dewing

I was born and raised here. Kentland has this small-town feel, where everyone knows everybody. It has always carried a friendliness that could be experienced at the library, grocery store or any of the downtown shops. You could walk in and trust that you would be greeted with a genuine smile. I love the summers in Kentland. Our downtown bustles with energy, and our people are enjoying the Blue Lagoon pool. What’s also exciting is that new businesses are slowly popping up across town.

I’ve been the Director of the Kentland Library for 36 years. I’m very involved in the community, and I’m always looking for ways to give back to it because it’s where I’ve planted my roots. I’m currently the Chamber Board President, and I recently stepped down as the Kentland Rotary Club President in June of 2020, though I’m still an active participant and am its Scholarship Director. Other social organizations I’ve been a part of include membership in a Tri-Kappa group and an Associate Tri-Kappa group.

I earned a Bachelors of Art in History, as well as a Minor in Library Sciences from Indiana State University at Terre Haute. My educational experience was great. The university was far enough away and I received exactly what I needed to succeed in life. Upon graduation, I moved to take a job in Winamac, Indiana at a public library. I worked there for a couple of years before moving back home and getting engaged to a farmer who had also grown up in Kentland.

As the Director of the Library, I find myself wanting to always be involved in initiatives that help Kentland grow. An example of this would be our library’s offerings. In addition to the usual books, audiobooks and videos you can find at our library, we’re also connected to a state-wide consortium that provides electronic materials. Our patrons can enjoy access to e-books, downloadable audio-books and video at no charge. We also have public computers for residents who don’t have access to the internet, as well an accessible printer with scanning and fax capabilities.

Prior to the global pandemic, we were proud to offer children and adult programming. For the kids, we did Story Hours, Family Fun Nights and various other programming. For the adults, we hosted Bunko weekly on Thursday mornings. We look forward to the day when we can safely continue all of our in-house programming. Since Covid-19, we’ve also gone fine-free, which many libraries are trending toward anyway.

Since September of 2020, our Children’s Librarian has been spearheading a virtual alternative to our children’s programming. She records certain activities and publishes them on the Library’s Facebook page or on Youtube for parents to view with their children. In past Decembers, we hosted Santa’s Workshops, which are a weekly activity for children of all ages. There are usually two different crafts that can be worked on depending on the child’s age level. This last year, these activities were grab ‘n’ go.

We’re always wanting to communicate to our patrons, letting them know we’re still here. While we’re not doing too many grab ‘n’ go or virtual programming options for our adult patrons, most of them are willing to come in for a short time, grab their books and leave the building as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.

Needless to say, our Children’s Librarian is great. She does an outreach once or twice a month at the Trinity United Methodist Church. There, they host an after-school program designed for elementary-aged students. Once the school bus drops the students off, the Children’s librarian reads them a story, does a craft and interacts with them.

Kentland’s Library offers STEM activities. For anyone unfamiliar with STEM, it is an abbreviation that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Our STEM activities have gained a lot of popularity and really took off in the summer of 2018 alongside our summer reading program. Once the pandemic hit and we were certain we weren’t going to do a summer reading program like we had done in the past, we offered curb-side pickup for these materials. The Children’s Librarian thought offering monthly STEM kits for parent’s to pick up for their children between the ages of 8-13 would be a great alternative during these trying times. She does research and develops experiments that appeal to science, technology or subjects related to items that can be found within the comfort of one’s home. She then prints off directions and places all of the necessary supplies in to-go bags for the parent’s to come by and pick up.

Another thing we just started doing: little free libraries. Each library in Newton County received a little free library to put on their properties, filled with books for people to borrow and return at their leisure. Ours is placed in the green space with the gazebo across from the Casey’s convenience store in town.

I often think about the Library’s addition that occurred 11 years ago. It was this project that doubled our square footage and provided us the ability to expand our offerings for Kentland residents. This was one of the biggest moments of my life, right alongside becoming Kentland’s Rotary President. I say this because there are big moments that everyone has the opportunity to look back on, and this all starts with being active in the community. As we’re living in Kentland, try to utilize all of the various small businesses that are here. This helps us stay vibrant and strong. Support your community however you’re able.

Also, take advantage of our amazing park system. Cast Park has a wonderful walking path that’s perfect for summertime exercises. In fact, the Library partnered with the Newton County Extension Office to host Story Walks along the path. This occurred three summers in a row. The Story Walks had several designated spots to visit along their child’s interactive journey. Parents would bring their children to experience directions through a picture book story. It would tell them what to do next, whether it be run to the next stop, or hop and skip to the next location.

I also can’t forget to mention the great food that can be found in Kentland. I love to eat out as much as the next person, and when possible, my husband and I love visiting the Old Colonial. We also really enjoyed grabbing a bite at the Downtown Lounge when it was in business.

These few things are what make Kentland unforgettable. It’s these wonderful little exchanges that pave a way for people to have a welcoming experience in our small town. My hope is that I can continue to make a difference while I’m here. All I want is to do is provide people the opportunity to be entertained and educated so that their lives would be improved. This is the Kentland I know and love. It’s where I aspire to be good and do good.