Editor’s note: This is the final of a two-part story on a recent ‘Ray County Voices’ Podcast conversation about local libraries. Part One covered library services and early literacy, while Part Two explores material selection, changing reading habits and additional community resources.

The way local libraries build their collections — and how readers access them — continues to change as digital books make up a growing share of circulation.

Ray County Library Director Stacy Hisle and Excelsior Springs Mid-Continent Public Library Branch Manager Stephen Chalmers recently joined Podcast Manager and Sports Editor Shawn Roney on Ray County Voices to discuss material selection, changing reading habits and resources available to their communities.

The discussion of material selection stemmed from remarks made by former Richmond News editor and longtime Hardin- Central educator Sarah Seidel while speaking to the school’s graduating class in May.

Among her parting words to the Class of 2026, Seidel…