Library Log 10/30/08

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

I was chatting with a neighbor last night and we got to talking about movies. She said (without any prompting from me I assure you), “I don’t understand anybody who doesn’t have a library card. With the economy being how it is, who wouldn’t want to borrow DVDs for free? And books! I can’t imagine paying for all that I want to read or watch. ” Kind of lays it out doesn’t it. Entertainment can be expensive, shoot, cable television is about $40 per month, movies are $7.50 apiece (2 people (not including popcorn), twice a month) is $30 per month, the average cost (in 2006) of a single hardback nonfiction book was $30. Of course we all know that our library isn’t free exactly. What would you pay for a library? Would you pay $20 a year for high speed internet access, all the books you can read, all the movies you can watch, all the programs you can attend, and free video games? Sound reasonable? Well that’s about what it costs. We receive 2 mills of the property tax (A mill is one-thousandth of a dollar … so that means we get two one-thousandths of each dollar of your home’s assessed value, which, if your home had a market value of $100,000, the assessed value would be about $7,960 and from that you would pay us $15.92 ) So, for less than the cost of a hardback book per year, you get a public library. Talk about a good return on your investment! There are many money saving things about the library, if you want to hear more, stop by the back room and ask me. Now I am going to go pick myself out a DVD for tonight…yup, for FREE.

Programs for the Month of November 2008

Holiday Cooking Recipe Exchange

Tuesday, November 4th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Getting tired of cooking the same old thing for the Holidays? Bring your favorite dinner and dessert recipe and drop it by during our holiday recipe swap. You can stop in for a few minutes or stay and visit awhile at this open house style event, while you trade recipes that others have brought in and enjoy some delicious home-baked treats.

Art Reception for Juanita Wilson

Friday, November 14th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

This month’s featured artist is a self-taught, retired Great-grandmother from Rockvale that paints vivid and richly detailed watercolors. Meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments at this open house event.

Outdoor Survival Program presented by Fremont County Search and Rescue

Tuesday, November 18th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Jody Enderle will give you tips and advice on surviving in Colorado’s wild and unpredictable outdoors this winter. Learn survival techniques, hear rescue stories, and learn about volunteer opportunities with this vital organization.

Video Game Tournament

Saturday, November 22nd from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Open to all ages and lots of fun. You must have a library card with us that is clear of fines to participate. Get more details when you stop by to pre-register by November 21st.

Teen Group for the Month of November

Every Wednesday from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.

This month we will be making “Gocks”, doing Japanese Calligraphy, and holding the foil stunt-man Olympics. Students in grades 6 – 8 are invited to come join the fun!

November Library Closings

The month of November the John C. Fremont Library will have a couple early closings and closures, they are as follows:

• Thursday, November 6th the Library will be Closing at 5 p.m.

• Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th the Library will be Closed for Staff Development

• Tuesday, November 11th the Library will be Closed in Observance of Veterans Day

• Wednesday, November 26th the Library will be Closing at 5 p.m.

• Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th the Library will be Closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Library Log 10/23/08

From Gypsy’s Corner:

Well, it’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, the holidays are fast approaching, and the kids are getting a bunch of time off of school. This means a whole lot more “together time” for many families. Now ideally this would be a great chance to bond and re-connect with your kids. But in reality, spending more time indoors together can quickly turn into a torrent of squabbling siblings, bored teen-agers, and irritated parents. All of which can lead to the need for some serious advice on how to deal with it all. All though we have always had plenty of parenting books available, we noticed a lack of books that focus on teens. So, of course, we ordered and now have several books addressing the challenges of dealing with, raising, and entertaining those teens in our lives. Whether you are a parent, teacher, group leader, friend, or merely and acquaintance of anyone ages 11 to 17, we have a book to help you parent, discipline, understand, listen to, encourage, relate to, guide, inspire, and generally not be driven to madness by the teen in your life. If you have recently read a book on this topic and would like to see it on our shelves, please stop by and tell us about it. Hope to see you all soon, and good luck! And don’t forget, you can always send them to us on Wednesday afternoons for teen group from 2:15 to 3:30. Check our website for schedule of activities.

Robin’s Observations from the front desk:

This week I want to push one of the Library Programs that is near and dear to me, The Homebound program. The Homebound program is a wonderful program for those in our community who due to illness, injury, or other reasons, are unable to leave their homes to visit the library. Right now I have a couple of wonderful patrons who show me why it is so important to help those who love to read but can’t easily get to the library. I’m hoping to add some more wonderful patrons to the Homebound Program. So, please, if you or someone you know loves to read but is unable to make it to the library give me a call and we’ll get you started! You can e-mail me at violarh@gmail.com or give me a ring at the library front desk: (719) 784-4649 ext. 1 ask for Robin.

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”, and so begins one of my favorite stories. Yes, I know it is a movie. Stories exist as movies, books, grandpa babbling about how he met grandma while he walked to school uphill in a snowstorm, songs, and shoot, even modern dance tells a story (but you couldn’t prove it by me!) Some people like books with characters that remind them of themselves, some folks like a story that would never really happen (…or could it?) Point is, something like the proverbial snowflake no two of us has the same taste. Heck, we don’t even all share the method in which we want to experience the story. Some prefer audio books, some movies, some dance, some download while others of us pick up an actual bound tome for our reading pleasure. Like most of you, I have preferred methods for different moods. Some days I need to watch a movie, other days it better be on my MP3 player. And sometimes, I want to be read to. It can be quite relaxing and fun to lie back and picture the scene while someone else reads out loud. Over the upcoming holidays you may want to pick up a book and let the family take turns reading out loud while you snuggle up under a blanket. Stop by and give me a holler next time you’re in the library! (I am in the back!)

Library Log 10/16/08

Kieran’s Notes from the Back Room :

If you are in sixth, seventh or eighth grade – watch out! Gypsy went to a workshop led by Michael Cox, the Youth Services Director for the Pueblo City/County Library District. She came back chalk full of ideas for the teen group. Some of the ideas sound so good I am wishing she’d let me join (I mean is it mental or physical age?!) And she serves snacks! Gee whiz! The rest of the library is cruising right along, I don’t even think we have rearranged much of anything this month. We have been cramming new items onto the shelves, however. The boss is psyched about a book called “The Shack” by William P. Young. Several of her friends have recommended it to her (better put it on hold, boss!) Gypsy, in the mean time, has just finished reading two books, “The Education of Little Tree” by Forrest Carter and “the Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. She found them both to be “surprisingly inspirational.” Robin has just returned “Morality Play” by Barry Unsworth to the shelves. It is a great Medieval, ‘who’s-to-blame’ novel…and she says, “You’ll be shocked and amazed!”…(the middle ages often shocks and amazes me). Cid is reading, “Blood and thunder : an epic of the American West” by Hampton Sides. It highlights Kit Carson’s activities in the West and sheds some light on John C. Fremont (the man, not the library). Cid says it is entertaining and not at all dry for a history book. I’m reading Jasper Fforde’s “Thursday Next” series. Book one was such a hoot I am back for more. It is sort of Sci Fi and absolutely witty (my fave). The teens have placed yellow “Caution: Enter if you dare” tape around my window – so be daring and come by and tell me your book pick of the week!

Library Log 10/09/08

Kieran’s Notes from the back room:

Banned Book Week is just wrapping up, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is part of the First Amendment of the US constitution. Don’t worry, I won’t get all fourth grade social studies on you, suffice it to say it is a big deal for the whole ‘democracy’ and ‘American way’ thing. However, freedom of speech is meaningless without the freedom to receive information and that is where libraries play a part. Individuals must be able to seek information about any subject without fear of judgment, criticism or scrutiny of others. This sort of leads us from the freedom of speech into the right to privacy. Your reading habits and research interests are private matters that you alone can decide to share with others. I don’t get to walk in to the grocery store and yell out for all to hear that the book you ordered on alternative therapies for sexually transmitted diseases came in. Let’s face it, that would not only be rude, but unprofessional. Believe it or not these principles hold true for the youth as well as you over 21 types. Librarians have always encouraged parents to be involved in their children’s use of the library, to talk with them about what they’re reading, and help them choose appropriate materials. But sometimes children and youths must deal with serious issues – like abuse, alcoholic parents, or health questions — and they need good information. We want them to be comfortable getting that information in the library. So, on our application for a library card (you have a library card, right?) there is a privacy statement phrased as a yes or no question. A NO means you waive aspects of your right to privacy and we can say the title of the items you want or have checked out in situations where others might hear, like your answering machine. (But still not at the grocery store). A YES means we won’t, and we also won’t tell your mom when she calls and asks what you have been reading.

Library Log 10/02/08

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Well, there is just so much to talk about this week! Did you see our new “Honor” paperback rack? No library card needed, no barcodes, no limits… we just sort hope you bring it back. Hence the name “honor” because you are on your honor to return them. If you haven’t seen it yet you can take a look when you are at the “Meet the Director” reception. 5 pm -7 pm Thursday, October 9th. Yup, come by and meet Bev Allen (we’ll have cookies too!) As the end of the year approaches I wanted to remind you of the many opportunities to rack up the charitable giving points with your public library in mind. Yes, you can receive a tax deduction by giving to the library. So what do you get a library?… hmm, handbags and hockey pucks don’t seem appropriate… magazine subscriptions on the other hand that might be the ticket. See we are going to be cutting back on our magazine subscriptions this coming year. So if you want to, you can stop by the back room and see the list of magazines that are on our chopping block. Then if you are inspired you can pick up the cost of one of them for us. You don’t have to have an excuse (or even a reason) to stop by the back room however. And I want to extend an invitation to you, if you cannot make it to the director’s reception come on back any time and talk to her (or me!) You may, however, want to do it soon, you see I just started reading a new book. It is called “Evil Genius” by Catherine Jinks. Bwahahaha