Library Log 3/26/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Serendipity, kismet, great minds thinking alike – call it what you will; the interim director, Gypsy and I were on the same page the other day. I was reading an article in the New York Times online about the role libraries play in helping folks find employment. She went to the Colorado Workforce program on job searching (not that she’s looking for another job mind you, but that the library can help people who are.) As far as searching for a job goes, the library has newspapers, internet access (wi-fi and computer stations), faxes, phone books, information on local businesses, color copies, and beginning computer classes, along with an online database with practice tests for many job skills. We also have books on resumes, interview advice, career exploration, and college guides. President Obama said once that a librarian helped him find his first job as a community organizer. Now, I won’t say we can help you get a job as the president of the country, but you never know where something might lead.

Library Log 3/19/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

One of the things I like about librarians is their willingness to learn. I am up in Greeley today doing a presentation at a Colorado Library Consortium Spring Conference. Seventy or so librarians from both school and public libraries have met to learn from each other. As important as the workshops were, the networking with colleagues also plays an important role in the conference. Meeting folks that do the same job I do in libraries that are similar and finding out how they do what they do gave me all sorts of ideas. The whole conference reminded me that I really appreciate folks who are passionate about what they do. One of the oddly fun things I got to do, was to fill in for a presenter who had to cancel. It was supposed to be a presentation on some technologies that our library already uses, so I felt comfortable stepping in at the spur of the moment. It gave me an opportunity to show how our library has used technology to improve our work flow. I was also able to go ‘live’ on our website blog page and instant message with Robin at the the library circulation desk. Which is something I wanted to talk to you all about. We have what is called a chat box now embedded on the library blog page. (Did you know we have a blog? Just go to the library website and hit the ‘Library Blog’ button.) A chat box allows you to type into it and someone at the library to read it instantaneously. Of course it only works when we are there, but there is a simple green light to tell you we are ‘on’, and a red light to tell you we are ‘off’. Now, why in the world would you want to type at us you wonder? Well, it can be a simple way to ask a reference question or to ask for our help. We have it on the blog page as a sort of test. We want to see how easy and useful it is. It is a free product, both for us and you, so we might as well try it out. If you want to chat with us in person, were still here of course! Since I am in Greeley today I can’t pick a few new books and DVDs to tell you about, but I hear that there is another whole box of them sitting on my desk. Come by and check them out! And feel free to stop by the back room and say hi.

Library Log 3/12/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

You have probably heard the great news about the John C. Fremont Library being honored with the EBSCO Excellence in Small and Rural Libraries Award (If not … well… we won! It’s a national award. Whooo!) And it only gets better, Friday April 3rd between 5 and 7 pm, our lovely library will be hosting a little celebratory get together. Food and fun for sure! – mark it on your calender! While you are marking that on your calender, also note that the Mayor will be proclaiming (at the next city council meeting) March 31st to April 6th John C. Fremont Library Week. If you don’t have a library card yet, or know someone who needs one, wouldn’t that be the perfect week to sign-up! With a library card you get the opportunity to check out the February order of music and DVDs which has just come in (and I tell you it looks like a pretty exciting bunch). Music-wise I was pretty excited to see “The Frey”, “Avenged Sevenfold”, “Smithsonian Folkways American Roots Collection”, and “Killers – Day and Age”. A few DVDs caught my eye too. The History Channel has a three DVD set of “The President : the Lives and Legacies of the 43 Leaders of the United States”, six hours covering the Presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. It is based on a book by James McPherson called “To the Best of My Abilities.” If that doesn’t get you running in here, library card at the ready, we also got in season one of “Ugly Betty” (which won two Golden Globes!) and the fourth season of “Project Runway” (which was nominated for an Emmy!) So, come on down (and don’t forget to say hi to me in the back room!)

Library Log 3/5/09

Mary’s Musings :

Is it recession or depression? Harry Truman once said, “It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job and it is a depression when you lose your own.” As downturns in the economy disturb more households and businesses, more corners are being cut every way possible. This includes the John C. Fremont Library District. Budgets have been trimmed…and YET our library continues to grow, and you get the same great service! As you can probably tell by the smiles on everyones face….we do love our jobs! The John C. Fremont Library has everything from free coffee and comfy chairs to computers to use, DVDs to check out, audio books on CD… all these items are for your free use with your free library card. Feel free to donate your newer items (anything from books, music CDs, DVDs and sometimes we can even use working computer items) to the John C Fremont Library so we can continue to have a great selection for you to choose from. We will gladly give you a receipt to use on your next tax year. Also, feel free to donate good clean “greeting cards”. Have you noticed our greeting card rack by the checkout desk? Any type of card – birthday, sympathy, thinking of you, get well – that are like new. We do appreciate your donations! Money from the cards help to purchase materials for use in library programs. Thank you! Thank you! For your assistance in keeping our library a great one!

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Things have been going well around here lately. We have been doing quite a good deal of business. Believe it or not, we are checking out almost three times as many books as we did this time last year. Saturdays have had the greatest increase, matching the number of checkouts found on a typical weekday in less than half the amount of hours. Computer usage is up a bit too. So, what does that all really mean and why should you care? (….I know, it’s all about you.) Well, I guess you could say our big plan to get the community coming into the library is working! Yea! Now we need to make sure you are getting the items you want as efficiently as possible. We have streamlined our Interlibrary Loan process and are getting some revamped self-check machines ready for use. We are also working on getting more books on the shelf for you to choose from. We hope to continue to increase the usage without creating lines or waiting time. It is kind of ambitious, but then again so are we. Now, thanks to a suggestion by Tammy – I want to list a few of the new titles we have received: “Run for your life” by James Patterson, “DMZ, Vol. 5” by Brian Wood, “The Physick book of Deliverance Dane” by Katherine Howe, “Living with the Mek” by the Travel Channel, and “Me, the missing, and the dead” by Jenny Valentine. Got an idea? Just want to chat or say hi? I am way back in the back of the library, feel free to stop in.