Library Log 7/30/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

“Wanna be my friend?” asked the John C. Fremont Library District. “Sure!” said the people. If you want to be a part of the Friends of the Library please talk to Cid. We are getting our friends all collected in a group for some fun and action. And action is a main theme around here lately! Did you know about the tote bags? They have just gone on sale at $2 apiece. They are handy to have for those moments when you are checking out 3 DVDs, 3 music CDs and 7 or 8 books and need to get the whole pile to your car. They are also nice to send to friends and relations around the world. We have a little map now at the front desk and we will put a pin in every location where someone has sent one of our lovely tote bags. They make good packaging too, so if you want to sell all of your worldly possessions neatly packaged in a library tote bag, you can attend the eBay 101 class on Thursday, August 6, at 8:00am – 9:30am. Want to know what eBay is? How to buy on eBay? How to sell on eBay? This class will give you all the basics of eBay. Space is limited so please reserve your spot today by calling Robin here at the library. Hmm… sounds like we are starting a cult… be our friend, sell your worldly possessions… well, I guess it is just a small bit of what we offer here at the John C. Come by the back room for indoctrination…err…I mean to say hi.

Library Log 7/23/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room:

I’m back!! Plaque in hand I have returned from the ‘Windy City’. Must say it wasn’t windy while I was there and might be more appropriately named the ‘Hot and Muggy City’, but hey I live here (where it is dry) so I probably don’t get a vote in what they nick name their town. I brought back an entire box of books that publishers were handing out as free gifts: they are uncorrected proofs and advance editions, so you can practice your editing skills while you read! You never know when editing skills will come in handy, but I bet you could use them at our upcoming program. Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm Jeanne Schmidt will be conducting a workshop on how to write your life story. Call or come by the library to reserve a spot! If you come by there are a few other things you should check out (besides books, DVDs and music of course!) Cid has an autograph from Cokie Roberts on her head (ok ok a picture of Cid’s head that is), ask her how she got it. Of course there is also the plaque – come on now you have heard about it for months, don’t you want a little look-see?? And me, in the back room, stop by and say hi.

Library Log 7/2/09

Kieran’s Notes from the back room :

“I am leaving on a jet plane…” Yup, by the time you read this I will be in Chicago at the American Library Association convention. I am bringing a few books with me to read on my flight (and my insanely long lay over!), “American Shaolin” by Matthew Polly and “The Mystery of Grace” by Charles De Lint. They are both new in our collection and I am excited to read them. I am also hoping to pick up a few books at the convention; the publishers like to give away freebies and I will be stuffing them in my bag and, perhaps, even mailing some here to the library. And boy o boy do we need them! According to the circulation statistics, we have gone from about 3000 books checked out in a month to about 5000 books in the month of June. That is about 1 book for every 3 in our collection that is being read, or another way to look at it, is about 1 book for every person who lives in our service area. So if you don’t see what you want on the shelf, check the computer catalog, we might have it, but it might be checked out to your neighbor. You can put yourself on hold for any book we have, or the folks at the desk can help you get it. Apparently we are doing something right and we need to do more of it. (Yes, we will be glad to order the next book in that series you are reading!) The programs we are doing are also attracting more folks too. On July 21^st at 7 pm a fellow from Hospice will be presenting “Philosophy and concept of care” come early and get a good seat. I return to the back room on July 22^nd so come on by to see if I survived Chicago and 22,000 librarians, and take a look at the award we won from EBSCO for Excellence in Small and Rural Libraries (I’m picking it up at the awards dinner at the convention). [I am speaking at the convention on Saturday July 11th around 11 am so cross your fingers for me!]