Library Log 9/24/09

From Gypsy’s Corner:

It’s inventory time here at the library once again. Now I suppose that for a lot of libraries and other businesses inventory can be a boring, tedious task that merely gives one a long list of stuff that they own. However, I actually look forward to it because I see it as a chance to take a good hard look at our collection and get a good picture of what we have, what we need, and what’s really getting read. You see just because a book or magazine doesn’t get checked out a whole lot does not mean it isn’t being looked at, read, or referred to on a regular basis. For this reason, I like to do a full inventory of the library before we go through and weed out the stuff that is no longer needed. It also gives us an excellent idea of which areas need to be built up and which ones are okay for now. It never fails, every time I do inventory I come upon books that I very much want to read. Some go onto my endless “to read someday” list that I always have floating around my head, some actually make it to my desk with my highest of intentions to check them out, and the very best make it all the way to my nightstand where I eventually get to read them. Like most people I have my favorite genre and usually stick to it, but I think it’s important to branch out of my comfort zone once in awhile and read something unusual to me. This year I was struck by the amazing variety of biographies we have. To think that each book contains in words the story of an entire life is intriguing to say the least. Whether it’s a famous contemporary entertainer, an ancient ruler, for someone I’ve never heard of, the lives of these people can offer lessons to all of us by way of examples to follow or what not to do. I invite each of you to stop by and check out one of the many biographies we have here. You just might find yourself inspired, laughing out loud, crying, shocked, amazed, amused, or pleasantly distracted from your own hectic life by the fascinating lives of others. As always, stop in to see us anytime; we love hearing your recommendations and will gladly give you ours. Happy reading!

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Often books float over my desk that I know I have to read. Last week the book I just had to take home was “Daughter of the air : the short soaring life of Cornelia Fort” by Rob Simbeck. Now I won’t give away too much, but the title itself tells you she dies, so I will tell you it is the biography of the first woman pilot to die on active duty in U.S. history. Her name was Cornelia Fort and she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), a civilian unit established during WWII to transport newly manufactured military planes from the factories to U.S. air bases. The text is thoroughly grounded in Fort’s own words through her correspondence with friends and family. It was a good slice-of-life view of the post-depression era America and into the early war efforts. So, come on in and check it out, or one of the many other biographies. You can also stop by the back room and tell me the best story you have read recently!

Library Log 9/17/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Back in the days of the founding of our nation, Ben Franklin came up with an idea to create a public library (probably after he got hit by lightning with his kite!) It was actually a subscription library, where a person paid a small fee to belong and those funds were used to buy the books and pay for a librarian to watch over them. That first library was in Philadelphia; and the idea caught on and Ben Franklin’s idea kept going, evolving with the times. Now-a-days the money to run the library comes from public monies; taxes and the like. In Philadelphia, the Free Library was chartered in 1891 and up until last year everything was going along just fine. That’s when budget shortfalls closed eleven of the fifty four library branches, then it got worse. The Free Library posted an announcement on its website last week, stating that “without the necessary budgetary legislation by the State Legislature in Harrisburg,” Philadelphia will be forced to close all of its libraries – including the main branch – on October 2nd. Just like in the 1770’s when ‘We the People’ spoke to King George, ‘We the People’ spoke again in Philadelphia today. The Pennsylvania State senate passed bill 1828 by a vote of 32 to 17. According to the website, “More than 2,000 letters to state legislators were collected from our libraries, and countless others made calls and sent emails underscoring how important public libraries are to the economic, educational and social life of our city.” Somehow, if at all possible, I bet Ben Franklin is doing a little happy dance, not only for the library but that the people spoke up and democracy worked. So when you come in the library for the latest book in the public discourse, stop by the back room and we will do a little happy dance for Ben Franklin and his wacky ideas about providing for the public good.

Library Log 9/10/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room :

Well I almost didn’t get this written, nor make it back to Colorado today! I was at the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference in Tennessee, which was awesome! 350 rural librarians went to Gatlinburg for three days with over 30 presentations. Twice I presented about how our library gets things done. Unfortunately, flying out of Tennessee, I was rerouted and bumped and ended up in Cincinatti instead of Atlanta. But I made it back and am excited to get going with some of the things I learned. The ARSL conference will be in Colorado next year, and the rural librarians of our nation will descend on Denver. Florence and the John C. have really made a good name on the national level. It is something for which we can all be very proud, but we can’t stop here. We must keep the ball rolling. Meeting with other librarians and attending continuing eduction events helps us stay ahead of the curve and provide better service. It also keeps the staff bright and connected. Connections are important. While we were the first library in Colorado to start using the software called Koha, I met several librarians from Kansas who are part of a large group of libraries that now also use Koha. We were able to exchange contact information and talk to each other about the different modifications our libraries have made to the software. So, now what? Well, I am back, I am awake, but travel weary, but most of all I am inspired. Inspired to see the innovative things the staff here at the John C. can do in the next year to keep all of us here ahead of the curve.

Library Log 9/3/09

Kieran’s notes from the back room:

There are some jobs that, when they’re being done, you just don’t notice, but when they don’t happen it becomes a problem. Kind of like filing; hardly anyone likes to file, but if you need to find something, and find it quick, you wish you had already filed that big stack of paperwork on the desk that you have been avoiding all month. Shelf reading is like that. It is also one of those never-ending tasks. See, folks come in and pick a book off the shelf, look at it and decide they don’t actually want to check it out but while they were reading the back cover they took a step or two forward, so when they slide the book back on the shelf, it ends up slightly out of place, or around the corner, or in a completely different region of the library. Trick of it is, when the next person comes along and really wants to find that book, they go to where it was supposed to be. Shelf reading is a library task that involves looking at the call number on the spine of each book and making sure they are in the right place…. 306.76 BEA, 306.76 RUD, (hmm…what should I make for dinner?), 306.34… wait! wrong order!…. Sort of hard to do for long stretches of time, but very useful to have done. Shelf reading is one of the many thankless jobs the volunteers and staff do here at the library. Now that you know how fun volunteering can be (Tastes great! No calories!) come down to the library and talk to Cid about signing up to volunteer. (There is more to do than just shelf reading, don’t worry.) After you have filled out your paperwork, stop by the back room and I’ll give you a high five, because I really do appreciate you!