Dusting the Library Shelves

The Bookmobile Revisited

2011-09-11T23:15:00.001-04:00

Paulding County Carnegie Library
Bookmobile
Established 2011

We have just completed the first summer of Bookmobile service to Paulding County. Actually, Paulding County enjoyed mobile library service decades ago -- a service provided by the State Library of Ohio, for a fee. But now, our library has its own Bookmobile.

After a tour month in June, the Bookmobile began a weekly schedule. Although the bookmobile would experience generator and a few mechanical hick-ups, the month was successful. Over 700 items were borrowed and over 50 patrons received new library cards.

At the end of August, we have seen over 1000 items borrowed and about 100 new cards issued. Our true measure of success was not the number of items borrowed, but the number of residents applying for new library cards.

In September, we still have issues with the generator, but have begun a modified school schedule, serving the communities of Mandale, Grover Hill, Melrose, Broughton, Scott, Haviland, Latty, Briceton, Charloe, Five-Span, Junction, Cecil and assisted living facilities of Country Inn, Dallas Lamb and The Gardens. The Bookmobile has also begun periodic visits to area pre-schools.

As this new service evolves and grow, we appreciate the fact that we have begun a rather "old fashioned" type of delivery service in the midst of still evolving and adopting library services. On the Bookmobile, patrons can borrow everything from books to PlayAways and through the library website, access electronic books, video and music.

The children's song, "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" is the tune we sing... and the wheels will continue to bring the Bookmobile round and round to your neck of the woods in Paulding County. Happy Reading!

9/11/11 -- Ten Years Later

2011-09-11T09:30:00.002-04:00

Just a short note of remembrance.

Ten years ago -- to the date, we were being visited by a technology expert of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ten years ago, over 20 computers were being installed throughout our library system. Ten years ago, 11 computers were being installed in one of Ohio's 13 training labs funded by the Gates Foundation.

Ten years ago, our library embarked on a new service of computer training and providing public access to online information. Ten years ago, patrons saw first-hand, how their public library was evolving into a true information center. Ten years ago, the spirit of our nation and her quest to be on the leading edge of technology, had filtered to our rural county.

No amount of hatred, no amount of discourse, no amount of fear, will prevent us from being strong and loving America. We continue to live in the greatest nation on earth. Our libraries will continue to grow and adopt new services to meet the needs of generations of citizens. As long as a breath remains in our land, our spirit of freedom and love of our God, will sustain us forever.

May God continue to shed His grace on our beloved nation, our state, our county and our libraries.

eBooks -- The Latest Container

2011-09-11T09:22:00.000-04:00

It has been a wild ride in the profession of librarianship -- especially in the past thirty years. We have adapted to new technologies and formats of delivering information.

Linda Braun, a speaker at the Rural Library Conference held in Frisco, Texas in 2011, referred to the formats as "containers", and in a sense, the term fits.

At the Paulding County Carnegie Library, where the first "container" or book was borrowed in 1916, a book about agriculture, the formats in which we have delivered information has kept up with times. We have seen vinyl long-play albums (LPs), 8-track tapes, cassettes, compact disks, movies on VHS, movies on DVD, books recorded on cassette, books recorded on compact disks, books recorded on PlayAways, and now; books, music and video delivered electronically and downloadable on an electronic "reader" device.

It has been said, or predicted, that the book is dead, that the written page bound between two covers, will no longer be viable or wanted in a society of gadgets, gizmos, electronics, bandwidth, and technological advancements. Perhaps there will come a time where a microchip need only be embedded on the body, and the simple "thought" of a book or information will then be downloaded onto this microchip. Who knows what the future will hold? Those who served as librarians in the past could certainly never have predicted what the "container" would look like in the year 2011. After centuries of information being delivered via the printed page, now we are bombarded with changing technologies and information delivery methods that are evolving and changing on almost a yearly basis.

Although the Paulding County Carnegie Library has kept up with the times, and although the latest "container" in which to deliver information is "electronic", the foundation of the library -- as long as I am director -- will always be books. There will always be a need for the contact with the traditional format of information, books -- which followed the first mode of delivery of information -- the oral word. I pray that the day never comes when ironically, the oral word will be the only way to remember a quaint format called "a book".

Visit your historic Carnegie library in Paulding. See where it all started. Sit back among the thousands of books, close your eyes and imagine. Imagine the years gone by, the dizzying speed at which our lives have been transformed by technology. Then, open your eyes, reach out for a book, open the covers, and read.

New Year Ponderings

2011-01-18T10:13:00.002-05:00

At the beginning of any new year, we have the tendency to look forward and plan for new projects. We try to set goals, which in turn provides us with a road-map - so to speak - of where we want to go. In 2011, the Paulding County Carnegie Library system will continue to improve services to all citizens of the county. Our major undertaking will be the implementation of full bookmobile service. In addition, we hope to complete a remodelling of the children's room at the Antwerp Branch library as well as improvements to both the Cooper and Payne branches.

Technically speaking, our collection will grow with the inclusion of electronic books, or e-books. The path we will take is still being mapped out, but the result will be the same. Those patrons who are now using new e-readers, such as Barnes and Noble's Nook, will be able to download e-books from the library's website for free.

Other changes will be new security safeguards implemented to help insure our youngest patrons have a good online experience by helping protect them from some of the unsavory aspects of the online world.

We will be providing computer classes for patrons with no computer experience as well as patrons who want to improve their online research skills. We will be providing classes for our new databases so that patrons can utilize the library's resources in a meaningful way.

This new year, 2011, will find the library moving in a direction that will be exciting and provide new dimensions of library service for all patrons. We hope you'll enjoy the ride!

Best to you in 2011 and Happy Reading!

We Love Bookmobiles!

2010-11-17T15:32:00.009-05:00

It has been a while since I have added to my blog, but it is not because of a lack of subject matter. Things are absolutely wild around the library. Use is up and we are busier than ever. It seems like we are always welcoming new users to the Paulding County Carnegie Library system.

One of the biggest pieces of news this fall and for 2011 is our acquisition of a used bookmobile. If I told you the bargain we received, you would think I was crazy. Let's just say it was over $2,999 and under $3,001! This bookmobile, once stocked, cleaned, etc. will bring library materials all over Paulding County. More details will follow, but we are all certainly excited about this new direction.

Have a wonderful fall and blessed Thanksgiving! I'll close for now and wish you "Happy Reading!"

I've got a book published!

2010-07-28T12:47:00.000-04:00

It was a dark and stormy night. A shot rang out. A woman screamed... So begins the beginning of Peanuts' beloved beagle, Snoopy's, book; and, usually the sign that the following tome will be a bad one, at best.

I remember all we use to deal with were "vanity presses", you know, the Who's Who of everything? You remember the letters, the ones that stated, "you have been selected, you are among an elite few, etc. etc. etc." All you have to do is submit your information, and by the way, if you want a copy of the title just send $39.95, or better yet, get an engraved collector's edition for $69.95. People would submit their information to these publishers, get their book and see themselves in print. "I'm in 'Who's Who'! they might proudly proclaim. But, the bottom line was that it did not make a hill of beans difference to a future employer. I must admit that I had been tempted on more than one occasion by the flattering offers.

Now our egos can be stroked on a different level. We can all have our books published. Just type in the search "publish my book" on Google or other search engines and see what you will find. Amazon.com even offers a self-publishing option. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for encouraging budding authors. And, we have heard of how a typed out short story distributed among friends has let to best sellers, the one that comes to mind is The Christmas Box self-published in 1993 by Richard Paul Evans for his children and later to become a bestseller plus a movie.

Besides encouraging people to "write", self-publishing does preserve their writings in a more permanent form. For public libraries there is a new challenge. What do we do with all the gift books donated by local authors that were self-published? Librarians have criteria for selecting library materials including fiction and non-fiction works. Some of the books donated by local authors are complete with grammatical errors, run-on sentences, sketchy or obscure plots, flights of fancy, etc. But do we refuse them? In a simple word, no

We try to place all donations by local authors in our collection. In the library cataloging record known as the MARC record (machine readable cataloging) there is a line where we can insert information that this book is by a local author. Some libraries put all their "local author" titles in the same location -- shelved together. We interfile our authors' works in with the popular fiction and non-fiction.

I would never discourage anyone from writing. Self-publishing (an option where the author has to pay up front in most cases) allows for instant gratification and few if any critiques. Being picked up from a major publishing house is the ultimate goal and dream of most authors. The 2010 Novel & Short Story Writers Market and the 2010 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market provide information on where and how to sell your fiction, your children's stories and illustrations. Both are available in the 808 section of the non-fiction. The 2006 Guide to Literary Agents is found in the Reference Section under call number 070 GUI.

Visit your public library often. Read often. Write often. Be inspired. If you need help in getting pointed in the right direction, just ask. Until then, see you at the library!

On Hiring the Best for Your Team

2010-05-25T14:37:00.002-04:00

I have recently reviewed application after application that have been submitted for two open positions at the library. Having a ranking system helps. Ours is one we developed on our own and has served us well over the past decade or so. When we initially review applications, they are ranked into one of three categories:

3's. These applications are either not complete, not signed, or were submitted without all supporting and required documents. Part of our ranking system is based on how well the applicant has followed instructions. If the job ad states that a library application and resume must be submitted to be considered, then an application alone would be incomplete. I have seen what could have been interesting candidates disqualified because they did not read and follow basic instructions. By signing the application, the candidate is acknowledging that they have read that they will be "at-will" employees, that the information they have submitted is truthful, etc. Applications unsigned are not considered.

2's. These applications are complete and included all supporting materials. The application is signed. There may be unexplained gaps in work history or job hopping. The presentation of information may not be grammatically correct, or sloppy. There may, however, be some special skills, talents and/or experience that could be transferable to the open experience. "Twos" will be considered for interview only if the "Ones" do not work out.

1's. "Ones" are applications that are completed, neat and include all supporting materials. These candidates may have past experience that dovetails into the skills needed for library service. They have strong customer service experience, are creative, organized and inventive. They also show confidence, computer knowledge and an enthusiasm to learn new skills. These candidates are called for an interview.

By ranking the applications, the human resource team (or the library director for a small library) is able to identify the best candidates to consider for the library team. The procedure is sensible and logical. Interviews are conducted by the supervisor of the department and the director. In special circumstances, the assistant director and head of adult services may also be a part of the interview process.

Pre-determined interview questions serve as a guideline for the interview and are used to identify strengths, weaknesses and the special skills and talents of the candidates. Taking notes ensures that during the final review, the interviewers will be able to remember each interviewee.

Having a plan provides for a professional approach to the selection of interviewed candidates and the entire interview process. It is exciting and energizing to meeting quality persons who want to be a part of the library team. We just wish we could hire them all!

Happy Reading!

Go Green at the Library!

2010-04-07T14:53:00.004-04:00

Everything seems to be green. Green this and green that. I remember that first "Earth Day" thirty years ago. I remember it well, because I lost my father on that same day.

As a twelve-year-old, the concept of taking care of Mother Earth was one that I was vaguely aware of in the back of my mind. I do remember seeing commercials on televisions with an old Indian chief looking around at garbage with a tear in his eye. I remember Hooty Owl -- "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute". I remember an anti-littering campaign, "Don't be a Litter Bug". At that young age, I remember being a bit ticked if I saw someone throw a bag of trash out the window of their car. I remember carrying litter bags in our car, the kind that hung from the radio knob.

Now, as a librarian, I must confess that I am not totally convinced that the globe is "warming". I believe that temperature change on the planet is cyclical. But you make up your own mind. The library is a great place to research this topic and others.

Anyway, back to "going green". I may not believe in the concept of global warming, but I do believe in keeping our rivers, oceans and air clean. I believe in recycling and conservation.

I must digress and share one quick story. I use to live in California. The State issued a water conservation order. One way to conserve, was to put a brick in the toilet. I was so confused and had a major "blonde moment". Ewwwww... wouldn't the brick get poop and stuff all over it??? Never realizing, until my "aha" moment, that the brick went in the tank to displace water, not the bowl.

Okay, back to "going green". The public library is the ultimate recycler. Our books are borrowed over and over again. A title by popular author Nora Roberts has circulated over 100 times. Many popular titles "circ" more then that in their lifetime. If each of these readers had purchased the books, I wonder how many trees would have been used for the publication.

Over 150,000 books were borrowed from the Paulding County Carnegie Library system in 2009. Over 38,000 movies were borrowed and almost 5,000 CDs were loaned. A total of over 205,000 items of all types were borrowed. Now, I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot of recycling to me.

So, be part of "going green" and "go green" at the library! Happy Reading!

Springtime at the Library & Wagon Wheels

2010-04-07T13:52:00.005-04:00

It is April and the sounds of spring are in the air. My friendly robin has greeted me with song in the morning... noon... afternoon... etc. Must have a lot to sing about. Currently, I hear the humming of lawn mowers working on the library yard. It is the first cutting of the year and I'm looking forward to stepping out to catch a whiff of freshly cut grass.

As the weather warms, the library receives more visitors. Today we greeted a 95 year-old woman who was born and raised in Paulding County. She shared stories of growing up, including visiting the library. Her recollection was priceless. Turns out that an aunt of her gave her a "Brownie" camera when she was younger. She and a friend took countless photos of everyone and everything. The photos have survived in excellent condition. Her daughter and I discussed the possibility of an online exhibit of Paulding County Memories Through the Lens of a "Brownie".

Another story was of her grandfather, last name Reighter, who lived in Briceton and was a wheelwright by trade. He was located next to the blacksmith. He would form the hub, spokes and wheel and then roll the wheel to the blacksmith, who would heat the steel ring that went around the wheel, to a red-hot state. After fitting it around the wheel, he would then quickly plunge it into cold water. The steel would cool and shrink, fitting tightly and seamlessly on the wheel.

This brief springtime visit was enough to paint a picture of bygone days in our county. It is raining now, one of those gentle April showers that will surely intensify the colors of the season. The library continues to be a place to visit, reflect, relax and remember. We hope you will visit your local public library this spring and explore the treasures you'll find within her walls.

Happy Reading!

Tough Decisions about Weather Closings

2010-02-11T10:50:00.005-05:00

I think one of the toughest decisions I have to make is whether or not to close the library in bad or threatening weather. There are so many things to consider... safety of patrons, safety of staff, road conditions, drive home conditions, etc.

There are secondary issues that many patrons may not realize. If we open the library and schools close, parents many times send their children to the library as a form of day care. As long as the child is old enough to be left unaccompanied by an adult and as long as they adhere to library rules of behavior, that's fine. But what happens if the library has to close early? There may be times when a storm worsens during the day and a decision to close at noon or 3:00 p.m. might be made. What happens to our young patrons?

Is there a parent who can take off of work to pick them up? We certainly do not want to send anyone out in bad weather to "walk" home.

Another issue is the nature of the beast of Paulding County -- so to speak. This beast is the series of rural back roads -- many bordered by deep ditches. If there is any icing whatsoever, a driver may find themselves in deep trouble -- literally. Also, as one of my staff members shared, if the wind starts blowing, we're doomed.

Paulding County is different from other areas. We have strong winds sweeping over flat plains. In the country, or rural areas, this results in tremendous drifts and white-out conditions. In the villages, where there is some natural wind breaks in the trees and buildings, the snow simply piles up.

It is just not worth taking the risk. The safety of our patrons and the staff is of utmost importance. In a week or two no one will remember that the library was closed for two days due to the storm. But, if a staff member or patron is injured due to hazardous weather/driving conditions, that memory will stay with us a long time.

If we have to close early, or decide not to open at all, there are no overdue fines charged. Patrons do not have to worry about getting their materials back by dropping them in our bookdrops. We do not want anyone to take risks.

So, while some decisions are easier than others -- the decision to close the library due to hazardous weather/driving conditions is one that impacts lives. And, as long as I am the Director, I will err on the side of caution.

Happy Reading!

Look back on 2009

2009-12-29T10:38:00.002-05:00

We all get a bit nostalgic this time of year... we look back and try to remember the paths our lives have taken. For the library, 2009 was one of the most significant years in the history of the Paulding County Carnegie Library system.

We began the year concerned about our state funding. Our first attempt at passing a library levy failed in November of 2008. We knew cuts had to be made, but we still wanted to keep our library services strong.

The main library offered a number of free computer classes during the first half of the year. These classes taught everything from basic typing (or keyboarding) skills to beginning computer classes, to selling items on EBay. The computer classes continue to be very popular.

February, the month of love and romance, brought the first "Singles Mingle" night at the library. This event drew over a dozen single adults who laughed, visited and overall had a grand time at the library. Who knows? Maybe we'll make some "love connections" this next year!

Annual programs such as Battle of the Books and the Summer Reading events continued to be well-attended and very popular. The main library and branches also sponsored a number of special events and author visits.

In June, the funding picture for Ohio's libraries turned grim. The Governor of Ohio announced on a Friday afternoon, that library funding may be cut again, resulting in an almost 50% cut for the year (revenue had already been down by 20% and another 30% cut was on the table.) Ohio's library lovers mobilized and responded in historic proportions to legislators and the Governor. Our additional cuts were reduced to 11% for a total of 31% for the Paulding library system.

The Board had already made the decision to try another levy in the fall. Now, passage of the levy was more crucial than ever. A strong political action committee was formed and consisted of library lovers and supporters from throughout the county. On November 3, 2009, the fruits of their labor was realized with the passage of the library levy by the narrow margin of 23 votes. This was significant and unprecedented in Paulding County. All other local levies on the ballot were defeated by as much as 2,000 votes.

So now, as we prepare to enter a new year and a new decade, we have a renewed sense of purpose. The board of trustees will continue to be cautious and conservative in planning for the future. But, we will have the funding available to replace and upgrade computers, purchase new materials and bring the library hours back to what they were before the cut.

Please, support your local public library -- and in return, your library will support you. Your library will help save you money on books, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, etc. Visit your library often in 2010. Happy Reading!

The Concept of a Public Library

2009-12-02T10:02:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I just have to sit and think about the blessings of our citizens. A free public library is not a new concept, not for our country, but it is for other countries. What we many times take for granted, others throughout the world hunger for.

Where else can you enter a building and without a credit check, borrow hundreds of dollars worth of materials with only the promise and your "word" that you will return them? Imagine going into a department store and asking to "borrow" clothing for two weeks? Or a television for two weeks? Or a refrigerator, or a computer, or furniture?

There are rental facilities where you can "pay" for the privilege of borrowing, but no other entity allows you to borrow for free.

The concept of a public library is centered on one word -- Trust. A public library's governing board and library staff "trusts" patrons to borrow materials responsibly and abide by the library's policies. It is as simple as that. We trust the patron. We may have never met you, but we trust you.

You have a clean slate with the library when you walk through the door. You may have maxed out your credit cards. Your home may be in foreclosure. It doesn't matter to us. You may borrow to your heart's content, just as long as you follow your library's loan policies.

The concept of a public library is an ideal that people who live in freedom embrace. It is an idea that every man, woman and child can access the information they need to make informed decisions -- free of charge. The public library provides the backbone to a free democracy. Freedom of choice, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of ideas -- all freedoms we enjoy are wrapped up in the guise of a public library.

Countries struggling in a Communist regime or any suppressive government lack what defines a person as "free". Those countries lack the atmosphere of non-restrictive free living. Citizens do not have the basic freedom from censorship. Censorship is not only the process of telling people what they can or cannot read, see or hear; but it is the process of further imprisoning a population in the dark world of ignorance. Public libraries, books, reading, bring light into the darkness.

So, the next time you visit your public library, stop and absorb that what is a precious right and privilege. Appreciate the freedom you have to choose what you want to read, view or listen to. Be thankful for what we have, protect it, cherish it. In a blink of an eye, it could all be gone.

See you at the library!

First Things First

2009-11-30T16:13:00.003-05:00

I have been asked to keep a "library blog", so as the saying goes, there is no time like the present. Our Paulding County Carnegie Library (PCCL) system is on the threshold of a recovery period from state funding cuts. Thanks to the voters in Paulding County, Ohio, a levy supporting library operations passed by 23 votes.

Now, before you think... 23 votes?... that's not much; consider, Paulding County voters were facing many levies. Each levy was soundly defeated by margins in excess of 2,000 votes. Voters made the conscience decision to vote no - no - no - yes - no - no - no. We realize that everyone is suffering during this economic downturn, and a "yes" vote to many will be a hardship.

But, we hope that all those who voted for (and against) the library levy, will become habitual library users. They will soon learn that their public library provides a great value for their family. From free movies and computer access to the best sellers and authoritative reference materials, the library has something for everyone -- and there is NO charge.

Beginning January 2, 2010, the entire PCCL system will be open on Saturdays until noon. Hours will increase for each branch location as well as the main Carnegie library in Paulding. Check the library's website at http://www.pauldingcountylibrary.org/ for updated hours.

So, what will you find on this blog? Hard to say. Maybe I'll run across some interesting books on our shelves. Maybe I will hear news that impacts library users. Maybe I will just want to share some favorite "reads". When you "dust the library shelves", it is hard to know what to expect.

Happy Reading!