How to Hack Your Library

 

This is one of those I wish I had written that blog post posts.  Jeff Scott, director of public library in Casa Grande, Arizona wrote a great post last September entitled “10 Ways to Hack Your Local Library.”  Almost all of it works just as well at Avon Lake Public Library. 

Learn how to get the most out of your library by following the link above.  The few differences:

#5. We don’t have any groups who get longer check-out periods, though our loan period for almost all materials is 21 days, a week longer than Casa Grande.  We would be happy though for you to join the Friends of the Avon Lake Public Library.  Annual dues are $10 for an individual, $15 for a family.  Your dues and the fundraising activities of the Friends provide for speakers and other program costs here at the Library.

#6. We provide 512mb flash drives (with a lanyard) for $5; 1 gig drives for $10 and headphones for $1.50.  These are all sold at cost for the benefit of our patrons.

#7. In addition to Jeff’s reasons for returning books on time, let me add another: the books and other items are here to be shared by the entire community.  When you return an item late, chances are one of your neighbors is waiting to get ahold of it.  Practice the Golden Rule; return your books on time.

#8. To protect your privacy, we don’t keep track of books or other things you’ve borrowed and returned as long as there is not an outstanding fine on the item.  If you want to keep track of what you’ve read, let me suggest LibraryThing.  This social networking tool is much more fun than a mere list of books.  You can keep track of anything about the book you want to remember, write reviews, exchange book lists and find out what people who liked your favorite books also read and loved.

#9. Libraries in Ohio just got a new interface for our shared databases called OWL, Ohio Web Library. These databases are chock-ful of articles and reference materials that put Google to shame.  And without tricky paid-for results to mislead you.  If you’d like a personalized tour of what can be found in OWL or some help doing research in these amazing databases, just stop by the Reference Desk or even call us at 440.933.8128 x 248 and make an appointment with Deb or Cindy.

#10. Jeff says all of these services are free. That’s both true and untrue.  These services are all provided by taxpayers and managed to provide the best possible services for everyone in the community. You’ve already paid for it, why not use it?

Please let us know how we can serve you better!

Book Drop Realignment

We’ve been hearing for years about how our book drop was an annoying incovenience for patrons.

Shortly after we built it, we had to re-route traffic in our parking lot that made it impossible to do a driver-side drop-off without chaos ensuing. It was also still desirable to be able to drop off passengers at our entrance.

How to fix? A “double loop” with one exit solves the problems. About $24,000 was used to complete the project. Some folks are still a bit confused, but we are beefing up the signage and adding more stripes and chicanes and chevrons to make it clear. Time will help as well.

Holden Arboretum

 

Last March, Volunteer Docent Joe Mayo came out to Avon Lake to do a program on the beautiful Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio.  He left Kirtland in a blizzard to come to Avon Lake where the sun was shining and we expected a good turnout for his program.  But you know what they say about the best laid plans!  Only a small handful of folks showed up that afternoon for his slides and stories and literature.  Joe was a good sport about it, but he told me that after the trip he made through snow covered roads, I had better make a trip out to Holden myself!

Last weekend, my husband and I finally made it.  We strolled through the beautiful Butterfly Garden filled with lovely flowers and a proud Mama and Papa Goose with their two goslings.  We enjoyed the lush Wildflower Garden with its several different ecosystems all in different stages of bloom.  We wandered down a couple forested trails labeled “rugged” but quite moderate compared to most parks and studded with benches.  I wish I had taken pictures to share with you, but I was too taken with reveling in the beauty to think to record it. 

Holden Arboretum would make a beautiful day trip from Avon Lake.  It’s about 48 miles from the Library.  Much closer than some of the usual summer destinations many of us are foregoing this year.  The Arboretum is child and adult friendly with lots of learning opportunities as well as the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful day.  When you go, should you run into Joe Mayo, let him know Avon Lake Public Library sent you!

MP3 Day at ALPL

Today, at ALPL, we put out our new Books on MP3-CD collection. They are on display together right now, and will be interfiled with the regular Books on CD when they get older. They are well-labelled.

What’s the big deal? MP3 vs. WAV means fewer discs, lower cost, less things to damage or lose. You can play them in any PC, any DVD player, most new vehicles’ in-dash CD players, most newer portable CD players — and from your PC you could transfer files to your portable device INCLUDING THE iPOD.

Yes, the iPOD.

So, you don’t have a portable MP3 player to enjoy downloadable material from Overdrive on? Or copy stuff from an MP3 CD to? Borrow one from us.

We have EIGHT players at the reference desk for you to check out for three weeks, with renewal if nobody is waiting. they are Creative ZEN STONE models. Each bag includes the player, a USB cable, instructions and an adapter to play through cassette decks.

March is Women’s History Month

Each year, March is designated as National Women’s History Month to ensure that the history of American women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces, and communities throughout the country.  The stories of women’s historic achievements present an expanded view of the complexity and contradiction of living a full and purposeful life.

The knowledge of women’s history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.

To honor the originality, beauty, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women’s lives, Women’s Art: Women’s Vision has been chosen as the 2008 theme for National Women’s History Month.

The history of women and art is quintessential women’s history.  It is the story of amazing women’s accomplishments acclaimed at the time but written out of history. Join us in ensuring that their accomplishments are never forgotten.

This year’s theme provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women’s visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums that help expand our perceptions of ourselves and each other.

Be sure to check out our Women’s History Month display at the library, featuring books both by and about women artists.

New, slightly improved Book Return

When we first installed this book return in 1994, our circulation was about 1/3 of what it is now, AND vehicles could enter AND exit the library at the east and west sides.  Due to wear and tear from use, weathering and exposure, and traffic and safety rules that came later, we have a less than ideal situation. 

The doors needed to be replaced, so, inspired by the USPS, we had these drop chutes fabricated:

Good news:  you no longer have to hold a door open with one hand to deposit materials with the other.  Two flaps inside protect materials from the weather.  A roller conveyor keeps the bins from filling up too fast. 

We cannot change the traffic pattern in our parking lot right now without causing safety issues, so you still have to get out of your car to put things in the drop — unless 1. you are the passenger or 2. your car is very narrow! 

Perfect system or not, most of our materials are returned through our Book Return. 

Did you know we empty the drops every hour while open, and several times a day when we are closed?

Read what we read

One of the main things we hope we can do for you is to help you find things you want to read.  Librarians call this “Readers Advisory“. 

We have been blogging a few titles here we hope are of interest to you.

 We also know that some of you like to read what we like to read.  So, we put this display up and asked everyone here to put their favorites here for you to peruse. 

See this link for a list of staff favorites that is updated monthly.  You can also subscribe to a mailing list and get this list as an e-newsletter.

Web Event with Author Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory, popular historical fiction author of The Boleyn Inheritance and many other bestselling novels of Tudor England, will be hosting a free live webcast on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.

Ms. Gregory will be discussing her research and writing, her upcoming book and the new movie version of The Other Boleyn Girl to feature Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Registered attendees will view and listen to Ms. Gregory speak to a London audience and be able to ask her questions and interact with other live and web audience members.

All you need to do is register in advance. Reminders and instructions for connecting to the webcast will be sent in advance. Just go to http://www.philippagregorylive.com before the 16th to register.

Medical School for the Rest of Us

Ever wonder what it would be like to attend medical school? Now’s your chance to find out!

 Join NEOUCOM’s Mini Medical School for the Community: Healthy Bones and Joints.The Mini Medical School for the Community meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on four consecutive Thursdays, beginning Sept. 20 and is offered free of charge.  The topic for this year’s program is “Healthy Bones and Joints,” focusing on normal and abnormal anatomy and treatment options.

The program will be held in the Meshel Center (R146) at their Rootstown, Ohio, campus. Directions here Light refreshments will be served each evening.

Take this opportunity to learn more about these important health topics. No math or science background is necessary and there is no homework or exams. NEOUCOM’s Mini Medical School for the Community is tailored to the general public.NEOUCOM faculty experts will provide lectures in easily understood language as well as hands-on learning exercises to provide you with a well-rounded experience. You also will have the opportunity to interact with NEOUCOM medical students

.In lieu of a registration fee, participants are invited to make a $40 tax-deductible donation to the NEOUCOM Foundation. Proceeds will benefit their student scholarship programs.

To register, complete the online registration form or contact Susan Feiock by calling 330-325-6335. Note that registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and seating is limited! As the program is designed as a four-session course, participants may not register for a single session and should plan to attend all four sessions. Only those who are 16 years of age or older may attend. 

Harry Potter Update

Number 7 hits at midnight everywhere. At our library, hard-cover and books on CD will be available Saturday morning when we open.

If you have already reserved one (and you did so in time), we will call you before we close today.

We will also have a dozen Hot Picks for the taking.

UPDATE: Large Print may not be available until August 15th!

Reserve your copy here.