Friday, December 28, 2012
So Long 2012
We have come to the end of another year. As we get older, they seem to go pretty fast. My grandson is growing up, much to his mother's and my chagrin. But he is so fun. He is learning to read and loves musical instruments. We think he is destined for a life on the stage. My father passed away. He was 91 and lived a very good life. My youngest daughter finished her residency and is now a full-time hospice chaplain at Iowa Health in Waterloo. She loves her work. The rest of the family is well and so overall we had an good year.
2012 was a good year for Dubuque County Library. In January we opened our Farley Branch in Drexler Middle School. Programming across the system is increasing and attendance is up. We have checked out at least 8% more items so far this year over last year. Our materials budget was increased and so we are getting more new books and DVDs out for your selection. The Library also received two grants. One from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) to provide science kits for students and teachers. We had a series of great programs to debut the materials. They are now in the collection and available for checkout. The other grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation provided for new DVDs and books on health and wellness. We added items on exercise, nutrition, bullying, depression, and a host of other diseases. My favorite anectdote about the project is when my youngest daughter came to visit and stopped by the library. She looked at the processing shelves and saw a children's book titled, "It's Called Dyslexia." She said, "Mom, it would have been great to have this book when I was little and struggling with my learning disorder." That's what it's all about sometimes.
Our staff grew with the addition of Sam Sporer and Alyssa Davidshofer to help us cover the additional hours at Drexler and begin twice-weekly deliveries to get your materials out to you faster. Elisha Blakeman, our Children's Programmer, finished her teaching degree! Congrats! Jenny Parker's hours were increased to full-time. Jenny does teen and adult programming as well as publicity for the library.
We have lots to look forward to in 2013. Our Holy Cross branch will be moving to new space on Main Street this winter. You will love the new furniture and the big windows. The City of Asbury continues to plan for a community campus building which will house city hall offices, police and the library. It will nearly double our space. We are in the fundraising stage and busy with grants and constructing a capital campaign. The new building will be just on the other side of Asbury Park which is a beautiful setting with lots of parking and programming space.
As the new year begins, there is much to do. There are e-reader workshops the first and second week of January. If there was a Kindle or Nook under your Christmas tree, this is your opportunity to learn how to download ebooks for free from the Library.
GAB, our Library book discussion group, is reading "The Persian Pickle Club," for our January meeting. In February, we will be discussing the 2013 All Iowa Reads selection, "The Year We Left Home." The novel centers on the trials and tribulations of an Iowa family. Stop by and pick up a copy of both books so you can join us.
Don't forget to read "The Great Gatsby" which is the next book/movie program in our Page to Screen series funded by Humanities Iowa. This is a joint project with the community college library at NICC in Peosta.
Check the website for times and locations for all of our fabulous programs.
The staff and Board of the Dubuque County Library wish you a very happy new year. We look forward to serving you in 2013.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Holiday Time
Well, we got some snow. My grandson and his aunt made a terrific snowman last Sunday. It had long twigs for arms, two slices of salami for eyes, and a big, green jalepeno pepper for a nose. (That's what was in my fridge!) "Frosty" has been slowly melting all week. On Sunday, the house smelled of sugar cookies and we put up our Christmas tree including the very fire hazardous bubble lights that my husband loves. So, if I did some shopping we would be ready for Christmas. Oh well, I still have a week left. I hope a lot more snow holds off until the end of family travel time in the next couple of weeks.
This week the library has holiday programs and movies to entertain all ages. Check out the calendar for times and locations. Terrie has been preparing a terrific Hannukah program for Epworth next Tuesday at 6:30. There will be stories and crafts.
This past month has been budget time for the library. We are preparing our "wish list" for next year. Our primary focus for next year will be on new materials. We have listened to our customers and what they have told us is that they want the new, popular titles in both book format and ebooks. The increase in ebook checkouts is up over 150% over last year. That's a lot of ereaders for birthdays and Christmas! We anticipate that number will grow even more after this holiday season.
To help you with this new technology, we are presenting two ereader programs after the first of the year. Check our ad in 365Ink next week for times and locations.
And if you want to relax on some of that holiday time off, there are two upcoming programs you will want to read ahead for. On January 17th, our library book club will be discussing "The Persian Pickle Club" by Sandra Dallas. Here's what Amazon says about this very popular novel. "It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another." Copies of the book are available for loan at all our library locations. The book group meets at our Peosta branch.
Or if you prefer the classics, join us for the next in our "Page to Screen" series of movie/book discussions. On January 24th, we will be talking about Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" which has been done on film several times. A new version is coming out next year. But, we will be watching the Robert Redford one co-starring Mia Farrow. Stop by and check out a copy of the book that you were required to read in high school, but now you can read it for fun. It is a truly interesting portrayal of the decadence of the 1920s.
From all of the staff and board of Dubuque County Library, Merry Christmas!
Dawn
This week the library has holiday programs and movies to entertain all ages. Check out the calendar for times and locations. Terrie has been preparing a terrific Hannukah program for Epworth next Tuesday at 6:30. There will be stories and crafts.
This past month has been budget time for the library. We are preparing our "wish list" for next year. Our primary focus for next year will be on new materials. We have listened to our customers and what they have told us is that they want the new, popular titles in both book format and ebooks. The increase in ebook checkouts is up over 150% over last year. That's a lot of ereaders for birthdays and Christmas! We anticipate that number will grow even more after this holiday season.
To help you with this new technology, we are presenting two ereader programs after the first of the year. Check our ad in 365Ink next week for times and locations.
And if you want to relax on some of that holiday time off, there are two upcoming programs you will want to read ahead for. On January 17th, our library book club will be discussing "The Persian Pickle Club" by Sandra Dallas. Here's what Amazon says about this very popular novel. "It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another." Copies of the book are available for loan at all our library locations. The book group meets at our Peosta branch.
Or if you prefer the classics, join us for the next in our "Page to Screen" series of movie/book discussions. On January 24th, we will be talking about Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" which has been done on film several times. A new version is coming out next year. But, we will be watching the Robert Redford one co-starring Mia Farrow. Stop by and check out a copy of the book that you were required to read in high school, but now you can read it for fun. It is a truly interesting portrayal of the decadence of the 1920s.
From all of the staff and board of Dubuque County Library, Merry Christmas!
Dawn
Friday, December 7, 2012
It's Beginning . . .
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The Hillcrest light show is on and the decorations are up at Roshek's. It's Christmas except for no snow. I personally don't mind that it is still bare. Most of us would rather shop and not have to fight bitter cold or slippery streets. A tradition at our house is to play Christmas music on Christmas eve. My oldest daughter loves pan pipe music from South America. My youngest daughter prefers contemporary stuff. I love "A Very Special Christmas 3." This 1997 CD has new and traditional Christmas songs by popular artists; Sting, No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, and Mary J. Blige. A Very Special Christmas 3" is the third in a series of Christmas music-themed compilation albums produced to benefit Special Olympics. My favorite song on this CD is "Christmas" written by John Popper and performed by Blues Traveler. I listen to it over and over. The song is a heartfelt, yet irreverant, view of the holiday season. Here's a sample:
"If it's Chanukah or Kwanza
Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with"
That's my season's wish. Give it a listen.
At the library we are celebrating the season with a series of craft programs. Check out the calendar on our website for times and locations. And check out our Facebook page for a photo of one finished snowman project.
Also stop by your nearest branch and pick up some wonderful holiday books to enrich the season. Settle in with a little one in your life and read, "The Night Before Christmas," "The Littlest Angel," or "The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree." My daughters remember Daddy reading to them,"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. The story will have you roaring with laughter and then it brings on the tears. If you haven't read it, no matter how old you are, this is a Christmas must!
As for movies, the library has a wide selection. Whether you want to revisit Rudolph or Frosty or Will Ferrell's "Elf," the library has it for you. I have two favorites; "It's A Wonderful Life" and "We're No Angels." Most of you are familiar with the Jimmy Stewart's 1947 Bedford Falls and the evil Mr. Potter, but "We're No Angels" debuted in 1955. The action takes place on Devil's Island, the tropical backwater where the notorious French prison was located. Three convicts, played by Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov, have escaped, and wait only for a ship to leave the next day. In the meantime, they become involved in the financial woes of an island shopkeeper (Leo G. Carroll) and his wife (Joan Bennett) and daughter, whose business is in danger from a rich, nasty relative (Basil Rathbone). It is a broad comedy but with a lot of Yuletide heart.
Relax with a good movie or good book and enjoy preparing for the holiday season.
Dawn
Friday, November 30, 2012
'Tis the Season
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Ours was quiet. Our daughters usually desert us for Turkey Day. My eldest and her family went to the Wisconsin Dells for an indoor waterpark getaway with her husband's family. My youngest went to Chicago to be with friends. So the old folks were all alone with turkey drumsticks and cranberry relish. That's okay, though. We have everybody at Christmas.
It may be looking a lot like Christmas, but at the library it's budget season. The last few weeks we have been preparing our annual budget. My head is swimming with numbers. Though it is easy to hate doing the budget, the budget is really important. The budget speaks to our priorities and what library service is all about. For the Dubuque County Library, our budget priorities are materials, programming, and staff. The library needs additional funding to build its collections to better meet the needs of our library customers. We want to purchase more copies of popular titles so that you don't have to wait for a book to be transferred from another branch. We want to greatly expand our ebook collection. Usage of our downloadables went from 800 to nearly 3,000 in the last year!! The library needs to increase our visibility in our service area. The most frequent comment we receive is, "I didn't know there was a county library." That has to change. We have begun to advertise our programs but we must do more. And staff is so important to our quality of service. We must provide sufficient staff to serve you and continue to provide educational opportunties to keep staff learning and growing.
There are lots of activities coming up at the Library. This Saturday is the rescheduled Civil War program at Asbury beginning at 3:00 pm. Join us to hear local historian John Preglar talk about Dubuque and its involvement in the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Mr. Pregler will discuss Iowa's unique position leading up to and during the Civil War and will focus on the personal stories of Dubuque citizens who supported both the North and the South during the war. Mr. Pregler will discuss major battles, Iowa regiments and key Dubuque citizens who make the American Civil War a compelling story 150 years after its start. No registration required.
Our series of holiday craft programs begin this week. Children are invited to come and make a craft and enjoy a treat. Check our website for the program in your area.
Have you ever wondered what Hanukkah is all about? What is a dreidel? What is a Menorah? Then plan to attend our Traditions Around the World series beginning December 7th at Holy Cross. The program is planned for parents and children of all ages. If you have questions, please call Jill Doyle, our Children's Librarian, at 582-0008 for details.
So, 'tis the season for budget, and shopping, and decorating, and baking, and . . . Have a great weekend. Dawn
It may be looking a lot like Christmas, but at the library it's budget season. The last few weeks we have been preparing our annual budget. My head is swimming with numbers. Though it is easy to hate doing the budget, the budget is really important. The budget speaks to our priorities and what library service is all about. For the Dubuque County Library, our budget priorities are materials, programming, and staff. The library needs additional funding to build its collections to better meet the needs of our library customers. We want to purchase more copies of popular titles so that you don't have to wait for a book to be transferred from another branch. We want to greatly expand our ebook collection. Usage of our downloadables went from 800 to nearly 3,000 in the last year!! The library needs to increase our visibility in our service area. The most frequent comment we receive is, "I didn't know there was a county library." That has to change. We have begun to advertise our programs but we must do more. And staff is so important to our quality of service. We must provide sufficient staff to serve you and continue to provide educational opportunties to keep staff learning and growing.
There are lots of activities coming up at the Library. This Saturday is the rescheduled Civil War program at Asbury beginning at 3:00 pm. Join us to hear local historian John Preglar talk about Dubuque and its involvement in the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Mr. Pregler will discuss Iowa's unique position leading up to and during the Civil War and will focus on the personal stories of Dubuque citizens who supported both the North and the South during the war. Mr. Pregler will discuss major battles, Iowa regiments and key Dubuque citizens who make the American Civil War a compelling story 150 years after its start. No registration required.
Our series of holiday craft programs begin this week. Children are invited to come and make a craft and enjoy a treat. Check our website for the program in your area.
Have you ever wondered what Hanukkah is all about? What is a dreidel? What is a Menorah? Then plan to attend our Traditions Around the World series beginning December 7th at Holy Cross. The program is planned for parents and children of all ages. If you have questions, please call Jill Doyle, our Children's Librarian, at 582-0008 for details.
So, 'tis the season for budget, and shopping, and decorating, and baking, and . . . Have a great weekend. Dawn
Friday, November 16, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Over the river and through the wood, to Grandmother's house we go." It's time to give thanks. What a great holiday. We set aside a day each year to give thanks for our blessings and to help those who need a little helping hand. I hope you have plans to get together with your family or to share with other families.
This week I want to turn your attention to a couple of our electronic resources. New technology is bringing incredible information to your doorstep or should I say, desktop?
First I want to talk about the library's catalog. Did you know that you can add your own reviews to any of the books in our collection? You can! This is a great way to share with other readers good reads and to learn about books you might want to add to your reading list. When you look up a book, there is a REVIEWS tab. Just click on that and on the next page click, Add a Review. The system will ask for your library card number and PIN and then you will see a box where you can rate the book by a number of stars and type in your comments. You can add your name or not. These messages go to an administrative email file and after staff look them over, they are released and appear in the catalog. For an example, check out "The Halloween Tree" by Ray Bradbury. I added a little comment. If you would like more information, just call any of the library branches and we can walk you through it.
Another fabulous resource is our Virtual Reference Library. It is a collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and yearbooks online. You no longer have to travel to the library to find information. To access the Virtual Reference Library, go the library's homepage www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us. On the left-hand side of the screen, click on the GVRL icon. Next enter your library card number as your password. Then you will see a screen with a box that says "search your library's GVRL collection." From here you can search for a subject in hundreds of reference books. Suppose a friend has just found out that their child is autistic and you want to find out more information about what that means. Type in "autism" and you will get a list of encyclopedia articles that you can read with a click. In this case, articles in the The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine or The Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health. You can read the article, print it out, or send it to your email for a later time. GVRL will even read the article to you aloud if you download it to a MP3 file or to your ereader. Wow! GVRL is available in multiple languages as well. If the student in your household is doing research on countries or famous scientists, it's all here.
Would you like to be automatically notified of new book releases? Join our virtual book club. From the library website on the left side of the page, click on Online Book Clubs. This service will send excerpts from new titles to your email. All you have to do is choose the genre or genres you would like to receive and add your email. It's that simple. If you like what you read, check the library's catalog to see if we own the book. If not, let us know and we will order it for you.
Call your local branch if you would like help using any of these wonderful tools. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Dawn
This week I want to turn your attention to a couple of our electronic resources. New technology is bringing incredible information to your doorstep or should I say, desktop?
First I want to talk about the library's catalog. Did you know that you can add your own reviews to any of the books in our collection? You can! This is a great way to share with other readers good reads and to learn about books you might want to add to your reading list. When you look up a book, there is a REVIEWS tab. Just click on that and on the next page click, Add a Review. The system will ask for your library card number and PIN and then you will see a box where you can rate the book by a number of stars and type in your comments. You can add your name or not. These messages go to an administrative email file and after staff look them over, they are released and appear in the catalog. For an example, check out "The Halloween Tree" by Ray Bradbury. I added a little comment. If you would like more information, just call any of the library branches and we can walk you through it.
Another fabulous resource is our Virtual Reference Library. It is a collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, and yearbooks online. You no longer have to travel to the library to find information. To access the Virtual Reference Library, go the library's homepage www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us. On the left-hand side of the screen, click on the GVRL icon. Next enter your library card number as your password. Then you will see a screen with a box that says "search your library's GVRL collection." From here you can search for a subject in hundreds of reference books. Suppose a friend has just found out that their child is autistic and you want to find out more information about what that means. Type in "autism" and you will get a list of encyclopedia articles that you can read with a click. In this case, articles in the The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine or The Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health. You can read the article, print it out, or send it to your email for a later time. GVRL will even read the article to you aloud if you download it to a MP3 file or to your ereader. Wow! GVRL is available in multiple languages as well. If the student in your household is doing research on countries or famous scientists, it's all here.
Would you like to be automatically notified of new book releases? Join our virtual book club. From the library website on the left side of the page, click on Online Book Clubs. This service will send excerpts from new titles to your email. All you have to do is choose the genre or genres you would like to receive and add your email. It's that simple. If you like what you read, check the library's catalog to see if we own the book. If not, let us know and we will order it for you.
Call your local branch if you would like help using any of these wonderful tools. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Dawn
Friday, November 9, 2012
Say Thank You!
My dad served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served along with his two brothers; one an Army grunt and the other a paratrooper. His brother Ed, who jumped out of planes over France, didn't come home. Dad was stationed in Italy and North Africa. He flew 100 bombing missions over Europe and survived several close calls. He learned that he didn't like to fly and that peanut butter sandwiches freeze at high elevations. After the war he never flew again, much to my mother's dismay and he never ate peanut butter.
My dad hardly ever talked about the war. He treated his experience as something he had to do--no special praise expected. All he wanted to do was finish his missions and get home to his sweetheart, my mom, and start his life. That was a great generation. But thinking now of Veteran's Day, I realize that I never said thank you. I never said how important it was that he and his brothers fought for us. They fought for those of us not even born yet. So now, I want to say thank you to all our veterans. They do the hard stuff for all of us. Thank you for your service.
In honor of those veterans, the library will be closed on Monday, November 12th (except for Drexler/Farley being open during the school day until 3:00 p.m. and regular hours at NICC/Peosta because the community college is in session.)
The big event next week is the beginning of our "Page to Screen" series. Our first combination is Philip K. Dick's novella, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" which was made into the film "Blade Runner" starring Harrison Ford. This is the story outline for this futuristic tale, "By 2021, the World War had killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn't afford one, companies built incredibly realistic robotic horses, birds, cats, and sheep. They even built synthetic humans. Human who had fled to Mars received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But when androids didn't want to be identified, they just blended in. Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) is an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job was to find rogue androids, and to retire them. But cornered, androids fight back with deadly results." I loved the book when I read it in college and the film is action-packed with great actors. On Monday at 12:30 p.m. there will be discussion of the book and on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 we will show the film followed by a discussion led by NICC professor, James Maddox. All the events are at our NICC/Peosta branch and are open to the public. If you would like to read the book before the film showing, you can borrow a copy at any of our branches. This series is a collaborative efffort between the NICC Library and the Dubuque County Library. Together we received a grant from Humanities Iowa to support the programs. Other titles in the series are "The Great Gatsby," "True Grit," and "Seabiscuit."
On Wednesday evening, we will have our GAB (Girls and Books) book discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch. Normally we meet on Thursday evenings, but we moved it a day ahead because of the "Blade Runner" showing. This month our selection is "The Tiger's Wife" by Tea Obreht. Here is what Amazon says about this award-nominated novel, "In a Balkan country mending from war, Natalia, a young doctor, is compelled to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfather’s recent death. Searching for clues, she turns to his worn copy of The Jungle Book and the stories he told her of his encounters over the years with “the deathless man.” But most extraordinary of all is the story her grandfather never told her—the legend of the tiger’s wife." I am still reading it but it is a fascinating story. If you would like to join us for the discussion, pick up a copy of the book at your local branch.
Also this week the Lego programs are continuing on Tuesday evening at NICC/Peosta. The kids have been having a great time building new creations. Preschool and family storytimes continue at regular branch locations and times. Check our website for details.
There is plenty to do this next week at the Library. Come join us. Have a great weekend and don't forget to say thank you to the service men and women in your life.
My dad hardly ever talked about the war. He treated his experience as something he had to do--no special praise expected. All he wanted to do was finish his missions and get home to his sweetheart, my mom, and start his life. That was a great generation. But thinking now of Veteran's Day, I realize that I never said thank you. I never said how important it was that he and his brothers fought for us. They fought for those of us not even born yet. So now, I want to say thank you to all our veterans. They do the hard stuff for all of us. Thank you for your service.
In honor of those veterans, the library will be closed on Monday, November 12th (except for Drexler/Farley being open during the school day until 3:00 p.m. and regular hours at NICC/Peosta because the community college is in session.)
The big event next week is the beginning of our "Page to Screen" series. Our first combination is Philip K. Dick's novella, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" which was made into the film "Blade Runner" starring Harrison Ford. This is the story outline for this futuristic tale, "By 2021, the World War had killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn't afford one, companies built incredibly realistic robotic horses, birds, cats, and sheep. They even built synthetic humans. Human who had fled to Mars received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But when androids didn't want to be identified, they just blended in. Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) is an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job was to find rogue androids, and to retire them. But cornered, androids fight back with deadly results." I loved the book when I read it in college and the film is action-packed with great actors. On Monday at 12:30 p.m. there will be discussion of the book and on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 we will show the film followed by a discussion led by NICC professor, James Maddox. All the events are at our NICC/Peosta branch and are open to the public. If you would like to read the book before the film showing, you can borrow a copy at any of our branches. This series is a collaborative efffort between the NICC Library and the Dubuque County Library. Together we received a grant from Humanities Iowa to support the programs. Other titles in the series are "The Great Gatsby," "True Grit," and "Seabiscuit."
On Wednesday evening, we will have our GAB (Girls and Books) book discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch. Normally we meet on Thursday evenings, but we moved it a day ahead because of the "Blade Runner" showing. This month our selection is "The Tiger's Wife" by Tea Obreht. Here is what Amazon says about this award-nominated novel, "In a Balkan country mending from war, Natalia, a young doctor, is compelled to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfather’s recent death. Searching for clues, she turns to his worn copy of The Jungle Book and the stories he told her of his encounters over the years with “the deathless man.” But most extraordinary of all is the story her grandfather never told her—the legend of the tiger’s wife." I am still reading it but it is a fascinating story. If you would like to join us for the discussion, pick up a copy of the book at your local branch.
Also this week the Lego programs are continuing on Tuesday evening at NICC/Peosta. The kids have been having a great time building new creations. Preschool and family storytimes continue at regular branch locations and times. Check our website for details.
There is plenty to do this next week at the Library. Come join us. Have a great weekend and don't forget to say thank you to the service men and women in your life.
Friday, November 2, 2012
New Digs
The Holy Cross Branch of the Dubuque County Library will be moving in the very near future. The fire department built a new facility on Main Street. As part of the building project, they planned for the City Clerk's office and the library to share their space. They have a huge garage, handicapped accessible bathrooms, and a very nice meeting room The front part of the building has been unfinished until this fall when the Holy Cross City Council approved funding for materials to finish the first floor. There is lower level which someday we hope will be community and programming space. Now work is underway. The electrical is in and the drywall is going up. Much of the labor is volunteer so I am grateful to everyone who is helping.
I am very excited about moving into this new facility. The library will be located on Main St. right across the street from the Market. We will have large windows and a lofty ceiling. I have been working on finding cost effective furnishings so that the Library looks fresh, new, and professional when we open on Main Street. Other staff members have been working on analyzing the collection. They are weeding out old, tattered, and unused materials and ordering new books and DVDs and added copies of popular titles to fill the shelves.
We don't have a timeline for moving in yet, but I will keep you posted on our progress.
Speaking of building projects, Asbury is moving forward with its plans for a new municipal complex. They have a lovely site on Asbury Road next to the park. The building will house the city offices, police, and the library. The plan has almost double the space we currently have for our Asbury branch. We are excited about having a large programming room which will also be used as the City Council chambers. The setting for the building will be as an extension of the park with sidewalks leading to the park shelters and the playground. We want the facility to be a destination for music concerts, farmer's markets, and community events. Mayor Jim Adams is the driving force behind this project. He has worked tirelessly to shape the plans and make it as cost efficient as possible. Right now the Asbury building committee is searching for grant and donor opportunities in support of the project. Again, no timeline yet, but I will keep you informed.
There are several events at the library next week. On Monday beginning at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta Branch, local historian John Preglar presents a program about Dubuque and its involvement in the Civil War. Mr. Pregler will discuss Iowa's unique position leading up to and during the Civil War and will focus on the personal stories of Dubuque citizens who supported both the North and the South during the war. He will tell the stories of major battles, Iowa regiments, and key Dubuque citizens who fought in the war.
And on Wednesday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m. join John Urbain, Epworth resident, as he shares photographs of Alaska's beautiful landscape at the Epworth Branch Library. Deb Hagerty of Picture Perfect Portrait and Design will also be on hand to discuss tips for creating, storing and sharing vacation photos.
A one more thing, you might have heard that there is an election coming up. It's been in all the papers. Don't forget to vote!!
Have a great weekend, Dawn.
I am very excited about moving into this new facility. The library will be located on Main St. right across the street from the Market. We will have large windows and a lofty ceiling. I have been working on finding cost effective furnishings so that the Library looks fresh, new, and professional when we open on Main Street. Other staff members have been working on analyzing the collection. They are weeding out old, tattered, and unused materials and ordering new books and DVDs and added copies of popular titles to fill the shelves.
We don't have a timeline for moving in yet, but I will keep you posted on our progress.
Speaking of building projects, Asbury is moving forward with its plans for a new municipal complex. They have a lovely site on Asbury Road next to the park. The building will house the city offices, police, and the library. The plan has almost double the space we currently have for our Asbury branch. We are excited about having a large programming room which will also be used as the City Council chambers. The setting for the building will be as an extension of the park with sidewalks leading to the park shelters and the playground. We want the facility to be a destination for music concerts, farmer's markets, and community events. Mayor Jim Adams is the driving force behind this project. He has worked tirelessly to shape the plans and make it as cost efficient as possible. Right now the Asbury building committee is searching for grant and donor opportunities in support of the project. Again, no timeline yet, but I will keep you informed.
There are several events at the library next week. On Monday beginning at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta Branch, local historian John Preglar presents a program about Dubuque and its involvement in the Civil War. Mr. Pregler will discuss Iowa's unique position leading up to and during the Civil War and will focus on the personal stories of Dubuque citizens who supported both the North and the South during the war. He will tell the stories of major battles, Iowa regiments, and key Dubuque citizens who fought in the war.
And on Wednesday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m. join John Urbain, Epworth resident, as he shares photographs of Alaska's beautiful landscape at the Epworth Branch Library. Deb Hagerty of Picture Perfect Portrait and Design will also be on hand to discuss tips for creating, storing and sharing vacation photos.
A one more thing, you might have heard that there is an election coming up. It's been in all the papers. Don't forget to vote!!
Have a great weekend, Dawn.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Read, Grandma, Read
Guess what I did at 7:30 this morning? I read the first two chapters of "Captain Cold's Arctic Eruption" to my four and a half-year old grandson. The night before we had read a Superman novel and I promised to start the Flash novel today. I didn't know it would be at 7:30, but he couldn't wait. What a way to start the day! But it was wonderful. He was all snuggled up and hanging on every word. He is totally obsessed with superheroes and he learns about them through reading. That is the power of reading. I will read all the superhero novels he wants because I know that the subject matter isn't what is important. It is the act of listening and reading. It is amazing how long his attention span is and how rich his imagination is when I watch him play. That is because he has been read to since birth.
I know this is cliche, but reading is fundamental. Children learn so many skills from being read to. They learn how to hold a book, they learn how to turn pages, they build visusal literacy by following items on the page while listening to a story, they learn letter sounds and words, they learn how a story goes. All those skills from sharing a book! Those skills will be used later when they learn numbers and sequences. How can you do a math story problem if you can't read?
My soap box is clearly labeled. Read to any child you know. Encourage your children to read to their children. Buy books as gifts. The latest plastic toy will break, but books last. Support your schools and libraries because they are places that children read.
Bring the child in your life to library story times. Jill and Elisha do a wonderful job of bringing reading to life in those 45-minute sessions. They share songs, activities, crafts, and they read stories. Who doesn't like to hear a story? Story times help teach early readers how to to be in a group with other children, they learn to listen and respond to the actions in the story. Jill and Elisha build on the story with related songs, poems, and action rhymes. Check our website and join a library story time group next week.
The library program I want to bring to your attention this week is at Epworth on Monday, October 29th at 5:15 p.m. Join us at the Highview Cemetery for an informative talk from a local expert. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight. The cemetery is located off of 1st Ave. NE past the Epworth Ball Park. Lifelong Epworth resident Bill Mausser and co-author of "History of Epworth, Iowa" (1976) will guide a walk through Epworth history and the individuals buried at Highview.
I know this is cliche, but reading is fundamental. Children learn so many skills from being read to. They learn how to hold a book, they learn how to turn pages, they build visusal literacy by following items on the page while listening to a story, they learn letter sounds and words, they learn how a story goes. All those skills from sharing a book! Those skills will be used later when they learn numbers and sequences. How can you do a math story problem if you can't read?
My soap box is clearly labeled. Read to any child you know. Encourage your children to read to their children. Buy books as gifts. The latest plastic toy will break, but books last. Support your schools and libraries because they are places that children read.
Bring the child in your life to library story times. Jill and Elisha do a wonderful job of bringing reading to life in those 45-minute sessions. They share songs, activities, crafts, and they read stories. Who doesn't like to hear a story? Story times help teach early readers how to to be in a group with other children, they learn to listen and respond to the actions in the story. Jill and Elisha build on the story with related songs, poems, and action rhymes. Check our website and join a library story time group next week.
The library program I want to bring to your attention this week is at Epworth on Monday, October 29th at 5:15 p.m. Join us at the Highview Cemetery for an informative talk from a local expert. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight. The cemetery is located off of 1st Ave. NE past the Epworth Ball Park. Lifelong Epworth resident Bill Mausser and co-author of "History of Epworth, Iowa" (1976) will guide a walk through Epworth history and the individuals buried at Highview.
Last week a group toured the Farley cemetery with Mayor Jeff Simon and his dad who is a local historian. A great time was had by all as even long-time residents learned new things about their town.
I want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween. Stop by your local library when you go out trick or treating. We have a small treat for you. The big treat is that visiting the library will help your child succeed in school and in life. No doubt about it. Kids who read succeed!
Friday, October 19, 2012
All Hallows Eve
I told you this is my favorite time of the year. And Halloween is my favorite holiday. Some people go all out to decorate for Christmas, we decorate for Halloween. Right now a mummy, a crow, a rat, and many spiders reside on my front porch. Along with them is a pair of talking skeltons, a screaming doormat, a lighted bat, and miscellaneous body parts. Ghoulish? You bet!
Halloween is an ancient celebration. "Halloween as it is celebrated these days is but a pale representation of its rich and multicultural history. It is not, as some would call it, a celebration of the Devil or of Hell or of the Damned, but rather a blending of the celebrations marking the end of the growing season, a heralding of the coming of the winter months and folk traditions that told of the day when the veil between the living and the dead, ever a transparent, gossamer veil at that, would lift and ghosts and ghouls would walk among the living. From those many traditions, coming to us from the Celts, the Roman rituals and even Catholic tradition, we get the stirrings of what would eventually become Halloween." (www.halloween.com)
The very best Halloween book by far is Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree." I remember discovering it after reading Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine." "The Halloween Tree" is set in the same idyllic small town. Amazon says this about Bradbury's contemporary classic, "Eight boys set out on a Halloween night and are led into the depths of the past by a tall, mysterious character named Moundshroud. They ride on a black wind to autumn scenes in distant lands and times, where they witness other ways of celebrating this holiday about the dark time of year. This is a superb book for adults to read to children, a way to teach them, quite painlessly, about customs and imagery related to Halloween from ancient Egypt, Mediterranean cultures, Celtic Druidism, Mexico, and even a cathedral in Paris." Bradbury captures the excitement and dread of this holiday of the dead.
If want another spooky, classic story. Remember to read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Here is the genesis of the headless horseman who rides the country roads of upstate New York. Written in 1820, this still holds up as a great, spooky read.
I try not to go into the deeper meanings of the holiday such as recognizing our own mortality, but I do think it is okay to learn to be a little bit scared as long as you have the refuge of a loving family to run back to.
The library is celebrating with storytime programs and Halloween parties. Check out website for dates and locations. The staff is having fun preparing Halloween surprises.
Speaking of the dead, join us for a cemetery walk to learn about local history from an expert. We had a great group at Farley this week and next up is Epworth. Lifelong Epworth resident Bill Mausser and co-author of "History of Epworth, Iowa" will lead the walk through Highview Cemetery. The cemetery is located off of 1st Ave. NE past the Epworth Ball Park. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight. The walk begins at 5:15 p.m. on October 29th.
Next up is a series of special storytimes about health. The library received a grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation to update the health, nutrition, and wellness areas of our collection. We have ordered books and DVDs about good food, meal planning, exercise, diseases, and related issues such as bullying and eating disorders. To feature these new resources, we will be having "To Your Health" storytimes on November 8th at three library locations--9:30 at Peosta, 11:00 at Asbury, and 6:30 p.m. at Farley. As a special treat, every child will receive a free "Good Health Habits" coloring book. The coloring book teaches about nutrition, exercise, handwashing, toothbrushing, and all those good things. We will also have a resource list of the new materials so you can see what we have added to the collection.
So stop by the library and get in the mood for Halloween. Boo!!
Dawn
Halloween is an ancient celebration. "Halloween as it is celebrated these days is but a pale representation of its rich and multicultural history. It is not, as some would call it, a celebration of the Devil or of Hell or of the Damned, but rather a blending of the celebrations marking the end of the growing season, a heralding of the coming of the winter months and folk traditions that told of the day when the veil between the living and the dead, ever a transparent, gossamer veil at that, would lift and ghosts and ghouls would walk among the living. From those many traditions, coming to us from the Celts, the Roman rituals and even Catholic tradition, we get the stirrings of what would eventually become Halloween." (www.halloween.com)
The very best Halloween book by far is Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree." I remember discovering it after reading Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine." "The Halloween Tree" is set in the same idyllic small town. Amazon says this about Bradbury's contemporary classic, "Eight boys set out on a Halloween night and are led into the depths of the past by a tall, mysterious character named Moundshroud. They ride on a black wind to autumn scenes in distant lands and times, where they witness other ways of celebrating this holiday about the dark time of year. This is a superb book for adults to read to children, a way to teach them, quite painlessly, about customs and imagery related to Halloween from ancient Egypt, Mediterranean cultures, Celtic Druidism, Mexico, and even a cathedral in Paris." Bradbury captures the excitement and dread of this holiday of the dead.
If want another spooky, classic story. Remember to read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. Here is the genesis of the headless horseman who rides the country roads of upstate New York. Written in 1820, this still holds up as a great, spooky read.
I try not to go into the deeper meanings of the holiday such as recognizing our own mortality, but I do think it is okay to learn to be a little bit scared as long as you have the refuge of a loving family to run back to.
The library is celebrating with storytime programs and Halloween parties. Check out website for dates and locations. The staff is having fun preparing Halloween surprises.
Speaking of the dead, join us for a cemetery walk to learn about local history from an expert. We had a great group at Farley this week and next up is Epworth. Lifelong Epworth resident Bill Mausser and co-author of "History of Epworth, Iowa" will lead the walk through Highview Cemetery. The cemetery is located off of 1st Ave. NE past the Epworth Ball Park. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight. The walk begins at 5:15 p.m. on October 29th.
So stop by the library and get in the mood for Halloween. Boo!!
Dawn
Friday, October 12, 2012
October in Libraryland
What a beautiful day! It is very hard to stay inside when the air is cool and the sun is shining. I love fall. It brings back memories of Friday night football games. In those days, we wore sweaters and wool dress slacks to the games. I still remember some of those outfits along with homecoming corsages and nights at Little King in Cedar Rapids eating deep fried cheese sandwiches. Those were the days.
October is also big in the Iowa Library community. The statewide conference is always the second week in October. The conference moves around the state each year to give local libraries the opportunity to attend at a reasonable cost. This year approximately 600 librarians and vendors descended on Dubuque for the festivities. This is great. I was able to send most of my staff members for a least a day of the three-day event. The conference affords them the chance to meet other librarians from all sizes and kinds of libraries. Each day is packed with seminars on issues of interest to our kind--new ideas for children's and adult programming, new technology, and advice for building community support for your library. There are 80-100 exhibits for librarians to visit with representatives of products such as furniture, computer systems, and supplies. There are always book vendors and attendees can even meet some authors. The annual conference helps our profession keep up to date with trends and issues. It is time well spent and it is good for the city of Dubuque. During their visit, librarians spent their hard-earned money on meals, hotel bills, and shopping. A real win-win situation. Conventions are good for the local economy and that's why open borrowing across the state is so important. When the bowlers or the dentists come to town, they should be able to use the services of the local library.
Because this year the conference was in Dubuque, the State Library Commission (the governor-appointed board which oversees library service in Iowa) met at the Carnegie-Stout Public Library on Wednesday. As part of their agenda, Mary Wegner (State Librarian), asked both Susan Henricks (Director of Carnegie-Stout) and me to address the commission regarding the open access issue. We both presented the challenges of local budgets and the need for fully funding the program so that Iowans can use the library which is most convenient for them. Libraries are very good at resource sharing and this program encourages an open system of borrowing all across the state. The commission is aware that inequities in the system are not only in Dubuque. The Quad City libraries experience similar problems. The commissioners asked good questions and seemed very thoughtful about our presentations.
This coming week at Dubuque County Library we are excited to be hosting local author, Heather Gundenkauf, at our NICC Peosta location on Thursday evening at 6:30. Everyone is welcome. River City Lights will be providing copies of all of Heather's books for sale and Heather will be talking about her work and signing copies.
Next week we are also continuing our series for children on dog training and safety. The programs will be presented by Cindy Ludwig, M.A. owner & manager of Canine Connections LLC and Ginger, her collie mix therapy dog. Cindy will talk about how to approach dogs correctly, how to choose a dog as a pet, and what is involved in dog training. Ginger is a nice, well-behaved dog and the children have loved meeting her. Check our website for program times and locations.
That's all for now. Stop by and visit us. We are eager to serve you. Enjoy the brilliant weather. Dawn
October is also big in the Iowa Library community. The statewide conference is always the second week in October. The conference moves around the state each year to give local libraries the opportunity to attend at a reasonable cost. This year approximately 600 librarians and vendors descended on Dubuque for the festivities. This is great. I was able to send most of my staff members for a least a day of the three-day event. The conference affords them the chance to meet other librarians from all sizes and kinds of libraries. Each day is packed with seminars on issues of interest to our kind--new ideas for children's and adult programming, new technology, and advice for building community support for your library. There are 80-100 exhibits for librarians to visit with representatives of products such as furniture, computer systems, and supplies. There are always book vendors and attendees can even meet some authors. The annual conference helps our profession keep up to date with trends and issues. It is time well spent and it is good for the city of Dubuque. During their visit, librarians spent their hard-earned money on meals, hotel bills, and shopping. A real win-win situation. Conventions are good for the local economy and that's why open borrowing across the state is so important. When the bowlers or the dentists come to town, they should be able to use the services of the local library.
Because this year the conference was in Dubuque, the State Library Commission (the governor-appointed board which oversees library service in Iowa) met at the Carnegie-Stout Public Library on Wednesday. As part of their agenda, Mary Wegner (State Librarian), asked both Susan Henricks (Director of Carnegie-Stout) and me to address the commission regarding the open access issue. We both presented the challenges of local budgets and the need for fully funding the program so that Iowans can use the library which is most convenient for them. Libraries are very good at resource sharing and this program encourages an open system of borrowing all across the state. The commission is aware that inequities in the system are not only in Dubuque. The Quad City libraries experience similar problems. The commissioners asked good questions and seemed very thoughtful about our presentations.
This coming week at Dubuque County Library we are excited to be hosting local author, Heather Gundenkauf, at our NICC Peosta location on Thursday evening at 6:30. Everyone is welcome. River City Lights will be providing copies of all of Heather's books for sale and Heather will be talking about her work and signing copies.
Next week we are also continuing our series for children on dog training and safety. The programs will be presented by Cindy Ludwig, M.A. owner & manager of Canine Connections LLC and Ginger, her collie mix therapy dog. Cindy will talk about how to approach dogs correctly, how to choose a dog as a pet, and what is involved in dog training. Ginger is a nice, well-behaved dog and the children have loved meeting her. Check our website for program times and locations.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Another viewpoint
Advertising people and press agents say that any publicity is good publicity. I hope that is true. You may, or may not, be aware that library service has been in the newspaper a great deal lately. The controversy centers on who's paying for library service and for whom.
Both Carnegie-Stout and Dubuque County libraries belong to the state of Iowa Open Access program. The terms of agreement states, "The purpose of Open Access is to provide Iowans with direct access to more library materials and information resources. It is a reciprocal borrowing program that enables customers from a participating library to go to other participating libraries and directly check out materials they own." The goal of the program is to increase availability and provide convenient access. The program's initial target was to reimburse each check out at $1.00. The first year of funding, back in 2000, was 39 cents. Due to the success of the program and no incremental growth in funding, the current reimbursement is 19 cents per check out. In 2012, that reimbursement should be closer to $3.00. That substantial gap is what Carnegie-Stout is feeling. They are buying additional copies of books and DVDs because of the demand by county patrons.
Effective October 1st, Carnegie-Stout added another restriction on Open Access (non-Dubuque cardholders) using the downtown library. Open access borrowers can no longer place holds on popular materials and can no longer ask that a book or DVD they are interested in be purchased by the library. This restriction is within the terms of agreement along with other restrictions that Carnegie-Stout already had on Open Access users. Open Access users cannot download materials (ebooks and audiobooks) and they do not have access to the electronic databases such as EbscoHost which are available to local borrowers through the library's website.
Dubuque County Library regrets the inconvenience for those who regularly place holds downtown, but we want county residents to be our customers. We encourage all of our cardholders to place holds with us for those same popular materials. We have shorter waiting lists and if the list for a certain title gets longer, we will purchase additional copies to meet demand. Let us know if you cannot find something in our collection. We will purchase it for you. Dubuque County Library belongs to a consortium to provide a collection of ebooks and audiobooks from our website. Dubuque County Library, because of a state contract, is able to provide access to many of those same databases. If you live in the rural areas of the county, the city of Dubuque, Cascade, or Dyersville, or any of our contracting cities (Epworth, Farley, Holy Cross, Asbury, Peosta, New Vienna, Graf or Luxemberg), visit one of our branches and we will get you a library card.
It is unfortunate that Carnegie-Stout feels the need to pull back at this time. The Dubuque County Library is striving to improve its collection and meet the needs of its customers, but this won't happen overnight. It will take time. This year the County Board of Supervisors approved a significant increase for our materials budget so that we can buy more books and DVDs. With five locations, we need to buy more copies of popular items. Also, the city of Dubuque should remember that county residents contribute significant tax dollars to their coffers because they work and shop downtown. County residents buy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as well as shoes and hairspray from merchants in Dubuque.
Dubuque has done a wonderful job of improving downtown. There are more exciting stores, the riverside, including the Mississippi River Museum, is invigorating and inviting, and the library is beautiful. This renovation is attracting visitors and conventions from all across the state. It would be a shame if an Iowa resident who is visiting Dubuque could not check out a DVD for their hotel room or an audiobook for the long drive home because Carnegie-Stout is no longer a participating library in the state system.
What needs to be done? Citizens need to reach out to legislators to ask for full funding of the Open Access program. Dubuque County Library needs to continue to grow and provide more resources to its customers. And Carnegie-Stout needs to have adequate resources to remain a partner in the Iowa library community. Everyone who values library service, no matter which library they use, needs to speak up to their legislators, council members, and supervisors. As an Iowan you deserve quality, accessible, library service. You may need to demand it.
Both Carnegie-Stout and Dubuque County libraries belong to the state of Iowa Open Access program. The terms of agreement states, "The purpose of Open Access is to provide Iowans with direct access to more library materials and information resources. It is a reciprocal borrowing program that enables customers from a participating library to go to other participating libraries and directly check out materials they own." The goal of the program is to increase availability and provide convenient access. The program's initial target was to reimburse each check out at $1.00. The first year of funding, back in 2000, was 39 cents. Due to the success of the program and no incremental growth in funding, the current reimbursement is 19 cents per check out. In 2012, that reimbursement should be closer to $3.00. That substantial gap is what Carnegie-Stout is feeling. They are buying additional copies of books and DVDs because of the demand by county patrons.
Effective October 1st, Carnegie-Stout added another restriction on Open Access (non-Dubuque cardholders) using the downtown library. Open access borrowers can no longer place holds on popular materials and can no longer ask that a book or DVD they are interested in be purchased by the library. This restriction is within the terms of agreement along with other restrictions that Carnegie-Stout already had on Open Access users. Open Access users cannot download materials (ebooks and audiobooks) and they do not have access to the electronic databases such as EbscoHost which are available to local borrowers through the library's website.
Dubuque County Library regrets the inconvenience for those who regularly place holds downtown, but we want county residents to be our customers. We encourage all of our cardholders to place holds with us for those same popular materials. We have shorter waiting lists and if the list for a certain title gets longer, we will purchase additional copies to meet demand. Let us know if you cannot find something in our collection. We will purchase it for you. Dubuque County Library belongs to a consortium to provide a collection of ebooks and audiobooks from our website. Dubuque County Library, because of a state contract, is able to provide access to many of those same databases. If you live in the rural areas of the county, the city of Dubuque, Cascade, or Dyersville, or any of our contracting cities (Epworth, Farley, Holy Cross, Asbury, Peosta, New Vienna, Graf or Luxemberg), visit one of our branches and we will get you a library card.
It is unfortunate that Carnegie-Stout feels the need to pull back at this time. The Dubuque County Library is striving to improve its collection and meet the needs of its customers, but this won't happen overnight. It will take time. This year the County Board of Supervisors approved a significant increase for our materials budget so that we can buy more books and DVDs. With five locations, we need to buy more copies of popular items. Also, the city of Dubuque should remember that county residents contribute significant tax dollars to their coffers because they work and shop downtown. County residents buy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as well as shoes and hairspray from merchants in Dubuque.
Dubuque has done a wonderful job of improving downtown. There are more exciting stores, the riverside, including the Mississippi River Museum, is invigorating and inviting, and the library is beautiful. This renovation is attracting visitors and conventions from all across the state. It would be a shame if an Iowa resident who is visiting Dubuque could not check out a DVD for their hotel room or an audiobook for the long drive home because Carnegie-Stout is no longer a participating library in the state system.
What needs to be done? Citizens need to reach out to legislators to ask for full funding of the Open Access program. Dubuque County Library needs to continue to grow and provide more resources to its customers. And Carnegie-Stout needs to have adequate resources to remain a partner in the Iowa library community. Everyone who values library service, no matter which library they use, needs to speak up to their legislators, council members, and supervisors. As an Iowan you deserve quality, accessible, library service. You may need to demand it.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Serving Iowans
The headline in today's Telegraph Herald reads: Library shuts down some features of open access.
It’s good news, bad news kind of story. The good news is that more people than ever are using their public libraries in Dubuque county. Carnegie-Stout Public Library saw a 7% increase in circulation this last fiscal year and Dubuque County Library circulation increased over 8%. The bad news is that increased usage strains resources in these difficult economic times. Libraries are competing with other public agencies and services for limited funding. Fire and police departments, mental health providers, and parks and recreation commissions are all vying for the same dollars in state, county, and local budgets.
Carnegie-Stout Public Library and Dubuque County Library currently work together through a state program called Open Access. Libraries who participate in Open Access agree to lend materials and provide services to citizens outside of their tax base in return for compensation from the State of Iowa. The program began twelve years ago and the vast majority of public libraries in Iowa now participate. This means that wherever you live in Iowa you are no longer disadvantaged by what your local library has on its shelves. You can borrow from any public library in Iowa depending on what is convenient and available to you. If you live in Farley, but work in Manchester, you can use the local library on your way home after you stop for groceries. Open Access levels the playing field for rural and urban citizens and allows Iowans to share resources across the state.
When the legislation for the Open Access program was passed, the target was a reimbursement of $1.00 per loan. That first year, the program paid $.39. It has never been fully funded. This year, due to the rise in library usage and little additional funding over the life of the program, reimbursement has dropped to only $.19 per loan. With the current cost of library service, the reimbursement should be closer to $3.00.
All of the public libraries in Iowa are feeling this pinch. Libraries in urban areas are particularly hard hit because customers work and live in many jurisdictions. They shop in one suburb and live in another. Underfunding Open Access only pits those libraries against each other in order to survive. But now is not the time to abandon the program. Now is the time for citizens to talk with their legislators and ask that Open Access be fully funded in the state budget. The dollars spent on this resource- sharing approach are money well spent. Libraries are a cost-effective way of reaching all of our citizens. We provide free access to the Internet, continuing education through workshops and seminars, lifelong learning from story times to senior computer classes, current books, magazines, DVDs, and downloadable ebooks and audiobooks.
Carnegie Stout Public Library and Dubuque County Library both want to provide quality services to the residents of Dubuque county and, in turn, the citizens of Iowa. This county should be proud that these two public institutions are out there striving to bring information and materials to everyone. The numbers prove that people want library service. They just don’t understand how libraries are funded. Per capita rates for the public libraries in Dubuque county vary widely. Everyone does not pay the same amount for library service. Open Access is one way to ease these differences. It cannot replace local support but makes cooperation possible.
All of our citizens need to support adequate funding for libraries at both the state and local level. Help us better serve all our people.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Annual Report
The new annual report is here. The new annual report is here. I feel like Steve Martin's character in "The Jerk" who was so excited about the arrival of the new phone books. I'm always excited when I can review the statistics from the past year. The Library's 2012 annual report shows what we have accomplished and where we want to go moving forward.
The numbers were very good. Circulation is up 8% from last year for a total of 88,775 in 2012. This number includes downloading (using electronic books and audiobooks). Downloads were up from 889 in 2011 to 2,275 in 2015. There are lot more ereaders out there and our customers are learning to use the free collection available through our NEIBORS website. Staff have presented several workshops to help people learn how to download and access material through their mobile devices. New borrowers were up as well. We issued over 1,500 cards this last year. 7,044 new books and dvds were added to the collection. Program attendance was at an all-time high of 3,449 people who attended children's, teens, and adult programs. The highlight was that 109 people attended the bat program in Asbury in June. 872 children and 149 adults participated in our summer reading program.
A couple of measures were down slightly. We had fewer people using computers in 2012. In 2011, 6,324 people signed in to our public computers but only 5,169 used our computers in 2012. Perhaps more people are getting their own computers or using their smart phones. That would match a national trend. We also had about 500 fewer visitors in 2012. That may be attributed to the fact that we were closed several days at Epworth branch because of the Bierman Road construction. Access to the library was hampered for several weeks. We were also closed a week around Christmas to move the Farley branch to Drexler Middle School.
And for the dollars and cents . . . Total expenditures for 2012 were $5,99278. This is a per capita cost of $25.45. Expenditures were up almost $10,000 from 2011 when we spent $589,835. On the revenue side, we brought in $3,003.97 in fines and fees. That is up from $500.00 in 2011 because now we are charging for late returns. I know no one likes to pay fines, but it sure does help get materials back on time so that we can fill the holds for popular, in demand titles. Check out our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for the whole annual report.
We have lots to look forward to in the year ahead. We have a grant of $1,500 from Alliant Energy to update our health and wellness collection of books and dvds. The building plans are continuing for a new municpal building in Asbury which will include a larger library and programming space. This fall we are going to begin a series of computer classes. Come learn how to surf the Internet, download materials, and much more. Children's programs are diversifying to include working with the Canine Connection so that you can learn how to choose, raise, and train your dog. There are special doggie visitors at several storytimes. And don't forget the new Lego programs going on all fall.
The Library still has much to do to provide you with outstanding library service, but we are growing and we are striving to be your public library. Have a great weekend. Dawn
The numbers were very good. Circulation is up 8% from last year for a total of 88,775 in 2012. This number includes downloading (using electronic books and audiobooks). Downloads were up from 889 in 2011 to 2,275 in 2015. There are lot more ereaders out there and our customers are learning to use the free collection available through our NEIBORS website. Staff have presented several workshops to help people learn how to download and access material through their mobile devices. New borrowers were up as well. We issued over 1,500 cards this last year. 7,044 new books and dvds were added to the collection. Program attendance was at an all-time high of 3,449 people who attended children's, teens, and adult programs. The highlight was that 109 people attended the bat program in Asbury in June. 872 children and 149 adults participated in our summer reading program.
A couple of measures were down slightly. We had fewer people using computers in 2012. In 2011, 6,324 people signed in to our public computers but only 5,169 used our computers in 2012. Perhaps more people are getting their own computers or using their smart phones. That would match a national trend. We also had about 500 fewer visitors in 2012. That may be attributed to the fact that we were closed several days at Epworth branch because of the Bierman Road construction. Access to the library was hampered for several weeks. We were also closed a week around Christmas to move the Farley branch to Drexler Middle School.
And for the dollars and cents . . . Total expenditures for 2012 were $5,99278. This is a per capita cost of $25.45. Expenditures were up almost $10,000 from 2011 when we spent $589,835. On the revenue side, we brought in $3,003.97 in fines and fees. That is up from $500.00 in 2011 because now we are charging for late returns. I know no one likes to pay fines, but it sure does help get materials back on time so that we can fill the holds for popular, in demand titles. Check out our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for the whole annual report.
We have lots to look forward to in the year ahead. We have a grant of $1,500 from Alliant Energy to update our health and wellness collection of books and dvds. The building plans are continuing for a new municpal building in Asbury which will include a larger library and programming space. This fall we are going to begin a series of computer classes. Come learn how to surf the Internet, download materials, and much more. Children's programs are diversifying to include working with the Canine Connection so that you can learn how to choose, raise, and train your dog. There are special doggie visitors at several storytimes. And don't forget the new Lego programs going on all fall.
The Library still has much to do to provide you with outstanding library service, but we are growing and we are striving to be your public library. Have a great weekend. Dawn
Friday, September 14, 2012
Books can be suprising
Have you ever thought you would never like a book and then read it and be completely wrong? Well, I have--just this week. In August, GAB (Girls and Books), the library's book discussion group, chose "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Shaffer and Annie Barrows as their book for the September meeting. I was so disappointed. I had heard of the book. I knew it was popular with book groups. But I thought it was another of those "book club" books where the main plot was describing a quirky ensemble of book club members and their lame interactions. Boy, was I on the wrong track.
"The Gurensey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" is an enthralling account of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. The Germans invade these islands that lie between England and France and occupy them for five, long years. The book unfolds through letters to and from Juliet Ashton (a budding writer) and her friends, publisher, and the inhabitants of Guernsey.
At first I thought I would hate reading a whole novel of letters, but as I kept reading, I found that this was the absolutely perfect way to tell this story. How else could people slowly unburden themselves of their wonderful and terrible stories of living under very harsh conditions? The reader learns as Juliet learns what the islanders went through with dwindling food supplies, zero help from England, and only their community to rely on.
Don't get me wrong. This is not a dark, depressing novel of horror stories. It is a story of perseverance and of people with just as much grit as any American Conestoga wagon pioneer. What surprised me was how eager I was to read the next letter and the next. (I finished the book at 3 a.m. because I couldn't stop.) Also, don't worry that it is all dreary history. I love historical fiction and I learned so much about a slice of history I knew nothing about. Most Brits knew nothing about the occupation either. But this novel also has intrigue and romance and you can't wait to find out what happens.
GAB will be discussing the book next Thursday, September 20th at 6:30 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch. It should be a lively evening just like those of the Potato Peel Society. Come join us. Copies of the book are available to borrow at all our branch locations.
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" is a book about a book club with quirky characters and their interactions, but it far from dull or lame. The message of the book is that books can be surprising. They may just get your through hard times and bind you to your community. Imagine that.
Have a great weekend. See you at the library. Dawn
"The Gurensey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" is an enthralling account of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. The Germans invade these islands that lie between England and France and occupy them for five, long years. The book unfolds through letters to and from Juliet Ashton (a budding writer) and her friends, publisher, and the inhabitants of Guernsey.
At first I thought I would hate reading a whole novel of letters, but as I kept reading, I found that this was the absolutely perfect way to tell this story. How else could people slowly unburden themselves of their wonderful and terrible stories of living under very harsh conditions? The reader learns as Juliet learns what the islanders went through with dwindling food supplies, zero help from England, and only their community to rely on.
Don't get me wrong. This is not a dark, depressing novel of horror stories. It is a story of perseverance and of people with just as much grit as any American Conestoga wagon pioneer. What surprised me was how eager I was to read the next letter and the next. (I finished the book at 3 a.m. because I couldn't stop.) Also, don't worry that it is all dreary history. I love historical fiction and I learned so much about a slice of history I knew nothing about. Most Brits knew nothing about the occupation either. But this novel also has intrigue and romance and you can't wait to find out what happens.
GAB will be discussing the book next Thursday, September 20th at 6:30 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch. It should be a lively evening just like those of the Potato Peel Society. Come join us. Copies of the book are available to borrow at all our branch locations.
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" is a book about a book club with quirky characters and their interactions, but it far from dull or lame. The message of the book is that books can be surprising. They may just get your through hard times and bind you to your community. Imagine that.
Have a great weekend. See you at the library. Dawn
Friday, September 7, 2012
Author Visits
Dubuque County Library has two local authors coming to visit with us this fall. I am so excited. Obviously, I am a reader. My mom had to kick me out of the house on summer afternoons to "go play"! I was much happier lying on the living room rug reading "Seventeenth Summer." By the way, what a wonderful pre-teen novel that was. In the old days, the book ended with a first kiss. Anyway, I love to read, but I cannot imagine writing a novel. I would have so many questions to ask a successful author if I were to even think about writing. How do you let a story unfold over 300 pages? How do you develop characters without telling us in stock phrases who they are? How do you decide how it ends? If you are a budding writer, or just like to talk about books, mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
Jessica Schmitt, the first-time author of "Monster Under My Bed," is coming to Epworth and Holy Cross branches on September 24th. Epworth at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross. Schmitt is a Rickardsville native and Western Dubuque High School graduate. Jessica received her Bachelor's degree from Loras College and moved to Minneapolis in 2008. She is currently working in the field of security. She will talk about her book as well as the writing and publishing process.
Heather Gudenkauf recently released her third novel, "One Breath Away." Gudenkauf is a Dubuque native. She will be joining our GAB (Girls and Books) library discussion group on Thursday, October 18th at 6:30 p.m. We will be in the community room at NICC/Peosta. Everyone is welcome to come and talk with Heather. She will be signing and selling books. We have multiple copies of the book in our library collection because the holds just kept going up. I absolutely loved her debut novel, "The Weight of Silence." I have extolled it's virtues in previous blogs. "These Things Hidden," her second book, is also good. It isn't quite as dramatic as the first one. But, have you read the new book yet? It is riveting. A gunman enters a small-town Iowa school. Chilling. Who is he? What does he want? What does he intend to do? The story is told through the eyes of several townspeople and some of the students. As a parent, I cannot imagine the agony of waiting through such an ordeal. I read the book over a weekend because I had to find out what happened. It's also cool that Gudenkauf includes so many Iowa references. Heather hasn't abandoned us now that's she's a best-selling author.
So, come join us for these author visits. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Dawn
Friday, August 31, 2012
No labor on Labor Day
We call it Labor Day. According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, "Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country."
Labor Day is celebrated with parades, speeches, and picnics. For most of us, it's a day of rest. We don't do a lot of "labor" on Labor Day. But aside from getting a paid holiday, it is a reminder that American workers have done a lot for this nation.
The most often cited example of business success is Henry Ford. Ford may not have been the nicest or most tolerant guy in the world, but he figured out how to create processes that changed manufacturing forever. He gave thousands of people jobs and produced consistent products that last a long time. Wikipedia says, "Although Ford did not invent the automobile, he developed and manufactured the first automobile that many middle class Americans could afford to buy. He is credited with "Fordism": mass production of inexpensive goods coupled with high wages for workers. His intense commitment to systematically lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a franchise system that put dealerships throughout most of North America and in major cities on six continents." Pretty impressive.
So, while you sip on your ice tea, and enjoy the grilled brats this weekend; think about the amazing heritage of American workers. Then you can feel a little better as you trundle off to work on Tuesday morning. Rise American workers, it's another day.
All of our library locations will be closed on Monday to honor Labor Day. But on Tuesday, the fall programming season begins. We have storytimes beginning at all library locations. Check our library calendar for times and locations.
I'm excited that Dubuque County Library will be hosting two local authors. In September, Jessica Schmitt who grew up in Rickardsville, will be talking about her first novel "Monster Under the Bed." And, in October, Heather Gundenkauf, a Dubuque native, will be visiting our library book discussion group to talk about her third novel, "One Breath Away." Last weekend I started reading Heather's book. It is about a small, Iowa town and what happens when a gunman walks into the school. It is riveting. I loved her debut novel, "The Weight of Silence;" a powerful, nail-biting family drama. I could hardly put it down. The second novel, "These Things Hidden," is another family drama focused on two sisters and the secrets they both carry. If you like Jodi Picoult who wrote "My Sister's Keeper" which was a big best-seller, you will like Heather Gudenkauf. Check out our library's website, www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for dates and details.
Have a fun, restful, long weekend. Dawn
Labor Day is celebrated with parades, speeches, and picnics. For most of us, it's a day of rest. We don't do a lot of "labor" on Labor Day. But aside from getting a paid holiday, it is a reminder that American workers have done a lot for this nation.
The most often cited example of business success is Henry Ford. Ford may not have been the nicest or most tolerant guy in the world, but he figured out how to create processes that changed manufacturing forever. He gave thousands of people jobs and produced consistent products that last a long time. Wikipedia says, "Although Ford did not invent the automobile, he developed and manufactured the first automobile that many middle class Americans could afford to buy. He is credited with "Fordism": mass production of inexpensive goods coupled with high wages for workers. His intense commitment to systematically lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a franchise system that put dealerships throughout most of North America and in major cities on six continents." Pretty impressive.
So, while you sip on your ice tea, and enjoy the grilled brats this weekend; think about the amazing heritage of American workers. Then you can feel a little better as you trundle off to work on Tuesday morning. Rise American workers, it's another day.
All of our library locations will be closed on Monday to honor Labor Day. But on Tuesday, the fall programming season begins. We have storytimes beginning at all library locations. Check our library calendar for times and locations.
I'm excited that Dubuque County Library will be hosting two local authors. In September, Jessica Schmitt who grew up in Rickardsville, will be talking about her first novel "Monster Under the Bed." And, in October, Heather Gundenkauf, a Dubuque native, will be visiting our library book discussion group to talk about her third novel, "One Breath Away." Last weekend I started reading Heather's book. It is about a small, Iowa town and what happens when a gunman walks into the school. It is riveting. I loved her debut novel, "The Weight of Silence;" a powerful, nail-biting family drama. I could hardly put it down. The second novel, "These Things Hidden," is another family drama focused on two sisters and the secrets they both carry. If you like Jodi Picoult who wrote "My Sister's Keeper" which was a big best-seller, you will like Heather Gudenkauf. Check out our library's website, www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for dates and details.
Have a fun, restful, long weekend. Dawn
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Growing our Library
From looking at this blog you know that I am fond of Augstine Burrell's quotation, "Libraries are not made, they grow." Libraries are like people, trees, and puppies. They don't spring fully-formed from the head of Zeus like Apollo. They grow.
Libraries grow in several ways. They grow by listening and observing their customers. What are they asking for, what do they use? Good libraries monitor what books are checked out, what authors are popular, what storytimes are well attended, and what programs succeed and they try to continue to provide what their customers want and offer even more of those popular books and events. They grow by adding computer stations as they are used more and more. They grow by building bigger and better spaces to allow people to come to programs, use computers, or just sit and read.
Libraries also grow from support. Just like the trees grow taller and stronger from establishing strong root systems, libraries grow with support from customers, Friends groups, staff member services and talents, and elected officials.
Did you know that libraries are non-profit, government institutions? We provide services, materials, computer access, and all those wonderful things because you pay taxes. Libraries may have supplemental help from Friends groups, Foundations, grants, donations, and a very small amount from the state, but our funding comes from tax support. Your tax bill doesn't list how much you pay for libraries, but if you are a resident of Dubuque County, you pay $25.50 per year for library service. That is such an incredible bargain. For that $25.50 you can check out as many books, dvds, magazines, and books on cd as you want. You can download audio and ebooks from our website. You can use all of our electronic databases to create a resume, price a collectible, or research medicare costs. And you can bring your children to storytimes, movies, and craft programs as often as you wish.
Dubuque County Library is growing. We opened a new branch in Peosta last fall at Northeast Iowa Community College. We moved from a small storefront location in Farley to a beautiful new space in Drexler Middle School. With our partners, these moves greatly expanded hours of library service available to residents. We also are growing our book budget and buying more copies of popular titles so that you can find what you want to read. We are also growing by upgrading our computer network so Internet service is more reliable. And we upgraded our Microsoft Office software so you can use the latest version of Word and Excel. We also upgraded our library catalog to a more graphic format that displays our new book and DVD titles.
In the coming years, we want to continue to grow. We are working with the City of Holy Cross to move to the new fire department building on Main St. This new location will have lots of light and we will be offering more programs there as well as increasing the number of new books and DVDs. Dubuque County Library is also working with the City of Asbury to build a new municipal building that will house city hall offices, police, and a new library.
I believe libraries are wonderful, equalizing, places that are part of providing for the public good. Dubuque County Library is working on becoming the library you want and deserve. Help us grow with your comments and support so that we can become the best library possible to serve our citizens. Okay, I will now step down from my soapbox and wish everyone a great weekend. I will talk to you next week.
Dawn
Libraries grow in several ways. They grow by listening and observing their customers. What are they asking for, what do they use? Good libraries monitor what books are checked out, what authors are popular, what storytimes are well attended, and what programs succeed and they try to continue to provide what their customers want and offer even more of those popular books and events. They grow by adding computer stations as they are used more and more. They grow by building bigger and better spaces to allow people to come to programs, use computers, or just sit and read.
Libraries also grow from support. Just like the trees grow taller and stronger from establishing strong root systems, libraries grow with support from customers, Friends groups, staff member services and talents, and elected officials.
Did you know that libraries are non-profit, government institutions? We provide services, materials, computer access, and all those wonderful things because you pay taxes. Libraries may have supplemental help from Friends groups, Foundations, grants, donations, and a very small amount from the state, but our funding comes from tax support. Your tax bill doesn't list how much you pay for libraries, but if you are a resident of Dubuque County, you pay $25.50 per year for library service. That is such an incredible bargain. For that $25.50 you can check out as many books, dvds, magazines, and books on cd as you want. You can download audio and ebooks from our website. You can use all of our electronic databases to create a resume, price a collectible, or research medicare costs. And you can bring your children to storytimes, movies, and craft programs as often as you wish.
Dubuque County Library is growing. We opened a new branch in Peosta last fall at Northeast Iowa Community College. We moved from a small storefront location in Farley to a beautiful new space in Drexler Middle School. With our partners, these moves greatly expanded hours of library service available to residents. We also are growing our book budget and buying more copies of popular titles so that you can find what you want to read. We are also growing by upgrading our computer network so Internet service is more reliable. And we upgraded our Microsoft Office software so you can use the latest version of Word and Excel. We also upgraded our library catalog to a more graphic format that displays our new book and DVD titles.
In the coming years, we want to continue to grow. We are working with the City of Holy Cross to move to the new fire department building on Main St. This new location will have lots of light and we will be offering more programs there as well as increasing the number of new books and DVDs. Dubuque County Library is also working with the City of Asbury to build a new municipal building that will house city hall offices, police, and a new library.
I believe libraries are wonderful, equalizing, places that are part of providing for the public good. Dubuque County Library is working on becoming the library you want and deserve. Help us grow with your comments and support so that we can become the best library possible to serve our citizens. Okay, I will now step down from my soapbox and wish everyone a great weekend. I will talk to you next week.
Dawn
Friday, August 17, 2012
Gearing up for Fall
Before you know it, school will be starting. In most districts, just next week! Yikes! Where did the summer go? It's time for new backpacks, jeans, calculators, lunch boxes, and so forth. I can still remember when I was excited to go back to school. For a child, even summer can get boring. Hopefully, you had a good summer spending time with family, seeing new sites, and reading. We took a short breath at the beginning of August, and now staff is busy preparing fall library programs.
First up is a showing of "The Hunger Games." It will be at Epworth branch starting at 7:00 p.m. After reading the series and watching the theatrical release of the movie, I think they did a good job of capturing the story on film. There are still nuances in the book that you can't get from the movie and so, of course, I recommend reading the book. We have added copies so get your name on the hold list today.
We launched a new catalog last week. It is gorgeous. You should go to our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and click on the Catalog tab to take a look. The search button appears and you can type in what you are looking for. But, as you wait for your search, book jackets and DVD covers begin to scroll across the screen. These are new titles that we have added to our library collection. Just click on the cover and it will go to the catalog and tell you the location and status of the item. You can also browse by genre. I clicked on "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and it brought up lots of other movies that I might like. This is so cool. The display is easy to read and it is easy to place your request. The graphics do take a little time to load, so just be patient. Type in your search and the display of books and DVDs will start.
Last week I talked about our new Bulletin Board feature. It is up and running from our homepage. Just click and see the suggestions we have received and our responses. You don't have to use our suggestion boxes, you can also send comments to my email and I will post them on the board. Just let me know what your thinking by emailing dawnh@dubcolib.lib.ia.us. I want to hear from you.
You can also interact with us through a new survey. We are asking customers what kind of computer classes they would like. Paper surveys are available at all the branches and there will be a new button on the homepage for you to give us input. We have purchased five new laptops and we want to use them as a roving computer lab, going out to teach computer skills. We would like to know what kind of skills you need as well as where and when you want the classes. This is your opportunity to let us know what works best for you.
On Tuesday, I was up at our Holy Cross branch for our book sharing group. I talked some books that I think are interesting. Here are some titles to consider for the last few days of summer:
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. An account of the tragic 1996 climb to the summit of Mt. Everest.
The Great Bridge by David McCullough. McCullough who has documented presidents, turns to the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert. The late journalist talks about growing up in South Buffalo. It's kind of a Greatest Generation meets Tuesdays with Morrie kind of book.
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. She is one of my favorite authors. Brooks writes about the clash of cultures on Martha's Vineyard in the 1660's as a Calvinist minister seeks to convert the native Wampanoag people.
Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs. This is the thirteenth novel featuring forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan. This book series was made into the television show, Bones.
Have a great weekend getting ready for school. Dawn
First up is a showing of "The Hunger Games." It will be at Epworth branch starting at 7:00 p.m. After reading the series and watching the theatrical release of the movie, I think they did a good job of capturing the story on film. There are still nuances in the book that you can't get from the movie and so, of course, I recommend reading the book. We have added copies so get your name on the hold list today.
We launched a new catalog last week. It is gorgeous. You should go to our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and click on the Catalog tab to take a look. The search button appears and you can type in what you are looking for. But, as you wait for your search, book jackets and DVD covers begin to scroll across the screen. These are new titles that we have added to our library collection. Just click on the cover and it will go to the catalog and tell you the location and status of the item. You can also browse by genre. I clicked on "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" and it brought up lots of other movies that I might like. This is so cool. The display is easy to read and it is easy to place your request. The graphics do take a little time to load, so just be patient. Type in your search and the display of books and DVDs will start.
Last week I talked about our new Bulletin Board feature. It is up and running from our homepage. Just click and see the suggestions we have received and our responses. You don't have to use our suggestion boxes, you can also send comments to my email and I will post them on the board. Just let me know what your thinking by emailing dawnh@dubcolib.lib.ia.us. I want to hear from you.
You can also interact with us through a new survey. We are asking customers what kind of computer classes they would like. Paper surveys are available at all the branches and there will be a new button on the homepage for you to give us input. We have purchased five new laptops and we want to use them as a roving computer lab, going out to teach computer skills. We would like to know what kind of skills you need as well as where and when you want the classes. This is your opportunity to let us know what works best for you.
On Tuesday, I was up at our Holy Cross branch for our book sharing group. I talked some books that I think are interesting. Here are some titles to consider for the last few days of summer:
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. An account of the tragic 1996 climb to the summit of Mt. Everest.
The Great Bridge by David McCullough. McCullough who has documented presidents, turns to the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert. The late journalist talks about growing up in South Buffalo. It's kind of a Greatest Generation meets Tuesdays with Morrie kind of book.
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. She is one of my favorite authors. Brooks writes about the clash of cultures on Martha's Vineyard in the 1660's as a Calvinist minister seeks to convert the native Wampanoag people.
Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs. This is the thirteenth novel featuring forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan. This book series was made into the television show, Bones.
Have a great weekend getting ready for school. Dawn
Friday, August 10, 2012
Success on Mars
I'm not particularly a space geek, but I was pretty excited last week when the Curiousity rover successfully landed on Mars. Wow! NASA scientists held their breath waiting through the seven minutes of terror (the time sequence for landing the rover on the planet). But the plan went better than expected and it was cheers for everyone at the Jet Propulsion Lab. The rover landed safely in its crater and is sending wonderful photos back to earth and will be sending more data from rock and soil samples on its two-year mission.
America can still do it! We wanted to send a rover to study the possibility of life on Mars and we did it. Gradually we will study the data and discover if there is any carbon residue on the red planet. Do you know how we did this incredible thing? Through education. Plain and simple. All those folks who contributed to the success of the Mars mission were bright, curious, educated people. At some point in their young lives they decided that figuring out math and physics was fun, challenging, and important. Is our future crop of learners headed in the same direction towards curiosity, ingenuity, and success?
Well they won't be if we don't provide the resources they need to find that creative spark and grow their minds. And I believe that public libraries are an integral part of our nation's educational system. We reach out to infants and toddlers with board books and storytimes, next comes preschoolers with picture books, and then we supplement the school curriculum with fiction and nonfiction books and DVDs, and stimulate discovery through programs like "Incredible Bats" and "Real Science."
And we don't stop wtih K-12. The public library also encourages reading for pleasure and information through a collection of popular fiction and nonfiction books and books on CD. We enhance the use of these materials with book discussions and public interest programs.
We provide computer access so that people can acquire typing and other skills, create resumes, and apply for jobs. Dubuque County Library has a specific resume writing program that is easy to use and produces great resumes. It's called Cypress Resume and is available 24 hours a day from our website. All you need is a library card. We also make available from our website the Iowa Works Portal which helps you file unemployment claims, search for job openings, take tests for jobs, and learn about various kinds of job training.
So what I am saying is that learners of all ages need great schools and strong public libraries. We need to support both to ensure our future. What can you do? Contribute to your school's foundation fund, join the local parent-teacher association, and become a library Friends member. All of these organizations help bolster success.
This fall we will be teaching a series of computer classes at several of our branch locations. Let us know what kind of class you want and where it is convenient for you to attend. Send any comments or requests to me at dawnh@dubcolib.lib.ia.us. I will take your suggestions and get back to you about our computer class schedule.
Speaking of suggestions, beginning next week I will be posting on our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) replies to the comments we receive from our Suggestion boxes at each branch. If you have a comment about any aspect of library service, fill out a card and your inquiry will be responded to on our website. We want to hear from you!!
Take advantage of this respite from the hot weather and have a great weekend. Dawn
America can still do it! We wanted to send a rover to study the possibility of life on Mars and we did it. Gradually we will study the data and discover if there is any carbon residue on the red planet. Do you know how we did this incredible thing? Through education. Plain and simple. All those folks who contributed to the success of the Mars mission were bright, curious, educated people. At some point in their young lives they decided that figuring out math and physics was fun, challenging, and important. Is our future crop of learners headed in the same direction towards curiosity, ingenuity, and success?
Well they won't be if we don't provide the resources they need to find that creative spark and grow their minds. And I believe that public libraries are an integral part of our nation's educational system. We reach out to infants and toddlers with board books and storytimes, next comes preschoolers with picture books, and then we supplement the school curriculum with fiction and nonfiction books and DVDs, and stimulate discovery through programs like "Incredible Bats" and "Real Science."
And we don't stop wtih K-12. The public library also encourages reading for pleasure and information through a collection of popular fiction and nonfiction books and books on CD. We enhance the use of these materials with book discussions and public interest programs.
We provide computer access so that people can acquire typing and other skills, create resumes, and apply for jobs. Dubuque County Library has a specific resume writing program that is easy to use and produces great resumes. It's called Cypress Resume and is available 24 hours a day from our website. All you need is a library card. We also make available from our website the Iowa Works Portal which helps you file unemployment claims, search for job openings, take tests for jobs, and learn about various kinds of job training.
So what I am saying is that learners of all ages need great schools and strong public libraries. We need to support both to ensure our future. What can you do? Contribute to your school's foundation fund, join the local parent-teacher association, and become a library Friends member. All of these organizations help bolster success.
This fall we will be teaching a series of computer classes at several of our branch locations. Let us know what kind of class you want and where it is convenient for you to attend. Send any comments or requests to me at dawnh@dubcolib.lib.ia.us. I will take your suggestions and get back to you about our computer class schedule.
Speaking of suggestions, beginning next week I will be posting on our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) replies to the comments we receive from our Suggestion boxes at each branch. If you have a comment about any aspect of library service, fill out a card and your inquiry will be responded to on our website. We want to hear from you!!
Take advantage of this respite from the hot weather and have a great weekend. Dawn
Friday, August 3, 2012
Olympic Spirit
As you well know, the summer Olympics is on! All eyes are on the atheletes in London. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not that into sports. I like a good college basketball game and I love March madness, but I don't care much about any other contests. So what is so fun about the Olympics is that we all can become instant experts on sports we know nothing about. After a moment of commentary, I can now watch a uneven bars routine and judge like the best of them. I watch for the nuances of diving positions and call the expert strokes in water polo. We also become rabid nationalists. Our swimmers are better, our soccer team the best, and so on. Luckily, this is all from the vantage point of my own living room and I can cheer, critique, and moan without anyone (other than my husband) being the wiser.
One thing that is inspiring about the Olympics is that all these dedicated people are living their dreams. They have trained for years and now they have the chance to show what they can do. Gabby Douglas moved away from her family to train with a famous coach in West Des Moines, Iowa. She sacrificed, got up all those mornings to work out, practiced and practiced, and last night she was crowned the best gymnast in the world. So, the question arises . . . What do you want to accomplish? What gold are you seeking?
The library can be the place to begin and advance those dreams. We have so many resources to help with your journey. We have free Internet access at all of our locations so that you can keep up with Olympic scores, take a course, monitor a stock, or write a novel. If you have access at home, the library subscribes to a host of databases to expand your horizons. We have programs for creating a resume, using legal forms, encyclopedias for researching just about any subject, pricing antiques and collectibles, and learning a foreign language Your passport isn't a ticket to London, but a free Dubuque County Library card. Stop by and register today and then go to our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and look on the left-hand side of the screen. All of our resources are listed there and just click to begin.
Locally, now is the time for community celebrations. Watch for the library float in tomorrow's Epworth parade and we will be marching the following week in Holy Cross.
Remember Epworth library will be closed Saturday for Town and Country Days. Holy Cross library will be closed Saturday, August 11th so everyone can celebrate.
On a bittersweet note, today is the last day for Maggie Chilsen who works at our Drexler/Farley branch. Maggie has decided to follow her passion and move on with her personal goals for social justice. She will be moving west and we will miss her enthusiasm and bright smile. Sam Sporer who helped out at Holy Cross when Bea was out for surgery will be pitching in at Farley for the next couple of weeks. Best wishes Maggie from all of us.
So, enjoy the rest of the Olympic games and come use the library to go for the gold!
Stay cool, Dawn.
One thing that is inspiring about the Olympics is that all these dedicated people are living their dreams. They have trained for years and now they have the chance to show what they can do. Gabby Douglas moved away from her family to train with a famous coach in West Des Moines, Iowa. She sacrificed, got up all those mornings to work out, practiced and practiced, and last night she was crowned the best gymnast in the world. So, the question arises . . . What do you want to accomplish? What gold are you seeking?
The library can be the place to begin and advance those dreams. We have so many resources to help with your journey. We have free Internet access at all of our locations so that you can keep up with Olympic scores, take a course, monitor a stock, or write a novel. If you have access at home, the library subscribes to a host of databases to expand your horizons. We have programs for creating a resume, using legal forms, encyclopedias for researching just about any subject, pricing antiques and collectibles, and learning a foreign language Your passport isn't a ticket to London, but a free Dubuque County Library card. Stop by and register today and then go to our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and look on the left-hand side of the screen. All of our resources are listed there and just click to begin.
Locally, now is the time for community celebrations. Watch for the library float in tomorrow's Epworth parade and we will be marching the following week in Holy Cross.
Remember Epworth library will be closed Saturday for Town and Country Days. Holy Cross library will be closed Saturday, August 11th so everyone can celebrate.
On a bittersweet note, today is the last day for Maggie Chilsen who works at our Drexler/Farley branch. Maggie has decided to follow her passion and move on with her personal goals for social justice. She will be moving west and we will miss her enthusiasm and bright smile. Sam Sporer who helped out at Holy Cross when Bea was out for surgery will be pitching in at Farley for the next couple of weeks. Best wishes Maggie from all of us.
So, enjoy the rest of the Olympic games and come use the library to go for the gold!
Stay cool, Dawn.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Tell Us More
I can't believe we are coming to the end of July. I celebrated my birthday this week and that signals the beginning of the end of summer for me. We are also coming to the close of summer reading at the library. Now is the time for everyone to bring in their reading calendars and get in their last grand prize entries. Don't forget that the prize for your children reaching their reading goals for July is a free paperback book, graciously provided by the Friends of Dubuque County Library. And our grand prizes are new color NOOKs! You don't want to miss out on that. The drawing is the first week of August.
Speaking of summer programs, we had a very successful Real Science series last week. Over 100 students participated in programs throughout the county. David Christ, NICC graduate and 2012 NASA scholar, did a great job getting everyone (parents and students) excited about science. You should have seen the kids working together with their parents to put together their flashlight project. The series attracted upper elementary and middle school students which is sometimes a hard audience to bring into the library. The six Real Science kits are now being cataloged and will be ready for check out in a week or so. Soon families will have the opportunity to try hundreds of experiments together at home. There will be a kit at each branch, but just place a hold on the kit you want and we will bring it to you. David will be continuing his education at UW Platteville this fall studying electrical engineering. We wish him all the best!
Looking ahead to fall, the Library is reaching out to ask you what kind of programming you would like us to provide for children and what times are best for you to bring your young ones to library programs. Staff have been distributing a programming survey this past week. But for the first time, we have an online version of the survey that you can complete from home. Just go to the library's website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and on the front page there is a link to the survey. In the middle of the page it says, "Click here to take a quick survey that will help DCL plan for children's programming events next year!" That will take you to a short survey asking you about what branch you use, the ages of your children, what times are best for you, and the kinds of programming you would like to attend. The survey is completely confidential and we will use it to help us meet your needs. We hope lots of people respond and we plan to do more surveys on a variety of topics in the future.
I have to end with some Shakespeare. Last weekend, as a birthday present, my daughter took our whole family to the American Players Theater production of "Twelfth Night" in Spring Green, Wisconsin. If you haven't been there yet, you should plan to go. It's only about an hour from Dubuque. The amphitheater is just across the road from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. The grounds are lovely and every seat in the house is perfect. The actors are top notch. It is mesmerizing to experience live outdoor theater even though the actors had to dodge a bat and a wasp during the performance. As Malvolio says, "Be not afraid of greatness, some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." Act II, Scene V
Have a "great" week, Dawn.
Speaking of summer programs, we had a very successful Real Science series last week. Over 100 students participated in programs throughout the county. David Christ, NICC graduate and 2012 NASA scholar, did a great job getting everyone (parents and students) excited about science. You should have seen the kids working together with their parents to put together their flashlight project. The series attracted upper elementary and middle school students which is sometimes a hard audience to bring into the library. The six Real Science kits are now being cataloged and will be ready for check out in a week or so. Soon families will have the opportunity to try hundreds of experiments together at home. There will be a kit at each branch, but just place a hold on the kit you want and we will bring it to you. David will be continuing his education at UW Platteville this fall studying electrical engineering. We wish him all the best!
Looking ahead to fall, the Library is reaching out to ask you what kind of programming you would like us to provide for children and what times are best for you to bring your young ones to library programs. Staff have been distributing a programming survey this past week. But for the first time, we have an online version of the survey that you can complete from home. Just go to the library's website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and on the front page there is a link to the survey. In the middle of the page it says, "Click here to take a quick survey that will help DCL plan for children's programming events next year!" That will take you to a short survey asking you about what branch you use, the ages of your children, what times are best for you, and the kinds of programming you would like to attend. The survey is completely confidential and we will use it to help us meet your needs. We hope lots of people respond and we plan to do more surveys on a variety of topics in the future.
I have to end with some Shakespeare. Last weekend, as a birthday present, my daughter took our whole family to the American Players Theater production of "Twelfth Night" in Spring Green, Wisconsin. If you haven't been there yet, you should plan to go. It's only about an hour from Dubuque. The amphitheater is just across the road from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. The grounds are lovely and every seat in the house is perfect. The actors are top notch. It is mesmerizing to experience live outdoor theater even though the actors had to dodge a bat and a wasp during the performance. As Malvolio says, "Be not afraid of greatness, some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." Act II, Scene V
Have a "great" week, Dawn.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Fair Time
I remember that the height of every summer growing up was going to the All-Iowa Fair in Cedar Rapids. We would get up really early one morning and take the "long, long" drive out to the fairgrounds on the south edge of town. Both my husband and I remember it took FOREVER to get there (about 20 minutes). My mother was always the brave one who took us to the fair. Dad was working and no desire to spend more time in the hot sun after working all day in a sweltering factory. The fair marked a lot of milestones--first pony ride, first fair after braces (no sticky foods), date nights, taking our children. Everyone went to the fair--babies, kids, teens, business types, farmers, and older folks. We spent long days in hot stalls looking at prize chickens, winning pickles, watching the mesmerizing sales pitches for new kitchen gadgets, and then staying until the lights came up on the midway. These are truly American institutions and part of our collective memory. Next week is fair week in Dubuque County. I hope you go out and have a really good time. Make some family memories of your own.
The library may be quieter next week because of all the fair goers, but that's okay. Summer reading is winding down and programs are ending. We have had a fantastic summer. Thank you so much for coming and for bringing your children to our events. We petted bats, canoed, tie-dyed, listened to stories, ate pizza, built flashlights, talked about books, and much more. This is truly the heart of the public library. We reach out to you in and you take our hand and join us. Another part of the American story.
Don't forget that your students and little ones need to keep reading through the end of the month. Keep checking out books, logging your reading time, and turn in your slips for the grand prizes. The drawing will be the first week of August.
Pack lots of sunscreen, stay hydrated, forget the calorie count, and enjoy the fair!
The library may be quieter next week because of all the fair goers, but that's okay. Summer reading is winding down and programs are ending. We have had a fantastic summer. Thank you so much for coming and for bringing your children to our events. We petted bats, canoed, tie-dyed, listened to stories, ate pizza, built flashlights, talked about books, and much more. This is truly the heart of the public library. We reach out to you in and you take our hand and join us. Another part of the American story.
Don't forget that your students and little ones need to keep reading through the end of the month. Keep checking out books, logging your reading time, and turn in your slips for the grand prizes. The drawing will be the first week of August.
Pack lots of sunscreen, stay hydrated, forget the calorie count, and enjoy the fair!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Good Corn Growing Weather
When I was a child and I complained about the hot, sultry days of late July, my father always said it was "good corn growing weather." That didn't seem to help much when I couldn't sleep and no one had air conditioning. My escape was to find a shady spot and dive into a book. It was too hot to play baseball and Mom wouldn't let you go to the pool everyday, so reading was my hot weather distraction.
If summer is a time for you to get a little more reading done, then visit us at your local library and find your own hot weather escape. Currently, I'm reading "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. It is the July selection for the library's GAB (Girls and Books) discussion group. We will be talking about the book next Thursday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta Branch. If you would like to join us, copies of the book are available for check out at all our locations.
Published over ten years ago, Diamant's debut novel opened up a whole new literary sub-genre. She wrote about a biblical story from the woman's point of view and explored the cultural underpinings and relationships between women in that long ago era. It is fascinating to have an inside look at these women who preserved their heritage and all its rituals. These customs bound them together. You really should give this a try if you like historical fiction and women's issues.
This coming week is our series of Real Science programs. There is one at your branch. All of them are at 1:30 and they are designed for elementary and middle school students. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children to learn about the new science kits the library have availabe for check out. The kits are designed so that you can take them home and do experiments together. David Christ, NICC graduate, is leading the programs and he is a true science geek! He loves to talk about atoms, circuits, waves, and all that stuff. Every student who attends a program will make their own project to take home. The series and the kits are made possible by a grant from the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers/Chicago Section. For more information, call me at 582-0008.
Don't forget to keep encouraging your child to read everyday and mark it on their library calendar. Each child who returns their completed calendar at the end of July will receive a new book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library. And turn in your drawing slips for the books you check out. Each branch will give one lucky child a new color NOOK. We will also award one NOOK to an adult for the whole library system. Adults can enter by turning in quilt squares at any branch. The drawings are the first week in August.
Have a great weekend and stop by and visit us at your local community library.
Dawn
If summer is a time for you to get a little more reading done, then visit us at your local library and find your own hot weather escape. Currently, I'm reading "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. It is the July selection for the library's GAB (Girls and Books) discussion group. We will be talking about the book next Thursday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta Branch. If you would like to join us, copies of the book are available for check out at all our locations.
Published over ten years ago, Diamant's debut novel opened up a whole new literary sub-genre. She wrote about a biblical story from the woman's point of view and explored the cultural underpinings and relationships between women in that long ago era. It is fascinating to have an inside look at these women who preserved their heritage and all its rituals. These customs bound them together. You really should give this a try if you like historical fiction and women's issues.
This coming week is our series of Real Science programs. There is one at your branch. All of them are at 1:30 and they are designed for elementary and middle school students. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children to learn about the new science kits the library have availabe for check out. The kits are designed so that you can take them home and do experiments together. David Christ, NICC graduate, is leading the programs and he is a true science geek! He loves to talk about atoms, circuits, waves, and all that stuff. Every student who attends a program will make their own project to take home. The series and the kits are made possible by a grant from the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers/Chicago Section. For more information, call me at 582-0008.
Don't forget to keep encouraging your child to read everyday and mark it on their library calendar. Each child who returns their completed calendar at the end of July will receive a new book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library. And turn in your drawing slips for the books you check out. Each branch will give one lucky child a new color NOOK. We will also award one NOOK to an adult for the whole library system. Adults can enter by turning in quilt squares at any branch. The drawings are the first week in August.
Have a great weekend and stop by and visit us at your local community library.
Dawn
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Dear Reader
I trust that everyone had a good 4th of July holiday. Boy, was it hot!! I did not have a bbq or go to the pool. My husband and I went to the movies. We saw a well-done, horror movie "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" based on Seth Grahame-Smith's novel. Grahame-Smith also wrote the very popular "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Both are humorous spoofs that are fun to read. Never heard of these? Well, the library now has a service to let you learn about all kinds of books in all kinds of categories.
Dear Reader Online Book Clubs entice you sign up for one, or several book clubs, depending on what you like to read. Immediately, you'll receive a welcome message and the next morning, you will receive a daily "dose of book." On Monday, the Online Book Club starts a new book for each club. Each day you will receive a little more of the featured book. By the end of the week, you will have sampled 2-3 chapters, enough to know if you "just-have-to" finish the book.
To begin, all you have to do is go the Dubuque County Library's website http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ and click on the Online Book Clubs icon on the left side of the page. Select the club, or clubs, for the type of books you like to read, enter your email address and each day you will receive an email with a short 5-minute excerpt from a book for those clubs. You can enjoy your daily excerpts with your morning cup of coffee and before long you'll be hooked on a book.
You can choose from the following categories:
Business
Fiction
Good News
Mystery
Teen
Classics
Science Fiction
Nonfiction
Romance
Thriller
Audiobooks
Pre-Publication and
Author Buzz.
For example, this week the romance club is reading "A Place Called Home" by Jo Goodman. The mystery club is reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell. If you like to see what's new, sign up for the pre-publication club that features recently released novels. Join AuthorBuzz where you'll meet 3 to 6 authors a week. It's a way to get to know all several of writers and their novels. Kind of like a sampler.
This is a service provided by the Dubuque County Library and we hope it will broaden your reading experience. If you get hooked on a book, call us and if we don't own it, we will order it to add to our collection. We want to develop our collection to meet your wants and needs. So go on, sign up today!!
If you have questions, call your local branch. With the heat wave, it's a perfect time to read. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool.
Dawn
Dear Reader Online Book Clubs entice you sign up for one, or several book clubs, depending on what you like to read. Immediately, you'll receive a welcome message and the next morning, you will receive a daily "dose of book." On Monday, the Online Book Club starts a new book for each club. Each day you will receive a little more of the featured book. By the end of the week, you will have sampled 2-3 chapters, enough to know if you "just-have-to" finish the book.
To begin, all you have to do is go the Dubuque County Library's website http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ and click on the Online Book Clubs icon on the left side of the page. Select the club, or clubs, for the type of books you like to read, enter your email address and each day you will receive an email with a short 5-minute excerpt from a book for those clubs. You can enjoy your daily excerpts with your morning cup of coffee and before long you'll be hooked on a book.
You can choose from the following categories:
Business
Fiction
Good News
Mystery
Teen
Classics
Science Fiction
Nonfiction
Romance
Thriller
Audiobooks
Pre-Publication and
Author Buzz.
For example, this week the romance club is reading "A Place Called Home" by Jo Goodman. The mystery club is reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell. If you like to see what's new, sign up for the pre-publication club that features recently released novels. Join AuthorBuzz where you'll meet 3 to 6 authors a week. It's a way to get to know all several of writers and their novels. Kind of like a sampler.
This is a service provided by the Dubuque County Library and we hope it will broaden your reading experience. If you get hooked on a book, call us and if we don't own it, we will order it to add to our collection. We want to develop our collection to meet your wants and needs. So go on, sign up today!!
If you have questions, call your local branch. With the heat wave, it's a perfect time to read. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool.
Dawn
Friday, June 29, 2012
Dream Big-Read
I love my job. I have wanted to be a librarian since I was a Camp Fire girl in the 5th grade. Almost all my merit "beads" were completed at the Cedar Rapids Public Library much to the chagrine of the children's librarian. This year's summer reading theme, DREAM BIG - READ is an apt description of much of my childhood. I love libraries and what they stand for and the services they provide, but let me tell you, vacations are nice. Last week my family and I rented a cabin near Rhinelander, WI at the Merry-Dale Resort on Lake George Rhinelander. What a beautiful place. The cabin was roomy, fully furnished and about 200 feet from the lake. We saw deer, loons, eagles, and every night we had a frog serenade. We had a lovely lawn, a fire pit, our own dock, a boat and motor, and no mosquitos! Everyone else fished and I read. I read "The Yellow House" an historical novel by Patricia Falvey. The story of the Irish rebellion is told through the eyes of one valiant young woman, a millworker, who tells the tale as no one else could. The novel has family drama, adventure, and a couple of love stories. I enjoyed it. I also started a nonfiction work titled "The Dragon's Trail" by Joanna Pitman which traces the history of Raphael's famous painting of St. George and the Dragon. It is a fascinating tale of power and intrigue. So, that's what I call a vacation--time for nature, time for family, and time for reading.
Today I am excited about a brand new book. Heather Gudenkauf, Dubuque resident, has just published her third novel, "One Breath Away." I just bought it today. Gudenkauf is the author of "The Weight of Silence" and "These Things Hidden" which are stories about secrets that can tear families apart. She is skillful at drawing you into her characters and the settings are small town Iowa. I read both of her other novels and loved them. I can't wait to begin this new one which is about a school shooting. Gudenkauf is signing books tonight at River Lights and will also be at Books a Million on Saturday, July 9th. Dubuque County Library owns the book but the holds are mounting up. We will be ordering more copies so get your requests placed now.
Summer reading is in full swing. Storytimes are going and there are lots of programs. Be sure to check our website at http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ for all the details. Remember now is the time to enter our drawing for a free, color NOOK. We are giving away 7 NOOKS at the end of summer reading.
Don't forget that our Real Science series starts Monday, July 16th. Plan to attend the program, which will be a hands-on science demonstration, at your local branch. Every child who attends will receive a certificate, program folder, and they will make a project to take home. All this is free courtesy of a grant from IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering/Chicago Section.) Call 582-0008 for more information.
Dubuque County Library branches will be closed for the holiday on July 4th. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.
Dawn
Today I am excited about a brand new book. Heather Gudenkauf, Dubuque resident, has just published her third novel, "One Breath Away." I just bought it today. Gudenkauf is the author of "The Weight of Silence" and "These Things Hidden" which are stories about secrets that can tear families apart. She is skillful at drawing you into her characters and the settings are small town Iowa. I read both of her other novels and loved them. I can't wait to begin this new one which is about a school shooting. Gudenkauf is signing books tonight at River Lights and will also be at Books a Million on Saturday, July 9th. Dubuque County Library owns the book but the holds are mounting up. We will be ordering more copies so get your requests placed now.
Summer reading is in full swing. Storytimes are going and there are lots of programs. Be sure to check our website at http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ for all the details. Remember now is the time to enter our drawing for a free, color NOOK. We are giving away 7 NOOKS at the end of summer reading.
Don't forget that our Real Science series starts Monday, July 16th. Plan to attend the program, which will be a hands-on science demonstration, at your local branch. Every child who attends will receive a certificate, program folder, and they will make a project to take home. All this is free courtesy of a grant from IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering/Chicago Section.) Call 582-0008 for more information.
Dubuque County Library branches will be closed for the holiday on July 4th. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.
Dawn
Friday, June 15, 2012
We're just batty about bats
Wow! We had our kick-off program for summer reading last Friday. Sharon Peterson of Incredible Bats did two shows for us. At Asbury we had 105 people!! In Holy Cross, there were 35. People of all ages came to see her Egyptian fruit bats. After the Asbury program, I got to pet one of them. I'm not especially fond of bats, but this guy was so soft and so cute.
Summer reading is off and running. Be sure to bring sign up. There are programs for all ages at all our locations. Check out our website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for program flyers and event details.
Remember, every child who completes their July reading calendar goals will receive a free paperback book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library. It is so good to have Friends.
The big announcement is that we will be giving away 7 color Nooks for summer reading grand prizes!!! Adults can register and have a chance to win one in June and one in July. At the end of July, we will give away one at each branch for the kids. These prizes are made possible by generous donations from Dubuque Bank and Trust, American Trust and Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank, and J.P. Scherrman. Many thanks for supporting our libraries and expanding horizons for our communities.
The next event you have to put on your calendar is to bring your child or grandchild to the Real Science program at your local branch.
I hope you are as excited as I am about what's happening at Dubuque County Library.
Tomorrow I am headed up north to spend a week with our grandson and family at a small lake resort near Rhinelander, WI. I intend to spend lots of time playing Chutes and Ladders and reading. Happy trails!
Dawn
Summer reading is off and running. Be sure to bring sign up. There are programs for all ages at all our locations. Check out our website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for program flyers and event details.
Remember, every child who completes their July reading calendar goals will receive a free paperback book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library. It is so good to have Friends.
The big announcement is that we will be giving away 7 color Nooks for summer reading grand prizes!!! Adults can register and have a chance to win one in June and one in July. At the end of July, we will give away one at each branch for the kids. These prizes are made possible by generous donations from Dubuque Bank and Trust, American Trust and Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank, and J.P. Scherrman. Many thanks for supporting our libraries and expanding horizons for our communities.
The next event you have to put on your calendar is to bring your child or grandchild to the Real Science program at your local branch.
Monday – July 16th - NICC/Peosta Branch
Tuesday – July 17th - Drexler/Farley Branch
Wednesday – July 18th - Epworth Branch
Thursday – July 19th - Holy Cross Branch
Friday – July 20 - Asbury Branch
All programs are at 1:30 p.m. No registration is required. The programs are free and open to the public.
Each program will be an exciting, hands-on experience designed to fire up kids about science. The programs will present science experiments from five new science kits acquired by the library through a grant from IEEE (Institute of Electrical
Our Real Scientist is David Christ, NICC Peosta graduate and 2012 National NASA Aerospace Scholar. David has just returned from the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena , California
David will share with kids some electrifying experiments that may even stand your hair on end. He will explain the new kits and the many experiments you and your child can do at home.
Every student who attends will create an amazing project to take home and receive a Real Science certificate and portfolio.
Following the program series, the science kits will be available for check out from Dubuque County
Presented by Club STEM of Northeast Iowa Community College/Peosta. Sponsored by a grant from IEEE-Chicago Section and Dubuque County
Tomorrow I am headed up north to spend a week with our grandson and family at a small lake resort near Rhinelander, WI. I intend to spend lots of time playing Chutes and Ladders and reading. Happy trails!
Dawn
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