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
Friday, August 31, 2012
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.
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