Remember our contest!

We were finally back in Idaho, heading to Utah, and this this time it was actually my husband who decided we should stop at the last two Carnegie libraries on my list, the Idaho ones we didn't stop at on the way to Oregon.

The Caldwell, Idaho library was a bit sad to visit. It sits all alone and abandoned on a busy street...well it isn't alone, there is a bank next to it, but it is sitting empty. The Caldwell School district was the last to use this building. We peeked in the front doors and you can see all the remodeling they did for offices but it all looks kind of old. We walked around the outside of it and saw that although the building looks rectangular from the front it actually is longer in the center (where the fronts steps are) and goes back quite a way, making it bigger than it looks from the front.

Rural Libraries and their Communities

Although we are only 30 miles from a mid-sized city, Brigham City is considered a rural community and as such we have a unique, and some say, enviable lifestyle. The library in a small town is a gathering place and activity center, going beyond just circulating books. Here are some interesting things about smaller libraries that you may not know:

1. Each small town library is unique. Whether it is architecture, hours of operation, types of patrons or personality of the staff, no two libraries are the same. Even those old-fashioned Carnegie building are individualistic.

2. Patrons are flocking to their local libraries to use the Internet. Whether for homework or genealogy research, social media or even job hunting, the use of library computers has exploded. People who have not visited a library in a while will be surprised to see numerous computers in use by patrons.

3. Job seekers are using the library to find employment, build resumes and even learn job skills. Online classes and databases are available to use for those seeking to learn new skills.

4. There are after-school issues and opportunities. In some libraries, after-school time is inspiring. Students come in ready to do homework and research. But in some communities libraries are used as day care centers. Teens who have no adult supervision after school have been known to arrive shortly after school and stay until closing time.

5. Libraries are becoming more involved in their communities.  Libraries are going out to nursing homes, day care centers and even jails to offer all types of reading and learning programs. Books on wheels programs offer library books to those who are shut in and not able to visit.

6. Community rooms are being used by the community. In rural communities the two “community” places are churches and libraries. Libraries offer their  rooms for civic club meetings and other gatherings of a community nature.

7. The personality of the librarian and staff is important. People come to know and respect the librarian who has recommended books or taught them in a community education class. A librarian becomes a resource for parents and a friend to children who visit.

8. Many elected officials and other funders do not have library cards. Libraries rely on funding from many sources, not the least of which is often the small town or county in which they are located. If these policy makers are not library users and advocates they may not understand the role the library plays in the community.

9. Technology has made a dramatic change in libraries. In 1996, only 28 percent of libraries offered Internet access. Today almost every library offers this service. Consider the implications of e-books, e-readers and online services in general and the impact it is making in the way people get information.



10. Libraries are safe places. Libraries are places where nobody asks why a patron checks out a certain book or needs a certain service.

Gone are the days when a person went to the local library to do nothing more than check out a book and return it or renew it later. Small town libraries have become a provider of numerous services to their communities. Their future will be one of expanding those services even more. The communities that support those services will have a  more vibrant, educated and engaged population.

Michele, Children's Librarian

Gregory Maguire on Libraries

LIBRARIES ARE AMERICA'S LIFELINES

This is from Kenneth C. Davis's article in The Huffington Post

Kenneth C. Davis
dontknowmuch.com Author of the Don't Know Much About books and America's Hidden History

Libraries Are America's Lifelines. Leave Them Alone
Michael Bloomberg may be the ultimate IT Guy. Okay, maybe that's still Bill Gates. But the point is, Michael Bloomberg took Information and Technology and made himself an empire with Bloomberg News. Then he became King of New York -- or at least Mayor -- and a very good one at that, as far as I am concerned.
So why would a man who built his world around IT want to cripple New York's IT lifeline -- the public library?
In case you haven't heard, New York City's public library systems -- three separate library systems in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens -- are once again under siege, on the chopping block, threatened with draconian cuts in the face of New York City's Great Recession. (The cuts were outlined in an article in Library Journal.)
Library cuts in down times remind me of the classic line from Casablanca: "Round up the usual suspects." The public library is always suspect Number One when it comes to municipal budget cuts. And as librarians everywhere know, this is not a fact in New York City alone.
Underlying this reality are two simple facts. First, libraries do not have a vocal, powerful constituency. Unlike the police, teachers and firemen, they don't have a potent union or benevolent association. There is no "Library Lobby" doling out campaign contributions. But far worse, libraries tend to be viewed by all too many people in power as a luxury.
In many of these minds, the public library is stuck with an antiquated image of stern ladies shushing noisy kids, retirees borrowing the latest bestsellers and -- more recently -- homeless folk camping out in a heated corner. They are all clichés. And dumb ones at that.
I was in the bustling Mid-Manhatttan Library on Fifth Avenue recently. They had a line that the hot new Top Shop -- along with all the mostly empty retailers on the street -- would envy. Sure, some people were there to borrow books for free. But the public library, in case you haven't been in one lately, is so much more than that -- especially in these down times.
The public library is not just about borrowed books. It is about information -- the great currency of our time. And the library has, by default, become the bridge in the digital divide because it offers free access to computers. Can you imagine in this digital day looking for a job, submitting a résumé or a college application, or searching for housing without your computer? For millions of people, the library is their laptop.
And it's not just true in New York City. In Vermont, where I have a home, the digital divide may be even greater due to economic disparity. And the libraries are filled with people who need access to computers and are willing to wait for a turn. They have no choice.
Then there is education. The library is the crucial backstop to the educational system, far beyond the fundamental notion of being a "homework helper" for a school kid with a science project. From learning to read, or speak English, to having a decent place to do schoolwork or doing graduate research, the library is still a cornerstone of an educated, enlightened America.
For many people, the public library is also the visible face of the government. I've never been in City Hall, but I am in the library all the time. It is one functioning arm of the government that delivers a service efficiently, usually free of charge, and often with a smile and an offer of more help. Yes, librarians are NICE! Besides, when was the last time you saw a librarian being led away in handcuffs for taking bribes, fixing contracts or fudging the books?
And speaking of books. Books do change people. They can change society. Ask Harriet Beecher Stowe or Rachel Carson for starters. I could wax poetic about the importance that the public library played in my life. I'll stop short and say that when I was growing up, the Mt. Vernon public library was as significant to me as church and school. Maybe even more.
If education and information are going to provide the means as America digs itself out the great big hole we are in, the public library is handing out the shovels. Cut or kill the libraries and you yank away a shovel.
So please, Mayor IT Guy. And Mayors anywhere else, for that matter. Leave the libraries alone. Believe me. They are not a luxury, but a lifeline.

sue

What is Your Library Worth to You?

I recently got an e-mail about something a library in Maine has on their website. It is a calculator to estimate the value a library is to you. Now when I say you, I really mean it. You put in your usage of various services available at libraries. The calculator asks you to enter values for a month's usage, but you could put in values for a year if you can estimate a year's usage. I put in usage values that were very modest, for the amount I use library services, to give me a monthly average on the value of my library. I estimated what I used during a slow reading month - not anyone else's usage in my family, just me. The calculator came up with a$243 value per month. Times that by twelve and -

My library is worth $2916 per year - MINIMUM!

I know sometimes I use library materials and services a lot more than what is reflected in the numbers I entered into the formula.

How much is your library worth to you?

Plug it into the calculator
and let us know by posting a comment.

Elizabeth

What a Rip-Off?

Every week new patrons come into the library to sign-up for library cards. We are always happy to issue new cards to people. After all, that's why we are here - to provide books, and other library materials to you for your use and to make more of them accessible to you at a more affordable price. But, as with everything in life, it is still not free.

Each department in the library buys thousands of dollars worth of books every year. While our funds are limited that adds up to a lot of books for you and your family. But where does the money to buy all of these books, movies, and CDs come from? Where does the money come from to keep the library doors open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday? How do we afford to keep our computers in working order after so many hours of constant use? And how do we fund the library programs made available to children as well as adults? That's where city taxes come in. Every homeowner in Brigham City pays a certain amount into the library based on the value of his/her home and/or land. Those that rent can be sure that the owners of their buildings pay this same property tax, giving their tenants the right to use the library as well. Similarly, business owners within the city limits pay these taxes too. This makes it possible for these individuals and their families to get library cards simply by coming into the library with picture I.D. and proof of their Brigham City (home, apartment, business, or land) address.

So if all of the people within the city limits are automatically covered by their tax dollars, what about the people out side of the the Brigham City limits? Should we allow everyone else who walks into the library to take out materials that have been paid for by Brigham City taxes without paying into the library as well? Some people would say yes, but in all fairness the library cannot allow this.

To allow non-residents of Brigham City to use Brigham City Library services the Library Board establishes a non-resident fee at the beginning of every year. This fee is made to match what the average home owner in Brigham City would be paying for the same services. For 2007 this fee was established as $60 per household. It may sound like a lot, but take a minute to think about how much $60 really is when spread over one year. For this $60 you will be getting 12 months of unlimited library service, so long as you keep you account free of overdue or damaged items and overdue fines. In other words, all you have to do to keep your account in good standing is to return the items you check out (including all parts associated with that item) on time and without damage.

Other libraries do the same. Before our Library Board adjusted our non-resident fee for this year they looked at what other libraries were currently charging as of the end of 2006. If you want to drive to Logan you will be paying $157.00 for library service. Provo was $100.00, Salt Lake City and County were both $80.00. North Logan does not even offer the option of obtaining a non-resident card. A little closer to many of the people on the outskirts of Brigham City would be Weber County at a mere $18.00. If the amount the Brigham City Library has to charge is too high; why not make the short drive to Ogden at $2.50 or more per gallon.

Residents of Box Elder County, but not of Brigham City, often ask what the library tax on their county taxes is. Those monies go to the Box Elder County Bookmobile, not the Brigham City Library. The Bookmobile makes stops throughout the county and they give us schedules to pass out to patrons that just learn about them when they visit us. Schedules are available at the front desk at the Brigham City Library or you can call the Bookmobile office at 723-2261.

Resources are available to everyone, but if one person has to pay, shouldn't everyone? It's unfortunate when staff hear parents telling their children "The library won't let you take books," this may be a half- truth. The library is happy to let anyone check out, if they contribute a fair amount into maintaining the services they are using.

Is $60 really that outrageous? For one full year the $60 breaks down to $5 per month. How many books do you check out every month? In most cases, if you check out one item per month you've made use of your investment. Most of our non-resident patrons check out much more than that per month. Consider the rising cost of books. Even when you by a paperback at a discount store you usually wouldn't even be able to buy even 2 paperback books for $5. $7.99 is a pretty average price for an adult paperback right now. If the store gave it to you for a 40% discount you will still be paying $4.79 plus tax for that book. If you want a hardcover try a price range any where between $15 - $30 or even more depending on the type of book and its size. You pick the book and you do the math. They add up in a hurry. And when I think of the price I pay to go the movies or the theatre I am even more appreciative for the low cost services that the library provides. Many taxpayers and non-residents pay into the library gladly, because of how much it does provide to enrich the lives of themselves and their families.

Many people still decide to just buy their books rather than pay $60 for library service. And if they prefer to, that's fine. I love buying my own books too, I love collecting the books I enjoy. But there is no way that I can buy every book I want to read. I just can't afford it. The library makes the world of books much more accessible to me. If the library doesn't have an item I want, I can request that they purchase it. If they can't purchase it, for whatever reason, I can then pay $2.50 to make a request for an inter-library loan. The library may not be able to bring in every item I want that way, but I've gotten a lot of items I could not afford to buy myself, by just paying $2.50 for an inter-library loan. I still buy a lot of my own books every year, and I know I spend much more than $60 each year even though I always wait for big sales either in a store or online. But the library is like an extension of my own collection as well as an extension of your own collection. We have access to so much more because of its existence and because of all the taxpayers and non-residents who join together to support a public service institution that serves to educate as well as entertain.

Elizabeth

I WISH I WORKED AT THE LIBRARY

I can't begin to tell you how many times people have said that to me, "I wish I worked at the library....." always followed by "it's so quiet." or "it would be nice to sit around and just read books all day." or "what a calm and peaceful job." I can't help but think that the people who say that to me don't visit the library. Especially this summer. There have been very few peaceful, calm or quiet moments to be found.

There have been eighteen four-hour-shifts that had well over 400 circulations. Every Internet machine has been full all day most every day. We have made copies almost daily for take home activities for kids. I have catalogued over 600 books, videos and DVDs this summer. Twelve summer reading programs were presented. 750 kids signed up for Summer Reading Read-at-Home program. Which included getting a prize for visiting the library 15 times each.

Here are some sites you can look at to find out if you really are "Librarian material":

* http://librarycareers.org/ is your premier resource for exploring career paths. Visit this website today to learn more about a future in libraries.

* Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, publishes a Library Workers Fact Sheet with trends and salary data.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics
Librarians - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
Library Technicians - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos113.htm
Library Assistants, Clerical - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos147.htm

If you want to stay busy and can do a lot of multi-tasking, then the library is the place for you.

Connie

Are Libraries Hurting Themselves by their Policies?

I found this photo on the webpage "Tame the Web." The caption was empty room, empty tables.

I wrote last week about some Barnes and Noble Bookstores taking out their comfy chairs, because people stay there and read and many times do not by what they are reading. They also take snacks to these comfy chairs and get food on the books. I recieved a comment on this blog entry. A women mentioned that her library has removed all their comfy chairs and has turned off their air-conditioning to discourage the homeless from coming to sit in their comfy chairs and cool off in the library air conditioning. Did the library board or the director of this library think of the library patrons who have a home, pay property taxes, and might want to drop by the library and get a book? What about the staff who has to work in this hot library during the summer? Would it not be better to make a rule that you can't sleep in the library and enforce this rule?

Then there is a mid-west library who was having problems with young teens coming to the library right after school and not obeying the rules. So the library board closed the library from the end of school til 6 p.m. The staff is inside working, protected from these young patrons and their parents, by these locked doors. What does this say to these young teens when they become tax paying patrons of the library. How does this help young teens, who are most at risk of giving up reading at this age? Would it not be better to hire a securing guard or have the local police come by during these afternoon hours, if their vandalism cannot be handled by the staff.

Sometimes that which seems like a great policy to help solve a problem, creates more problems than it solves. What do you think?

Sue

Comfy Chairs and Reading

Major bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders are reducing their "soft seating" aka comfy chairs. They have found that the chairs encourage people to stay for hours without necessarily buying anything. They also had problems with people falling asleep, spilling coffee, and leaving food trash. I can see their point, but one Barnes & Noble I visited recently required that you purchase something from the cafe, in order to sit in that area. I thought that was a little extreme, especially considering I had just purchased 3 books from their store. The thing about libraries? We want you to come and sit for hours. We won't make you purchase anything. True, most libraries don't allow food, but we have comfy chairs! And we hope we are the community gathering place.

Sue

How Dewey find a Book?

By: Michele, Children's Librarian

In the United States, 95 percent of all public and K-12 school libraries, 25 percent of college and university libraries and 20 percent of special libraries use the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) System. More than 200,000 libraries worldwide in 135 countries count on the DDC to keep their collections organized so that their users can easily locate the resources they need. DDC has been translated into more than 30 languages. What this means for the library user is that anywhere they visit a library, South Bend, Indiana or Brigham City, Utah, you know how to find what you are looking for.


For years librarians have used the classic Dewey Decimal System to assign a book to a location on the library shelf. That may be changing however. The newest trend for libraries is to follow the way book stores organize their shelves, by catergory or genre.



On one hand the dewey decimal system places all the books about bears in the mammal section and then in a subsection about bears. Which can be broken down into additional subsections on different types of bears, i.e. polar bears, black bears, grizzly bears.



But if you go to the Barnes & Noble nearest you, you may see that they put all the animal books together. They put all the books about home decoration and D.I.Y. projects together, even gardening books are placed along side the titles about home projects. From a browsing point of view this makes it easy to find books on similar interests. If you like mysteries, you may find at a local book store that all of your favorite authors are together. But at a library you will find that those authors may be shelved alphabetically with authors that write romance, science fiction and horror.


At the Brigham City Library we make a few compromises to the dewey system, we have a mystery corner, a section for Newbery winners and our adult paperbacks are divided into genres. This makes looking for your favorite type of book easy, if you know where to look.


Non-fiction is still shelved upstairs using the dewey system. The Dewey Decimal system was created by Melvil Dewey. His goal was to organize information into ten major subject areas. He gave each subject a number.


000-099 Generalities: encyclopedias, periodicals, newspapers,TV, Internet, Macintosh, Network Troubleshooting
100-199 Philosophy: esthetics, psychology, logic, ethics
200-299 Religion: Bible, theology, church doctrine
300-399 Social Sciences: sociology, economics, law, education, shopping
400-499 Language: dictionaries, grammars, readers, all languages
500-599 Pure Sciences: mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry
600-699 Technology: engineering, agriculture, aircraft, pets, business
700-799 The Arts: architecture, sculpture, painting, music, sports
800-899 Literature: poetry, drama and essays in all language
900-999 Geography & History: general geography, travel, histories of all countries and ages



Biography: Biography is arranged by the last name of the person the book is written about. Example: George Washington is 921 Was
Fiction: Grouped by author's last name. Example: Hemingway is F HEM

For an animated tour on how the Dewey Decimal System works go to: http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/tour/ and click on the multimedia tour hyperlink.

So okay, I don't think that anyone finds the Dewey Decimal System interesting except us librarians, but I do think that if you learn the system you will find what you need when you visit the library. As for the future of Dewey, I don't think that something this popular and widespread will go away any time soon. Save yourself some time and DO THE DEWEY!

Library without the Dewey Decimal System

Welcome to the new wave of the future, libraries that are more like bookstores. The Perry Branch of the Gilbert Library in Maricopa County, Arizona, will be the first public library in the nation whose entire collection will be categorized without the Dewey Decimal System. The branch's 24,000-item collection will be shelved by topic, similar to the way bookstores arrange their books. Librarians of this county system say the change is long overdue because it is too confusing for people to hunt down books using a long string of numbers and letters.

The books at the Gilbert library will be organized in about 50 sections, then subsections, from sports to cooking, gardening to mysteries. For example, a book on the Civil War would be in the history neighborhood and in the U.S. section. In the catalog, the record will indicate the subject heading, and books are then alphabetized by author. So where might a biography of a sports figure go? Biography or sports?

This would definitely make a "browsing" library and information could not be quickly located. What do you think?

Susan

What Does a Library Mean to You?

Everyone has a different reason for loving libraries. Listen to the reasons a few best-selling authors have by clicking on their names below:










Lisa Scottoline, author of Daddy's Girl










R.A. Salvatore, author of Road of the Patriarch













Scott Turow, author of Ordinary Heroes


Why do you like the library? Let us know, comment now!

Elizabeth

Goodbye scrolls, Hello books!

In light of today’s rapid technological advances, the future of the printed book is constantly debated. But think about those poor medieval monks whose beloved illuminated scrolls were replaced by those new-fangled books. How did you open those damn things? Check out the hilarious results at http://youtube.com/watch?v=aX0-nqRmtos . And anyone who has called their company’s IT department for assistance in turning on their new computer can relate.

Nora, the Piano Playing Cat is the most amazing video of a cat playing piano. Both paws! I know it's not library-related, but I don't care. I think it's cute.

sue hill