ListenUp! Vermont Instructional Pamphlets

Susanna Kahn from the Charlotte Library has created these helpful instructional pamphlets for ListenUp! Vermont patrons. These can be downloaded as PDF or Word documents so you can personalize them to your own library.

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Cool Tools

Libraries all over Vermont are experiencing the usual technology rush as library members come in with their new iPads, smart phones, Kindles and other e-readers to get staff help. Nancy Tusinski at the Springfield Town Library decided to hold tech talks to encourage people to gather (flyer from this workshop is posted below). The Library owns some equipment, and is happy to help with ebook downloads, audiofiles, and general questions.

Debra Tinkham and Gail LaVaude at the Bradford Public Library (www.bradfordvtlibrary.org)  have experimented with tech night themes. Pick a general topic like digital photography, make sure there are plenty of computers to go around, and dig in. Of course the public library doesn’t have a lock on technology;  look to the community to find savvy volunteers willing to share what they know. Programs are held the first Wednesday of the month at 6 PM. Other topics have included downloading audio and eBooks from Listen Up! Vermont, Google Voice and Google Talk, and switching from PC to Mac with an Apple laptop or iPad.

If your library has some insights on raising the staff comfort level and offering training, please add your comments.

Here is the flyer from Nancy Tusinski’s Tech Talk workshops:

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Living Books Program

The Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury hosted a Living Books Program.  Rather than having an author visit and talk about their book, they arranged for patrons to “check out” a person for a one-on-one conversation. Here’s the library description:

We make books come alive by inviting their authors to visit and talk with us. Now we’re going a step further.

On Saturday the 12th, we will feature living books.  You check them out for up to 30 minutes, talk with them, and then return them.  Have a coffee, sit down, it’s all about learning something new.

Each “book” is a person – local residents of different backgrounds (such as a retired FBI agent, a pro wrestler, and an animal rights activist) who have volunteered to be “checked-out” by readers for one-on-one conversations.  Everyone stays in the library.

Job Search 101 Workshops

The Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls offered a series of workshops called “Job Search 101″ for young adults ages 15 to 21.  The workshop series was free; participants met each week.

This series gave participants basic information, skills and techniques to begin career planning.

The curriculum and format were designed by the group itself in order to meet their specific employment needs and interests. All aspects of finding a job were covered: resume writing, job search techniques, interviews and building positive, useful, and practical skills in order to obtain and maintain a job.

New Employee Orientation Packet

Director Sharon Tanzer at the Whiting Library realized she needed to orient new employees with a lot of information– staff and trustee names, job descriptions, policies, holidays and work expectations. She pulled everything together in a handbook, below. Check out the table of contents for the short version.

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Library Tries Amazon Bookstore

Booksale

The Rochester Public Library has opened a virtual bookstore at Amazon.  Because most donated books that are not added to the collection are sold in the library’s book sale for 25 cents to $2 each the library lacked a way to sell rare or collectible books for their market value.  To solve this problem a library volunteer launched an online marketplace on Amazon for the library to list more valuable books.  With this store the library can reach a larger number of buyers and create more revenue for the library budget.

Director Jeannette Bair announced the bookstore with a letter to the Friends of the Library, pointing out that all gifts are first reviewed for usefulness to the collection. Many books and movies are for sale throughout the year in the library vestibule, a fundraiser that nets about $1,500 annually.

Harry Potter Read-A-Thon

The Fletcher Free Library in Burlington is hosting a Harry Potter Read-A-Thon to celebrate the release of the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” movie.

Harry Potter Read-a-thon. Friday, July 15th, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Stop by the library any time during the day to hear a dramatic reading of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to celebrate the movie’s release. Wizarding attire encouraged! Free. All ages welcome, but recommended for ages 8 & up. No preregistration needed.

New Baby Bibliography

Creating a bibliography on a specific topic is an excellent way to promote the library collection while helping patrons locate books on a specific subject. Here is a bibliography for families expecting a new baby with resources for both siblings and parents created by Amanda Webster-Perry from the Winooski Memorial Library:

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Getting Rid of Old Card Catalogs?

Julia Fickes stands next to her Empire style dress created using catalog cards and Jane Austen check-out cards for the bodice.

Peacham Library completed the move from the card catalog to a new automated library system. With this transition came the need to dispose of thousands of 3 x 5 catalog cards. Rather than just throw them out, library Director Becky Jensen decided to offer a contest. The “Celebrate Automation with a Creation” program allowed library patrons to take as many catalog cards as they wanted in order to create a project.  Projects could be artistic, literary, funky or  just plain fun!  Patrons took on the challenge and created jewelry, a poem, clothing, a bulletin board, masks, a game, 3D scenes, a fishing pole, and a cat puppet. 

Sixteen entries were received from patrons ranging in age from 4 to 93.  Awards were given for all entries, including: “Best Miniature Work” for an origami crane on a ring; “Best Use of Title Cards” for a cat that was created using cards with such titles as The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (the tail) and the Cat in the Hat (leg);and “Best Literary Piece” for an Ogden Nash-inspired poem.  What won “Best in Show”? Library patrons selected a dress made with catalog cards by thirteen-year-old Julia Fickes. The dress was designed in a style popular in Jane Austin books, with Jane Austen check-out cards used for the bodice.  All entries were on display at Peacham Library in November 2010.

(Article recycled from December 2010 edition of Vermont Department of Libraries Newsletter)

Advice for Loaning E-Book Readers

E-Book Readers are increasing in popularity at libraries.  Here is some advice and policies from libraries in Vermont and New Hampshire. Warning: this information may be outdated as soon as it is published.

“1. Remember you CANNOT download ebooks to a Kindle.
2. I have bought a Nook to show people and they may try it out in the library, but unless you have a large budget, I don’t think lending this piece of equipment is wise.  You really can’t limit who you lend it to.  Remember: If you can’t afford to give it, you can’t afford to lend it.” -Gail from Dorset Public Library

The Howe Library in Hanover, NH has been loaning e-readers for a couple of years, and here is their feedback:
“We don’t have a written policy per se, but patrons who check out our Kindles must be at least 18 years old.  Kindles circulate for two weeks and do not renew.  They come pre-loaded with a variety of books (you can see the list here), and patrons are not allowed to download additional content.  While checking out a Kindle, we have the patron sign a form that indicates acceptance of the conditions and states that they will not leave the Kindle unattended in a public place and will be responsible for the entire replacement cost of the Kindle ($360) plus a packaging fee ($40) and a processing fee ($15) should the device be damaged or lost.”

The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum also requires patrons to sign a form before they are allowed to check out a Kindle:

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The Barnet Public Library also has a form which outlines the responsibilities of both the patron and librarian and must be signed by both:

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