Celebrate National Library Week!

In case you didn't know it, this week is National Library Week, which brings attention to libraries and all the helpful services they provide.  NLW has been going on for over 50 years, since the first one in 1958.  At that time, the American Library Association, taking note that people seemed to be spending more time with their "radios, televisions, and musical instruments," made an effort to bring people back into libraries.  The ALA created a campaign emphasizing that libraries offer items for leisure, finance, health, and enriching family life in general.  The first NLW was so successful that it became an annual event at libraries across the country.

It's interesting that various popular distractions were keeping people away from libraries in the 1950s just as they're doing today.  Not only do we have radios, televisions, and (maybe) musical instruments, we have computers and cell phones with all the Internet offerings like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, Flickr, and whatever else.  Many are even questioning whether libraries continue to be relevant with all the information accessible through electronic media.

Speaking for my library (and I'm sure many others as well), there are things that happen here that just don't happen in Cyberspace.  Like kids and parents getting together for storytime, learning social skills and making crafts.  Or adults and teens gathering to knit, admiring each others' works in progress and picking up a new stitch or two.  And what about a real person showing you how to find information on the library's subscription databases, something trustworthy and reliable that you can't get for free on the Internet.

We perch librarians and our colleagues have different and exciting programs scheduled for the observation of NLW.  For instance, at my library we have a meeting of the knitting group, a book club discussion, an open-mike poetry night, storytime, and a baby lapsit.  So invite yourself to unplug from your day-to-day distractions and visit the library.  It will be a good investment of your time.  Trust me.

Humbly and honestly yours from the perch.

 

Baby Steps In the Library

I'm sure most of you know this, but in case you didn't, the library is a great community place that not only serves adults, teens, and kids, but also babies 24 months and under.  Yes, you read that right.  The library caters to it's littlest patrons, young readers-to-be.

Our library is following in the footsteps of many other libraries nowadays with a new offering called Baby Steps, a lapsit program.  Unlike children's storytime, which targets preschoolers who are learning their letters, numbers, and simple crafts, the lapsit is intended for infants and toddlers, introducing them to the library environment. 

By sitting in their parent's or guardian's lap and singing songs, the children develop social skills, learn how to behave for storytime, and discover that the library is a fun place.  Lapsit is beneficial not only for the children, but also for the adults who get to interact and spend some quality time with their kids.

Learning to love the library doesn't start once children begin to read.  It starts long before they know their ABCs, one baby step at a time.  Help your children build a relationship with the library that will be sure to last a lifetime that's full of learning and enrichment.  Pardoning the old cliche, you'll be glad you did.

Just my usual 2 cents from the perch.

Getting Carded

Sitting here on the perch, I naturally get asked a lot of questions.  Many questions are one-of-a-kind questions that keep me on my toes, and many are repetitive.  "Where is the bathroom?"  "What are your hours?"  "Do you send faxes?"  These are standard "EPQs" or "ever popular questions," as I like to call them, and I'm happy to assist my patrons with them no matter how many times I need to say the same things over again in a day.  One thing I do get tired of saying repeatedly is, "Can I see your library card, please?"

Unless you have never been to a lending library before, it should be a given that if you're borrowing items, you need to show your library card at the circulation desk so those items can be put on your account.  You might be surprised to know that the majority of patrons checking out items place their items on the desk and just stand there until I ask to see their library card.  Sometimes, patrons have their cards in their hands and will not relinquish them for dear life until I promise them that I will return it to them in a moment.

Maybe I'm just a crazy perch librarian, but to me, going to a library circulation desk and not automatically presenting your library card is like going to a store and not giving money to the cashier.  Imagine the following scenario--Cashier: "That will be $5.25. [The customer stands and does nothing.] Can I have the money, please?"  Seems a little ridiculous, doesn't it?

So, continuing our discussion on library etiquette, one thing you should bear in mind in the library when you're planning to check some items out is to "get carded"--present your library card at the circulation desk.  Your friendly, neighborhood perch librarian would really appreciate it and thank you kindly for remembering.

Ever politely yours from the perch.

Library Etiquette

Although many of us have been going to the library since we've been old enough to crawl, it has come to my attention on the perch that a number of patrons have forgotten some basic library etiquette.  To those of you who already practice good manners in the library, I extend a heartfelt thank you.  To those of you who need a refresher course, here it is:

• Shhh!  Talk quietly.  It's the golden rule of libraries.  People are reading, studying, or working and come to the library for some peace and quiet.  If you do need to talk, please use one of our study rooms.
• Don't use your cell phone.  People tend to speak loudly on cell phones, disturbing others.  If you need to take or make a call, please do so outside of the library or in areas designated for talking.
• Take screaming children outside.  We love kids, but if your little ones are screaming or throwing tantrums, please be considerate of others and take them outside the library to calm them.
• Push in your chair.  If you're working at the computer or at a table, please be kind and push in your chair when you leave.  Everyone likes to see the library neat and orderly.
• Don't run.  This probably applies more to kids than to adults (most of the time), but running makes noise not to mention puts people at risk of getting hurt.  Please save your running for the great outdoors.
• Don't eat or drink by the computers.  You may like that savory sandwich or that delectable drink, but electronics don't.  Please consume your food and drinks away from the computers.
• Use complete sentences.  I know that texting has made communicating more economical, but it's still nice to hear questions in full sentences rather than as one word barked.  Please avoid speaking like a Neanderthal.
• Say please and thank you.  You learned these terms at home and in school.  They may be old, but they're never old-fashioned.

I'm sure there are other points of library etiquette that I may have missed, and if this is the case, you can expect another post on etiquette to follow this one in the future.  For now, we'll just focus on the basic ones mentioned above.

So please remember to mind your manners in order to permit everyone to enjoy the library the way it was meant to be.

Prim and properly yours from the perch.

Love Fest in the Library!

The Beatles once sang about "love, love, love" and how "love is all you need."  That may be true, but with Valentine's Day upon us, you might want to have a little bit more in the forms of books and movies to help you celebrate your love fest.

Now I must confess that I'm a romantic; almost anything that falls under chick-flick or chick-lit will catch my attention.  So, to all of you out there who's anti-V-day, be forewarned that I'm going to talk about my favorite romantic picks.  As for those who are in love with love, sip on some wine, munch on some chocolate, and read on.

When I think of romantic items in the library, the first thing that comes to my mind is The Phantom of the Opera.  The book by Gaston Leroux is an interesting read, but it's the movie that really gets my heart racing.  A deformed genius of a composer/musician/artist living in the basement of the Paris Opera falls in love with a beautiful young singer and becomes her mentor and would-be lover.  Gerard Butler plays the title character with such passion, such tenderness, such sensuality (I'm getting a little breathless here) that you feel so sad for him when that stupid Christine chooses a better looking guy over him.  Add to that some gorgeous, sweeping melodies along with some exceptional artistic direction and you've got a great girl's (or guy's) night in.

Since I've started talking about stories from long ago, I have to include another oldie but goodie, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  Oh, that Mr. Darcy!  Will he ever be able to overcome his pride and will Elizabeth put aside her prejudice to see that they are perfect for each other?  Ah, the drama!  The suspense!  A captivating story that kept me up to the wee hours of the morning to finish it ahead of the rest of my high school English class when I first read it.  And then there's what I consider to be the ultimate film version of the book with (*swoon*) Colin Firth as the dashing Darcy.  If that's not enough, Firth plays Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary, the modern re-telling of Austen's classic.

While we're on the subject of leading men, we can't forget Cary Elwes in the modern classic, The Princess Bride.  Sure, it's inconceivable to have a hero and heroine with the unlikely names of Westley and Buttercup, but it's a simple story that focuses on true love, the kind so many dream about yet so few have.  Just before you think things are going to get too mushy, though, you can always count on Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant to bring you back to reality with some good belly laughs.

If I've whetted your appetite for things romantic, come on over to the library and get a few of the many items available to see you through a lovely Valentine's Day!

Dreaming of flowers and chocolate from the perch.  (Did I mention chocolate?)

 

The Library and Your Health

A late but Happy New Year to all my fans!  I'm sure some of you may have thought I partied too hard over the holidays to post in January.  Alas, I only wish that were the case!  Unfortunately, like many of you, I was under the weather for most of the holiday season, first with a stomach bug that kept me from eating all the Christmas goodies and then with a regular cold that kept me from caroling Christmas tunes.  Happily, though, this perch librarian is back to her usual chipper self on the perch.

Despite working in a public environment, I was surprised that I came down with the 1-2 punch.  After all, I was taking extra vitamin C, washing my hands, using hand sanitizer, and keeping my hands away from my face.  I thought I was doing everything right, but apparently, I was still somehow susceptible to getting sick.

So, I got to thinking--the library is a germier place than many of us realize.  Just stop and think about it.  People all day, everyday are touching items from books to DVDs to tabletops to computer mice and keyboards...you get the idea.  And unfortunately, not everyone practices good hygiene.  You'd be shocked to know how many people put the computer passes in their mouths before we got the bigger, thicker passes.  There still are unexplainable black spots on the passes (I keep wondering what people DO with them during the short walk between the desk and the computer), but we try our best to keep them sanitized with Clorox Wipes as often as we can.

I'm probably beating a dead horse here since this isn't the first post I've written about keeping the library clean.  During this winter cold and flu season, however, let's all do our part to stay healthy and practice good hygiene.  Some people enjoy eating their way through New York City, but believe you me, it sure isn't pleasant doing the opposite with a stomach bug.

Some food for thought from the perch.

 

Holidays At the Library

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we're full-blast in the middle of the official Holiday Season.  Maybe you're going to the usual places for holiday cheer, like the mall, but did you think about heading over to the library?

Believe it or not, there's plenty of holiday spirit at the library.  We got our decorations up for the season, including quilted snowmen, rocking horses, wreaths, and of course, a Christmas tree.  Needless to say, we also got a lot of holiday things to check out and bring home with you--books for kids, teens, and adults, music, DVDs, and magazines.  And it's not all about Christmas.  We have Hanukkah and Kwanzaa items, too.

There are plenty of holiday-themed events and activities this time of year.  For instance, tonight we're having a Snow Time Party with snacks, crafts, games, stories, and a special visitor dressed in red!  All of us at the library always look forward to this party.  For the kids, we even have holiday storytimes that celebrate the season.  If you feel like knitting something as a gift for someone special, there's a Spin-a-Yarn knitting group to learn new stitches or simply have fun socializing.

So, don't forget the library this Holiday Season.  Santa's elves over here are doing their best to make everything merry and bright!  There's something fun for everyone!

Happy Holidays from the perch!