Library Programs--Come One Come All (I Hope!)

I've been spending a bit of time on the perch lately thinking about library programs, especially since we're getting ready for our new fiscal year that starts in October.  Pondering the programs we've had and whether they've been successful.  Wondering what new programs would be of interest to all my fans, I mean, patrons out there.  Researching the programs other libraries offer and how those programs are received.

This is what I've concluded--although our library may be small, we offer a lot of the same programs that the bigger libraries offer, yet for some reason that's beyond me, our attendance is sadly small. 

Now being the chipper perch librarian that I am, I'd like to see the glass as being half full.  We have great computer classes for both beginning and more advanced computer users.  We have interesting workshops that teach nifty things like genealogy, origami, and local travel sites.  And we have entertaining and ongoing programs like the Spin-a-Yarn (during which you can learn or work on a knitting or crochet project) as well as a book club that discusses various books that have been recently published.

Don't forget that the library is more than just books and even other items that can be borrowed.  It's also more than just storytime and school programs for kids.  The library is a place where you can take classes, learn fun things, and get to know the people in your community.  Be sure to make full use of your library and attend a program or two.  You won't regret it.

Hoping to spy some future library program participants from the perch.

Happy New School Year!

Parents may be looking forward to it and kids may be less than enthusiastic about it--the start of another school year.  It's almost time to say goodbye to those long, warm, carefree days of summer and say hello to going to class, doing homework, and taking part in after-school sports and activities.

So, what can you do to help your children get ready for school?  Whether or not your family has taken part in the summer reading program, there's nothing like reading to get everyone back in that school frame of mind.  Read whatever is interesting, from fiction novels to non-fiction books. 

If you have smaller kids who are apprehensive about starting school for the first time or returning to school, the library has plenty of books for children that can help relieve their school anxieties.  We also have books for parents that provide suggestions on how to make the first days of school easier for children (and parents).

Once the homework starts rolling in, the library has print and electronic resources to help your students in K through 12 as well as those in college.  In addition to books and print reference items, we have a number of electronic databases that can be useful in doing class projects and research papers.

For kids who aren't old enough to start school, we have library programs to introduce them to the practice of reading.  Our Storytime program at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays is directed toward preschool-aged children to get them in the habit of reading, and our Baby Steps program on Thursdays at 10:30 is geared to get children up to 24 months comfortable in the library setting with songs and activities.

No matter your age and where you're at in your education, the library has the resources, programs, and staff to help you on your way to school success!  Stop, call, or e-mail to find out what we can do for you!

With wishes for a good school year from the perch.

Your Library and Local Locations

While some people use their summer vacation to take long trips to an exotic locale, others are taking short trips to places that are more local.  Whether you're staying at home by choice or you're just a little short on cash, there's no reason not to enjoy the attractions (which are often free or for a minimal fee) in your backyard.

A good place to start your local adventures is (big surprise) at your local library.  Many libraries, including my own, have a local history or travel section, and if they don't have an area set aside especially for local books, they're likely to have those books integrated into their regular non-fiction section.  There are a number of print materials specific to different regions and metropolitan areas in the U.S.  Some are for places on the beaten path, while others are for places off it.  Some books even focus on particular features or activities, such as waterfalls or hiking nature trails.  I've learned a lot of things about my local area that even people who have lived here for years don't know about.

Another great resource for finding out about your local area is the Internet.  Nowadays, almost everything has a website, and most cities and states have their own websites with information on local attractions such as parks, museums, cheap eats, festivals, and other events.  I'm often busy going to state parks, walking around the booths at art festivals, biking local trails, or dipping into a lake on a warm summer day.  And with the exception of the state parks, all these things are free.  If something doesn't have a website, chances are good that someone's mentioned it somewhere on social media, be it Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Panoramio, or whatever else.

So just because you're not going to Europe or the Caribbean this summer doesn't mean you can't have a great time exploring your local area and doing some fun things.  Sometimes we take nearby things for granted and don't give them a fair chance.  Who knows?  You may just discover things about your home area you didn't know about before.

With good exploration wishes from the perch.

Mind Your Children, Please

I know I'm biased when I say that the library is a great place for everyone, from the very young to the very old.  It's a place where people of all ages can find a pleasant atmosphere to read, do homework, relax, and quietly get together with others.  What the library is not, however, is a daycare center for small children.

I and my co-workers are always amazed and frustrated when parents drop off children (a number of whom are under the age of 10) at the library so they can go shopping, have dinner, take a break, or do whatever else.  Sometimes, parents are in another part of the library working on computers or looking at books, and they pay no attention to their children who are doing somersaults off bookcases and onto bean bags, risking life and limb.  Parents assume that 1) the library is a safe place and 2) a place where library professionals will watch your children free of charge.

Although the library is generally a safe place to be, it is by no means a sanctuary from the ills of society.  You wouldn't let your 4-year old wander around the mall by herself in the midst of strangers, so why would you let her do the same in the library?  By a similar token, you keep an eye on your 7-year old to make sure he's not destroying public property or hurting himself, but you don't watch him in the library and allow him free reign?

We enjoy helping and doing various programs for kids in the library; those are some of things we like about our jobs.  However, we are not babysitters and have other work we need to do in order to run the library.  There are patrons who need our attention, and even though we do try to keep an eye on our smallest patrons, we're not able to watch them continuously. 

Please, parents, watch over your children in the library the same way you would watch over them in a mall, at the playground, in a museum, or anywhere outside the home.  After all, the library is a public place and not immune to things that happen elsewhere.  We at the library do our best to keep a safe environment, but we need your help to do it.

With happy and safe wishes from the perch.

Summer Picks

Since we're in the middle of summer reading, I thought I'd share with you a few good reads.  Some are new, while others are not so new but interesting nonetheless.

For the adults, I recommend Blaine Harden's Escape From Camp 14, the true story of a man who escaped from one of North Korea's notorious prison camps in which he was born.  The brutality of life in these camps, which can easily be compared to Hitler's concentration camps, is eye-opening and distressing.  If you're looking for a lighter, fictional read, go for Dan Brown's Inferno, set in Florence, Italy.  It follows the same formula as his previous Robert Langdon novels, but it's still entertaining and fun.  And don't forget local Northwestern authors like Sherman Alexie.  His Blasphemy is a collection of stories about Native Americans based loosely on his own experiences as a Spokane Indian who grew up in Wellpinit, Washington.

There's a plethora of supernatural reads for teens, so I'm going to suggest a few books that are a little off the beaten path.  I debated whether I should include this book with the adult picks, and ultimately I decided that Ruta Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray is a book that should be read by teens and adults alike.  Not many books address Stalin's program of forcibly relocating Lithuanians and other non-Russians to labor camps in Siberia during the 1930s and 1940s, and it's even more striking that Sepetys' novel is directly influenced by interviews she conducted with survivors.  Cynthia Kadohata's Newbery Award-winning Kira-Kira has been around for some time, but the story of a Japanese-American family and the discrimination they faced in Georgia during the 1960s doesn't lose any of its powerful impact.  I actually cried while reading this book, and mind you, books don't often make me cry.  A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck is another award-winning not so oldie but goodie.  A lot of parallels can be drawn between yesterday's Great Depression, in which the book is set, and today's Great Recession, showing through the main character that fun and good memories can be made even in rough times.

Last but not least, there are a lot of noteworthy books for kids.  Now I'm going to come right out and say that I absolutely love the Scaredy Squirrel, Pigeon, and Penguin characters, and each one happily has a new book.  Let's start with Melanie Watt's Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, which shows our favorite neurotic rodent taking all measures to ensure a successful camping trip.  Of course, you can expect some crazy adventure to happen when things don't pan out the way Scaredy plans.  Our ever-jealous pigeon full of attitude displays his envy when The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?, which is sure to become a new Mo Willems classic.  And our cute, sweet penguin makes a new friend and has some fun in Salina Yoon's season appropriate Penguin On Vacation.

Besides the books mentioned, there are plenty of interesting reads in the library.  Don't forget to stop by and pick some up.  And have fun summer reading!

With good reading wishes from the perch.

 

Summer Reading--It's Back!

In case you couldn't tell from the weather, it's time for summer reading again.  Time to get yourself, your teens, and your wee ones back into the library, sign up for the summer reading program, and get some good books to read.

Maybe I was a weird perch librarian in the making, but I always loved summer reading when I was a kid (and yes, I did participate in my local library's summer reading program every year).  Three months of no school and no teachers telling me what I needed to read meant that I could dive into any book my little heart desired.  And with both of my parents busy working, books not only entertained me and kept me out of trouble, they also improved my reading skills, though I didn't know it at the time.

As an adult, I read books of my choosing throughout the year, but summer reading just has its own special feel to it.  I think of reading a good, engaging book sitting in the shade of my back patio with a light breeze blowing, or under a tree by the lake with the water gently lapping, or by the oceanside with the scent of salty air filling my nostrils.  Summer is just a great time to slow down and relax with something good to read.

And if you're looking for some new good reads this summer, allow me to offer the following suggestions:

• Adults--Inferno (Dan Brown), A Step of Faith (Richard Paul Evans) And the Mountains Echoed (Khaled Hosseini), Life Below Stairs (Alison Maloney), The End of Your Life Book Club (Will Schwalbe)
• Teens--The Diviners (Libba Bray), Mila 2.0 (Debra Driza), The Fault In Our Stars (John Green), Out of The Easy (Ruta Sepetys), The Program (Suzanne Young)
• Kids--The Book Boat's In (Cynthia Cotten), Little Cub (Olivier Dunrea), There Was a Tree (Rachel Isadora), Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping (Melanie Watt), Penguin On Vacation (Salina Yoon)

Happy reading from the perch!

Library Mascots

Today I read an interesting article on cats in libraries.  Although my library does not have a cat, it seems there are a number of libraries around the U.S. and the world that have a resident feline or even a dog.  Sometimes the presence of a 4-legged library mascot raises complaints and different issues, as evidenced by the story of a man who put up a bid to evict a cat from a library in Massachusetts.  I'm teetering on the fence about animals in the library, but I have to admit I'm leaning against having library mascots. 

Now before you think I'm some humbug who has a thing about our furry friends, I feel the idea of having a live library mascot sounds cute but just isn't practical.  It's nice to think of a library having a resident cat or dog.  Cats are quiet, keep to themselves mostly, and bring smiles to a lot of people.  Trained dogs are also quiet, bring anxiety levels down, and often used nowadays to help children improve their skills reading aloud.  After all, reading to a friendly golden retriever is less stressful to many kids than reading to their peers or adults.

On the down side, what about those patrons who are allergic or have a fear of cats and dogs?  My mother is an avid reader, but she also has an intense fear of cats (blame her uncle for throwing a cat on her when she was a kid lying on the sofa).  A library cat would keep her away from a place she loves visiting regularly and would have a negative impact on the quality of her life.  People with allergies would be affected similarly, forced to stay out of the library because of the consequences.

It's one thing to have service animals accompany people into public places, but another to have resident mascots roaming about.  Cats and dogs in the stacks can potentially keep people away from libraries.  If libraries cannot part with their mascots, they need to find a solution for those patrons with allergies or phobias.  Perhaps patrons can call ahead and ask to keep the cat or dog behind the desk while they are visiting.  Or maybe designate a "mascot zone" that would restrict the cat or dog to just one area but keep other areas free.  We need to remember that libraries need to be accessible to everyone.

Just my take from the perch.