Security Cams in the Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

March 26, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

Keep a Little Secret by Dorothy Garlock

Dawn Country by Kathleen Gear

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Twilight’s Serenade by Traci Peterson

Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Mireya Alexander McCall Smith

Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux

Coming Events @ the Library!

• Library Hours!

Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sundays—closed

• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board Regular Meeting Monday, Apr. 11 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds! No registration! Free!
• Wed./Thurs. Apr. 6/7 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Wed./Thurs. Apr. 20/21 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.

Did You Know… that you can add your name to our Reserve Express service through our online catalog. Simply go to our webpage and click on the “Search Library Catalog/Account Login link on the upper left hand side of the page. On the next page on the upper right hand side you need to login to your account by entering your library patron number and phone number. Then click the “My Account” box. Scroll down the page until you see “Have some favorite authors” and click on “receive new books.” You should have a list of popular authors that you would like to reserve for yourself when they are newly accessioned into the library. Give it a try!

Behind My Desk… In my last column I mentioned about the vandalism that has been taking place in the library. After a lengthy discussion with the library board at the March meeting, it was decided to order more security cameras for the library, both for the interior and the exterior of the building. You may see a little more police presence at the library, too. Because of the security cameras already in place, we have been able to catch a few culprits. We do press charges against anyone defacing or stealing public property. We have a lovely library here in Atlantic, and most people are truly proud of this, but unfortunately, there are people who do not respect this and do not care.

I, also, printed off copies of the Behavior Policy the Board has adopted. They will be posted both upstairs and down. That way, people have been warned.

On a happier note, I finished that “bearcat” federal form and sent it on its way. Yippee! I sure hope I did it right!

National Library Week is coming up from April 10-16. The Friends of the Atlantic Public Library are planning a “reception” on Wednesday, April 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to help celebrate Libraries! You are invited!

Then the Friends will be having their annual Spring Book Sale on April 15 and 16. Stop by the library and find a few bargains!

The library has purchased ten new DVDs about genealogy. You can check them out for a week just like other videos and DVDs. They are mainly “how to’s” with subjects: Civil War Records, Exploring an Old Graveyard, German Genealogy and Computer Genealogy. They are located upstairs in the regular DVD section. I love research…well up to a point…and I think that is what attracted me to my profession.

It’s time to start thinking gardens…and Keep Thinking Libraries!

Hospice program Mar. 21

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

March 12, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Caribou Island by David Vann

Untied by Meredith Baxter

Bless the Bride by Rhys Bowen

Dancing Lessons by Cheryl Burke

Night Season by Chelsea Cain

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

Pink Boots and a Machete by Mireya Mayor

Known and Unknown by Donald Rumsfeld

Coming Events @ the Library!

• Library Hours!

Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sundays—closed

• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board Regular Meeting Monday, Mar. 14 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds! No registration! Free!
• Wed./Thurs. Mar.23/24 (note not 26^th as in Story Time Flyer!) Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Wed./Thurs. Apr. 6/7 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Wed./Thurs. Apr. 20/21 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Mon. Mar. 21 “When Dinosaurs Die by Iowa Hospice” for all ages. Preschoolers must be accompanied by older sibling or adult. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Did You Know… that this column can be found on our library webpage? Just go to the link on the left side of the page and click on “Thinking Library. “ Have a look! Become a “follower!”

Behind My Desk… This is the first year that I have waited so long to mention anything about tax forms. We just don’t have the variety of forms that we used to keep on hand. We do have “masters” to make copies for many of the federal forms. Iowa tax forms, for the most part, can be found online. We keep the forms in the entry way close to the stairs.

The library has been having more problems with vandalism and stealing. I don’t like to “promote” those actions, but I figure the ones that do that sort of mischief don’t read my column anyway. If you see someone doing inappropriate things in or around the outside of the library don’t turn a blind eye and walk away. Let a library staff member know, so we can call the authorities. I think one of the solutions may be to put locks on the public restroom doors. The library will be adding more security cameras, but it takes time, money and labor to put that together. Parents, for goodness sakes, do not assume the library is a “safe” place to leave your child unattended! Once upon a time that may have been true, but not anymore.

I’ve been working on organizing information I will need next week to submit a certain federal form to apply for a telecommunications discount for next year. This form is a little “bearcat.” I have to be precise with my information. If I do it correctly, the library receives a 70% discount on its local telephone bill. Of course we all pay for this on our personal phone bills by paying the $1 charge for Universal Service Fund. If I can save the library a little money by doing the forms and tearing my hair out, I guess it’s worth it.

Once again I made the trip to Des Moines to help lobby for library legislation (and try to keep funding cuts to a minimum!) I wish more SW librarians were able to go and participate. Some of us “veterans” are getting close to retiring, and it’s going to be interesting to see who is willing to take this on when we leave.

Don’t forget to “spring ahead” this weekend for Daylight Savings Time and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

More Recycling @ your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

February 26, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

America by Heart by Sarah Palin

Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb

Digital Photography Simplified by Rob Sheppard

Now You See Her by Joy Fielding

Vicious Cycle by Terry Blackstock

Devil’s Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Coming Events @ the Library!

• Library Hours!

Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sundays—closed

• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board Regular Meeting Monday, Mar. 14 5:30 p.m. upstairs
• Wed. Mar 2 Dr. Seuss Birthday party for k-3^rd Grades 2:30-3:30. No sign up!

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds! No registration! Free!
• Wed./Thurs. Mar. 2/3 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Wed./Thurs. Mar.23/24 (note not 26^th as in Story Time Flyer!) Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Mon. Mar. 21 “When Dinosaurs Die by Iowa Hospice” for all ages. Preschoolers must be accompanied by older sibling or adult. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Did You Know… the Atlantic Public Library is a collection sight for empty printer ink cartridges? One of the Boy Scout troops is in charge of collecting the cartridges from the collection box located upstairs in the library.

Behind My Desk… These past couple weeks I have been trying to work on the library statistics page. I haven’t been really satisfied with the format. We are always adding new patrons and depending on where the people live, it can throw off the set up. I needed to find another way to expand the page without juggling information around.

I have worked with Excel for many years and I love it, but it can be a major process to change spreadsheets to fit other spreadsheets. Anyway, that’s what I have been doing lately without pulling out my hair or going blind by staring at the computer screen too long…and I think I’m there! It’s one of those things that go on behind the scenes, that looks effortless but is really a TON of work to put together.

The library has offered to be a collection point for compact fluorescent lamps. I’m glad that we can be partner with the Cass County Landfill operation.

When you think about it, libraries are a perfect way to save the environment and have been long before it was politically correct to do so! I like that!

To totally change the subject (my mind tends to wander), I would like to let you know about a special site on the Internet called Project Gutenberg. Since 1971 this group has been digitizing books that are no longer under the jurisdiction of copyright. There are over 100,000 free books available. Many are what you would call “classics.” Again, I say the word “free.” Anyone who charges you to have the ebooks of Austen, Shakespeare, Dickens, etc. is making total profit off of you. Just go to www.gutenberg.org

March is just around the corner and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

Bills, Bills, Bills

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

February 12, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Déjà vu by Fern Michaels

Evergreen by Bruce Golden

Fadeaway Girl by Martha Grimes

Wicked Lies by Lisa Jackson

Fatal Error by J. A. Jance

Though Not Dead by Dana Stabenow

Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Coming Events @ the Library!

• Library Hours!

Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sundays—closed

• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board Regular Meeting Monday, Feb. 14 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds! No registration! Free!
• Wed./Thurs. Feb. 16/17 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Wed./Thurs. Mar. 2/3 Preschool Story Time 10-10:45 a.m.
• Sat. Feb. 12 Cass Co. Conservation Backyard Bird Count 1-2:30 p.m. Library Program Room
• The Atlantic Public Library will be open on Monday, February 21 President's Day.
  

Did You Know… the Atlantic Public Library is a 24/7 Wifi hotspot…even in the parking lot?

Behind My Desk…I just got back from a terrific vacation! You never know with vacations. Sometimes the anticipation of the “getaway” is greater than the actual trip itself. Not this time for me! I took a cruise to the Caribbean; and, yes, I missed the blizzard. It’s been quite a few years since I had been on a cruise. I went with one of my friends, and we treated ourselves to a room with a veranda. The weather was lovely and warm. We sat on the beach and sipped our fruit punch. Ahhhh!

And now, I’m back to reality! My winter coat and gloves felt very good this week. I’m rested and feeling much better.

I’ve been working on library bills this week to present to the board on Monday evening. Expenses keep going up and budgets get tighter and tighter. I try very hard to stay “on top” of the financial situation for the library. Everybody has their own way of doing finances. I receive the bills/invoices and then I organize them. The City Clerk’s office requires certain things that need to be done before issuing checks, so I need to make sure those are done correctly. I like to know where every penny is spent and I expect the library board to want to know that, as well.

I make a list of the bills by City account numbers and then set up a separate list for explanations for each bill. Once that has been put together, I give as close an estimate of the budget each month including how much has been spent to date, how much is spent in the current month and how much of the budget is left. The board gets a copy of each of these things at the board meeting. Sometimes I give a little extra information about certain bills. I want them to feel confident that taxpayers’ money is being spent the best way we can.

Because we are a department of the City of Atlantic, we go through the city’s budget process. Now, for those of you who live in rural Cass County, the Board of Supervisors budgets a certain amount of county funds for rural residents’ use at any of the six public libraries in the county.

I thought this might be a good place to give a little explanation of how the library finances work.

Take time to laugh and smile, and…Keep Thinking Libraries!