October Library Happenings!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

October 1, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Lethal by Sandra Brown

World’s Creepiest Places by Bob Curran

Sibling Effect by Jeffrey Kluger

Son of Stone by Stuart Woods

Forbidden by Ted Dekker

How to Carve Freakishly Cool Pumpkins by Sarah Schutette

Vault by Ruth Rendell

Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb

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, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesday/Thursday, Oct. 5/6-- Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Oct. 19/20-- Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 19—Halloween Craft Day for 3^rd-5^th Graders from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Please sign up!
• Wednesday, Oct. 26—Halloween Program for K-2^nd Graders from 2:30- 4:00 p.m. Please sign up!
• Friday, October 28, Halloween Party for 6-8^th Graders 6-10p.m. Please sign up!
• Monday, Oct. 24-Oct. 31, the Library’s Haunted House is back during regular library hours!
• Saturday, Nov. 5 Massena Public Library, 9:30-10:30 a.m., All Cass County Reads Driving to Clarinda ‘s Rosanne Bachman will be giving another talk about her book! This will be for Cumberland and Massena Public Libraries. All are invited!!

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library has recently renewed the subscription to Book Page for our patrons! This is a great way to find out more about your favorite authors and books! Stop by upstairs and pick up your complimentary copy each month!

Behind My Desk… I got the chance to visit the official dedication of the new Fontanelle Public Library. What a nice facility for those residents and neighbors! Cumberland is in the middle of a renovation and Lewis just broke ground for its new library. Griswold may be finally getting a chance to grow and expand, as well. Wow! It’s really nice to see our communities supporting these important institutions.

For those of you who have Kindles and have wanted to “checkout” a downloadable e-book from our WILBOR database, it’s now available! Just go to our webpage and click on the WILBOR link and find the Kindle link on the left hand side. Be sure you know your library card number! You’ll need that to login.

Just received a list of events that are happening here at the library in October! All sorts of fun activities are happening!

I also want to give you a bit of a “Heads Up” about the Friends of the Library Used Book Sale coming up November 18 and 19. Please do not bring any of your books until after November 8. As you can see in our Coming Events, the month of October will be busy; and we really don’t have the space to store used books for any length of time.

Enjoy the autumn colors… and Keep Thinking Libraries!

Atlantic PL No Longer Access Point for IWD

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

September 17, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Heartwishes by Jude Deveraux

Northwest Angle by William Krueger

Race by Clive Cussler

Mercy by Beverly Lewis

Clubhouse Confidential by Luis Castillo

Fix It and Forget It Diabetic Cookbook by Phyllis Good

Prey by Linda Howard

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, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year-olds will start back up on
• Wednesday/Thursday, Sept. 21/22 --Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Oct. 5/6
• Wednesday/Thursday, Oct. 19/20
• Saturday, Nov. 5 Massena Public Library, times not definite yet, All Cass County Reads Driving to Clarinda ‘s Rosanne Bachman will be giving another talk about her book! This will be for Cumberland and Massena Public Libraries. All are invited!!

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library has a Facebook page? Just click the Facebook link on our website!

Behind My Desk… I need to mention about our part with the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) service. I have very mixed feelings about what is happening with IWD. Of course, libraries are here to serve our patrons. But, I don’t like to be taken advantage of, either. Especially when state funds are cut to libraries, and we are expected to take on special responsibilities we are not trained or paid for.

The Atlantic Public Library was to be an ACCESS POINT for our IWD area. Unfortunately, the software did not work with our computer system. Somewhere, “they” were trying to find a “work-around” for our system, but it didn’t happened. Therefore, I decided that the Atlantic Public Library would not be an access point for our area. The toll-free number for the IWD is 800-562-4692. People are now being asked to go to Cass Co. Dept. of Human Services at 601 Walnut Street here in Atlantic.

I did add a link to the general Iowa Workforce Development site on our webpage under “Find Information.”

Just for your information--It is against the law for convicted child molesters to use any public library in the State of Iowa. That makes it tricky for someone who has that conviction and needs to find a job, don’t you think?

Speaking of assisting other agencies, the library is going “green” with tax forms this year. We will have individual forms & instruction booklets available for 1040, 1040A, & 1040EZ. However, any other forms needed will need to be photocopied (at 10 cents/page) out of the reproducible binders located near the photocopier. Just a reminder--that the IRS only sends out federal tax forms. State forms are no longer sent out and must be downloaded off the computer.

Just to add to the madness—Because some post offices are being closed, it has been suggested that libraries would be a perfect alternative to sell stamps.

I love the remark one librarian made, “Need some fries with that order?”

… and Keep Thinking Libraries!

State Library Name Change

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

September 3, 2011

New Magazines for Parents/Teachers Downstairs @ the library!

Parenting Early Years—For parents with babies & toddlers

Parenting School Years—For parents with school-age children

Disney’s Family Fun—Fun ideas for spending quality family time

Yum: Food & Fun for Kids—Fun ideas for meals & activities with your family and child’s classroom

The Mailbox: The Idea Magazine for Teachers—Great ideas for preschool teachers, daycare providers, and parents with preschool-age children

Halloween is just around the corner, so stop in and check out these magazines! They have some wonderful ideas.

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, Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds will start back up on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7 & 8 from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Sept. 21/22 --Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
• Tuesday, Sept. 13 Anita Public Library, 12 noon-1 p.m. Library and Lunch—Driving to Clarinda’s Rosanne Bachman will be speaking! Bring your own lunch and join the discussion.

Did You Know…that if you know your library card number for the Atlantic Public Library, you can renew and reserve library items over the Internet? Stop by the checkout desk and ask about this free service!

Behind My Desk… Time to get back into the “Fall” routine. Boy, that summer went fast!

The library is trying to get some things taken care of before the winter weather sets in. We are working on replacing some of our exterior metal doors. Metal tends to corrode and then we start having problems with the doors, so this is a good step before they get too bad. After they get taken care of, we’ll be working upstairs to repair some of the water damage from roof problems. It’s always something.

I’m hoping it won’t be much longer, and we will be replacing our telephone system, too.

The State Library of Iowa is no more. It is now called Iowa Library Services. I know. I know. Why the heck did they do that? Remember I mentioned way back last year that changes were coming for the library community in Iowa? It happened at the end of July.

I have a secret pleasure in watching the DesMoines office deal with this little fact. About ten years ago the “Regional” library offices had to change their names to Library Service Areas. That was a pain. Addresses had to be changed, letterheads had to be changed, companies that they did business with had to be informed…the list goes on. The State Library sat in their state office building and smugly looked on. Now it’s their turn…and Surprise! It’s a pain!

The Library Service Areas are now districts of the Iowa Library Services…it’s all together as one agency under the Department of Education. Library Services does not mean just public libraries. It includes academic (college, university, and community colleges), special (law, medical, company), and school libraries, as well. Why did this all come about? Money. I’m hoping this will stop some of the squabbling and put everyone on the same page. With the economy the way it is, I doubt that it will help; but I can hope, can’t I?

Have a safe holiday weekend… and Keep Thinking Libraries!

Fall into Books!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

August 20, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Accident by Linwood Barclay

Back of Beyond by C. J. Box

Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry

6S by Kate White

Bye Bye Baby by Max Allan Collins

Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind

Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

Mice by Gordon Reece

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, Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Story Time Programs for 3, 4, & 5 year olds will start back up on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7 & 8 from 10-11 a.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Did You Know… that the Atlantic Public Library has WiFi 24/7? You can even pick it up in the parking lot after library hours!

Behind My Desk… First of all, I need to make a correction about the Anita Public Library’s “kick off” program for the All Cass County Reads Events. It will be on Tuesday, September 13 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Please note this.

Now, about a certain advertisement in our paper last week…Let me say first a tried and true saying: “You reap what you sow.” The bond issue in Carroll for the Carroll Public Library failed. It was a very high turnout. 78% of the voters marked NO on their ballot with 22% voting YES.

I could stop there, but I won’t. I’m going from my perspective as a library director. There is something to be said for community pride, but I would not have been happy to see something like that to promote a library issue. I have always felt that libraries were for everyone. All this did was to give off negative vibes and create hard feelings with neighboring communities. That one article may take years to recover from. (Some people may not care, but some will.)

I know that each community has its own “personality.” I also know that if you look for negative things in a community, you will find negative things-- Just as looking for positive things will find positive things.

The Pre-School Story Times will start back up in September with the theme: One World, Many Stories! Boys and girls ages 3 to 5 years are invited to attend either Wednesdays or Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. No need to pre-register, just show up! The 2011 dates are:

Sept. 7or 8

Sept. 21 or 22

Oct. 5 or 6

Oct. 19 or 20

Nov. 2 or 3

Nov. 16 or 17

Nov. 30 or Dec. 1

Dec. 14 or 15

Dec. 28 or 29

This theme is the same one that was used this summer, and I can see lots of possibilities for this fall and our pre-schoolers. By the way, these summer themes come from a consortium of librarians. They put together ideas for activities and programs and all sorts of clever things. More power to them!

It’s back to school… and Keep Thinking Libraries!