January Happenings @ the Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

January 21, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Vigilante by Stephen Cannell

Locked On by Tom Clancy

77 Shadow Street by Dean R. Koontz

Death Benefit by Robin Cook

Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag

Leopard by Jo Nesbo

D C Dead by Stuart Woods

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.13, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesdays, Jan.25, Feb. 8 & Feb.22—Preschool Story Times for 3-4 year olds from 10-11 a.m.
• Thursdays, Jan.26, Feb.9, & Feb. 23—Preschool Story Times for 4-5 year olds from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 –Grades 1-3 , 3:00-4:00 pm. “Jungle Journey”
• Wednesday, Mar. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Library meeting/program room All Cass County Reads Program by author Rosanne Bachman for her book Driving to Clarinda!

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library has a public fax service? The fax fee is a dollar per page either sent or received. Our fax # is 712-243-5011.

Behind My Desk…

New things are happening in the Genealogy Department. As I’ve mentioned before, they now have a phone extension. That has helped us to not have so many messages over the intercom system to interrupt our patrons who are working or reading.

They should have by the time this article is printed in the paper a new microfilm reader scanner. Our old one has gone to that recycle bin in the sky. It was a good friend, but it’s time had come. The new one will work with a computer and regular desk printer. Thanks to the Friends of the Library, the department will have a new computer, printer, and monitor. We appreciate their donation for those items. This was not as easy a transfer of equipment as I had hoped for. I think the wait will be worth it.

Staffing is always an important duty for the library director. Janie is slowly working her way back to full time after taking eight weeks for foot surgery and other crises. Last Friday was Kelsey’s last day with us. She plans to further her education, and we wish her well. Yes, we do have an opening for a part-time page at the library. Stop by the library for an application and more information.

At the last board meeting it was decided to change to a cleaning service for the library, so I’m looking into contract bids for that.

This week I went with some of the other Cass County librarians to visit the Cyber Library on the Council Bluffs campus of Iowa Western Community College. My, oh, my!

I should also mention that yes, the library does have copies of the three main Federal tax forms (1040EZ, 1040A, and the 1040). Unfortunately, we do not have instructions for the 1040 yet. We have ordered them and the reproducible tax forms, but the government has notified us that it will be at least the end of January before we see them. I know. Irritating, isn’t it?

One last thing…I’ve been doing one of my favorite tasks again. Take a look at the library webpage at www.atlantic.lib.ia.us. I added a weather “widget” to the page, so you can see what the weather people think is happening in Atlantic with radar, road conditions, weather alerts and forecasts. Stay warm and safe, and …Keep Thinking Libraries!

Time to Renew our Magazines!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

January 7, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Micro by Michael Crichton

Lost December by Richard Evans

Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Garner Files by James Garner

Mr. CSI by Anthony Zuiker

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

Soft Target by Stephen Hunter

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, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesdays, Jan.11, Jan.25, Feb. 8 & Feb.22—Preschool Story Times for 3-4 year olds from 10-11 a.m.
• Thursdays, Jan. 12, Jan.26, Feb.9, & Feb. 22—Preschool Story Times for 4-5 year olds from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Mar. 28 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Library meeting/program room All Cass County Reads Program by author Rosanne Bachman for her book Driving to Clarinda!

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library has a computer downstairs exclusively for filing your taxes online? The library employees are not tax preparers, but they can show you the IRS site and the Iowa Revenue site for you!

Behind My Desk… The holidays are officially over and decorations are coming down and now we are seeing Valentine’s Day things. Doesn’t it seem to you that we are being rushed into every holiday whether we are ready or not?

Please take note about the Preschool Story Times for January and February. Wednesdays are for 3 & 4 year olds and Thursdays are for 4 & 5 year olds.

About this time every year we renew, and sometimes add and subtract our magazine subscriptions. Every community is different. We check to see what titles are circulating and of interest to our patrons. Some magazines go out of business, so we try to find similar titles to fill in; and sometimes our patrons give us suggestions. In March Diane goes through our collection and weeds out our older issues, so you may want to watch our “Book Sale Cart” for any bargains.

I should mention that the library is through with holidays now until Memorial Day. So, unless the weather gets very nasty, the library should be open normal hours.

Next week we should be getting our new microfilm reader/scanner for the Genealogy/Local History Room. Our old machine was a true “work horse” for us, but we were very close to no longer finding replacement parts for it. It was time to see what we could find that would help us for future research as well as using older materials. It was an expensive purchase, but I think it will be a good one.

Enjoy our New Year and …Keep Thinking Libraries

Ebooks & Downloadables!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

December 24, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Well Tempered Clavicle by Piers Anthony

Come a Little Closer by Dorothy Garlock

Dead Last by James W. Hall

Longing by Karen Kingsbury

How I Got This Way by Regis Philbin

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Drop by Michael Connelly

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, Jan. 9, 2012, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesday/Thursday, Dec. 28/29—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 year olds from 10- 11 a.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 29—New Year’s Party for Gr. 4 & 5 from 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 30—New Year’s Party for Gr. 6-8 from 6-10 p.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Saturday through Monday, Dec. 24-26 for the Holiday.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 2 for the New Year holiday.

Did You Know…that the Atlantic Public Library has subscriptions to several different cooking magazines such as Betty Crocker Recipe Magazine, Cooking with Paula Dean, Cook’s Country, Cook’s Illustrated, Healthy Cooking, Simple & Delicious, & Taste of Home? New ideas for our winter dinners!

Behind My Desk… I have decided that I am a “reading” advertisement for an ereader! I take it with me often when I think I might have a few moments to spare and read. It makes a great “ice breaker” to start a conversation. I enjoy eating out and usually I’m alone, so having a book along is more comfortable for me. I have waiters and other diners stop and ask about what I’m reading and if I like the ereader. It gives me an opportunity to show first-hand what the ereader is like and the things I like about it. Then I can give an extra plug for the library by telling them about downloading ebooks for free from the WILBOR site on the library webpage. (I’m sneaky that way!) It’s never too late for an ereader gift! Oh, and they are great for traveling!

The Atlantic Public Library will be hosting the next All Cass County Reads program at the end of March. The book we will be discussing is Rosanne Bachman’s Driving to Clarinda. I know Rosanne has spoken to a few groups here already, so I think she plans to focus on the writing aspect. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read her book, we have several extra copies available for circulation. Please feel free to ask at the upstairs desk for a copy to checkout.

I found Driving to Clarinda a very good read. It’s short in length, but filled with Rosanne’s insights into trying to cope with mental illness in the family. I recommend it.

Lately, I’ve had several people wanting instruction on how to use our WILBOR site to download audiobooks and ebooks.

First of all, you will need your library card number.

1. Go to www.atlantic.lib.ia.us
2. In the middle of the library home page there is an icon saying “Download audiobooks and ebooks”.
3. Click on the icon. That should take you to the WILBOR homepage.
4. On the left side column click on the “Need Help?” icon. This steps you through the process.
5. Follow the instructions for your media player (mp3 player, Kindle, Nook, etc.).
6. You may need to download an application to your mobile device, or a small piece of free software to your computer for some readers/players.
   

Happy Holidays, Everyone! And…Keep Thinking Libraries!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

December 10, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

West by West by Jerry West

Caribbean by Cruise Ship by Anne Vipond

Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble

Wedding Letters by Jason F. Wright

Baking with the Cake Boss by Buddy Valastro

The Puppy that Came for Christmas by Megan Rix

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

• Tuesday, Dec. 13—Christmas Party for Gr. K-1 , from 3:45- 5 p.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Dec. 14/15—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 year olds from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 14—Christmas Party for Gr. 2&3 from 2:45- 4 p.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Dec. 28/29—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 year olds from 10- 11 a.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 29—New Year’s Party for Gr. 4 & 5 from 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 30—New Year’s Party for Gr. 6-8 from 6-10 p.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Saturday through Monday, Dec. 24-26 for the Holiday.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 2 for the New Year holiday.

Did You Know…that the Atlantic Public Library has a CD music collection? We even have some Christmas CDs!

Behind My Desk… Last week I went to the annual Friends of the Library meeting held at the library. They had a terrific used book sale in November! They made more than $800 in just the book sale and doubled that amount in memberships. Wow! The library, in return, was given $2000 for various projects. One of the members had specifically wished to have some money given to the WILBOR database, so $500 of that money will go to adding new titles for ebooks. The group also totally understood the importance of library security, so $500 will go to the security camera project.

The Cass County Genealogical Society had a couple representatives at the Friends meeting, as well. They have been thinking about needing an update of the 1980 Cass County History Book. The Friends agreed that this was an important project and will collaborate on this if enough people are interested in submitting their family histories, order a book and volunteer to help with the project. If you are interested, please contact the Genealogy Society at the library or email to casscgs@yahoo.com.

Good things come to those who wait…and wait…and…. The Genealogy/Local History Dept. has a phone right in their room!!! Last week the library changed to a new phone system and one of the upgrades was to add a mobile phone in the Genealogy room. Now, when you call the library, you will have a choice of speaking to someone downstairs (Children’s), upstairs (Adult) or the Genealogy Room. We hope this will help all of us.

I know. I’m stuck on Genealogy, but there is more good news for them! We now have CDs of the digitization of our early Atlantic newspapers. You can also access the database online from the library website. This way we have two different copies of all that work! The library board will be discussing at the meeting on Monday about purchasing a new microfilm reader/printer/scanner system. This system will be connected to a computer and printer for easier use of the microfilm collection. The Friends group also helped contribute to this purchase.

Some of you have asked about Janie. She had foot surgery in November and is recuperating at home. We hope to see her back on the job after the first of the new year, but we’ll wait and see how things are going.

Also, please have patience when telephoning the library. The telephone system is new for all of us!

During this holiday season, take a little time for yourself and …Keep Thinking Libraries!