Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

November 26, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Zero Day by David Baldacci

Back to Work by Bill Clinton

Cupcake Diaries by Katherine Kallinis

Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly

Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

My Friend Michael by Frank Cascio

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

• Wednesday/Thursday, Nov.30/Dec.1—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 –Natural Holiday Decorating. All ages. 1-2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 7—Christmas Movie for Gr. K-3 from 2:45- 4 p.m.
• 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 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
• 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 keeps a list of new books for the Adult Section for six months in our Library Thing Account? You can find that on our home page at our website. Look on the right side of the page and click on the “My Library” link.

Behind My Desk…November has been quite a month, and I’ve been doing all sorts of things. I was asked to give a report about library trends to the City Council at their meeting on the 16^th. I put together a list of ten trends we’ve seen in the last five years. That was an eye-opener for me. I knew it, but I hadn’t taken the time to collect and evaluate all the things that are happening.

The ten trends are:

10. Technology Explosion

9. Increased Print Material digitization

8. Social Media/Communication

7. Financial Concerns

6 Mandates from the State and Federal Government

5. Security

4. The “Cloud”

3. Community accessibility

2. Service Area

1. Going Green

All of these trends influence library services. The library is not stagnant. It continues to evolve and change.

I also volunteered to work on a County Library calendar for November and December to show all the different events going on in each of the six county libraries. My Goodness, we’re a busy group! We have all sorts of wonderful things going on!

In the mean time, we have replaced three outside doors and are in the midst of upgrading the library phone system. The Genealogy Department will also have its own extension!

Even in bad economic times, we have so much to be thankful for...

Get well, Janie! …Keep Thinking Libraries!

It's Peachy in November @ your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

November 12, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

House of Secrets by Tracie Peterson

Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander

Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

Prince of Ravenscar by Catherine Coulter

Christmas Treasures by Thomas Kinkade

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

To Have and To Hold by Tracie Petersen

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, Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesday/Thursday, Nov. 16/17—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Nov.30/Dec.1—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 16, Cooking with Peaches for 3-5 graders from 2:45-4:30 pm. Must sign up—class limit of 10!
• Thursday, Nov. 17 will be a setup day for the Semi-Annual Friends of the Atlantic Public Library Used Book Sale.
• Friday & Saturday, Nov. 18 & 19 will be the Semi-Annual Friends of the Atlantic Public Library Used Book Sale.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library subscribes to the Sunday and daily Omaha World Herald and the Sunday and daily Des Moines Register—not to mention the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Atlantic News Telegraph? And, we keep past issues for a few months!

Behind My Desk… Once again, it’s time to work on the budget for the next fiscal year. Our years run from July 1 to June 30 the following year. As a result, it’s important to always be thinking ahead as to what will be needed to help our patrons. It’s hard to know about technology that far ahead, but it is important to be looking at trends and being prepared for new things.

Our City administration has been stressing how important it is to keep our infrastructure working properly. The library board has also been active in keeping our library looking attractive and well maintained. Yes, we have some issues, but the board and I are aware of them and are trying to work on them. That takes money. As it is true with most households, there is only so much money to go around to the various city departments.

Earlier this week, the 3^rd-5^th graders were treated to movie here at the library. It was Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach. It’s the 50^th anniversary of the book’s publishing. (Sigh. I remember when that came out.)

It may be a little late, but I want to thank all our veterans who have served and are serving our county. Thank you! ...and Keep Thinking Libraries!

New Library Ideas!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

October 29, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Music of Silence by Andrea Bocelli

Bonnie by Iris Johansen

Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

Destined by P. C. Cast

Litigators by John Grisham

City of Whispers by Marcia Muller

Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

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, Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m. upstairs

• Wednesday/Thursday, Nov. 2/3-- Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• Wednesday/Thursday, Nov. 16/17—Preschool Story Times for 3-5 years old from 10-11 a.m.
• 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!!
• Sunday, Nov. 6—Daylight Savings Time Ends
• Tuesday, Nov. 8—all day—Local Elections.
• Friday, Nov. 11, the Atlantic Public Library will be closed in honor of Veteran’s Day. The library will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9:30- 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 17 will be a setup day for the Semi-Annual Friends of the Atlantic Public Library Used Book Sale.
• Friday & Saturday, Nov. 18 & 19 will be the Semi-Annual Friends of the Atlantic Public Library Used Book Sale.

Did You Know…the Atlantic Public Library subscribes to a terrific online database for kids called Tumblebooks? Just click on the Tumblebooks link on the library webpage!

Behind My Desk… I’m back from the conference in Council Bluffs. This was one of the best conferences I have attended! I learned all sorts of things! I mentioned in my last article that I was going to attend a workshop on changing from the Dewey Decimal System. It was interesting to hear how other public libraries are doing this and how their patrons responded. It doesn’t happen overnight and takes much planning and patience. We just might try it here.

In a way, we’ve already started. Our adult music cd collection is sorted by category. Also, we integrated our mysteries upstairs into our regular fiction section. This seems to go against the theory, but I think it makes it easier to find authors who love to jump genres. The whole purpose for these changes is to make it easier for the patron to find things on the shelves when browsing.

Are you aware of the organization out of Decorah, IA called Seed Savers Exchange? I was able to go to a session given by the librarian from that group. I had no idea that this place existed so close to us! I was totally impressed with what they do there. If you are interested, have a look at their website at www.seedsavers.org

Finally, on the last day of the conference I listened to a wonderful speaker who was a pediatrician and during his medical education, he took a year off to get his Masters Degree in Library and Information Science. (Ok, I was impressed!) His talk was about early developmental skills in babies for reading. His patients are given a book at each checkup. He can evaluate a child in so many ways by just watching how a six month old child interacts with a book. He encourages the parents to read to the child on a daily basis. It is SO important. I cannot stress that enough.

Those were some of the highlights of my conference. Now I have to get back to work!

Boo!...and Keep Thinking Libraries!

Halloween Happenings @ the Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

October 15, 2011

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

Shadow in Serenity by Terry Blackstock

Feast of Fools by James Lee Burke

Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber

Late Edition by Fern Michaels

Shock Wave by John Sanford

O’Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts by Martha Stewart

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. 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 board has written bylaws that outline its operational procedures and are reviewed by the board at least every three years? The bylaws and other library policies can be found on the trustees’ page of the library website.

Behind My Desk… I’m just curious if anyone has some Atlantic public library history sitting around anywhere. Does anybody have some old board minutes hidden away in the attic somewhere? The library is sadly lacking a good many years of information. I don’t even have a list of former board members. I need to qualify that statement. I do from 1998 forward and the original board members but when you consider there has been a library since 1903, that’s quite a span of years. Also, there have been nine members on this board from the beginning, and that’s a lot of people being involved with the library over the years. If you have any information, I would be happy to talk with you.

Most of this week I will have attended the annual conference for the Iowa Library Association in Council Bluffs. As most people know in the western part of the state few conferences are held on this “side.” It’s a nice change. One of the pre-conference workshops is about the alternatives for the Dewey Decimal System. Some public libraries are moving to a more “bookstore” classification system. I have felt for a long time that although the Dewey system is a logical way of classification, it is also very complex. At various times in my career I have considered changing to a simpler system for public library patrons. I “chickened” out because it would be a huge task and all library personnel had to be willing to make the change. Also, I really wasn’t satisfied with the alternatives.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what others are doing and how the public reacted to the changes.

Don’t forget all the Halloween programs coming up… and Keep Thinking Libraries!