New Happenings @ Your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

September 1, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

          By Starlight  by  Dorothy Garlock

          Inn at Rose Harbor  by Debbie Macomber

          Taming the Wind  by  Tracie Peterson

St. Zita Society  by  Ruth Rendell

Empty Glass  by J. I. Baker

Woman at the Light  by Joanna Brady

Gold  by Chris Cleave

Paterno  by Joe Posnanski

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
• Every Wednesday is Craft Day from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 in honor of Labor Day.

• The Library Board regular meeting Monday, September 10, 2012, 5:30

p.m. meeting room upstairs.

• PreSchool Storytimes will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays this fall from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for 3-5 year olds.

Dates are: Sept.25/26; Oct.2/3; Oct.16/17 & Oct. 30/31.

Did You Know… the Atlantic Public Library had approximately 94 uses of the ICN room this past fiscal year?

Behind My Desk…  Things are starting to settle down after the intensity of this summer here at the library.   I think the young people had a very good experience—which is a good thing.  I hope that more people have become aware of how vital a library is to a community.  It’s not all about the number of books checked out, nor the number of times the library website was used.  It’s the appreciation that your public library is important in your life and your community.  It’s the knowing that your tax dollars have a purpose in the library and you can see the benefits.

Courtesy of the Cass County Landfill the Atlantic Public Library is adding three KILL-A-WATT meter kits to our collection for you to check out!.  If you think your electricity bills are too high, this may help you to locate the sources.  Instructions are included with the kit, so ask at the upstairs checkout desk about borrowing one.  By all means, come in and check the kit out for a month!

In June the library board purchased the ability to start our own ebook/audiobook collection in conjunction with the WILBOR site.  I’ve just added ten new ebooks that are available for download by our library patrons.

It may help on the waiting time for a reserved title; so it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.  I did purchase the three titles from the Fifty Shades of Gray series. This is an experiment to see if this helps our readers of ebooks.  Keep in mind—the checkout period is two weeks for these titles!

Have a Nice Holiday and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

Back to School @ your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

August 18, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

          Close Your Eyes  by  Iris Johansen

          Creole Belle  by James Lee Burke

          To Love and Cherish  by  Tracie Peterson

Judgment Call  by  J. A. Jance

Friends Forever  by Danielle Steel

Haven  by Kay Hooper

Sweet Talk  by Julie Garwood

Odd Apocalypse  by Dean Koontz

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
• Every Wednesday is Craft Day from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 in honor of Labor Day.

• The Library Board regular meeting Monday, September 10, 2012, 5:30

p.m. meeting room upstairs.

• PreSchool Storytimes will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays this fall from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for 3-5 year olds.

Dates are: Sept.25/26; Oct.2/3; Oct.16/17 & Oct. 30/31.

Did You Know… 408 young people registered for the Atlantic Public Library Summer Programs?

Behind My Desk…  Have you taken a look at the Iowa Egg Council’s display in the entry to the library?  Wow!  I am totally impressed with the creativity and skill to decorate these eggs!  The contest is held every year and the judging is in the Agricultural Building at the Iowa State Fair.  There are contest rules and the eggs are judged on Design, Artistic Merit, Creativity, Technical Merit, and Effective use of the Egg.

Maybe you have noticed that the library website has some new online database links our patrons are able to use.  We have purchased four new ones that I think should help our patrons and they are free to use at home on their Internet connections:

• Chilton.com: Some of you are very familiar with the Chilton Automotive manuals.  They are thorough and give the user a great deal of information about all types of cars, trucks, and other vehicles. 
• Legal Forms:  Lots of people are looking for legal forms they can use.  This gets a bit tricky, but it is something that our patrons are requesting.
• Price It!: This database gives information on antiques and collectibles and possible pricing.
• Powerspeak Languages:  You can take your time and learn French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, and English as a Second Language.

All of these are great sources.  They will help even the library!  Some of these sources sprout legs and just disappear off the shelves.  Others are checked out and never returned.  The information stays timely.  By the time a book is printed, sometimes it’s already out of date and those books cost a great deal of money.  Finally, it gives the user the opportunity to work at his/her own pace without worrying about a date due for returning.  It’s a Win, Win situation!

It does take a special password to use these databases at home, if you use the links on our homepage.  You can also access these by going into the Library Catalog page and logging in with your library patron number and your phone number.  You can request your patron number and the passwords at either checkout desk.

Congratulations to Madelyn Andersen (Pre-School); Cooper Lamp (2^nd Grade); Lauren Nicholas (4^th Grade); and Sarah Schorle (6^th Grade) who were our winners of the Big Prizes for the summer!

Welcome back to School and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

August? It's August???

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

August 4, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

          Buried in the Sky  by  Peter Zuckerman

          Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury

          Beautiful Disaster  by  Jamie McGuire

Fatal Debt  by  John Gapper

Sky Dragons by Anne McCaffrey

Tuesday’s Child  by Fern Michaels

Bloodline  by James Rollins

Touching the Sky  by Tracie Peterson

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, August 13, 2012, 5:30 p.m. meeting room upstairs.

Did You Know… Atlantic Public Library patrons saved $1,273,867.04 by checking out library items from July 2011 through June 2012?

Behind My Desk…  This desk has been somewhat idle for the past four weeks.  I’ve been on sick leave with surgery on my foot.  I’m slowly getting back on my feet (so to speak).  The weather has been a hot one; and for that that, I am thankful I have been at home with a running air conditioner.  At least now I can drive again!

I’ve been working on annual reports for this past fiscal year that ended on June 30.  Here a few bits of information:

• Library collection is worth about $631,905.
• Without counting in-house use of materials we checked out 89110 library items.
• Over 100,100 people have come through our library doors.
• There were 85 different children’s programs with an attendance of 1750 participants.
• We received 379 items for our patrons through Inter-Library Loan and sent 131 to other library throughout the state.

New employees are usually overwhelmed with the amount of work that goes on “behind the scenes” at a library.  They gain a new respect for the work that is expected of them every day. 

To my entire library staff, I say a grateful “Thank you!”  They have managed to keep things in good shape.  It’s been an extraordinarily busy month at the library, and yet, they have continued to keep up the good work. 

Enjoy what’s left of your summer, and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

New Things to Come @ Your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

June 30, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

          Honor  by  Janet Dailey

          Road to Grace  by Richard Evans

          Beautiful Disaster  by  Jamie McGuire

Place in the Country  by  Elizabeth Adler

Gone Missing by Linda Castillo

Wicked Business  by Janet Evanovich

Risk Agent  by Ridley Pearson

Serena  by Ron Rash

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

• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Wednesday, July 4^th.
• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board regular meeting Monday, July 9, 2012, 5:30 p.m. meeting room upstairs.

• Summer Reading Programs start June 1^st and runs through July 21!  Themes are: “Dream Big—READ” for PreK thru 3^rd Grade and “Own the Night” for 4^th thru 8^th Grade.
• Reading Buddies has been cancelled for lack of registrations.
• Each Friday a Prize will be drawn from those participating in the Library Reading Program.
• Tuesday, July 3: Gr. 1-3, 1-3:30 p.m.—“Night Shivers!”
• Thursday, July 5: Gr. PreK-K, 10-11 a.m.—“Rhyming Day & Night!”
• Thursdays, July 5, 12, 19, & 26: Gr. K & Up, 2-3:30 p.m.—Movie Day!
• Tuesday, July 10: Gr. K-3, 1-2:30 p.m.—LEGO Program!
• Wednesdays, July 11, 18, & 25, 2:30-4:30 p.m.—Craft Day!!
• Friday, July 13, Gr. 6-8,  7 p.m. - ? –--Creature Feature Film Festival (Must Pre-Register)
• Tuesday, July 17, Gr.6-8, 7 p.m.- ? ---America’s Next Top Monster! (Must Pre-Register)
• Thursday, July 19, Gr. 4-5, 7 p.m. - ?---“Ga Hoole Jeopardy!”  Must Pre-Register
• Monday, July 23, Reading Logs Must be turned in.
• Tuesday, July 24, All Ages!, 3-6 p.m. –Library Carnival!

Did You Know… the Atlantic Public Library has 334 summer library readers signed up?

Behind My Desk… I’m starting to feel the pressure.  As of July 1, the library starts the new fiscal year.  There are so many loose ends I want to get taken care of before the next director comes on board.  Actually, it’s never-ending, but I keep trying to make things better for the library patrons in the long run.

This fiscal year that is now ending has been a very productive one.  The Genealogy/Local History Room has had a big upgrade on technology, telephone system, and other services.  Microfilming of our local newspaper will now be with a more secure company.  We should be able to make a little more progress on our digitization project, too.

We were able to repair some damaged walls and replace three metal doors this year.  That was another one of those “round tuit” projects.  Telephone system is new, too, and we replaced our downstairs laminator. 

We are still working on security cameras.  This summer should see an addition of an all-weather camera on the outside of the library building , and I still hope to replace our door counter at the front entrance.

By the end of this summer we will be adding a new segment to our downloadable ebooks and four new subscription databases for our patrons: Chilton Library (auto repair manuals online), Legal Forms, Power Speak (foreign language study), and Price It, Antiques & Collectibles.  I think these will be a nice bonus for our library patrons.

Now, if I can get the bat problem in the attic taken care of… sigh.

Have a safe and happy 4^th of July, and…Keep Thinking Libraries!

More Dreams @ Your Library!

Thinking Library!

Carole Stanger

June 16, 2012

New Books Upstairs @ the library!

          My Cross to Bear by Gregg Allman

          Lost Is  by Ace Atkins

          Dragon  by  Clive Cussler

Incarceron  by  Catherine Fisher

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk  by Ben Fountain

Eyes Wide Open  by Andrew Gross

Kiss the Dead  by Laurell Hamilton

Real Life Downton Abbey  by Jacky Hyams

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

• The Atlantic Public Library will be closed Wednesday, July 4^th.
• Check out our website http://www.atlantic.lib.ia.us

• The Library Board regular meeting Monday, July 9, 2012, 5:30 p.m. meeting room upstairs.

• Summer Reading Programs start June 1^st and runs through July 21!  Themes are: “Dream Big—READ” for PreK thru 3^rd Grade and “Own the Night” for 4^th thru 8^th Grade.
• Mon., June 18: 10-11 a.m.—Ages 8-10 “Magic Class with Rick!” Cost=$5 for supplies to keep.  Must Pre-Register.
• Tues. June 19: 1-3:30 p.m.—Grades 1-3 “Night Owls!”
• Tues. June 19: 7:30-9 p.m.—Grades 4-6 “Read-In!”  Must Pre-Register.
• Wed.  June 20: 10-11 a.m.—Public Invited “Discussion with Sen. Harkin aide.”
• Wednesdays, June 20,and 27: 2:30-4:30 Craft Day!
• Thurs. June 21: 10-11 a.m. –Grades Pre-K and K—“Going to the Moon!”
• Reading Buddies has been cancelled for lack of registrations.
• Each Friday a Prize will be drawn from those participating in the Library Reading Program.
• Tues. June 26: 1-3:30 p.m.—Grades 1-3—“Night Adventures!”
• Wed. June 27: 9:30-12 noon—Homebound Delivery
• Thurs. June 28: 10-11 a.m.—Grades PreK-K—“Nighttime Critters!”
• Fri. June 29: 7-8 p.m.—Grades 4-6—Movie Night! Must Pre-Register

Did You Know… the Atlantic Public Library has 334 summer library readers signed up?

Behind My Desk… For many years I’ve been concerned about our bicycle rack situation.  When the new addition was built, a slab of concrete was made for a bicycle rack on the northwest corner of the parking lot next to the alley.  It’s an ok place, but unfortunately, it’s not in a prominent location.  I know of several bikes that have been stolen from there.  It’s too easy to scoot down the alley and be gone in nothing flat. 

Personally, I would carry a chain and lock with me and make sure it was secure to the rack.  Well, some people don’t think that’s necessary. So, instead, they either bring the bike inside the library or plop it right outside the doors with no consideration for anyone else. 

Neither solution is acceptable with me.  So, I’m thinking of experimenting with losing a car parking place and moving the bike rack closer to the library entrance.  We’ll give it a little time and see what happens.  It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s better than leaving bikes right by the front doors.

Julie wants to let people know that there still are plenty of openings for the Magic Class with Rick on Monday.  We would love to have a good number of participants, so do register and come!

Well, another fiscal year is about to close.  In the next couple weeks I need to do the end-of-the-year statistics.  Most things are ready for me to put together.  June has been another very busy month, so the year should end on a nice note.

Happy Father’s Day to all dads, and…Keep Thinking Libraries!