Have you been to a library lately? Did you see any prim and proper librarians with their hair in a bun saying shush? I am guessing not. The library today, even in a small New England town such as ours, is vastly different from the public library your parents and grandparents frequented in their youth.
Maybe the biggest difference is that they did frequent the library, probably as often as once or twice a week. Maybe they had a paper for school to research or wanted to read the latest Life or Look magazine. Maybe they needed something to read as they spent a summer afternoon lying in a hammock.
Why do you come to the library, if you do come? Is it to pick up the book you put on hold from your phone on a Sunday night? Is it to find information on downloading books to your Kindle? Maybe you just need to use the wifi between trips home. Maybe you need to fax or scan a document. Chances are good that you are in and out quickly.
Unlike the library patrons of the previous generations, however, you might stop to buy a cup of coffee or a muffin in the library cafe. You might pick out a dvd to watch tonight. You might even spend some time in the do-it-yourself space using a 3D printer, scroll saw or sewing machine.
No, it's not your grandmother's library. No shushing going on. And the library is definitely not used in the same way. It is, however, still used. Maybe it is remote usage like requesting and renewing books from your your phone or accessing Consumer Reports online, but the library is still all about connecting people with knowledge and service. We are happy to be changing with the times.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Reader's Advisory
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a librarian's job is reader's advisory. It can also be one of the most daunting tasks of a librarian. A patron approaches the desk. You put on your most pleasant, positive face. Then the patron says "I can't find anything good to read. What have you read lately that was good?" Your mind starts to spin in several directions. Do you tell her about A Singular Woman, the story of Stanley Ann Dunham, President Obama's mother? Or maybe, The Captain, a biography of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. But what if the patron is a republican, Red Sox fan? You could suggest Bossypants by Tina Fey, but maybe her Sarah Palin immitation wasn't too their liking. I could go on and on with my recent reading list but I hope you catch my drift. I always struggle with that question. I am sometimes tempted to say, "I only read bad books," but wouldn't want to appear too flippant.
Their question is well placed at the library. It's just the wrong question. The skilled reader's advisory librarian will turn it around for them. Instead of the previous question, she will ask "What have you read recently that you liked?" When the patron replies with a suspense, mystery or maybe romance author, the librarian is off and running. "You like John Grisham, have you tried Steve Martini?" or "if you like Patricia Cornwell, maybe you will enjoy Kathy Reichs." If the patron just read a celebrity biography, there is always another celebrity biography to suggest.
In a large library, there might be several reader's advisory librarians with varying areas of expertise. In our smaller settings, the librarians are jacks-of-all-trades. Yet, once in a while, you will get a dream reader's advisory question. That happened to me today. A patron came to the desk with Richard Russo's Straight Man and said he is one my favorite authors, along with Ann Tyler. "Can you make any suggestions of other authors I might like?" Since she had just named two of my favorite authors, I had just received the reader's advisory dream question.
Today, reader's advisory was the most enjoyable aspect of my job!
Their question is well placed at the library. It's just the wrong question. The skilled reader's advisory librarian will turn it around for them. Instead of the previous question, she will ask "What have you read recently that you liked?" When the patron replies with a suspense, mystery or maybe romance author, the librarian is off and running. "You like John Grisham, have you tried Steve Martini?" or "if you like Patricia Cornwell, maybe you will enjoy Kathy Reichs." If the patron just read a celebrity biography, there is always another celebrity biography to suggest.
In a large library, there might be several reader's advisory librarians with varying areas of expertise. In our smaller settings, the librarians are jacks-of-all-trades. Yet, once in a while, you will get a dream reader's advisory question. That happened to me today. A patron came to the desk with Richard Russo's Straight Man and said he is one my favorite authors, along with Ann Tyler. "Can you make any suggestions of other authors I might like?" Since she had just named two of my favorite authors, I had just received the reader's advisory dream question.
Today, reader's advisory was the most enjoyable aspect of my job!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
'Tis the Season
'Tis the season for baseball. 'Tis also the season for baseball books! Every spring when a young man's or woman's thoughts turn to baseball, the publishers are right there ahead of them. This year is no exception. While we are barely a month into the season, and no, the Red Sox are not going to stay in last place in the American League East, and yes, the Yankees could quite possibly stay in first place for the entire season, but I doubt that too; baseball books are crowding the shelves of bookstores and libraries alike.
While there are a plethora of titles to pick from this baseball and publishing season, I have chosen to highlight the books that will be soon or are now available at your Ledyard Libraries. For the Red Sox fans, we have a new book by the current longest tenured player on the team; Tim Wakefield. Knuckler: my life with baseball's most confounding pitch is Tim's story of his long baseball career and throwing the knuckleball. For those interested in the history of baseball, John Thorn has written Baseball in the Garden of Eden: the secret history of the early game. The fans of the old Brooklyn Dodgers will enjoy two recent books, Campy: the two lives of Roy Campenella by Neil Lanctot and Jimmy Breslin's Branch Rickey. Three new books are being added to the collection of New York Yankee lore. Kostya Kennedy's 56: Joe DiMaggio and the last magic number in sports is about that magical baseball year of 1941. The House that Ruth Built: a new stadium, the first Yankees championship and the redemption of 1923 by Robert Weintraub, takes us back to earlier times. Current Yankee fans will enjoy The Captain: the journey of Derek Jeter by Ian O'Connor.
If you are a fan of baseball books, 'tis the season to request them from your local library.
While there are a plethora of titles to pick from this baseball and publishing season, I have chosen to highlight the books that will be soon or are now available at your Ledyard Libraries. For the Red Sox fans, we have a new book by the current longest tenured player on the team; Tim Wakefield. Knuckler: my life with baseball's most confounding pitch is Tim's story of his long baseball career and throwing the knuckleball. For those interested in the history of baseball, John Thorn has written Baseball in the Garden of Eden: the secret history of the early game. The fans of the old Brooklyn Dodgers will enjoy two recent books, Campy: the two lives of Roy Campenella by Neil Lanctot and Jimmy Breslin's Branch Rickey. Three new books are being added to the collection of New York Yankee lore. Kostya Kennedy's 56: Joe DiMaggio and the last magic number in sports is about that magical baseball year of 1941. The House that Ruth Built: a new stadium, the first Yankees championship and the redemption of 1923 by Robert Weintraub, takes us back to earlier times. Current Yankee fans will enjoy The Captain: the journey of Derek Jeter by Ian O'Connor.
If you are a fan of baseball books, 'tis the season to request them from your local library.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Times They are a Changin
We have known for some time that libraries are not just about books anymore. We have come to grips with the fact that DVDs and computers might be the most popular things at your local library. We have moved through the gradual format changes from cassette to compact disk to the diminutive playaway. At least all of these items were brought to the counter and duly checked out.
Now, however, items are being checked out of the library that only exist in cyberspace. First came the downloadable audio. That has become a popular way to add literature to your Ipod or MP3 player. In the last few months, the e-book has really taken off. Maybe everyone got e-readers for Christmas. The word "Kindle" has been in our vernacular since Amazon launched it in November 2007. Now, however, there are many varieties of e-readers, tablets and smartphones to which books may be downloaded. With the right equipment and a few clicks, people are reading books from the library without leaving the comfort of home or at least without setting foot in our establishment.
This really has this librarian's head spinning. Customer service has taken on a whole new meaning in the library world. We are meeting the needs of our patrons without seeing or talking to them. They can download audio and books from our website at no cost, just like checking out books in the good old days. Well, believe it or not, people do still check out books from libraries. Lots of books!
This new phenomenon of e-books, however, has caused some publishers to take measures to limit the number of check outs per book license. Maybe e-readers are becoming too much of a good thing. Libraries will continue to grapple with how to stay current, serve the needs and wants of their patrons and handle diminishing budgets. Not unlike what we are all doing in our homes these days.
Now, however, items are being checked out of the library that only exist in cyberspace. First came the downloadable audio. That has become a popular way to add literature to your Ipod or MP3 player. In the last few months, the e-book has really taken off. Maybe everyone got e-readers for Christmas. The word "Kindle" has been in our vernacular since Amazon launched it in November 2007. Now, however, there are many varieties of e-readers, tablets and smartphones to which books may be downloaded. With the right equipment and a few clicks, people are reading books from the library without leaving the comfort of home or at least without setting foot in our establishment.
This really has this librarian's head spinning. Customer service has taken on a whole new meaning in the library world. We are meeting the needs of our patrons without seeing or talking to them. They can download audio and books from our website at no cost, just like checking out books in the good old days. Well, believe it or not, people do still check out books from libraries. Lots of books!
This new phenomenon of e-books, however, has caused some publishers to take measures to limit the number of check outs per book license. Maybe e-readers are becoming too much of a good thing. Libraries will continue to grapple with how to stay current, serve the needs and wants of their patrons and handle diminishing budgets. Not unlike what we are all doing in our homes these days.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Ledyard Libraries Working Together
As anyone familiar with Ledyard knows, there are two separate identities in our small town. We have two zip codes, two post offices, even two libraries, but we are one town. In the early days of Ledyard, there were two distinct population centers. There was the farming town of Ledyard Center and the vacation village of Gales Ferry. It wasn't until the 1950's when housing developments began to spring up all over town, that the distinctions began to blur. Now that we have a mobile society traveling all over town, we have come to see ourselves as one unit working together.
At the libraries that means both branches working together. Our staff rotates between Bill Library in Ledyard Center and the Gales Ferry Library. We collaborate to make two libraries function as one big (or really medium sized) library for the town. We move books and other items between the libraries five days a week. We hold programs that require a larger seating arrangement in the meeting room at Bill Library and groups that are more intimate meet in the Gales Ferry multi-purpose basement. Story times for smaller groups are held in one library, but the more popular age groups have sessions at both libraries.
Although you may have a blue Gales Ferry library card or a cream Bill Library one, you are a patron of the Ledyard Libraries. We are just a little spread out to serve all of Ledyard.
At the libraries that means both branches working together. Our staff rotates between Bill Library in Ledyard Center and the Gales Ferry Library. We collaborate to make two libraries function as one big (or really medium sized) library for the town. We move books and other items between the libraries five days a week. We hold programs that require a larger seating arrangement in the meeting room at Bill Library and groups that are more intimate meet in the Gales Ferry multi-purpose basement. Story times for smaller groups are held in one library, but the more popular age groups have sessions at both libraries.
Although you may have a blue Gales Ferry library card or a cream Bill Library one, you are a patron of the Ledyard Libraries. We are just a little spread out to serve all of Ledyard.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Is Summer Over?
Summer reading at the Ledyard Public Libraries ended on Saturday, August 7. Did summer end that day too? I think not. As far as I know, summer doesn't end until September 22nd this year.
Of course, the summer reading I am referring to is the library game for children ages 4 through high school. That program usually lasts six weeks and almost always ends on the first Saturday in August. Since there are at least three weeks after that before children return to school, the question arises- When should summer reading really end? That question arose several times last week, both in the libraries and on our facebook page. Some people felt the summer reading game should continue for the whole school summer vacation. Is that realistic? Do you want to see the summer reading game extended? Is there teen volunteer interest or financial support available for a program of that duration? We would need to have all of those things in place to consider an extended program.
So we know summer doesn't end on the first Saturday in August. Should summer reading end? Let your view be known!
Of course, the summer reading I am referring to is the library game for children ages 4 through high school. That program usually lasts six weeks and almost always ends on the first Saturday in August. Since there are at least three weeks after that before children return to school, the question arises- When should summer reading really end? That question arose several times last week, both in the libraries and on our facebook page. Some people felt the summer reading game should continue for the whole school summer vacation. Is that realistic? Do you want to see the summer reading game extended? Is there teen volunteer interest or financial support available for a program of that duration? We would need to have all of those things in place to consider an extended program.
So we know summer doesn't end on the first Saturday in August. Should summer reading end? Let your view be known!
Monday, July 26, 2010
To Blog or not to Blog
To blog or not to blog, that is the question. Does anyone read the library blog? Has anyone missed the library blog? I imagine if you were in the habit of checking it every week or so, you have been very disappointed the last couple months. The blogger didn't even realize it had been over two months since she put fingers to keyboard to update these ruminations.
So the question remains, to blog or not to blog. When the library blog originated, it was our first foray into a new technology for reaching our patrons. Since those days, not quite two years ago we have moved on to twitter and facebook. Soon there may be other applications that we don't even know about now. The blog can be time consuming. 140 characters on twitter goes by in the blip of a minute. Facebook is fun because you actually know that someone has seen it and they comment on it.
So this is my blog. Maybe next time I will actually talk about something, or not.
So the question remains, to blog or not to blog. When the library blog originated, it was our first foray into a new technology for reaching our patrons. Since those days, not quite two years ago we have moved on to twitter and facebook. Soon there may be other applications that we don't even know about now. The blog can be time consuming. 140 characters on twitter goes by in the blip of a minute. Facebook is fun because you actually know that someone has seen it and they comment on it.
So this is my blog. Maybe next time I will actually talk about something, or not.
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