Ah yes...that lovely time is upon us again...
No, not the beginning of spring or the blossoming of flowers...I'm not that optimistic!
No, no...it's tax season, baby! Yep. Tax season. It's kinda one of those things you either really hate, or you really love. You either get money or you don't. I generally don't mind tax season, except for one little thing...you see, we provide tax forms here at the library. Key word: provide. This does not mean that I know what they are for or what they mean. There is a good reason I pay for mine to be done. I am numerically challenged. I admit it. I'm okay with it. I've accepted the fact that I still need to count numbers above 10 using my fingers. It's all good. If I could kiss the guy who invented the calculator, I would!
But, this "challenge" of mine, also leads to an aversion of anything even remotely dealing with numbers...including tax forms. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get on the IRS website to look up and print off a form that you may need. But don't ask me what the heck you need it for, or even if it's the right one...because I'm clueless. Clueless! And please, please don't get upset with me when I tell you that I have absolutely no idea what form your sister's, aunt's, grandfather's, cat's, cousin needs for a form. Trust me, I am thee last person you would want any kind of tax advice from! I can't even balance my checkbook...wait, I've never balanced my checkbook...see what I mean?! You don't want my tax advice!!
But if you do need help with your taxes, we have some wonderful gentlemen from the AARP that do taxes for free. You need to set up an appointment with them by dialing 211, which will connect you with the United Way and they will hook you up.
Again...we provide forms here at the library...but we are clueless as to what the heck they are for! Leave that to the professionals...again...not us!
Happy taxing!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Children Reading to Dogs
Okay...so normally I use this space to rant and whine, but today I'm not going to...that's right you can let out a sigh of relief...I had the priviledge last night to snoop in on a program that Alicia has been doing for a little while now called "Children Reading to Dogs."
The program is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International. The purpose behind this program is to help encourage children who may be struggling with reading or feel uncomfortable reading out loud. The program allows children a safe and comfortable place to practice reading, while also allowing them to interact with the dogs. Who doesn't love a friendly puppy?!
During a session, specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers will come in and spread out around the room. Children are assigned times and come in and sit down to read to the dogs and their handlers.
It was such a joy to watch these children with the dogs and the handlers. You could see not only how happy it made the children to be there, but how excited the dogs were too! The children seemed to respond very well to the dogs and their handlers.
The dogs are specially trained to be calm and almost submissive to the children. We had a little show and tell session afterwards and it was amazing to see the dogs follow commands! (Especially since I have a dog who will follow commands *only* with a treat in plain sight!) They all were so unique in their personalities and yet as gentle as could be. I had the distinctive opportunity to meet them all before the program actually began and it was wonderful! I even got a few kisses from some of the dogs (not the handlers...ha!).
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this very unique and wonderful program, I certainly urge you to. It is truly fantastic!
If you would like more information about this program check out:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm
The program is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International. The purpose behind this program is to help encourage children who may be struggling with reading or feel uncomfortable reading out loud. The program allows children a safe and comfortable place to practice reading, while also allowing them to interact with the dogs. Who doesn't love a friendly puppy?!
During a session, specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers will come in and spread out around the room. Children are assigned times and come in and sit down to read to the dogs and their handlers.
It was such a joy to watch these children with the dogs and the handlers. You could see not only how happy it made the children to be there, but how excited the dogs were too! The children seemed to respond very well to the dogs and their handlers.The dogs are specially trained to be calm and almost submissive to the children. We had a little show and tell session afterwards and it was amazing to see the dogs follow commands! (Especially since I have a dog who will follow commands *only* with a treat in plain sight!) They all were so unique in their personalities and yet as gentle as could be. I had the distinctive opportunity to meet them all before the program actually began and it was wonderful! I even got a few kisses from some of the dogs (not the handlers...ha!).
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this very unique and wonderful program, I certainly urge you to. It is truly fantastic!
If you would like more information about this program check out:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm
Monday, February 11, 2008
I refuse...
I refuse to get out of bed until spring...that's it...I've made up my mind...you can't make me!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
In light of...
"My books are very few, but then the world is before me - a library open to all - from which poverty of purse cannot exclude me - in which the meanest and most paltry volume is sure to furnish something to amuse, if not to instruct and improve." ~Joseph Howe, 1824
In light of recent articles on KCRG's website and on the Des Moines Register's website regarding proposed library funding cuts at the state and local levels, I feel the need to share with you all my vision of libraries and what we really stand for.
After reading user's comments to these articles online, I feel like there are some very common misconceptions about how we work and are funded. I also feel like many don't realize the relevance and importance of our existence in communities.
And so, without further adieu, here is the *official* Whiny Librarian's vision of public libraries. *cue dramatic drum roll please*
I have a passion. A burning passion. That passion is public libraries. Of all the institutions in the world, public libraries to me, are the singlemost important institutions that a society can have. (Did I mention that I'm passionate about public libraries?! Oh...it gets better...) Libraries provide more than just books. More than just the internet. We provide access. Unfettered access to all information, to everyone.
We offer a place to freely exchange thoughts, opinions, and ideas. This is truly the basis for public libraries, the ability to exchange views without bias and without censorship. No matter how controversial it may be, it is welcome in a public library. Where else in society is it acceptable and even encouraged to practice such exchanges?
A library is truly democratic principles at their finest. And we, as librarians, are the sole protectors of those rights. This is why we are activists. This is why we fight against those who want to try and diminish our importance. This is why we fight against those who want to take away our freedom of access to information. We fight because we truly believe and understand just how crucial and important our place in society is.
We are supported by local and state tax dollars. Because of this we provide free services and access to materials to everyone. I've read a lot of comments recently from those who believe that public libraries should charge entrance fees and membership fees. Would you charge each child an attendance fee at a public school? How about for the fire department to make a call to someone's house? Again, these are free services supported by tax dollars. Not everyone may need to use them, but as a democratic society we support them and the need for them. This stands true for public libraries as well.
My hope is that libraries will never lose their status in society. I also hope that future generations will continue to see the importance of supporting such institutions. I hope that our communities will see the libraries as living, growing and changing. Because of this, I also hope that our communities realize the neccessity and importance of adequate funding for us as well. We are so vital to our communities and serve so many roles. We are needed.
Finally, I will leave you with a quote by Malcolm Forbes:
"The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library."
In light of recent articles on KCRG's website and on the Des Moines Register's website regarding proposed library funding cuts at the state and local levels, I feel the need to share with you all my vision of libraries and what we really stand for.
After reading user's comments to these articles online, I feel like there are some very common misconceptions about how we work and are funded. I also feel like many don't realize the relevance and importance of our existence in communities.
And so, without further adieu, here is the *official* Whiny Librarian's vision of public libraries. *cue dramatic drum roll please*
I have a passion. A burning passion. That passion is public libraries. Of all the institutions in the world, public libraries to me, are the singlemost important institutions that a society can have. (Did I mention that I'm passionate about public libraries?! Oh...it gets better...) Libraries provide more than just books. More than just the internet. We provide access. Unfettered access to all information, to everyone.
We offer a place to freely exchange thoughts, opinions, and ideas. This is truly the basis for public libraries, the ability to exchange views without bias and without censorship. No matter how controversial it may be, it is welcome in a public library. Where else in society is it acceptable and even encouraged to practice such exchanges?
A library is truly democratic principles at their finest. And we, as librarians, are the sole protectors of those rights. This is why we are activists. This is why we fight against those who want to try and diminish our importance. This is why we fight against those who want to take away our freedom of access to information. We fight because we truly believe and understand just how crucial and important our place in society is.
We are supported by local and state tax dollars. Because of this we provide free services and access to materials to everyone. I've read a lot of comments recently from those who believe that public libraries should charge entrance fees and membership fees. Would you charge each child an attendance fee at a public school? How about for the fire department to make a call to someone's house? Again, these are free services supported by tax dollars. Not everyone may need to use them, but as a democratic society we support them and the need for them. This stands true for public libraries as well.
My hope is that libraries will never lose their status in society. I also hope that future generations will continue to see the importance of supporting such institutions. I hope that our communities will see the libraries as living, growing and changing. Because of this, I also hope that our communities realize the neccessity and importance of adequate funding for us as well. We are so vital to our communities and serve so many roles. We are needed.
Finally, I will leave you with a quote by Malcolm Forbes:
"The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library."
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Help us!
I want to again remind you all of a few e-mails that I have received in the last few days from the Iowa Library Association and the State Library of Iowa regarding possible state budget cuts. The governor is proposing an 18% cut to state library funding for the FY 2009 budget. This would be a cut of roughly $1,119,000! The breakdown for those cuts would be as follows: The State Library would lose $135,000. The Library Service Areas (Like East Central Library Service) would lose $259,000. Finally, Enrich Iowa would lose $725,000.
Any budget cuts that affect libraries are serious, and trust me, it will not be easy for the State Library and the LSA's to swallow losing that money. But the real kicker of all of this is the $725,000 from Enrich Iowa. Enrich Iowa is a direct state aid program for Iowa's public libraries. Many libraries throughout the state receive aid from this program. The amount varies on the population size of the city. For example, if this budget cut goes through, we at HPL will lose roughly $2,200. I know that seems like a fairly small amount, but let me give you a little perspective...that $2,200 is almost what I get a year in my budget for purchasing new CD's. Ouch.
Larger libraries will see more of a cut. Waterloo is looking at roughly a $15,000 loss, Marion is looking at roughly $7,000 and Cedar Rapids is closer to $20,000. For a library in the position of Cedar Rapids (who is already facing another round of massive budget cuts at the city level) this state funding can provide crucial. At the opposite end, smaller libraries may rely on their share of this funding for helping offset the costs of new computers or even materials. Again, losing even $800 out of their budgets can be very detrimental to their services.
So please, do your part to help out all libraries in the state of Iowa and contact the governor at http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/ and also your local legislators at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/findleg/ Let them know just how important your libraries are to your communities. We, as librarians can only do so much...the rest is up to you!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Winter Reading Programs...
are here!! We have two winter reading programs currently going on here at HPL. And by george, you should be really excited about them...because we certainly are!!
Our Adult Winter Reading Program is called "Cold Nights, Hot Reads." It runs from January 21-March 3. This program is for those 18 years and older. When signing up, you'll receive your reading log and a free book of your choice from our secret stash. All you have to do is fill out a little slip for each book you read with your name, phone number, title, and a little blurb of what happened. Drop your slip in our little trash can "drawing bin" at the front desk and then sit and wait desperately by your phone for us to call you to tell you that you've won! Oh...you want to know what the prizes are? Well, after much groveling, begging, and pleading by yours truly, I managed to con Starbucks into giving us some lovely prizes ranging from a pound of their delectable coffee to mugs, etc. Yes Virginia, there is a Coffee-Claus!
Our Youth Winter Reading Program is called "Polar Pages." It runs from January 21-February 28. This program is for preschool through high schoolers. Stop in for your reading log and get started! For each hour read by independent readers and each half hour by read-to-me readers, you will mark off a picture. When you complete a level you get a prize! There are four levels--which means four different prizes! The prizes range from coupons to local restaurants to nifty bookmarks, etc. If you happen to complete level four, then you will receive a free book! That Alicia is pretty good about coming up with prizes and even better at recommending good books! So stop in and see her for more details!
Hope to see ya'll soon!
Our Adult Winter Reading Program is called "Cold Nights, Hot Reads." It runs from January 21-March 3. This program is for those 18 years and older. When signing up, you'll receive your reading log and a free book of your choice from our secret stash. All you have to do is fill out a little slip for each book you read with your name, phone number, title, and a little blurb of what happened. Drop your slip in our little trash can "drawing bin" at the front desk and then sit and wait desperately by your phone for us to call you to tell you that you've won! Oh...you want to know what the prizes are? Well, after much groveling, begging, and pleading by yours truly, I managed to con Starbucks into giving us some lovely prizes ranging from a pound of their delectable coffee to mugs, etc. Yes Virginia, there is a Coffee-Claus!
Our Youth Winter Reading Program is called "Polar Pages." It runs from January 21-February 28. This program is for preschool through high schoolers. Stop in for your reading log and get started! For each hour read by independent readers and each half hour by read-to-me readers, you will mark off a picture. When you complete a level you get a prize! There are four levels--which means four different prizes! The prizes range from coupons to local restaurants to nifty bookmarks, etc. If you happen to complete level four, then you will receive a free book! That Alicia is pretty good about coming up with prizes and even better at recommending good books! So stop in and see her for more details!
Hope to see ya'll soon!
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