Impact

We found out last Friday that one of our beloved patrons passed away from the c-word...cancer. I think we were all a little surprised by this because although we hadn't seen him in awhile, we didn't know that he was sick either. Whether or not you realize it, we do notice you. We notice when we haven't seen someone in awhile or placed a hold on a book for them.We notice if you're having a bad day. We notice.

But maybe the thing that we as librarians don't always realize or notice, is the impact that we have on your lives. Some days it's easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of the library that we are playing a part in your lives too. That this job impacts so many lives in so many ways. Never does this become more apparent than when we lose one of our patrons. I have been in the library field for 12 years now and have lost some very beloved patrons over the course of that time. Each time, I am reminded of the daily impact that I can have on someone's life. The role that I play, each day, in helping someone or sometimes just being a friendly smile. It is important. Sometimes more than I could ever know.

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." -Jackie Robinson

Knitters

I can't help but be a bit entertained by some of the books coming out for knitters. And here I thought they were a sweet, quiet bunch! Guess I was wrong! A few personal favorites I've seen lately:

Banned Books Week is almost done...

As we're nearing the end of Banned Books Week, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on some things I've learned over the past few years...

1. Yellow crime scene tape will always make people look twice at what you're doing.
2. The FBI has the best design format for wanted posters.
3. Inevitably someone will always think we're the ones trying to ban books.
4. When someone declares "I can't believe ...they would try to get rid of [insert title here]" it still brings a smile to my face.
5. Yes, they really did try to ban Harry Potter. Several times. No lie.
6. I'm lucky that our own Hiawatha Police don't even think twice when I ask for crime scene tape, especially considering my questionable background. (Just kidding...)
7. The majority of what are considered literary classics have been challenged or banned. Seriously.
8. Coralville Public Library did the coolest Banned Books Display ever. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150386345222288&set=pu.8412382287&type=1&theater See. Coolest. Ever. Totally jealous.
9. This still remains my favoritest week of the year.
10. Freedom of speech and expression is probably one of the most important freedoms we have. So read irresponsibly. :)

We're turning 50...

...but we certainly don't look a day over 30! :-)

The Hiawatha Public Library is turning 50 this year! Can you believe it?! In honor of this momentous occasion, we are taking some time to celebrate (read: party hardy) with an open house on Tuesday, September 20th from 4-6pm. Of course there will be cake (did you really think I'd plan a party without food). As well as some fun giveaways (which shall remain a secret until a later undisclosed date). We hope you can make it! And if not, just send us flowers...or balloons...but preferably flowers! :-)

I have to say that it's been fun and a bit humbling to plan this party. For one, it's been amazing to see just how much we've changed in grown in just 50 short years. We started out so very, very small and we've grown (although we're still pretty small) exponentially since then. I've posted questions on our adult Facebook page asking our fans on there to tell us what the Hiawatha Library means to them. The responses have been overwhelmingly positive and heartfelt! We really do love our patrons and it's nice to know that they love us right back! I really do hope to see everyone at our celebration on the 20th!

Well, that was quick!

Well, it's June 6th and we are officially in full Summer Reading Program swing! I still cannot believe how quickly it came up this year! As it stands we already have 153 adults signed up for this year's program, and we're barely 5 days in. Awesome! Unfortunately, I don't have time to write much more, but I promise I will update again soon!

It's right around the corner...

Summer reading program, that is...and to honor all of my faithful followers, I'm giving you all a sneak peak at some of the grand prizes we have in store...check it out! I'm super excited, and you should be too!

Bragging Rights

Hello faithful non-followers! I'm going to do some seriously obnoxious bragging (and possibly a small victory dance) for my library today. You see, on Tuesday was National Library Workers Day, and the American Library Association put up a website where people could go and nominate their favorite "library stars." Well, our little library garnered 3 nominations! How cool is that?! Check it out:

Alicia, from a(n) public library in Hiawatha, Iowa, is a Star because She is the most friendly and helpful librarian ever – helped us set up new accounts when we relocated to Iowa from Alabama. Always brightens my day and is always willing to help. Thanks to Amanda for this nomination.


The Entire Staff, from a(n) public library in Cedar Rapids, IA, is a Star because They are so helpful and courteous. They have an awesome reading program and even have special programs such as an actor acting out what Edgar Allen Poe was like and reading his stories. Ever since I came to Iowa I have been going to the Hiawatha Public Library. Nominee is the Entire Staff. Thanks to Mark for this nomination.


The entire staff from a(n) public library in Hiawatha, Iowa, is a Star because The entire staff of the Hiawatha Public Library is stellar. We are a small town with a large service area and we circulate over 280,000 items yearly with only 7.3 FTEs. We are cramped in an 8,500 square foot building and we are always busy. The entire staff does an excellent job of making patrons feel welcome and taken care of. Our patrons continually tell me that my staff is the friendliest and most helpful around. Nominee is the Entire Staff. Thanks to Jeaneal for this nomination.

Something different?

Since today is April Fool's Day, the staff decided to have a little fun...notice anything different?

My new best friend...

It's Griff! He's one of our therapy dogs who come to read to children on Thursday nights.

Beginning Beading with Mary Therese

Please bring the following supplies with you:

*Beads
*Head Pins
*Eye Pins
*Ear Wires
*Small Wire Cutters
*Needlenose Pliers
*Roundnose Pliers

Hope to see you there!

For Adults Only...

Linn Area Reads 2011

Hi all! If you haven't yet heard, we have announced our selection for this year's Linn Area Reads. It is Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely.

In addition to this year's selection, we have several corresponding programs that will provide insight and a personal touch:

* Book Discussion: Thursday, March 24th, 7pm at Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

* Iowa Donor Network and Friends: Saturday, April 2nd, 2pm at Marion Public Library.

* Meet the Author: Tuesday, April 19th at Ballantyne Auditorium on the Kirkwood Community College campus.

For more information on the programs being presented visit the Metro Library Network's website at: www.metrolibrarynetwork.org



From his website (http://www.stephenlovely.com/index.html), Mr. Lovely tells more about his book:
"Alex Voormann is an intense, cerebral thirty year-old whose life has been derailed by his wife's sudden death. Alex lives in Athens, Iowa, a university town. Alex's wife, Isabel, was killed in a bicycle accident a year before the novel's action begins. Isabel's heart was transplanted to a vigorous, willful woman named Janet Corcoran who teaches art at a predominantly-Mexican high school in Chicago. Guilt about Isabel's death and concern for Isabel's family have driven her to get in touch with Alex and with Isabel's mother, Bernice, who also lives in Athens. Alex regards Janet as a bizarre outgrowth of his tragedy, and doesn't want anything to do with her. Bernice, long-divorced and estranged from her son, is interested in getting to know Janet and her family. Bernice and Alex have become close companions since Isabel's death, but their divergent responses to Janet's overtures threaten to divide them. They're also disturbed by a local blues musician named Jasper who was driving the truck that killed Isabel, and who has been stalking Alex, attempting to befriend him. Like Janet, Jasper seeks absolution and assurance of Alex's well being. Also, he knows Isabel's heart was transplanted, and wants to find out who got it. He's devastated by the knowledge that he destroyed a life but attracted to the idea that he was partially responsible for saving another.

Irreplaceable is the story of what happens next — not only to Alex but within the concentric circles of family that spiral outward from him and from Janet."

We are loved...

Normally I hate Valentine's Day. It irritates me to no end. But...I may have to make an exception today. One of our lovely patrons brought us a dozen roses.





The card said "To the BEST library staff in the world." I think these roses may mean more to me than any my boyfriend could have gotten me! :)

Public Service Matters

We just received some depressing news this morning. Governor Branstad gave his budget and program presentation to the Iowa General Assembly, and the cuts to libraries are going to run very deep. I understand that times are still tough, and that money is still tight. But I also understand the importance of public service and what Iowa's libraries mean to the communities they serve. Statistics over the last ten years show a large increase in patronage to Iowa's libraries. Library visits increased 40 percent from FY00, with 19,656,938 visits reported in FY10. That’s an average of 53,854 people walking into their local public libraries a day! To continually cut budgets of libraries is detrimental not only to the staff, but also to the patrons they serve. Public service matters. Period. People rely on our expertise, our skills, our materials, and our facilities to provide them services in tough times. The more our budgets are cut, the less we're able to serve.

To see just how deep the cuts are coming, here are the numbers that Mary Wegner, our State Librarian reported:

1. State Library. The proposed funding level of $1,219,799 represents a cut of 6% ($77,859) from the State Library’s mid-FY11 level of $1,297,658. If enacted, the FY12 State Library budget will be 19% below the FY11 legislative appropriation; 22% down from FY10; and 36% down from FY09.

2. Library Service Areas. The proposed funding level of $1,013,905 represents a cut of 10% ($114,717) from the Library Service Area’s mid-FY11 level of $1,128,622. If enacted, the FY12 LSA budget will be 12% below their original FY11 level, 30% down from FY10, and 37% down from FY09.

3. Enrich Iowa program for libraries. The proposed funding level of $1,688,316 represents a cut of 25% ($557,765) from FY11. All Enrich Iowa funding from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) is eliminated; RIIF funding was $450,000 in FY11 and $950,000 in FY10. If enacted, Enrich Iowa funding in FY12 will be down 39% from FY10.

4. Total state funding for libraries. The proposed overall funding level of $3,922,020 represents a cut of 16% from the mid-FY11 level and a cut of 28% from the original FY11 level.

Don't want to see this happen? Contact your local state legislators and the governor and let them know how important your libraries are to you. Your support is needed now more than ever.

February Programs Coming Soon!!

Alright, you naughty little patrons. I have been slaving away at coming up with lots of new programming for a new year, and what happens?! You don't show up!!! So...here's my threat...either you start showing up to my programs or I'm going to quit doing them! (Okay, not really, but I like to threaten people...it makes me feel empowered!)

So...for your perusal (and required attendance), here are our adult programs for February:


Cold Nights, Hot Reads--Adult Winter Reading Program

Join us for our Adult Winter Reading Program from February 1-February 28!

First In Flight: The Tuskegee Airmen

In honor of Black History Month, join us for a fascinating look at the Tuskegee Airmen! This presentation, on February 12th at 2pm will include historical information and artifacts, as well as a question and answer session.

This program is in conjunction with the African American Museum of Iowa.

Master Gardeners Series

They're back! We are excited to once again be offering a series of gardening classes from the Linn County Master Gardeners. All classes meet on Wednesdays in the Community Room from 6-7pm.

Topics are as follows:

February 9th-Daylilies: The Perfect Perennial This class covers the basic information needed to grow perfect daylilies.LCMG and American Hemerocallis Garden Judge Zora Ronan will talk about selection, planting, and maintenance. This class is for those who are just beginning to take an interest in daylilies.

February 16th-Gardening in Small Yards and Containers Not having an acreage or a large yard is not an excuse for not raising some of your own vegetables and fruits. In fact a small yard and several containers may be the more efficient way to garden for the busy gardener. Join Master Gardener Judy Stevens, and learn techniques and share ideas with other classmates for an informative and fun class. Bring your experiences to share.

February 23rd-Edible Mushroom Orientation Learn about edible mushrooms other than the morel. Marty Augustine is a member of the Prairie States Mushroom Club.

March 2nd-New Perennials for 2011 Garden catalogs are full of amazing perennials. How do we select the right perennials for our garden? Which Perennials are the best for Iowa gardens? Even if you have been growing Perennials for years, Deb Walser will show some of the newest and coolest perennials available in Nurseries near you. Deb will also talk about her favorite plants that grow in her gardens.

Literacy runs deep in my family...

Evidently I'm not the only one who feels that literacy is important...


my cat also feels that it is important as well...even if it is through osmosis! (Or napping!)

Despicable Me!

So...my all time favorite movie of this year just came out on DVD today...Despicable Me!!! For those of you who have yet to see this fantastic movie, shame! It's so much fun.

My top three reasons why I love this movie:
1. Someday I will have my own group of minions to do my evil bidding.
2. I love bedtime stories. Especially those read by an evil supervillain.
3. It's so fluffy, I could die.

And Chicken Little said...

"The sky is falling..."
Well at least it is...sort of...but you'd think we were getting an apocalyptic blizzard with the way the grocery store was this afternoon! It's only 1-3 inches kids. It'll be gone by Sunday. Promise.

Okay...so...

Yeah...I haven't had a lot to talk about lately and that's why I've been a bit lazy in blogging. (Apparently, there are people who do actually read my blog and I've even had some comment that it's been awhile!) Anyways, not only have I been lazy about blogging, I've been lazy about programming this past fall too. But, I'm in the process of planning some super cool stuff for 2011!

Here's what I can tell you so far:

On Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30pm our Big Read Book Club will be meeting for the third time. "What is the Big Read Book Club," you ask? Well, it is a new book club that I introduced here after receiving free materials from the National Endowment of the Arts. The purpose of the Big Read is to promote literacy and reading within communities. And of course, to pick up a really good book! Here's a link for more info: http://www.neabigread.org/ Our selection for January is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I know there are several copies available in the system for checkout, and I will also have some available (hopefully) by the middle of December. There are also readers guides that give wonderful insight into the book and the authors, that will be available behind the front desk for those interested. I hope to see some new faces!

For those of you with kids in school, on Monday, January 17th at 2pm, Alicia and I will be giving a demonstration on a super new uber cool program we now offer called Brainfuse. Brainfuse connects students with live tutors via the internet to offer them homework help in a number of subjects. There are also practice tests for various school subjects, as well as the SAT and ACT. It's a really neat-o program that I wish I would have had access to when I was in school (eons ago...). So, for those interested, I will have a sign up sheet at the front desk.

On Saturday, January 22nd at 4pm, I will be hosting a cookie swap. That's right, I said it...cookie swap. Because in all honesty, who needs vegetables?! Everyone will need to bring a copy of their favorite cookie recipe as well as a hearty sample to share. I will be making copies of the recipes that evening for everyone to take home! Sign up is required and is limited to those 18 years and older. Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

Finally, on Thursday, January 27th at 6:30pm, I will be offering a class on JobNow and other excellent job search databases. JobNow is another extension of Brainfuse, but is specifically for job skills. They offer live one-on-one job coaching, resume help, and interviewing skills. I will also be sharing some wonderful information I received from an online class I took this fall about job searching. If you're struggling to find a job, or need some help tweaking that resume, this is the place to be! I will have a sign-up at the front desk! Don't wait!

Well, that's about it for now. I'm in the process of trying to finalize some more programs for February.

Until my next whine...peace out...

Old School

Patron: "Do you know if this book has one of those numbers that you can put into easy bib to get the record?"

Me: "I honestly don't know, I always did my own bib records when I was in school."

Patron: "Yeah, that's how we do it these days."

It's official...I am now old school.