New Items Added in November

If you'd like to see what new items were added to the library collections during November, this link takes you to the catalog. Browse and place holds on the new materials.  New downloadable eBooks and eAudios are added every month as well.  When you stop by the library to pick up your "hold" items, don't forget to visit the Friends of NPL book sale. "New" items are donated every week.

Attention Black Friday Shoppers!

Going out in the dark to purchase gifts for family?  Or perhaps participating in Small Business Saturday?  Remember to hit up the Friends of Neill Public Library Book Sale next week as well!  Experienced books and other materials are available for a steal:
Adult Hardcovers: $1
Adult Paperbacks: $0.50
Children's Materials: $0.25
DVDs and CDs: $1
Cassette tapes and VHS: $0.25
The "special" through the end of November: Mystery and Thriller titles are 2 for $1 (hardcover) and $0.25 each (paperback).

You can fill stockings, find gifts for media-lovers, and even keep a few extra books wrapped and ready to go in case you get a surprise gift; it's ready-reciprocation!

Another gift alternative is to make a donation in honor of a friend or loved one. It's the perfect present for someone who has everything or someone who's difficult to shop for.  Your donation could be used to purchase picture books Grandma can share with all her grandchildren-- and all the other kids in Pullman-- or cookbooks to continue family traditions, or fiction titles in your neighbor's favorite genre.  All items purchased as part of a donation like this get a sticker with the name of the person being honored. 

Stay warm out there and enjoy your quality time with family and loved ones. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

As a reminder, the library will close early today, at 3pm, and be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We will reopen as normal at 1pm on Monday, November 26th. 

No materials are due during this time.  If you need to renew materials for any reason, you can log into your account through the catalog to update, check dates, renew, or request materials.  The outside book drop (along Olsen) will be closed, but materials may be turned in at the north drop box (along the parking lot/creek side).  If you desperately need something to read, give OverDrive and our Downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks a try!

Rest, eat well, take a walk, don't drink and drive, and come back Monday for more materials.  If you'll excuse me, I have some pies to make. 

Northwest Interlibrary Loan

Adult Services Technician Lori has revamped her earlier post; this article appears in this weekend's Daily News. See the original post for a more expanded version.

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If you are a regular viewer of the Neill Public Library blog, you’ve encountered our Adult Services Librarian, Sarah Morrison, discussing some of the common misconceptions about libraries and library staff.  One such misunderstanding is that libraries can purchase any book that has ever been printed, or that we can locate any piece of obscure historical information simply by looking online. Neither is true. While the reference staff at Neill Public Library makes every effort to find the materials and information our patrons are seeking, occasionally we have to go beyond the Internet and beyond our in-house resources to those of other libraries. Yes, libraries share.

Interlibrary loan is one of the ways that libraries share, and as the Adult Services Technician at Neill Public Library, I am responsible for this service.  Neill Public Library subscribes to a online utility that allows us to electronically search, choose, and request items from libraries all over the world. While interlibrary loan is only one of the many services that Neill provides, it is an important one, as it can be the last resort for patrons to gain access to hard-to-find information like a family obituary from across the country, an out-of-print title by a well-known author, or an obscure technical manual.

When Neill Public Library provides a service, like interlibrary loan, the aim is to have knowledgeable staff providing it.  With this in mind, I recently attended the Northwest Interlibrary Loan (NWILL) and Resource Sharing Conference in Portland, OR. Believe it or not, there were 200+ people in Portland discussing, planning, and generally picking apart the processes surrounding interlibrary loan. It was great! 

While many of the libraries represented at the conference were large and many of the staff dedicated solely to interlibrary, there were also a few staff, like myself, whose work day is devoted to many different tasks, of which interlibrary loan is one.  The conference began with a cultural commentary from keynote speaker, Stephen Abram, listed by Library Journal as one of the top 50 people influencing the future of libraries.  Mr. Abram addressed some of the questions that libraries are currently struggling with—what to do about ubiquitous technology, copyright definitions, changing patron needs, and uncertain revenue streams? He answered these questions with stories and statistics emphasizing the unpredictable nature of what is around the corner for society in general. His final and inspiring directive to libraries in this time of transition was to take stock of the needs, attitudes, and experiences of their communities, and use that information to impact the lives of library patrons through meaningful services. 

With a thought-provoking keynote behind me, I made my way into the regular sessions with enthusiasm and high hopes. My expectations were met as I gained a better understanding of efficient and effective interlibrary loan activities. I met people from all over the Northwest who share my enthusiasm for resource sharing, and I returned to my position at NPL with renewed commitment to helping patrons gain access to hard-to-find materials. 

So, if you’ve always thought that librarians can find everything at Google or that your local library can purchase any book every printed, rethink that concept. Libraries acquire information and materials for their patrons through sharing, oftentimes providing  resources available nowhere else. The service is interlibrary loan and it is an important part of a healthy public library.

by Lori Bonner, 

Adult Services Technician

published 11-17-12 in Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Volunteer Orientation

Here's your friendly reminder that today, at 2pm, we're having a Volunteer Orientation in the Hecht Meeting Room. No registration is required! If you are interested in learning more about volunteering here at NPL, this is the event for you!

If you're interested in volunteering here at NPL and can't make the training, please call the library for more information.  We can be reached at 509-334-3595.

Jim Lynch at NPL

Lynch reads from his The Highest Tide.

Last night (11/13), NPL hosted author Jim Lynch as part of the annual Everybody Reads program.  A small crowd listened as Jim talked about how he became a writer and related key experiences in his childhood and early adult life.  He read the beginning paragraphs of his first published novel, The Highest Tide, to illustrate the discussion.

(click on any photo to enlarge.)

Jim speaks to a crowd of about 25.

Lynch then talked about the Everybody Reads selection, Border Songs.  He described how the main character Brandon, a "6-foot-8, highly dyslexic border patrol agent," grew out of his research riding along with Border Patrol Agents on the U.S./Canadian border.  Other research for this book included a week spent at a small family dairy (a profession that contains, according to Lynch, much more drama than he anticipated) and time spent with Whatcom County's record holder for most bird species seen in a 24-hour period.  Research is a vital part of his writing, as Lynch described all of his books as "tall tales packed with so much realism you believe them."  Research for an upcoming (not-yet-named) novel focuses on the water again, as this next work centers around a family obsessed with sailing.

Lynch also discussed how Temple Grandin's writing style, and her writing about autism, informed his writing about Brandon, who thinks so differently from Lynch. (He did not at this time answer what had been a question for me-- whether Brandon in fact has autism-- although he later in the evening used the phrase "autistic-leaning" to describe the character.)

TV rights have been sold for Border Songs and a pilot episode has been filmed.  If it ever becomes a series, Lynch said it would be something of a mix between Northern Exposure and a police procedural.  Book It Repertory Theatre in Seattle has done a stage adaptation of both Border Songs and The Highest Tide and is working on an adaptation of Lynch's most recent book, Truth Like the Sun.  (Truth Like the Sun will be available in paperback in January.)

Following Lynch's talk was a Question and Answer period.  Asked the question, as all visiting writers are, "what are you reading right now?" Lynch's answer was Kingdom of Men by another local author, Kim Barnes of Moscow.  He has just recently finished Julie Otsuka's Buddha in the Attic. 

For the question of what makes a good writer, his response included curiosity and empathy, and patience: you don't get good in a hurry.  Also, don't edit when in a bad mood.

The night wrapped up with a light reception and book signing.  Many people bought copies of Lynch's books as holiday gifts for family members. 

If you are interested in hearing this author, he is still in the area for a few days for Everybody Reads events, both tonight and tomorrow, and he will have some Western Washington area appearances later in the year.

[for outside links, please see Blog Policy Information.]

Remember to (Everybody) Read(s)!

We're not here today, but we'll be here tomorrow and we hope you will be, too!  Everybody Reads author Jim Lynch will begin his presentation tomorrow evening at 6pm.  Copies of his books will be available for purchase on-site and there will be a book signing after the author talk. 

Read, Everybody!

Everybody Reads author Jim Lynch will be visiting Neill Public Library on Tuesday, November 13th, beginning at 6pm.  Copies are still available through the library. 

A Q&A with Jim, with questions relevant to one of the initiatives on this last ballot, appeared in a recent Lewiston Tribune.  Stop by the library to read the article.  Lynch had experiences riding with Border Patrol officers at the Canadian border and investigating marijuana smuggling as research for this book.

If you'd like to participate but can't make the time at NPL, see the Everybody Reads Schedule of Events; you are welcome at any of the events at any of the participating libraries.  Stop by any of the libraries to pick up a discussion guide with author information and thought-provoking questions.

[please see Blog Policy Information regarding external links.]

Neill Public Library seeks volunteers

Date: November 5, 2012

To:  All media

Contact name/phone/e-mail:  Joanna Bailey, 509-338-3252, jbailey@neill-lib.org           

Event/Date: Neill Public Library seeks volunteers

Neill Public Library seeks volunteers for assistance with special projects and department-specific activities.  Do you have a flair for creating displays?  Do you enjoy organizing information?  Do you have an eye for detail?  Consider putting your talents to work at Neill Public Library. 

Applications are available at the library or by contacting Library Director Joanna Bailey at 338-3252 or jbailey@neill-lib.org.  Orientation meetings will be held at 2pm on Saturday, November 10 and Thursday, November 15 in the library’s Hecht Meeting Room.  All interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

Synchronize Your Watches

When you set your clocks back tomorrow, remember that the Library has new hours, also beginning November 4th.  

New hours are:

Monday: 1-7

Tuesday: 10-7

Wednesday: 9-6

Thursday: 9-6

Friday: 1-5

Saturday: 1-5

Sunday: not open.

 We look forward to seeing you in the library again soon!

Did you ever assume... Part 7

We've been so busy, both literally in the library and electronically here on the blog, that we haven't addressed any misconceptions or library myths in a bit of a while.  Let's get back to it now.

One question we get asked frequently is about a patron's own borrowing history.  "I read a book, maybe 6 months ago, and the author's last name started with a T" or "I don't remember where I am in the series; can you tell me which one I read last?" are the kinds of questions that we might hear.  The assumption with these types of questions is that the library keeps a record of each borrower's history. 

In fact, we don't.  By looking at your library account, we can tell you only what items (if any) are currently checked out to you and if you are waiting on any holds.  Some history information would be available IF there was an overdue or damage charge related to a specific title; otherwise, for your privacy and protection, the library doesn't keep your reading history.

Why don't we keep a reading history?  We don't because, if subpoenaed by a court, we would have to turn over the reading history of an individual; knowing that theoretically what you choose to read and view may be examined by law enforcement might have a chilling effect on some readers, causing them to not choose materials they otherwise would have checked out. By not retaining the reading history of any patron, we cannot be compelled to turn it over: we can't give what we don't have.

If you want to keep your own reading history-- on paper, in an Excel file, through GoodReads or Shelfari, or some other way or in some other format-- you are of course welcome to do so.  Especially for those of us who read more than a few books a month, it can be difficult to remember titles and authors from earlier this year or even longer.  However, for your protection, this is one thing we won't do. 

Everybody Reads

Everybody Reads author Jim Lynch will visit NPL on November 13th; the program will begin at 6pm in the Heritage Addition.  The book for discussion is Border Songs.

Jim's presentation “The Making of a Northwest Novelist: Conversations with Jim Lynch,” will be followed by a book signing. Copies of Border Songs, as well as the author's previous works, will be available for purchase on-site through The Bookie.

Jim Lynch, a resident of Olympia, has been honored with the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award for his previous work, Highest Tide, and the 2010 Border Songs won the Washington State Book Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the American Booksellers Award for Best Fiction.

As part of the Everybody Reads program, Mr. Lynch will be visiting several other libraries in the area.  Please refer to http://everybody-reads.org for a full list of dates, times, and locations, in the event that you are not able to join us at Neill but would like to attend one of the other events.  Copies of the book are available through Neill Public Library; reading guides are available for download through the link given above and print copies are available inside the library.

Everybody Reads is “a region-wide effort that declares, with one voice, that reading is not only a source of individual pleasure, but a tool for community-building.”  Begun in 2000, Everybody Reads now encourages participation from patrons at Asotin County Library, Clarkston High School Library, NPL, Whitman County Library, WSU Libraries, Latah County Library, Lewiston City Library, Lewiston High School Library, Moscow High School Library, and Prairie-River Library District.  Featured authors are either from the Pacific Northwest or featured books are set in the Pacific Northwest (or both).  The featured author for 2011 was C.J. Box.

Please contact your librarian if you have any questions. 

New Items in October

If you'd like to see what new items have been added to the library collections during October, take this link to the catalog.  You can browse and place holds.  There's also a link over on the right side of this blog that will take you to the same place.  Don't forget to check out the downloadable ebooks (for Kindle, too!) and audios.  New titles are added every month.