New Items in August

If you'd like to see what new items have been added to the library collections during August, 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.

Did you ever assume... part 2

Fall is a pretty quiet time of year for us, but we want to keep giving you something to read on the blog.  So, as introduced earlier, we're taking this opportunity to address some common misconceptions about libraries. 

A good one to start with is the idea that library staff have read all the books in the library.  Variations of this include the idea that the Children's Librarian has read all the books in the Juvenile collections, or at least all the Picture Books, or that the Information staff have read all the Adult Fiction or seen all the DVDs.

It's true that many of us are big readers, but that is, perhaps surprisingly, not actually a requirement for getting a library position.  Some of our staff are big Audiobook listeners; others enjoy journals or newspapers; some are rabid DVD-watchers.  Some prefer to spend their leisure time in other ways.

Not only is it a myth that every member of library staff loves to read, but how could we possibly read every item in the library?  As the Adult Services Librarian, I order hundreds of items over the course of the year.  In July alone, I ordered 120 books.  That doesn't include DVDs, Books on CD, any periodicals, or anything ordered by the Youth Services Librarian.  I'm a pretty quick reader and I do enjoy reading at home, and I say with some pride that I've already read over 60 books this year.  But at that rate, it would take me a full year to read what I order in just one month.  Even if all I did all day at the library was read (another misconception we'll address next time), I couldn't read everything I order fast enough.  Averaging out paperbacks against longer tomes, I figure I could get through one book per day at work (again, if I were able to do so).  One book a day, working five days a week-- minus time off for vacation, sick days, holidays, etc.-- would probably get me through about 200 books per year, plus the 120 or so I would get through at home, on my own time.  That's still taking the whole year to read less than three month's worth of book ordering.  It is simply impossible for me to read every item we add to the collection.

All those orders-- books requested by patrons or of general interest to and appropriate for the community, chosen by a librarian here at NPL, paid for with money from our general operating fund (or from a donation)-- also don't include the dozens of books that are donated every month.  People generously, constantly, drop off books of all types in our little red donation wagon, and many of those books get added to the collection as well.  That could be anywhere from 15 to 200 books per month!

And that's just talking about keeping up on reading new items that are being ordered.  When I started working at NPL, there was an existing collection of over 70,000 items.  How long would it take me to get caught up on existing items?  I'm no math whiz, but I'm pretty sure it would be a really, really long time.

And those 60 or so books I've read so far in 2012?  That doesn't include the picture books.  In addition to working full-time, I have a 4-year-old in my life.  Muncha, Muncha, Muncha and Is Your Mama a Llama? and Perfect Square and The Cat in the Hat and Yertle the Turtle and How Are You Peeling? and Curious George at the Aquarium over and over and over and over and over...  Plus the cookbooks and copies of Cook's Illustrated so I know what to make for dinner for our family of three.  Plus the books full of instructions as I make hats and socks and quilts for my boys (one aged 30, one aged 4).

So, have I, personally, read books from the collection?  I sure have.  I haven't purchased a book at home all year; everything I read comes from the library, either through print or downloadable.  But I have read only a tiny fraction of what we offer you, our patrons.

This boggles my mind.  Come back next time for library on-the-job duties!

Storytime Hiatus.

Due to staffing shortages,

all Youth Services Programs

are on hiatus in September and October.
 

Watch for information here and on the library’s website 
 www.neill-lib.org for updates.
 

We appreciate your understanding and support.

Please enjoy the library and check out great books and other items to enjoy with your child.

 ------------------------------------------------

The official flyer for this announcement may be found here.

Heya, Katie!

We've had to say goodbye to some people recently.  It still makes us sad.  So instead of dwelling on it, let's introduce some of our newer staff!  While other departments in the library are understaffed, true, Circulation and Shelving-- those backbones of library service and operations-- are fully staffed.   Huzzah!

Katie started here way back in April, so by now she should be a familiar face to many of our patrons.  Her title is Library Support Assistant: Circulation; this means she works at the Circulation desk, where her primary duties include checking books out to patrons, helping people with their library cards, checking books in, and helping people with locker boxes, book club kits, holds, DVDs, manga, and more. Circulation staff are the face of the library to most of our patrons, and Katie's face always has a smile.

When I asked to include her on the blog, she wrote a short note to introduce herself (below).  If you haven't made a point of saying hi to Katie yet, go ahead the next time you are here.  She is a great addition to the NPL team!

[Katie's note:]

Hi,

My name is Katie DeFord and I'm currently a new face at Neill Public Library behind the Circulation desk.

I grew up in Kennewick, Washington and graduated from Kennewick High School in 2007. GO LIONS!!

My husband and I have been happily married for five years in June 2012. We have had many amazing adventures that make up a fun long story, and as our adventure continues, it has brought us here to Pullman.

I am an avid crocheter and can always be found with yarn and a hook within reach. I also enjoy being outside and playing tennis. A few of my favorite authors are; Jodi Picoult, Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin and many many others.

Thanks, Katie, for introducing yourself and for all great work here at NPL!  What a great team!

The World Comes to Pullman

Harvest is in full swing.  The giant bowl of lentil chili has been cooked, stirred and served.  Backpacks are being stuffed with paper, books and yes, even laptops.  This can all only mean one thing – the start of another school year.  From little kindergarteners to big graduate students, there is an ageless shared sense of anxious excitement, anticipation and new beginnings.

Before I became a librarian I taught elementary school in an Oklahoma town which, like Pullman, had a major university.  This meant a number of wonderful things – great cultural and athletic events to attend, a beautiful campus to explore and, best of all, an influx of people from all over the world. 

I remember one year I taught second grade when our classroom had children from every continent except Antarctica.  We were a miniature United Nations, run very adeptly by seven- and eight–year-olds.  And me?  I did my best to step out of their way and let them do what children do naturally – share, include, invite, ask questions, explore and have fun.

I saw their curiosity, wonder and innocence translate into, “Can we play together?”, “How do you say ‘recess’ in Swahili?” and “What is that in your lunchbox? Can I try it?” So much to share, so much to learn, so many ways to reach and become friends, regardless of the languages spoken, the clothing worn or the color of one’s skin.

Those same life-changing opportunities await us here in Pullman.  At a recent City Council meeting, Mayor Johnson shared that at WSU this year, there are students attending from ninety-seven different countries. That number represents almost half the countries around the entire globe! The world has indeed come to Pullman.  How fortunate for us all. 

Just like my second graders, we can all connect, share, help, and learn with and from each other.  At Neill Public Library, we are pleased and proud to be a part of Pullman’s diversity.  Every day we have people from all over the world come through our doors to ask for help, get a library card, use the internet, check out materials, attend children and adult programs and much more.  And here’s some of what I have learned from these lovely encounters. No matter where we’re from, there are commonalties that cross all geographical borders: we all want to learn; we all love our children and want the best life possible for them; a smile translates into “I’m glad to see you.”; and we each have the capacity to help make this world a far better place for each other. 

So as this new school year starts, fresh with promises and opportunities, let’s all take a vow to be voluntary members of the Pullman welcoming troupe.  After all, each of us represents the United States of America to every visitor to our great city.  So whether someone is here for a week, a semester or several years, let’s reach out and show them our very best.  In other words, let’s follow the lead of those sweet seven- and eight-year-olds who taught me so much about being friends.

We have much to share, even more to learn and everything to gain.  Ninety-seven countries.  Hundreds of opportunities.  Countless ways to make a real difference in this world we all share.  I’m ready.  How about you?

Kathleen Ahern, Youth Service Librarian

published in Moscow Pullman Daily News, August 25th, 2012.

Did you ever assume...

Do you know what goes on in the library?  Some things you know: people ask questions, people use computers, people check out books.  Children play with puppets and trains.  Poorly rested parents perhaps temporarily nod off in a rocker.  You might be surprised, though, at what goes on before we open, after we close, or "in the back."

Everyone who works in the library has heard a surprising comment, either in the library or outside, from a friend or family member when we mention what we do for a living.  Many of these comments reveal the assumptions people make or misconceptions people have about libraries and library staff. Some people assume that a library is a quiet, calm place to work.  (That one might be my personal favorite.)  Some people are frequently surprised that several positions inside the library require a master's degree.  From how the library operates as a City department to how we order and process books and materials, and from training to handling patrons, the library is a surprising place. 

We'd like to take the opportunity to let people know a little bit more about what we do and why we do it.  During the next several weeks, we'll share some of the assumptions we've heard and give some more accurate information.

And if you ever said one of these to a staff member, don't worry.  We take all comments from patrons in the way we know you intended-- a lighthearted comment, a joke between friends.  Before coming to library work, many of us had these same assumptions, too.

If you have a question about library operations you'd like us to include in the coming weeks, feel free to submit it via comment or email the library:

We are here to (among other things) answer questions, after all.

Book a Librarian!

You know we're always happy to help you at the Information Desk.  We field everything from 20-second questions ("Can I borrow a pencil?") to interactions that last 20 minutes or more.  For those longer questions, we'd like to let you know about a service you might not have tried before: Book a Librarian.  If you know your question is a little bit more involved ("How do I download library books to my Kindle?" "Does Microsoft Word have a resume template?" "How can I search for books more effectively?"), you can make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a member of library staff.  

Call, email, or stop by the Information Desk to schedule an appointment.  You'll get 25 minutes with a member of library staff to work on the research or information need of your choice.  You can even find your librarians in the catalog: search "reference librarian" and take a look at the records for Reference Librarian Carrie, Lori, or Sarah.  (You can't place your hold or make your appointment from there, but we're getting a real kick out of seeing our names in the catalog!)

Call 509-338-3254, email us, or ask at the Information Desk in the library.  Please plan ahead, as we may not always be able to schedule an appointment for the next 48-72 hours.  Appointments may be anytime inside our regular open hours and are dependent on staff availability.  

We are always happy to help you at the Information Desk, no matter how involved your question, but if you know you would benefit from some one-on-one time, give us a call or come on down.

Our Community is at the Heart of Our Service

Neill Public Library has much to be grateful for, and the community is at the heart of it all.

This year’s Summer Reading Program for adults and children was a huge success thanks to our R.A.D.I.C.A.L. teen volunteer group, Friends of Neill Public Library, and local merchants.  Our teen volunteers donated an amazing 304 hours to this library program alone. The Friends provided the funding for performers like Reptile Man, Mr. Bubble Illusionist, and of course, our favorite celebrity musician, Victor Johnson.  We heard researchers talk about the affects of sleep on productivity and personal health.  And local merchants generously provided armfuls (literally!) of fabulous prizes to help our community celebrate the joys of reading.  From all of us to all of you – thank you for your generosity! 

The spotlight remained on our community throughout July’s month-long “10-19-31” library awareness project.  With the reality of budget cuts, we knew remaining funding to library services would need to be re-allocated based on priority.  Through surveys, a public forum, and a city council meeting, we encouraged you, our community, to help us with this prioritization by sharing your thoughts.

And share you did.  Thank you for raising your voices to articulate what matters to you.  Thank you for your flowers, cards, treats, and support.  We are sincerely touched by your strong response and will achieve the best balance we can between honoring your priorities and operating within our new financial reality, a reality we expect to be defined at the August 14^th Pullman city council meeting.

Results from the 627 surveys received have been tabulated.  Here is what you told us about library services:

1.  66.6% gave the library a 5 out of 5 in satisfaction with current services
2.  55.1% use the library on a weekly basis
3.  86% would prefer having a large collection of materials in adequate condition over a smaller collection in good condition
4.  Top most-used library services are:

• Borrowed library materials
• Asked a librarian for assistance
• Used the public computers or WIFI
• Read newspapers or magazines
• Attended a youth program

 5.  The top five prioritized services are:

• Access to materials on a wide array of subjects
• Children’s library programs
• Access to materials in a variety of formats
• Circulation staff to check out your books
• TIE between Reference staff to assist with research & Public internet computers

These results will also be useful as we launch into the next phase of strategic planning.  The Advisory Committee has recommended a prioritized service focus of “satisfying curiosity through lifelong learning”.  Out of 15 different foci, the committee felt this particular focus offered the broadest depth of activity, benefited the widest array of people, and had the best chance for success given available resources.  Once again, those we serve are taking an active role in helping us define library services.  As a public service department, this level of ownership is appropriate.  To our community, I say, thank you for being at the heart of it all.  

by Joanna Bailey, Library Director

published 8-11-12 in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Gute Reise, Dana!

Dana, our Administrative Assistant here at Neill, is leaving soon.  What will we do without her?  Dana's husband has accepted a fabulous opportunity to teach at the prestigious University of Zurich in Switzerland.  How could we be anything but ecstatic about this wonderful opportunity? 

Dana Ellis, Administrative Assistant

Dana is our Jack of All Trades.  MacGyver to leaky pipes, liaison with City Maintenance, note taker extraordinaire, Dana is not just AA to the library, but she is an Assistant to each staff member and to each department here at Neill.  Dana does our time-slips so we all can get paid.  She process all our orders so that new materials reach the library.  She's behind the camera at every library event.  The tasks she does are even invisible to many of us: mail, banking, signs, printing, the things that make the library work smoothly and seamlessly, that will soon be glaringly missing.  Other staff will try to fill the gap, and the work will get done, but not with the grace and ease with which Dana completes it.

Dana, with Carrie, get crazy
in costume for National Library Week.

Zurich, Dana's home-to-be, is the largest city in Switzerland (although the capital is Bern).  Several languages are spoken around the country, which is bordered by Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, and France, with German being the primary language.  (Can you tell I borrowed the encyclopedia?)  Zurich is in the very north of Switzerland and German is the primary written language of signs, publications, and the government, and a dialect, Zurich German, is the primary spoken language.  Apparently, Zurich German has six sub-dialects, divided geographically around the city.  Sub-dialects are very similar to each other and come down to a difference in pronunciation and inclusion of certain local words.  How can a city be big enough to have the equivalent of 6 distinct accents?  Good thing Dana is so great with languages! 

Zurich has an amazing history so long and varied that it seems difficult to imagine.  There is a quote, attributed to Earle Hitchner that comes to mind; it is appropriate to substitute "Europe" for "England," I think: "The difference between America and England is that Americans think 100 years is a long time, while the English think 100 miles is a long way."  I thought of this while reading about the history of Zurich: settled by Celtic people well before the Romans, then conquered by said Romans in 58 B.C.E., Zurich has been held by many different hands through their first 1,000 years of history.  Its citizens accepted a constitution in 1336 and by 1400, the organized guilds were so powerful that they helped the city purchase its freedom from its current emperor.  With so long to perfect their culture, no wonder Switzerland-- and Zurich-- has such amazing universities, museums, and cultural institutions.

Dana, with Jodi and Rezina from Circulation.

Perhaps best of all, living in Zurich will bring Dana & Co. within striking distance of her home country of Slovakia!  Just Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, you're there!  Listing a journey of 5 countries makes it seem like a very long way, but it's the matter of perspective discussed earlier: from Zurich to the Slovakian border is shorter than a trip from here to Medford, Oregon.

So, I guess the point I've been working toward is: Dana is totally amazing, Zurich sounds pretty amazing, so they'll be pretty amazingly amazing together.  But, man, will we miss you, Dana.  Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to helping us all make Neill the best possible library for our patrons.  Thank you for helping to make it the best place to work for us.  We wish you a busy, interesting, exciting time in Zurich and wherever your travels take you after that.  You'll always have a home at NPL!

Reviews keep on coming

Just because Summer Reading Program is over doesn't mean that summer is, or that reading is!  Those "beach reads" will quickly turn into "cuddle up" blanket reads.  But before the sun shine wanes too much, grab a book that strikes your fancy and soak up some Vitamin D.

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart.  5 stars!  "This is a wonderful book and definitely one that is going on my wish list.  I loved reading through all of her ideas and trying some out.  She uses good detail and the instructions are pretty easy to follow.  There are templates included in the book and additional resources too."

A Secret Gift by Ted Gup.  5 stars!  "A moving story of lives caught up in a devastating time in America's history.  True accounts of how individuals react and how personalities make a big difference in reacting to adversity."

The Dancing Cats of Applesap by Janet Taylor Lisle.  4 out of 5.  "Cute.  I really enjoyed the story but there was a way that the author wrote that I didn't like so much.  The story itself was fine-good but she kept interrupting her narrative to talk to the heroine of the story and talk about her also and make a big deal about her having been very shy and timid before.  I think she could have incorporated everything she wanted to say in these asides directly into the story and it would have had a better effect.  The way it was the asides were really dorky and also seemed like preaching at the reader-- like pounding the reader over the head with her point instead of letting the story make the point for her."

On the Rez by Ian Frazier.  2 out of 5.  "Some interesting historical info on Indian populations, reservations, issues, etc.  But too much minutia that was apparently of interest to the author but not to me."

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson.  2 out of 5.  "Bryson's scholarship is not lacking in this offering.  But I've come to expect a fair amount of humor, if not belly laughs from his work.  I think ponderous best describes At Home."

Keeping House by Ellen Baker.  3 out of 5.  "The narrative compelled me to finish but I never felt fully engaged.  It seemed I was being fed a line about marriage and both men's and women's roles."

100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson.  3 out of 5.  "I chose 100 Cupboards to preview as a possible choice for my daughter to read.  She is eight and reads at the 5th or 6th grade level.  I found that it took too long [a] time to find out about the cupboards.  I do like the author's writing style.  I thought the evilness in the story was too evil for my daughter to read.  In general I thought the author could of picked another method than the vampire approach."