The Edge Initiative

The Hutchinson Public Library will have a great 2013, I think.  As we look toward the future, planning for a new first-floor Technology Center and bring our tech skills to the fore-front, a new tool such as the Edge Initiative seems perfectly timed to help us.

Set to be released in its final form early in 2013, HPL will use this to help us focus on what skills, connections, and programs we should be focusing on to best serve our patrons.

We can start right now though, and you can help us.  What do you want from the Hutchinson Public Library?  What can we do to help you succeed in the endeavors you have planned for 2013 or those you have already underway?  Ideas I have heard when asking this question elsewhere:

• A makerspace
• Teaching / learning sessions for my particular tablet/smartphone/computer
• More emphasis on ebooks
• More options to get a book (send it to an address / print on demand / sell it to me)

The broad question is:  What new areas should HPL be exploring that would help you in your life?  Please share your thoughts in comments or by calling/emailing the library, commenting on our Facebook page.

Looking forward to 2013

I know, it's tiny.  See the photos up close at the library!

Now that we've made it past the "end" of the Mayan calendar with nary a single asteroid collision, continent-swallowing tsunami, rash of super volcanoes, or other civilization-ending apocalypse; we can focus on what's to come in 2013.

We're starting off the year with some terrific guests - Dave McKane's new photography exhibit opens January 3rd at 6pm.  Where his previous exhibit focused on clouds and the relics of farms past, this new show celebrates that glorious moment of deep blue found in the skies near twilight.  The photographs will be on display in the Library's auditorium.  Just after Mr. McKane's opening, we will have a visit from Kevin Williams, editor of the Amish Cook.  The Amish Cook columns appear regularly in the Hutchinson News.  Mr. Williams will be at the library on January 7th at 6:30 pm.  We will have some of his books available for purchase and autographing at that time.

Besides programming, we have many other things to look toward in 2013.  We will continue to make progress on our vision for the library "Technology Center".  As we save money for the project and attempt to raise extra funds for it, we will have professional drawings made to help make real our ideas.  Temporarily, we will add some seating in the area where the adult non-fiction 900s were once housed.

Lighting will be improved in the second floor stacks.  We're looking at a new telephone system that makes use of our upgraded network infrastructure, and there will be changes in the way public computer time is measured and monitored.  Phew.  Now I'm tired.  And that list doesn't even include the interesting ideas I've been reading about for defining our mission / setting our goals for the next couple of years.

EBooks, the "Big 6" and Libraries

What? You can't read that.

A fellow Kansas librarian posted a link to this Forbes article about ebooks and the friction (or lack of - you'll understand if you read the article) between the so-called Big 6 publishers and libraries.  The author advocates for a different pricing model for libraries than what is currently being offered.  Quite correctly he calls out both the publishers and libraries for wrong-headed notions about how this all should work.

FINALLY!  Someone with a much wider readership agrees with me!  :-)

Honestly, the whole trumped-up fight is hurting the readers and the vast majority of authors who are not what is considered "best seller" authors.  I, for one, embrace the idea of thinking outside the box to find a solution.  The purchase-and-lend model may not be the best process for ebooks.  Maybe it is charge-per-use or maybe it is something entirely different.  Maybe it is a combination of the two, because the ability to publish, host, lend AND sell ebooks is not beyond libraries with easily obtainable technology.  Why couldn't libraries help less well-known authors by publishing their works for them when they can't get contracts with big publishers?  Why couldn't libraries also license bestsellers from the big name authors through their equally big name publishers?

Let's get down to business here, folks.  I've got reading and literacy to promote.

SF Book Discussion

We've wrapped up our 2012 science fiction reading here at HPL.  In our SF Book Discussion group, we rounded out our 6 apocalypse-themed selections last evening with Douglas Adams' classic, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I, for one, enjoyed re-reading the book, which I first read some time in the 1980s.  The things that stood out for me were the facts that the Hitchhiker's Guide was an ebook, Douglas Adams' sense of humor still resonates with me, and that I hope his estate got residuals from Amazon for describing the original Kindle and from Yahoo! for creating the Babel fish - a species of creature that translates one language to another for its host.

In reading up on the book and the series, I was surprised to find that the story had been retold in so many different ways and through so many different media.  The book, I believe, was based on a BBC radio series, but there have been movies, a TV show, stage plays, a series of sequels, and so many editions of the book, it's amazing!

Our SF book discussion group has decided to continue into the new year, meeting monthly and ranging out into fantasy as well as science fiction.  We've generated a list that we are mulling over and would gladly consider others from new members.  We're looking at classics in the genre as well as new and authors from all walks of life.  If you'd like to participate, please contact me at gwamsley@hutchpl.org and I'll add you to the email list.  We meet the first Thursday of each month 7 pm at the library.

As we move toward the end of this 400-year cycle of the long count calendar, just remember the sage advice offered by the Guide:

Ebooks - It's been a while since I griped

We have been working very hard at HPL on physical projects involving real shelves, books, and other stuff outside the Internet world.  I know!  Shocking, isn't it?

<rant>During that time I have been watching the "Big 6" publishers continue to treat libraries as their enemies in the ebook world.  And while I am sure that no one pays much attention to my little blog, let alone my rants, I feel remiss for not railing on a daily basis about this ridiculous state of affairs.

Honestly, where does Simon & Schuster think avid readers find out about new authors?  Where does Penguin or Hatchette think new authors get a try and then a following?  Who do they think spends 24/7 thinking of ways to get more people involved in more reading?  And I mean thinking of more ways to get EVERYBODY reading, regardless of means.  I love book stores.  Book stores do some of this.  But they have to stay alive by selling the most popular.  Who helps them with that?  They promote books and authors.  LIBRARIES promote reading and readers.  Apparently though, we're the enemy.  We're going to suck away the meager revenue stream from the big publishers.  Honestly, if that's what they believe, then they are the enemy of readers.

Ebooks "last forever", so how can we make libraries ever buy another copy?  Library patrons will just borrow the library copy whenever they want to read.  Hmm...why not ask us to work out a plan?  No?  You'd rather just turn books into licensed content and sell it and choke off any potential for growth?

Here's the crux of the problem (besides the lure of filthy lucre).  From ALA:

Why are e-books treated differently than print books?

As content migrates from physical to digital forms, the typical access model shifts from
purchasing to licensing. Digital music and online journals represent examples of this shift from the last few decades; e-books represent the latest form of content to make this transition. As licenses are contracts, libraries receive the rights articulated in the agreements. The usual ebook license with a publisher or distributor often constrains or altogether prohibits libraries from archiving and preserving content, making accommodations for people with disabilities, ensuring patron privacy, receiving donations of e-books, and selling e-books that libraries do not wish to retain.

They key is in that paragraph.  Control over the content (contract vs. purchase); the "purchaser" - you, me, a library, no longer "owns" that thing we thought we bought.  Thus, no one can loan it, resell it, or collect it.  But why is that ownership so important?  Collections like those created by libraries are important not just for preserving the past but for creating new ideas and inspiring new stories.  Writers and researchers create from what is available to them.

Too bad the big publishers won't work out a deal.  Libraries want to participate and are willing to pay to play.  Too bad they are so focused on preserving a possibly already-lost corner on the market.  That old chestnut about catching more flies with honey than vinegar is going to come back and bite them.  Libraries could help them flourish in the ebook age and I'd wager we as a group would strike a bargain on almost every issue in that quote above.  Will it happen?  I doubt it.  And everyone - you, me, authors, publishers, and libraries will be the poorer for it. </rant>

HPL QR codes

Otherwise known as "those boxes with the random-looking black-and-white pixel-y squares".  We thought it might be a good idea to let people know what sort of cool mobile tools we have here and that a good way to do it might be to make use of a method pretty much exclusive to smart phones - QR, or "Quick Response" codes.

These codes were originally developed for a specific industry, but as sometimes happens, its use spread far beyond the initial purpose.  Frequently used to direct shoppers to Internet URLs in order to put advertisements before them, retailers have used them for some time.  We thought it might be cool to use one to advertise our new library app, OWL.  OWL lets you browse our catalog and access your library account from your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.  The QR code above will take you to an informational page about OWL iLibrary and links to the Google Play store and the iTunes store.  The OWL app is free, so please download it and try it out!  You will need an HPL library card in order to log in (you only have to enter the number once).  If you do not have an HPL card, you can browse for your local library - they may have this nifty tool.

Android OWL screen

iPhone screen

Ebook Question

I have a simple question that, as often happens, has opened up a series of other questions.  My question is this:  "What ebook titles would our patrons like to have in the HPL ebook collection?"

This, of course led to: 

• "How will we collect that information?"
• "What method would be best to accumulate answers?"
• "How do we get the word out that we are seeking this information?"
• "What about residents who don't come in to the library?"

In fact, this set of questions could be asked about a number of our newest tools and many of our older ones.

We have some truly awesome yet under-utilized services at HPL, like:

• Real-time stock market data and a wealth of research information from Standard & Poors.
• A brand-new tool for learning a language - Transparent Language Online.
• A list of specialized research tools, many available outside the library.
• A weekly email newsletter that links you to all the new items added to the collection.
• Internet-accessible searching of our catalog AND the ability to log in to your library account.
• A beautiful app providing access to our catalog / your account in both Apple IOS and Android.

My original question, I guess, fits under the over-arching question of, "How do we most effectively communicate with our current and our potential user base?"  Please share your thoughts!

Food-for-Fines Awesomeness

Congratulations HPL patrons!  For those of you who took the opportunity to square up your account during our "Are You Prepared...?" Food for Fines program, you get the chance to feel doubly good about yourselves.

First, you squared away old fines, fees or other debts that might have been preventing you from using your library card.  I think that is wonderful because we have a fairly amazing set of resources here - not just books and DVDs - that a clean record will help you use.

Second, you collectively donated 1,100 lbs - that's right ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED POUNDS - of food to the Reno County Food Bank!  Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.  100 lbs of food per day is a good amount.  But don't forget about them now that our promotion is over.  The food bank will be getting extra donations during the holiday season when everyone thinks about those in need.  Though in Hutchinson and Reno County, as in most places, the need is year-round.

Thank you for bringing in lost-but-found items, clearing up long-standing fines, and especially for helping make your community a better place!

NASA to the Rescue!

I am a space exploration nut.  I admit it.  I have long read about astronomy and love a good Hubble Space Telescope picture as much as the next guy.  I have also read a lot of science fiction and enjoy a good trip-to-an-alien-world story from time to time.

So of course, NASA is one of my favorite "things".  I have a little bit of a love/hate thing for NASA because I don't always agree with their priorities and I often think they do a terrible job of selling their biggest assets - wonder, imagination, and most of all, the future.

As you may or may not know, HPL has spent the past year promoting tongue-in-cheek style, a series of programs with the theme of the "end of the world".  Our "Are You Prepared?" series has featured useful self-help lunch and learn programs about disaster preparedness, growing your own food, and more.  We've been showing movies with apocalyptic themes every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.  We even started a science fiction book discussion group and spent our first year reading examples of apocalyptic fiction!  In fact, we'll be discussing A Hitchihiker's Guide to the Galaxy, our "final" novel before the end of the year, on December 6th at 6:30pm - please read it and join us if this sounds interesting!.

But back to NASA.  Our good friends at the space agency have a beyond 2012 answer page to assuage everyone's fears about the supposed end of the world.  Give it a look, it answers a huge number of the purported "end of the world" myths that seem to be swirling around.

The Big Shift

Every time I participate in a large collection shift, I say that it's the last time I'll ever do it.  Of course, it is always the last time until the next time!  So...

We are nearing completion on a major shift of our adult collection.  As it stood, the adult non-fiction collection was arranged with the 000s-600s and the 900s on the first floor with the 700s and 800s on the second floor.  In order to free up some floor space and to more logically arrange the collection, we are nearly finished moving the 900s upstairs.  The result is that it will be easier to describe where the non-fiction collection is shelved AND we will have more floor space on the first floor for arranging our public services.

Once we get some lighting upgrades in place on the second floor, we'll be able to regroup and see what is possible with all the free space.  For the time being, we'll add some seating.  The ultimate goal is to move our current computer lab, combine some service points and add services in the technology area such as individual device training sessions and expert help combining patron tools and gadgets with electronic library tools and services.

Author Visit!

NYT best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini was here at HPL last night (Nov. 6).  Everyone, including the author said something to the effect of ... "Are you sure?  It's election night."  We said we were sure and when I arrived at 6pm here is what the auditorium looked like:

About 50 people had taken seats

By 6:30 when Mrs. Chiaverini began her presentation, the auditorium looked like this:

The tiny blue dot in the upper left is Mrs. Chiaverini!

Mrs. Chiaverini had kind things to say about Hutchinson.  She and her husband stopped by our wonderful Kansas Cosmosphere.  Her husband Marty (who was traveling with her) is an aeronautical engineer and I think they were both fairly well impressed by our little town's big museum.  Mrs. Chiaverini gave an entertaining talk and very graciously took questions and signed autographs for about 45 minutes.

Autographs with a smile!

I think it was a great evening.  Annette Smith, Ruth Heidebrecht, Tina Stropes, Barb Scott and many other Friends and staff have my appreciation and thanks for a job well done!  Many thanks go to our Friends of the Library group for sponsoring the visit!

Bookworm Brew cookies pretty well picked over!  YUM!

Youth and Libraries

Courtesy of Vancouver Public Library/Creative Commons License

The Pew Research Center has published a study about the reading and library use habits of people between the ages of 16 and 29.  It might surprise many people who DON'T use the library to find out that this 16-29 age group DOES use the library!  For those of us who work in public libraries however, this should not be a great surprise.

Walk around the Hutchinson Public Library in the afternoons and you will see many teens and young adults using our library.  We often have a variety of home school students and community college students using our resources.  If you stop to think about it though, it makes sense.  I think many of the folks who "marvel" at the opportunities provided by the Internet, e-content, smartphones and tablets are people who didn't grow up with them.  Those younger people who have grown up in an Internet world see the library / physical materials / librarians as a few of the tools among many options, but tools that are of value nonetheless.

Libraries must evolve to provide the services and resources that people find useful.  I think that is happening and I think that the Pew Center study gives us an indication that we are on the right track.

Kansas Election Information

The reference librarians at the Kansas State Library KGI blog have provided us with a nice series of links to Kansas elections-related information provided by the Kansas Secretary of State's office among others.  This is non-partisan information about our election process in Kansas.  Please note:  this information is in no way intended to promote anything beyond greater public knowledge of the election process in our state!

The librarians that run the KGI blog are awesome!  I encourage you to browse their archive of posts, there is a wealth of information to be found.

Science Fiction Book Discussion Group

We started a new activity this year to go along with our "Are You Prepared... for the END?" series of programs.  Our Science Fiction book group was themed for this first year - all books about an apocalypse of some sort.  We started with One Second After which explored the devastation that an EMP would cause to the USA.  We followed that with the classic, A Canticle for Leibowitz, then the collection of short apocalyptic fiction, Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse in June.

For out August Discussion, we switched back to novel format with another classic, George R. Stewart's Earth Abides, wherein a plague has wiped out mankind (for the most part.)

Our latest discussion, on the 4th of October, was about the 1985 Larry Niven / Jerry Pournelle novel, Footfall, with an alien invasion theme.  At our discussion, I think we agreed that we had been depressed just about enough having spent the better part of the year reading about the many possible ways the end of mankind might be achieved.  However, we haven't made it past our tongue-in-cheek "deadline" of December 21st of this year, the end of another cycle on the mesoamerican long-count calendar.

Sticking with our theme, we've decided to round out the apocalyptic year with Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  This book spawned a series of sequels, a radio program, film and stage adaptations, a video game, comics, and much, much more.  While the Earth gets blasted to make way for a galactic freeway, the adventure thankfully doesn't depend on the doom-and-gloom reality of the other works we've read.

Which brings me to the end.  Well, not really the end so much as the beginning for the rest of the SF book group's existence.  We will meet monthly in 2013 and read a variety of SF and fantasy - titles TBD.  If you read this and are interested in joining (and we would love to expand the group), contact me directly at gwamsley@hutchpl.org.

Success! Many Younglings are on the Jedi Path

We had a great turn-out for the first ever Star Wars Reads Day this past Saturday, October 6th.  Somewhere between 55 and 60 younglings from the local systems converged on a Jedi training center here at the Hutchinson Public Library.  They practiced channeling the force using concentration and a steady hand.  After constructing their light sabers, they honed their skills as fledgling Jedi!

There were pictures with Jabba the Hut (only 1,000 Galactic credits per shot) and with a land speeder.  The day wouldn't have been complete without a selection of Star Wars books and videos to check out and wonderful refreshments including "Yoda Juice".  sounded dicey to me, but the younglings loved it!

Special thanks to the wonderful and talented Children's Department staff and to all the volunteers who helped make the program a success.

Phase 1 and an Alien Invasion!

The first phase of our great book shift is progressing.  This is what the second floor looks like as of this morning:

From the Kansas Room door

3 rows of stacks up, ready to assemble the 4th

Down stairs in the Children's Department, preparations for Star Wars Reads Day are nearly complete.  I think that it will be a lot of fun!  Luke's speeder is nearly complete and Jabba is making a killing charging 1,000 credits per picture!

Our program starts at 2pm on the 6th (Saturday).

This photographer is my kind of scum - fearless and inventive!

..."but I was going in to Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"

eBooks and Libraries

A delegation from the American Library Association (ALA) met with publishers at the Association of American Publishers (AAP) conference last week.  The biggest positive I see from it is that there is still a willingness to talk about solutions for libraries to provide ebooks to their patrons.

Here is a re-cap of the meeting from the ALA president, Maureen Sullivan.

I still wonder what will be the outcome of all the sturm und drang of libraries "giving away" the intellectual property created by the big publisher's authors.  Public libraries have for scores of years purchased and loaned books.  The publisher's position is, of course, the exact tack that the RIAA and big music industry companies took with the intellectual property of their artists and what happened?  Someone else <cough>Apple<cough> came in and took their business away.

I wonder if big publishers have missed the boat in the same way the music industry did?  Projects like this one in California, this one in Colorado, and this one in Houston Texas show a strong desire on the part of libraries to strike out on their own.  The world of publishing is much larger than the so-called "Big 6" publishers which includes the likes of Penguin, HarperCollins, and Hachette.  In the coming 2-3 years, these projects will prove their worth or something else will come along to provide the service.  Libraries continue the shift more and more toward providing services rather than dispensing "things", be that books, DVDs, or something else.

Changes to our website

We have been working to improve our new (actual over a year old now) website for the Hutchinson Public Library.  As we create new content and make some changes, I hope you will send us feedback.

The first couple of changes we've made to the home page are circled in red in the picture below:

There is now a rotating book shelf (Newest Arrivals) that shows a selection of the newest acquisitions each week.  You can click the jacket art and go directly to the library's catalog to place requests for the items.  This tool is provided by Wowbrary!.  You can also sign up to receive a weekly Wowbrary! email newsletter that includes not only the items shown on the rotating shelf, but every new item added each week.

The other red circle is highlighting a feed from our HPL Reader Reviews website.  These are books reviewed by HPL patrons.  You can participate by sending in reviews of your own to me at gwamsley@hutchpl.org.  We would love to continue expanding this resource as a reader's advisory tool for everyone to use.

There is also a new repository for the latest press releases from the library.  Here will be a place to find detailed information about significant news, programs, and new services at HPL.  You can find it by clicking Programs & Services on the menu bar and looking under the Programs & Events list.

Please let us know what you think about the changes and give usany suggestions you might have!

Changes are afoot!

Second Floor stacks...with stacks

New homes for the 700's!

We're changing.  What are we changing?  The way we look (hopefully for the better), some things that limit service, some things that created barriers.

This is the start of phase one of a long project.  Please follow along to see some of the awesome things our staff has planned!

New HPL app for Apple & Android

Great news!  The Hutchinson Public Library has an app available for iPad / iPod / iPhone and for Android devices that allows you to access our catalog, access your library account, and generally do everything you can from a traditional computer.  You can search the library's holdings, place holds, renew books, read reviews, and much more using a very clean, easy-on-the-eyes tool.

iPad bestseller list screenshot

To get started, go to the Apple App Store or to your Android store of choice (like Google Play) and search for:

OWL iLibrary

Download the app and once it is installed, open it.  The first time you open the app you choose your library (search by name, map, etc.)  Choose "Hutchinson Public Library".

Enter your library card number - the whole thing.

Enter your PIN.  Unless you have manually changed it, your PIN is the last 4 digits of the telephone number we have in our records.

Once this is done, the app will remember your settings and you won't have to do it again.  Then you can search away!


Here are some screenshots of the app on an iPhone:

Reviews

Search

Search results

Hold Request

Star Wars Reads Day pt. 2

Want to practice your Huttese?  If you are elementary school age and like Star Wars, come read a story to Jabba the Hutt on October 6th and take advantage of an opportunity to practice Jedi skills.  Here is Jabba preparing to receive visitors from all over the Outer Rim territories:

Bring me Solo and the Wookie

You may have been a good smuggler [Solo], but now you're Bantha fodder.

Star Wars Reads Day is October 6th.  The program at the Hutchinson Public Library will start at 2pm and run through 4pm.  There will be activities in the Children's Story time room (first floor) and in the Auditorium (second floor).  Call (620)663-5441 x 145 or visit www.hutchpl.org for more information.

Footfall: Science Fiction Book Group

Continuing with our theme for the year, our next discussion book is the hard science fiction novel Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.  Of the possible "apocalyptic" ends for the Earth in science fiction literature, the alien invasion is probably the most popular theme.  Footfall (1985) was nominated for a Hugo Award and was a New York Times bestseller.

The aliens who invade earth - the Fithp - have come from Alpha Centauri in an enormous ship.  Much of the technology depicted in the book, while far advanced, is hardly incomprehensible to us.  The Fithp have powerful laser weapons, landing craft, the ability to snag and hurl meteors for directed ground attacks among other "theoretical" technology.  There are a number of interesting twists and Niven and Pournelle are great story tellers.  This is (in my opinion) one of their best collaborations, if not the best.

If you would like to join us, read the book and come to the discussion, we'd love to have you participate!  The next discussion is October 4th at 7pm here at the Hutchinson Public Library.

Are You Jedi Material?

You can find out on October 6th at the Hutchinson Public Library.  We are putting on a new program from Lucasfilm and its publishing partners called "Star Wars Reads Day".  Register your school-age child at the Children's Circulation Desk (at the West entrance by the parking lot).  Then come to the Library's auditorium at 2pm on October 6th.  There will be Jedi training and a chance to test your skills.

I would have loved this as a kid.  I was (OK, still am) a big fan of the Star Wars movies and universe.  I must admit though to liking the original trilogy much better than the newer series.  When I saw "A New Hope" in the theater, Han shot first.  If you are unfamiliar with that bit of trivia, here's a link to explain it!

I hope that we have a good turn out for this program.  It combines reading with one of my favorite science fiction film universes.  There have also been numerous well-written, exciting books set in the Star Wars universe.  So, October 6th 2-4pm, HPL Auditorium, geared toward school-age children, register at the Children's Desk.  Hope to see you there!

Little Free Library

Have you ever seen one of these?  I haven't in this particular form, but I've seen the idea expressed in a number of similar ways - usually within a public library.  These are called "Little Free Libraries" and they operate on an honor system - take a book, leave a book.  The library boxes are often built with re-purposed or recycled material and maintained by volunteers or the person who created it in the first place.  The little library gets registered with the folks at Little Free Library, and gets added to their network.  They have a Google map that show you the locations of little libraries all over the country - you can browse it here.

Often in public libraries the spirit of this movement is expressed by way of a paperback exchange where library patrons bring in mass-market type paperback books for donation and then borrow some from the designated collection housed in the library.

We are interested in getting this started in Hutchinson.  There are already some interested parties and who knows?  Maybe there will be a Little Free Library here in town soon!

The Cloud is Coming!

The 3M Cloud that is.  As our searched for an easy-to-use interface for our library patrons continues, we have come to the conclusion that currently, the 3M Cloud Library leads the way.  We will be upgrading our online catalog system in November and shortly after that, we will kick off this new ebook borrowing service. (You have to scroll down a bit to read the press release - sorry!)

The distinct advantage in using this service for us at HPL is that it is integrated into the catalog.  You find an ebook, you click the checkout button, it downloads and you read.  Simple as that!  No more clicks through to other websites only to have to click more and start the checkout process there.

Now, if we can just get THIS project working on a wider scale and one that is affordable to smaller libraries, we'll have an ebook model that works for lending!

Summer Reading Success!

At the Hutchinson Public Library, this year’s Dream Big, READ! children’s summer reading program ended on August 4, with a grand total of 1,147 children and young adults enrolled. Of those signed up, 703 completed the program requirements by reading 10 books, spending at least 10 hours reading, or a combination of both. Children who finished the program earned prizes for their efforts, but the best reward was maintaining reading skills, and enjoying books during summer vacation.

Summer reading isn’t limited to children and teens either. One-hundred-two adults 18 and older signed up for the Between the Covers summer reading program. There weren’t any prizes awarded for reading a certain number of books, but more than 300 book ratings and reviews were submitted in June and July. Ratings slips were entered into a weekly drawing for a chance to win prizes. The reviews were posted on the library web site and used to create a reader’s choice book shelf.

Reading wasn't the only thing going on this summer here either.  Our 32 story time programs were attended by 1,555 children.  That's nearly 50 per program!  Our evening family-time programs went over nearly as well with an average of 40 per night.  It's no wonder that our Children's Department staff look so tired - that's a lot of puppet plays and singing and crafts.

Summer reading for children has been happening at the Hutchinson Public Library for more than 60 years. The program has been responsible for check out of millions of books, thousands of story times, close to 30 years of summer celebrations, and tons of paper, crayons and glue used for craft classes. We hope this effort has accomplished the same goal as Read Kansas Read: to inspire a love of reading for life, and to keep the children of Hutchinson and Reno County reading throughout the summer so they are ready to start school each fall.

Health Care Reform Resources

If you want to learn the facts about something, ask a librarian.

Case in point is this week's Kansas Government Information blog, one of my favorite librarian-produced blogs on the Internet.  Follow this link to the KGI blog and a tremendous list of information about how the Affordable Care Act will affect you, your business, your health, and your finances.

Apocalyptic Movie Nights!

Last night we showed the first film in our "Are You Prepared... For the End?" apocalyptic film series.  Our general idea is to show movies either in a category of apocalyptic tales, like "things crashing into the earth" or "nuclear apocalypse" or "alien invasion" and/or to show movies that have been remade along with their original counterparts.

We're going to show movies through the remainder of the summer and into fall and winter on the 2nd and 4th Monday evenings of each month.  That means we will screen our next film on July 23rd.  Unless otherwise noted, films will start at 6:30pm.  All ages are welcome, HOWEVER:  Many of these films are rated PG, PG-13, or R, so be aware of this if you are considering bringing younger people.

The first movie was The Omega Man from 1971 with Charlton Heston.  It falls into the general category of science fiction films where a plague wipes out nearly all of humanity.  It is based on the Richard Matheson novel I Am Legend.  There was an earlier film version of this book called The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price.  There is also a newer version of Matheson's story starring Will Smith.  I remember really liking this movie when I first saw it.  Sure, it is low-budget and low-tech, but the story is fascinating and Charlton Heston is, well, Charlton Heston-like in every way. 

I am very happy we are doing this film series.  Although our public screening license agreement makes it awkward to advertise exactly which films we are showing, I think the chance to see some of these movies is worth the effort.  What is the title of the next film?  I think I've dropped enough hints here as to how we are organizing the films, but we'll be happy to tell you if you call us or stop by the library and pick up a title list.

It was a lot of fun to see this film and upcoming films will be great fun too, I am sure.  Thank you to those of you who came to see The Omega Man - I hope we see you again!

Monday Movies

Twice per month we'll have movie night at HPL.  Until we get past, December, the movie series will have a decidedly "End of the World" feel to it.  Once past December 21, all bets are off though and the series subjects will broaden!

Because of the way the public performance rights work, I can't use the actual movie titles, but we can make a little game out of it, can't we?  See if you can figure out the July 9th movie from this description:

The movie stars Charlton Heston as an Army doctor struggling to create a cure for the plague that has wiped out most of the human race.  This 1971 film is based on the Richard Matheson novel, I am Legend.  Further hint?

Here is a synopsis from IMDB:

"Robert Neville, a doctor, due to an experimental vaccine, is the only survivor of an apocalyptic war waged with biological weapons. The plague caused by the war has killed everyone else except for a few hundred deformed, nocturnal people calling themselves "The Family". The plague has caused them to become sensitive to light, as well as homicidally psychotic. They believe science and technology to be the cause of the war and their punishment, and Neville, as the last symbol of science, the old world, and a "user of the wheel", must die. Neville, using electricity, machinery, and science attempts to hold them at bay." Written by Roald E. Peterson III

I've left a few blatant clues here hinted at the next movie we will be showing in our movie series.  Finally, here's a screenshot from the film:

Have you figured it out?  It's a great low-budget adaptation of a science fiction novel and Heston is at his campy best.  Come down to HPL on July 9th at 6:30pm and enjoy the film (and the cold AC!)

Book Apocalypse!

OK, not really.  However, I do want to plug our Science Fiction Book Discussion group here at HPL.  We have been meeting every other month since the start of the year reading, for our first year, books with an apocalyptic theme in honor of the supposed end of the world/meso-american long-count calendar.

I hope though, that there is a future for this discussion group.  Our next book is the classic Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.  If you would like to join us, please contact me via email: gwamsley@hutchpl.org

From the cover:

"An instant classic upon its original publication in 1949 and winner of the first International Fantasy Award, Earth Abides ranks with On the Beach and Riddley Walker as one of our most provocative and finely wrought post-apocalyptic works of literature.  Its impact is still fresh, its lessons timeless.

When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out.  In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly, inexorably, breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide to barbarism...or extinction.

This is the story of one such survivor, Isherwood "Ish" Williams, an intellectual loner who embraces the grim duty of bearing witness to what may be humanity's final days.  But then he finds Em, a wise and courageous woman who coaxes his stunned heart back to life and teaches him to hope again.  Together, they will face unimaginable challenges as they sow the seeds of a new beginning."

It is interesting to note that this novel was panned by Kirkus Reviews when it came out in 1949 - you can read the review here.  Despite a rocky start, it has gone on to become widely considered as among the best of all post-apocalyptic novels.

Summer Reading 2012

We are into the heart of our annual Summer Reading Program.  This year, all THREE of them are going strong!  Yes, we do have 3 programs running simultaneously.

HPL website

For children, we have the "Dream Big, READ!" program.  This involves preschool through elementary age children in a variety of activities - story times, craft days, family time programs, and of course, reading.  Here's how it works:

• Parents bring their children into the library to register.  The children receive a reading log.
• Children who are registered for the program read 10 books (or have 10 books read to them) OR read for 10 hours between May 25th and August 4th.
• Those children completing the requirements can bring their reading log in to us and receive a prize!
• Regardless of reading program participation, parents can bring their children to one, some, or all of the free programs!

So far this year we have 773 children signed up!  That means if all of them were to complete the program they would read 7,773 book this summer - talk about warding off the "summer slide"!

image credit: Clker

For young adults (ages 12-17), we have a separate reading program.  The program theme this year, chosen by our Young Adult Advisory Board, is "I See Dead People...READING".  Capitalizing on the recent flood of vampire / zombie / other undead-themed books current to YA fiction, it reflects what are by far the most popular YA fiction subjects.  The young adult program works a little differently.  Here's what to do:

• Young Adults can come in and sign up.
• The YA reads.
• For each book completed, the YA is eligible to receive a prize.
• At the end of the summer, we'll have a party to celebrate their achievements!

So far this year, we have 121 young adults signed up which is a big increase for us compared to this time last year.

HPL website

Finally, for adults we have the 'Between the Covers" reading program.  Anyone 18 and up can register for this activity.  As part of the adult reading program, we have a weekly give-away drawing and weekly contests on Facebook.  This program works a little more like the YA program.  Here's what to do:

• Register at either circulation desk (Children's entrance or Main Street entrance)
• For each book read, fill out a rating and review slip (a brief review is wonderful)!
• Turn in the slip for a chance to win a free book in our weekly drawings.
• See your reviews and what other HPL patrons are reading HERE on our website (there are already over 90 rated and/or reviewed books posted!)

The program for adults this year has 82 participants as of June 15th - I am fairly sure our strongest early June total yet.

While some folks in high places might be worried that children aren't reading enough in the summer, I am not worried.  Last year we estimated that over 4,500 books were read during our summer programs.  I think it would be fantastic to break the 5,000-books-read mark.  Want to help us break that barrier, but don't know what to read?  Go HERE and sign up for our Wowbrary! weekly email newsletter and see all the new items we added to the collection during the previous week.  I'm pretty sure you'll find something that strikes your fancy!

Summer Celebration 2012

We dreamed it and it happened!  Friday was the big kick-off for our "Dream Big, Read!" summer reading program and it seemed to be a great success.  The crowd started gathering right at 9am this year and the weather was just beautiful.

Nice shot!

Listening for instructions

We had a great group of volunteers helping us this year!  They ranged from early teen to senior citizen and many of them had helped us in years past.  Thank you!  Thank you!  And once again, our staff worked extra hard to pull all this off - thank you VERY much!  (Especially the Summer Celebration planning group and the Children's Department Staff.)

Unfortunately, I didn't get inside to take pictures this year as I was an "engine" for the bed races for most of the morning.  Did I mention that the weather was nice?  Well, thank goodness it was cool-ish because if it had been hot like last year there might have been fatalities!


I'll add a few more shots from my camera and I'll try to update as more pictures become available from other cameras.

Moon Rock Toss

Yippee - the Moon Walk!

A line for rocket target shooting