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!