Eleventh Annual List from RUSA Machine-Assisted Reference Section (MARS)
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/mars/marspubs/marsbestfreewebsites/marsbestfree2009.cfm
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Library site visit - Midland Community Library
On Thursday, Sept 24, I visited the Midland Community Library. Midland is back in my old stomping grounds since I have an uncle who lives there, and I graduated high school in Philip, which is 26 miles away.
Midland is a tiny community, but I was quite surprised at how large their library is. It is only open two afternoons a week from 2-5 pm. The collection has a lot of old treasures as well as a few new items. It is hard for them to purchase brand new materials because they do not have a book budget. There is a community supper every year which provides about $500. Luckily, the city takes care of the utilities and maintenance of the building.
Midland closed their high school a few years back due to low enrollment. There are still elementary students who come to the library after school and the summer reading program is well attended.
The local youth of Midland recently got together and applied for a Ted Turner grant to provide a brand new computer for the library. This will be a big help for those students who do research after school, as well as for the librarian to be able to get on the computer and check the library email account.
Midland is a tiny community, but I was quite surprised at how large their library is. It is only open two afternoons a week from 2-5 pm. The collection has a lot of old treasures as well as a few new items. It is hard for them to purchase brand new materials because they do not have a book budget. There is a community supper every year which provides about $500. Luckily, the city takes care of the utilities and maintenance of the building.
Midland closed their high school a few years back due to low enrollment. There are still elementary students who come to the library after school and the summer reading program is well attended.
The local youth of Midland recently got together and applied for a Ted Turner grant to provide a brand new computer for the library. This will be a big help for those students who do research after school, as well as for the librarian to be able to get on the computer and check the library email account.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Photos of Kennebec Library
The display of large books they have there now is on loan from the HOP program http://www.hopsd.org/ at the SD Discovery Center in Pierre.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Library site visit to Kennebec, SD
I visited the Kennebec Community Library on Wednesday afternoon this week. Kennebec is a community of 200+ people. I would love to be the library director of a small town library, if only I wanted to live in a small town, which I don't. But, visiting the small town libraries is, I think, one of the great perks of my job.
Kennebec has so much community support for their library. If anything is needed from funds, to computers, to book donations, the community is there. In the current economic times when some libraries are closing due to lack of funds and support, it is great to see that this is not true in Kennebec.
Anywhere from 1-30 kids are at the library every day after school. Kennebec Library does not open until 2:30 in the afternoons, but several schools, preschools, and other groups in the Kennebec area call and make appointments to come in and use the library in the morning. On the morning of my visit, a group of preschoolers made their very first visit to a library. I'm sure they took home a lasting impression of a place to which they would like to return.
I will post a couple of photos next week.
Kennebec has so much community support for their library. If anything is needed from funds, to computers, to book donations, the community is there. In the current economic times when some libraries are closing due to lack of funds and support, it is great to see that this is not true in Kennebec.
Anywhere from 1-30 kids are at the library every day after school. Kennebec Library does not open until 2:30 in the afternoons, but several schools, preschools, and other groups in the Kennebec area call and make appointments to come in and use the library in the morning. On the morning of my visit, a group of preschoolers made their very first visit to a library. I'm sure they took home a lasting impression of a place to which they would like to return.
I will post a couple of photos next week.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Trading Card
I had a little extra time today after doing some research on illegitimate children in SD in the 1930's, so I thought I'd go back to the Flickr lesson and try the trading card thing. I didn't think I had a good pic the first time, but thanks to our wonderful graphics person here at the library, I think this will do.
CNN and Libraries
CNN is running a lengthy post today about the current state/future of
libraries and librarianship including a section titled Library 2.0.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/04/future.library.technology/index.html?iref=newssearch
libraries and librarianship including a section titled Library 2.0.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/04/future.library.technology/index.html?iref=newssearch
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The end...
It has been fun and educational. Two things I'm definitely going to continue: my blog and more Flickr stuff. I admit I have not looked at Flickr since the lesson, but I really want to do more stuff with the photos I have and I'm going to make it a priority to play more with my Flickr account.
Since I like to write and share my opinions for whatever they are worth, I am going to continue this blog. It may not be all library stuff; I'll add a tinge of personal adventures. I think this blog will be a great way for me to share what is going on in other libraries in SD as I go out on site visits. It is truly amazing what small SD communities are doing to keep their libraries alive and vibrant in today's economy.
I love having my Bloglines account for all of my RSS feeds! It helps keep me organized. If you have not checked out the new Librarian in Black blog, it has moved to a new URL at http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/ and RSS feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/Librarianinblack Very cool site.
I do have a LibraryThing account, but I have not accessed it in a very long time. I have a very small personal library at home because I hate clutter, so I don't have a lot of books to add to LibraryThing. I'd rather check books out from the library. Imagine! I do have all of the Harry Potter books, a good number of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and a few miscellaneous books at home, but I really would rather check them out from the library.
I've enjoyed reading blogs from others on this challenge. We are a diverse and talented group of 2.0'ers. ;-)
Since I like to write and share my opinions for whatever they are worth, I am going to continue this blog. It may not be all library stuff; I'll add a tinge of personal adventures. I think this blog will be a great way for me to share what is going on in other libraries in SD as I go out on site visits. It is truly amazing what small SD communities are doing to keep their libraries alive and vibrant in today's economy.
I love having my Bloglines account for all of my RSS feeds! It helps keep me organized. If you have not checked out the new Librarian in Black blog, it has moved to a new URL at http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/ and RSS feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/Librarianinblack Very cool site.
I do have a LibraryThing account, but I have not accessed it in a very long time. I have a very small personal library at home because I hate clutter, so I don't have a lot of books to add to LibraryThing. I'd rather check books out from the library. Imagine! I do have all of the Harry Potter books, a good number of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and a few miscellaneous books at home, but I really would rather check them out from the library.
I've enjoyed reading blogs from others on this challenge. We are a diverse and talented group of 2.0'ers. ;-)
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