Just a reminder that the Davenport Library will be closed today in observance of Memorial Day. Both buildings will be open their regular hours tomorrow – Main 9:30 – 5:30 and Fairmount 12 – 8pm.
Have a safe and happy holiday!
Category: Library news
National Library Week — Great Books about Librarians
Some people think that libraries are stuffy, tomb-like places run by bespectacled octogenarians whose primary function is to go around shhhussshing others. Those of us who actually work in one know that’s far from the truth. One book I found that really hit the nail on the head as far as how libraries today really operate is Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert. Okay, it’s about a library in California, so some things are a little different, but it is still a quick read that’s delightfully funny, yet peppered with some very poignant moments.
For a nonfiction take on the subject, check out Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer. During the Great Depression, this WPA program was started to put women to work and to serve the very poor in remote regions of the country. These courageous book carriers provided their own horses or mules and were paid a whopping $28 a month!
As far as children’s books, an old favorite of mine is Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Miss Rumphius, a retired librarian, plants lupines all over her community– in order to leave the world a better place. The message is touching and the illustrations inspiring — it’s a feel good book that just makes you want to go out and DO something!
Our New and Improved Catalog is Here!
Try the new version of the PrairieCat catalog! Some neat things about it
:
- Have you ever thought you’d like to write your own review of a book you loved (or hated) and have it appear in the catalog? Well, now you can (Look at the Community Reviews for The Thing About Jane Spring). That Minniemutt has such good taste in literature.
- You can also rate an item (1 star = I Hate It and 5 stars = I Love it)
- You can add the tag “travel book” to make it easier for other users unfamiliar with official library subject headings. You can add adjectives, such as “grunge” for a Pearl Jam CD or physically descriptive, such as “yellow cover!”
- You can register for a My Discoveries account; this is a great way to keep track of your reading lists or things you want to put on hold. (I have a list of dvds I don’t have time to watch right now, but don’t want to forget about them!)
- The new catalog is more intuitive, faster, with more relevant search results, but the old or Classic Catalog is still available as a tab.
Edited: We’ve had to postpone our launch of the new catalog until tomorrow, March 31. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise!
On Display – Crafts!
March is National Craft Month, so if you’ve ever felt the urge to be creative, now’s a great time to try something new. No matter whether you’d like to try a paper craft, such as origami, or you’re more interested in making jewelry (with beads or clay) or you’re just looking for a fun activity to keep your kids occupied, we’ve got something for you at the Davenport Public Library. Check out some of these titles:
Ceramic Bead Jewelry: 30 Fired & Inspired Projects by Jennifer Heynen
The Papercraft Weekend Workbook by Fiona Jones
Changes in the Public Computers at the Library!
The Davenport Public Library will be implementing a new computer reserve and print release system on
Sunday, March 1 – Tuesday, March 3.
Here is what you need to know:
1. All copies will be $0.10 per page once the system is complete. (See schedule below) The first 10 pages will no longer be free.
2. If you currently have money on your card, you will need to cash it out before March 1.
3. The computers will be down according to the schedule below.
On Sunday 3/1 – the adult public computers at Main will be unavailable
On Monday 3/2 – All Public Computers at Main (Adult, Children, Special Collections) will be unavailable.
On Tuesday 3/3 – All Public Computers at Fairmount (Adult, Children) will be unavailable.
WE ARE SORRY FOR THE INCONVIENCE
*If you have any questions, please see a Customer Service
Representative. Thank you!*
Happy Presidents’ Day!
Originally set aside to honor George Washington (whose birthday is actually February 22), Presidents’ Day has unofficially expanded to include Abraham Lincoln (born on February 12) and sometimes even some other former Presidents, depending on what state you live in.
While many government offices and schools are closed today, both locations of the Davenport Public Library will be open as usual – the Main Library will be open noon to 8pm and the Fairmount Library will be open 9:30am-5:30pm.
Have a great day!
Frugal Librarian #3: Shopsmart Magazine
This brand new bi-monthly publication from the makers of Consumer Reports magazine has the slogan “no hype, no ads, just great buys.” It looks like the result of a crossbreeding between Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and Hints from Heloise.
For example, there are a lot of luxury items out there where name and branding is everything, since the average John Q. Spender knows nothing about the product and there is ridiculous markup.
When it came to wine, Consumer Reports put their best experts in the lab and tore off the labels. The results is one of the test’s white wine winners costing $5…the Frontrera 2007 from Chile.
Some products also claimed to be bargains or money savers and were junk. Enjoy a list of products to avoid.
Here’s a no-brainer on how to get it…check the latest issue out for free from the Davenport Public Library!
Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Today is a federal holiday, set aside to honor the Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Born in Atlanta, King was a Baptist minister that became active in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. His eloquent speaking ability inspired millions of people and he won the Nobel Prize in 1964 for leading nonviolent civil rights demonstrations. King was assassinated in April, 1968.
Try honoring the memory of King by participating todays Martin Luther King National Day of Service; President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden and their families are planning on helping with volunteer projects in Washington DC today. The National Day of Service encourages everyone to contribute to their community, big or small, today and every day. Check their website for a list of local projects, or create one yourself!
By the way, even though many state and city offices are closed today, the Davenport Library will be open our regular hours – 12pm-8pm at Main and 9:30am-5:30pm at Fairmount. Have a great day!
Holiday Closings
The Davenport Library will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, December 31 and January 1 in observance of the New Year holidays. Both buildings will open again on Friday January 2 at 9:30am
Have a safe and happy New Year!
Holiday Closings
The Davenport Library will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, December 24 and 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Both buildings will open again on Friday, December 26 at 9:30am.
Have a wonderful holiday!