We Want You! Do you have a library card?

As you might have read in the Plain Dealer, September is library card sign-up month. The American Library Association and public libraries around the county are promoting the importance of having a library card particularly for children. Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children. According to the American Library Association, studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning. Thus, my question to you is this. Do you have library card regardless of where you live? If you have a child or children, does he or she have a library card? If not, why not? If you like books, love to read, listen to music, or watch movies, there is not a better deal than with a public library card. If you live in or own property in the city of Wabash, there is no charge or fee to get a library card and you are opening up yourself to utilizing a great collection of books, DVDs, magazines, CDs, audio books, etc.

A library card opens up one to so many worlds of literature and life. One never knows what will come from having and using a library card. The testimonies of famous people about the importance of libraries and having a library card have been documented. The following are a couple of quotes from the American Library Association’s ilovelibraries.org website (http://www.ilovelibraries.org/libarycard). Playwright and filmmaker Luis Valdez said “The library (in the migrant community) I grew up in was the only link to the outside world”. Actor John Goodman said “When I was young, we couldn't afford much. But, my library card was the key to my world”. If you are interested in more quotes from well-known or famous people, one can find them at the ilovelibraries.org website by the American Library Association. As Honorary Chair of Library Sign-up month Candace Parker states, “The Library card is the smartest card in my wallet”

If you do not live in the city of Wabash or have property, there is a non-resident fee charged for a library card. Still, the access to the materials whether books, DVDs, etc makes it a great deal. If you do not have a library card, stop by the Wabash Carnegie Public Library or any public library and get a library card for you and your family. It is a worthwhile investment that can have lasting impacts.

Time flies

As the older I get, the quicker time seems to go. On July 1st, 2009, I had finished my second year as Director. After two years, I continue to love my job and the challenges ahead. I feel very fortunate to be able to say that about one's occupation and employment. A lot of the job satisfaction has to do with the Board of Trustees and staff that I work with. The Trustees and staff are outstanding. Another aspect of the Director's position I find very rewarding is the community connections and people I meet on a regular basis. Knowing that I am contributing to our community of Wabash as Director is a very rewarding experience. So, I want to thank the Board, staff, patrons, and larger community for your support.

There is a great story I want to share that just happened recently. Some friends of my parents recently visited. The husband and wife live near Washington D.C. and the wife's father grew up in Wabash. She and her husband have three young children (elementary school age & younger). Besides seeing the parents for the first time in almost ten years and kids for the first time, the most satisfying aspect of their visit was the kids' enthusiasm and rapid excitement of public libraries and that they knew someone you worked in the library here in Wabash. When they found out I was the Director, these kids could not wait to visit our library. They were able to visit our library and I was able to check out books for them (on my library card) to read during their two day visit to Wabash. I am now known as "library man" to these kids. The awesome part was just witnessing these kids total excitement about libraries and what libraries mean to these kids. It is very gratifying to know I work in a place that provides such positive environment for people of all ages today.

As I mentioned in my last post, please make sure you check out the Fall Book Discussion and join us on September 17th, October 15th, and November 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Library. The Book Discussion is being led by Phyllis Downey and we can not thank her enough. If you have not been to one of our book discussions, I greatly encourage you to attend. On September 17th, the book called How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster will be discussed. On October 15th, it will be Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. On November 19th, the book discussed will be Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. The Library currently has copies of How to Read Literature Like a Professor on sale for $10.00 at the Library's Circulation Desk. Even if you have not read parts or any part of the novel, please join us. It is a good time of learning from each other.

Summer Reading Program and Fall Book Discussion

It has been a busy time at the Wabash Carnegie Public Library. Over 500 children and young adults have participated in our summer reading programs. It is great to see and hear the excitement of these youth as they participate in the all the great programming done by our Youth Services staff. The summer reading program is still going with just few major events left. Hopefully, you have had a chance to participate in or observe some of the programs that have already occurred. On July 30th, Geoff Akins will be doing a program called Bubble Wonder. This exciting program will be at the Honeywell Center at 6:30 p.m. To celebrate another successful summer reading program, there will be a Summer’s End Party on July 30th at the Library. We thank all who have participated in these programs.

The Library is excited to have Phyllis Downey leading our Fall Book Discussion again. The dates have been set for September 17th, October 15th, and November 19th. The discussion will be at the Library starting at 7:00 p.m. on those dates which are all Thursdays. How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. We hope you mark your calendars and join us on those dates. The Library thanks Phyllis Downey again for leading our Fall Book Discussion. More information on Fall Book Discussion will be forthcoming in the coming months.

Changes in non-resident fees for library cards

On Tuesday, June 9th, the Wabash Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees approved changes to the non-resident fees for library cards. The fees have been reduced to the following:

Non-resident library card:

Individual - $60.00 (annual), $45.00 (6 months), $30.00 (3 months)
Student - $56.00 (annual)
Senior Citizen - $56.00 (annual), $42.00 (6 months), $28.00 (3 months)
Family - $60.00 (annual), $45.00 (6 months), $30.00 (3 months)

The changes will be effective beginning July 1st, 2009. If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at (260) 563-2972.

MANY THANK YOUS

On May 1st, the Wabash Carnegie Public Library hosted a Library Conference. We hosted about 100 people from other counties in Indiana. It was a great success and the participants were quite impressed with the Library and the our community of Wabash. Many of the participants also enjoyed visiting the Dr. James Ford Historical Home and the Wabash County Historical Museum. There are countless people and organizations I want to thank.

First, I want to thank the Library staff and the Library's Board of Trustees for their help and assistance leading up to and at the conference. I also want to thank the Committee that helped me and provided invaluable advice in the planning of the Conference.

I want to thank some special people who gave up a Friday to help the Library out. They are Ginny Gaston, Chris Lehman, Rebecca Barker, Darlene Hunt, and Gladys Harvey. Without these special people, the conference would not of gone so well.

There are number of businesses and organizations I want to thank. These organizations and business provided need services and door prizes for our conference and to the participants. Modocs provided refreshments (particularly coffee) throughout the day. All Occasions (Market Street Grill) provided a wonderful lunch and Honeywell Center Catering provided breakfast items. The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, Wabash County Tourist and Convention Center, and Charley Creek Foundation provided countless information packets about what all Wabash County has to offer. Ron Moore (The Woodshed), Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, and Beauchamp & McSpadden Insurance provided giveaways to each conference attendee and door prize. As the Director, it was wonderful and rewarding to see all of this come together and I can not thank these organizations and businesses enough.

Finally, I want to thank our patrons and the community of Wabash. We would not be able to host a conference such as the one on Friday and showcase our town without your help and support!

Post Clock in honor of Elizabeth Pearson

If you have driven by the Library since Tuesday, April 28th, you might have noticed something new at the Library. A Post Clock in honor of Elizabeth Pearson has been added to the building. The funds for the Post Clock and from the Elizabeth Pearson Gift Fund are NON-TAX money.

Elizabeth Pearson was a native of Wabash and graduated from Wabash High School. After High School, she moved to New York and established a a career there that involved travel to many places, including Africa. Later in her live, she returned to live in Wabash. She was a frequent user of the Wabash Carnegie Public Library. The Library's services was something she treasured. After living in Wabash for many decades, she retired to Kansas City before passing away in 1991.

A Elizabeth Pearson Gift Fund was established for the Library by The Elizabeth Pearson Trust through her Estate in the 1990s. With interest from this fund the Library has been able to do special projects and programs such as celebrating its 100th anniversary, bringing an author to Wabash for the 2008 Community Read, and beautification projects for the Library property.

We thank Ms. Pearson for her gift and lasting assistance in providing services to the community of Wabash!

Fine Free Week and a Thank You

Do you have overdue fines on your library card that are preventing you from checking out materials? For $1.00, one has the opportunity to have all overdue fines waived and start anew in borrowing library material. From April 13th to April 18th, the Library is celebrating National Library Week by waiving overdue fines for $1.00 and having a drawing for a free book. The Library hopes regardless of owning fines to see you this week in the Library and that you enter your name in our drawing.

I want to take a moment and thank the Wabash Plain Dealer for their support and words in the Monday, April 13th, issue under the "Viewpoint" section. The Plain Dealer in "Our Take" highlighted National Library Week and was complementary of the Library Districts in Wabash County. The Plain Dealer has included articles by the Directors of various Libraries and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to communicate what is going on at the Wabash Carnegie Public Library. So, thank you Wabash Plain Dealer!