Pleasing Pioneer Memorial Library

These tall chalk formations are a national natural landmark

While in northwest Kansas to see Monument Rocks, we stayed in Colby, the county seat.  About three and a half hours from Denver, it’s a pleasant little city of about 5300 people with a few features you wouldn’t expect for a place of this size including lovely Fike Park with a mini Statue of Liberty, gazebo, massive shade trees and benches by a great playground with lots of slides.  It’s also home to Colby Community College, a brand new taxpayer funded water park and they are adding 2.2 miles of walking trails.

Pioneer Memorial Library

Pioneer Memorial Library (PML) is a sizeable blond brick building in a residential area just three blocks from the cobblestone streets of downtown within easy reach by children on their bikes.  There’s plenty of parking and the front entrance has an attractive fountain with marble accents set in a bed of pebbles with xeriscape plants while bushes, trees, a park bench, and a bike rack surround the structure.

A neon YA sign by one of the two doors

I went in passed a Young Adult section which has an inviting booth and a new book shelf for youths, though they probably prefer the privacy afforded by this huge downstairs space where staff were prepping for a book sale that includes videos, DVDs, and almost anything people bring in.

Multihued pennants over the internet stations used to be table runners made by a local quilting guild

It’s a great spot for kids to come after school as it isolates the noise and there are six internet computers, two laptops and a colorful AWE desktop with ninety games and educational modules for the younger set.  With lots of tables, puzzles and games, two big screen TVs, one with four controllers for Wii and the other a two controller Playstation, both with web access, what more could an adolescent want?

As it has a small kitchen with a microwave, the room is used for author lunches.  There are storage closets and a coat stand, plus a sound system and projection screen.  Seating up to 135 people, businesses use it for training and they’ve hosted conferences and bible study groups here - as long as they aren’t selling anything, anyone can use it for free.   Opened to the public in 2008, PML refurbished the basement with grants – the Thomas County Community Foundation helped quite a bit, but other local entities contributed too.

Behind the circulation desk, Sheena Hemmert’s mural celebrates a local crop

Director Melany Wilks (what a great name for a librarian!  Despite the different spelling she was named for the saintly but tough character from Gone With the Wind, but it was fate that she married someone with that last name who is tall and blond like Ashley.) kindly showed me around.  Originally from California, she worked at a seminary library with a big international population in the Philippines for thirteen years before returning to the states to get her Master of Library and Information Science and take the position here.

Melany was quite impressed with how much residents value PML and thinks they’d be up in arms if anyone dared to try to cut its budget.  In fact, they aren’t very happy lately with Topeka, the state capital, as it’s decreasing funding and is hampering their ability to raise taxes.  Farming communities really support their towns – she stressed that instead of griping about a problem, people here pitch in to solve it.  PML has a 501(c)3 foundation and there are loads of small charities in the region.  Many have helped the library – to express their gratitude they’ve created a page listing the donations e.g. the stunning painting behind the circulation desk shown above, which was purchased by the Jean Hutton Memorial.  A number of PML’s furnishings bear plaques indicating they were given in memory of someone.

Melany in the second conference room

Upstairs there’s another meeting space with a fifty person capacity.  Used for Thursday lapsit for tots 0-18 months and storytimes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Tuesday nights (this all ages session lets working parents attend with their kids – how inspired!), it also has a digital projector and sound system.  Family Place, an early literacy forum which provides a structured environment that encourages caretakers to interact productively with their children is held here too.  It’s kind of a parental counseling opportunity – specialists give talks and pointers so guardians can find out about hearing, eyesight and nutrition.  The case Melany is standing next to houses toys, blocks… for this “play with a purpose.”

The pictures on the walls here are award winners from three years of the A Day in the Life of Thomas County contest…

More award winning contest shots flank a foliage arrangement

…as are these photographs above the eight internet stations near YA.

It’s a capacious facility with handsome dark wood furniture, Pacs in the stacks and a floor covered with replaceable carpet tiles and ceramic painted to look like wood (they got a bequest for the new flooring).

Any of the 8000 or so residents in the county can use PML and via the Kansas State Library have access to numerous databases including several Spanish ones, Mango for languages, LearningExpress, downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks, and a Kansas historical document collection.  PML has wifi, and will soon be getting their own fiber 10 mb downloadable internet access.  They are part of the Northwest Kansas Library System.

Imaginative kid’s coat rack by the tax forms

The website has a graphical version of the catalog for children and three more loaded AWE computers can be found in the vibrant Children’s Room where enormous stuffed animals sit on brightly colored rugs near miniature tables and chairs.

A painted tree provides shade to the portable board book bins in Children’s

Toys and games are scattered about and there’s a sink and lots of pretty embroidered fabric supply holders atop the many cupboards.  Puzzles, kits and audio/book combo packs can be borrowed as well as video games in a variety of platforms (PML also lends digital and overhead projectors, a large screen, an MP3 player, cake pans, a bread machine, roaster and a coffee maker).

Streaky blue shelves w/ intriguing end panels

I love the cool blue stacks and toddlers must be fascinated by these mirrors.

PML has ten employees, five of them full time including Youth Librarian, Judy Kleinsorge, who has a part time assistant and the delightfully jumbled office that is a prerequisite for a good head of Children’s – as she said, “Creative minds are rarely tidy and I’m really creative.”

Their Facebook page has oodles of photos of the gorgeously decorated seats from the “Chair-ish Your Library” Friends of the Library fundraiser and promotes things like the annual murder mystery dinner, Trivial Pursuit and game nights, movie nights, a jazz concert where chocolate treats and desserts were served and genealogy workshops.   Monthly “Booked for Lunch” talks sometimes include music, there’s a book club, and in September they have an author program.  An active blog has been kept since 2005 and is filled with snaps from events.

What a great theme!

Their award winning Friends group came up with PML’s theme “Bringing Words to Life” that adorns the wall above these three computers.  And what an appropriate Kleenex box to the right of these terminals – it’s a stack of hardbacks.

Interestingly, customers sponsor the magazine collection to the left of the seats below via the Friends’ Adopt a Magazine program.  All the issues, even the most current can be checked out for three days while children’s periodicals go out for two weeks.

Interior windows looking into the foyer add to the spacious feeling

A book table sits between these cushy chairs, beneath a library logo clock with the motto “It’s a fine time to read.”  Nearby, a volunteer was clipping coupons from newspapers to add to a basket that everyone can pick through as they don’t get many in their local papers.

In the large lobby through the glass, a display case was being prepped to advertise the Dig into Reading Summer Reading Program which will include a theatrical production put on by middle schoolers and a visit from a Kansas zoo along with other events.  Furnished with tall cafe tables and Queen Anne chairs there’s a paperback exchange by the employee only elevator, a free magazine spindle, a book sale case stuffed with the most popular authors and a community bulletin board.

This wonderful place truly enhances the locals’ spirit of togetherness.

Talented Table View Library

The library and town are named for their wonderful vista of Cape Town’s famous Table Mountain (on left w/ Lion’s Head and Signal Hill to the right)

Conveniently located by the commuter bus stop, shopping center, police station and adjacent sports club, Table View Library (TVL) is a huge boon to this ocean side suburb 20 minutes north of Cape Town, South Africa.  It’s in a lovely relaxed area, close to stunning white sand beaches with massive waves.  The enormous Rietvlei Nature Reserve with its flamingo and pelican flecked lagoons is just a short walk away.

Table View IThala leeNcwadi (or Biblioteek) surrounded by trees, ferns and fynbos (fine bush)

The location originally opened as a branch of the library in neighboring Milnerton in January 1991 and around 1994 became part of the Blouberg (aka Blaauwberg) Council.  Designed for lending and returning items, it really has no work area, but in 2007 an addition brought the total space to 545 square meters (almost 5900 square feet).

TVL shares the property with Virgin Active, a health and sports club who has a 99 year lease from the City of Cape Town and maintains the grounds and exterior.  There’s a large parking lot with a “Moms & Tots” spot right up front, and an after hours return slot.

I entered the facility via a pretty room with floor to ceiling windows, chairs and plants to reach a glass partitioned tiled vestibule where the “Educate yourself @ your library” campaign is immediately apparent…

Foyer w/ shelves, bulletin board & information tables

… as mortarboards hang from the ceiling, a pyramid spells out “Educate” and artwork on the panes emphasize the theme.  Chalkboards propped up on a long white bench advertise DVDs and the pamphlet collection.

Part of the vast (encompassing 100 libraries, plus a mobile service and three satellites) City of Cape Town Library and Information Services (CCTLIS), TVL serves a multicultural population and has materials in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa (pronounced Koza, it’s a delightful sounding language that includes “click” consonants).  Residents live in townships, apartments, houses, or mansions in gated communities.

Thembi and Henlou at Circulation Desk

Greeted by friendly staffers, I was directed to Linda Barnard, the Principal Librarian, who’s been here since the beginning. She told me the library is supported as a part of one of six districts of the City of Cape Town and is open 45 hours per week.

Most items come from the provincial library service (which has a selection of foreign titles too) but TVL’s collection is supplemented by a small budget from the local council so they can purchase some things themselves (besides the three primary languages, they also stock some Zulu books).

“Underdeveloped” areas (aka townships) are allotted additional monies since circulation doesn’t reflect the heavy usage.  In these desperately poor places the library is often the only place to get online or study and read in a relatively safe and quiet environment. They also have a number of unattended children so have many more activities for kids as well as extra study space.

Linda by some of the Xhosa books

Despite serving a township, TVL doesn’t qualify for the extra funds as many of its residents are relatively well off.  But their circulations stats are in the top ten of all the CCTLIS locations and they are very busy, especially on Saturdays when working people have more time to visit.

Luckily (due to space concerns) two thirds of their materials are almost always out (during the December and January holidays they have to store excess books in boxes on top of the shelves, so they weed like crazy and everything has gone out at least once within the last year), though even now, some hardbacks are shelved on top of the cases.  TVL gets lots of donations too and sells some of them.

Yet TVL still has time to win accolades.  In 2008 they won an Annual Cultural Award from the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and in 2011 and 2012 came in second in the competition Cape Town holds for displays in libraries.  They won’t participate in 2013, however, as the library that won first prize the last two years won’t be entering, so TVL, with a strong sense of fair play, feels others should get a chance to win.

Photo from the 2011 submission  Used by permission from Table View Library

The theme for 2011, “Be Practical and Creative @ Your Library”, used Creativitrees to promote materials and services. On a big tree painted onto their front picture window, each leaf was inscribed with a service.

This clever theme was “Develop @ Your Library”  Used by permission from Table View Library

In 2012, film strips provided a background for displays all over the library that highlighted people improving themselves with the help of TVL’s resources.  One even features a staffer developing from Security Guard to Library Aide to Assistant Librarian!

TVL has a book club, Spine Crackers, who meet after hours so that they can discuss books without the buzz of people in the library.  A staff member donates her time to come in and run the club – Linda stressed that staff here are very willing to go above and beyond the call of duty and though they aren’t paid for it, put in lots of extra hours.

Though wifi isn’t available yet, patrons can access one of the five ADSL broadband public internet computers for free for up to 45 minutes per day.  Near the terminals, there’s a reference section with a good Xhosa Reference Librarian who, of course, also speaks English.

It’s a cheerful, bustling place with paintings and posters decorating the walls.  High windows and ceilings give the illusion of spaciousness.

Study tables are usually full but it was the start of a four day holiday…

And from one window, there are views of Table Mountain across the sports grounds.

Currently they use barcodes to check items out.  CCTLIS is looking into RFID as automation would be more cost effective and would free up staff to provide outreach to the area.  During Library Week the Children’s Librarian tells stories in the schools, but since most schools have no library, they’d love to be able to visit more frequently and go to the crèches (child care facilities) and preschools (though orientation classes for school groups are offered by appointment).

Materials have security strips and as they have a guard, the security gates are actually used (the windows are locked since at one point, youngsters were throwing things to their friends outside).

CD’s by genre, oversize books and a PAC by Linda’s office

Besides books, TVL offers CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and graphic novels.  DVDs are arranged by category, such as South African films (e.g. Spud and District 9), TV shows, documentaries (videos about townships)…  Except for the latest issue, magazines can be checked out.  Adults can borrow up to seven books, three CDs and two DVDs at a time and fines are low – one rand (about ten US cents) per week for a book – and there’s an amnesty period during the Annual Public Library Week.

TVL offers service to retirement homes and limited help to shut-ins.  They have literacy materials, Groot Druk (large print) books, and two photocopiers for public use.  New books are conveniently put on a cart, below photocopies of high demand titles that are checked out.

Two of the CCTLIS libraries in the city have ebooks and some have puzzle or toy collections.  By paying a small reservation fee, customers can borrow from any of the other Cape Town locations or the provincial libraries (via an interlending service) which can be searched through Sabinet.  And Sabinet gives residents access to a wide variety of electronic publications in several languages.

A few of the libraries have lecture theatres or activity rooms which can be rented at a very low cost or no charge to community groups, while businesses pay a higher tariff.

Graphic novels by the YA titles

Their active Facebook page celebrates the Friends of the Library group (they help mend and shelve items, assist with programs…) and promotes upcoming events, reading programs and new acquisitions.  I love that one of the profile pics is of a Christmas tree made from green volumes.

Weekly storytimes are held in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and during school holidays there are additional events for students - the Facebook site has loads of photos of kids having a grand time making and flying kites, creating pinwheels, playing outdoor games and practicing their football (soccer) skills in the fields outside.   Other pictures show the fun to be had at storytimes, craft events (many with a green theme – like making toys from plastic and cardboard, or presents for your folks from old shirts) and book club parties.

In the Children’s Section, colorful homemade posters encouraging reading adorn the end panels while bookmarks, a paper birthday cake for Spot and butterflies ingeniously made from plastic bags and pipe cleaners decorate the walls above kid’s magazines like the Afrikaans language Hoezit!  Cloth covered tables showcase picture books, as do the tilted shelf tops and stuffed animals are everywhere.

Children’s Librarian Dalena under Spot

The government realizes that women have been overlooked in South Africa, so there are often racial and gender quotas for people in certain positions and there’s lots of emphasis on women and against violence towards women and children.  In keeping with this admirable philosophy, each year TVL has events for women and kids with demonstrations of dances, talks on healthy eating… and they invite local businesses to exhibit their products.

The people here really appreciate all the library has to offer and recognize that it is an important and vital member of the town of Table View.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

While on this trip, I chanced upon two other interesting libraries.

Imizamo Yethu Public Library near Hout Bay

Today, this township library only has two computers and no wifi but the nearby church has a computer room. Soon a ten million Rand (over one million US dollars) facility will be built, but for now the location is well used – they often push shelves aside to present puppet shows for the kids and loads of people study here.

And making a connection in the Netherlands…

Makes the wait for your flight fly by!

… I was delighted to see the Airport Library at Schiphol.  It has wifi, reading materials, an upper floor with a sleeping area for the tired traveler, and Ipads preloaded with pages on Dutch culture and tourist information attached to cushy armchairs.

Also, this month I’m participating in a promotion about all the cool things librarians do called…

Logo by John LeMasney

To learn more about this project and about the awesome things that other librarians are doing, check out these blog posts from Sophie and Kelly.

Cosmopolitan Cairns

City Library

Cairns’ City Library is an elegant building fronted by tall carved wood doors behind eight Ionic columns.  The 21,000+ square foot structure is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as when it opened in 1930, it served as the council chamber until it was redesigned for the library in 1998.  One block west of the panoramic three mile long seaside esplanade and boardwalk, it’s by the downtown pedestrian area in the middle of a lush palm fringed plaza stuffed with low stone seats covered in red tiles, tropical flowers, squawking birds and fabulous fig trees filled with spectacled flying foxes…

Moreton Bay fig tree

…whose nightly exodus in search of food is truly a wondrous sight.

I’d arrived early and while waiting beneath blessedly overcast skies with a stiff breeze anticipating a late January cyclone, jealously watched a scurrying lizard work his way into the building before the doors opened.  However, with the heady scent of lilies and four wooden benches out front, killing time here was pleasant.  I got a chance to explore the walkway that circumnavigates the building.  Dubbed the Literary Trail, it boasts a number of pieces of artwork embedded in the paths and hidden in bushes which are the creations of seven local artists.

The B selection

The art was inspired by 26 writers (A-Z) with a connection to northern Queensland – somehow council officers managed to find representatives for each letter of the alphabet.

I lived here for a few months in 1982 and my, how it has grown!  Back then it was a dusty provincial town with about a third of the 150,000 plus population of today.  Sure, it had the Pacific Ocean and the Great Barrier Reef, but it lacked the international airport that brought so much development to the region after it opened in 1984.  I didn’t even know it had a public library, which evidently first opened in 1979.

These days, all Queensland residents (and organizations) can get borrowing privileges for the nine locations of the Cairns Regional Council governed Cairns Libraries (CL).  There’s also a kiosk at the Port Douglas Community Hall.  Visitors can pay a $36 fee to join and books can be returned at any branch, or at the bin at the local outlet mall.  City Library, the largest facility with the highest use and over 50,000 items, has a drive through book return too.

Circulation Desk in front of the gleaming white lobby lit by high windows

There are two wings off the main section of the one story building where leaded glass windows, marble fixtures, and high dark wainscoting blend seamlessly with potted ferns, modern furniture and colorful nautical themed artwork.

Tropical fish are the perfect subject for stained glass

One side has an 80 person conference room which can be used even when the library is closed.  A smaller meeting space for ten people is available too.  Attractive light wood storage cupboards hold the AV equipment for the meeting areas and there’s a tea room and kitchen.

Kylie Best, Client Services Librarian

Kylie at the Info Desk was very helpful with my inquiries.  She told me that the genealogy and local history collections are housed here.  They are working on RFID, self check and pickup of holds, and this month, a community wide wifi trial will start.  Members can book one of fifteen internet stations in advance and beginning computer training is offered every Wednesday.

CL publishes a number of library guides, including ones on indigenous family history, Trove (the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program) and, since it’s Australia, where having a prisoner in your background is a point of pride similar to being a descendant of a Mayflower passenger, one on convict records.

Magazine shelving by the stand for the daily papers

Just past Reference there are newspapers from all over Oz and New Zealand as well as the Financial Times.  Bookmarks with the slogan Live it, Love it, Learn it at your library… recommend authors of Edible, Suspense, and Paranormal (books to sink your teeth into) fiction.

Work area by nonfiction

The study carrels have great views of the wonderful foliage in the gardens outside and the passing parade of tourists and locals enjoying the park.

Because it is such a popular vacation destination, Cairns has a multicultural population, so they have an assortment of titles in Thai, Tamil, Swedish, Hindi, German, Czech, Dutch, Finnish, Japanese, Indonesian, Russian, Punjabi, Korean and Persian.  There’s also a separate Zhanjiang collection donated by their Chinese sister city (one of seven sister cities which include Scottsdale, AZ; Lae, New Guinea; Sidney, BC, Canada and Riga, Latvia).

Alcove with an exhibit donated by one of their two Japanese sister cities

Along with fiction, nonfiction, large print, e-books, CDs, audio books (including Playaways and e-audios), DVDs and CD Roms, CL has Hot Speed Reads – titles that have long queues and cost four dollars for a ten day loan.

While they don’t charge for borrowing, there’s a real incentive to return materials on time as there are hefty charges assessed for sending an overdue notice, and you can’t borrow if anyone in your family has items overdue or outstanding charges.

CL has some neat and practical promotional swag for sale – you can advertise your devotion with beach bags, bracelets, highlighters, pencil cases, water bottles…

One of many displays

Their website links to an active Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube account.  I love the photo gallery which includes snaps from events and from a competition where participants took pictures of people reading.  The winning shot is priceless – a woman reading a paper book by the light of an e-reader

Several of the locations have council customer services offices housed within them and CL subscribes to some databases, also, via the State Library of Queensland, members have access to a wide range of e-resources from Music Online: Dance in Video and Who’s Who in Australia, to Europa World Plus and the Macquarie Dictionary (a reference on down under English).

Friends of Cairns Libraries host author visits, deliver materials to the homebound and help with book sales, story times and service to aged care centers.

Children’s with window displays for Australia Day – note painting (above the oversize book rack) of fruit bats hanging from a fig tree

The youth area has toys and a computer with games (the Manunda branch has Nintendo Wii).  CL offers storytimes with crafts, Baby Rhyme Time and during school holidays there’s additional programming.

Parents can attend a food and behavior workshop, and there’s a Summer Reading Club - Untangled Tales - with a web page that has online games and meet the author links.  Kids can upload pictures, download e-books, make comments, peruse a writing blog or enter a drawing to win one of eight iPods.  Throughout the year children can get a Dewey’s Star Reading Passport which is stamped whenever they come in or borrow something – once it’s full their names go into a monthly drawing to win a prize.

Curvy chairs for parents in Kid’s

Schools can tour the library or have a librarian visit them and the Mossman branch lends Queensland Museum Kits to augment the curriculum at schools.

The YA section has manga, graphic novels and pink couches to stretch out on.

Teens can take the “Practice Road Rules Test” for the learner driver permit at the computers at the Earlville facility and youths from grade three through high school and vocational school can get free online tutoring through yourtutor or they can email a question to a librarian.

City Library is open until six Monday through Friday and for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Most items go out for three weeks and can be renewed twice and they use Library Elf, a third party email reminder, to let people know what’s due or ready for pickup.

Painting of the amazing things to be found in the waters off this luxuriant land

CL’s motto is A Lifestyle Experience!  After seeing this gorgeous library, I heartily concur.

Winning Westport

Tasman Sea from Cape Foulwind Walkway just south of Westport

Westport, New Zealand on the majestic coast of the South Island is a small town where many of the 5000 or so inhabitants are involved with fishing, farming and mining.

The Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library is the main facility for Buller District Libraries (BDL), which also has a branch about an hour’s drive away in Reefton, where a policeman told us the road to Westport had indeed been reopened after floods and landslips of the previous 24 hours had shut down our route.

The library is centrally located on the main street near many businesses and the local polytechnic

After a fire destroyed the original library in 1903, Andrew Carnegie donated funds to rebuild it and in 1904, a new library was opened.   They outgrew that and in 2003 moved to this one floor, 650 square meter (about 7000 square feet) location.  It’s a colorful, welcoming place with raised ceilings, eclectic decor and lots of plants.

Displays abound.  Near a case of face out bestsellers, you’ll find Best Books of 2012.  Since we’re in NZ, there’s a Hobbit and Lord of the Rings stand…

Peter Jackson knew NZ’s beauty makes it the perfect setting for The Shire

…a NZ Fiction case sits under the sign for adult fiction, and when I visited in January, there was even a Christmas tree covered in signs touting the Great Book Mystery Summer Reading Program.  Each Friday participants meet to talk about the titles they’ve finished.

District Librarian, Michaela Bodesheim, told me they are funded by rate payers through Buller District Council and that besides Inangahua County Library in Reefton, they have four satellite libraries that are run by volunteers located at Granity, Sedonville, Karamea and Maruia – quite convenient considering the 250 kilometers of coastline and 10,000 people in the Buller District service area.

Michaela in her office

This is a big mining region, so they have a number of transients and incomes aren’t high, but membership is free to ratepayers and anyone who lives in the district longer than twelve months.  For a modest fee, visitors can also borrow items.  Michaela mentioned that it’s very interesting serving a community that is so remote.  They are proud that they’ve taught their clients to use the many electronic resources available which let locals have the same access to materials as the rest of the world, and allows them to stay in contact with far off friends and family.

For a relatively small place, I was surprised at how many services they have and how creative they are.

Lobby windows advertise new acquisitions with color copies of book covers above a rack of local info brochures

BDL was one of the first libraries on the South Island to provide free wifi and has 2500 individual internet users each month, many not members (they were mentioned in the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s New Zealand, so there’s often a queue when they open the doors - speaking from experience, wifi access in NZ can be very expensive for tourists).

Lacking the big budgets of larger institutions, they’ve learned the value of collaborating with others to make the best use of their money.    They have seven public computers (outfitted with MS Word and other software, plus headphones so users can Skype) and internet access is provided by the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa, a partnership between the National Library of New Zealand and more than 140 public libraries that lets patrons get online for free across the country.  Also, BDL is a member of the EPIC purchasing group for eresources and their catalogue has an integrated search of both materials and databases.  One of these, Press Display, gives customers access to over 1900 newspapers in 48 tongues (which can be translated into 12 languages).  Downloadable ebooks and audiobooks are available through OverDrive and last year the library also joined Kotui, an NZ public library consortium for a shared library management and resource discovery service.

Low vision reader

I was looking forward to visiting the library here as I’d already done a post on another Westport in Ireland, and coincidentally, according to Wikipedia, this Westport may have been named for the Gaelic one on the other side of the world.  Michaela told me that there is a loose organization of Westports of the world that meets every ten years, and in fact both the NZ and Irish locations have hosted the group.

Appropriately for this seaside municipality, a sail made by Marcus, Michaela’s husband, is adorned with bright blue butterflies and acts as both a bulletin board and divider, separating Children’s from the entryway where they’ve cleverly (as there are so many travelers coming in to use the web), placed the book sale tables.

Looking into Children’s, the sail is on the left

The backside has plastic pockets that act as additional displays for children’s titles.

Innovative shelving

In the kid’s area, a yellow plane soars overhead next to the dark wood struts of the cathedral ceiling and a little couch with animal pillows sits under maps of NZ and the world.  A nearby shelf has DVDs, CDs and talking books for youths and laundry baskets full of stuffed toys abut the picture books bins.  Shaggy orange beanbag puffs give the kids more seating options.

Children’s section is well lit by a plate glass window

Pretty desktop backgrounds and mint green swivel chairs beckon patrons to the two children’s computers.

Teens have their own spot where they can sit on a cushioned red bench beneath trendy posters while browsing young adult books and graphic novels.  A slanted ledge that tops their shelves exhibits the enticing covers of YA titles.

Some furniture in the periodical area is slanted too

They’ve managed to fit lots of stacks into the building and between the two locations have over 32,000 items in their collection.  Nonfiction, NZ titles and talking books (which the National Library provides on two month rotations) can be borrowed for free, but there is a charge for fiction and other materials as the Council asks them to raise $65,000 a year to help support themselves.   BDL offers interlibrary loan, book covering and laminating and has a scanner for public use.  There are topographical maps – a godsend for the many hikers tramping the nearby mountains – as well as a local history collection (which is still being created) and a meeting room that can be rented for $115/day.  CDs, DVDs, large print books and even jigsaw puzzles can be checked out.

Friendly staffer at the circulation desk

Quite an impressive asset for this pretty place on the banks of the swollen Buller River.

Classy Customs House Library

While we were in Australia during the holidays, I got a chance to visit the dazzling Customs House Library (CHL), part of the City of Sydney Library Network (CSLN).

Customs House Library

Situated in a sun soaked plaza with several outdoor cafes, CHL is conveniently located across the way from Circular Quay with its multiple ferries servicing Sydney’s northern suburbs. It’s in one of the busiest tourist areas of this cosmopolitan metropolis of over three and a half million people – the iconic Sydney Opera House and the enormous botanical gardens are just short walks away, as are several museums and The Rocks, the city’s historic district.

As I entered, I walked on top of a glassed covered model of Sydney…

Makes you feel a bit like Godzilla!

…a good way to help visitors get an idea of the layout of the city and pinpoint attractions.

Occupying the first three of the six stories of this heritage edifice, the branch shares the stately sandstone building with city exhibits and galleries, opera and customs house management offices, and private businesses such as the rooftop Café Sydney. Openings and windows from the upper levels overlook the lobby and light from the glass ceiling floods into the atrium.

There’s even a watering hole in the library!  The Young Alfred Restaurant & Bar is on the left as you enter, just before the periodical area which has a large collection of Australian and international papers.

Snazzy newspaper storage

CHL offers free wifi (as does Kings Cross, the branch I went to when I worked just across the square from it while living here for nearly a year in the eighties.  It’s now further down Darlinghurst Street, but is still heavily used by locals and travelers).

I spoke to friendly Fiona at the Help Desk, where they have separate slots for fiction and nonfiction returns (though evidently people don’t pay much attention to the signs), to let her know I’d be taking pictures.  She told me that customers can use the self check machines down here to borrow magazines and that the many screens running images on digital computing on the light blue panels behind her are part of an interactive multimedia exhibit from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.  Sydney From All Angles uses smart technology to let you discover different neighborhoods of the city, e.g. when you stand on the map, you’ll get stories, pictures and other info about that place.

The red lobby level Help Desk is on the left

Current journals, paperbacks and some of the internet computers are down here too.

For those with mobility issues, CHL has a stairway wheel chair lift and a fascinating glass elevator that lets you view the mechanisms at work.  As in Japan, they have bumps to warn people they’ve reached a flight of steps.  I took the wonderful circular staircase, where one flight up, the Barnet Long room, now used for functions, was at one time where imports and duties were paid.

Additional intriguing exhibits up here include Fred Hollowes: A Global Vision which honors the Aussie eye surgeon who dedicated much of his career to helping improve the vision of impoverished people in the outback and in developing countries abroad.

The doctor’s legacy is a foundation which has brought sight back to almost a million people

The Sydney library has a long history.  Started in 1826, it became a public library as we know it (free!) shortly after being taken over by the state government in 1869.  CSLN now has a half million items in its nine branches (CHL is one of the newer ones, even if its shell is old).  Two library links let patrons pick up and return items, and it provides financial support to the Paddington Library.  They have loads of online databases from LINCS Community Information Directory, Ancient & Medieval History and Australia/NZ Points of View Reference Centre to Hobbies & Crafts, SpineOut (an emag for YAs) and Dragonsource (a magazine database in Chinese).

CHL doesn’t use RFID yet, so items can be checked out at the Loans and Help Desks on the branch’s top two floors.

Circulation desk

Funded by the City of Sydney Council with some help from state government, CSLN offers musical scores, DVDs, CDs (displayed by genre, some of the racks are on wheels), audiobooks, videos, kits and books.  Children’s toys, bicycle repair kits and Power-Mate electricity meters can be borrowed.  They provide services to the homebound and physically challenged and have several reader’s groups.  There are loads of computer classes from basic computer, internet, email, blogging, Facebook, Twitter and web page creation to eReaders, Facebook for small organizations and Intermediate Excel and Word, and CHL has an Open Computer Lab for those who have questions that can’t be answered by all these courses.

There’s a huge media area with watching and listening stations and a Playstation console and video games.

Gaming computer by the CDs

CSLN also has the Koori collection with subjects connected to indigenous peoples at the Waterloo branch.  Another location, the award winning Surry Hills Library & Community Centre, hosts their local history collection and is the showcase green facility with a facade that follows the sun to regulate heat and light and an HVAC system that uses plants as filters.  Surry Hills sports a roof with solar panels and natural grasses, collects rainwater, and, due to a post-tensioning structural system, used less concrete when being built.

Since Sydney boasts a multicultural population, CSLN has foreign language collections in Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

There are over 2800 Japanese items

CHL houses the last two, which you can browse while sitting on upholstered benches or these translucent seats.  They include DVDs, magazines and English as a second language resources plus Korean children’s books and manga in Japanese.   Additionally, the State Library of New South Wales keeps a list of collections in a plethora of languages (including Assyrian!) available around the state, many of which can be interlibrary loaned free of charge.

Inside views can be as interesting as outside ones

I love how you can look out onto the soaring center of the building.  Natural light streams into all the levels, illuminating even the remotest corners.

Along with the classic decor of many of the upper section’s rooms…

Read in comfort on cushy armchairs and sofas

…there are so many modern, eye-catching fixtures and furniture.  Each Ipac is accompanied by a wood block seat and is encased in bright red plastic that matches the internet stations, help desks, step stools, book carts and the magazine checkout station.

Library catalog terminals w/ signs on slats by the tree

Lots of the signage is written vertically, often on multicolored floor to ceiling posts.  The YA area has a cool cluster of overhead lamps in red, blue and yellow and I really like this round wicker chair.

Neat circular seat

CSLN has a kid’s newsletter (and adults) as well as storytimes and rhymetimes in Chinese and English and a Rock’n Rhymetime that incorporates music and movement.  Children can also attend bookbinding classes, craft, comic and recycling art workshops, Reptiles Up Close, author visits, Knight School, and Wii tournaments.  There’s a children’s area where, as in other sections of the library, old walls from when it really was a customs house are visible behind glass panes.

CHL Youth Area

Late Night Library, a series of events for adults only, has writer’s visits, programs on love (for Valentine’s Day), twisted fairy tales, Geeks Up Late (tech and gaming night) and, just in time for Sydney’s infamous Mardi Gras parade, a panel of bisexual, transgender, lesbian and gay Aborigines talk about what’s important to them.  Other programs include painting and calligraphy demonstrations, a burlesque workshop, craft nights, lectures on architecture and talks on writing sex scenes, being a poker shark, the traditions of Chinese New Year, the Way of Tea, and Feng Shui.

The latter half of Fiction can be found up here

At the top of the library, the Grand Reading Room is lovely.  White lamp shades complement the dark wood of the magnificent long tables and trim while picture windows afford great views onto the bustling area outside.  Peering through the second story balustrade, you can even see the intrepid souls gingerly making their way across the top of the nearby Sydney Harbour Bridge.  A meeting room, which can be rented at a 50% discount by community groups, is on this level too.

This beautiful library is a tribute to the excellent system that serves this vital city.

Dwarfed by a cruise ship, The Rocks are on the bottom right & the library is in the center, under the arrow, w/ Sydney behind it (click on the picture for a better view)

Also, I’d like to give a big thank you to CSLN staffer, Kathy Tritsaris, who provided valuable information in advance of my trip.

Awesome Arapahoe

Having studied Spanish for the last six years, I was interested in seeing Arapahoe (CO) Library District‘s (ALD) Sheridan branch.

Sheridan Library is inside the Sheridan High School

Like Denver, about a third of the population of the city of Sheridan identify themselves as Hispanic, though they comprise only 11% of the Arapahoe County population.  Rather than funding their own library as some local communities such as Littleton do, they cost effectively decided to become part of the huge county library district with its numerous resources and plethora of services.  In fact, Sheridan Library is also the de facto high school library (though this may change in future years – see this update) and is even busier at lunchtimes and after school.

They manage to fit quite a lot into this small space though, and still make it welcoming.  A sandwich board out front announces Cafe con Libros, Sweet Treats and Hora de Cuentos (story hour) in multicolored chalk and the sign on the door gives the facility’s name and hours in Spanish and English.

Your reward for coming in!

Once inside, Lizet and several other friendly staffers greeted me and answered some of my questions as I noticed that Xpress titles – extra copies of the hottest, newest items that can’t be placed on hold – are available for lucky browsers near the self service holds pickup and self checkout stations.

To the left, a rainbow glow is cast by beautiful stained glass in memory of Marge Smith.

Window gives a pretty outlook

They have wifi and 10 fully loaded internet stations with Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.  Additionally, there are six laptops on mobile tables, cleverly outfitted with high, numbered flags so staff can find them as they’re moved to the most comfortable or convenient area.  Sheridan also has classes on internet and Windows basics as well as one-on-one computer labs.

ALD has an extensive list of research databases including Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgo  and Business Decision.  The website offers downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, music and mobile apps and you can ask questions via text, phone, email and Twitter.

Laptops on wheeled tables can be unplugged if you’d rather sit in a comfy armchair

As you’d expect, Sheridan has a large Spanish language collection, one of three in the district.  Smoky Hill, close to ethnically diverse Aurora, and Eloise May in Denver have the other two, though a decision was recently made to float the collections (i.e. materials borrowed from them will stay in the branch where they are returned).  Sheridan does have several positions where Spanish fluency is required, so a Spanish speaking staff member is always available to help.

Colorful painting above some cushy seating

Eloise May also has a big Russian collection as it’s right by Glendale, which is recognized as one of the places in the US with a large number of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.  I was surprised to see that Oksana’s nametag was in Russian and English, but she’s one of the floating Patron Service Specialists who move around to various branches.

And Arapahoe has another “specialized” facility – the Southglenn location is a “neighborhood” library (i.e. it’s set up similar to a book store and focuses on popular materials like Schlessman).  Covering such a vast part of metro Denver (the county extends from close to the mountains to way out on the eastern plains) it’s a big district with a substantial budget and lots of resources that allows it to be quite innovative.  With programs ranging from Russian Storytimes, finger knitting, guidance for New Americans, folk dancers, legal consultation and talks on how to keep your children safe to marketing classes, musical interludes, author events, loads of computer and craft classes, talks on CO wineries and becoming gluten free, there’s something for everyone.  You can book a librarian, get help with early literacy or use a meeting room for free.  Patron surveys give feedback on where they can improve or you can comment via email and the three Facebook sites.  Users stay informed via four Twitter feeds, a newsletter, Pinterest and flickr.

Plenty of tables for students to work together and part of the Spanish collection on the wall to the left

This branch has gaming and book clubs for teens as well as craft events like Glass Art. Adults can join book clubs or English classes, attend Kindle and Picasa (web photo sharing) workshops, go to GED information sessions in Spanish or programs on the CO courts and last month there was a holiday open house with crafting complemented by the strains of a hammered dulcimer.

After passing the CD and DVD shelving, graphic novels and manga, I had to try the fabulous Rube Goldberg machine that the Arapahoe Library Friends Foundation funded.

The Kid’s Department in my old library has one – often unplugged as the thunking & bonging drives them nuts

Accompanied by this melodic sound I perused the Children’s Area with its wonderful shelving.  I love the picture book holders which have a space on top for displaying books, then a bin to flip through them, and beneath, pull out shelves for even more items.  The ends of these gorgeous wood cases have mounted busy-box games and mirrors to keep crawling babies entranced.

Cool red and white table & seats for toddlers atop an alphabet rug and sculpture-like rocking chair

Sheridan offers a number of family storytimes, including one every Saturday in Spanish and another celebrating Colorado in song and story.  Programs like Cowboy Fun get tots in the spirit of the season (January is Western Stock Show time in CO).

On one side of the room a rotating spindle holds board books, next to a chest containing coloring supplies.  I opened the drawers and each one had a glassed over seasonal display.

Lots of ways to keep the kids busy while the guardian chooses books

On the other side, by the oversize storytime books and book/CD combo packs, vibrant wicker baskets each hold a trove of playthings including etch-a-sketches, toy animals, jigsaw puzzles, foam blocks and magnetic letters beneath a fish tank with glass (see through) catfish.

Even more baubles – no one ever gets bored here!

And on the back wall (which looks into a high school hallway) are more Spanish language kid’s books, movies and books on CD beneath English as a Second Language packs, some of which enticingly resemble race cars, motorcycles and trucks and contain books, CDs, DVDs and a guide.

ESL kits shaped like vehicles

What a nice, cheerful place with a great handle on how best to serve their clientele!

Creative Caseyville

When we were in St. Louis in October to go to the City Museum, a fabulous playground for kids of all ages, and the Arch…

…we stayed across the mighty Mississippi in Illinois in a nice quiet town of about 4200 people where I got a chance to visit cozy Caseyville Public Library District.

It’s a sturdy building in a downtown park filled with big trees.  Conveniently located next to an elementary school, pretty plantings surround the entrance.

I went in through a mini lobby that manages to fit in a pleasant seating nook and a bin for recycling phone books…

…passed a large aquarium that must keep kids occupied while their guardians chat and checkout at the desk, and encountered Chris Stewart, the Director (coincidentally the same name as my nephew, though she’s a Christine), and Marge.

By a huge Halloween basket stuffed with seasonal dolls and knick knacks that’ll be raffled off to raise money, they greeted me with big smiles and we talked for a bit.  Though the building’s only 3136 square feet, it doesn’t feel cramped.  They’ve been here for 13 years and Chris has been in charge for four or five.  She told me that there’s another school just two blocks away, so they are not a very quiet library

With just three staffers, it’s a small operation as I’d gathered when I’d previously checked their website and realized it was Plinkit – a website template for libraries with limited resources that I had worked with in my last job – and in fact I remembered adding them to the map of IL Plinkit libraries.

While admiring the contrast of the oriental rugs against the maroon and cream tiles on the floor, Chris asked me to excuse the plethora of book covered tables dotting the entrance and packing their study room as they were preparing for a book sale.  They get their wares via a pickup truck, which for the last three years has delivered a full load of titles from a book drive that’s part of a local golf tournament benefitting a scholarship fund honoring a young man who was accidentally killed.  At one point he did community service at the library and though he wasn’t from Caseyville, the library staff has been told that he was quite fond of the library and would have wanted to help them.  The donated books (both new and used) are either added to the collection, or sold to enrich the library coffers.  Chris said the man’s parents and everyone involved are the nicest people and in fact the initiative has been so successful, it now raises enough money each year that two scholarships can be awarded.

A vibrant Children’s Area with multi colored chairs has a terrarium…

…and a rack loaded with big storytime books and plush creatures to play with beneath
ostrich and other Muppet-style marionettes.  Chris told me that when a local church building was sold, the proceeds were divvied up and some of the money was given to the library to renovate the youth space.

In the main part of the facility, two Queen Anne chairs flank a seasonal display and table groupings hold 11 computers for the public (four are from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)…

…where they proudly show off their warped sense of humor (especially when it comes to the IT difficulties this well dressed skeleton is having).

The wacky decor continues with heaps of Halloween decorations and a surprisingly attractive hornet’s nest adorning the wall near where a bronzed bald eagle and lovely floral arrangement sit sandwiched between reference books.

The restrooms are labeled “Guys” and “Gals” and there are loads of plants, posters and hanging decorations including the shovel from the ground breaking, and a fishing net covered in seashells, highlighting the fishing poles and tackle boxes they loan out.

This eclectic display area continues the maritime theme with framed photos and artifacts from the Andrea Doria, mysteriously donated by a company they didn’t know.

Always secretive about their intentions when they come in, young orienteers are surprised to find a geocache box on the bottom shelf here beneath two other boxes.  They have to sign in showing they found the treasure trove of little dolls and trinkets (a Pez dispenser!). These stashes turn up in the weirdest places – before this pastime became widely known, I found a geocache of toys at the top of a tough-to-climb boulder and unknowingly took a couple of them as souvenirs.

Nearby, a bust and plant basket top an old card catalog kept around for nostalgia’s sake – occasionally patrons try to use it, but of course it isn’t being updated.

CPLD offers ebooks, wifi and online databases including WorldCatDissertations.  The web site links to Ask?Away, Illinois’ virtual reference service and upcoming programs are publicized on Facebook where lots of photos from previous events entice residents to attend.  They also post on Craig’s List for the St. Louis region, which I’d never heard of a library doing, and have printer cartridge recycling, a “video eye” that enlarges hard to see items and give out cute “Read All Year Long!” magnets with hours and contact info.

What a delightfully unique place!