Happy Birthday, Lewis Carroll

Today is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s 180^th birthday. You might know him better as Lewis Carroll, the author of the classics “Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There.”

 

Lewis Carroll, through his stories and poetry, cultivated my imagination and creativity at a young age and helped to teach me the value of a great story (and the value of an intriguing chess game!) I don’t think I would be the Marketing Coordinator I am today, if not for a creative mind, imagination, and logical reasoning that was introduced to me at such a young age through Carroll’s works.

 

Nobody does nonsense like Lewis Carroll. One of my favourite tid-bits about him: Carroll created the portmanteau – the blending of two words into a shiny new one. For example “Chortle” is the combination of “chuckle” and “snort.”

 

“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.

-          “Jabberwocky” from Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll.

 

Thank you, Mr. Carroll, for creating portmanteaus – without which we wouldn’t have words like “brunch!”

 

Not only was Lewis Carroll a literary craftsman, he was also the creator of scores of puzzles and logic games. I poured over a book containing his logic puzzles during the summer holidays. In fact, you can see a copy of this book online.

 

I’ve read the Alice stories more often that I can count and every time I read them, I’m taken back to a land where dreaming is mandatory, your imagination runs rampant, nonsense is an acceptable language, logical thought will get you out of most sticky situations, and rabbits wear waistcoats.

 

Happy Birthday, Lewis Carroll. My life wouldn’t be the same without you!

- RC

Job Opening at STPL

St. Thomas Public Library

has an opening for

Part-Time Circulation Support – Level 1

 

Job Summary:    Under the direction of the Customer Service and Special Events Manager, checks materials in and out of the library; registers patrons; collects fines and fees; modifies patron records; answers telephone inquires and directs calls; mends materials; sorts and shelves materials; assists patrons with using the catalogue and finding materials.

Hours of Work:    An average of 18 hours per week over a 6 week schedule

Wage Rate:        $18.24 – $22.79 (2010 rate)

Qualifications:    Secondary School Graduation Diploma.  Experience in public service.  Ability to meet the public with courtesy and tact and to maintain confidentiality of patron information.  Proficiency in keyboarding, experience with computer data bases and cash registers.  Ability to handle multiple tasks.  An interest in and knowledge of authors and books would be an asset.

Detailed job posting available on website at www.st-thomas.library.on.ca/?q=content/job-opening-stpl

Applications to be submitted to the CEO by 5 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2012.
Email to: stpl@st-thomas.library.on.ca
Mail: St. Thomas Public Library, 153 Curtis St., St. Thomas, ON   N5P 3Z7

We thank all applicants, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We’re Open!

Well, we’re back! Some days it seems like forever, other days it seems like yesterday since we left the building at 153 Curtis Street. Nevertheless, the Revitalization Project is nearing completion and the building looks dramatically different. Not everything is 100% in place, but we’re getting there! We thank everyone for their patience and understanding in this rather awkward transition period.

 

The library seems to change every time I walk through it. Every day brings something new – shelving, furniture, fixtures, material – and every day a different (yet familiar) face – electricians, plumbers, carpenters. We’re hoping to have the majority of things in place by February 9 – the day of our public Open House (details on that to follow in a later email,) and everything in place in time for our Grand Opening on March 8. We had the option of being closed longer to get all of the deficiencies corrected, or opening on January 16 so everyone could get their material. We decided to open on the 16^th. I’ll be adding photos of the new areas on Flickr soon so if you can’t get to the library, you’ll at least be able to see it.

 

In the meantime, we have a couple of events coming up that I thought you (and the community) might like to know about.

 

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“How to eBook” Workshop

Saturday, January 28, 2012

2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Computer Lab, lower level

No fee! No registration!

 

Did you get an eBook reader this Christmas? Or perhaps you’ve recently made the move to the convenience of eBooks. If you’re having trouble navigating or downloading books, we’re here to help! Whether it’s a Kobo, Sony Reader, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or any of the other many eBook readers available, our E-Specialist will help you get the answers you need including how to use Overdrive and EBSCOhost, the library’s free eBook services.

 

Please bring your device, any necessary attachments or cables, and library card to this workshop and we’ll find a solution together.

 

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Preschool Storytime Programs

Register today!

Children’s and Teens’ Department, lower level

 

Storytimes at the library are a fun and engaging way to encourage a lifelong love of reading and to build reading readiness in children. Registration for Winter Storytime Programs is on now in the Children’s and Teens’ Department. You can register in person, by phone at 519-631-6050 or via email at youthdept@st-thomas.library.on.ca. Programs take place in the Ingram Activity Centre, the new program space on the lower level made just for the Childrens’ and Teens’ Department! Space is limited and fills up quickly – register now!

 

Books and Bounces (Birth – 2 years):

Create a special bond with your baby through rhymes, songs, and stories

Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. – February 14 to March 6, 2012

 

Tales for Twos (2 years):

Engage in fun stories, music, rhymes and more to develop early literacy skills in your child.

Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. – February 15 to March 7, 2012

 

Preschool Storytime (3 to 5 years):

Develop listening and language skills while enjoying books, storytelling, puppetry, and creative movement.

Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. – February 16 to March 8, 2012

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Friends of St. Thomas Public Library Blowout Book Sale

Month of January

Library Friends’ Shop, Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington Street, St. Thomas

 

The Library Friends’ Shop is overstocked! For the month of January, everything in the Library Friends’ Shop is half price!

 

Hardcovers were $2, now only $1!

Softcovers and paperbacks were $1.50, now only 75¢!

 

Store hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

The Library Friends’ Shop is a volunteer organization that sells donated and library discarded books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs, and movies in a wide variety of genres. All of the proceeds are donated to St. Thomas Public Library. St. Thomas Public Library would like to thank all of the Friends volunteers for their hard work and dedication. Last year, the Friends of St. Thomas Public Library donated almost $40,000 to the St. Thomas Public Library Revitalization Project.

 

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St. Thomas Public Library is always a busy hub of activity. Be sure to visit us and take a look at the Revitalized library. Try to come when you have some extra time – I suggest you explore all three levels. With so many new features and the layout completely changing, it may take a while to take it all in. We hope you enjoy it!

Making the Move – Technology Update

As you’ve probably heard by now, we’ve closed our mall locations and have moved back to Curtis St. We really enjoyed our time at the mall but we’re glad to be going home too.

 

Though all of our books and equipment have made the move, we don’t open until January 16th so that we can get everything back where it…well, not necessarily where it was, but where it’s going in the new layout.

 

Possibly the most complex part of our move is the technology.

 

Many of the public computers are being replaced with systems running the latest Windows 7 software. Once they’re set up, they all have to be configured to work with our network and, once they have Internet connectivity, they’ll need all kinds of updates. That’s usually not complicated but it sure takes a lot of time. We’ve seen a computer require as many as 68 updates in 4 sets of downloads as the unit gets caught up on what it’s been missing since it was boxed up at the factory.

 

The old public computers have all been updated and cleaned up thanks to volunteer help, but it still took 3 days! They’ll be going downstairs in our new computer lab, which requires a whole new set of networking. (The public computer stations will have completely new machines!)

 

The lab is a new feature that we’ve added in the renovations. We know how important the digital world is, whether for job hunters, local business people, researchers or people staying in touch with family and friends. With this in mind, we hope to offering public training in the lab this year, as well as having a terrific facility that local organizations can take advantage of. Please note – the computer lab will not be “up and running” by the time of opening. It is the temporary home to all computer and technology while we’re setting up the library. The public will have the opportunity to see it a week or two after the library reopens. (Sorry for the inconvenience!)

 

Then there are all the staff computers that have to be set up, along with the accompanying printers and our very popular wireless network. We also have computers assigned to specific duties, such as managing public printing or making reservations for our public Internet access computers. In most cases this is simply a matter of getting the same setup in place again but we also have some new systems that will need to learn how to work together.

 

And that’s the easy stuff.

 

Our security gates and book scanners are notoriously finicky but have to be up and running before we can really consider ourselves operational. Our Circulation Desks (which we will be calling “Service Desks,”) also have printers and debit machines that have their own configurations. And our self check-out unit needs to be ready to play a bigger role in 2012 as our customers get more familiar with its capabilities.

 

It’s a lot of work but it’s also a great opportunity. We get to do some of the basic maintenance that can sometimes get bumped down the to-do list and we’re looking forward to getting our new toys set up.

 

And we’re really looking forward to welcoming our customers back to the building to share the work that ‘s been done with them . See you on the 16th!

-PA

Drop boxes available during closure

Just a little update about drop boxes while St. Thomas Public Library is closed for the move back to Curtis Street. We’ve had several people ask if drop boxes will be available while the library is closed and the answer is “Absolutely!”

The drop box that has been located outside of the Adult Department in the Elgin Mall will remain there until the library reopens downtown on January 16, 2012. The drop box that was near the Elgin Mall food court has been moved to the outside of the library at 153 Curtis Street. The drop box that is outside of the Elgin Mall is still there as well.

Please feel free to make use of the drop boxes. While nothing is due while the library is closed, we’d rather you return something once you’ve finished with it than have you forget about it and then be hit with overdue fines later. (Eek!)  The drop boxes will be emptied on a daily basis – it might be a day before you see the item come off of your account, but we’ll take care of you! No worries!

If you have any questions – about closures, due date, reopening, whatever! – give the library a call at 519-631-6050. We’d love to hear from you!

We’re Moving Back! (Frequently Asked Questions)

My, how eight months just zooms by! It seems like yesterday that we were preparing everyone for our move to the Elgin Mall. Now we’re doing our best to prepare you for the move back to Curtis Street. Below are a list of frequently asked questions and their answers. We’ll be posting updates as they come along. If you have any questions about the move back, please do not hesitate to call the library at 519-631-6050.

Is St. Thomas Public Library staying in the mall?

We loved being here, but we won’t be staying as it isn’t economically feasible to provide service from more than one location at this time. The Library Friends Shop will continue to have their used book sales at the mall.

When are you moving back to Curtis Street?

The library will be closed Monday, December 19, 2011 to Saturday, January 14, 2012 to make the transition from the Elgin Mall to Curtis Street. In preparation, the library will close early (5:00 p.m.) on Wednesday, December 14 to Saturday, December 17.

All loans have extended due dates. Nothing will be due back to the library until after it opens on Curtis Street. Any books borrowed before December 17 will be due on January 23, 2012 or after. Other material will have extended loan periods once the closing date draws closer. (For example, magazines, DVDs, and CDs.)

A drop box will still be available at the Elgin Mall location and at the Curtis Street building if you would like to return your borrowed material early. You can also place holds on material online, and can pick them up once the library opens back up on Curtis Street.

The move back to Curtis Street will be more complex and challenging than the move to the Elgin Mall. We will be fitting our collection into the building in new shelving and a new layout. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience the closing causes and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to create an even better library experience for you.

How are the renovations going?

Construction will be finished in early December 2011. Over the last six months, we fixed leaky roofs, scraped coverings off the skylights, cut through concrete to add windows, and added washrooms on every floor. Now we’re ready to add the finishing touches!

Does the library on Curtis Street look any different?

New colours! Bright lights! The Revitalized Library will look very different… Gone are the drab walls, tired furniture and dark corners. There will be colour on some accent walls, lots of glass walls, and new architectural features.

Look for the familiar cedar slats that used to hang on the ceiling used in innovative ways as decorative accents!

What can we look forward to seeing in the new space?

We focused on making the spaces brighter and more open, so all the library’s resources will be more accessible.

New multi-purpose service desks on each level will meet your needs, whether you have a question, need a new card, or want to borrow a book.

Quiet places to study, an expanded local history area, sunlight through the re-opened skylights – and we’ll be able to accommodate more children in programs where we had to turn away before.

What might not be so obvious is a focus on energy efficiency with better lighting, insulated walls, and caulked windows.

What will parking look like?

Parking hasn’t changed – there is parking in front, in the City Hall lot, and in the public lots on Scott and Mondamin streets.There are two accessible spaces on the east side of the library building.

How much is it going to cost?

The City of St. Thomas provided $1.3 million, including a provincial accessibility grant. Public donations from the Palmer family, local businesses, the Friends of St. Thomas Public Library, and generous donors like you added another $500,000 for furniture, equipment, and enhancements.

We expect the construction to end up on budget – all the unexpected little things that came up during construction we accommodated within the project’s approved costs.

Are the library staff excited about moving back?

Library staff are really excited that the Revitalization Project is nearing completion. It’s time to move back “home.” And we know you’re going to be excited to see it!

Canadians in Wartime Britain

During the two World Wars, nearly a million Canadians were stationed in military camps across Britain, waiting to be sent to the front lines.  What was it like for them, and for the British people they lived among?

 

Jonathan Vance will be presenting an illustrated talk on his new best-selling book, Maple Leaf Empire: Canada, Britain, and Two World Wars, in a program sponsored by the St. Thomas Public Library, on Tuesday, November 8 at 7 p.m.  This event will take place at the Library’s temporary location at the Elgin Mall, in the Library Meeting Place.  Admission is free.

 

Vance has woven together a wide variety of research materials, including personal letters and previously unseen photographs to reconstruct a picture of life on the British home front and across battle lines in these momentous times in Canadian history.  He shows that not only did Britain have an impact on the visiting Canadians, but also that Canadians in some ways left their mark on Britain.  Vance’s presentation is sure to be of interest to local area veterans, as well as to those who resided in Britain during the war years and subsequently immigrated to Canada, perhaps as war brides.

 

Vance is a professor at the University of Western Ontario, specializing in Canadian military and cultural history.  From 2000 to 2010, he held the Canadian Research chair in Conflict and Culture, and in 2008 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.  Among his many publications are Unlikely Soldiers: How Two Canadians Fought the Secret War Against Nazi Occupation and the award-winning A History of Canadian Culture.   There will be an opportunity to purchase signed copies of Maple Leaf Empire at the conclusion of the program.

 

Every year, Canadians pause to remember their fellow citizens who have served and continue to serve in time of war, particularly those who have given their lives.  We invite everyone to come to the Library Meeting Place on November 8 to learn more about how Canadians experienced life in wartime Britain as revealed in Jonathan Vance’s excellent Maple Leaf Empire.

-PB

New Library Card is “Super”

Voilà! The library’s new library card and key fob!

New St. Thomas Public Library Card

New St. Thomas Public Library Fob

The new cards (and fob) have been a long time coming. The library hasn’t changed their card since the early ‘90s when they upgraded their system to add the barcode. (Back in the day when the Internet was still catching on…)

Old St. Thomas Public Library Card

This card is definitely different, but libraries today are different than they were 50 years ago. Before, libraries were a place of seriousness, absolute quiet, and exhaustive research and study. Librarians wore thick glasses, had their hair wound up in tight buns, and shushed you with every breath. Basically, libraries of yore were no fun. Not true for today’s libraries! Today’s libraries are a place for everyone! They’re fun, welcoming, and friendly. They’re made for everyone from infants to seniors. They’re about being social and connecting with others, entertainment and pleasure, self-exploration and growth, job hunting and business development.  Are we still a place of quiet study and research? Absolutely! (In fact, the entire upper level of the Revitalized St. Thomas Public Library will be just for quiet study and research!)

This card reflects that change. Sure, it’s a little silly, but it shows that kind of fun and entertaining attitude the library has become synonymous with. Libraries are far from boring and it was time that our card wasn’t either! Actually, this kind of different and silly card seems to be the way libraries are trending! Edmonton Public Library started the ball rolling with a “crazy” campaign that turned out to be an award winner. Libraries as close as Cambridge Public Library are doing the same kind of idea.

You might be asking yourself, “Why is the library like a super hero?” Well, think about this…

With one library card you can not only check out the best-selling book, you can download it to your eReader, listen to it on CD in your car, find out the show times for the book-turned-movie version in the paper, read the reviews (both book and movie) online, find out what shenanigans the author and actors are getting into in the magazines, listen to the soundtrack, and check out the making-of documentary on DVD, after which you can check out the biography of the author, research the location where the book took place, and book a trip online to visit it.

In one library visit, you can take your toddler to a preschool reading program, attend a program yourself, check out books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and material in other languages, research in our local history department, use the public-access Internet computers or bring in your own laptop to use our free Wi-fi, have a one-on-one computer training session, ask our Information Desk staff any question under the sun, have our Children’s Department staff recommend what material your other children can use for a project, relax in the library to read a newspaper or publication from over a dozen subscriptions , request material from another library, and sign up your elderly mother for Home Library Service. (And that’s not even scratching the surface.)

Sounds pretty super to me!

You can pick up this new card and key fob (they’re a two-for-one kind of thing) at the service desks in the Adult Department and the Children’s and Teens’ Department of St. Thomas Public Library, Elgin Mall location. For October and November 2011, you can exchange your old card for this fancy new one for free. (There’s usually a $5 replacement fee, but because the library is like a super hero, we’re waiving that fee for two months. That way, everyone can get in on the action!)

Our Marketing lady is anxious to hear what you think of the new cards! Please leave a comment or answer the poll.

-RC

Alzheimer Society

Elgin-St. Thomas 

Coffee Break

Monday, October 17, 2011

Adult Department, St. Thomas Public Library, Elgin Mall

Once again, the library will be hosting an Alzheimer Society Coffee Break on Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Adult Department of the St. Thomas Public Library, Elgin Mall location. We’ll be serving Higgins & Burke Gourmet Organic Coffee – Rainforest Blend.

Coffee is by donation – $1, $2, $5, whatever you like! Donations of $10 or more will receive a tax receipt.

Coffee Break is one of the main annual fundraising and awareness events of the Alzheimer Society Elgin-St. Thomas. The funds raised in Elgin County stay in Elgin County to support their programs and services. In Elgin County alone, there are over 1,200 reported cases and the society knows that for every person with dementia, it will affect 10-12 others. The mission of the Alzheimer’s Society of Elgin-St. Thomas is to optimize the quailty of life of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers. This is achieved by providing education, support, awareness, information, advocacy, and funding for research.

We hope you can find a few minutes to grab a cup of coffee in the morning or afternoon and make a donation (big or small!) to a worthy cause.

- RC

“Get” Your Gadget – A Workshop on How to Use Your eReader

I get it! Really – I’ve been there. The latest gadget, smartphone, tablet, eReader, electronic “thing” comes out and you’ve just gotta have it. It doesn’t matter if you and electronics mix together like a paperback and a bubble bath; new gadgets are cool. Or perhaps you are the type of person who has finally taken the plunge into the digital age and recently purchased the latest electronic “thingie.” The point is, we have them. Now… how do we use them?

 

Have no fear, device using citizens! St. Thomas Public Library to the rescue! Some folks from the library are setting up a workshop with the specific purpose of showing you how to browse, check out, download, transfer, and read eBooks on your gadget. It doesn’t matter what type or brand of personal electronic device you have: Blackberry, Android, Kobo, Kindle, Sony, Apple, whatever! (We have some pretty tech savvy people on staff who know all about these kinds of things and they’re pretty good teachers, too!) The point is, you’ll have someone who knows what they’re doing sit down with you one-on-one to help you “get” your fancy gadget so you can read eBooks.

 

“Get” Your Gadget eBook Workshop Details:

Saturday, October 22, 2011

10:00 a.m. until Noon (individual half hour sessions will be booked)

Library Meeting Place, Elgin Mall

FREE admission!

 

Space is limited so email Carol at ckim@st-thomas.library.on.ca or call the Information Desk at 519-631-6050 to book your spot today! Also, be sure to spread the word. I have some parents, aunts, and uncles who would definitely benefit from having someone show them how to use their gadget to read eBooks and they may or may not read this blog…

 

OK, slight disclaimer. I know I said “any” gadget, but some devices are simply not compatible to the eBook service we subscribe to. If you’re a “better safe than sorry” kind of person, you can check here to see if your device can download library eBooks.

- RC