Community Library of Allegheny Valley, Natrona Heights, PA
Curriculum Materials Center, Livingston Lord Library, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
Lemon Grove Branch San Diego County Library, Lemon Grove, CA
George C. Marshall Center Research Library, Garmish-Partenkirchen, Germany
Mengle Memorial Library, Brockway, PA
Norfolk Public Library: Larchmont Branch and Kirn Memorial Library, Norfolk, VA
PA One Book, Every Young Child Program Transforms Pennsylvania
Raymond A. Whitwer Tilden Public Library, Tilden, NE
Reading Public Library: Northeast and Southeast Branch Libraries, Reading, PA
San José Public Libraries, San Jose, California
Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusettes, Amherst, MA
Westside High School Library, Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, Larned, KS
Williamsburg Community Library, Williamsburg, KS
Valley Center Branch San Diego County Library, Valley Center, CA
Vineland Public Library, Vineland, NJ
Submit a story
Carlsbad Public Library, Carlsbad, NM: Transformation: From Boring Waiting Room to Lively Reading Area
After an extensive renovation to the children’s department at Carlsbad Public Library here in Carlsbad, New Mexico, we found that we had some leftover shelving. The librarians had been wanting for some time to make a special effort to reach out to low-income families in our community, so I called our local county health office, which serves as a WIC coordination site and low-cost medical facility. The manager gave me permission to deliver a bookshelf stocked with children’s picture books to the waiting area. He was also open to the idea of having me come and do a couple of programs a month for the parents and kids about reading, libraries, books, or whatever I wanted to talk about, because attending parenting classes is a requirement for receiving services there.
I set up the bookshelf in the waiting area, which, until the arrival of the books, was completely devoid of anything for the children to do. When I came back to give my first program a couple of weeks later, I was dismayed because it appeared that, of the two or three dozen books I had delivered, only a handful were left! Then I looked around the waiting area and realized the shelf was empty because the children in the waiting area were all reading the books with their parents.
After doing some book talks for the parent education classes, I was gratified to hear from the staff that both parents and children enjoyed my programs, and I was asked to do more. At the end of my talks, I hand out information on the library’s free programs for kids, tell parents about books we have on raising children, and invite them to come and apply for library cards.
The waiting room bookshelf has been a very successful and low-cost way to help parents and children enjoy reading together; the informal programs provide me with an opportunity to “put a face on the library” and encourage people to take advantage of the wonderful learning and leisure experiences available to them at their local library.
Submitted by:
Beth Nieman
Public Services Librarian
Carlsbad Public Library
101 S. Halagueno St.
Carlsbad, NM 88220
Community Library of Allegheny Valley, Natrona Heights, PA
“The Great Masters’ Café” has been a very successful and popular monthly art program (September - May) offered at our library to a local homeschooling group.Recognizing the need to reach out to this underserved population and respond to their interests, I started this monthly art program to expand our library’s services, encourage library use and provide a welcoming environment.
Around noon, the school age children (targeted grades 3 & up) and their mothers arrived at the library to eat their packed lunches at our “café". During the next 90 minutes, we explored the lives of various famous artists, their works, art style and techniques. Our exploration was followed by a hands-on activity that simulated an aspect of the artist’s work.
To keep it exciting and current, I included: books, videos, CD’s and online resources, all available through the library. The highpoint of the year was a field trip in May to The Carnegie Museum of Art. The group invited their local art instructor to accompany us, which further extended our community connection.
To incorporate the use of technology, I took a digital picture of each child and their finished activity after each program. I am currently working on a virtual art portfolio for each participant, downloading these photos onto individual disks that will be a keepsake for them.
Members of the group have since gone on to host a Geography Fair, Science Fair and even a first time ever “Informational Home School Meeting” at our library. By hosting one program, our library has been integrated into an entire group’s curriculum.
Submitted by:
Kathy Firestone and Susan Wilson
Community Library of Allegheny Valley
1522 Broadview Boulevard
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Curriculum Materials Center, Livingston Lord Library, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN
The Curriculum Center at Livingston Lord Library, Minnesota State University Moorhead have created various outreach projects in the past to make connections with K-12 schools and public libraries. Our latest and long-term project has indeed "transformed" our academic library. We have created the "Comstock Reading Aloud Initiative with funding through annual grants from the Solomon G. Comstock Memorial Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the Wanda Gág Book Award Fund of the Minnesota State University Moorhead Alumni Foundation, Moorhead, Minnesota.
The Comstock Book Award, an annual award for the best read aloud picture book for older children (ages 8-12). This award is named for the Comstock Family, an important pioneer family in Moorhead, Minnesota.
The Wanda Gág Book Award is an annual award for the best read aloud picture book for younger children (preschool to age 8). This award is named for Wanda Gág, a children’s book author and illustrator and artist.
These annual awards reflect the following goals:
Recognizing authors and illustrators of outstanding picture books to read aloud.
Promoting reading and reading aloud as lifelong activities.
Assisting anyone who reads to children with the selection of quality picture books.
Providing MSUM students with practice to improve reading aloud skills.
Offering children ample opportunities to listen and respond to quality literature.
Each year we receive picture books submitted by publishers for the awards, or in some cases purchase worthy books. Books are screened by Read Aloud Committee members to determine whether they are selected for reading aloud to children. Selected books are read aloud by participants throughout our community, including:
* Minnesota State University Moorhead students, particularly those majoring in elementary or early childhood education. The Reading Aloud project is required by some of the classes students take. Students read aloud the picture books throughout our entire region (including the states of MN, ND, SD, and WI).
* local school or public librarians
* local PreK-6 teachers in the community who volunteer to read aloud the new picture books to their students
* the staff of Livingston Lord Library.
Each reader completes a "feedback form" to tell us how successful a particular book was as a read aloud, especially noting how children responded to the book.
These forms are used in the spring by the read aloud committee to select the best picture books of a given year to read aloud.
How has this program "transformed" our Library?
* It has become an important outreach service for our academic library.
Through the program we offer services to local schools and public libraries.
* It has directly involved our own university students with an opportunity to serve children by reading aloud to them. Please note that in 2005-2006 we read aloud to nearly 19,000 children (counting each time a child was read to).
* It has become a way to link the Library with our own faculty and staff, who volunteer to serve on the committee that oversees this program.
* It helps fulfill our Library mission which in part states that we our dedicated to "encouraging reading."
Submitted by:
Carol H. Sibley
Curriculum Librarian
Curriculum Materials Center, Livingston Lord Library
Minnesota State Univesity Moorhead
Lemon Grove Branch San Diego County Library, Lemon Grove, CA
George, one of our Philippine American customers, came to our Poetry Month “First Friday at the Library” and got up twice to read poems he learned as a child in the Philippines. They were poems in English, not Tagalog, however. I was amazed he came and also participated, because previously he always seemed so bashful.
The following month, at one of our Asian Pacific Programs, the performance of the Philippine dance group Samahan, George and one of our other regular daily customers who were born in the Philippines shyly looked on. They had been convinced to come to the program while waiting their turns on the Internet stations.
I watched as both became so excited to see dances they remembered from their childhoods. While watching the dancers, one of them started telling me about his childhood in the Philippines, where he had himself had danced to the national folkdance “Tinikling”, in which dancers jump between bamboo poles.
Neither man would come into the room and sit, but you could tell it made a real impact on them, and one told us later how much he enjoyed it. Before this, neither attended library programs because they thought there wasn’t anything that appealed to them. Now they see the library in a new light and have frequently become part of the library’s programming audience.
Along with the Filipino customers' new and deeper connection with the library through programming, has come an awareness of what the library has to offer, beyond their use of the Internet. The new collection of Tagalog DVD’s, which we had doubted would check out, has likewise been attracting new Filipino customers, excited to see them. One pointed to the cover of a DVD and said quite matter-of-factly to me – “That’s my uncle.” Turns out he was a famous director and film star in the Philippines!
Submitted by:
Janet Gastil, Sonya Heiserman, and Ellen Zyroff
San Diego County Library
George C. Marshall Center Research Library, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
The George C. Marshall Center Research Library has always played an integral role in the academic life of participants at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, a renowned educational institution located in the heart of the Bavarian Alps. The Marshall Center mission is to promote dialogue and understanding among the nations of North America, Europe and Eurasia, conducting a variety of unique education programs. Public and military officials from over sixty countries attend these programs, which are all taught in three languages - English, German and Russian.
The need for services and resources in three languages creates unique challenges for the Research Library. Fifty percent of the Marshall Center participants arrive speaking only the Russian language or with limited English language proficiency. Furthermore, most come from former Warsaw Pact countries, or from newly developing countries, which do not have the infrastructure or financial means to provide comprehensive library services or access to electronic information resources. Many participants arrive without the information literacy skills necessary to fully utilize the wealth of resources that the Library provides while they are here and continues to provide upon their return to their home countries.
During the past year, the Library has been transforming itself from a more traditional service provider to a more pro-active one in order to address these challenges. Emphasis is now shifting to information literacy, multi-language services, outreach and lifelong learning. With these challenges in mind, the Library began to develop a Strategic Plan in early 2005 to provide direction for the future. Specific initiatives within the Strategic Plan, which is now in final draft, are already being implemented and are producing significant results:
- Participants are being actively engaged with the Library soon after their arrival through introductory tours, followed by in-depth database training classes offered in all three languages. Classes introduce participants to the online catalog, as well as, to commercial databases to emphasize the wealth of available resources and to overcome any hesitancy in using them.
- Reference assistance is being provided in all three languages. Although the staff is small and the only official reference librarian is an English language specialist, German and Russian-speaking librarians are now available upon request to assist participants.
- The Library is reaching out to faculty and participants even further by scheduling Library staff visits to elective classes to further promote Library resources based on elective subject matter.
- Library webpages are being enhanced to provide more electronic resources in all three languages wherever possible.
- Multi-language databases, especially Russian and German language databases, have been identified, purchased and promoted on webpages, the Knowledge Portal, and in training classes.
These initial efforts are paying noticeable dividends for the Library in terms of increase in Library visits, requests for featured resources, and an increase in usage of the databases. There also seems to be a direct correlation between these efforts and student activity in the Library.
Quality of Life surveys and student comments give glowing feedback to the Library. A recently published report from the 2005 Alumni Leadership Seminar states:
“There was unanimous appreciation among the alumni for the opportunity to attend the Marshall Center. The aspects of the Marshall Center experience mentioned most often and characterized as “beneficial” or “very beneficial” were, in order of precedence, the research library, opportunity for networking and building friendships, exchanging ideas, and participation in seminars & field studies.”
Perhaps most telling of how effective this transformation has been, is the post-graduation impact these efforts are having on participants after they leave the Marshall Center. Since most alumni come from countries with limited library services and resources, continuing access to this Library seems most welcome and appreciated. Specifically:
- Participants have access to the Marshall Center’s Knowledge Portal. This portal allows alumni to remotely access Library resources, including many of the commercial databases provided to them while participants, from anywhere in the world.
- Alumni continue to receive Library reference support via e-mail.
Proof of this can be found in the following sampling of alumni comments from the above mentioned report:
“I use the electronic books on the EGA [Knowledge Portal], and the articles I could reference were up to date. I think it is amazing what we have access to.” [Georgia]
“The databases and network are a great priority. These databases are wonderful. Thank you for this access--it is very important for my work today.” [Lithuania]
“What I got here was not only knowledge but also excellent electronic databases where I can read papers and find good and recent information that I can use in my work. I always find very interesting information. I could visit CIA, for example. The Marshall Center gives us a direct line to excellent resources. My colleagues at the office envy [that I have access to] this resource.” [Romania]
Anecdotal evidence further supports this. In one instance, it was reported back that several participants worked on a committee to develop a new constitution for their country. After contacting Library staff, they used the online resources to assist in writing the constitution. A similar experience has been reported in which an alumni used Library resources remotely to develop his nation’s white paper on its national defense policy. And, at least one alumni has reported that he used the online resources to write a doctoral dissertation.
In transforming itself by seeking better ways to engage participants while they are here and continuing that engagement after they return to their home countries, the Library is having a far-reaching effect not only on the local community but on the global community as well. Such a wide-reaching impact is rare in the library community and adds considerable weight to the idea that “Libraries [really do] transform communities”. We are proud of our ongoing transformation and hope that we can continue to transform the Library to meet our customers’ changing needs, whatever and wherever they may be.
Submitted by:
Kathryn Davis
Systems Librarian
George C. Marshall Center Research Library
Mengle Memorial Library, Brockway, PA
Transforming Libraries is vital to our future. Our library found this out recently with a project funded from federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. This grant transformed our rural, public library. Susan Pannebaker, Youth Services Advisor for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries Pennsylvania Department of Education, developed a pilot project for three libraries in Pennsylvania to have literacy centers where parents and children can interact through stories and materials that extend these stories. We are thankful that our library was chosen to be one of the three pilot project sites.
Children have enjoyed the new environment that provided building blocks, vechicles and games. Parents bring the children more often since the literacy center items have been introduced and they stay longer after story hour. Often, children don’t want to leave the library.
For the Pennsylvania One Book Every Young Child Project featuring Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse by Lindsay Barrett George we borrowed a doll house from our local Jefferson County Even Start. The doll house has provided children many hours of fun and interaction. Children are amazing and some even know where all the furniture goes better than an adult.
Libraries need to transform our spaces to encourage fun and build enjoyable experiences that will promote life long learners.
Submitted by:
Darlene Marshall, Director
Mengle Memorial Library
324 Main Street
Brockway, PA 15824
Norfolk Public Library: Larchmont Branch and Kirn Memorial Library, Norfolk, VA
During the past several years, the children’s spaces in the Norfolk Public Library system have been undergoing amazing physical changes. While we still maintain outstanding book and A/V collections for our young patrons, we have begun to transform our “KidZones” into places for both learning and play by including a variety of educational toys and learning materials. These KidZones, available to families at all times the libraries are open, include such items as picture books and puzzles, learning toys, board books, dolls, Lego tables, and writing centers. Several of our twelve branches have been completely transformed, and the remaining branches will be soon to follow.
As part of the “Family Place” network, the Norfolk Public Library is committed to providing families with fun learning experiences. We believe that this ongoing transformation of our KidZones is a huge part of that commitment.
Larchmont Branch Before |
Larchmont Branch After |
|---|---|
Kirn Memorial Library Before |
Kirn Memorial Library After |
Submitted by:
Cathy Heninger
301 East City Hall Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23510
PA One Book, Every Young Child Program Transforms Pennsylvania
Imagine over half a million Pennsylvania children ages 3-6 all being exposed
to the joy of reading through the same beautifully illustrated picture book by acclaimed Pennsylvania author/illustrator Lindsay Barrett George.
That’s exactly what is happening as Pennsylvania continues its One Book, Every Young Child program, the state’s first-ever collaborative project to promote the development of early literacy skills through interactive experiences with books and stories.
Pennsylvania is one of only three states to initiate a one-book, one-state program for young children. The sheer numbers of children reached transformed libraries and communities across the state.
By June 2006, over 65,000 copies of the selected book Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse were distributed to public libraries, early care and education programs, and preschoolers, including 15,000 provided by a generous grant from Verizon.
Librarians and policy makers don mouse ears as they are led through and interactive activity the book's author and illustrator at the Pennsylvania Library Association's Best Practices Luncheon |
Contents of the Traveling Trunks |
The author visited more than 60 programs across the state. It is estimated that 90 percent of the more than 600 Pennsylvania public libraries read Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse at a storytime.
Public libraries reported that during April and May 2006 almost 4,000 children and 1,700 adults were introduced to Traveling Trunks with puppets, games and other resources developed by museum educators and aligned with PA Early Learning Standards.
The PA Department of Public Welfare coordinated a program that had Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak and over 100 other state employees reading Inside Mouse, Outside Mouse at childcare facilities across the state, reaching more than 3,000 children and over 660 adults.
Publicity about One Book, Every Young Child and Pennsylvania Library Association’s early learning forum and best practices luncheon featuring the book’s author delivered 7,085,621 impressions from 158 daily, weekly and Sunday newspapers across Pennsylvania plus undocumented broadcast coverage.
Program information, sponsors and activities can be found on the program’s website at www.paonebook.org.
Submitted by:
Cheryl Slavinsky
PPO&S
122 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Raymond A. Whitwer Tilden Public Library, Tilden, NE
Tilden, Nebraska is a small town, population 1078 (2002 census), located 130 miles northeast of Omaha. The City of Tilden is divided by the boundary of Antelope and Madison Counties. Tilden has a community hospital, pre-school, daycare, K-12 school, five churches, a nursing center for the elderly, dentist's office, two doctor's offices, a housing authority, grocery store, an ice cream/fast food shop, steak house, two bars, a bank, two gas stations, a lumber yard, farm supply store, variety store, two auto body and two auto repair shops, bowling alley, barber shop, two hair salons, a veterinary clinic and a library. The population has a significant number of elderly and a number of people, who live in town but work elsewhere. It is an agriculturally based, rural community.
About a decade ago, a situation arose that seriously divided the community. The building of the new library in 1999-2001 helped begin to heal the wound and bring the community back together. For many years Tilden held an annual celebration, but in late years enthusiasm for the project waned, until it finally consisted of just a barbecue and parade. With no consistent theme through the years the celebration was variously called Town & Country Days, Dog & Suds Days, Tildenfest, etc.
The Raymond A. Whitwer Tilden Public Library hosted the ALA sponsored Smithsonian Exhibit, Listening to the Prairie-Farming in Nature's Image for six weeks in the summer of 2004. The theme and timing of the exhibit caused the three person planning committee to initiate a Tilden Prairie Days festival during one weekend of the Exhibit. A successful grant application to the Nebraska Department of Travel and Tourism provided $5,000 for advertising. The Tilden Library Foundation agreed to be the main sponsor of the event and supply matching funds for the grant and requested that all events be free will offering. Tremendous support from the community helped shape a varied and extraordinary three day celebration, with an auditorium full of pioneer crafts, a tent full of prairie related exhibits, an antique machinery display, a large parade, a cream can feed, street dance, County Music concert, a gospel sing and a regional sanctioned Cow Chip Throw.
Tilden Prairie Days was awarded the Nebraska Department of Travel and Tourism Outstanding New Event for 2004. This award was the direct result of the Prairie Exhibit and Library Programming. The 2006 (3rd) Tilden Prairie Days is bigger and better than ever, boasting nearly 60 antique dealers, a large quilt show, Cow Chip Throw, numerous food vendors and nationally known entertainment. The library continues to sponsor the Quilt Show and Cow Chip Throw, an interesting combination.
The event is now paying its own way and brings thousands of people to the community.
The national traveling exhibits made possible through ALA mean a lot to every site that hosts them. In Tilden's case, the Prairie Exhibit helped energize the community. Its benefits will be felt for years to come. This is economic development that is vital to the survival of communities like Tilden. The Raymond A. Whitwer Tilden Public Library is very proud to have been part of the process.
Submitted by:
Dixie Kucera
Raymond A. Whitwer Tilden Public Library
202 South Center St.
Tilden, NE 68781
Reading Public Library, Reading, PA
Northeast Branch Library: Library/Migrant Partnership
With a 2004 LSTA grant, the Northeast Branch Library expanded the Migrant Resource Center to serve the Spanish speaking population of Reading, Pennsylvania.
The goal of the Center is to encourage lifelong learning and to strengthen families and children. The Center includes Spanish language and bilingual materials such as movies, music, ESL materials, parenting information, citizenship materials, books, and magazines.
By building communication between the library and the community for adults and children who do not speak English, we are attracting an underserved audience. Our bilingual staff provides access to information and continued education for the public.
Free classes in English as a Second Language and Parenting include free childcare comprised of bilingual story times for participants’ children. A free bilingual Homework Center offers extra help with school work for all children. Eight laptop computers, a color printer, and connections to our television allow classes and patrons to use the many educational tools available at the library.
This program is replicable in all communities where there is a willingness to reach an underserved population. Contact with agencies and organizations that serve the target audience as well as trained Spanish-speaking personnel are required. Funds for staffing, supplies, and materials are also necessary.
Southeast Branch Library: Senior Resource Center
In 2005 Reading Public Library created a Senior Resource Center at the Southeast Branch with an LSTA grant. A special area was delineated for seniors and includes soft, comfortable chairs surrounded by shelves containing large print books, vintage movie DVDs and videos, magazines and pamphlets of interest to seniors. In addition, we added computers with large screens and assistive technology. And of course programming for seniors increased.
Seniors were also invited to attend a memoir workshop which was conducted by a Fellow of the Pennsylvania Writing Project and lasted 6 weeks. At the end of the workshop, the participants chose pieces to be included in an anthology which was printed and then distributed to participants, area public libraries, and senior high rises. The culminating activity was a luncheon at which the seniors read portions of their pieces aloud.
The Senior Resource Center has been a boon to the Branch by attracting not only seniors, but also families who enjoy the homey atmosphere that the new furnishings have provided. Among them are mothers who homeschool their children. They meet and socialize while their children browse the children's collection.
The Senior Resource Center has been a hit with the members of our community.
Submitted by:
Linda Baer
Special Projects Coordinator
100 South Fifth Street
Reading, PA 19602
San José Public Libraries, San Jose, California
What prompted us to take the plunge? Was it the mayor, prompting us to "squeeze the last ounce of benefit out of a shrinking dollar pool?" Or was it the steadily increasing stream of customers demanding more, more, and still more? Was it the vision of our Director, Jane Light, seeking ways to bridge the gap between demand and deliverables? Changing our service model at San José Public Library has beena transformational experience for staff and customers alike, but absolutely essential for managing roughly 200% increase in circulation since FY 1994/95 without corresponding increase in staff.
Snapshot view of San José and Its Library
Population Served: 945,000, 10th largest city
Circulation per capita: 15.4, 7M Visitors
Materials expenditure per capita: $4.25
Languages in collections: 50+
Main Library joint use with San Jose State U
17 branches, building 6 more
80% Circulation at Branches
Transformations
Over 90% self-checkout & renewal
26% fines paid online
Self-serve pickup of customer HOLDS
Cross trained staff delivering seamless customer service
Shifting to 1 service point
Reduced backroom tasks increase direct customer service staffing
Fast track re-shelving of hot items
Marketplace of “hot” new and popular items in prime entry space
Coffee vendor partnerships at 4 new branches
Results
Massive increase in circulation in spite of no increase in staffing
Self-Service design layout frees staff for higher level service
Streamlined collection management process
Reduced backroom work & materials handling
Branch Team approach to operations
Trained staff for new skills and roles
Emphasis on public service when hiring staff
City Administration sees Library as a model for innovation
Pointers
A little bit of change won’t address fundamental issues; develop a vision, implement incrementally
Action oriented teams, formed & dissolved for specific purpose
Don’t wait until you have all the answers
Don’t wait until everyone is on the same page; expect 30% resistance
Staff are initially resistant to concept but are resilient as they begin to implement
City Resident Survey shows
72% rated Library services “Excellent” or “Good;” 13% increase; highest; biggest increase and highest satisfaction rate over any other City Dept. for last 5 years
66% indicate that they or someone in the family has used a San Jose Library in-person or online within the past year
We’re soaring high with libraries and services that meet the needs of today’s customers.
Seventrees Branch Library
Before |
After |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Submitted by:
Ruth Barefoot
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
150 East San Fernando Street
San Jose, CA 95112-3580
Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
On Friday, September 16th, 2005 at 7:00 pm, when the library normally closed for the night, gamers began arriving at the library door, controllers in hand. As a greeter ushered them in, they saw the atrium transformed into a giant game room with projectors and screens where tables and chairs stood only hours before. Loud music filled the space and the Library rules prohibiting food were relaxed for the night. The library provided free pizza, soft drinks, and cookies in the middle of the atrium, dividing the Halo2 and Madden players. Twelve pizzas were consumed in the first hour and by the end of the night, 20 pizzas had been eaten.
|
Students Working in the Atrium |
Open Game Night |
|
Most people had signed up with friends to play a specific game, but others came in singly and were assigned randomly. The games began immediately. Halo2 on Xbox was by far the most popular. Students had networked four game consoles on the right side of the atrium so four-person groups could play by themselves or play against the larger group. By the end of the night, 16 students were playing the same game against each other.
Conveniently, the large-group Halo2 game ended right at 11:00 pm and we announced the event was over. Gamers politely picked up their controllers, thanked us profusely, and asked when the next game night would take place. We are very sure they would have played all night in the atrium had we not sent them home. Plans are afoot to once again transform the Library this September with another, larger open game night where music and video games will transform the atrium into the ideal space for gamers!
Submitted by:
H. David "Giz" Womack
Manager of Technology Training
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
W.E.B. Dubois Library, University of Massachusettes, Amherst, MA
The Du Bois Library café, Procrastination Station, opened in February 2005 to the delight of students and Library staff. The café, located in the lobby, serves Rao’s coffee (a local coffee roaster and popular place to study), baked goods, beverages, sandwiches, and salads. Handsome, spill-proof Library coffee mugs and water bottles are available for a small donation. The redesign of the Library entrance lobby also includes PC kiosks, express check-out machines, attractive desks for General Information and Security services, comfortable chairs, new signs, a building directory, and bookshelves filled with the most recently acquired books.
“I’m a senior – I just came down to the Learning Commons to see what the buzz was all about. It’s beautiful! I’m really excited to see something that will certainly have a positive impact on the education here.”
The entrance lobby is now a bustling, welcoming place where students, faculty, and staff can meet for a cup of coffee, read the paper in a comfortable chair, check out the latest books, or pick up a sandwich for lunch.
The Learning Commons (LC) is the centerpiece of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library’s 2005 renovations; the transformation of approximately 23,000 square feet of the Lower Level of the Library. The goal of the LC is to support students in their learning and in their campus life. It is especially helpful to those students new to UMass Amherst, undeclared majors, and those without rich support services in their fields of study. It is a gathering place for study and socializing right in the heart of the campus. Complete with comfortable chairs, ample table space with flexible arrangements, group study rooms, and wireless Internet access, the LC serves as a central access point to a variety of campus resources, including research, technological, advising, career, writing, tutoring, and assistive technologies assistance.
“I’m currently a sophomore and I wanted let you know that the new Learning Commons is excellent. All of my peers share the same thoughts as I do. Thanks for this new space.”
The DuBois Library has seen a huge increase in visitors since the LC opened. Visitors have increased steadily; the numbers have been up approximately 70% over 2005. We are now open 24/5 (Sunday through Thursday) and the number of patrons per week is approximately 50,000 (about 7,000 a day).
The LC was created as a pilot and has been very well-received. New services and resources continue to be added but use has exceeded expectations and the plan is now to expand the facility to double its current size. A significant component of that expansion is the addition of 150 computer stations, in addition to more collaborative study rooms and a second electronic/lab classroom. Microsoft is donating $600,000 in software to make this expansion possible.
Microsoft software will enable the LC to offer more information technology resources and instruction, and meet the needs of its target audience - underserved users in our community, including the public, students at risk, and those with disabilities.
“I think the Library has improved tremendously and it is truly a privilege to have such amazing technology and resources available to us.”
The LC is generating lots of interest on campus and at other colleges and universities. In recent months, we have hosted tours for librarians and faculty from Boston University, Brandeis University, Dartmouth College, Framingham State College, Harvard Business School, Lesley University, the Naval War College, Northeastern University, Plymouth State College, Providence College, Simmons College, Smith College, Wesleyan University, and UMass Boston, among others.
Submitted by:
Leslie Schaler, Development and Communication Department
154 Hicks Way
University of Massachusettes
Amherst, MA 01003
Westside High School Library, Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility, Larned, KS
The story I have to share relates to Westside High School Library which services incarcerated juveniles at Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility. All of our students are male between the ages of 14 to 21 years with about 80% having reading problems (either diagnosed conditions or reluctant readers).
About six years ago, I was working in my school as an English Instructor and was asked to take over the library. We had no school librarian for the five years I had worked at the school and the library was basically a storeroom for books. The usage was minimal and inconsistant. I took on the challenge and started my library degree, but was only allowed to work in the library two hours a day.
The status and usage improved, but not very much. In 2003 our average collection age was 1986. We had no technology available for students and we just pruchased a library automation program.
Since then, the school moved into a new building. Our library space did not increase, but our program has grown. I now serve as the full-time library media specialist. While the official collection age has not been recalculated, it is guesstimated to be around 1998-2000. Our monthly usage statistics average 400 with actual checking out of materials at about 300 per month (this is with a patron average of 130). Our library contains eight computers for student use with an additional computer serving as an automated card catalog. We run programming throughout the year for special events such as Banned Book Week, Poetry Month, Cinco de Mayo, and National Library Week. We have instructors scheduling library days for class assignments and students coming to the library throughout the course of the day. Library skill lessons are also being taught in conjunction with course assignments and through library skill lessons.
The addition of a full-time qualified library media specialist, a new factility and the updating of library materials has helped this library go from death row to renewed life.
Submitted by:
Gwen Lehman
LMS, Westside High School
Williamsburg Community Library, Williamsburg, KS
I attended the grand opening of a library in Williamsburg, KS -- population approx 300. The library is a 100% volunteer effort; Eloise Bennet, the librarian, is also a volunteer. The structure was built by a local high school class. The books and computers are donations. 
Things are starting small, but they are dreaming big. They want wireless access and technology classes. I have visited with them quite a bit as they work to shape their technology vision and put together policies, etc. and they truly work together as a community.
A ceremonial book parade moved books from the old one-room location to the new building. Radio Flyer wagons were the transportation mode of choice, but bikes were popular, too. There was a dog with a backpack, and a pony, and lots of people just walking.
The picnic lunch was catered by the one local restaurant, Guy and Mae's, which is famous for its barbecue. I sat with a guy who graduated from the local public school in 1933. He told me that he rode a pony to school every day. He told me that the ground we were sitting on used to be the Santa Fe railroad.
One of the board members for months has been holding up his pen when he sees me -- telling me that he will never use a computer, but on Saturday he told me that he has decided he will use one, but only to look up gardening information.
I would estimate that 250 people attended the event. There were politicians, tears (over donations given as memorials), and jokes. If I had to choose one word to describe the feelings of the community members present at the event, it would be pride.
The ten teenage boys who built the library with their teacher, the dozens of kids who helped transport books from the old building to the new, all of the people who attended and helped, feel and are going to continue to feel so connected to that building and to each other.
Submitted by:
Brenda Hough
Technology Coordinator
Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS)
3300 Clinton Parkway Court, Suite 100
Lawrence, KS 66047
Valley Center Branch San Diego County Library, Valley Center, CA
Valley Center is a rural community, still agricultural, with acres of avocado groves and horse ranches. There are no major grocery stores or malls, let alone a teen center. With the exception of the schools, the San Diego County Library, 
Valley Center Branch, reopened in 2005,is the largest building in town, and the only public place that is open past six in the evening two nights a week where, teens discovered, they could easily gather. Overnight the library became the “in” hangout for young people, but rather than integrating themselves in the life of the library, the teens were very disruptive. Different means were tried to control the teens, but nothing worked.
During this time the County Library administration was to hold a public forum in Valley Center to get our input for the San Diego County Library system’s Strategic Plan. The purpose of the meeting was to learn from community members what they wanted from their local library. The were invited teens and told that this was their chance to voice their opinions. We had made it clear what we wanted from them – now it was their turn to tell us what they wanted from us.
We thought the teens would not come, but we were wrong, more young people attended the meeting than adults. In the community room, seated around café tables brought in for the event, over 30 teens sipped soda, ate pizza and, were uncharacteristically quiet. Finally, the facilitator asked them to talk about the community of Valley Center, a young woman in the back row raised her hand and said, “There’s nothing for kids to do!”
When the facilitator asked what kind of after school programs did they want at the library, the young audience shed their temporary shyness and responded with an explosion of answers including open mike nights, art lessons, poetry readings and movies. While the teens talked, the staff took notes.
Soon after the community forum, we approached the young people with the idea of forming a teen council. The Friends of the Library would give them a budget for events beginning with providing an art teacher twice a month. They took us up on our offer and formed a teen council complete with elected officers.
Naming their group, Café Beat, the teens’ first event was a Mother’s Day Celebration. Their second was a showing of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean for the children of Valley Center. They decorated the community room with palm trees and treasure chests and dressed up like pirates.
For Halloween they transformed the library’s seminar room into Edgar Allen Poe’s Haunted House and invited the entire community. With the help of club president, Marquita Sanchez, there are close to 20 active teen members of Café Beat. They advise the librarian with ordering YA materials and they continue to plan and provide community programs, which have included a Cinco De Mayo celebration at which they provided authentic homemade Mexican food for over ninety people. In December they purchased materials and guided 60 elementary school children in the construction of gingerbread houses.
The President of Café Beat, Marquita Sanchez, was hired at the library as a student worker. Now, a year later, she has graduated from high school and has enrolled in library technology classes at the local community college. “I appreciate what the library has done for me,” she said. “Even though we caused a lot of trouble, the library still gave us a second chance.”
Submitted by:
Sandy Puccio and Ellen Zyroff
Valley Center Branch
Vineland Public Library, Vineland, NJ: A New Service to go with a New Expansion
“It is nicer to read to dogs than to people. Puppy Tales dogs listen to you well and good.” Love, Francise (4th grade)
Vineland Public Library serves a community of 56,217 people. The library building is located at the edge of downtown on Landis Avenue, the city’s beloved and historic main street. The 24,000 square foot library building opened its doors in 1976 and a much needed 6,552 square foot 
expansion was dedicated in November of 2003. The expansion was funded by a New Jersey Public Library Construction Bond Fund Grant, City of Vineland bonding, and private contributions.
“Puppy Tales dogs need to listen to kids read.” By, Katali (3rd grade)
The expansion includes a Children’s Event Room with space for puppet shows, storytimes, craft projects, magic shows and musical events. During the expansion’s week long opening festivities, eleven registered therapy dogs walked into the library looking for children to read to them! And, Puppy Tales was born.
“I can read to a dog by myself. The dogs are nice to me because when you tell them to sit down then they sit down.” Love, Ayla (2nd grade)
The first Puppy Tales program enjoyed an attendance of 103 people. Reporters interrupted readers and handlers, cameras flashed, wonderful smelling shoes whizzed by….but each dog and child ignored the distractions to curl up with a delicious story.
“We need Puppy Tales because I love reading to dogs more than people. Also they like us a lot! They make me happy.” Love, Brandon (2nd grade)
Since November, 2003, Puppy Tales Teams, dedicated to improving children’s reading and communication skills, have volunteered over 1,000 hours. The therapy dogs and their handlers visit the library each month drawing 50-60 readers to each event. Teams have been invited to visit local schools to help readers in the Reading Recovery program, attended graduations and presented a workshop at the N.J.A.L.A. conference. The impact this program has had on the children of the community is nothing short of magical. Puppy Tales dogs have proven reading really is fun! 
“I like to read to the dogs because it is the best. People sometimes say stuff when you try to read.” Love, Justin (2nd grade)
Without the library and our beautiful Children’s Event Room, this literacy program, based on such a simple premise, would not be changing the lives of our children.
“I love Puppy Tales. They are the Best!” Love, Austin (1st grade)
Note: Puppy Tales is affiliated with the national R.E.A.D.© program.
Submitted by:
Anita Lupcho, Community Relations Coordinator
1058 E. Landis Avenue
Vineland, NJ 08360