Libraries, Books & Technology

Moving PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries

2012-02-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

On Monday February 13, Pennsylvania's libraries launched PA Forward before a crowd of state legislators, business leaders, statewide association executives, state agency delegates and library supporters at the State Capitol.

Part revolution and part evolution, PA Forward is a dynamic, new movement that redefines Pennsylvania's libraries as a central hub for promoting the five literacies essential to our citizens' success:

     - Basic literacy
     - Information literacy
     - Civic and social literacy
     - Health literacy
     - Financial literacy

Visit paforward.org to learn more about what makes your local library uniquely qualified to be your community's leader of information, technology, and learning — places that fuel educational and economic opportunity for all.

29% of Adults Own E-book Reader or Tablet

2012-01-27T11:00:00.002-05:00

According to the latest study from Pew Internet, the number of Americans owning either an e-book reader or tablet jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January this year.

That's amazing growth for these devices.

I've had a Kindle for a few years now. But when I saw a terrific close-out deal on an Android tablet last month - a Motorola Xoom - I decided that the time was right to get one.

I've been enjoying it ever since, with all of my apps from my Android smartphone syncing up right away with the Xoom. I quickly found myself downloading books, viewing Internet sites, shopping and requesting library books all from the comfort of a chair in our family room.

Many of our library users are also among those who are now trying these gadgets out for the first time. If you find yourself lost in the weeds trying to figure out how to download a book, our reference librarians may be able to help you.

In fact, Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill now has an eBooksHub that will help you navigate your way through the library eBook download process. We'll be happy to answer your questions and point you in the right direction.

Demise of Libraries?

2012-01-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

Doesn't the Internet make libraries obsolete?

That's one of the most common questions that I'm asked about my job.

Last Friday, The Huffington Post published a great article that said "Those who prematurely announced the demise of libraries at the hands of the Internet failed to anticipate the symbiotic relationship that would develop between the two institutions."

In fact, studies show that Internet users are much more likely to visit public libraries than non-Internet users.

The ways in which library visitors use the Internet show just how important a public service this has become. The article's author, Susan Hildreth reported that:

42 percent of those using library Internet computers used it to advance educational goals;
40 percent had career or employment purposes, with three-quarters of those specifically seeking a job;
37 percent were focused on health and wellness; and
34 percent used the library's Internet connection to link to government officials, programs, and services.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

Public Libraries Struggle to Meet E-Book Demand

2012-01-19T14:49:00.003-05:00

On Sunday, The Washington Post had a great front-page article about the problems facing public libraries as we try to meet the public's demand for e-Books.

Entitled "E-reader Revolution Creates Demand Libraries Can't Meet", the author identified some of the key issues:

Titles Not Available - Not all books are available as e-books.
Publishers Not Willing to Sell to Libraries - Many of the publishers of the most popular titles won't sell e-books to libraries.
Lack of Funds to Stock an Adequate E-Book Collection - When funds are short, libraries are having a difficult time carving out sufficient funds to buy e-books, plus maintain existing collections.
Libraries Don't Make Downloads Easy - The vendors that libraries must use to provide e-books for our customers make browsing the collection and downloading titles notoriously difficult.

Ebooks still make up a very small proportion of our library system's circulation -- Less than 1% out of about 2.6 million items borrowed in 2011. But that percentage grew by about more than 6200% in one year. And, we expect it to grow even more in the coming year.

Right now, to make our money go as far as it can, we are working with the Dauphin County Library System to provide a shared e-book collection for our library card members.

That seems to be a reasonable solution for now...but stay tuned as we continue to work on this rapidly growing service.

Cat in the Hat on a Bike

2011-08-16T13:07:00.000-04:00

Well, you asked for it, and here they are. Pictures of me as the Cat in the Hat at Simpson's Run for Reading last Saturday, August 13.

It was a really fun morning. I was impressed by the two guys that were running at a 12 mile per hour pace. (Imagine that!).

They, of course, outpaced me on the hills, when I slowed to about 9-10 miles per hour on my bike. They just kept on their steady pace!

Then there were those who chose to run the course with babies in their jogging strollers. I was mightly impressed by them, and by the woman who walked the course and told me that just a month ago, she couldn't have even walked a mile.

That morning she did 3.2 miles! What a feat!

But best of all, I even had a few kids ask to have pictures taken with me...one cute little boy said, "Mom, that's not really the Cat in the Hat is it?"

No, but it's fun to pretend.

Cat in the Hat Rides Tomorrow

2011-08-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

Saturday morning at 8:30 am, I'll be leading the Simpson Public Library's Run for Reading 5K race and 1 mile run/walk on my bicycle.

Now, you may ask, why would I post a picture of The Cat in the Hat on a blog about leading a race of runners on my bike?

Well, when the Run for Reading committee asked me if I would consider leading the race, I thought, why would a bunch of sleek, slim runners want to see a 53-year-old librarian riding her bike?

I concluded that the only way to make this entertaining for me (and for them) was to see if I could get a reading-related bike jersey. And, much to my delight, I found a Cat in the Hat-theme jersey. Then, Simpson's children's librarian, Linda Stoner, gave me her red-striped tall hat — and I plan to figure out a way to attach that to my biking helmet tonight.

So, if you want a hoot, or if you want to run or walk, come to the Friendship Park in Upper Allen Township Saturday morning, August 13th.

For more information visit: http://cumberlandcountylibraries.org/index.aspx?NID=859

Funny Books are Possible!

2011-06-21T13:15:00.001-04:00

Do you ever feel like every 'good' book that you read is dark and depressing?

Sometime I feel like that. Book groups also tend to choose books that really explore the bleaker side of human nature.

Well, to combat that feeling, check out the Everyman Wodehouse Price for Comic Fiction.

I haven't read any of their most recent picks, but I plan to check them out. This year's winner was Gary Shtenyngart's Super Sad True Love Story.

Jack Reacher Casting Call

2011-06-16T16:48:00.000-04:00

According to a story posted on June 13th in the Hollywood Reporter, Tom Cruise has an offer in hand to portray one of my favorite thriller characters, Jack Reacher.

The article says that Christopher McQuarrie has adapted Lee Child's 2005 novel, One Shot, for the screen and also plans to direct the film.

I don't know...Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher isn't exactly my pick for the powerful, yet weatherbeaten veteran that I've always pictured in my head. Reacher's always been more like Harrison Ford, or Clint Eastwood...for me, but I guess they are kind of old!

The Ins and Outs of Gadgetry

2011-05-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

David Pogue of the New York Times writes: “Every time a reader asks me a basic question, struggles with a computer, or lets a cellphone keep ringing at a performance, I have the same thought: There ought to be a license to use technology. It’s time to publish the first installment of what should be the Big Book of Basic Technology Knowledge—the prerequisite for using phones, cameras, and computers in today’s society. Some of these tips may seem basic, but you’ll probably find at least a couple of ‘I didn’t know thats!’ among them."

Check out his Ins and Outs of Gadgetry and 25 More Tech Tips and Tricks.

The Reading Season is Heating Up

2011-05-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

The LA Times tells us that The Reading Season is Heating Up.

Check out its picks for summer reading in 9 categories:

Read Outside Your Comfort Zone

2011-05-19T10:17:00.000-04:00

Do you ever read outside your comfort zone?

I was reminded of that today when I read an article in The Guardian where science fiction writers choose their favorite titles.

I typically don't read science fiction, yet a few of my favorite books have been science fiction — the Dune series by Frank Herbert and Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell come to mind.

I just might challenge myself and have an experience from another world.

Best Crime Novels

2011-05-13T16:39:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love a good mystery?

Booklist has published a best crime novels list for 2010 and the first part of 2011...and their lists can usually be relied upon for some good suggestions.

I haven't read a single one, but at least two of my favorites authors are included: Henning Mankell and Kate Atkinson.

Droid is a Game Changer

2011-05-02T17:36:00.000-04:00

At one point, I thought I wanted an iPad. However about a month ago, I took the plunge and traded in my tried and true Blackberry for an Android (or Droid) and got an HTC Thunderbolt.

What fun I've been having since then! And, even more importantly, I don't think I 'need' that iPad anymore (or at least, not right now).

There is so much that the Droid can do. The list is almost endless. Beyond keeping up-to-date with email, my calendar, contacts and phone calls, there are so many apps out there - both free and for fee.

I've easily borrowed and downloaded both eBooks and eAudios from the Capital Area Library District web site. (This required a simple download of Overdrive application to my Droid, plus registration on the Adobe site for an ePub id. If you are having trouble, try using the Quick Start Guide).

I also have the Amazon Kindle app and the Audible app, and can read books that I've purchased from Amazon or listen to books that I've purchased from Audible.

It's fun to see the new apps that are coming out everyday for the Droid. (Check out the Amazon Droid marketplace...it features a different paid app each day that users are permitted to download for free).

Library eBooks Coming to Your Kindle!

2011-04-21T08:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Amazon.com announced that later this year Kindle's would be able to borrow eBooks from libraries using OverDrive as their digital platform for lending eBooks and eAudios.

This has been one of the critical missing links for libraries that were developing eBook collections. Until this announcement, we weren't able to tell Kindle customers (like me) that library eBooks would work with their devices.

For the past several years, the Cumberland County Library System has been working with libraries in Dauphin and Perry County to develop a three-county digital collection.

We started with eAudios that you can download to your MP3 player (or iPod) and late last year we launched a new eBook collection that now has several thousand titles.

So, now as we continue to develop our digital collections, we know that we'll eventually be meeting the needs of all of our customers.

This is great news!!

Pulitzer Prize Winner: A Visit from the Goon Squad

2011-04-19T13:41:00.001-04:00

The 2011 Pulitzer Prizes were announced today. And, the fiction winner, A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, is a book that I've actually read. That rarely happens!

And, unlike the last Pulitzer Prize winner, Tinkers by Paul Harding, it is a book that I can actually recommend reading.

A Visit from the Goon Squad is, without a doubt, one of the most imaginative books that I've ever read.

A collection of short, but linked, stories, it shares the stories of about 13 or so characters over a period of 40 years. It bounces around those years, entirely out of order, so that you see little pieces of the overarching narrative as it is revealed through the eyes of a different character in each chapter.

For a great review of the book, check out The New York Times.

And, let me know what you think!

Happy National Library Week

2011-04-11T10:51:00.001-04:00

This week libraries across the nation will celebrate National Library Week. And, in honor of this special occasion, I thought that I would share a recent picture of one of my favorite great nieces at the library. Here's Annabelle Darr at her local library in Glenview, Illinois.

She was reading Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny Too.

Now, for those of you who may be concerned that it looks like she is stepping on the book, her mom assures me that she had just dropped it and was getting down from her chair to pick it up again.

It's never too early to visit the library and read!

What isn't Great about Libraries?

2011-04-07T09:12:00.000-04:00

National Library Week is next week, April 10-16. Libraries across the nation and in Cumberland County will be celebrating all that is great about your local public library.

See what others think is great about libraries in this short 3 minute video from the American Library Association.

Out and About at Simpson Public Library

2011-03-16T09:18:00.000-04:00

The library system is very proud that another one of our libraries, Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, has hit its 50th year anniversary milestone this year.

ABC-27's Chuck Rhodes visited the library recently and his "Out and About" series featured his visit this week.

To celebrate its anniversary, Simpson Public Library has a lot of special events scheduled throughout the year, including a classic '1961' movie festival.

The library has also produced a wonderful special 50th Anniversary video that recounts the history of the library.

Favorites into Movies - Hooray!

2011-03-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

According to an article posted on NPR's Monkey See site, some of my favorite books of the past few years are being made into movies this year. A few of these include:

One Day
The Help
Jane Eyre
Water for Elephants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I did see the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo over the weekend, and I highly recommend it. However, I think I'll enjoy seeing an English version even more.

Googling Symptoms?-- the Library has Better Info

2011-02-02T08:48:00.001-05:00

An article from Fox news was sent to me today, Stop Googling Your Symptoms, Doctors Warn, that said doctors "are seeing too many 'cyberchondriacs', people who misdiagnose their illnesses after Googling their symptoms."

That may be true, but I think it's great that people are arming themselves with information whenever they have a medical problem. It's just that Googling symptoms probably isn't the best place to start. As the article says "any wacko can write anything and put it on the web."

You should start your research in a trustworthy place to be sure that your information is accurate and credible. Then you can intelligently work with your medical practitioner to find the best solution.

Where can you do that? ... the Library of course! We invest a lot of money in these resources every year.

This year, Fredricksen Library and its East Pennsboro Branch are using a $15,000 LSTA grant to update our health and wellness collections.

Bosler Library also receives ongoing funding from the Carlisle Health and Wellness Foundation to make sure that we can offer up-to-date, authoritative online resources. The Bosler Library also just received word that it will receive a $5000 grant from Commonwealth Libraries' LSTA program to continue updating our consumer health collection this coming year.

Plus, we also have trained librarians who can assist you with finding information. So don't be one of those people the doctors are complaining about. Be sure you have accurate, credible information first!

Introducing the 2010 Megalist: All the Best Books of the Year in One Spreadsheet

2011-01-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Wow!

If you are looking for a good book to read, check out the megalists posted and created by Williamsburg Regional Library. It lists in three big spreadsheets all the best books of the year from 2010, 2009 and 2008.

It even classifies them by popular genres - general fiction, mysteries, YA Fiction, non-fiction, etc.

It's fun and very complete!

Introducing the 2010 Megalist: All the Best Books of the Year in One Spreadsheet

Libraries Make an Economic Difference

2011-01-20T13:55:00.000-05:00

A new study from The University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government finds that public libraries in Philadelphia make a huge difference.

Just a few interesting nuggets show that in 2010, the library provided a value of:

$2.2 million in career development book-reading & lending.

$2.1 million in job-finding online activities, including workforce database usage
and online job searching/prep.

$1.7 million job-readiness and workforce-related programming.

$2.9 million in business development online and database activities.

$819,285 in business development book-reading & lending.

$55,385 in business development programming.

Plus, homes within ¼ mile of a Library are worth, on average, $9,630 more than homes more than ¼
mile from a Library.

Recession Affects Library Use

2011-01-06T17:36:00.000-05:00

A national study reporting on the public's use and perceptions about libraries will be released very soon. (Perceptions of Libraries, 2010)

It looks at how the economic recession has changed online habits and how library use has been affected.

Some of the report’s early findings show that:

About a third of American families have experienced a negative job impact during the recent recession.
The majority of Americans reported reductions in their consumer-buying behaviors, and, as a result, many Americans increased their library use.
Economically impacted Americans are 50% more likely to visit the library at least weekly than those unaffected and are 20% more likely to hold a library card.
Americans who reported a negative job impact are more likely to use a broader range of library services than those not impacted and find greater value with both the library and the assistance from the librarian.

eBooks are Here

2010-12-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

In recent blogs, I have said a lot about how the Cumberland County Library System has no plans to offer eBooks anytime soon.

Well, here's some good news.

Through a partnership with the Dauphin County Library System, we now have a small collection of eBooks available from our website.

The collection has about 350 popular titles. More will be added as funds allow in 2011.

These eBooks are only compatible with Adobe EPUB readers (not Kindles). Unfortunately, licensing and format restrictions prohibit libraries from buying Kindle compatible eBooks at this time.

We're excited to begin offering this service and look forward to your comments.

Oprah Picks Dickens

2010-12-06T16:07:00.001-05:00

A month or so ago, my Crummy Book Club picked David Copperfield for its next discussion. I was so worried about not being able to finish it on time that I both listened and read it. (The audio version alone was about 37 hours...or you can listen to an abridged version that clocks in at 2 hours...I can't imagine how they did that!).

Unfortunately, our Book Club discussion was postponed until January. But, I am done with the book and look forward to the discussion.

Now, I've learned that Oprah's next book picks are Charles Dickens' Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.

I wonder if a Dickens' renaissance is in the works?