It's true, there have been a lot of changes at the library, and they continue to roll out. We do get some complaints about it all, and we get some appreciative comments as well. I agree, there have been a lot of changes - and each one I firmly believe has been an improvement, something that has made a great library even better.
There has been a great deal of change, and to be honest, there will be more. The world all around has been changing faster and faster, and the library didn't keep up as much as it might have. So we really had to do some catch-up before we could be responsive to current demands and expectations.
We work hard to offer solutions to today's challenges, provide the kind of access and support our community has come to expect from service providers, while preserving the personal service we have always been known for at Kelley.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
I came across this bit from the BBC this week, and took the challenge. It was interesting to see what books they included and I blow by the 6, but only got up in the low 30's. Sadly, I only read that many due to being required to at school. So while the list has modern titles as well as 'classic', the books I have read fell mostly in the 'classic' side. There are those that would suggest that that is because of my age. I would guess that to be right - but not for the reason one might think. I am sure that the 'classics' I was required to read in High School are a far different mix than the ones high school students read now.
I was lucky as well that a number of Jane Austen/Bronte sisters books were included. One summer I set a challenge to myself to read all of Jane Austen and succeeded. Bronte sisters were out of necessity. I have to be reading at all times, and there were many times I was scraping the barrel for something to read. So depending on where we were at that time, I was either dipping into my mother's collection, the books left in our place in Maine from the time it was built in the early 1900's, or at the little library we visited regularly in Maine. Talk about scraping the barrel. This library was dark and probably saw 20 new books a year. I was reading 20 books easily a week, and inevitably over the course of my childhood, read nearly all the books in the library. These were mostly books printed prior to 1930. You know they were old when they were the books Shirley Temple movies were based on. So I picked up some credit on this BBC list from that library. I would like to say I read the Bible (also on the list) as a result of my years going to church each week, but I read that due to a course in college: Archaeology and the Bible. Yeah, I took a number of archaeology courses (a paper I wrote on coprolites was a huge hit with my professor, but that is a (funny) story for another day), but in this one we read the Bible from cover to cover.
So does it really matter why you read a great book or is just the fact that you read it enough? Hard to tell, but I do remember those books more vividly than others I tore through recreationally. No doubt because I had to remember enough to talk about it later.
Take the challenge and see where you fall. And remember, it is a list created by the BBC so it skews a bit British. You could also try this list of titles recommended by Amazon to read in a lifetime. I did a bit better with that group!
I was lucky as well that a number of Jane Austen/Bronte sisters books were included. One summer I set a challenge to myself to read all of Jane Austen and succeeded. Bronte sisters were out of necessity. I have to be reading at all times, and there were many times I was scraping the barrel for something to read. So depending on where we were at that time, I was either dipping into my mother's collection, the books left in our place in Maine from the time it was built in the early 1900's, or at the little library we visited regularly in Maine. Talk about scraping the barrel. This library was dark and probably saw 20 new books a year. I was reading 20 books easily a week, and inevitably over the course of my childhood, read nearly all the books in the library. These were mostly books printed prior to 1930. You know they were old when they were the books Shirley Temple movies were based on. So I picked up some credit on this BBC list from that library. I would like to say I read the Bible (also on the list) as a result of my years going to church each week, but I read that due to a course in college: Archaeology and the Bible. Yeah, I took a number of archaeology courses (a paper I wrote on coprolites was a huge hit with my professor, but that is a (funny) story for another day), but in this one we read the Bible from cover to cover.
So does it really matter why you read a great book or is just the fact that you read it enough? Hard to tell, but I do remember those books more vividly than others I tore through recreationally. No doubt because I had to remember enough to talk about it later.
Take the challenge and see where you fall. And remember, it is a list created by the BBC so it skews a bit British. You could also try this list of titles recommended by Amazon to read in a lifetime. I did a bit better with that group!
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Perception is everything
We are all too familiar with how differently different people react to the same thing. Just think about the recent 'crisis' about the white/gold or black/blue dress controversy. Who would imagine that this would strike such a responsive chord. But the reality is that we have no idea how other people literally see things. My kids and I have spent many a summer afternoon quizzing my husband about the colors of the boats in the harbor - and then laughing (yes, we are that cruel) as we argue about his answers. He sees dark blue, black and dark green very differently than we do.
So I was fascinated to come across an article about seeing (or not) colors. This simply is the most mind blowing (forgive the 60's reference)article and concept that I have even come across. I really encourage your reading the article and especially looking at the color test given to a tribe in Namibia. Amazing. Truly, we see the world around us in hugely different ways. It is amazing that we get along as well as we do!
So it is no surprise that some people think the new main floor arrangement is great, others don't care, and some hate it. The same with the BISAC project. Some of our users are lamenting the loss of Dewey, others apparently aren't noticing the difference enough to comment. The trick is to strike a positive chord with the majority, since as John Lydgate: "You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time".
So I was fascinated to come across an article about seeing (or not) colors. This simply is the most mind blowing (forgive the 60's reference)article and concept that I have even come across. I really encourage your reading the article and especially looking at the color test given to a tribe in Namibia. Amazing. Truly, we see the world around us in hugely different ways. It is amazing that we get along as well as we do!
So it is no surprise that some people think the new main floor arrangement is great, others don't care, and some hate it. The same with the BISAC project. Some of our users are lamenting the loss of Dewey, others apparently aren't noticing the difference enough to comment. The trick is to strike a positive chord with the majority, since as John Lydgate: "You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time".
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Dreams come true?
Have you heard that a sequel of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird has been unearthed and will be published later this year? There have been a number of responses to the news, with George R. R. Martin's (of Game of Thrones fame) perhaps being the best. It is stunning news as it was long believed that Ms. Lee had never written another novel, let alone one that builds on her classic.
And that is the scary part. How does an artist ever step out of the shadow of a phenomenon and continue? We have long heard of actors that never escape an iconic character. I just read the other day that John Wayne turned down the lead in Gunsmoke to avoid being typecast as a cowboy - don't know if that's true since that ship had sailed by that point. We hear of one hit wonders in music all the time. How many best new performer Grammy winner has sunk into obscurity? Look at JD Salinger. He never published a book after the huge impact of Catcher in the Rye. Just how do you overcome the over-blown expectations based on one piece, one book, one film? More locally, what about the amazing performance of Patriot Malcolm Butler? Will expectations be so high that anything Malcolm does from now on will seem so much less? Will he be able to step out of the shadow of expectation and not let that burden interfere with his mental game?
On the other side of that coin is our concerns about being disappointed by the sequel, the next song, the next book. So while many of us will be eager to read the book, others are going to be a bit hesitant to have something one loves potentially diminished. So we will keep our fingers crossed and wait eagerly for Harper Lee's next book and trust that it has been well worth the wait rather than something that was hidden away with good reason.
And that is the scary part. How does an artist ever step out of the shadow of a phenomenon and continue? We have long heard of actors that never escape an iconic character. I just read the other day that John Wayne turned down the lead in Gunsmoke to avoid being typecast as a cowboy - don't know if that's true since that ship had sailed by that point. We hear of one hit wonders in music all the time. How many best new performer Grammy winner has sunk into obscurity? Look at JD Salinger. He never published a book after the huge impact of Catcher in the Rye. Just how do you overcome the over-blown expectations based on one piece, one book, one film? More locally, what about the amazing performance of Patriot Malcolm Butler? Will expectations be so high that anything Malcolm does from now on will seem so much less? Will he be able to step out of the shadow of expectation and not let that burden interfere with his mental game?
On the other side of that coin is our concerns about being disappointed by the sequel, the next song, the next book. So while many of us will be eager to read the book, others are going to be a bit hesitant to have something one loves potentially diminished. So we will keep our fingers crossed and wait eagerly for Harper Lee's next book and trust that it has been well worth the wait rather than something that was hidden away with good reason.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Happy New Year!
It is that time of the year that I look back at the past year - putting together a number of different annual reports. All the loose ends need to be dealt with, and it really is a time to take a breath and make a few (dare I say) resolutions. Promises to keep up with the paperwork and projects, promises to finally get that Facility plan completed, promises to get to that stack of folders that seemed like such a high priority months ago.
But it is a time to look back, as I said. And I really just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for a great year - our wonderful library users, our hardworking and welcoming staff, the community for their awesome support of the library. You are deeply appreciated.
It is that time of the year that I look back at the past year - putting together a number of different annual reports. All the loose ends need to be dealt with, and it really is a time to take a breath and make a few (dare I say) resolutions. Promises to keep up with the paperwork and projects, promises to finally get that Facility plan completed, promises to get to that stack of folders that seemed like such a high priority months ago.
But it is a time to look back, as I said. And I really just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for a great year - our wonderful library users, our hardworking and welcoming staff, the community for their awesome support of the library. You are deeply appreciated.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
It's December, it must be time for some changes
I realized this week, that I just like to move things around for a fresh look, and a new approach. Luckily, the library offers a lot of opportunity for this - and for some reason, it always seems to be in December. And this month is no different.
Stop in this month (or next month when it will be all done, except for some fine-tuning and tinkering) and see what's new and different. Now, I don't do this willy-nilly and without good reason - really! We are always analyzing the layout to make sure that we are meeting the changing needs and expectations of our users in the best possible way. This change is going to be pretty big, but we feel that it will ensure that we (the staff) are out where we are most needed.
Live with it for a while and let us know what you think - we are always looking for suggestions.
Stop in this month (or next month when it will be all done, except for some fine-tuning and tinkering) and see what's new and different. Now, I don't do this willy-nilly and without good reason - really! We are always analyzing the layout to make sure that we are meeting the changing needs and expectations of our users in the best possible way. This change is going to be pretty big, but we feel that it will ensure that we (the staff) are out where we are most needed.
Live with it for a while and let us know what you think - we are always looking for suggestions.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated
I know, that is not the actual wording of Mark Twain's famous statement, but it is the one we all feel familiar with.
That being said, in light of a recent article in the Washington Post, and echoed in many places elsewhere, it seemed just the right statement. The article was addressing the flattening of eBook sales. Right now, after several years of double and triple percent increases, the latest figures are no more than 5%. Wow, that is a change from the many articles saying that the print book is dead. The article goes on to give a possible explanation, saying:
We may be discovering that e-books are well suited to some types of books (like genre fiction) but not well suited to other types (like nonfiction and literary fiction) and are well suited to certain reading situations (plane trips) but less well suited to others (lying on the couch at home). The e-book may turn out to be more a complement to the printed book, as audiobooks have long been, rather than an outright substitute.
It is what I suspected from the start - after being in the library business for as many eons as I have, you learn not to buy into the hyperbole. eBooks are definitely here to stay, and will represent a sizable portion of reading materials, but unlike the reports of the past few years, the print book will remain a viable method of delivering books into your hands. Now that the dust has settled, we feel more sure of how best to offer books, whether print, digital, or audio. That is why we are careful to offer access to as many formats as possible.
What will the future bring and look like - I can't answer that, but it is an endlessly exciting mystery that continues to unfold.
Oh, and try out our new Kindle that is dedicated strictly to classic books - those great books that libraries want to have, but rarely have the space for them all. Paul, our reference librarian, has been selecting and adding many titles just to make sure that we do offer the widest range of reading materials possible. This is a great use of eBook technology.
That being said, in light of a recent article in the Washington Post, and echoed in many places elsewhere, it seemed just the right statement. The article was addressing the flattening of eBook sales. Right now, after several years of double and triple percent increases, the latest figures are no more than 5%. Wow, that is a change from the many articles saying that the print book is dead. The article goes on to give a possible explanation, saying:
We may be discovering that e-books are well suited to some types of books (like genre fiction) but not well suited to other types (like nonfiction and literary fiction) and are well suited to certain reading situations (plane trips) but less well suited to others (lying on the couch at home). The e-book may turn out to be more a complement to the printed book, as audiobooks have long been, rather than an outright substitute.
It is what I suspected from the start - after being in the library business for as many eons as I have, you learn not to buy into the hyperbole. eBooks are definitely here to stay, and will represent a sizable portion of reading materials, but unlike the reports of the past few years, the print book will remain a viable method of delivering books into your hands. Now that the dust has settled, we feel more sure of how best to offer books, whether print, digital, or audio. That is why we are careful to offer access to as many formats as possible.
What will the future bring and look like - I can't answer that, but it is an endlessly exciting mystery that continues to unfold.
Oh, and try out our new Kindle that is dedicated strictly to classic books - those great books that libraries want to have, but rarely have the space for them all. Paul, our reference librarian, has been selecting and adding many titles just to make sure that we do offer the widest range of reading materials possible. This is a great use of eBook technology.
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