Adams County Library News

2012-03-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

Social Media and the Library

Merriam-Webster defines Social Media as, “forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos).” If you look up the word “tweet” on the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, you’ll find that it’s defined not only as “a chirping note” but also as “a post made on the Twitter online message service.” Whether you utilize it or not, social media is not something that can be ignored.

Social media has a population that is growing by leaps and bounds daily. It’s changing how we communicate with our friends, family and customers. People utilize social media applications from their smart phones, tweeting updates about their day and checking in on Facebook to see what their friends are doing. Studies show that one in every nine people on earth has a Facebook account while Twitter adds nearly 500,000 users a day and Google+ was the fastest social network to hit 10 million users (16 days).

As I said, social media is not something that can be ignored. The Adams County Library System is following in the footsteps of other libraries, exploring how to use social media to more effectively communicate with you, the public.

We started our entry into the world of social media gradually, creating a few blogs that we have linked to our webpage. These blogs are used to promote programs, dispense library news, and review books that the staff has read. We have recently moved further into the world of social media by joining Facebook, Twitter (@adamslib), and Google+.

We’re just beginning to explore the many ways we can use these programs. Much of the content that we add will change and expand as time goes on. By “friending,” “following,” or adding the library to your “circle,” you can get quick and up-to-date library news. You’ll get information on programs that the library is hosting, new services, updates on current services, and any weather related or emergency delayed openings or library closings.

By using social media, you, as a user of the library, will have the ability to more effectively communicate with us, in essence, start a new conversation with us. We want you to ask us questions about our services. We don’t just want to continue to push information to you, that’s too one-sided and quite frankly, not the way the world works anymore. Today, it’s all about the exchange of ideas.

So, if you’re already a user of social media, why not chat with us? We look forward to conversing with you as we delve deeper into this new world.

2012-02-23T10:39:00.001-08:00

OUR LOCAL NAACP

Booktalk is a monthly discussion group for those interested in cultural topics in general and literary subjects in particular.

February is Afro-American History Month. On February 27 Booktalk will present a program led by two of the members of the local chapter of the NAACP. Sara Gondwe, president of the chapter, and Lea Czar, chair of the Legal Redress Committee for the group, will speak on the goals of the group. These goals include efforts to encourage school districts to hire people of color, to document incidents of injustice such as racial profiling, to offer support and legal counsel for people of color at the Adams County Prison, and to mentor children and youths of low income families. The local chapter also works to make the Gettysburg area a place that welcomes all people regardless of color, ethnic origin, religious, sexual or political persuasion.

Sara Gondwe is a retired reading specialist and founder of the Gettysburg Area Literacy Council and South Central Reading Council. Lea Czar is president of Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice and a member of the Adams County Human Relations Council and the Adams Unity Coalition. Dr. Bettye Baker is the vice president of this local NAACP. Dr. Baker was the speaker at this year’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

PREVIEW

On Monday March 26 Booktalk offers a double header. In celebration of Women’s History Month Ms. Ruthe Craley will discuss the life of Verina Davis, the wife of Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Ruthe says that Mrs. Davis “became an unwilling First Lady of the Confederacy.” Ms. Jane Malone will present a biography of a local woman yet to be named.

POSTSCRIPT

On Monday January 30, 2012 Dr. Hugh Matthews and his wife Nell offered an illustrated discussion of their nine month stay in Tanzania. They taught at the Faraja Primary School, a school for disabled children, from Sept. 2009 to May 2010.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

The Booktalk programs are usually held on the last Monday of the month. Booktalk begins at 12 PM, last for about an hour and is held in the USS Eisenhower Room in the Adams County Library in Gettysburg. Admission is free of charge.

2012-02-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

There’s an App for That?

Two years ago I adamantly professed that there was no way that I would ever get a smart phone. I did not want a phone where I could receive email, nor any of that other newfangled stuff which I kept hearing about on the news. “Did you see the new “fill in the blank” APP? It is so cool.”

Well I have to admit that I caved, or more accurately, I was enticed by the shiny things when I went to my cell phone store to get a new phone, once it became clear that the number 9 on my old phone was just not going to work anymore. There they were, smart phones, with their promise of instant access and constant contact. I was hooked.

Ok, I now love my phone. Technology has always been an important part of my life, but I want to be able to provide it, I don’t want to be a part of it. I am not good with new gadgets. If I replace something, I want it to work just like the gadget I replaced. The smart phone was new to me. I had such a learning curve. Fortunately, I have friends with patience, like librarians, and I got the hang of using the new phone.

There are so many things I can do with my phone that I never imagined would be important to me. I can check the balance in my bank account every hour with the click of an APP (the techie term for an application for a mobile device). You may not find that interesting, but I can also find a free ATM with that APP everywhere in the world. That has been handy.

I also am able to follow any cruise that tickles my vacation fancy. I can get instant news anytime, anywhere, even when I am waiting in the car for the doctor’s appointment to be over and the radio is playing terrible music.

Libraries are also beginning to use more APP technology. The new online catalog the library is going to be upgrading to in the coming months has an APP which you can use to follow your library account. You will be able to renew books, place holds and track what you want to read from the comfort of your phone, while you are waiting in an airport for your delayed flight, which you can also track on another APP simultaneously.

If you’re learning a new language and use the library’s subscription to Mango Languages, you can already download their free APP to your smart phone and utilize the library’s subscription wherever you might be.

There are APP’s for reading books, listening to music, watching DVD’s and TV and a host of other things I never would have thought could be done on a telephone. This is another piece of technology which the library will not let pass us by. Check back to the library webpage to see when the new catalog is operational and the new APP is available.

2012 Youth Media Awards

2012-02-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

2012 Youth Media Awards

The 2012 Youth Media Awards were announced on Monday, January 23, at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, TX. While I have absolutely no luck whatsoever when it comes to predicting the winners, I always look forward to finding out who they are. Hopefully I’ve purchased the titles when they were reviewed last year and they are already on our shelves, or – even better! – checked out by patrons.

This year’s John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature has been awarded to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. Dubbed “autobiographical fiction,” the novel is set in the historic town of Norvelt, PA, during the summer of 1962 where twelve-year-old Jack Gantos is assigned to help an elderly neighbor write obituaries. Part adventure story, part mystery, this book is laugh-out-loud funny. Recommended for ages 11-13.

Two Newbery Honor books were named: Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, and Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin.

A Ball for Daisy has won the Randolph Caldecott Medal for being the most distinguished American picture book published in 2011. Illustrated and written by Chris Raschka, this wordless story of adorable, floppy-eared Daisy’s trip to the park is simply wonderful. We experience Daisy’s pleasure as she happily chases her bright red ball, and her pain and anger as a larger dog pops the ball. Don’t despair, there’s a happy ending just a few pages away. I loved this book and can’t wait to use it for storytime. For ages 2-5.

Three Caldecott Honor books were named: Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco; Grandpa Green, illustrated and written by Lane Smith; and Me…Jane, illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell.

For a complete list of all children’s award-winners, please visit the American Library Association website (www.ala.org) and click on “American Library Association Announces Youth Media Award Winners.” I am happy to report that all of these materials may be found at your local Adams County Library System, so please stop by and see us soon!

Book Talk

2012-01-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

A FAMILY’S SOJOURN IN TANZANIA

Booktalk is a monthly discussion group for those interested in cultural topics in general and literary subjects in particular.

On Monday January 30, 2012 Dr. Hugh Matthews and his wife Nell will offer an illustrated discussion of their nine month stay in Tanzania. They taught at the Faraja Primary School, a school for disabled children, from Sept. 2009 to May 2010. The Matthews’ three children were able to visit their parents at one time or another.

While in Tanzania, Hugh and Nell taught English, library skills and physical therapy. The audience is invited “to come along to Tanzania, East Africa for a picture log of their stay in that country.” Nell promises “the group will hear and learn about the people of Tanzania and, of course, the animals living in the Serengeti National Park.”

A little bit of FYI: Tanzania is located in East Africa. The name Tanzania derives from the names of the two nations Tanganyika and Zanzibar that united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanzania is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north; Rwanda, Burundi and Zaire on the west; Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south. Mt. Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania and Lake Victoria touches its shores.

POSTSCRIPT

On Tuesday December 27 I presented “Healthcare For All!?.” As part of the program I reviewed two books on the issue of healthcare in the United States. In “Deadly Spin” Mr. Wendell Potter, Senior Fellow on Healthcare at the Center for Media and Democracy, attacks the healthcare industry for being more interested in profit than in service to its subscribers. Dr. John Geyman is the author of “Hijacked: The Road to Single Payer in the Aftermath of Stolen Healthcare Reform.”

I also summarized the bill which a group called Healthcare 4 All PA is sponsoring for the citizens of Pennsylvania. This single payer health care bill is presently working its way through the Pennsylvania state legislature. In addition I reviewed the recent Patient Protection and Affordability Act.

PREVIEW

February is Afro-American History Month. On February 27 Booktalk will present a program led by some of the members of the local chapter of the NAACP. Sara Gondwe is president of the local chapter and Dr. Bettye Baker is vice president.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

As we end another year here at the Adams County Library System, it is a time to be both reflective and hopeful. 2011 has been a very good year for the Adams County Library System.

One highlight of 2011 was the opening of the Littlestown Library in its new location. The Friends of the Littlestown Library and Borough of Littlestown worked hard in 2009 and 2010 to renovate the closed business at 232 North Queen Street into a modern, appealing library. The library has been very successful, with circulation up nearly 80% this year and more than 700 newly registered library users is just amazing.

It is time to concentrate on our goals for 2012. Building on the success of the Littlestown Library project, the other facilities of the library system will be studied for improvements that can be made.

The Gettysburg Library building was constructed almost 100 years ago as a post office in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the coming year, the Board will contract for a study to determine the maintenance needs for the Headquarters building to guarantee a modern yet traditional library usable for the next 100 years.

In 1988, the old Post Office building was sold to the Borough and the Library System for use as a library facility. After four years of renovations and upgrades, the library was moved from what is now the Gettysburg Borough Offices into the new facility. It was a beautiful renovation and was well designed for library service. During the last 20 years, library service has changed in ways which was not envisioned in the 1980’s. Because of this, the Gettysburg Library will need have some upgrades done to meet the needs of a 21^st century community.

Some of the work which needs to be done will begin quite soon. In the spring the Gettysburg Library will replace the sidewalks. The sidewalks have been damaged by the roots of the 50 year old trees which line the streets. This will be a disruption, but we will do everything possible to make sure that it is not a burden on the public. The exterior of the building will need to have some additional cosmetic work done, such as painting and cleaning. This will just be the beginning; once plans are in place we will let you know what will be happening as well as how it will improve service.

With all these hopeful thoughts of the future, I want to wish everyone a wonderful, healthy and happy New Year!

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL!!??

2011-12-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL!? TUESDAY DEC. 27

Booktalk is a monthly discussion group for those interested in cultural topics in general and literary subjects in particular.

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN OUR USUAL DAY

On Tuesday December 27 at noon, I will present “Healthcare For All!?.” As part of the program I will review two books on the issue of healthcare in the United States. In “Deadly Spin” Mr. Wendell Potter, Senior Fellow on Healthcare at the Center for Media and Democracy, attacks the healthcare industry for being more interested in profit than in service to its subscribers. Dr. John Geyman is the author of “Hijacked: The Road to Single Payer in the Aftermath of Stolen Healthcare Reform.” Dr. Geyman is the past president of the Physicians for a National Health Program.

I will also summarize the bill which a group called Healthcare 4 All PA is sponsoring for the citizens of Pennsylvania. This single payer health care bill is presently working its way through the Pennsylvania state legislature. In addition, I will also give an update on the present status of The Patient Protection and Affordability Act of 2010.

PREVIEW

On Monday January 30, 2012 Dr. Hugh Matthews and his wife Nell will offer an illustrated discussion of their nine month stay in Tanzania. They taught at the Faraja Primary School from Sept. 2009 to May 2010. Hugh and Nell invite their audience “to come along to Tanzania, East Africa for a picture log of their stay at a school for disabled children---a sabbatical away from business and a dream come true. The audience will hear and learn about the people of Tanzania and, of course, the animals living in the Serengeti National Park.”

POSTSCRIPT

On Monday November 28 at noon Dr. Janet Powers, Professor Emerita of Interdisciplinary Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Gettysburg College, presented an illustrated lecture entitled “Cultural Peace Building in Bosnia.”

For six weeks in the summer of 2011 Janet Powers and Ms Marcia Prozo, a Bosnian refugee and an American citizen living in Gettysburg, traveled to Bosnia to carry out a project of peace building with Catholic and Muslim youths. Marcia Prozo acted as interpreter and cultural liaison for the trip.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

2011-12-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Looking for a Good Book?

A person may look at the list of young adult novels being published today and think that there’s nothing new except for paranormal romance. That’s really not the case. Whether you’re looking for historical, realistic, fantasy, steampunk or dystopian fiction, there are plenty of good titles. The following are just a few of my favorite young adult titles published in 2011.

Love has been outlawed as the life-threatening source of all discord in Lauren Oliver’s Delirium. All American citizens must submit, at age eighteen, to a neurological procedure that “cures” them of love – symptoms of which include passionate feelings about anything. Poetry and any contact between members of the opposite sexes are forbidden. The authoritarian government rules with suspicion, violence and bureaucratically arranged marriages. Lena will be eighteen soon, and is approaching the date of her procedure with both trepidation and relief. Then she meets Alex, a boy who inspires feelings that upend everything she believed about her community and herself.

Who is Finley Jayne and what is this “thing” that is growing inside of her? This is one of the questions that is sort of answered in Kady Cross’s The Girl in the Steel Corset, the first entry in her Steampunk Chronicles. Finley is a girl living on her own – but she’s not normal. No normal girl could fell a grown man with one punch. Only Griffin sees the magical darkness inside of her and says that she’s special. He takes her in, much to the consternation of his band of misfits, and allows her to join them as they investigate The Machinist, the criminal mastermind behind a recent wave of crimes by automaton. Finley thinks she’s finally found a place where she can fit in, but The Machinist knows about her and will do anything to destroy Griffin and his friends.

In The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, the year is 1996. Josh and Emma have been neighbors and best friends their whole lives – best friends, at least, until last November when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird ever since. When Josh’s family receives a free AOL CD, his mom makes him go over to Emma’s and install it on her computer. Josh and Emma are immediately logged into their Facebook accounts – but Facebook hasn’t been invented yet. They’re seeing themselves fifteen years in the future and realize that with their new knowledge, they can change the path of their lives.

There are plenty of other great novels that have been published in 2011. Are you looking for a Jack the Ripper copycat? Try The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. Want to read about a boy who kills ghosts? Then Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake might be a good fit for you. How about a coming-of-age story that’s framed by some of the most terrifying events of the last 60 years (from World War II to 9/11)? Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet might just be the novel you’re looking for. All these titles and so many more are available from the Adams County Library System.

SUPPORT YOUR LIBRARY

2011-12-09T08:54:00.000-08:00

3 Ways to Support Your Library

The Board of Trustees recently had the opportunity to thank a special group of library supporters. The Named Endowment Reception was held on November 4, at the still new, Littlestown Library. The reception gathered the friends, families, and honorees of the library’s Named Endowment Program to recognize the importance of the continued support libraries need in order to meet our mission of service in our community.

Like many other organizations, the Adams County Library System has suffered funding losses for the last several years. The library continues to function successfully because of the investment, you, our community, is willing to make. Your investment benefits not only you personally, but serves for the betterment of the entire community.

What can you do? Money is always nice. The Adams County Library System manages to operate, fund, and support 6 libraries and a bookmobile for about $25 per Adams County resident, per year. That’s a pretty good deal. Just think, for about the cost of one book or one DVD, or one CD, you have access to unlimited resources.

There are several ways you can make a donation. Making a cash donation in someone’s honor or memory is a perfect gift this holiday season. You can specify that your gift be used for general support or use your gift to place a book, movie, or music title in someone’s honor. We’ll be happy to supply a card announcing your gift.

More substantial gifts can be used to establish a Named Endowment Fund, which recognizes an individual or organization and their support of the library by providing a funding source that directly purchases library materials each year.

Another way to support your library is to volunteer. We offer a variety of opportunities, from shelving and repairing books to offering your talents to our branch organizations and dedicated Friends’ groups.

Perhaps the easiest way to support your library is to use it. Come in and look around. Check out books, magazines, movies, music, or explore the resources on the website. Feed your curiosity. And then, tell your friends. Recommend the library when someone needs information or inspiration. Be a library advocate.

TO BUILD A BRIDGE

2011-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

TO BUILD A BRIDGE

Booktalk is a monthly discussion group for those interested in cultural topics in general and literary subjects in particular.

On Monday November 28 at noon Dr. Janet Powers, Professor Emerita of Interdisciplinary Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Gettysburg College, will present an illustrated lecture entitled “Cultural Peace Building in Bosnia.”

In the wake of the 1992-1995 Balkan War several parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in rural areas, still experienced cultural and ethnic tensions between Catholics and Muslims even though hostilities had ceased seventeen years before.

In the town of Fojnica and in the city of Sarajevo Janet and Marcia helped to organize ethnic dance and choral groups. The highlight of the mission was A Concert for Peace which culminated in the dancing of the kolo a traditional circle dance which is beloved by all ethnic groups in Bosnia.

PREVIEW

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

What's New?

2011-11-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

What’s new at the library

Here is a look at some of the new DVDs recently added to the adult collection at the library. If you’ve missed a new movie or television program, wish to revisit an old favorite, or are looking for something completely different, stop by and browse through our selection of videos. They are all available to borrow free of charge.

The library has copies of the film Smoke Signals available for borrowing. It was recently shown as part of the Adams County Reads One Book program, and is based upon a book by Sherman Alexie and directed by Chris Eyre. Other films of Native American interest available include: Skins, a powerful story of two brothers living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, also directed by Chris Eyre; Older than America, a darker film about atrocities committed at a boarding school; Powwow Highway, a humorous 'road trip' film touching on serious issues; and Christmas in the Clouds, a light romantic comedy of mistaken identity set at a ski lodge during the holidays.

The library has received the following videos related to military history: The Danish Solution, narrated by Garrison Keillor, depicts the efforts of Denmark to save its Jewish citizens during World War II; Gettysburg, a new History Channel documentary; Hallowed Grounds, a tour of America's overseas military cemeteries; Medal of Honor, a history of the award and the stories of some of its recipients; Korean War Stories, and Unforgettable: the Korean War, two PBS documentaries examining the war from the soldiers' perspectives; and Road to Thunder, an account of twelve veterans riding from California to Washington, DC to participate in the Rolling Thunder bike fest.

British mini-series and television programs remain very popular and offer an evening of quality entertainment. Be sure to check out Case Histories, based on the Jackson Brodie mystery series by Kate Atkinson and starring Jason Isaacs. Other mini-series include The Hour, a spy thriller set in Cold-War era England, and Lost Empires, set in the music halls of England during World War I. The library has also received new seasons of Garrow's Law, George Gently, Inspector Lewis, Luther, Midsomer Murders, Murphy's Law, New tricks, and Pie in the Sky.

Some of the feature films new to our shelves include: Beginners, Best and the Brightest, Bridesmaids, Everything Must Go, Horrible bosses, Larry Crowne, Little Big Soldier, Queen to Play, and Shaolin. New seasons of popular and award winning television series include: Bones, Castle, Fringe, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, Haven, House MD, Modern Family, and The Office. Upcoming videos to look forward to include: Beginners, Fright Night, Midnight in Paris, and a new edition of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. All of these videos and more are available to you at no cost at your local library.

Friends of the Library Store

2011-11-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

Friends of the Library Store – There’s Something for Everyone

With the Winter Holidays just around the corner, why not come and take a look at the best-kept secret in Gettysburg, the Friends of the Library Book Store? Located on the lower level of the Adams County Library (main branch), this friendly little store is open seven days and three evenings a week.

The store, operated 100% by volunteers, will soon be well-stocked with all kinds of Seasonal items. There will be shelves of colorful children’s books, Holiday fiction by well-known authors and many beautiful collections of “little books” to use as stocking stuffers. Customers will find many craft and cookbooks just right for entertaining and there are “coffee table” books along with hobby and specialty books. Shoppers will find gifts for friends, relatives, teachers, and of course, a little something for you to keep for yourself.

If you are new to the Friends Book Store, you may not know that by becoming a member of the FOL, you will be entitled to a 20% discount on your purchases. The FOL pledge for this year to the Adams County Library System is $60,000. Approximately, one-third of this amount comes from book store sales and this year, a whopping $27,000 from our annual Book Sale.

While the store’s books and other items are “used”, we pride ourselves on offering the best of all items donated to the library. Items are carefully selected and reasonably priced. Our managers watch incoming book donations and after many years of experience, can spot the bargains that are then passed on to you.

At this time I thank the community for its continuing support of the Library by your continued donations. And, a very special thank you to the book store volunteers for all you do to make this such a successful and profitable activity.

Coming soon........

2011-10-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

Coming soon: For you, For Me, For Later at the Library by Laura Goss

The Adams County Library System has been awarded a two-year $20,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to teach area children lessons in spending, sharing and saving and equip parents to reinforce the lessons at home. PNC provided the funding in support of Grow Up Great, its bilingual program in early childhood education.

The For Me, for You, for Later program will provide an opportunity for preschool aged children and their families to learn about financial literacy. The Library System’s Youth Services staff will participate in the “train the trainer’ program offered through PNC and work to develop programs for the community.

The grant from the PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), will allow the ACLS to provide programs including story times focused on counting and comparing and include a variety of supporting activities including music, movement, and poetry. The children will have an opportunity to explore manipulatives which will reinforce numbers and counting as well as more abstract concepts such as goal setting and saving. Participants will receive a paperback copy of a book on the program’s theme. The Library System plans to provide these community based programs in all six branches during 2012 and 2013. Library staff may also provide special programs to Adams County area daycare centers.

PNC recently announced the extension of Grow Up Great by $250 million over 10 years to strengthen existing programs in math, science and the arts and reach more children, families and teachers. “Our goal with Grow Up Great has always been to help children succeed in school and life. With this new financial education program, we are empowering community partners to provide those financial basics that will help their families and our communities to thrive,” said Jim Hoehn, PNC’s Regional President for Central Pennsylvania.

To learn more about the PNC Grow Up Great initiative, go to www.pncgrowupgreat.com.

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through its signature cause, Grow Up Great, PNC has created a 10-year, $100 million initiative to enhance early childhood education and school readiness.

High quality early education and school readiness programming are initiatives of the Pennsylvania State Department of Education and the Commonwealth Libraries. The Adams County Library System is pursuing that goal by providing the young children with weekly programs as well as additional special programs, such as the annual Summer Reading Program. The For Me, for You, for Later: First Steps to Spending, Sharing, Saving™ program fits well into the goal of the ACLS to provide specific concepts that will prepare our young children to be “ready to learn” when they start school.

Halloween!

2011-10-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

It's almost Halloween !!

Have you scared up a good book to read lately? Well, check out some of these not so new authors in our stacks, if you dare to enter...ha ha ha.

Blackwork by Monica Ferris is a title from her Needlework mystery series. It's Halloween and Betsy Devonshire, owner of the Crewel World needlework shop and part-time sleuth is haunted by murder. In the town of Excelsior, Minnesota, Leona Cunningham, owner of a popular microbrewery, is a practitioner of Wicca, the nature-based religion often mistaken for black magic. But that doesn't bother the thirsty crowds. Then, after one too many pints, a local blames Leona for the series of "accidents" that have happened throughout town. When he ends up dead without a mark on his body, Leona's the main suspect. But Betsy's on the case, and that spells trouble for the killer.

Or try the title The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan. At midnight on Halloween in a cloistered New England suburb, a car carrying five teenagers leaves a winding road and slams into a tree, killing three of them. One escapes unharmed, another suffers severe brain damage. A year later, summoned by the memories of those closest to them, the three who died come back on a last chilling mission among the living. This is a strange and unsettling ghost story in the tradition of Ray Bradbury and Shirley Jackson. Come check out the book, to see how it ends.

A hole in Juan: an Amanda Pepper mystery by Gillian Roberts is another Halloween themed mystery. Philadelphia English teacher and amateur sleuth Amanda Pepper returns in another entertaining adventure. It's the week before Halloween, and students and faculty at Amanda's school are falling victim to mysterious events that are too ominous to merely be called pranks. Teaming up with her private-eye husband, Amanda determines to find out what's going on and why.

Two other mystery titles are A Catered Halloween. by Isis Crawford and Halloween murder: a Lindsay Haggerty mystery by Shelley Freydont. If you really want to be scared, try something by Stephen King!

And even though they aren’t specifically Halloween themed, the library does have a large collection of books with witches, vampires and even zombies as the main characters. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahme-Smith is one that immediately comes to mind. There’s also The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology which is edited by Christopher Golden.

We also have a Halloween music CD from Martha Stewart called Spooky Scary Sounds.

Enjoy Halloween!!

Teen Reading

2011-10-14T06:19:00.000-07:00

Teen Reading at the Library

Local teens will be reading purely for fun as the Adams County Library System celebrates Teen Read Week, October 16 – 22, 2011. They will join thousands of other libraries, schools and bookstores across the country who are encouraging teens to celebrate this year’s theme, " Picture It! @ your library®”, which encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including graphic novels, movies, books about photography, and more. Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA is also the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association.

Why is it important to celebrate? For a lot of reasons! Teens have so many options for entertainment, so it's important to remind them to spend time reading for pleasure: it's free, fun, and can be done anywhere! Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the workforce.

The Gettysburg Library will be celebrating Teen Read Week with two programs this year. From 6:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 18^th, the library will be hosting Duct Tape Creations. Teens aged 13-18 are invited to come in and create items out of duct tape. Whether they want a new pair of flip flops or a carrying case for their cell phone, teens will be able to create and take their items home with them.

On Saturday, October 22^nd, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, the library will be hosting a movie marathon. All movies are rated PG-13 and are comedies that were released in the 1980s. Teens aged 13-18 are welcome.

Don’t forget that the Gettysburg Library also has two Teen Book Clubs that meet once a month throughout the entire year. Any teen is welcome to join, but space is limited. Stop by the Reference Desk on the 2^nd floor of the Gettysburg Library to see what we’re reading and when the clubs meet next.

There may be smaller events during Teen Read Week, but teens will just have to check the Teen Area for more details. And don't forget, Teen Read Week is not the only time the library holds events specifically for the teenage crowd. Programs are held throughout the year. Information on any Teen program can be found in the Gettysburg Library's Teen Area, or on the library's website, www.adamslibrary.org.

E-books

2011-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

I would like to think of this article as E-books part two.

The E-book market is undergoing a constant change and we are trying to catch up. Many of you probably have read the articles in recent news sources or on television about libraries offering E-books for Kindle now.

Well that is partially true. Some libraries are able to make available E-books in the Kindles now.

One company, who offers E-books, now does offer books in the Kindle format. However, it is not all libraries. The libraries who subscribe to that particular company’s product will have books available in the Kindle format. Unfortunately, we do not subscribe to that company’s product, so we are not able to offer books in the Kindle format yet.

One of the questions you may rightfully ask is why doesn’t the library subscribe to that company’s product? Well in all honesty, it is a matter of money.

The library believes in getting the most use out of any money we spend on materials. Therefore, when we subscribe to a service, we want to make sure that it is available to all and that we can have some control over how the service is delivered.

How do these services work? The Library contracts with a company and pays them an annual fee to get access to their control software. The software manages the books which the library purchases and controls how people check out the items.

In essence, the library first has to subscribe to their service. Then we buy books to make available. The service controls how the books are checked out, for how long and when it goes away.

The problem for us has been that subscription fee to the service. The cost of that subscription, which must be paid every year or else you lose access to the books you buy, pushes the price of the electronic book up so high that we are paying two, three or four times what a paper copy of the books costs and fewer people can check it out. It has not seemed like a good use of money.

The numbers have not worked out for us, until now, to try to subscribe to a downloadable E-book product. We believe that E-books are going to be the reading wave of the future. We will provide them. However, it is a different library model than you are used to. We have been trying to negotiate this new model for a few years.

We promise we will work out these services in the near future. We are committed to be a Library for the 21^st Century. However, we may just need a little time for the business world to settle on a model which works for everyone!

Rob Lesher

Adams County Reads One Book

2011-09-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

ACROB at Booktalk

Booktalk is a monthly discussion group for those interested in cultural topics in general and literary subjects in particular. This month, Booktalk will host a discussion to enrich the Adams County Reads One Book program.

On Monday September 26, Matthew March of the Cumberland County Historical Society will present the program, The Carlisle Indian Industrial School. During a time when the United States government was willing to spend $1 million to eradicate a single Indian tribe out west, Captain Richard Henry Pratt established the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Pratt’s enlightened idea was to “save” native children by turning the “savages” into white men and women. Critique the school’s plan to “Kill the Indian, save the Man” as you explore what it means to be stripped of your cultural heritage through forced assimilation. Join us for this interesting look at events that occurred in South Central Pennsylvania. There will be hands on items to explore during the presentation.

PREVIEWS

On Monday October 31 Bob Appleton will discuss the single payer healthcare bill soon to be presented to the PA legislature.
On Monday November 28 Dr. Janet Powers will speak on "Cultural Bridging in Bosnia: How Catholics, Muslims and folk dance groups were brought together to perform for the first time in seventeen year."
Future programs to be announced. Booktalk usually meets the last Monday of the month at 12 noon in the USS Eisenhower room at the public library in Gettysburg.

Bring a Book continues to meet on the third Monday of each month at 10 AM in Room 306 of the Gettysburg Library. For information call 337-1155.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Adams County Reads One Book (ACROB)

2011-09-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

ACROB by Laura Goss

Adams County Reads One Book

Now that fall is here, join us for our Adams County Reads One Book programs. The 2011 title is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The library has copies available in regular print, large print and audio book formats. Reserve your copy online www.adamslibrary.org or by calling any library. Each library in the Adams County Library System is hosting a book discussion. Discussions still to come are Gettsyburg on September 20, Littlestown on September 22 and East Berlin on September 27.

You can attend and enjoy these special programs even if you haven’t read the book: A film based on one of Sherman Alexie’s short stories will be shown at the Gettysburg Library on Sunday September 18 and at the Harbaugh~Thomas Library in Biglerville on Thursday September 29. On Monday September 26 at noon, Booktalk will host Matthew March of the Cumberland County Historical Society. His presentation, The Carlisle Industrial Indian School will include hands-on items to explore. On Thursday September 29th at 7pm, Pam and Bruce Rowland will share their mission work in South Dakota in the presentation Time with the Lakota. They will discuss what life is like on the reservation today.

ANNUAL BOOK SALE

2011-09-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

ANNUAL BOOK SALE and FALL EVENTS

The East Berlin Community Library will be holding its annual pre-owned Book Sale during Colonial Day, Saturday, September 10, 2011. Materials for sale will be located at the library at 105 Locust Street from 8am to 3pm, rain or shine. This is a perfect time to browse for those special treasures! There will be a nice selection of children and juvenile books to adult fiction and non-fiction plus a large selection of video titles and audio tapes. Friendly volunteers will be available to help you. You do not want to miss it! Parking is also available behind the library for $3 a car. Park, buy your books, then shop at Colonial Day.

Stop by at the book sale or the library to purchase a “Bon Ton Community Day 2011” coupon booklet. Each coupon booklet includes one $10 coupon to use on a single regular or sale price merchandise item of $10 or more. Plus several other coupons and exclusive Bonus Buy merchandise offers. All of these offers are good at any Bon Ton store for 2 days on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12, 2011. Each $5 booklet donation benefits the library, 100%. Your support of this project is appreciated.

Numerous story times begin in September. Baby story time is for children birth to 24 months with a parent/care giver. Story times will include songs, finger plays, action rhymes and age appropriate books, two Fridays a month.

Preschool story times for 3 to 5 year olds will begin Wednesday, September 28^th and run through December 14^th at 10 am or 1:30 pm. Story time for 2 years old with a care giver will be held at 11am. Stop by the library to register in person.

There will be home school activities on Fridays at 1pm for Kindergarten thru 2^nd grade and 3^rd thru 6^th grade students. “Bark me a Tale” therapy dogs will continue to visit the library on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Children may visit the library to read a book to one of the dogs. Contact the library to sign up.

There are free computer classes being held at the Library. On Tuesday September 13 at 10 am, the class will be “Introduction to MS Word” and October 11 at 10 am will be “Introduction to MS Publisher”. Call the library to register as there is limited space. Participants must be familiar with using a mouse, windows and the Internet.

The adult book discussion group continues to meet on the 4^th Tuesday night of each month at 7 pm. The Adams County Reads One Book, Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie will be discussed on September 27. The book for October 25 is David Ebershoff’s book The 19^th Wife.

The library is hosting an adult group called “Chicks with Sticks”. If you like to knit or crochet, come and meet others who share the enjoyment of your craft. Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. They will meet on Tuesday, September 13^th and October 11^th.

For more information on any programs or events, please call the library at 259-9000, visit us at 105 Locust Street, at our web site at www.eastberlinlibrary.org and friend us on Facebook.

Transition Time

2011-09-06T05:18:00.000-07:00

Transition Time
By Nancy Newman

It’s quiet here in the Children’s Room. Another successful Summer Reading Club has ended and books are coming back by the truckload in anticipation of the start of another school year. School shopping is in high gear and all that remains of 2011’s Summer Reading Club is the tallying of statistics and writing of reports. Although August always means jam-packed shelves, we know that by mid-September teachers will be assigning reports, students will be pouring into the library every day after school, and once again those books will be flying off the shelves.
August is always a bittersweet month for me. Each year I watch many of my five-year-old story time kids transition into kindergartners. While I’m proud of their accomplishments and excited for them in their new adventures, I know that I’ll miss seeing them each week. We’ve had so much fun together. At the same time, I look forward to meeting the new story time recruits who will find their way to the Children’s Room in September.
You may ask “Why should we attend story time at the library? I read to my child at home.” It’s an excellent question. Reading one-on-one is absolutely the best thing you can do for your child. It sets the stage for lifelong learning. Research shows that children who are read to do better in kindergarten and have improved vocabulary, communication, and math skills.
Story time at the library takes your child out of the calm, quiet one-to-one parent-child situation and drops her into the middle of organized chaos. To be able to sit among your peers – other preschoolers – and listen attentively is an invaluable life skill. While some children may be apprehensive those first few weeks, they all eventually join in the songs, stories, and finger plays that make story time so much fun.
In the Children’s Room, preschool story time for children three and older is held Thursday and Friday mornings at 10:00, and Thursday evening at 6:30. Two-year-old story time is Tuesday morning at 10:00. All story times are free and registration is not required.
After-school book clubs are re-forming at this time of year, too. Currently there are openings in all three groups: 7th/8th grade, 5th/6th grade, and 3rd/4th grade. If you think that this is something your child may be interested in, or you’d simply like to learn more about book clubs, please call Barbara or Martha in the Children’s Room at 334-5716, ext. 232. (FYI: most of our middle school book club selections may be used to fulfill Accelerated Reading requirements at Gettysburg Middle School.)
Kiddie Knit continues to meet every Tuesday afternoon from 2:30-4:30. This program is open to anyone nine or older who is interested in learning to knit. We’ve taught many people – both children and adults – maybe you’ll be next! It’s fun, free, and a great stress-reliever. Questions? Call Nancy at 334-5716, ext. 239. Be sure to look for some of our handiwork in the first floor display case during September.
Hope to see you soon in the Children’s Room. Have a great school year!

Adams County Reads One Book

2011-08-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Adams County Reads One Book

Laura Goss

Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian is the 2011 selection for the Adams County Reads One Book program. Closely based on Alexie’s own experiences growing up on the Spokane Reservation in Washington State, the novel overflows with truth, pain and black comedy amid cutting memories of daily life on the “rez.” The novel is an unforgettable portrait of living in harsh circumstances and the struggle to leave those circumstances behind. Although Alexie is known by many adults as a popular author, poet and filmmaker, this is his first young adult novel.

The Adams County Reads One Book programs will begin in September. Book discussions will be held at all of the ACLS locations. In addition, several peripheral programs will be held throughout the month.

Pam and Bruce Rowland will present a program about the work the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church is involved with in several communities in South Dakota. They will give us insight into what life is like today on an Indian reservation.

The presentation Sustainable Gardens of North America is made available to us through the Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Lecture Program. Anthropologist Dr. Marshall Becker will discuss what we know about how Native Americans created gardens and managed wild plant populations. Who invented ecological gardens? No one can answer that question, but Native Americans certainly cultivated plants in a sustainable manner long before the emergence of the native plant movements of the twentieth century.

“Mention “Carlisle” and invariably the response will include some reference to Jim Thorpe or the Carlisle Indian School. Founded by Richard Henry Pratt, the school was the first off-reservation government boarding school for Native American Indian children. Carlisle served as the model for dozens of schools throughout the U.S., some of which are still in existence.” The Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle has several possible programs on this topic and we are working with their education curator to bring one to the Gettysburg Library.

And finally, the film Smoke Signals will be shown twice during the month once each at the Gettysburg and Harbaugh~Thomas libraries. The film is based on a story from Sherman Alexie’s short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.

Aside from the book discussion programs, the month long programs are designed for your enjoyment and information whether or not you have read Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. If you would like to read the One Book selection, the Adams County Library System has copies available in regular print, large print and audio book formats. Call your branch or go online to reserve a copy today.

Visit your library or look on line at www.adamslibrary.org for the complete schedule of events!

SUMMER IS FADING!

2011-08-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

As the summer fades, I always wonder what happened to the last few months. I have a long list of summer to do projects which seem to get moved to the fall to do list. There are always books to read and always articles to follow up on.
This year it seems even more daunting than other summers. The major project I had hoped to accomplish was to redesign the library website. Well, I am happy to announce that sometime in the next month or so, the library will be launching a new website. It will be cleaner looking and you will be able to find the information you want more quickly.
At the end of the summer we will also be launching a new product to manage our electronic information. For the last year or so we have offered downloadable audio books through the Ingram Company on their “My Library Audio” product. However, this is no longer available so we have decided to make some upgrades and have subscribed to “One Click Digital,” a product from Recorded Books.
The first advantage to this is that you will get an addition 2000 audio books to select from. This is a big increase in available titles. Also, in the coming months, the product will allow the library to offer downloadable ebooks. The ebooks will be in a format which is readily usable in the epub and pdf formats. More on this later!
This summer has been a very busy one here at the library though. The Summer Reading Program was a great success and we saw more children reading. That is the most important part of the Summer Reading Program. We would also like to thank the Friends of the Library for supporting our Summer Reading Program and providing a reusable book bag for each of the children who registered for the program. We would also like to thank WellSpan Health’s Community Partnership Program, Adams Electric Cooperative, Arendtsville Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Gettysburg Adams, Upper Adams Jaycees, and the Walmart Foundation for their generous support for the purchase of books which were given to the children for completing hours of reading. It was a great success!
We have had a record circulation for the months of June and July here at the library system. June of this year was the highest circulating month in the history of the Adams County Library. Yes, people continue to read in great numbers here in Adams County. It is a wonderful testament to the people who make up our community. I hope everyone else had as good of a summer as I have and I wish everyone a very healthy and happy fall. Now onto football season!

TOOLS AT THE LIBRARY

2011-08-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Career changes – Tools at the library
Today more than ever many people ask themselves “Where do I want to be in 5 years?”
Because businesses are changing so quickly, you need to be prepared to answer this question. The Adams County Library System offers a variety of information, services, and resources to help you find a job, improve your skills in your current job or explore a new career.
Preparation materials and practice tests as well as entrance exams including the GED, ACT, SAT, and GRE are available for loan from your library. You will also find the latest books on career choices, job hunting, writing effective resumes and cover letters, as well as interviewing tips. You can find information on colleges, technical schools, scholarships and financial aid. Information from PHEAA, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, is also available. Apply online or print a FAFSA, Free Application For Student Aid, form to locate the federal student aid that you may qualify for.
You will see several databases on the library website that will help you with your career search. The LearningExpress Library provides people of all ages with test preparation and basic skills improvement similar to the test books already mentioned. LearningExpress can also be used for career guidance and job search assistance. Career Transitions is another online site available to guide your career choices. Begin with the interest assessment, then explore the careers indicated. This site will also help you prepare your resume and give tips on locating employment.
Whether you need to strengthen your computer skills for work or just want to learn how to take advantage of all your computer has to offer, register and attend a free computer class at the library. The Library System offers a variety of free hands-on classes. Introduction to Microsoft Word 2007, Learn the basics of how to navigate Microsoft Excel 2007, Intermediate Excel 2007 and Introduction to Internet E-mail are a few examples. The next computer class at the New Oxford Area Library will be Word 2007 on August 11 at 1PM. Please register online or by calling the library at 624-2182.
Many businesses are interested in multilingual skills as part of your job skills. Mango Languages is an online language-learning system that can help you learn languages including Spanish, French, and more.
If you are thinking about changing careers, look at the Occupational Outlook Handbook compiled by the United States Department of Labor. This book lists educational and training requirements, employment outlook, earnings, working conditions, and places of employment for over 200 occupations.
You will notice a link on the Adams County Library System website to PA Careerlink Employment Services. CareerLink is a cooperative effort to provide one-stop delivery of career services to job seekers, employers and other interested individuals.
Now is the time to update that resume, improve your computer skills or consider going back to school. If you feel you need to make a career change there are many resources available to help you look for a different job. Your library is an important tool that will help you achieve your career goal.

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE!

2011-08-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

There’s no time like the summer to try new things. Why not try to learn a new language? If that’s something on your “To Do” list, the Adams County Library System is here to help you!
Through the library’s website (www.adamslibrary.org) all Adams County residents have access to Mango Languages, a leading provider of online language learning services. All you need to access Mango through our website is your library card number and pin.
Currently, Mango Languages offers 35 foreign languages and 15 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Each lesson combines real life situations and audio from native speakers with simple, clear instructions. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture. Users learn actual conversation, breaking down complex conversational elements within an audio-visual framework that allows the user to draw important connections between pieces of information they have already learned. All users have the option to set up an account within Mango Languages to ensure that no hard work is lost.
There is one very cool thing for those of you who have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Mango has gone mobile. You can search for Mango Languages in iTunes and download the free Mango app. Using this, you can log into Mango Languages from anywhere. You must first set up an account in Mango Languages through the website.
If you don’t have Internet access at home or your access is slow, the library is happy to announce that we have also added Mango Take-Out to our offerings. Mango Take-Out is currently available in twelve languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, German, Russian, Portuguese, Hebrew, Irish and English as a Second Language (ESL) for Spanish. The program is easy to use - simply insert the USB device into the port on your computer and click on the icon that pops up. There are no installations and the program will auto-run. Like all of our other materials, each USB device circulates for a 3-week period.
If Mango isn’t your thing, don’t worry. The library does have language learning cds in many languages that you can borrow and play through your car stereo during your long commute, while making dinner or whenever you have some free time.
So why not try your hand at a new language? It’s fun, and through the resources of the Adams County Library System, it’s free.