Chapter and Verso

Ups and Downs!

2011-08-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Alien invasion at the Summer Reading Club!

Wow! It’s August already. Where did the summer go?

Mostly down the drain with the rain, I think.

The Summer Reading Club – Savour Each Word! – is winding to a close with only one more week of programming left. Then we’ll have the wind-up party and then it will be time to send off the summer students, Hannah and Justin, with a celebratory lunch. In a flash, it will be fall and we’ll be gearing up for Book Club, Children’s programming and the NCLF Fall Conference, which will be hosted right here at HPL.

I’m looking forward to September with a sense of excited anticipation. Literacy Now has provided funding for a part time programmer at HPL for 10 months. This pilot project entails hiring a dynamic and creative individual to plan and promote events and programs for our patrons and community. I wonder what surprises he/she will have in store for us… Family sleep-overs at the library? Quiz nights? Coffee houses? Contests? Author visits? Local artists’ displays? Who knows? But I’m sure looking forward to some very cool stuff. Watch for our monthly calendars for a complete list of dates, times and events!

As you know, HPL is a member of the North Coast Library Federation, a group of seven public libraries including HPL, Smithers, Hazelton, Terrace, Kitimat, Stewart, Prince Rupert, and the North West Community College libraries. At the helm, guiding us, is a very busy coordinator who manages our funds and organizes things like our annual conferences, shared collections, author readings and other federation events and programs. Without a coordinator, our equally busy directors and library staff members would have to do all this off the sides of our desks.

Until last May, Karen Filipkowski was our coordinator, but an opportunity to take over the directorship of a small library in Ontario took her away from us. She is now far, far away struggling with high heat and humidity, while we flounder in the cool rain.

Never fear! This week we welcomed a new coordinator, Katherine Anderson, aboard!

Kathy is now pulling double duty as both the NCLF coordinator and the IslandLink Library Federation Manager. And, boy, are we glad to have her! Her extensive experience in libraries throughout BC and familiarity with the North Coast region gave her the edge in a stiff competition to fill this vital position. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience that we are certain will be applied with efficiency, creativity and great enthusiasm.

Change is part of library life. Good people coming and going is part of the ups and downs we face as we deliver our programs and services to our communities. So, while we say good-bye to Karen and the summer students and wish them all well in all of their future endeavors, we now welcome Kathy and the soon-to-be-announced Program Coordinator to our midst and look forward to sharing wonderful things with our patrons.

Welcome to Goodreads

2011-07-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief, librarians do not sit around and read books all day. The fact is that being a librarian cuts into quality reading time BIG time! To boost our personal reading stats, we tend to pick up children’s picture books that we can breeze through in a couple of minutes. My most recent favourite picture book is Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin. This is a great book with a great message and, if you happen to overhear me singing, “I love my white shoes. I love my white shoes…”, it’s because the little ditty in the book has been stuck in my head for the last week. You can listen to Pete the Cat on the Internet at: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/. It’s well worth the 3.5 minutes. (And I apologize in advance if the song gets stuck in your head.)

One of the best picture books - EVER!

Now that I’ve squeezed in that little promo for Pete the Cat, let me get on with my original purpose in writing this long-overdue blog today…

If you are a Facebook user and you love reading, you may be familiar with the app Visual Bookshelf, a place where you could track, rate and review books that you read. Readers could log-in to their FB accounts, click on the Visual Bookshelf icon and instantly access a complete list of the books they have read – both the good ones and the duds. They had access to reader reviews, so they could get an opinion before reading. They could see how books were rated by other readers and see what other their Visual Bookshelf friends were into. It was a mini-social network within a social network – all dedicated to book lovers.

Alas, Visual Bookshelf is no more! The people who created and maintained it have decided to scrap it.

“It's not you. It's us. You see — about two years ago — we tried a new idea, which has taken our team and company in a new direction. This community needs tools and products that are fully supported and continually improved, and unfortunately, this is something we just can't support right now.”

(Way to break up with about a million app users!)

Being dumped by an app is almost as crappy as being dumped by a lover, only worse, because the app disappears completely and there is no chance of reconciliation. (There are no stalking opportunities either, but that may be a good thing.)

The good news is that the Visual Bookshelf creators – Living Social – are not that cruel. They have been kind enough to provide an alternative social network for readers called Goodreads, which can be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/.

Goodreads has all the great features of Visual Bookshelf and more! You can join the Goodreads Book Club and share your thoughts about a featured recommendation with literally thousands of other Goodreads users. You can participate in polls and answer trivia questions. You can join or form groups and connect with like-minded readers to discuss favourite genres, authors or styles. You can connect to Facebook so your FB friends can still see what you are reading and know what you think about it. You can see what your friends are reading and find out what they think about it, too. You can set a goal for your reading by taking the Reading Challenge.

I have to admit that I was aghast when I clicked on Visual Bookshelf and read the break-up announcement. How could they do this to me? I had a couple hundred titles entered and reviews written for most of them. Eek! But then I saw the silver lining: a link that imports all my Visual Bookshelf information to a new Goodreads account. Well, most of my Visual Bookshelf information…

My list of books zipped right over to Goodreads without the ratings and reviews. But there’s more good news! You can save your ratings and reviews in an Excel file for future importability – as soon as they perfect the transporter for it. Or you can manually reenter everything. I guess that depends on if you have a life or not. And if your current book is good or not.

Anyway, readers can rest assured that their Visual Bookshelf information has a good home waiting over at Goodreads. I hope to see you all there. Send me a friend request – I’ll look forward to seeing what is on your bookshelves!

Speakers and Magicians and Ventiloquists - Oh, My!

2011-05-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve last taken the time to compose and post a blog. My intentions were good, my schedule was uncooperative! But here I am – finally! – with something to say and the time to say it.

Things have been hopping at HPL. Last month I attended the BCLA conference in Victoria along with about 500 other library employees and trustees. This annual gathering of Libraryland citizens is a jam-packed two days of workshops, speeches, award ceremonies, vendors, dinners, and, of course the requisite schmoozing between directors, coordinators and trustees. Here we put faces to names and names to faces. We learn together, make contacts and come home exhausted from the whirlwind activity and information overload.

Paul Whitney

My favourite part of the conference is the key-note speaker. This year we gathered in the theatre at the Victoria Conference Centre next to the Empress Hotel to listen to Paul Whitney’s address entitled: The Times They Are Always A-Changin’. Paul Whitney reflected on library history and development in the province, from his perspective as a library leader and innovator. During his 36-year library career Paul was Chief Librarian for both the Burnaby and Vancouver public libraries. He served as president of BCLA and of CLA and was actively involved in countless national and international committees such as copyright, public lending right, and accessible services to the print disabled, to name just a few. Paul's reflection on his remarkable library career was nostalgic for long-serving members of the library community and inspirational for newer generations.

But, alas, all good things come to an end. All too soon the conference was over and it was time to head back to the office to pick up where I had left off – namely, getting organized for the summer. Planning events, hiring summer students, completing the annual PLSB survey and the submitting the Statement of Financial Information, were all on my plate waiting for me upon my return, along with the back-log of e-mails, statistics, and other day-to-day stuff that needed to be attended to. Oddly, I managed to catch up and get back into the swing of things in only a couple of days.

Norden the Magician

So now we are looking forward to some fun things, like Norden the Magician, who will be visiting us on May 26th. Mike Norden is a comedic magician who has won several awards, including Children’s Magician of the Year five years in a row. His show promises to be fun for the whole family! It’s also free and everyone is welcome. The show starts at 3:30! Many thanks go out to the North Coast Library Federation for sponsoring this event.

Val Hiliker

Then in June, we will welcome Val Hiliker from Calgary, Alberta. Val is a ventriloquist specializing in children’s entertainment. She learned ventriloquism in 1977 and has been performing since 1979. We partnered with Houston Link to Learning and the Early Childhood Development Committee to bring Ms. Hiliker to Houston. Her performance starts at 6 p.m. on Friday June 10th, right after the FREE Family Night BBQ.

It’s always exciting to be able to provide quality programming for our patrons and the community and we are looking forward to sharing a few good laughs with them at these events.

The Kobo Experience

2011-03-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Wow!

That pretty much sums up how I feel about these little gadgets. A thousand books in the palm of my hand. Simple, fun, versatile! Every time I pick it up, I discover something new about it.

It does take a bit of getting used to, though. I’ve had a few giggles at my own expense while using my personal Kobo. It’s not uncommon to find myself reaching out to turn the pages as I read – sort of like going from a stick shift to an automatic transmission in a vehicle; there’s an adjustment period. But the built in dictionary and the ability to adjust the font size and style are brilliant features. I don’t need my reading glasses to see the print and when I come across a new word, I simply highlight it and – click! – the definition is right there!

Maneuvering through the book is fast and easy as well. From the main menu, I simply choose the table of contents, scroll to the place I want to go and – click – I’m instantly where I want to be! Just press the back button and I’m returned to where I left off. There’s no need to book mark, the Kobo remembers where I stopped reading and takes me right there when I want to read. I can have multiple books on the go at the same time if I like. And the wi-fi feature makes downloading new books an instant and convenient process anywhere, anytime. Did I say Wow!?

The screen is not backlit (as I thought it would be), making it easy on the eyes. It really is just like looking at the page of printed book. I purchased a clip-on LED light from the dollar store for $2.25 that makes bedtime reading entirely possible without needing a lamp. It fits into the groovy, quilted case that my sister made for me right along with the charging cord, instruction book, pencil and note pad.

Charging the Kobo from an empty battery takes a couple of hours, but the charge lasts a long, long time. I’ve had my Kobo for two weeks and haven’t had to recharge it yet – and the indicator for the battery says that it’s still ¾ full. Pretty economical and more environmentally friendly than many other gadgets.

These things are amazing!

The library Kobos will be ready for check out mid to late April. Right now the staff is learning how to use them so they will be able to help patrons who want to try them out with Library to Go. You can place a hold on a Kobo any time after April 1st. Just call or drop by the library and ask to be put on the list.

With spring just around the corner and summer not that far away, a Kobo will make packing vacation reading material as easy as slipping one into a pocket, leaving more room for those bikinis and Bermuda shorts! You really have to try them out and HPL is a great place to start.

Happy reading!

What's Flavia Up to Now?

2011-02-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

I’m quite excited! Alan Bradley’s third book, A Red Herring Without Mustard, has finally come out and I can’t wait to see what Flavia de Luce is up to now. This precocious eleven-year-old junior sleuth and self-taught chemist is one of my favourite literary characters of all time. She’s clever and innocent, but not naïve. She’s funny. She’s tenacious. She’s somehow both sensitive and unflappable. And through her, Bradley has managed to resurrect the good old-fashioned whodunnit in a most delightful way. Fans of Flavia de Luce will already know what I’m talking about. Those who haven’t yet had the Flavia experience are in for a big treat.

I cut my murder mystery teeth on Nancy Drew when a boy in my third grade class gave me a copy of The Secret in the Old Clock (the first Nancy Drew mystery, 1932). I think it may have been the first real novel that I ever read, and while I cannot recall the plot at all now, I will never forget the feeling of being thrilled by the discovery and unraveling of the clues. I wanted to be a detective!

As I grew older, I got to know more literary detectives, both amateur and professional. Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot topped my list of favourites for decades. They were the quintessential representatives of the mystery genre where, while yes, there were dead bodies, the focus was not on the violence of the murder, but the detection involved in solving the crime.

Brother Cadfael (Ellis Peters) and Amelia Peabody (Elizabeth Peters) soon joined the intrepid trio of esteemed crime solvers, rounding out a short, but beloved list of clue-gathering brilliance. Then came Jim Qwilleran, Willam Murdoch, Tom Barnaby, and Mikail Blomkvist. The list was growing. And now dear little Flavia has found a permanent place in my heart (and on my list).

I almost put The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia’s first adventure) down after the first page. What? I asked myself have I gotten myself into. The opening paragraphs described, in the first person, a dreadful kidnapping and escape. It was this passage – on page 2 – that got me hooked: “I skipped down the broad stone staircase into the hall, pausing at the door of the dining room just long enough to toss my pigtails back over my shoulders and into their regulation position.” I had to read on.

I’m so glad that I did. Alan Bradley spun a tale of mystery so utterly captivating that I rushed out and bought my own copy. When The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag came out, I pushed aside two other novels to read it. Flavia had lost none of her charm. Her vivid imagination and genius detection skills kept me up well into the wee hours each night until I sadly turned the last page and closed the cover on another endearing chapter in her young life.

Now, the bright yellow dust jacket that hugs A Red Herring Without Mustard beckons me back into Flavia’s post WWII English world. Shortly after a Gypsy tells her fortune, Flavia stumbles (probably literally) across the seer’s dead body. “…bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan.” Was it an act of retribution? Flavia is about to find out.

You can place a hold on this book by searching the on-line catalogue at http://houston.bclibrary.ca for A red herring without mustard. Click on the title and then click on Place Hold on the far right side of the page. Enter your user name and password and then click on the Place Hold button near the bottom of the page. You will be entered into the queue and our friendly staff will let you know as soon as it is available.

Canada Reads - and an HPL contest maybe!?

2011-02-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again. The Canada Reads 2011 debates will air on CBC on February 7, 8 & 9 at 9 and 11 a.m. and again at 8 p.m. Started in 2001, Canada Reads is CBC's annual battle of the books, where five Canadian personalities select the book they think Canadians should read. Each personality selects a book to defend and the books are eliminated one by one until a winner is declared. Jian Ghomeshi has hosted Canada Reads since 2008.

So today I’m going to present the five titles, their defenders and pull it all together with a cover photo of each. What I’m actually going to do is copy most of the stuff from the Canada Reads site, but don’t tell anyone. If you are concerned about copyright and information piracy, you can go to the Canada Reads site and read it all there - http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/. What you won’t find on the Canada Reads site is whether or not any of the titles – should you be so inclined as to want to read them – are available at HPL. It’s entirely up to you; read on here or surf on over and read it all legally.

The first book on the list is The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis:
The peccadilloes of Parliament Hill's political animals are the subject of The Best Laid Plans (McClelland and Stewart), Terry Fallis's hilarious first novel, which won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

The novel's protagonist, Dan Addison, has had his fill of Parliament Hill propaganda and backbench maneuvering. A former speechwriter for the leader of the Liberal Opposition, he's disillusioned by the discrepancy between what's said on the Hill and what's done behind the scenes. Now in his 30s, he's washing his hands of the whole thing. Dan Addison is dropping out of politics for the relatively tame world of academe.

Not so fast, say his former employers. Before Dan can cast off politics once and for all he's given a Herculean task: find the party a new Liberal candidate to run in the next federal election.

Terry Fallis
No stranger to the worlds of public affairs and government, Terry Fallis has worked in public relations for more than two decades - and his insider knowledge in both arenas shines through in his irreverent, award-winning satire of national politics, The Best Laid Plans.

Defended by Ali Velshi
An award-winning CNN anchor and the news network's chief business correspondent, Ali Velshi has covered every major news story from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year to the financial collapse of Fannie Mae and Lehman Brothers in 2008.

The second book on the list is The Birth House by Ami Mckay
The miracle of birth and the struggle to live a good life; the miracle of a good life and the struggle to be born — these are just a few of the themes explored in Ami McKay's poignant debut novel, The Birth House (Vintage Canada).

The novel is set in a small Nova Scotia community during a period of great change: in Europe, the First World War is raging. In North America advances in medicine and social organization are radically altering the way people live. It's an era charged with tumult, destruction and social revolution.

Ami McKay
Born and raised in the U.S. Midwest, Ami McKay moved to Nova Scotia a decade ago and embraced Canadian history in writing her debut novel The Birth House. She and her family moved into a home that was once known as the local "birth house"-- it was there that she began writing fiction in earnest.

Defended by Debbie Travis
A pioneering force and major star in the now popular TV makeover genre, Debbie Travis is a household name - for good reason. The design maven is a best-selling author and the CEO of a growing housewares empire, Travis's Home Collection, which boasts nearly $100 million in annual sales.

The third book on the list is The Bone Cage by Angie Abdou
Angie Abdou's remarkable debut novel The Bone Cage (NeWest Press) takes readers deep into the gruelling, often solitary world of amateur athletics. Neither a classic sports novel, nor a simple coming-of-age story, The Bone Cage offers a unique spin on both beloved genres.

Sadie and Digger are amateur athletes with the same goal: to make it to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Sadie is a swimmer, Digger a wrestler. Both have spent an inordinate amount of time training and training and then training some more. They've made sacrifices, both personal and physical, over many years to achieve their dreams. But life will get in the way of dreams. Sadie, in particular, deals with tragic unforeseen circumstances, which threaten to undermine her dreams of Olympic glory.

Angie Abdou
The fierce drive of a former competitive swimmer and the imagination of a gifted fiction writer: these are the qualities that author and creative writing instructor Angie Abdou brought to her compelling first novel, The Bone Cage.

Defended by Georges Laraque
During his 11-year career in the National Hockey League, Georges Laraque was one of the most feared enforcers in the game. But off-ice, this talented tough guy has put his muscle behind a wide range of social causes, from relief efforts in Haiti to animal welfare.

The fourth book on the list is Essex County by Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire's Essex County (Top Shelf Productions) is composed of three interconnected graphic novels: Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories and The Country Nurse. Winner of several major awards in the world of comics, including a Joe Shuster Award, it was hailed by reviewers as "the comics medium at its best" (Booklist) and "a quiet, somber, haunting masterpiece" (The Oregonian). The minimalistic though intensely emotional trilogy gives form to the author's inspired vision of what it means to live, work, dream and even die in a Southwestern Ontario rural community.

The population of Lemire's fictional landscape is represented from childhood to old age through the characters of Lester, Lou and Anne. Their external world is rendered in stark black-and-white lines. The vividness of their interior lives, however, is what gives the graphic novel its colour and vitality.

Jeff Lemire
A graphic novelist and comics illustrator who has garnered international acclaim, Jeff Lemire paid tribute to his rural roots in his remarkable trilogy, Essex County, and the world of comics responded with a plethora of major prizes and rave reviews

Defended by Sara Quin
She's a musician who has been in the limelight for more than a decade, though she's only 30. Calgary native Sara Quin, one half of the indie music sensation known as Tegan & Sara, has been singing and writing songs with her twin sister, Tegan, since she was 15.

The fifth and final book on the list is Unless by Carol Shields
Most people want to be happy. But how many have what it takes to be good? Can self-realization and morality share the same space in our lives? Or can we only have one and not the other? These are the questions that underlie Carol Shields's 2002 profoundly moving novel Unless (Vintage Canada), which explores the "problem of goodness" and how it squares with the very human desire for happiness.

Reta Winters is going through a period of "great unhappiness." The successful writer, wife and mother appears to have every gift life can offer, and yet, she's miserable, consumed utterly by the sudden change in her 19-year-old daughter, Norah.

Without warning, the pretty, confident young university student has chucked it all — school, love, her family — for a life on the streets. Norah now spends her nights in a homeless shelter, and her days plunked on a street corner in downtown Toronto. Around her neck hangs a sign that reads "goodness." She collects money from strangers, which she then distributes to the homeless of Toronto. The question that haunts her family: Why?

Carol Shields
One of Canada's most beloved and prolific literary figures, Carol Shields influenced a generation of writers both in this country and abroad. She wrote her first novel, Small Ceremonies, in 1976; over the following three decades, she went on to publish more than 20 other books in an array of genres, including fiction, poetry, plays and criticism.

Defended by Lorne Cardinal
One of Canada's most recognizable actors, with numerous television, film and stage credits, Lorne Cardinal is best known for his role as police officer Davis Quinton on the hit TV series Corner Gas.

And now that you have read this far I’ve decided not to tell you which ones are available at HPL. Instead I’m going to let you guess. I will tell you that only two of them are available. I will also tell you that you don’t even have to guess. You can search HPL’s on-line catalogue to find the answer. If you e-mail me with the right answer by February 15th, your name will go into a draw for a $25.00 gift certificate from Chapters-Indigo.ca with which you can buy one of these Canada Reads titles – or any title you want, actually. My e-mail address is hlibrary@telus.net. You can find the HPL on-line catalogue at: http://houston.bclibrary.ca/.

I'll be looking forward to hearing from you soon! Happy reading!

Getting Digital

2011-01-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

After a slight mix up in the seasons – we think that winter took some time off to attend a conference somewhere in the tropics and left spring in charge – the temperature is dropping and the slush is re-solidifying into barely navigable sheets of ice. It’s just a little crazy out there.

But we have a solution!

Well, not a solution to the weather; a solution to the problem of having to go out in it. It’s called Library to Go and it lets you stay at home and check out great books whenever you want.
Library to Go is a provincially shared collection of downloadable audio and e-books. There are thousands of titles to choose from and both fiction and non-fiction are available. It’s free, it’s easy and it’s a great way to put that e-Reader you got for Christmas to good use!

All you need is a current membership at HPL to access Library to Go from your home computer. Members in good standing need only go to the HPL website at http://houston.bclibrary.ca and scroll down the home page until the Library to Go logo appears. Click on that and you will be instantly transported to a world of digital literature.

The books in Library to Go can be checked out, just like a book from the library. Once the lending period has expired, the book will too! This is because in many cases there is a single license for a title and so only one person can have it out at a time. There are, however, many “always available” titles with unlimited download capacity.

You will need to install free software on your computer in order to download the books. The links to these downloads are on the left hand side of the Library to Go home page near the bottom. They only take a minute to download and install and, once that’s done, you can check out up to five titles at a time and keep them for up to three weeks. You can also transfer them to compatible devices such as iPods, iPads, MP3 players and Kobo or Sony e-readers. A link to a list of compatible devices is available on the Library to Go home page and each title record shows icons that let you know at a glance what devices will work with it. Full tutorials, also on the home page, will guide you through the process from start to finish.

As digital editions become more and more common, some people fear that print books are going to disappear. Controversy on the pros and cons of digital publishing and what it means for the future of print books has raised debates all across library land. From managing collections to patron education to how libraries, themselves, are going to look, librarians range from excited to dubious to downright concerned about their own futures over it. What will happen is anybody’s guess, but libraries are certain to face some interesting challenges and changes in the coming years.

And not to be left out, HPL will be offering patrons the chance to experience digital books in the coming weeks. We have ordered two Kobo e-readers that will be available to patrons to borrow. Each Kobo comes with 100 classic titles and has the capacity to hold up to 900 more. Patrons will be allowed to download e-books of their own choosing. Upon return of the e-reader any patron-downloaded titles will be deleted. If a patron chooses to purchase a title and download it to the Kobo, they will do so with the understanding that it will be deleted when the e-reader is returned to the library. The Kobos will be lent out for 14 days – plenty of time to play and read!

So stay safe this winter; check out Library to Go and experience digital editions today.

A Fresh Cycle Begins

2011-01-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

So, the holidays are over and the New Year has begun. It’s back to the grind, or, rather, the grind picks up again after the interruptions.

It’s only the 7th of January and already libraries are receiving information about spring conferences, award nominations, board nominations and, of course, the dreaded annual survey that all public libraries are required to complete each year. It’s a daunting task, collecting all those statistics for the survey, but libraries are statistic-driven entities and library workers are used to collecting the information. If it can be counted, libraries count it, gathering numbers of checkouts, renewals, patron visits, memberships, acquisitions, program attendance, reference questions (asked and answered), ILL’s (lent and borrowed), computer use, database use, funding… You name it and it’s likely that a librarian somewhere is recording a tally of it.

Complicated spread sheets haunt the hard drives in virtually every library in the province and dedicated staff members dutifully input data daily in preparation of filling out the lengthy and detailed survey form. Without a completed survey, libraries do not receive the provincial funding that they rely on to be able to keep counting those stats.

Add to this summer student applications, the even more dreaded Statement of Financial Information (SOFI), conferences, programming and AGMs that all take place during the winter and spring months and you can see how the first part of the year is a whirlwind of activity with strict deadlines and no latitude for slacking off. Plus it’s weeding time again, time to go through the collection and work on cleaning it up and out. (The staff is going to love me!) And it’s that time of year to update the membership list.

This is the stuff of librarianship that gives my job the awesomeness that gets me out of bed every morning with a smile on my face and enthusiasm in my heart. Sure I stress about it, fuss and worry and fret like a mother hen with too many chicks to fit under her wings. But when each of these things are completed, wrapped up and filed accordingly, the sense of satisfaction melts away the anxiousness for a few glorious moments and gives my mind a bit of a rest before the next deadline looms and the frenzy begins anew.

Working in a library is a perfect blend of routine and creativity. There are always problems to solve, decisions to make, patrons to satisfy, programs to organize, books to buy, books to withdraw, reports to write, reports to submit, meeting to attend, projects to plan and myriad other tasks to perform. Library work has its own continuum where tasks rise, fade and blend in a constant stream. Like the seasons, it’s cyclical. There’s the daily, the weekly, the monthly, the seasonal and the annual. And there’s the unexpected. A grant opportunity pops up out of nowhere and that special something the library’s been needing (wanting) for years if suddenly at hand. Or a generous donation from an unexpected source arrives and some piece of much needed equipment is realized. Or the server crashes and the IT guy isn’t available for a week. Or someone breaks in and steals the cash from the front desk income. It’s never a dull moment.

Anyway, a fresh cycle has begun, and ended and is continuing here at HPL. And I, for one, am excited about all the great stuff that is coming our way in 2011. For example – mark your calendars now! – Val Hiliker, a ventriloquist from Calgary, will be here to entertain the community on June 10th. We are partnering with Houston Link to Learning to bring Val here for Family Night. There will be other great events, too, so watch for our monthly calendar/newsletters so you won’t miss out on any of the fun.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

Well, Happy New Year, everyone! I trust that you all had a good holiday season. It was peaceful and quiet under here at the library, but that just gave the staff some time to catch their breath and get ready for 2011. It looks like it will be a great year at HPL.

If you go to the HPL Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=176164105732299&sk=basic#!/pages/Houston-Public-Library/176164105732299 you’ll notice a discussion tab. There is one lonely discussion posted there and we are looking for some feedback from our fans. What would you like to see happening at HPL? Do you have some programming ideas? Some promotional ideas? Some fundraising ideas? Well, we want to hear about it. This is your library, people! Tell us what you think would work to promote and enhance the best little library in the North!

Oh, and while you’re there, be sure to become a fan – or a Liker as it were! Please click the Like button on the HPL FB page and help us get those numbers up, up, up. Since we switched to the new FB page, not all the fans have taken the time (mere seconds!) to show their support. And that makes me sad. I’m really a very likable! Heck, some people love me! 2400+ members can’t be wrong!

With the cooler weather hanging around for a while yet, there’s hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate on the go. Enjoy a cup while you browse the shelves or relax in the sitting area. We’ll happily take donations, but feel free to help yourself.

Oh, have you heard the rumor? HPL is this close to having BiblioCommons!

What’s BiblioCommons? Well, it’s been described as the crack cocaine of library services. I guess the best way to explain it is it’s an interactive catalogue that lets users see what is available in their libraries. Patrons can access their accounts to see what they have out, when it is due and if they owe fines. They can even place holds on books they want to read. I know it sounds like what HPL already has, but it’s not the same. It’s like Facebook for library users and it is the one-stop place to get and give reviews, see what’s happening at HPL and connect with library users from all over North America. How cool is that?

Well, I think it’s very cool and I can’t wait to announce the launch - expected sometime this month.

The staff is on pins and needles waiting for BiblioCommons to call and tell them when we’re good to go. Stay tuned and keep checking back either here or on Facebook for the official announcement! It’s going to be good!

T'was the Week Before Christmas

2010-12-15T15:44:00.001-08:00

T’was the week before Christmas
And my what a bustle
Library patrons were
Starting to hustle
And stock up on books
To read o’er Yule;
They were checking out tomes
Like lit-starved fools.
The Circ Clerk was harried.
The Page was agog,
But the Director was counting
Up stats with a nod.
And happy to see that the
Stats were a-climbing
She took to her blog
And started a-rhyming.
Composing this ditty
To post with a click
As homage to Patterson,
And that Evanovich chick
And Cussler and Steel,
Salvatore and Cookson,
Grisham and Grafton
And Cornwell and Brooks ‘n’
Kootnz and King and
Deaver and Reichs
And Clancy and Francis
And Coben and Whyte
And Ludlow and Thor
And McCafffery, too
Kellerman, Roberts and
McCall-Smith (wouldn’t you?)
And all of the authors
That keep people up nights
Turning the pages filled with
Romance or frights.
And when she was done
She turned with a smile
And looked o’er her domain
With pride for a while
“I truly am blessed,”
She said with a tear
“Happy holidays to all
And a Happy New Year!”

A Little Local Food Never Hurt Anybody

2010-12-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

I would be remiss if I didn’t hop back in time a bit and talk about an event that happened within my walls some weeks back. The event was joyfully attended by a small group of enthusiastic connoisseurs of local victuals who gathered to share an evening repast of some significance. The menu was unpretentious, consisting as it did of ingredients indigenous to an area not more than 100 miles away from the table on which it was served. The event to which I refer bore the modern and relevant appellation: The 100-Mile Diet Potluck Dinner and was organized to raise awareness of the variety of foodstuffs available to the budding locavore.

Eating locally is a challenge no matter where one might reside, but in the Bulkley Valley, it seems, it is vital that, to be successful, the locavore must enjoy meat and vegetables, particularly since the availability of anything else is somewhat limited. Coffee, many fruits, dairy products, grains and the all-important chocolate are either completely unattainable or require some sleuthful acumen to unearth and acquire. Seasonings are tricky, too. Where does one get salt, for instance?

While the group dined on meatballs, cabbage salad, kale, potatoes, apple sauce, pumpkin and raspberry/rhubarb pie, it struck me that some of these revelers in locavorism would be hard-pressed to sustain such a regimen if, for some unfathomable reason, they had no choice. Being used to a wide range of fruits, breads, pastas, cheeses, coffees, teas, and the ever-versatile sugar, going local would create its own unique form of withdrawal. Then again, I devour high-voltage electricity, sulphur-injected natural gas and, of course good books, none of which (except for a few of the books) are locally produced. I’m not at all certain that I could survive on a 100-mile diet…

Is the growing phenomenon of self-sustainability a portentous one? Will the future bring a halt to imported delicacies? Will grocery stores become a thing of the past? I have no idea, but it does seem that the paradigm in food production and distribution is shifting. (And here I’ll slide in the literacy angle…) Tomes such as The Zero Mile Diet, Locavore and Just Food are among the first (no doubt there will be more) publications to discuss local eating and educate people on how to do it. From growing your own, to bartering for food, “experts” are emerging and publishers are rallying to the cause to ensure that you, the reader, are duly educated.

I will leave you now with some photographic evidence that eating local fare is entirely possible.

And a lot of fun, too!

The Many Blessings of HPL

2010-12-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

The holidays are fast approaching. Only 23 more sleeps until the big day arrives, explodes in our faces and passes again, leaving many in a daze for days.

The staff has been bustling about decorating me for the past week or so. There are gorgeous paper snowflakes hanging from my ceiling, a gaily decorated tree stands between the two couches in the sitting area, garland and wreaths and pine boughs and stockings dangle, drape and dress counters, shelves and tables. It’s all so very festive! One thing about December – display topics are a no-brainer.

As I watch my patrons come and go, I’m already seeing signs of the strain this particular holiday etches on the lives of so many. The pressure is building. The race is on. The bank accounts are draining. It makes me rather glad that I’m a 5000 square foot building and not a shopper. I intend, as I do every year, to let the mad rush pass me by and spend a few quiet days with… oh, about 24,000 good books.

I’ll be all alone. Santa will not be sliding down my chimney, nor will he be leaving any be-ribboned gifts under the tree for me. But I’m not complaining; I’ve been blessed this year with so many cool things, it’s hard to imagine Christmas morning being any more exciting.

Bev Lyons of the Pleasant Valley Restaurant donated a theatre-style popcorn machine for use during the NID Matinees and other programming. The Friends of the Library purchased a new pre-lit Christmas tree and contributed to the purchase of new tables and chairs for the Canfor Room. The BV Foundation also provided a grant toward the tables and chairs. The Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and Telus gave money to buy a 77” electronic white board and multi-media projector. The District of Houston is upgrading my electrical and adding floor plugs in the sitting area. And the BV Credit Union donated eight guest chairs and new furniture for the Children’s area. I don’t think that Santa could do any better than that! As far as libraries go, especially small libraries, I, HPL, am extremely fortunate. I have a supportive board, dedicated staff, wonderful patrons and happen to have been built in a great community.

If you are planning on dropping in over the next couple of weeks, there are two donation boxes waiting to be filled. One is for the Salvation Army food bank and the other is for the Houston Link to Learning Book Under Every Tree program. So, please do stop by and help fill these two very important donation boxes.

Oh, I almost forgot… the coffee is always on at HPL, along with tea or hot chocolate. So if you care to browse the shelves in search of some great holiday reading material and would like a little refreshment while you do, I’m more than happy to oblige.

In case I don’t get a chance to post another blog before then, have a very safe and happy holiday!

Break-in at the Library

2010-11-23T18:37:00.001-08:00

It is with much sadness and regret that today I must report on the mis-deeds of person or persons unknown. Sometime during the night of Friday, November 19 or early morning Saturday, November 20, the library was broken into. A quantity of cash was stolen, including the donation box that sat on the circulation desk and the door from the main library to the staff room was damaged when the thief(s) chiseled out the lock.

It is believed that the perp(s) unlocked a side window sometime while the library was opened and entered through it. The goal was money, but the library’s blue ray player was also found missing. Oddly, though, the blue ray player was later discovered sitting on top of the magazine shelf next to the emergency exit that the thief(s) left through. I guess climbing back out the window was too much work!

The break in was discovered by a library employee, who had come in to do some printing before the library opened. Upon finding the staff room door splintered and the lock gone, the employee called the Chief Librarian, who, after telling the employee not to touch anything, rushed to the scene of the crime.

The RCMP were notified and responded to the report shortly before noon on Saturday. The investigating constable photographed the scene and took several items to finger print in hopes of catching the culprit(s). Ident declined to come to the library, stating that if they were to find any prints it would be on the items taken into evidence. The discovery of the blue ray player was duly reported to the police as well. It sits, still, on the shelf, waiting to become evidence in the crime some five hours after the call was made to the RCMP.

The extent of the outfall from this burglary is yet to be determined. Staff members are left feeling violated and suspicious. There is a pall over the library that hasn’t been there before. Programs have had to be cancelled. The NID Matinee cannot go on without the blue ray player and telling the kids who look forward to the free movie and popcorn is going to be hard for the staff. The Canfor Room cannot be rented out to groups until the staff room can be secured again.

This hurtful betrayal of trust will, I’m sure, have long-term effects. It is unlikely that the criminal(s) will ever be caught, much less made to make restitution for the loss and the damage that was caused.

What makes someone do such a thing? A library is supposed to be a safe place. The staff work hard to make patrons feel welcome and to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for any and all who walk through the door. To be repaid in such a manner is heartbreaking.

But there is still so much to be thankful for and appreciated and the staff have not lost sight of the good things their jobs entail. The smile on children’s faces when they find the perfect book to read or DVD to watch. The kindness and gratitude of the patrons. The joy of expressing themselves creatively through programs and displays. The satisfaction of helping people find great books or sound information. Library work is fun, challenging and interesting. There is always something new to learn and exciting to share.

In spite of this unpleasant incident, HPL is forging ahead with great programs and services for everyone. It remains a Community Place!

Let's Keep 'em Hopping

2010-11-18T18:48:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can’t believe that it’s been three whole months since I’ve posted anything. Sheesh! But in my own defense, it has been a busy three months! My staff, board and patrons have been kept hopping and I have to say that I kind of like all the hopping!

Just this past Monday and Tuesday, I listened in while our Chief Librarian, Toni McKilligan participated in a virtual workshop on Social Media. The exciting possibilities discussed in the workshop inspired me to take some time this chilly Thursday evening and revive my blogging skills. While Toni jotted down sources and resources for expanding our Social Media presence, I decided to set up a new Facebook account for HPL. It was high time, I thought, to give HPL its own FB page and now Toni is charged with the task of training the staff to use it to promote me! She’s probably thinking that she doesn’t need anything else on her plate at the moment, but she’s a trooper; I’m sure she’ll figure it out. (You can check out the new FB page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=176164105732299&sk=basic#!/pages/Houston-BC/Houston-Public-Library/176164105732299)

The staff are all busy these days. Adele is currently enjoying the creative side of librarianship. She’s making 3D snowflakes to hang from my drop ceiling. They will add a festive touch to the up-coming holiday season that is coming at us faster than Alexander McCall Smith can pump out books! (How many has he published this year?) And she’s keeping up with all the other stuff Assistant Librarians do, too.

Mrs. Erna is busy with Mother Goose, Toddler Time and Story Time. These programs are already in their sixth week and Mrs. Erna is already thinking about the wind-up party that will happen at Story Time on December 17th. She’s also keeping up with the many, many ILL requests that my patrons and other libraries make every day.
If there was a Master Shelver designation, it would belong to my favourite Page, Sara. This girl keeps my collection in perfect order so staff and patrons can easily find what they are looking for. She’s one of the most efficient Pages ever! And she’s pretty handy at covering the circ desk, ILL desk and any other desk when the need arises.

And Toni is busy planning ahead. She’s started working on the January Calendar of Events, getting it ready for distribution in mid-December. I don’t know how she keeps it all straight! Besides the finances and books and programs and scheduling and statistics and reports and e-mails and computer problems and meetings and … the list goes on! ... she somehow manages to lend me a hand (or two) now and then to write this blog.

I must say that I’ve been enjoying all this busyness and bustle. And I’m determined to do my part and keep those in Bloggerland up to date with what’s happening at HPL. My goal is a weekly post. (We’ll see how that goes!)

Anyway, if you have some time and would like to stop by for a visit, I’d be happy to open my doors to you and will welcome the company! There are some great new books on the shelves; some great old ones, too! (And together let's keep Toni, Adele, Erna and Sara hopping.)

A Community Place!

2010-08-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Summer programming is winding down (Whew!), affording us a short break before we rush into fall programming. Now if the weather would only give us a break!

This fall is shaping up to be an exciting one at HPL. New hours, new staff, new programs... It’s going to be a busy time in Libraryland!

On September 1st, the opening hours are changing just a little bit. We will still be open Tuesday through Saturday, but not quite as much. The new schedule looks like this:

Sunday/Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 12 to 7
Wednesday – 10 to 5
Thursday – 12 to 7
Friday – 10 to 7
Saturday – 12 to 4

We’ll also be welcoming a new staff member in September. But I’ll share more about her in another blog!

Events and programming, though, are lining up at the starting gate, eager to make the dash into autumn. Full details on all of our September programs and events can be found at: http://houston.bclibrary.ca/site-files/September%20Events.pdf. But let me just touch on a few of the highlights that are coming up...

Returning programs are Yarn It All!, Community Conversations, NID Matinees and – of course! – Book Club. For those of you who are not familiar with any of these programs, they are open to all community members and are, for the most part, free. Admission to the NID Matinees is by donation, which helps to cover the costs of the movies, the popcorn and the public performance license so we can show them. Yarn It All! meets twice monthly – on the second and fourth Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. – and is open to any and all fibre artists from novice to expert. At Yarn It All! we share, learn and teach each other. Community Conversation is held on the third Tuesday of the month and features a different topic of interest to our community. It’s a place and time to gain awareness, share insights and discuss what is happening in the world and it’s effects on our town. This month we are exploring the 100-mile Diet and planning for the 100-mile Diet Dinner that is coming up in October. Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of every month from September to June. We have an amazing line-up of titles this year. You can see them on our web site at: http://houston.bclibrary.ca/services-programs/programs/book-club. Everyone is welcome!

New to the programming line-up is the Writer’s Guild. Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14th from 6 to 8 p.m. The theme for the inaugural meeting is “I Am!” and attendees are asked to write a short story or poem to share as a way of introducing themselves. From there, members will be asked what they want from the Guild and how they would like to see it run and organized. We already have tons of ideas, but we definitely want the members to take ownership and have fun.

There are several events on the agenda for September as well!

The Friends of the Library are hosting a Book Sale in the mall on September 24th and 25th. Money raised at the sale will go to support HPL programs and services. If you have some time to spare and are interested in helping out at the sale, please call the library – 250-845-2256. We would really appreciate your assistance!

The Houston Literacy Committee has created the 2010-2011 Community Literacy Action Plan and they will be presenting it to the community at the library on Wednesday, September 8th from 4 to 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments will served.

And Pamela Proctor, retired teacher and author of Hounouring the Child: Changing Ways of Teaching will be with us on Thursday, September 23rd from 7 to 9 p.m. Ms. Proctor taught in the Vancouver area for 35 years and in the course of her career, she developed a fresh approach to teaching along with some colleagues. Her Book is on sale at HPL for $20.00. We have a limited number of copies, so don’t delay! Get your copy right away!

It’s a full month with something for everyone in the community!

Reading Rocks!

2010-07-07T16:02:00.001-07:00

It’s summer. And that means Summer Reading Club!

This year the provincial theme is Reading Rocks! What a great theme it is too. You should see our meeting room. It’s been transformed by our Summer Programming Assistant, Jessica, into a veritable party room. With silhouettes and real vinyl records and microphones and all manner of amazing decorations, the Canfor Room is definitely the place to be this summer. Especially if you are between the ages of 3 and 12.

Last week we kicked off the Summer Reading Club with our traditional Registration Day and to help us make it even more exciting than usual, Daryl Robb of Talking Lobster Productions and host of Down by the Docks (a cable TV show for children) took an audience of 50+ parents and kids on a Jungle Safari! It was an amazing hour of song and comedy as Daryl and his side-kick Leroy the Talking Lobster exchanged jokes and sang up a storm. Everyone left with a huge smile on his or her face.

As the summer progresses, Jessica has all sorts of great fun planned for the kids. Stories, games, crafts... there won’t be a dull moment from now until August 18th when we host the SRC Wind-up Party – another tradition at HPL. Join us then between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for a BBQ, awards, more games and more crafts. It’s going to be a Rockin’ good time as the participants show off their skills with an air band contest.

A Long Lost Treasure is Found

2010-06-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

Forty-five years ago, the Houston Public Library Association was incorporated as a public library under the Public Libraries Act. To make that incorporation official, a certificate of incorporation was issued by the Registrar of Companies in Victoria on January 28, 1965 and was dispatched via post along with a letter from R.L. Davison, Superintendent on February 4th.

There is no clear indication of what R.L. super-intended , though it is probably safe to assume it was the Public Library Commission, since it is on Public Library Commission letter head that the letter is neatly and perfectly typed on behalf of R.L. by mbs, whose initials follow R.L.’s in lower case – as illustrated - at the bottom of the page. (Remember when people actually had secretaries who typed their letters for them and added their lower-case initials at the end of the letters? Does that still happen?)

The certificate is printed on legal sized paper in black ink. It is numbered 79 and sports the large red seal of the office of the Registrar of Companies in the lower left-hand corner. Between the I Hereby Certify at the top and the Given at the bottom, a vast expanse of nothingness dominates the certificate. The certificate is obviously a generic form used by many departments of the government where master-typists fill in the blanks with awe-inspiring accuracy.

The letter is addressed to Mr. C.R. Matthews, Municipal Clerk, Houston, B.C. That is the actual address typed – again so amazingly perfectly – on both the letter and the envelope that it arrived in. Neither street nor box number appears anywhere, let alone a postal code. It cost the tax-payers forty-six cents to have the certificate delivered. And that was as Registered mail! There is a stamp with a large R above the mailing label with the number 7952 stamped within its borders – presumably to indicate that the letter was registered. But in case the average layman wasn’t certain about that, the word registered is also typed in red ink on the mailing label itself – presumably by the master-typist, mbs.

It took two days to get from Victoria to Houston. Two days! Imagine that. And with no box number, street address or postal code to guide it. Stamps on the back of the envelope track its progress from Victoria on February 4th to Prince George on February 5th and finally Houston on February 6th. Two days! That’s amazing. I am deeply impressed.

The reason I know so much about this certificate and the letter that accompanied it on it’s long journey from the provincial capital is because it is sitting on my desk next to my computer (with precious backspace and delete keys) in all of its original glory... Well, except for a few crinkles along the edges and a smidgeon of yellowing that is a natural result of aging in paper. I dare say that forty-five years is a fairly advanced age for these sorts of documents.

So why, you may ask, am I dithering on about this certificate and its accompanying letter? Well, because it probably hasn’t been seen since it was filed in the municipal office way back in 1965 when it was first received and duly acknowledged. The library has a faded mimeographed copy of the both of these documents and keeps them filed with the minutes from that time. But no one knew where the originals were or what had become of them.

Until last Tuesday, that is.

E, an employee of the District of Houston, stumbled across them while cleaning out some old files. L, also an employee of the District of Houston, called to see if I wanted them back. The rest, as they say, is history. Albeit, recent history.

Anyway, these long lost treasures have been found and are now in my charge. I will see to it the certificate is framed and prominently displayed. I will file the letter and the envelope safely away again – not because they are necessary or even important, but because they are interesting examples of clerical and postal efficiency from days gone by. (Two days!?)

Our Super Trustee

2010-06-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

What does it take to be a Super Trustee? Well, in the case of HPL’s esteemed Chair, five years of service on the Board of Trustees, two of those as Chair, two years of service on the North Coast Library Federation (NCLF) Board as Chair and two years as a director for the BC Library Trustees Association (BCLTA). Not to mention endless hours of volunteer time at meetings and in consultation with Library directors, Federation Coordinators and fellow Trustees across the province. Natasha Brienen wears many hats in the provincial library world. And she does all this between taking care of her husband and four children.

At the BCLTA Annual General Meeting that was held in conjunction with the BC Library Association Spring Conference and Annual General Meeting this past April, Natasha was honoured with a Super Trustee Award. This award is presented annually to library trustees that have made major contributions to their libraries.

As presenter of the awards this year, keeping her nomination and award a secret from her was tricky. But the look on her face when Andy Ackerman, the Chair for the BCLTA, called her up to receive the reward was one of those priceless moments where one really should have had a camera ready. Alas, we were caught without photographic equipment and had to settle for the memory!

Natasha’s contribution to HPL, NCLF and the BCLTA have helped to shape library structure and leadership in the province. Her guidance and support are gratefully appreciated by the Chief Librarian at HPL and the Coordinator for the NCLF. Her voice at the provincial level ensures that library advocacy continues to reach the government and libraries continue to receive the support they need from it.

Now, it’s confession time...

This blog should have been done ages ago. I’ve been waiting for the photos from other camera-ready attendees. There have been some technical difficulties as well. But with the better-late-than-never adage rolling around in my head to assuage my guilt, here, at last, is the tribute to our wonderful and beloved Chairperson!

Congratulation, Natasha! You really are a Super Trustee!

You'll never guess what we're up to now

2010-06-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to do an update here. It’s not that nothing is happening; it’s more a matter of not having time to sit down and put together a coherent and interesting article to post.

Today, however, I feel compelled to make the time. Something really exciting has just happened and I want to share it. In these troubled financial times, fundraising is all the more important and all the more difficult. Everyone, it seems, has their hand out and people are tired of reaching into their pockets. The begging part isn’t all that fun, either. But a little creative inspiration goes a long way.

Yesterday, two of our staff members hit on an interesting theory. What if we sold some of the used books we have on eBay or Amazon? Hmmm... I had to admit that I was a little sceptical at first. EBay was definitely out, but I suggested that we do a little research and see what is involved in listing the books with Amazon.

Guess what? It’s not rocket science. Nor do you have to sign your life away. The registration process is relatively simple and for a small per-sale fee, Amazon handles all the money. You simply list your items and wait for a customer to come along to buy them. Once every two weeks, if any of your items have sold, Amazon pays out your cut. Well, I figured it was worth a try, so I signed HPL up and started listing books.

HPL has hundreds of books for sale on a continuing basis. For a donation patrons can carry away as many books as they like. (And the more the better!) We hold a big annual book sale in the mall, but there are tons (well, at least half a ton) of books stacked up in the storage room taking up valuable space. Many of these are donations and are in excellent condition. It is from these that we are choosing the items to list on Amazon.

We have no idea how it’s going to go; if we’ll even sell anything at all. We are hopeful, though! This is a free and easy way to expand our market and reach out to book lovers beyond the walls of the library. And if it boosts our revenues even by a couple hundred dollars a year... Well, I’d say it is worth the effort. We’ll see how it goes.

As for the staff members whose suggestion it was to give this a try, they have been rewarded with giant chocolate bars for their innovative idea.

Digital Storytelling

2010-04-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

This is the digital age! Digital media is everywhere: Computers, cell phones, cameras, ipods, and TV are all digital. Even books can be found in digital formats. Yes, digitization is everywhere and part of nearly everything.

So it was hardly surprising that a Digital Storytelling Workshop was offered at the local college. Also not surprising, I had to take a couple of holiday days and attend it.

I had visions of creating some masterpiece of digital art. What I did create is the following short video:

Understand that this is a pretty rough first draft. I probably shouldn't even be sharing it just yeat, but I was so excited about what I learned, I just couln't help myself. The last two slides have some missing text. This, I assure you, was not my fault. There was some glitch with the software and it happened to several of the workshop participants. But that's okay. It was a fun beginner project and I'm amazed at how well lit turned out with less than two days to work on it.

With a little more practice and lots more patience, I plan on reworking this piece. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed it - even in it's highly amateur state!

Blanketing Our Whole Community

2010-03-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

It seems like many traditional crafts are experiencing a renaissance these days. Knitting, weaving and quilting are among the increasingly popular pastimes that are infecting both women and men with the creative bug. People everywhere are picking up needles, looms and sewing machines and producing incredible works of art. And they are not just armchair crafters, picking away at personal projects in front of the TV during the evenings. Not at all. Serious crafters are gathering together and forming groups that are both social and supportive.

For many years in Houston there has been a spinners and weavers group and a quilting group. More recently a knitting group has formed.

The quilters who are officially known as The Cut Loose Quilters meet biweekly in the Canfor Room at HPL to hone and share their skills. Yarn It All, the knitters, also meet bi-weekly in the Canfor Room to do the same. We aren’t sure where the spinners and weavers are gathering, but I’m fairly sure that they are gathering somewhere!

The resurgence of these crafts in recent years is interesting to say the least. The artisans that create such beautiful and practical items do so with passion and pride. Not a single item seems to be less than a labour of love.

Last week, one of the members of The Cut Loose Quilters entered the library and unfurled an example of this labour; a gorgeous quilt, which was donated to HPL for the purpose of fundraising through raffle ticket sales. The tickets will be on sale between March 24th and May 24th after which a draw will be held to determine the winner. (See picture above)

This beautiful quilt is not just a pieced-together blanket. It is a community project that started with a simple idea and will culminate in a lasting legacy for the entire community. The purchase of the material to make the quilt was sponsored by the Bulkley Valley Credit Union. The quilt itself was created by the members of the Cut Loose Quilters (quilt mom: Ene Groot; quilting done by Pam Sjoden). It was then donated to HPL. The raffle will raise money that will be used to purchase new chairs for the Canfor Room. And some lucky winner will have it to treasure for – hopefully – many, many years to come. It could even become an heirloom!

The number of people that have, are and will be touched by the quilt is extraordinary. This humble little blanket is wrapped around many shoulders. It is a symbol of how our community works together, helps each other out and rallies to support good causes.

Tickets will be on sale at the Bulkley Valley Credit Union, the Houston and District Chamber of Commerce and, of course, at the library.

(BC Gaming License #32292)

Mr. Brewstir Retires After Serious Arm Injury

2010-03-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

For over a decade Mr. Brewstir watched over the HPL collection, ever vigilant under the weight of his personal stack of tomes. His loyalty and dedication to the library, the staff and patrons as he silently stood guard will be sadly missed as he now retires from service.

Mr. Brewstir came to Houston from the land of Costco in 1997. His first appointment was at Brewstir’s Books on the corner of 10th Street and Poulton Avenue; a job he fondly recalls as being “pleasantly aromatic.” “The smell of fresh coffee mixed with clean books... Ah! A most pleasurable place to earn a living,” Brewstir reminisced just prior to the surgery he recently underwent to mend a severely fractured right arm.

His move to the library was precipitated by the closure of Brewstir’s books in 1999. Though he nearly retired at that time, Mr. Brewstir decided to continue is career when a position suddenly opened up at the library. “I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to be surrounded by all those beautiful books,” Brewstir said.

Brewstir’s peaceful work life came to a shattering end this past February when an errant and unsupervised toddler wilfully knocked him over. In the fall, Brewstir’s right arm sustained multiple fractures and his beloved stack of books was forcefully ripped away from his body. Staff members were horrified, but quickly assisted the fallen bibliophile back onto his unscathed plinth. The noble little man didn’t so much as groan, though the pain must have been terrible.

Arrangements were made to transfer the wounded Brewstir to a nearby hospital – of sorts – where he was lovingly tended to by Dr. D and his assistant T. The surgery to repair his damaged arm took just over two hours, followed by another 24 hours in traction to be sure the breaks would mend properly. It is expected that Brewstir’s stack of books will be returned to him tonight or tomorrow and that he will be able to continue to hold them for many years to come. Some follow-up, cosmetic surgery to hide the scarring is scheduled for the coming weekend.

Mr. Brewstir misses the library very much. “But it is nice not to have to spend nights and weekends all alone,” Brewstir said. “I think I shall find retirement quite enjoyable.”

"He was quite a character," said librarian Toni McKilligan. "He'll be missed around here."

At Mr. Brewstir’s request no retirement party will be held in his honour. He simply asks that everyone continue to visit the Houston Public Library and enjoy “the great books, awesome programs and convenient services thereof!”

Off to a Great Start

2010-02-23T15:01:00.001-08:00

As the Houston Public Library Association moves into its 46th year of incorporation, we are pleased to welcome three new Trustees to our board. At the Annual General Meeting held in the Canfor Room last night (Feb 22) Natasha Tenbrinke, Lisa Makuk and Joe Aersens all accepted nominations and were elected by acclimation for two-year terms. We also welcomed back Rob Newell and Kim Marks for two-year terms. These five volunteers round out a complete board of nine Library Trustees. Until last night, we had been short two board members for some time.

At the same time the three new board members joined our team two others took their leave as Trustees. Having completed the maximum eight consecutive years permissible under the Library Act, Helen Ludditt and Margaret Monkman passed the torch – so to speak – and retired from the board. It is with great sadness that we see these two amazing women step down. HPL wishes them both the very best, but we know that we will still see them at the circulation desk and at fundraising events where they will continue to volunteer on behalf of HPL as members of the Friends of the Library.
With that, we move forward into a fresh new year full of possibilities – both good and bad. Funding issues still hover, like the grim reaper, himself, in board rooms and budget meetings all over the province. At HPL we remain optimistic, but the reality is that the province and the District of Houston hold the purse strings and can draw them tighter at any moment. On the sunnier side of things, we have already secured funding for one project: new tables and chairs for the Canfor Room. Approval for a grant from the Bulkely Valley Community Foundation along with a donation from the Friends of the Library will enable us to purchase comfortable folding chairs and sleek new folding tables. Meetings will never be the same again!

Our brand new popcorn popper is on its way to us, too. Thanks to a generous donation from Bev Lyons of PV Restaurant, our movie nights and matinees will be more theatre-like experiences for our patrons. And we won’t have to schlep the popcorn popper back and forth from the Credit Union any more! (Though we are very grateful to the Credit Union for allowing us to use theirs and for supplying the popcorn free of charge!)

So far, so good! New Trustees, new popcorn popper, new tables and chairs... 2010 is off to a great start.

It's No Turkey Dinner...

2010-02-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

I know it’s not spring – Yet! But it’s coming fast and with it all sorts of stressful demands that libraries face on an annual basis at that time of the year. AGMs, SOFIs, PLSB surveys, summer student applications and the summer students that follow them... By the time summer hits, Librarians are hoping for a breather, only to discover that it’s time to start thinking about budgets and grant reports and fall programming and .... Well, suffice it to say, it’s always something.

At HPL the something we are focussing on is the AGM, scheduled for February 22nd. AGMs are a lot like Christmas dinner; hours of preparation and it’s all over with in about 30 minutes. Then there’s the clean up! More reports to submit and new board members to train before we can settle into a routine. (Not to mention dive into the next something!)

With only ten days before the AGM, I am pretty much ready to go. All that’s left is to arrange for the goodies that we traditionally serve, tweak the agenda and print the Annual Report. It’s always good to be ahead of the game, but that often just means more time to worry about the details – like do I have the right dates on the reports. Last year I didn’t!

The AGM is a requirement for all public libraries. It is supposed to be the time when we tell the supporting public what we’ve done with all those tax dollars that have been channelled our way over the previous year. Unlike some governments (how’s that for diplomacy?), we are held accountable and have to justify our spending. It’s part of the game, one of the hoops we must jump through – there are many others!

I’m happy to report that in 2009, our fiscal responsibilities were handled quite well. We achieved a great deal with what we had and ended with a bit left over. Little by little my vision for HPL is evolving into reality and over the next few years, I believe that we will continue to do well. As long as our funding remains stable and no unforeseen disasters strike! But that is also part of the game; the unknown future on which we all bank to provide us with a good and prosperous return.

So, the date to remember is Monday, February 22nd. The time to remember is 7 p.m. The place to go is the Houston Public Library. The event is the Annual General Meeting. And while it’s no turkey dinner with all the trimmings, it is for a very good cause.

Hit the Ground Running

2010-01-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

In my January report to the Board of Trustees I stated that we “hit the ground running in 2010.” Indeed, we’ve reached the end of the month in record time and, it seems, at warp speed! Before we know it, we’ll be preparing for year-end!

It’s scary how fast time passes, but like the saying “Time flies when you’re having fun,” we are having tons of fun at HPL. (I know this because balloons are hanging from the ceiling!)

Our Calendar of Events is chock full of great activities for all ages. Our children’s programs are in full swing, but there’s always room for more. Yarn It All (our version of the proverbial “stitch and b***h”) welcomes all who are interested in fibre arts to come and share their talents – or develop them. If you don’t know how to do it, we’ll teach you! (Or find someone who will!) Community Conversations is an interesting and fun way to learn about local and global issues that affect us all right here in good ol’ Houston. Book Club challenges readers to go beyond the norm and discover new authors and genres. NID Matinees provide youngsters a theatre-like experience - except the popcorn is free and the seats are big, comfy pillows on the floor.

See – tons of fun!

Our Calendar of Events is posted on our web site: http://houston.bclibrary.ca . The February calendar will appear any time now - just as soon as the web site fairies arrive to upload the file for me or the time fairies add a couple hours to my day!

One event that I would like to draw particular attention to is the Norman Leach Lecture Tour, which will be stopping at HPL on Friday, February 12, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Norman Leach is a renowned Canadian historian and award-winning author of the book Broken Arrow: America’s First Lost Nuclear Weapon, which tells the tale of the US B36 bomber that crashed in the Kispiox carrying a nuclear warhead.

When the wreck was discovered years later, more questions than answers emerged? What actually happened? How did the plane end up in Northern BC? What happened to the weapon it was carrying? Intrigued? Then please join us in the Canfor Room when we welcome Mr. Leach – who just may have some of the answers!