I do love a library...

 Ahoy! 

I hope your summer has been treating you well! I can't believe Summer Reading is in its final days! It feels like this year's program flew by. I've seen so many familiar faces and new friends logging minutes, writing reviews, and claiming their prizes!

Along with going on a literary adventure, I hope you've gotten to take a real adventure! Whether it's a local jaunt or a faraway trek, it's fun to get away! I was fortunate to go away during our extra-long 4th of July weekend, and of course, I had to visit a library!

The Saratoga Springs Public Library is absolutely lovely! I got to stretch my legs and mingle among the Summer Reading Program setup. They did a great job on the Dino-theme!

I always love to visit new-to-me libraries. I like to see how they post their program info, where they keep their information handouts, and how many programming rooms they have. I feel like a secret shopper in a way... although, my family usually blows my cover once a member of staff says hello...

You don't have to drive far to check out new libraries. I recently visited the Doylestown library, which has had a total overhaul since I was last there as a kid. They had really cool displays and even had an Art-O-Mat!

It was like a vending machine of trinkets from local artists! It was very neat. I dream of having the space for something like this! (Although I will settle for an old-fashioned bubble gum machine! One has been on my thrift store wish list for a loooong time.)

Never hesitate to let me know if you've visited a new-to-you library. I have patrons who save me programming schedules and tell me what other libraries are doing. It's always neat to hear, and who knows: you may see something I could bring to LPCL! My favorite Patron-shared library is probably the Beach Town libraries. The vibe at a library by the ocean must be so fun. Imagine clocking out and hitting the beach... again, I'm dreaming!

Even with all the summer excitement, I'm still reading. I challenged myself to read one of the most controversial books in history: Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. I wanted to see if it's really that salacious or just a product of its time...

Well, it was certainly something, folks. It took me until halfway through the book to wonder if I was actually reading a censored copy, and then it got... controversial. For its time, this book is a wild ride. Today? I think it's pretty tame. I'm glad I read it, not only for the Jeopardy clues but also for the zeitgeist. 

Now for something more my speed, I just finished listening to The Gales of November by John U. Bacon. It's about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The book begins all the way back in 1958, when the ship was built. The story winds all the way to the 1990's when the ship was legally protected as a gravesite. It was sad, informative, but incredibly fascinating. The families of the victims are so strong, and their work to preserve the ship and crew's legacy is heartbreaking. And yes, they talk about the famous song.

As for what I'm reading right now, Nine Lives by Dan Baum is a tragic love letter to New Orleans. It follows several people from all over the city from the 1970's to 2009. We all have this image of Mardi Gras, Spanish moss, and beautiful architecture, but this book shows the perspective of the rich, the poor, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I'm at the part just before Hurricane Katrina hits. It's like the calm before the storm; I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is one of those books, I'll never look at New Orleans the same way again!

I hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Before you know it, we'll be talking about fall weather and cozy sweaters. Happy Reading!!

It's on the Calendar!

 

A well-oiled Library is nothing without its calendar! You may have noticed our calendar on our website looks a little different! I've been slowly revamping it to make it easier to see our programs!

From the patron side of things, you only see the website calendar, but I work from 4 different calendars! That's kind of embarrassing to admit...but let me explain! 

First, Sandy, our Head of Children's Services, and I share the community room for programs. We have an internal calendar, so we don't double-book each other. This calendar is also where I can put place holders for our rentals or schedule proctoring. It is also where we figure out what's called "the buffer." Have you ever come to the library for a program just a bit too early, and our lot is completely full? But when you come at regular time, there's plenty of spots! That's the buffer! We try to leave enough time between programs on our busy days to make sure things are always moving! No matter how hard we try, those busy days still can feel like an airport terminal!

My second calendar is good old paper! This is just for adult programming. I map out our regular and special programs each month, record numbers for the state, and put in placeholders for future programs. This calendar is color-coded and lasts all year long. This is where I put movie and book club selections for staff to find.

My third calendar is my personal calendar. Every day of the month, I have different tasks to get done in preparation for the next month. I also have some daily tasks just to keep Adult Programming running smoothly, from sorting the puzzles to throwing up tables to checking in with presenters. I'm also responsible for making sure our movie license is up to date, and our monthly displays are refreshed and current. I'm one of those people who likes to be able to look back and see when I called so-and-so and when was the last time I did a certain task. This calendar is a special kind of paper that uses erasable ink, and I scan the pages and download them to my computer. It becomes a "smart" calendar because it becomes searchable (by OCR, not AI!) in my Google Drive. I can search a person's name or a task, and it will come up with a list for me. 

Lastly, the website calendar! I've changed the format so that for every program, you can see the intended audience in the title. The location, presenter, and description are listed when you click on a specific program. Planned library closures are marked off in advance. I've also made sure upcoming book sales will be listed once they are confirmed with the Friends of the Library. Patrons will now see when the community room is unavailable. This is mostly for rentals. When we don't have a program, we allow rentals, and the proceeds go directly back to the library.

So that's the calendar situation around here! I didn't even go into my personal calendar/bullet journal (or the BuJo, if you're a StationeryHead). I have a daily log as well as trackers for my reading, my hobbies, and whatever else I want to keep track of. I've recently gotten into junk journaling and actually using my sticker collection. A blank notebook HATES to see me coming! 

I hope you are enjoying summer reading! I love hearing about what you're reading, and I especially love helping people set up their devices to take books on vacation. I love hearing about where you're going and how traveling is the gateway to our digital library.

Since I do a lot of the back-end of the library's summer reading program, my kids don't participate in our official summer reading program. I actually create our own family summer reading. (Don't worry, they still win prizes; they are not deprived!) Once again, I have no set TBR, I'm just reading what moves me and what's available on Libby or on my shelf. I just finished listening to Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood by William J. Mann.

 It's a true crime adventure mixed with glamour and show business. It's set up like a mystery; you don't know who is guilty until the very end! The narrator of this audiobook reminded me of old-time radio announcers. It very much added to the whole vibe of this book.

I'm slowly moving through Mary Roach's latest book: Replaceable You. It's about the science and history of the parts we can replace in the human body. From teeth to joints, to eye lenses, to other things, it's been a ride. I do not consider myself a squeamish person (I will absolutely eat before and after visiting the Mutter Museum), but I had to put this book down a few times just to get a breather after she describes witnessing (and hearing) a hip replacement surgery. Regardless of that, Mary Roach is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. Her books are great in audio and print. She balances humor, history, and information perfectly. If you are just getting into nonfiction, she is a great author to start with.

Enjoy the rest of Summer reading! See you at the Library!

ROAR!

 

Summer is here! The warm weather, school's almost out, the smell of hot dogs on the grill...all the things that immediately bring summer to mind. Summer is actually a library's "busy season." 

All my teacher friends are putting their feet up and finally relaxing and reading for fun, and we're here, picking up where they left off. Summer Reading is many things to many people. For some kids and parents, it's a way to stave off the Summer Slide. For some kids, it's a competition with themselves to read as much as they can. For adults, it's a fun way to find new things to read. Everyone gets a chance to win prizes or vouchers to our used book sale. Our staff has its own summer reading challenge...look out for our weekly t-shirt themes!

This year, the official theme is Unearth a Story. As you can see, it's very dinosaur-forward. I envy Miss Sandy's job because nothing is more fun than a child's obsession with dinosaurs. My version of the theme will really lean on local history. Keep an eye out for a program from The Jaybird Foundation about unearthing history while rehabbing a historic place, right in our backyard! LPCL's Summer Reading program runs from June 15th to August 7th.

As I mentioned in last month's post, I love Dinosaurs. The biggest letdown of adulthood is that no one ever wants to talk about dinosaurs. This is my chance; This is my shot to shoot. I love the Stegosaurus, and here are some of my favorite dinosaur books! If you decide to read any of these titles, please let me know what you think.

First of all, I would be remiss if I didn't mention what started my dinosaur obsession: The 1992 PBS miniseries The Dinosaurs. This series had my brother and me in a chokehold. We probably wore through that bootleg VHS tape... But back to the books:

The Monster's Bones by David K Randall is about the Museum Wars and the man who unearthed the first complete T. rex skeleton. Written like a novel, it's a captivating story of love, loss, rivalry, and dinosaurs!

Dinner with King Tut by Sam Kean isn't focused on dinosaurs per se, but focuses on the unconventional study of Experimental Archaeology. This book mixes nonfiction sections with imaginative sections of what might have happened in ancient times and how scientists are trying to put the pieces together, not with bones, but weapons, building materials, and more.

Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party by Edward Dolnick is a delightful book about how Victorians went so hard for their interests and hobbies...and how a woman actually discovered the first dinosaur fossils and never got proper credit. Did you know our Founding Fathers didn't know dinosaurs existed? Fossils found in their time were thought to be mythical or biblical monsters. Wild.

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte is probably the book I'd recommend if I were on a delegation to introduce Aliens to dinosaurs. It covers all the prehistoric periods and their respective dinosaurs. The author also discusses his travels around the world researching dinosaurs and the geology related to extinctions. This book will challenge our assumptions about dinosaurs and what we've been taught all these years. 

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe and Susan Tuma is a whimsical picture book that even adults can enjoy. This book lives on my coffee table at home and inspired me to buy plastic dinosaurs to annoy my family during the pandemic. Nothing makes me smile like posing toys and making a mess. This is a great book to lift your mood or inspire a little Dino-themed mischief.

As you can see, I've *been* ready for a summer reading theme like this. I hope these books will give you a child-like wonder and help you discover something new. I am a firm believer that you're never too old for dinosaurs and you're certainly never too old for Summer Reading!

Surprisingly, I am NOT currently reading about dinosaurs right now. I just finished probably the strangest memoir I've ever read. Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood is unique, to say the least. I didn't hate it, but I also questioned my taste in books a few times. 

I'm now currently enjoying my first ILL (Inter Library Loan. This book is from Pittsburgh!) of the year: The Cheese Monger's History of the British Isles by Ned Palmer. I love cheese, and I love reading about cheese. Each chapter is a different time period and a different variety of cheese. Palmer tells us the history and the current-day life of cheesemakers. Some of my favorite cheeses are mentioned, as well as a few I've never heard of. I'm making a list of new-to-me cheeses to snag the next time I'm at the cheese shop!

As always, I'll see you at the library! 

 

May!!

 I feel like a broken record saying this, but I can't believe how fast 2026 is moving! It's already May!

While it feels like a blur, May is the quiet before the storm here at the library. We are finishing up our spring fundraiser and have a little downtime before our busiest time of the year: Summer Reading. A lot is going on in the background, but to the patron, the library hopefully feels calm! Besides being able to browse, attend a program, or use our computers, the library has a few things laid out around the building. Believe it or not, these activities are actually programming!

Passive Programming is another example of my responsibilities in Adult Services. Passive Programming is a program that requires no attendance or registration and is generally a "set it and forget it" kind of activity. It's something that is available to patrons no matter when they come to the library. In our annual report to the state, I'm required to keep track of what passive programs I have and an estimate of how many people participated. Throughout the year, I try to change up what's out, but below are just a few of our most consistent and popular passive programming:

The Community Puzzle:

Along with our Puzzle Swap Area, we have a community puzzle! Located on the Adult side of the library, just beyond the large print books, we have a 300-500-piece. puzzle for everyone to share! Whether you sit for a while and sort pieces or just drive by and add a piece on your way to the stacks, everyone is welcome to help complete the puzzle! I like to take pictures of finished puzzles and post them to our Instagram page. If you ever finish one of our puzzles, make sure you come find me so I can snap a pic!

The Community Crossword:

This is an exciting addition to our passive programming. This Colossal Crossword was donated to the library. Before COVID, we used to have a word search and a Sudoku book around for people to use. It worked for a while, but then it was difficult to maintain for everyone's enjoyment. This poster-sized activity is hard to miss and harder to lose! It's located in our cafe space under our "Billy-Pete" Bulletin board. Pencils are available to write in your answers. 

Book Lists!

This might come as a surprise, but our Book Lists display is an example of passive programming! There are several genres to choose from. I edit these lists from time to time to reflect changing tastes, what's popular, and what's won awards. Not everyone wants to visit the desk and talk to someone about reader's advisory. This is a great way to pop in, grab a little sheet, and find something to read!

Always keep an eye out for more examples of passive programming. I've done grab-and-go crafts for adults, DIY Bookmarks, displays from local governments/organizations, and more!

In other news, my "Not-A-TBR" TBR is going well! I don't have a set list of books to read. Just a random tag on my Libby account and a stack of books from my favorite used book store! It's been nice to just pick a book that moves me! I listened to A Gentleman and a Thief, a true-crime story about a Jewel Thief during the Jazz Age. I really enjoyed this real-life caper! It was like reading a Cary Grant movie, but it was real life! I'm almost finished reading The Perfect Tuba, a story about Tuba culture, Band directors, and two prized tubas owned by the Chicago Philharmonic. It is a quirky, fascinating read!

Coming up in June, this year's Summer Reading theme is "Unearth an Adventure." It's everything I like in a summer reading theme: Dinosaurs, Archaeology, and more. I'm hoping to bring you some cool programming and encourage adults that summer reading is for them, too! I'm already sorting through some weekly prize ideas. One thing I'm looking forward to is asking adults what their favorite dinosaur is. (The most disappointing aspect of adulthood is that no one ever asks me what my favorite dinosaur is. It's the Stegosaurus: a peace-loving, plant-eating plate collector...until you make it mad.)

Until next time, see you in the stacks!

April Showers...

 ...Make for great reading!

Spring is finally here! I'm ready for all the things that come with spring: warmer days, taking the dogs on longer walks, planning my garden, and reading outside on my patio! 

Spring also brings a lot of changes, and that's certainly true around the library! You've probably noticed our new catalog on the website and our brand new app. You may have even followed us on social media after our viral Instagram reel (No Kevins were harmed, I swear!) Another aspect of my job is online marketing!

I edit our website, contribute to the monthly newsletter, post to our socials, and help patrons navigate our online and e-resources. I've really enjoyed helping patrons navigate the new catalog. The catalog is inside the library at our catalog computers, as well as the brand new app for smartphones, tablets, and other touch devices. It looks very different from the old platform! The new platform was designed to be easier to navigate and make it easier to find materials across all the different libraries in the system. It's brighter, cleaner, and has a fresh look!

There are three ways to experience the new catalog:

Here's what you see at the catalog computers inside the library

Inside the library: The catalog computers have their own version of the new catalog. You be able to see what is in our building as well as other locations. You cannot log into your account from these machines; they are for browsing only.

Here's what you'll see on your home computer

The Website: The catalog linked on our website is best used on a laptop or desktop computer. It's formatted for those larger screens and devices that have a traditional mouse and keyboard setup. You can request books, see your checked out materials, check the status of your holds, and more.

Here's what you'll see from your smart device

The App: The MCLINC App is for your smart devices! Your smartphone, tablet, or other handheld touch device. You can do all the things you can do on the website version, just in a more compact, mobile-friendly version. The app even keeps your barcode handy, so if you forget your card, you can still check things out at the library! There's even a function to scan a book's ISBN and see if the book exists in our system. 

This is what the logo looks like in your App Store

Change is hard, but we can do hard things! I've heard a lot of feedback on the new catalog, and every single comment is valid! It looks different; there have been a few hiccups, and things are missing or turned off. As with new things, getting used to a new look or a new process can seem daunting. Especially since we had the old catalog for so long!!

I see patrons every day who tell me they aren't good with technology, and I tell each and every one of them that YES, YOU ARE! The fact that you are trying and you are curious is all I need to help you discover this new platform. Whether it's a brand new catalog or learning how to use our other e-resources, curiosity goes a long way! It never bothers me when you visit my desk to ask questions or ask me to show you how to do something one more time. That's what I am here for! I love helping patrons. I've already logged over 2 hours of device consultation since the new year. (That's over half an hour more compared to this time last year!)

As you can tell, I am excited for springtime. I have no set TBR this season. I'm just gonna read what catches my eye! I just finished Dinner With King Tut, by Sam Kean, which is about the field of Experimental Archaeology. Instead of digging up bones, scientists are testing recipes, rebuilding housing structures, and remaking prehistoric weapons to understand how ancient civilizations lived. It was a fascinating read! I'm currently listening to Playing Possum by Susana Monso, a philosophical take on whether animals can conceive the concept of death and dying.

Until next time, see you in the library!

Just one of LPCL's Canine Mascots!

Marching on...

 

Hello Readers!

Wow, we made it through February! If you've been to the library over the past few weeks, you know we've had a lot going on! First, the weather has been wild this winter. It has made for some great cozy reading time, but I'm tired of layering my coats and defrosting my car every morning. 

February's program schedule was all over the place. We missed a whole week of programming to accommodate our long-awaited HVAC replacement, power issues, and snow days! What I couldn't have in February, I have moved to March!

This month, our schedule is jam-packed with programs...and a Bag Book Sale! We have FOUR...count them 4!...special programs. Medicare, Retirement, Wills & POA, and our rescheduled Vision Board Party, I hope I have all the bases covered! 

If you didn't know, we try really hard to make sure Adult Programming is free and accessible to all. Adult Services has a line on the Library's annual budget. I work closely with our presenters, guests, the Friends, and local sponsors to make sure cost is not a barrier to enjoying our programs. In very rare cases, a program may have a small fee to cover an instructor's insurance, supplies, fees, etc., and that will always be noted in a program's description.

In other news, I'm always excited for another Bag Book Sale! The Friends of the Library work hard to organize the sale and make sure there are some real gems to buy! Kevin and I usually get to exercise our Theater Kid Muscles and make a funny video to promote the sale. The $5 Bag Book Sale runs from March 7th to March 21st. 

Sliding in by the skin of my teeth, I have finally finished my Winter Middle Grade TBR! February was a tough month for my family; we said goodbye to a loved one and one of our dogs. I haven't really been in the mood to read. I'm slowly working my way through a Hockey Romance novel, but it is a slog. 

I also must make a confession...I ruined my first library book. Library Workers have to replace damaged and lost books too! A new *undamaged* copy will be on the shelf soon! If this has ever happened to you, know that you're not in trouble! Accidents happen!

Here is hoping spring brings warmer weather, happier days, and more library joy!

See you at the desk!

Book *Love* is in the Air!

 Library Greetings!

The hub-bub of the holidays has passed, and now we're in the throes (and snow drifts!) of mid-winter. The days are getting longer, warmer days are ahead!

This month, we're going to touch on reading trackers. One surprising thing about my job is that I get to see all the different ways people keep track of the books they read. 

It's kind of like on Halloween, and getting to see the inside of everyone's houses. On the outside, everything looks the same, but on the inside, you can see how everyone is different. The people who come to see me are all readers, but when people show me how they keep track of their reading, it's like a peek into their brains.

I've seen everything. Apps like Goodreads and StoryGraph (My favorite!), little spiral notebooks with notes and scribbles, a spectrum of spreadsheets: the most basic to color-coded. I've even seen a carefully curated folder of scrap paper. There's no wrong way to do it!

For those who need inspiration, we offer Beanstack as a valuable resource here at the library.

Beanstack is an app or a webpage that we use for our Summer Reading program. The platform was so successful, we use it all year-round. I make sure there is always an active reading challenge so that people can log their books, reading minutes, and reviews. It's just one more option to track those favorite authors or remember which book in a series you left off at. Visit https://lowerprovidencelibrary.beanstack.org/ to learn more.

Of the phone apps, I love StoryGraph. It's like an ad-free GoodReads with pie charts. I get book suggestions based on my reading, and every month, it generates a graphic of my reading:

I loooooooooove the pie charts. It makes me giddy to see my charts move and grow. But I also still keep a paper tracker in my bullet journal. I used to just make a list, but now I've started to *jazz* it up with photo covers and a star rating stamp. 

By no means do you need to get this fancy. Whatever works for you is right for you! After all this show-and-tell, I'll tell you I also meet people who don't track their reading at all! They read whatever they want, and if they've already read it, no biggie! I'm in awe of that kind of freedom. I am a Virgo...I could never!

As always, if you have any questions about tracking your reading or where to start, don't hesitate to find me in the library. 

My Winter TBR is coming along nicely! Since it's February, I will try to read a romance novel. They aren't my usual go-to palette cleanser, but there have been a few mentions on social media that seem really fun. Sports-themed romances are really hot right now! Might treat myself to a little Hockey romance...

Until next time, Happy Reading!