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Behind Closed Doors Part 3: Desk Duty Devils

by | | Topsham Tales

photo-dec-01-2-02-26-pmMore than likely, when you visit Topsham Public Library, Dave, Dale or I will be tending the circulation desk, but we each have our own responsibilities beyond what you see us do out front. We have a good time together when working hard at the circulation desk: Dale keeps us informed about the current sports teams and various victories and defeats, Dave is a great one for dining, travel, and entertainment ideas, and I bring in English toffee, all while we check books and other materials in and out, help patrons and answer their questions, answer the phone and unpack and prepare interlibrary loans that go to and from our library, among many other tasks.

Dave is like a human database containing numerous suggestions of books and movies, but he is also our volunteer coordinator. Dave has developed a new volunteer application and a volunteer manual. Dave works with the volunteers and trains them in various procedures that they are responsible for. He also works with the staff and volunteers to maintain a schedule that is beneficial to both.

Dave’s favorite aspect of his job is speaking with patrons and offering reading recommendations. He especially enjoys British TV as “the Anglo funny-bone” fits him better.

If Dale isn’t behind the circulation desk, he is more than likely updating computers, installing new programs, fixing issues on our computers, and generally ensuring all things IT are running correctly. He also uses that IT experience to assist patrons who may need help setting up an email or learning how to download audiobooks and/or ebooks to their devices. Dale is available every Wednesday from 1pm-3pm for drop-in tech support.

Dale is also embarking on a new adventure as he is facilitating a new book group. Are there any graphic novel lovers out there? On the fourth Tuesday of every month, Read Between the Panels meets at 6pm. To find out what they are reading for December call Topsham Public Library at 725-1727 for more information.

Dale’s favorite thing to do is troubleshoot network and computer issues which keeps me from slamming my computer with the closest blunt object available.

If you are reading this blog post, you are experiencing my task. I am responsible for writing blog posts and communicating all things Topsham Public Library. I also do a bit of event planning and offering my assistance to anyone who may need it.

My favorite thing to do is to talk with the patrons. If I could do anything I want, I would own a little hole-in-the-wall diner with a long lunch counter and yell orders to the cook of all things delightful, make my regulars comfortable, and ensure everyone has a full belly when they leave. Sometimes I pretend the circulation desk is my lunch counter.

Come by and say hi and check out Topsham Public Library.

 

Behind Closed Doors Part 2 : Library Aides Plus

by | | Topsham Tales

Though you may see Julie and Linda around Topsham Public Library, much of their time is spent in the offices working on a variety of responsibilities.

Sometimes people just forget to bring back library items they have checked out. It happens. Julie, Library Aide Plus, sends notices to remind patrons to return these items, and if the items are still not returned, a bill for those items is sent out. Someone has to keep track of these things, and Julie is the one to do it.

2016-11-30-14-45-18But there is much more that Julie does: if you cannot find an item in Minerva or MaineCat she can request it through Maine State Library. They may be able to find an item from a library outside of Maine. In order to use this service, the item has to be older than six months, and if it is costly to replace, Julie informs the patron because if the item is lost in the mail it still has to be paid for. Due to this, Julie likes the items that are requested to be $30.00 or less.

Julie doesn’t just request things, but she also fulfills requests from other libraries. The Area Reference and Resource Center Library is comprised of Maine State Library, Bangor Public Library, and Portland Public Library. They make 3 -4 requests a week that Julie fills with items from our collection.

Other aspects of her job include ordering supplies, cataloging magazines and deleting those that have been in circulation for a year. Julie is also our unofficial official organizer. She loves to organize and sort and clean and make tidy.

Julie’s favorite thing to do is to repair items because she can do some crafting at work. She glues bindings, tapes rips, buffs CDs, re-covers books and audio/visual items, and puts new audio books in the plastic covers. Did you know that the audio books do not come in the plastic cases? Julie does that. Those cases are expensive, but when an audio book is being loaned to hundreds of people, those cases are needed.

It’s a whole different world across the room at Linda’s desk.

LindaLinda gathers all the information about Topsham Public Library programs coming up each month. Then she organizes the information into an article for The Cryer, and this becomes her template for information that is spread all over town via the airways and the internet. That forms the basis for everything else Linda does. Linda creates PowerPoints for each program to put on our electronic bulletin board and to go on the community bulletin board on the town TV station. She also enters the information onto several online calendars around the region, as well as maintains the calendar that is on our website, and she creates a paper copy of the monthly calendar that anyone can pick up at the circulation desk.

That Up & Coming list that everyone looks forward to–well, you all can thank Linda for that, and she is also the one who sends out the weekly newsletter and the special announcements you get via email.

Linda’s favorite thing to do involves mysteries. Annually, Linda organizes and leads an interactive murder mystery evening. About a month prior to the mystery evening everyone chooses a part to play, and they dress up according to their part, and then they all try to solve the murder. It’s a crazy evening with costumes, good food, and quirky characters.

She also facilitates the Mystery Readers’ Roundtable, a monthly mystery book group. What could be more fun than reading lots of books you like to read and then sharing them with others who love them too?

And along those lines–Linda has created a new online resource for all you mystery lovers, Mysteries Abound contains information about Mystery Readers’ Roundtable, a link to a source for all your mysteries in order, and a link for Linda’s own mystery picks. Make sure you check it out!

Happy Thanksgiving!

by | | Topsham Tales

fall1_edited-1As I write this Saturday morning, Topsham Public Library is bursting with activity. The meeting rooms are full and people of all ages are coming and going. Many are getting stocked up for Thanksgiving weekend.

Whether you are enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving or trying something new, whether you are staying home or travelling far and wide, whether you will gather with friends and family or you will enjoy time alone, Topsham Public Library wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

(Please note: Topsham Public Library will be closed Thursday, November 24, 2016, but we will reopen on Friday, November 25 at 9am.)

 

 

Behind Closed Doors Part 1: The Catalogers

by | | Topsham Tales • Update

There are many little children that visit Topsham Public Library every week. Some are just babies, and some are moving on their own: creeping, crawling, jumping, walking, and running. Some are fast, and some are slow, but once they start moving they make their way to the doorway that leads to the staff offices. They are very curious and want to know what’s going on back there. Well, I’m going to tell you. In the next few weeks, I will highlight various staff members and what their tasks are above and beyond the normal circulation desk duties.

photo-nov-10-10-15-21-amNot everyone gets to see the new items before they are put into circulation, but Helen and Lynne are lucky because they are two of the few who do. When you look into the staff offices and see the shelves full of new stuff, you are looking at Helen and Lynne’s responsibilities.

Helen’s main job is cataloging all items: books, dvds, audio books, graphic novels, and magazines. Cataloging is a specialized task and a cataloger must be a stickler for detail. If something is not cataloged correctly, library staff and patrons alike will not be able to find it. Cataloging is also a way to make sure dvds are listed as dvds and not books and books are not listed as dvds and magazines are not listed as audio books and audio books are not listed as books, etc. To stay on top of cataloging protocol Helen attends or watches the catalog meetings (via the internet) that take place at Maine State Library.

Magazines require some extra attention to ensure subscriptions stay up to date, and that is one of Helen’s tasks. Not just to make sure we are getting what we ordered, but also to make sure that the magazines we get are relevant to our patrons. Helen is also responsible for ordering movies – new releases, movies that are in high demand, plus any other movies the staff thinks is needed. Helen also gives recommendations to Emma, the Adult Services Librarian, of any new horror books coming out. Helen loves horror!

Of all that she does, Helen enjoys cataloging the most because she gets to see all the new items.

Lynne also catalogs, but she is responsible for all the items in the children’s collection. She, too, is meticulous and ensures items are entered into the system correctly so we can find what we want and need.

Lynne is the Circulation Manager. This entails overseeing all the duties at the circulation desk as well as communicating with patrons and other libraries when issues arise, such as damaged or lost items and extra renewal requests.

Have you ever requested an item from another library, and it just never comes? (I’m not talking about new and popular items.) Well, Lynne keeps track of holds and assures that they are fulfilled in a timely fashion by contacting other libraries to let them know a hold is “stuck.” Three to four times a year, Lynne attends circulation meetings to stay on top of issues and new protocols. Any book that has been withdrawn from circulation, Lynne deletes from the cataloging system. She also stays on top of book resources and suggests titles, and she compiles and organizes invoices for book orders.

Lynne also conducts a Reference Survey four times a year and once she has compiled the statistics from that survey, she gives the results to Susan Preece, Director of Topsham Public Library. There is a specific definition of what the reference survey covers and these surveys are mandatory at the state and federal level. These are core statistics that portray how well used our services are.

But her favorite thing to do is to assist Mariah, Children’s Librarian, with the Parent/Child Workshop. These workshops run periodically throughout the year and they bring children, parents, and professionals from local agencies to play and create and spend quality time together. And as Lynne says, “Who wouldn’t love playing with toys and doing crafts with kids?!”

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

by | | Rare Reads

This month the Rare Reads book group discussed Wonder by R.J. Palacio. It was very well received and proved to be fertile discussion material. We were also joined by members of Facing Maine, a nonprofit that is a voice for those with facial disfigurement. Have you read Wonder? Share your thoughts here.

We Are Closed on Friday

by | | Topsham Tales • Update

poppiesThis is just a friendly reminder that we are closed Friday, November 11, 2016 in honor of Veterans Day. I hope you enjoy your day, and for those who have served, Thank You!

Veterans Day was established as a national holiday in November, 1938. It was originally called Armistice Day in reference to the ending of World War I. In 1954, the day was changed to Veterans Day and became a day to honor all veterans from all American wars.

 

Why Should You Read the Annual Report?

by | | Topsham Tales • Update

big logo grayIf you haven’t heard the news yet, Topsham Public Library’s 2016 Annual
Report has been released! You may read it by clicking here, or by looking in the center section of November’s issue of The Cryer, or by picking up a copy at Topsham Public Library.

The Development Committee has been working on the annual report since July. They used our long range plan to think about and discuss what we hit and what we missed. They reviewed numbers – financial numbers, numbers the staff collected about program participation, services used, and numbers of patrons served, and numbers of new patrons, and all kinds of numbers. Then they organized all this information into an 8-page report with graphs and photographs and reports. As you will see when you get your copy, a great deal of time and thoughtfulness went into the annual report.

But why? Why spend so much time on an annual report? Why should people read it? The term “annual report” sounds dull and boring and sleep inducing, but Susan Preece, Director of Topsham Public Library, thinks every member of Topsham, every patron of the library, should be eager to read the annual report “because,” she said, “this is our report to the community about what we’ve done with their tax dollars.” The annual report is a way that keeps Topsham Public Library accountable to the townspeople and to those who use our services and come to our programming. The community can see and evaluate how Topsham Public Library is doing.

Not only is it a way to keep Topsham Public Library accountable, but it is also a great way to recognize all of our volunteers. Topsham Public Library receives 60-70 hours a week in volunteer support. Our volunteers are our unsung heroes and we want to give them credit and a big Thank You, so we dedicate space to them in the annual report.

The annual report is also a place we thank our donors – from Whitten Society Members to our Business Roundtable Members. These individuals and local businesses donate significant amounts of money to keep Topsham Public Library growing and accessible for all community members.

In short, the annual report is a snapshot of what is going on and gives readers a sense of what we are doing and why we are doing it.

As we were finishing our discussion about the annual report, Susan said something that I had not thought about before and I liked it. She said, “This [Topsham Public Library] is the people’s living room. We want to be as transparent as possible so that people feel comfortable to come and get the services they need and want.”

So as you’re reading The Cryer this month, pay special attention to the Topsham Public Library insert. Find out what’s happening, read about what we’ve done and what we plan to do, and know that Topsham Public Library is a community center for all, and we have something for you.

Spooky Reads

by | | Staff Picks • Topsham Tales

the-lottery-by-shirley-jackson house-of-leaves spillover horrorstor

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween is almost here and in honor of all things scary, freaky and unnatural, here are some horrific suggestions from the staff at Topsham Public Library.

Linda does not read horror, but her idea of scary includes 1984 by George Orwell, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin and “anything that gets me locked up in an asylum.”

Susan, is another staff member that hesitates when it comes to horror, but she suggests The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, The Tell-Tale Heart  by Edgar Allen Poe, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

I, too, do not read horror. It scares me. For days. For weeks. I am haunted by the fear. I have though come up with one suggestion and that’s because I saw it on Emma’s list of suggestions (don’t worry, her list, in its entirety, is coming later) and was relieved I could offer one suggestion. My suggestion is Perfume: the Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind. The protagonist is freaky.

A few of Lynne’s favorites include Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, In the Dark of the Night by John Saul, The Strain by Guillermo del Toro, Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, and The Restorer by Amanda Stevens.

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix also made Julie’s list, as well as It by Stephen King and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.

Dave’s suggestions are The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon, and Cujo by Stephen King.

Cyndi heads to real life for her sources of horror. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen tops her list, and a close second is Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, the Crime that Changed America by Kevin Cook for “the example of a group of people ignoring the obvious distress of another human being for a prolonged period.” But even Cyndi can’t escape Stephen King’s genius when it comes to scary as she completes her list with It.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski tops Emma’s list followed by: Night Shift by Stephen King, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, Perfume: the Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind, and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson rounds off her list.

And last, but certainly not least, Helen’s list is comprised of Stoker’s Manuscript by Royce Prouty, The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike (and she notes this is one of our new books), Omega Days by John Campbell, and Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child. I find Helen’s list interesting because Stephen King is one of her favorite authors, and yet, she does not have one of his books on her list. Of course, Helen had to be stopped when I asked her for suggestions, as she could go on and on and on and on. Helen loves horror.

Have a Happy Halloween and be safe!

boyslife night-shiftstokersomega

 

 

 

Can You Find the Moose?

by | | Topsham Tales

river2Over Columbus Day Weekend, I headed north for a few days. I love heading north. I like the quiet and the beauty and harshness of nature. I am totally unplugged up there – no phone and no internet. There is electricity but no running water in the camp. It’s a very simple life. A life less cluttered.

The scenery was exceptional. I thought with the lack of rain that the leaves would be dull, but those red and yellows popped and the evergreens gave everything a depth to it. I am sharing a few pictures, taken by my sister, Laurie, that don’t do the views justice but will give you an inkling of the beauty of fall.

Naturally, I took a book with me. Well, to be honest, I took five books with me. My brother, Tim, made an attempt to convince me to leave one or two home – we were only going for three days – but I would have none of it. What if I didn’t like one?

I chose The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman to start my weekend reading. I fell into the story from page one. This book has been popular at Topsham Public Library, and I wanted to read it before I saw the movie adaptation, and I was not disappointed. I am not spoiling anything by saying that much of the story takes place on an island only inhabited by the lighthouse keeper and his family. In the northern Maine setting, I was able to imagine the cut-off feeling of being the only family living on a remote island. Certainly, it was not the exact same thing, but it was a little bit closer to that feeling of solitary living.

mooseWhen I wasn’t reading, I was visiting with relatives or walking in the woods with my brother and sister. This photo was taken on one of those walks. We were surprised by two Moose calves coming out of the woods a few hundred feet in front of us. They gave us a look and then sauntered on their way. We never saw the mother, but a little while later, I spotted the bull moose on our left. Can you find him? (Click on the picture and it will show you a larger version.)

I hope you get out to enjoy some of this beauty before the cold arrives.