In case you missed the news from earlier this week, the City of Troy is facing a projected $22.6 million budget deficit over the next six years.
As a result, the Troy City Council is considering several options, among them to close the Troy Public Library.
In response, Zach Kilgore, a Troy High School student, started a Save the Library! Facebook group. There are already over 300 members. [Update: As of 10 am, September 28, there are over 1,090 members!]
If you are a Facebook user, take a look. The site contains great information about an upcoming City Council meeting, where this issue will be discussed.
Thanks for getting the word out, Zach!
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Library Use Has Skyrocketed with Recession
According to the Today Show, libraries are in more demand than ever. Sixty-eight percent of people in the United States have a library cards. That is the highest number in two decades. Not only do the libraries have computer and Internet resources for job seekers, but they also offer entertainment for the whole family.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Using Twitter Search as a Library Reference Tool
I have just answered my first reference question using Twitter Search here at the Library. And it is a perfect example of the real-time nature of of the microblog site, and its advantage over even search-powerhouse Google.
I was working at the Technology desk and a patron using one of our public computers asked me if we are now blocking Craigslist. I didn't think we were, but when I tested it, it was not connecting. I could have contacted our IT department to see if they did something that might restrict sites, or I could have tried to Google search the Internet for some notice of Craigslist going down, but both of those options seemed too slow to me.
Instead, I Twitter searched "craigslist down." In a moment, the results verified that it was down everywhere:
I informed our computer user that it was a site issue. I continued to monitor Twitter Search and Craigslist, and was able to tell him when it was back up.
Our patron needed an immediate answer. Twitter Search game me a way to give him one.
I was working at the Technology desk and a patron using one of our public computers asked me if we are now blocking Craigslist. I didn't think we were, but when I tested it, it was not connecting. I could have contacted our IT department to see if they did something that might restrict sites, or I could have tried to Google search the Internet for some notice of Craigslist going down, but both of those options seemed too slow to me.
Instead, I Twitter searched "craigslist down." In a moment, the results verified that it was down everywhere:
I informed our computer user that it was a site issue. I continued to monitor Twitter Search and Craigslist, and was able to tell him when it was back up.
Our patron needed an immediate answer. Twitter Search game me a way to give him one.
Registration Opens May 11 for Library's June Computer Classes
Registration for the Troy Library’s June computer classes opens at 10 a.m., on May 11.
Each month, we offer 14 classes, taught by the Technology Department staff:
To register, go to our website at troylibrary.info and click on Sign Up for Exciting Classes and Programs at TPL at the bottom of the page. You will be directed to our calendar. From there you can register for any of the above classes, or any of our other great programs.
If you have a question about an individual class, call the Technology Department at 248.524.3542, or email us at techroom@troymi.gov.
Each month, we offer 14 classes, taught by the Technology Department staff:
- Computer Basics 1
- Computer Basics 2*
- Navigating the Internet
- Email for Beginners
- Library Resources on the Internet*
- What is Web 2.0*
- Blogging for Beginners*
- Buying and Selling on eBay
- Selling on eBay Workshop*
- Beginning Word 2007
- Intermediate Word 2007
- Beginning Excel 2007
- Intermediate Excel 2007
- Beginning PowerPoint 2007
To register, go to our website at troylibrary.info and click on Sign Up for Exciting Classes and Programs at TPL at the bottom of the page. You will be directed to our calendar. From there you can register for any of the above classes, or any of our other great programs.
If you have a question about an individual class, call the Technology Department at 248.524.3542, or email us at techroom@troymi.gov.
TPL 2007-08 Annual Report
The Troy Public Library's 2007-08 Annual Report is now on-line.
Go to our web site at www.libcoop.net/troy, and click on Annual Report in the left frame.
Or click here. (pdf)
Go to our web site at www.libcoop.net/troy, and click on Annual Report in the left frame.
Or click here. (pdf)
Libraries as Local News Aggregators
As we have been talking about the future of print media recently, here is an interesting post from SirsiDynix VP of Innovation, Stephen Abram:
Some pretty dire predictions on the health of the newspaper industry.
One report by financial ratings firm Fitch put out a report predicting that "several cities could go without a daily print newspaper by 2010."
"Fitch believes more newspapers and newspaper groups will default, be shut down and be liquidated in 2009 and several cities could go without a daily print newspaper by 2010," the Chicago-based credit ratings firm said in a report on the outlook for U.S. media and entertainment."
So, if you're in a public library and your town is potentially dependent on the McPaper or a major national (If the NYT survives), what could you do? Can you use RSS feeds to assemble a local news source from smaller independents? Can you surf the local blogs and aggregate? Would your town miss local news in print? or have they already gone 'e'?
Seems like an opportunity. You might even be able to hire some of the folks being put on the street by the big conglomerates as they lay off folks.
Find a Book Series Easily in iBistro
Today we received a call at the Library from a patron who wanted to find a book series online from home through our iBistro catalog. The patron was searching for the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz. The patron tried searching by the author and found over a hundred titles, as Dean Koontz is a prolific author.
In order for her to find the series, I told her to do the following:
1) Click on iBistro from the TPL homepage.
2) Type in the main character's name from the book series into the search box.
3) Hit "Enter" or click on the "Words or Phrase" button beneath the search box.
She instantly was presented with all of the books specifically for that series and author. This works for most fiction book series, such as the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child or the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz.
If you are searching for a series of non-fiction titles, try this:
1) Click on iBistro from the TPL homepage.
2) Type the name of the series into the search box. (Ex: "Opposing Viewpoints")
3) Click on the "Series" button beneath the search box.
Check the video below for how to search for a fictional book series by character name.
In order for her to find the series, I told her to do the following:1) Click on iBistro from the TPL homepage.
2) Type in the main character's name from the book series into the search box.
3) Hit "Enter" or click on the "Words or Phrase" button beneath the search box.
She instantly was presented with all of the books specifically for that series and author. This works for most fiction book series, such as the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child or the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz.
If you are searching for a series of non-fiction titles, try this:
1) Click on iBistro from the TPL homepage.
2) Type the name of the series into the search box. (Ex: "Opposing Viewpoints")
3) Click on the "Series" button beneath the search box.
Check the video below for how to search for a fictional book series by character name.
Year-Round Adult Reading Program
Great news for readers: Due to the popularity of our Summer Reading Program we've created a year-round reading program for adult patrons (ages 18 and up).
To participate, go to the TPL website and click on Year-Round Reading Programs. This link will take you to the TPL Reading Programs website. From there you can register, and begin logging books.
For those of you familiar with our Summer Reading program, this is the same process. Read books, log your books on the website, and win prizes. The prizes for this program include gift certificates to the Somerset Collection, the TPL Friends Gift Shop, and the TPL Friends Book Shop. The more books you review, the more chances you have to win.
For more information email h.pytiak@troymi.gov or call the Tech Desk at 248.524.3542.
To participate, go to the TPL website and click on Year-Round Reading Programs. This link will take you to the TPL Reading Programs website. From there you can register, and begin logging books.
For those of you familiar with our Summer Reading program, this is the same process. Read books, log your books on the website, and win prizes. The prizes for this program include gift certificates to the Somerset Collection, the TPL Friends Gift Shop, and the TPL Friends Book Shop. The more books you review, the more chances you have to win.
For more information email h.pytiak@troymi.gov or call the Tech Desk at 248.524.3542.
Classic Reader Offers Classic Books for Free Online
Looking to read a classic book but your local library is already closed for the day?
Take a look at ClassicReader.com, a site dedicated to providing literary classics for free online. They host a massive catalog of over 3,469 classics and 343 authors, including everyone from Shakespeare to Jules Verne to Edgar Allen Poe.
I noticed that the site does have some minimal advertising, but it was not blatantly obtrusive in any way.
If you are interested in reading books online, feel free to check out our website for information about NetLibrary and OverDrive, our ebook and audiobook online providers. If the sound of NetLibrary peaks your interest, be sure to stop by the Library to register for a free account. All you need is a Troy Public Library card.
So go out there and get reading!
Take a look at ClassicReader.com, a site dedicated to providing literary classics for free online. They host a massive catalog of over 3,469 classics and 343 authors, including everyone from Shakespeare to Jules Verne to Edgar Allen Poe.
I noticed that the site does have some minimal advertising, but it was not blatantly obtrusive in any way.
If you are interested in reading books online, feel free to check out our website for information about NetLibrary and OverDrive, our ebook and audiobook online providers. If the sound of NetLibrary peaks your interest, be sure to stop by the Library to register for a free account. All you need is a Troy Public Library card.
So go out there and get reading!
