LIED SCOTTSBLUFF PUBLIC LIBRARY Foundation Newsletter • Fall 2011

LIED SCOTTSBLUFF Public Library

Library Director Bev Russell | brussell@scottsbluff.org

1809 Third Avenue Scottsbluff, NE 69361

P: 308.630.6251 | F: 308.630.6251scottsbluff.org/lib

Library BoardThe Library Board is appointed by the city to serve as a liaison between the library and its citizens. The board advises the library director and the city council in matters related to the li-brary and its services and promotes the library and its programs. Members may serve two con-secutive 5-year terms.

To contact the Library Board:ttclark@charter.net

Members:Teresa Clark, PresidentCarol HolyokeMarg Dredla

Foundation BoardThe Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to ac-cept gifts for the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library.

To contact the Scottsbluff Public Library Foundationsplfound@gmail.com

Members:David Duey, President Peggy Olsen, Vice-PresidentDeb Post Terri MartinChris Webb Bobbi ThompsonLinda Redfern Will PackardKristin Wiebe

BOOK A TRIP Read Around the World . . .

• 179 adults participated in the spring/summer adult reading program

• Readers enjoyed Frequent Flyer Fridays and being served in first class (by the fireplace) by the librarian stewardesses.

• A lucky Grand Prize winner enjoyed a night’s stay at Hanlon House Bed and Breakfast and a piece of luggage.

• Mystery author Margaret Coel spoke for a culminating lun-cheon for book club participants.

ONGOING BOOK CLUBS

• Literary Book Club meets 1st Tues of the month

• Brown Bag Book Club meets 3rd Wed of the month

• Over 20 different book club packets are available for check out for your very own book club. Each packet contains 8 cop-ies, author info, and guide questions to discuss - and can be checked out for a 6 week period.

WELCOME.

TheCOMMUNITY’S LIVING ROOM

Teresa Clark, President Lied Scottsbluff Public Library Board

With good reason, the Lied Scotts-bluff Public Library has been called the Community’s Living Room, as over 400 people come through its doors each day. It’s heartwarming to hear the stories of those who en-joyed this library as children and in turn are introducing their children to the wonderful world of books and learning at an early age. As we mark a new chapter in the library’s story, the opportunities are endless for fu-ture generations to make their own memories.

A project of this magnitude doesn’t just happen—it takes a leader who is passionate about its success. Scotts-bluff is truly fortunate to have such a person in Library Director Bev Rus-sell. With enthusiasm and determina-tion, Bev motivated others over the past seven years and helped make the expansion/renovation project a reality. Special thanks also goes out to library staff members past and present—no matter how much cha-os was happening during the reno-

vation process, patrons could count on being greeted with a big smile any time they walked through the front doors. I’m not sure any of us re-alize what a treasure we have in Bev and her staff—bricks and mortar are important, but these people are the heart and soul of Scottsbluff ’s library.

Many of you have given of your-selves to make this project a reality. With each donation comes the af-firmation that reading and discovery are important, whether you’re three or 83. To everyone who believed in this project enough to make it hap-pen—from the largest donors to children who literally emptied their piggy banks and gave every penny they had—thank you. As we look forward to making the library and surrounding grounds even more inviting, your continued support of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library is both welcomed and appreciated for future generations.

“Alone we can do so little—together we can do so much.”

-Helen Keller

In the last year, we have worked with

Landscape Architect Amy Seiler to

design a Community Learning Garden

south of the building in Constitution

Park that complements our new facil-

ity. Annie Folck, the city storm water

specialist, deserves praise for all the

work she has put into applying for

numerous grants for work to be com-

pleted. We also thank Spencer Lake, a

local Eagle Scout candidate, who put

his troop to work making the rain gar-

den/bioswale come together with the

help of area master gardeners.

The Community Learning Garden

will feature:• a sloped amphitheater with stage• central path connecting recre-

ational areas to gardens• rain garden/bioswale area on the

east side of library

BEAUTIFUL SPACESInside and Out

Kristin WiebeLied Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation

Grants Making This Possible

• Greener Nebraska Towns grant will provide trees for the park

• NRD Community Forestry grant will fund $5,000 this year and another $5,000

next year

• The Peoples Grant is still in the works and is being made possible through the

help of Master Gardener Connie McDonnough

The Community Learning Garden is

the foundation’s fo-cus this year. We feel

it will enhance our library and serve as

a gathering place for our community in so

many ways.

YOUR PART. . .Help Us Grow

This park/garden space will take shape in 2012, but we need your help to fill

in the gaps. We have help with grants, but the grants will only cover plant

material and some labor.

The LSPL foundation has made the Community Learning Garden our focus

for the next year. We ask you to consider our project for your year end giv-

ing. The Foundation is a 501c3 and all gifts are tax deductible. All gifts over

$500 given through the end of 2011 will be noted on the donor wall in the

library, and those under $500 are recorded in the “donor book.”

Your generosity is not taken for granted. We know that you have many

places to give, and we appreciate your consideration of the library’s efforts.

Thank you to our many faithful patrons!

Grants Making This Possible

• Greener Nebraska Towns grant will provide trees for the park

• NRD Community Forestry grant will fund $5,000 this year and another $5,000

next year

• The Peoples Grant is still in the works and is being made possible through the

help of Master Gardener Connie McDonnough

In the last year, we have worked with

Landscape Architect Amy Seiler to

design a Community Learning Garden

south of the building in Constitution

Park that complements our new facil-

ity. Annie Folck, the city storm water

specialist, deserves praise for all the

work she has put into applying for

numerous grants for work to be com-

pleted. We also thank Spencer Lake, a

local Eagle Scout candidate, who put

his troop to work making the rain gar-

den/bioswale come together with the

help of area master gardeners.

The Community Learning Garden

will feature:• a sloped amphitheater with stage• central path connecting recre-

ational areas to gardens• rain garden/bioswale area on the

east side of library

The Community Learning Garden is

the foundation’s fo-cus this year. We feel

it will enhance our library and serve as

a gathering place for our community in so

many ways.

BEAUTIFUL SPACESInside and Out

Kristin WiebeLied Scottsbluff Public Library Foundation

YOUR PART. . .Help Us Grow

This park/garden space will take shape in 2012, but we need your help to fill

in the gaps. We have help with grants, but the grants will only cover plant

material and some labor.

The LSPL foundation has made the Community Learning Garden our focus

for the next year. We ask you to consider our project for your year end giv-

ing. The Foundation is a 501c3 and all gifts are tax deductible. All gifts over

$500 given through the end of 2011 will be noted on the donor wall in the

library, and those under $500 are recorded in the “donor book.”

Your generosity is not taken for granted. We know that you have many

places to give, and we appreciate your consideration of the library’s efforts.

Thank you to our many faithful patrons!

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Bev Russell, Director Lied Scottsbluff Public Library ary building.

The past year was a significant one for the Lied Scottsbluff Public Li-brary. We broke ground for an ex-panded and remodeled library on February 23, 2010, and dedicated the completed building on June 21, 2011. We’ve come a long way baby! None of this would have been pos-sible with the encouragement and support of the citizens of Scottsbluff. This was a public/private partner-ship from the beginning. The City of Scottsbluff donated $2 million, and $2.2 million was raised through grants and private donations.

The building is done. We celebrated its completion in June with a com-munity open house. So now what is happening at the library?

RFID and Self-Check at the LibraryIn September library staff began installing RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. Every book, video and audio book is be-ing “tagged.” RFID tags are placed inside each piece of the library’s collection. These tags are computer chips, which are programmed with the items identification. The tags then are “read” by special pads con-

nected to the circulation computers and self-check machines or as they exit through the security gates.

This new system will speed up cir-culation. Once the items are tagged, a stack may be checked in or out at one time. Furthermore, on those rare occasions when a book, video, or audio book somehow grows legs and wanders from the library with-out being checked out, the security gates will notify librarians with a red light and fairly gentle beep.

RFID will greatly enhance the in-ventory process for the library. With the use of a special hand-held de-vice, librarians can scan one whole shelf of materials at a time. The handheld reader will list items that are missing or shelved incorrectly.

Please stop by and ask a librarian to teach you how to use our self-check machines.

We broke ground for an expanded and

remodeled library on February 23, 2010, and dedicated the

completed building on June 21, 2011. We’ve come a long

way baby!

Childrens’ Summer Reading Program

Children’s Librarian Deb Carlson re-ports that this year’s summer reading program, One World, Many Stories, began with 1003 children registering the first day and culminated in a record enrollment of 1,765 children. A total of 45,105 books were read this year, beat-ing last summer’s numbers by more than 10,000 books. Attendance ranged from 300 to 700 at the various events.

Teen Summer Reading Program

Young Adult Librarian Nancy Escamilla also had a great turnout for the teen summer reading program with 147 registrants reading 1,490 books. Atten-dance at the teen summer programs drew well over 400 students. Escamilla said, “The new teen room at the library was planned by our local teens and they were excited to see their dreams come true.”

Pre-School Storytime

This event runs from September through May and is held every Thurs-day from 10-10:30 a.m. and 6:30-7 p.m. in the library meeting room. Chil-dren age three

to six are introduced to books and storytelling and learn to participate in group activities. Parents are encour-aged to help their children select and check out library books. Each week a specific topic is presented through various means. No pre-registration is necessary, and there is no fee to attend. Storytime brochures list the weekly topics and added information are available at the library. November’s themes will be Mother Goose on the Loose, Skunks, and Gobble, Gobble. For more information, contact the li-brary at 630.6250.

HAPPENINGS WITH CHILDREN &TEENS At The Lied Scottsbluff Public Library

The local Friends of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library was founded in 2002 and has been an advocate of the library from its beginnings. Friends’ members are a support group that focuses attention on the library, provides assistance with proj-ects, promotes the facility and staff, hosts library events, and encourages gifts to the library. Its members serve as on-site volunteers, deliver books to homebound patrons, bring in programs, and sponsor an annual used book sale.

During the course of the library expan-sion and remodel members helped to pack books for storage, move books into the new addition, and then reverse the process when the remodel was complete.

Friends’ members served as hosts and tour guides for the reopening of the li-brary and were on hand to help with the summer reading program registration and wrap up party.

Currently, members are volunteering time each week to mark books for the new RFID (radio frequency identification) program. The group launched a monthly coffee/book discussion event in Septem-ber and celebrated National Friends of the Library Week with its annual used book sale on Oct. 21 and 22. A Friends’ newsletter is published three times a year and copies are available at the library.

We’d like you to join us! Anyone wanting to become a member may pick up an ap-plication at the library circulation

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Keep Busy

Best Books Wall—Coming Soon!

The signs are in place and the shelves are waiting. Donations are being ac-cepted to purchase and showcase the 100 book titles every child should read. The hope is to have three cop-ies of each of the books, so that one will always be available for checkout. The book list, chosen by Deb Carlson and Nancy Escamilla, will include titles that help children develop early literacy skills, build self-esteem and develop a love of books and the library. Individual book cost is estimated at $15. Dona-tions or sponsorships for this project will be recognized with a book plate on the inside cover of each book. Want to do something special for someone? Contributing to this project would be an excellent gift or memorial.