Expect added signage at the Beach Library
The Week’s Events
Preschool Story Hour on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 10:30 a.m. in Children’s area
Windows 8 demo and class Wednesday, at 1:30 p.m. Pre-register.
Benefits of Journaling on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 10:30 a.m. Pre-register.
Eliminate Stress, Friday, Aug 23, at 10:30 a.m. Pre-register.
Creating Digital Stories, Tues, Aug 27, at 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming Activities
Want to garden a bit? Come to Introduction to Urban Farming on Thursday, Aug. 29, when Santiago Dechock looks at self-sustainability, how to garden from one’s condo or yard or participate in a community garden, tips on vertical farming and converting terraces and other small beach areas into fruitful, vegetableful spots.
The bi-monthly afternoon at the movies continues with a feature on new, award-winning independent and foreign films. Friday, Aug 30, “Hitler’s Children” will be shown, 83 minutes with English subtitles.
Signage
We will be adding some signage throughout the library to make it easier to locate areas and enable those who are geographically challenged to find collections and restrooms and study areas easier. One advantage of being in a building longer is that we’ve come to see that a few helpful signs can make it easier for many.
Library Usage
Today as I walked from my office to the elevator, two men were on the first floor and one had come in to get a library card, saying, “I’ve been on the Beach for 15 years and just never came in.” As he got his card, the man who was with him noted something similar but added, “I don’t read.” When the staffmember suggested that if he doesn’t read, he does listen or view and there were materials that would enable him to do either or both. Anyway, he got a card. It’s encouraging that more residents are using the library. You’ve heard me say a number of times that usage of the library is up, and for the month of July we were over 50 percent higher. What we also noticed is that Internet usage was up dramatically in July both in terms of the number of people on stations and in the length of time people were using them.
Comments/Donations
I appreciate those who leave a donation in one of the donation boxes or stands on the first or second floors and in the lobby. It is also encouraging that comments are shared from time to time. While comments with a name and contact info bear much more weight than generic ones, if you leave a comment be sure to check particularly email addresses. When writing, at times, a dot not included or spaces or just one incorrect letter means that a response won’t arrive.
Clean Up
Two boys using Kid’s Place without parental supervision need adult guidance from time to time. I wish the parents were more conscientious as one boy needed the reminder that in a library one cleans up after oneself, after a considerable array of blocks and books had been left lying on the floor and furniture. I recall one graduation speech where graduates were reminded that their job as responsible citizens of the world was to clean up their own messes. The speaker went on to note that as much as their mothers might like to, their mothers do not live here, and that from now on in their corners of the world they would clean up after themselves. One even went so far as to say that if the only thing you learn in college is how to clean up the messes you make, then your parents’ money and hard work will have been worth it.
As I spent time wanting to let the boys be themselves, it was also necessary to share what is important in consideration of others. Unfortunately, it’s a lesson that some adults have yet to learn. One library user brought binders with current magazines from the Living Room to the Toddler’s area even though the sign said to keep them in the Living Room, and then left without caring that they would not be available to others as they were under a stack of other materials until a staffmember or volunteer took care and saw that they were returned to the display in the Living Room. There are those who come to the library, using it only a few times, and unaware that the current resources are possible for their use because others did care enough to clean up after themselves and sacrifice and make possible the current facility and collection. I guess it’s a gentle lesson we need to keep reminding: pay it forward by keeping it neat. Others live and work and use materials here too.
What Confucius Never Said
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
Volunteer
One of our cleaners is sick and needs a few weeks for recovery. If you are able to spend a few hours one day a week assisting in needed maintenance tasks, please get in touch with me. This need is short term. The day of week can be entirely what fits in your schedule. While we have paid back-up if needed, it will help a lot if we’re able to continue cleaning via the support and volunteer mode.
We could use a shelver to assist in returning materials to the shelves on a Saturday. We have two Saturdays in the next two months that are open so if you can assist in this activity, complete a Volunteer Application and talk with Angie frequently found in the staff workstation area on the first or second floor.
Hours
A recorder gives the summertime hours we are open if you call in at 765-8162 when we are closed. Open hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.