Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: January 15, 2015

Input welcome for combined facility

The committee for the potential combined facility has started regular meetings. The combined facility would include the library, the Senior Center and the Community Building and would be located in Lions Park on the corner where the current Community Building sits.

What would you like to see in each area of the facility? Obviously, some areas would be used by all organizations, such as restrooms and a large meeting room. Please contact each organization and let them know what services you would like to have offered. The chosen architect will need to know the needs of each organization to plan the appropriate footage. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard. Comments would be welcome, whether they are pro or con for the facility.

The library has new policy changes in effect with the beginning of 2015 that we hope will make our library environment more patron-friendly. We will allow you to use an umbrella stroller for small children and we will now allow you to bring in drinks with lids to be placed at tables, not at the computers. No opened cans or coffee cups are allowed. Drink containers with caps or lids with straws are permissible. We appreciate your understanding while we're endeavoring to protect our books and technical equipment.

The library is beginning a new adult reading challenge that encompasses all of 2015. The challenge is for adults to read a minimum of 26 books in different categories. There are 50 categories to choose from, allowing patrons to select from many categories. Once patrons have completed the required reading and returned their form, they will have their name entered for a drawing to be held Dec. 28.

This will be a fun endeavor, encouraging us to read materials we may not normally choose. There are forms and selections of titles on our display at the circulation desk.

Patrons, please remain at home if you or your children are not feeling well. Our staff is small, and we always have at least two staff members in the building. Some years back, the library board determined that for the sake of staff safety, we should always have two staff in the building. If one of us gets sick, it's difficult to switch schedules to cover the library.

We appreciate your understanding in not visiting the library when you have a temperature and may be contagious with a cold or flu virus. Call us and we'll gather materials you would like to check out and meet you at the curb.

You may notice some changes when you come into the library on your next visit. We have moved our copier and refrigerator from behind the counter to allow for additional shelves for our audio and DVD collections. At this point, everything is not back in place, but we'll be there by the end of the week. We have checked the circulation of the audios and DVDs only to find that everything has been circulated within the last three years, which is the criteria for weeding.

We do continue to purchase new releases for our patrons' use, even though we're very limited on space. Hopefully, the additional shelving will provide adequate space to last for a time.

Do you have an e-reader that you need assistance in setting up the device for use? Consider attending an e-reader class at the library from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 15. We request that you contact the library to register for the class.

Please come by the library prior to the class to enable library staff to make sure that your reader has the proper accounts set up. Through an account with the Sunflower Consortium, there are thousands of e-books available for reading.

The library will begin a weekly gaming program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 for those in fifth through 12th grade. The library will reserve the right to pull kids from the games if their behavior is inappropriate. Parental permission forms will be available soon.

We will have Kansas Day activities for anyone wanting to participate beginning at 4 p.m. Jan. 29. Activities may include a quiz bowl, games or a movie. Final details will be available soon.

The library will begin a book discussion for high school age students from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29. The title chosen for the first discussion is "The Fault in our Stars," by John Green. Please come by the library for a copy.

Do you want a weekly update of what's happening at the library? Please email valleycenterlibrary@yahoo.com and we'll add you to the list of the updates. The updates include current and upcoming events, as well as a sampling of new materials added to the library collection.

When sorting through your documents to prepare your taxes, please remember that if you have confidential paperwork you no longer need, the library has Cintas containers for you to place your unneeded paperwork. Cintas comes monthly to empty the containers for shredding. This is a free service provided for the community. We request that you limit your shredding materials to two plastic grocery bags so there will be space in the containers throughout the month.

Upcoming Events

Jan. 15 — Hat Day

Jan. 15 — E-reader class

Jan. 20 — City Council

Jan. 23 — National Pie Day

Jan. 23 — Gaming time

Jan. 24 — Global Belly Laugh Day

Jan. 29 — Kansas Day

Jan. 29 — High school book discussion

Jan. 30 — Gaming time