Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: March 05, 2015

Please return overdue materials

Join library staff every Friday in March for UFO time. We have set aside an hour in the morning (10:30 to 11:30) and another hour in the afternoon (1:30 to 2:30) for patrons to come in with their UFO (UnFinished Objects) to visit and share their stories of their UFOs. Refreshments will be provided.

Library staff has been making contact with patrons who have overdue materials in an effort to have them returned for use by other patrons. Sometimes patrons forget to return materials, but if patrons have designated to have reminders sent to them by email, our automation system sends reminders prior to when materials are due.

The system will send three reminders about the past dues before discontinuing. The staff will contact the patrons when other patrons are requesting the materials. If the materials are not returned, we declare the materials lost and add the replacement costs, processing fees and fines to the accounts of the patrons. All materials in the library collection are purchased with the tax dollars paid by everyone, for everyone to use.

The architectural firm charged with a design and cost estimate of the combined facility will meet with the committee at 7 p.m. March 12, at City Hall. The architects will present a rough design and a budget for the facility incorporating suggestions made at the public meetings.

We have snow this week but soon we'll be experiencing warmer weather and find ourselves ready to explore Kansas. The State Library of Kansas regularly sends information about happenings in our state. The last one that caught my eye was referencing a site about National Historic Landmarks in Kansas. The site is http://kslib.info/ReferenceBlog. For information about other postings, go to the State Library of Kansas website, then enter "From the Reference Desk" on the search line. The blog gives a brief description of recent postings.

During Spring Break week, March 16 to 20, we will have movies each morning at 10:30 for children and families. We will have gaming set up daily from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. and again on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Popcorn will be available daily for those attending. We request that an adult or responsible person over 12 years of age accompany children eight years and younger for the movies. Please do not bring food; drinks with lids may be kept at the tables, not around the computers. Gaming is for fifth- through 12th-graders.

The library will present a program at 2 p.m. March 21 at Sunflower Gardens, about bird watching and attracting birds. The free program is open to anyone wanting to learn more about birds in our area. Refreshments will be served.

We have received the sign-up forms for the citywide garage sales to be held April 10 and 11. The event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and registration is $10.

If you make purchases from Amazon, don't forget to log on through http://smile.amazon.com. Be sure to designate your purchase to benefit the Friends of the Valley Center Library. Even though the contribution may be small, each purchase will add up for the quarterly distributions.

The library is promoting an 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 possibilities. 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. Materials may be chosen from any source, not only our library.

Upcoming Events

March — National Craft Month

March 8 — Daylight-saving time begins

March 9 — Library Board meeting

March 9-13 — Teen Tech Week

March 12 — Combined Facility Committee meeting

March 13 — Teen St. Patrick's Day party

March 16-20 — Spring Break

March 17 — City Council