Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: March 19, 2015

Time for March Book Madness

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.

We have sign-up forms for the citywide garage sales to be held April 10 and 11. The event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce; registration is $10. The registration pay for the advertising and portable restrooms available at several locations. The deadline to register is April 1.

March Book Madness is into its second week. There are 32 books in the face off — one 16-book bracket for adult fiction and one 16-book bracket for young adults. Voting in Round Two will be from March 16 to 21 on Survey Monkey, with the link to voting on our Facebook page, our weekly email newsletter and our website. The final voting ends April 4 and champions will be announced April 6.

The library will present "Backyard Birding," at 2 p.m. March 21 at Sunflower Gardens. The free program is open to anyone wanting to learn more about birds in our area. Refreshments will be served. The presenter will be Cheryl Miller, a representative of the Audubon Society.

The library will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. April 4. We'll have the Easter bunny here for pictures, as well as crafts and games for the kids prior to hunting for eggs at 2 p.m.

Did you ever wonder how we choose our materials? Most importantly, we have learned which authors many of our patrons like to read. We also add new materials to the many series these authors write. We always welcome suggestions of new authors or titles.

Many times we'll order the first in a series, then wait for the circulation numbers to determine if we should purchase additional titles. We use this method for our juvenile, young adult and adult areas. We review book reviews on many of the donated items to determine how well other people have liked them. With six of us on staff and our varied interests, we can determine interests that way as well. When selecting non-fiction materials, we again purchase based on our patrons likes, but also being aware to select in all areas of the collection.

When determining which DVDs to purchase, we never purchase an "R"-rated movie, nor do we keep them if they are donated. We review the new releases and purchase some each month always with our movie license in mind. The movie license covers a select number of movie production companies. There is a potential for us to be fined if we view movies from unapproved companies. Our annual book budget is $23,000 and our budget for audio books and DVDs is $12,000.

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 just our library.

Upcoming Events

March — National Craft Month

March 16-20 — Spring Break

March 21 — Program at Sunflower Gardens, Backyard Birding

March 26 — Teen book discussion

April 4 — Easter Egg hunt