News From the Director

PA Budget Step 1

2011-05-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

Just a brief update to let you know that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed H.B. 1485 by a vote of 109-92. This is the House Republican budget plan which is a modified version of Governor Corbett’s budget proposal that he unveiled last March. H.B. 1485, like Governor Corbett’s proposal, largely sustains library funding at levels comparable to this current year (recent funding chart: http://palibraries.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=407.)

The plan now moves to the State Senate where it almost certainly will be modified further. In our meetings with State Senators and Senate staffers, there seems to be solid support for approving the library funding levels proposed by Governor Corbett and approved by the State House in H.B. 1485. There also seems to be broad recognition that libraries have already been hit hard by cuts totaling more than one-third of our funding over the last two years.

But we dare not leave anything to chance.

Your State Senator needs to be reminded of the importance of library services supported by state funding, and that you support the library portion of the state budget (H.B. 1485.) Here’s a link (http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/home/) so that you can quickly and easily send an email to your State Senator.

We recognize that this budget is far from perfect and that other cuts at the state and local level may still adversely impact library services at colleges and universities, at school libraries, and at public libraries that receive significant local support through school district budgets.

At the same time, we also recognize that preserving this amount of library funding at the state level while the overall state budget is shrinking by $700 million is no small feat. The credit for this positive news in an otherwise difficult year goes to the many, many energetic and passionate advocates who carry the library message.

The timetable for a vote in the State Senate is not clear but we expect the budget to be completed on time before June 30. We’ll let you know when we have more information on a senate vote. In the meantime, please take a moment and contact your State Senator (http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/home/) to support the library portion of the state budget as passed by the House in H.B. 1485.

Thanks for your great advocacy and for contacting your State Senator. We’ll keep you posted.

Budget Hearings: Follow-up Advised

2011-04-05T09:35:00.001-05:00

From the Pennsylvania Library Association:

Just a quick follow-up on the day after Appropriations Committees’ hearings on the Department of Education budget:
• The hearings revealed widespread concerns among House and Senate members about proposed deep cuts in higher education and basic education programs.
• One question was asked about library funding and Secretary Tomalis expressed support for library services and the funding levels outlined in Governor Corbett’s budget proposal.

The appropriations hearings this spring attest to just how tough and controversial next year’s budget will be. As such, I fully expect that the legislature will take a serious look at making some changes to the budget proposed by Governor Corbett.

Whatever else happens, we need to insure that the library portion of the budget remains as the Governor has proposed.

Many thanks to those of you who already have sent emails or personal letters following my last message. But after yesterday’s hearings, I am convinced that legislators and the Governor will need to hear from many, many more library supporters, now and over the coming weeks, to insure that we sustain library funding next year at the levels proposed by the Governor.

PaLA asks that you send,
• An email to your State Senator and State Representative to ask that they support the library funding levels recommended in Governor Corbett’s budget, and
• An email to Governor Tom Corbett to thank him for recognizing the importance of libraries and for preserving library funding and services in his proposed budget.

Here’s a link to more information and a sample email for your State Senator and State Representative:
http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=38282501

Here’s a link to more information and a sample email for Governor Corbett:
http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=38286501

Feel free to share this message broadly with library supporters. Also, we encourage you to personalize the sample emails by adding stories about the great work carried out at your library.

Whatever method you choose, please send your messages as soon as possible.

Thank you for your strong voice and dedication to vital library services locally and statewide.

Glenn

Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association
glenn@palibraries.org

Gettysburg Times, Progress Article 2011

2011-03-01T15:19:00.001-05:00

With the sluggish economy creating challenges for everyone the past few years, I feel like a broken record talking about the challenges of library funding. However, over the past two years, the Library System has had to reduce its spending by more than 10%.

This required real cuts to service around the county. The Board of Trustees of the library attempted to make these service cuts where they would make the least negative impact on overall library access for the residents of the county, but it has caused some pain.

Even though we have had to make a number of drastic cuts the past years, the library has seen its use increase by more than 10%, proving that citizens need its services more than ever.

Additional funding cuts mean that in the coming year further reductions to the library’s materials and technology budgets will have to be made. However, the library is committed to find any savings we can to guarantee that we do not reduce operating hours.

Although this may seem like a gloomy outlook, there are a number of positive developments coming in the next year.

The Library System has been working on a much needed project in Littlestown. A little more than a year ago, a location was found for a permanent home for the Littlestown Library. The Friends of the Littlestown Library have been raising the funds to turn that space into a modern library. This will provide a home for library service in the Littlestown region for years to come. The new library will be opening sometime in January.

Another positive aspect of this library facility is that it will not cost much more to operate than it did to operate the previous facility. Because of efficiencies and advances in technology, we are able to help keep costs down and service up.

Advances in technology are clearly a tool for progress for the library. However, they can also be a challenge. The library tries to make sure that all of our computers are up to date and operating. However, there is never enough bandwidth to do all the things which we and you want to do.

The library has been hoping to launch a new website, but that seems to be set back again because of the budget cuts we have had to absorb. However, the library website continues to be the primary gateway to a new world of library offerings.

For centuries libraries have been about books, but in the last two decades libraries have been about books, technology and literacy, “literacy” in terms of getting the information you need to operate in the world in the 21st Century. Libraries are places to learn about democracy, health issues, financial issues, technology and life-long learning.

One of the largest trends this past fall and continuing for years to come is the development of eBooks. An electronic version of a book (eBook) means a many different things to many different people.

Libraries have been dealing with eBooks for more than a decade. Early eBooks were only available on the computer. About eight years ago, the library purchased two RocketeBook readers. RocketeBooks were supposed to be the end of the printed page. In no time at all, new devices were to be launched on the market which were better than the RocketeBooks. However, it didn’t happen. The publishing world continued to publish more books than the year before.

Most people have become familiar with the eBooks concept from Amazon. Amazon’s Kindle has made the eBook more viable than it was 8 years ago. Unfortunately, Amazon’s sales model makes it impossible for libraries to offer eBooks in their format (think VHS vs. Beta) to the general public. So, if you buy a Kindle you will have to buy your books from Amazon.

However, there are other formats for eBooks which will be available for libraries to purchase. This is something we are investigating. eBooks are going to make an impact on libraries.

Just like we have transitioned to other formats (think VHS to DVD) over the years, we will make this transition when it is the most economically feasible. We do not want to waste money on formats which will not be used.

Information in Electronic format is now the foundation of what libraries collect. Books are important, but the information in the books is what people use to learn. The conversation between the author and the reader is the spark of learning. The container is not as important to the library as the fact that you can get to that information in a way which is fair to all concerned.

Go to the Library website at http://www.adamslibrary.org and see what is available for you to use from home.

Often libraries and librarians are given a negative reputation for being backwards looking or steeped in tradition. However, libraries in Adams County are modern entities, taking advantage of the newest technology when prudent and waiting for technology to catch up to the public when necessary.

Progress for the library in 2011 will be measured in the advances we will make in getting more information to the public in the best container available. Maintaining a modern library is our most important goal for 2011, come and check it out.

Winter Weather

2011-01-18T11:08:00.001-05:00

Winter Weather

I have a friend who is absolutely in love with the snow. He is excited like a little kid whenever the forecast calls for snow. Of course, it has something to do with the fact that he is from the Deep South. He did not grow up shoveling snow and chipping ice. He never even knew how to use a snow shovel until he moved to Pennsylvania.

For the rest of us, snow is one of those things which we dread. It makes people a little crazy. The library has a duty to provide service to the public, but we also have a responsibility to encourage people to remain safe.

Therefore we have a policy for inclement weather openings. Here is a summary:

If the Gettysburg School District is on a two hour delay, the library system will open at 11AM.

If the Gettysburg School District is closed, the library plans to open at 11AM, but the weather forecast is monitored and a decision by the System Management will be made by mid-morning about whether the library system will open.

If the inclement weather is forecast for the evening, please check with the library before you hit the roads.

The library advertising closures on WGET 1320AM on the radio and on WGAL Channel 8 on the TV.

If you have a book due, don’t worry about. Return the item whenever it is safe to travel again!

Year End - New Year

2011-01-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

As I write this article, it is Christmas Eve. I am fortunate to be with my family at this time. It is a blessing to be around family and friends at this time of year.

Reflecting on the past year, it has also been a very successful year for the Library System. The Library will once again have a record circulation total for the year. Circulation will top 700,000 items by the end of the month. It is a nice validation of our collection purchasing plan that our use continues to increase each year.

We have also been lucky to be able to add a number of electronic services to our offerings such Lexis/Nexis, Downloadable Audio books from Ingram, and the Encyclopedia Britannica. Taking advantage of electronic services allow the Library System to be open 24/7. The staff of the library promised to continue to look for new ways to provide what you want and to make it available in the most convenient ways.

In the coming weeks, we will have a wonder addition to Adams County Library System. The residents of Littlestown have really worked hard to provide a permanent space for the Littlestown Library. After three years of searching, fundraising and hard work, the new Library is soon ready to open. This is another highlight of the past year and a wonderful move forward for the decade to come.

The year began with some fairly difficult times for the Library System. The loss of a number of state initiatives and close to a 25% cut of our state funding hampered some of the goals that we had hoped to achieve this year. But, the staff of the library really worked hard to make sure that our service did not suffer. I thank them for all of their hard work.

On behalf of all the staff and volunteers of the Adams County Library System, I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and wish for a healthy and successful 2011 to everyone who calls Adams County their home.

Libraries and Ebooks

2010-09-07T08:06:00.000-05:00

A number of public libraries have begun providing ebooks for their residents. Honestly, this means a lot of different things.

We have a number of ebooks available on the website for research. If you go to http://access.gale.com/ebooks/gett42668/ You will see what we have available for people to do research or for yourself to do research.

However, some of the books available at other libraries are actually complete texts which you can download and read via your PDF (usually adobe) reader on your computer or IPAD.

Some libraries have worked out a pricing structure to make available actual popular materials which can be read on their Nook (Barnes and Noble’s) reader. Note: this is not the Kindle (Amazon). This is an area will have to investigate further as we move into our library’s future.

What it will finally look like or be like we will have to see. But this is a big new wave which will be coming to public libraries in the near future.

Adams County Reads One Book

2010-07-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

I am really happy to announce that the library will be sponsoring a 2010 Adams County Reads One Book program this September. The book selected for the program is Masie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. This is the first book in her best selling Masie Dobbs series.

If you are not familiar with Ms. Winspear’s, Masie Dobbs series, it is a wonderfully written series of books about a young women coming to terms with her experiences in France during WWI and the aftermath. At the beginning of the novel, she has opened her own detective agency specializing in cases which involve the psychological investigation of her clients and their subjects. She then flashes back to her time during the war, which sets up the action in the rest of the series.

The cultural devastation and changes which WWI brought about are not subjects covered by many recent writers. So, this is a well written look at a time in history and the people who changed our view of the world.

The kick off for the reading of the book will be August 6th with a program at Gallery 30 to learn more about the book. Additional programs will follow in September! You can check out the schedule at http://www.adamslibrary.org/ACROBEvents.htm

State Budget Update; Support Needed for Library Code Study

2010-05-11T06:59:00.002-05:00

Good morning, library advocates.

First, a brief update on the state budget. The process will heat up more as we head into May and June. The April month-end report on state revenues will be released next week and should be an indicator of how much will be needed to balance this year’s budget which, in turn, affects budget decisions for next year.

Some budget snippets:

1. Governor Rendell has been out on the road pushing hard for his budget including a proposed $300 million increase for basic education.

2. The federal government’s denial of Pennsylvania’s request to place tolls on Interstate 80 means that $420 million from tolls that had been planned on will not materialize adding more pressure on next year’s budget.

3. A recent state court ruled that the Governor and legislature erred last year when they transferred money from the Pennsylvania’s medical malpractice insurance fund to the general fund to balance the budget. Governor Rendell has appealed the ruling and there is some disagreement about whether the ruling will stand. Either way, a decision on the appeal is unlikely to impact the 2010-11 state budget.

Our message continues to be that libraries are even more critical now during a recession, and we’re busier than we’ve ever been. As such, even though we know this is a tight budget year, our goals remain the same:

1. $3 million increase for Library Access to restore statewide access to programs such as POWER Library; and

2. 5% increases in remaining library appropriations to restore 5% more access to library services.

Yes, asking for an increase is difficult but it’s important that our legislators remember that the four library appropriation line items last year were chopped back by 2%, 21%, 51%, and 73%. Overall library funding dropped $26.3 million dollars and our request this year is to restore $6.3 million. For more information and to send an email, go to:

http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=14816576

Meanwhile, on a different but not wholly unrelated topic, Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware County), the Majority Leader of the State Senate, has drafted a resolution calling for a legislative review and study of Pennsylvania’s Library Code. A copy of the memo he sent to his Senate colleagues asking them to co-sponsor his effort along with a draft of the resolution that he intends to introduce in the State Senate can be found here:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CSM/2009/0/4929.pdf

Senator Pileggi believes that the Library Code, first passed in 1961, is overdue for review, and wants the bipartisan Joint State Government Commission to study it and issue recommendations later this year in time for the next Governor and next General Assembly.

The Pennsylvania Library Association supports the Majority Leader’s call for a review of the Library Code. We know that there is room to improve and update the Library Code, just as we know that underfunding of library services continues to be a problem in most areas of the state. We also know that a study of the Library Code this year may well dovetail with the work of PaLA’s Next Generation Task Force that has been developing a new platform for library services in time for the next administration.

We ask you to join PaLA in supporting Senator Pileggi’s resolution. Please contact your State Senator and ask her/him to co-sponsor Senator Pileggi’s resolution calling for a study of Pennsylvania’s Library Code. For more information and to send an email to your State Senator, go to:

http://www.capwiz.com/ala/pa/issues/alert/?alertid=14980241

Thank you for all of your great work supporting library services in the next state budget, and supporting Senator Pileggi’s resolution calling for a study of the Library Code.

Glenn

Glenn R. Miller

Executive Director

Pennsylvania Library Association

220 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055

phone: 717-766-7663

fax: 717-766-5440

e-mail: glenn@palibraries.org

Annual Business Meeting

2010-04-27T07:37:00.000-05:00

A few years ago, Mike Pavlovich asked me to speak at the Annual Dinner highlighting the accomplishments of the libraries in the past year.

It is very hard to say no to Mike. He has a way of persuading you of almost anything.

I will continue this tradition tonight, but I get to decide what I am going to talk about.

I think that tonight I will talk a little about Mike and his years as President of the Adams County Library Board.

Many of you may or may not know this, but this is Mike’s last night as President of the Board of Trustees. Tonight I will highlight some of the library’s achievements for which Mike can take credit.

Talking about the past year is a little bit tough.

Not to say that there have not been great achievements in the past year, but this has also been a very discouraging year.

The economy put a hit on all of us and the library had to make a number of adjustments to meet these economic challenges.

For the past four years, the Library has had plan to revamp the Gettysburg Library. This plan’s goal was to make the library a showcase of a 21st century library without doing any major construction on the property.

To achieve this, we needed to create new spaces within the building to highlight what the library has to provide.

First the staff evaluated our book collections to determine which ones were being under used.

The first collection identified was the Reference Collection. By removing the Reference Book collection we created a space for a Teen Collection.

Using this process, we were able to move all of Adult CD and DVDs into one space, add Books on CD, and expand our Large Print Collection.

After this, we were then able to do our one remodeling project and moved the main circulation desk last year which opened up a space for us to display all our new Fiction materials.

This past year we took the next big step in this project and added two self-checkout machines.

Technology is a great thing when used properly. Self-Check machines are great technology for a public library. It allows the staff to have more time to do the things which the public most wants from us, advising them on books to read and helping them find what they need.

Through this process, the library was also able to add wireless access, more computers, more databases for research from home and new formats like downloadable audio books which can listened to on your IPOD.

What have all of these changes meant?

Before we began these projects the Gettysburg Circulation was 300,000. Today Gettysburg’s annual circulation is 360,000. That is a 20% increase alone.

Teen book circulation went from about 4600 to nearly 12000 times.

Clearly, showing that a focus on teen reading is a big success.

The branch libraries have not been ignored in this process. The marketing principles which we have used here in Gettysburg are being implemented around the county.

Circulation for the system increased by almost 40,000 items in 2009.

The system is truly in a position to be a stellar 21st Century Library.

So, what does the future hold?

Honestly, who knows?

We have positioned ourselves to be able to quickly adapt to the needs of the public.

What do we anticipate these needs to be?

One of them is more technology.

Usually we talk in terms of computers when we say technology, but our vision and dreams of library service have to expand to smaller devices.

We see downloadable items which will be delivered to your IPAD. Articles and databases which can be searched on your cell phone while you are on vacation in the Virgin Islands.

Some day you will be able to search for books statewide, place a hold on a unique title you want and have the item sent directly to your home library, maybe even your home, no matter what library in the state that owns the book.

Partnering with other organizations, counties and businesses are going to become more important to all libraries and we plan to be a part of those discussions.

In addition to technology, staff is so important to the future of our library.

The public comes to libraries to work with the staff.

Our staff is an amazing resource.

It is this interaction which creates knowledge and understanding.

As long as humans will continue to develop new ideas, new businesses, new educational opportunities, they will need our libraries to give them the foundation to create new knowledge.

There are of course financial challenges out there.

The economy has not been anyone’s friend the last year.

The library board had to make difficult decisions, but those decisions secured the library for this year and will allow a base to grow from for the future.

The future of the Adams County Library System is bright.

The board has a vision of what the library can become and the staff has a vision of how to get there. That is the legacy of the last four years of Mike’s presidency.

As I mentioned earlier, tonight is the last night that Mike will be President our Board of Trustees.

All of the activities mentioned earlier have occurred during his tenure.

He has led a board which allowed the library to grow and to develop and not to become confined by our tradition.

I would like to announce that as part of his continuing legacy for the Library System, his family has decided to establish a Named Endowment in his honor.

A Named Endowment is established when an initial gift of $1000 or more is given to the library.

Materials are purchased with the income from that investment each year to build a collection which meets the needs and desires of the Residents of the county for years to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that anyone who wishes to make a contribution to this Named Endowment can at anytime add to it by sending a check to the Library and note that it is for the Mike Pavlovich Named Endowment.

So at this time, I am honored to Introduce Mike Pavlovich, President of the Board of Trustees of the Adams County Library System, well at least he is still president for another 15 minutes…….

New Downloadable Audio Books Available on the Web!

2010-02-15T08:20:00.003-05:00

As part of my regular exercise routine, I try to get to the gym and spend some time on the treadmill at least three times a week. The funny thing I have been noticing the last few weeks is that the gym is getting busier and busier.

Do you ever get kind of bored running or walking on the treadmill? I have a great solution for you! Have you ever tried to listen to Audio Books? For years, the library has had available Audio books in cassette and cd formats. Unfortunately, the library stopped buying books on cassette about two years ago since we were not finding any companies who would sell them to the library. However, we have a large and growing audio book collection on CD.

In December, the Library System has added a new service which is perfect for anyone who wants audio books for exercising. We now have downloadable audio books available. These are full length audio books which can be downloaded to your computer or mobile device. They then can be moved to either an MP3 player or an IPOD.

To browse the collection, you can go to the Adams County web page at http://www.adamslibrary.org. On our homepage, there is a box in the middle column of the Library titled Downloadable Audio Books. I would recommend reading the HELP link. This will give you detailed instructions on how to download and move the files to your device.

To browse the collection you will need to click on the Download Instructions link. You will then have the specific instructions for downloading audio books. Click on the link on the page. You can browse for titles. When you find something you want to listen to, click on the link to add to your bookshelf.

Then you will be asked to enter you library barcode number. That is the fourteen digit number on the back of your library card. It should be entered as a single number with no spaces. Your password is the last four digits of that number.
When added to your bookshelf, it will be there for 21 days for you to download to your computer and moved to your device to listen to the book. It will then be available until you resync your device.

We are very excited to be able to provide these downloadable audio books. It is a great new service which we love. Please check them out!

State Budget done!

2009-11-04T09:03:00.003-05:00

Now, we are onto providing great service to the residents of Adams County.

I would like to start this article by asking each of our friends to do a favor for the library. Please call the commissioners office and thank them for their continued support of the Library System. Without the wonderful relationship we have with the county commissioners and their support, we would not be able to continue to provide good library service in the county.

The State budget is passed and signed and it will impact libraries in Adams County. The final budget reduced the library subsidy by a little more than 20%. Although very bad, it was a lot better than some proposals being supported in Harrisburg which called for a 50% reduction in the library subsidy. The library subsidy is the money given directly to public libraries to provide service.

Unfortunately, the library support items in the State budget which pay for POWERLibrary, AccessPA Library Card, AskHere PA, Interlibrary Loan and Delivery services were cut by 75%. This cut was one which was a bit surprising to the library community. These services are relied on by students and library users through out the state.

So, let’s look at the dollars and cents of this. In simple terms, it means that the Adams County Library System will receive $200,000 less this year than last year. With very slow growth in the county population, we do not see any ability to make that up in county money. Therefore, this will require cuts in library services.

Exactly what will have to be cut is not yet decided by the Board of Trustees. However, the Administration has been instructed to streamline all operations and present a plan which does not destroy the excellent library services which Adams County residents have come to expect. We are to minimize the impact on all residents and look at what is best for the entire county.

I would like to THANK YOU as a friend of the Adams County Library System for your personal support of the library. If you have not renewed your membership for next year please consider doing that today. If you have renewed your membership, consider giving a membership to a friend as a Christmas present. These memberships provide 1/3 of the income which the Friends give to the Library System each year. Those funds are used to continue vital programs such as buying best sellers and research materials needed by county residents.

It is not going to be a pretty year next year. But we will try to make it a successful year for Adams County residents.

Volunteers Are Wonderful!

2009-09-17T09:45:00.002-05:00

Volunteer Luncheon Comments:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Adams County Library System, I am so happy this morning to welcome everyone to this luncheon.

We are here today to celebrate the generosity of the people of Adams County.

Each year, the residents of the county give thousands of hours to help their fellow residents.

They give their time to the hospital, to their churches, the food pantry, the soup kitchen and to yes, to the Adams County Library and the Friends of the Adams County Library.

The time which you give to the Adams County Library makes such a difference.

Studies show over and over again that the health of the local library is directly proportional to the health of the population.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of children are excited to attend programs at their library.

Unfortunately, thousands of others are either not able to attend a program at the library because they their parents don’t take them or their library did not have the resources to have programs for them to attend.

This is a tragedy which you as a volunteer assure does not happen in Adams County Library. Why is this important?

Did you know that more than 85% of the juveniles in any county court system are functionally illiterate?

Had the library been able to get to these individuals before they had fallen so far behind there is a good chance that they would not be in their situation.

The cost of this to the community, county, and commonwealth is immense. Literacy is so important to an individuals success in life and their ability to contribute to society.

Did you know that most children will spend 5000 hours watching television by the time they are five?

Although, there is a lot of good programming on television, there is unfortunately a lot which is not.

Children who do not have books in the house and are not read to by their families have a colossal disadvantage in vocabulary which will never be overcome, even with expensive remedial reading classes, in the 13 years of formal education required by law. The simple fact is that those children who are not read to by their parents or other care givers can never catch up!

These two examples show just how valuable spending a little bit of money and time on our children before they go to school can save large amounts of money on remediation and rehabilitation in the future.

The work you do in the library makes it possible for reading programs to be offered here in your county to our youngest citizens and shows how tragic it is that some in this commonwealth see our libraries as something nice and not something necessary as you do.

Today the board of trustees celebrates your work and thanks you for your support…..

I would like to make a few introductions at this time…..

The LMNOP of Library Spending

2009-06-30T10:43:00.002-05:00

The other day I discussed the ABC’s of Library Funding. Now I would like to discuss a little bit about how we spend that funding.

L is for Literacy. Libraries are about promoting reading and literacy of all forms. We work on inspiring children to hopefully create a passion for reading and learning. We help adults to continue their need for growth and continued education throughout their lives. Therefore the library has programs which encourage young children to read and adults to continue to learn. Literacy programs represent about 5% of our expenditures. It is small, but very important.

M is for Materials. We are a library. We buy books. However, we also buy DVD’s, music CD’s, books on CD, magazines, newspapers and electronic databases. Each year the library buys around 20,000 items to meet the desires and needs of Adams County residents. This represents about 18% of our expenditures.

N is for New Stuff. Ok, I admit it; I was not very creative here. These are the items we purchase to keep the library upgraded. This includes expenses like moving the Littlestown Library or for replacement of the Bookmobile. Also, in this number is the replacement schedule for our computers and other technology. This represents about 7% of our expenditures.

O is for operating. Operating expenses are required to keep the libraries open and functioning. These are expenses for things like electricity and telephone. This represents about 10% of our expenditures.

Finally, the P is Personnel. Personnel are the largest part of our budget. The library cannot run without a certain number employees. If we were to lose a percentage of our annual income, or not be able to replace employees when they leave, we could be forced to reduce our hours of operation. Personnel costs make up about 60% of our expenditures.

As we look at our coming budget cuts, it is sort of a grim outlook to see what we will have to cut. State aid for our system has not increased since 2001. Unfortunately, inflation has increased prices for libraries just as it has for everyone. This reduces what we can do with the money we are provided. While we will try to minimize the impact, overall operations cuts will inevitably be felt.

The ABC’s of Library Funding

2009-06-17T10:33:00.000-05:00

This is a topic which we don’t talk about very much. In recent months, it has become clear that I need to do a little bit of explaining about how the library system in Adams County is funded. Here are the ABC’s of library funding.

The A is for Adams County. The foundation of library funding comes from the county. In Adams County, the library is supported at .5 mil of accessed property value. These funds are the basis for how the county library is operated and account for 45% the library system income.

The B is for Beneficence - (I am a librarian, I had to find a really good word.). Some of the areas which make up beneficence are the Friends, Investment Income, Gifts, Fines and Fees. The Friends provide $60,000 a year in support and have done many special projects for the library above that when needed. The library also uses the income we accrue from the endowment funds which the library has been the recipients of over the years. Gifts come from donations made by Adams County residents of cash for general operations or to purchase memorial and honor books.

Alright, one little bit about fines and fees. I know libraries have always had a reputation about fines. It is viewed as a source of income and method of torture. However, it really is not. Around 1% of our income comes from fines. We also don’t hold it against you if you do have fines. As far as we are concerned, it is not a fine but extended use fee. If you wish to keep an item longer than other Adams County residents, you will have to pay the fee for that extended time.

The total income from B represents 15% of our total income.

The C is for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Based upon the income we get from Adams County and your beneficence, Pennsylvania provides us with matching funds. These matching funds are tax dollars you are paying to the State and which come back to the county for services. The matching money we get from the state represents about 40% of our income. However, this amount has not increased in many years. We received a little less in 2009 than we received in 2003, with big cuts in the middle.

As the economy is hit hard this year, the library has been extremely frugal on what we are spending money. However, our use is at the highest it has ever been. Any cuts in these funds and the library will have to make real cuts in services. We are trying to minimize any cuts as best as possible, but like everyone, we need to live in a budget. We will keep you updated on what we spend these funds on in the coming weeks.

Desperate Times

2009-06-02T07:21:00.006-05:00

I have recently stopped watching CNBC every morning as I had done every morning for the last fifteen years. I just can’t take any more of the news about the state of the economy.

The Library is a good barometer of the direction of the economy.

Our business is booming. When the nation faces tough economic times, our public libraries become part of the safety net for individuals and families needing help to get through.

The library is a place of inexpensive educational and entertainment alternatives. Because of this, our use is up 20% over the last two years.

However, the other issue facing libraries in tough economic times is that they find themselves on the brink of large budget cuts, making it tough to keep our services going.

We could be facing up to a 50% cut in our funding from the state in the coming year. This cut will force the library to drastically cut back on services to the public, reduce our hours and decimate our ability to buy books and DVD’s. It is such a shame at a time when the community needs us the most.

If you have an opportunity to contact your legislators and tell them how much the library means to you and your family and how important level funding for the library is in this time of such great need, it could help to reduce that cut and keep our libraries open next year.

Genealogy from Home!

2009-05-18T12:51:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking about Genealogy quite a bit the last week or so. I have had the opportunity to attend a genealogy workshop and meet a number of other librarians who serve genealogist and professional genealogists from around the country.

At the meeting, I was struck by the fact that so many of the genealogists don’t know about their public libraries as a source for information. Many libraries have web pages which give information to locate where records can be accessed. They did not think of libraries as places that they could get newspapers or census records. It was very enlightening to learn that we really need to get the word out about all the great information which we have available.

Here at the Adams County Library System, we have been working on an obituary database of the Gettysburg Times and other historical local newspapers in partnership with the Adams County Historical Society. Although we don’t have copies of all the obituaries, you can use our search tool at http://www.adamslibrary.org/DeathIndex/ , locate an obituary, and then request a copy from the historical society.

Also at the Adams County Library System, you can access Heritagequest Online. This online source has available census records. You can get access to it at this link, http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login/barcode?aid=2076 Then just enter your library card number.

These are just a few ways we can help you with Genealogy at the Adams County Library System.

40 Years of Service

2009-05-04T07:31:00.000-05:00

Comments for 2009 Annual Dinner
In Honor of Peggy Weikel

40 years sounds like a long time. However, some of you here may tell me that it seems like a blink of the eye.

The last 40 years could be described as the Golden Age of Library Service. It can also be called the age of great change. And to survive the last forty years working for the library is an amazing feat in and of its self.

To prepare for this speech I admit, I had to do a little research. I spent a few afternoons reading library annual reports and trying to get a picture of what the library was like then and how it has changed.

Admittedly, some things have not changed. Libraries are about reading, research, children and sparking the imagination and yes about books.

I was amazed at the fact that the library offered so many of the same types of services. Inter-Library Loan was highlighted;

reference was carried out in person and on the telephone.

There were also all kinds of materials, books, including large print….audio visual material, however they were called phono-records, films, filmstrips and microfilm instead of CD’s and DVD’s, newspapers, magazines and maps and the Bookmobile.

However, many changes have been made. In 1969 the library was open 46 hours a week, today the headquarters is open 66 and ½ hours per week.

We circulated a less 60,000 items in 1969 and more than 600,000 in 2008. There were 18,472 registered borrowers in 1969 and we have more than 60,000 today. Then the library added 4,000 books; in 2008 the library added 18,000 books.

Libraries have been and will be about books for decades and will be for decades to come, however, the most noticeable change is that computers are every where.

40 years ago every thing was done with cards. Cards in the book, cards to look through in the Card Catalog, paper cards for check out, and typewriters. If something wasn’t on the shelf, you had to assume that it was checked out. Reserve lists were cumbersome and hit or miss.

Today we track all of materials and check outs with the computer. We maintain all of our patron records and book records on the computer. The computer is our primary tool for answering questions. People come to the library to read a flashy web page on how to write a resume or how to cook an artichoke.

There has been a great of change in the last 40 years.

While reading annual reports, I saw that in 1971, the library held a public meeting with the title, “What responsibility does the community have to the library.” This title struck me very strange. This is a concept which I do not understand. The responsibility is to the Library to be there for the community. The library needs to be able to adapt quickly to the needs and wants of the community.

Today, the Adams County Library System is looking to make sure that we will be as relevant to the community in 40 years time as we have been the past 40 years. The Library will be here providing the services and materials that the community wants. That is our responsibility.

That is what Peggy Weikel has been dedicated to for her years here at the library. During these forty years, Peggy has seen a lot of changes in the library. The library moved. We went through three bookmobiles. She saw the change from the Adams County Public Library to the Adams County Library System.

When she began working here some of her most important daily tasks were typing patron library cards, filing the book cards from the day before and looking up the book cards for returned books.

Today, Peggy checks out books to patrons using the computer and barcode scanners and plastic cards with card numbers. The books are checked in with a simple scan of the barcode. The Library is a solid institution which will be here for decades to come as more and more people recognize the value and economy of the public library.

Peggy , like the library, checks out a lot more books, registers a lot more patrons and sees a lot more customers than she did when she started working here, however, Peggy continues to do HER job with the same style and grace which has made her the Library Lady to so many residents of this wonderful county. Few of us will ever be able to say that and it is a great testament to her commitment to the community.

Spring Has Sprung

2009-04-02T09:53:00.001-05:00

It is spring. I absolutely love spring, but I can’t believe that it is April already. It is time for me to really think about my flowers in the yard. I have to admit each year I plant a few new perennials and then forget about them until they start to poke up through the ground.

The past few months have been very busy times for the Adams County Library System and I would like to update you on a few of these new developments.

After a few months of work with the Littlestown Borough Council, the Littlestown Library has moved to its new location at 3 West King Street in the borough. The new library has a great browsing collection of new fiction books, audios and DVD’s. As always, the library has public computers for you to use and wireless Internet Access that you can use with your own laptop or hand held device.

The Library System also continues to expand our website at http://www.adamslibrary.org. You can now register for a library card on the website. All you have to do is fill out the information, and the library will enter you in the system. You will then get an email with your card number in it so that you can use all of our online services. Within a few days, the Library System will mail you your library card which can be used in any public library in the county or on the bookmobile.

Also on the website, the library is offering two new resources. One is called Civil War Era. It has information from original civil war period newspapers. Also, we have added Mango Language programs. This allows you to study 12 languages from home without having to check out the language course.

Just like the flowers I have poking up through the ground in my yard, the Adams County Library System continues to sprout new ways to serve the public. If you have any ideas, please feel free to email or the call the library. We always want to know how to serve your needs better.

Progress 2009

2009-02-05T08:02:00.001-05:00

2008 was an amazing year for the Adams County Library System. Use of the system is at an all time high. More than 600,000 items were circulated in the year. That is more than six and half books per person for every person in the county. In December 2008, we have registered our 60,000^th patron. That is a record number of residents with library cards. However, the library system has done so much more in the past year than just circulate books.

More than 15 children’s programs are provided throughout the county every week. Also, the library continues to build a virtual branch through our online offerings. This year alone the System added a new language program to learn foreign languages from the comfort of your own home using your personal computer, as well as an online reference tool to study the Civil War.

Unfortunately, progress for the library system in 2009 will be markedly different than 2008. As the country as a whole faces challenges from the slow economy and the weakening of the stock market, the library also faces economic challenges. During times of weakening job market, libraries see their business sky rocket. This puts pressure on the library to meet the growing demand with shrinking budgets. This year the library saw our state funding shrink because of the slowing in revenue collections.

Progress for the library system in 2009 will be to meet this growing demand and the growing needs of the county without increasing our staff. That can be done by automating more of what we do. Hopefully, we will be able to add self-checkout machines in our Gettysburg, East Berlin and Harbaugh-Thomas libraries. These self-checkout machines will speed check out for the patrons who just need books checked out and will allow the staff to spend more time with the patrons who need help finding materials. A win/win situation for all.

The mission of the Adams County Library System is to meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of all the residents of Adams County. This is done by providing life-long learning opportunities for residents of all ages. Progress for the Library System in 2009 can best be measured by how we accomplish these tasks for all ages groups of the population.

For young children, the library is a place where they learn about books and get the foundation they need to begin school. The library positions itself in this endeavor through our story time offerings and outreach to head starts, day care centers and pre-schools through out the county. Progress can be measured in this area if the we are able to have contact with every child in the county before they reach school this coming school year.

Research has always been an important part of the education of young adults. The online resources of the library provides a vast tool which all of these young adults can use from home. Progress can be measured for the library if all of our teenagers in the county have a library card in 2009. This will give them access to all of these great resources.

Adults also need opportunities to continue to learn as they age to keep up with a changing world. Progress can be measured in 2009 by the library being able to provide the programs which help all of us to keep up with this challenging economy and give us all opportunities to grow in the world in which we live.

We anticipate that 2009 will be a challenging year. However, progress can be made by continuing efforts to carry out the mission which we have been doing since 1945. The Adams County Library System will continue to be a place to find both information and recreation. We see and predict another year of record use. Progress for us will be seen in cultivating and expanding that use even more.

Mango Language Programs

2008-10-07T12:25:00.001-05:00

The library is really happy to announce the addition of a new tool which you can use from home to learn foreign languages. The library has contracted with Mango Languages to provide home access to 12 language programs.

The programs include Brazilian Portuguese, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Greek, French and Russian for English speakers. It also includes English for Polish, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese speakers.

The program can accessed by going to the Adams County Library System website at http://www.adamslibrary.org. Along the right hand column there is a box labeled e-services, click on the link which is labeled Mango Language Programs. You will be asked for your patron id and pin number. That is the fourteen digit number on the back of your Adams County Library System card. It should be entered as a single number with no spaces. Your pin number is the last four digits of that number unless you have gone into the system and changed it.

To use the program, you will need to have Adobe Flash 9 installed on your computer. The company has a link to the download site for you on the main page.

Please check it out and use it!

Love those Volunteers

2008-09-22T09:42:00.001-05:00

Everyday between 20 and 30 dedicated employees of the Adams County Library System come to work and open the seven libraries and the bookmobile which make up the system. The work they do makes a great impact on the residents of Adams County. This makes Adams County not only a nice place to live, but also an attractive place to raise your kids or start a business.

In that same day close to a dozen volunteers will make the same trip into the library. The important work of the library would not be able to be carried out with out these volunteers.

What do these volunteers do?

Books are shelved. The library is about books. Specifically, getting those books to the people who want and need them. ½ of the job we have is buying the books and making them available. However, if the patrons can’t find them and locate them on the shelves, then we may as well not purchase the book in the first place.

Books are moved between libraries. The specific beauty of our library system is that you can get any book from any library at any other library within a short time period. However, the labor to locate these books and move them the requesting library makes it a colossal task.

Books are checked out and checked in. Without books getting out to the public, we have no reason to exist.

Then we can add in the weeding of books, boxing of books, selling of books, promoting of books, repairing of books and loving books…. And you get a really complete picture that with out the volunteers who come to the library everyday, the lives of Adams County residents would be diminished indescribably.

So, as the Director of the Library System, I thank each and every volunteer for your dedication and love of the library and the books which we all handle so lovingly.

Lincoln in Gettysburg

2008-09-12T09:41:00.001-05:00

Many of you may know that February 12, 2009 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. However, if you didn’t know that, you do now.

Places all around the country claim an intimate tie to Abraham Lincoln. Of course, Springfield, Illinois where Lincoln lived his adult life, and Washington DC where he lived during his most trying part of his life. However, Gettysburg does hold one of the most sacred ties to Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address.

As part of the national celebration of Lincoln’s life, a number of special events are planned right here in Gettysburg and Adams County. One I would like to remind you about is the program on October 9th at the Gettysburg Library. Jeffry Wert author of Civil War books will be at the library to talk about Lincoln.

If you are interested in reading some books about Lincoln in anticipation of this historic commemoration, I have a few titles I would recommend. I just finished listening to “The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage.” by Daniel Mark Epstein. It was a great story of the marriage of the Lincolns. Beginning at the courtship and ending with Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, it was an intimate portrait of a political marriage. The audio book was also very well read by Adam Grupper.

Another recent Lincoln book is “Lincoln and Douglas: the Debates that Defined America.” by Allen C. Guelzo. This book highlights the political climate of Illinois in the election of 1858 and shows how Lincoln masterfully cornered Douglas in the debates and although costing him the election also cost Douglas the support of the Democrats in 1860.

Finally, not as new as these two books, I would recommend checking out Harold Holzer’s “Lincoln at Cooper Union: the Speech that Made Abraham Lincoln President.” The book is a brilliant analysis of the speech and a very easy read for anyone who wants to learn more about Lincoln at that time.

Of course, the library has a few hundred other books which deal with Abraham Lincoln in some way. Activities will be occurring throughout the county in 2008 and 2009. However, if you can’t make one of those events, pick up a book at the library and learn a little about this complex and interesting man.

Software Upgrade

2008-08-21T09:21:00.002-05:00

Software upgrade: a term which always sends fear into anyone who works on a computer.

Yes, the library will be experiencing a software upgrade September 7th and 8th of this year. The library uses a software package called Library.Solution to keep track of books and your records. It checks out the items and it is also the software you use to look for books.

We will be experiencing a major upgrade in that software and it will look a little different when you search for books. However, the information you are used to seeing will all still be there. Some of the buttons will be in different places and it is much more colorful, but it will be the same for now.

So stick with as we learn this new software, however, it will allow us to do more for you and in the coming months will allow you to do more for yourself.

Summer Achievments

2008-08-04T08:39:00.000-05:00

The summer is starting to wind down and we are going to be able to start to evaluate our accomplishments. The Summer Reading Program, Catch the Reading Bug, looks like it was a smashing success. Thousands of children took part and read books which they selected for themselves.

This is so important! It is shown over and over again in studies that children who read books they select during the summer maintain a higher reading level than children who do not. These children are ahead when school starts in the fall and have a higher level of success in schooling for the rest of their lives. Pretty impressive outcome isn’t it.

Also, we have been fortunate this summer to find out that we have received a grant from the Gates Foundation for the purchase of new computers in the New Oxford, East Berlin and Gettysburg libraries. We are going to buy laptops this summer for each of these libraries which will be able to be checked out and used for public Internet Access.

Right now we have used all of the available space in these libraries for Public Internet Computers. However, the demand continues to grow. This is the best solution for the library and the public.

We will continue to look at the advancements we make and try to keep improving service all the time!

FRIENDS BOOK SALE

2008-07-21T14:12:00.001-05:00

Annual Used Book Sale Bonanza
2008

When: Starts Wednesday in August, August 6 and ends on Saturday August 9, 2008

Where: Gettysburg Middle School Cafeteria (Behind Riegle Auditorium on Lefever St.)

Hours: Wed through Fri.: 9am to 8pm
Saturday; 9am to Noon

Prices Monday through Friday:
Hardbacks
$2.00
Large. Paperbacks
$1.50
Regular Paperbacks
$1.00
Small Paperbacks (Romance, etc.)
$ .50
Child/Youth hardbacks
$1.50
Child/Youth paperbacks
$1.00
Saturday Bag Sale $5 each.
Buy three and get the fourth one free

Pennyslvania Mountain Voices

2008-07-14T08:53:00.001-05:00

Pennsylvania Mountain Voices
featuring Bruce Young

Gettysburg Library
Adams County Library System
Thursday, July 17 at 7p.m.
USS Eisenhower Room

http://www.adamslibrary.org/bruceyoung4.htm

Comments on The Dedication of The Harbaugh Thomas Biglerville Library

2008-05-18T19:28:00.001-05:00

This week I had the great pleasure of interviewing a number of high school seniors who will be going onto college in the fall. One young lady when asked who her hero was mentioned that when she was 7 or 8 she had learned about Andrew Carnegie.

The fact that he made a great deal of money did not stop him from feeling that he needed to give something back to the world.

From his generosity, thousands of public libraries were built throughout the world.

A hundred years ago Andrew Carnegie saw the Public Library building as one of the few places in any community were everyone was welcome, ideas could be explored, plans could be designed, dreams could really come true.

Carnegie believed that individual ingenuity coupled with access to resources would build the country and make us a great nation. Public Libraries were that access to resources.

Today the Public Library building is as relevant as it ever was. The need to nurture our youngest citizens in the ways of learning so that they will be ready to start school continues. We still need to support our educational system so that our children can learn what they need to know to join the workforce. As our lives change and we age, we still need a place where we can find the authoritative answers to our personal challenges. At all ages, we need that place which challenges the imagination to dream of what might be or what we might become. The Public Library building represents all this to the community, the fulfillment of our aspirations.

Marion Thomas Harbaugh and Jean Thomas shared that vision of Andrew Carnegie. They are making it possible for the residents of Biglerville, Upper Adams, and frankly all of Adams County to have access to a state of the art Public Library.

As pointed out in the wonderful conversation I had with the young lady earlier this week, Andrew Carnegie’s gifts continue to have an impact on countless communities today. Marian Thomas Harbaugh and Jean Thomas saw the impact that a library can have on a community and the life long aspirations of its residents. This gift will continue to change people’s lives for years to come.

Room to Read

2008-04-21T09:47:00.001-05:00

Librarians and libraries are about connecting people to reading and thinking. They also are about connecting people to the information they need.

Fortunately our libraries here in Adams County have hundreds of thousands of books available to our young people, students and adults, supporting both formal and informal education for all residents.

There is always more which our libraries can do if we had more space, money, people and technology, but we do provide great services and books to the residents of Adams County.

Now just imagine that our library only had 20 books for all of the students. In one school in Nepal this is exactly what their children can experience. Those 20 books are so precious that they are kept under lock and key.

Education is the #1 determiner in whether or not a child will fall into dire poverty. We are lucky that our children have access to education and materials to support that education here in Adams County.

Recently I learned about Room to Read. Room to Read was founded by John Wood, a former Pennsylvanian, who worked for Microsoft until he visited that school library described above in Nepal.

He decided he could help that library out by buying, with his own money, 3000 books. He delivered them himself and saw what an amazing experience it was to expand a child’s world through reading.

He came back from that experience determined bring education, books and school libraries to children in the third world.

To read more about John Wood and what his organization does check out http://www.roomtoread.org or you can read his book, “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World”

Room to Read

2008-04-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

The Library System's Virtual Branch

2008-02-15T09:47:00.001-05:00

Some of you may have noticed the new look to the Adams County Library System’s website. We implemented the new website in mid-January and we are still trying to get used to it.

Many of you may be asking why our website is so important to the library. As libraries continue to evolve the manner in which we provide services, more and more of the information the library has is only available in electronic formats. The library’s website is the portal, a great internet word, which you use to access these great library services.

We are now looking at the website as our eighth branch of the Adams County Library System.

At this branch, you can register for a card, you can manage your library record, you can research a project, you can place books on hold, you can a download video, and some time in the near future you will be able to download audio books again.

To do most of these things you will need a library card, as I mentioned earlier, you can register online or you can get a card in any of the physical branches of the Adams County Library System. Once you have a card, the important piece of information on the card is the card number found on the back of the card. It is a fourteen digit number. Although the number has spaces in it, you should ignore the spaces and think of it as a single number.

This number gives you access to all the great research information we have on the Internet which you can use from home. One item you can use from home is the POWERLibrary. You can get full text magazine articles here and dozens of other informational databases. With the ID number you can also get access to Census records in HeritageQuest, an Encyclopedia in World Book, and watch videos through MyLibraryDV.

One other thing you can do on our website is reserve books and renew items. When you log into your account you are asked again for Patron ID which is that 14 digit number, but you will be asked for a pin. Your pin number is the last four digits of your patron ID number.

This library model is called a Virtual Branch and it is very common among libraries today. It is our way of trying to stay as current as possible and provide as much service as we can.

Audio Book Changes

2008-01-22T11:43:00.001-05:00

The market for audio books is an ever changing thing. A few years ago the library subscribed to a contract where we rented audio books on cassette. Over the years, the library was able to build up a collection which was large enough in size to accommodate demand for audio books so we looked into cancelling the rental contract.

Well then a funny thing happened. People began to get CD players in their cars instead of cassette players. There was a great demand for books on CD. So, the library instead of cancelling the contract for books on cassette converted it to books on CD in an attempt to meet the growing demand.

Well again time has allowed the library to meet the demand. So last year we cancelled our last rental contract.

However, again technology progressed and people began buying MP3 players in greater and greater numbers. Now companies are making available Audio books in downloadable format.

The library has tried one contract in this area, because of technicalities we had to end the contract, but will be looking at moving in that direction again when available.

This year we have seen the production of books on cassette greatly reducing, probably because the demand for books on cassette has fallen by more than 75%. Additionally, the demand for books on CD has increased by more than 300%. Because of these demand changes, we have decided to stop buying books on cassette. Very few are available anyway. We are concentrating on buying books on CD right now.

The library is committed to keeping up with the format changes. We want to continue serving all Adams County residents. However, sometimes the market ties our hands and we have to drop some formats for the formats available. Keep on reading, or listening in this case.

Downloadable Audio Books

2008-01-14T08:53:00.000-05:00

I have a bit of bad news and some good news.

Because of a change in our contracts we will be losing our downloadable audio books for a few months. The company is ending one relationship they had and will be offering the books in an easy to use format in the coming weeks.

As soon as the product is available again, we will be subscribing.

Also as the year progresses, we will be adding additional electronic information products. We are investigating what services may add value to what we already offer. However, we also want to make it available to you from home. Therefore, we really are only looking for products which allow remote access.

Year End Celebration

2007-12-17T14:56:00.000-05:00

Well winter is here and the football season is almost over which means that we here at the library are finishing up one year and getting ready to start a whole new year. Each December the Library System reviews what went right in the past year and what we can do to improve services in the coming year.

2007 was an extremely successful year for the Library System. We are going to end the year with our circulation up around 3%. That makes twelve straight years of circulation increases for the system.

In the past year, we have added a number of new services. We began to offer downloadable audio books. This service will change in the coming year. It should make it easier to download and listen to books on your MP3 player.

Also in the past year, we began to offer streaming video programs which can be viewed on your home computer. These programs are mostly documentaries and educational programs. Beginning any day now, these programs will include major movies and foreign films.

Culturegrams and World Book Encyclopedia were added to the electronic information which the Library System offers from home. Culturegrams provides great overviews of countries around the world. If you are traveling to a foreign country, these articles are great places to start your research.

The World Book Encyclopedia Online is just like having the twenty volume encyclopedia on your home shelves if you have a computer.

The biggest addition to our services this year is the opening the Harbaugh-Thomas Library in Biglerville. This new library expands the System’s ability to provide programs, offer books and computers.

The Library System also added many new books to our collection. We purchased more than 15000 books, DVD’s, Audio Books and Music CD’s.

In 2008, we have big plans to hopefully improve service even more to meet our growing community’s needs. We plan on offering more books, DVD’s, Audio Books and Music CD’s.

We want to make our libraries even friendlier and easier for you to use. We will add more electronic services to allow you access to more quality information on your home computer. We will also have more programs for you take advantage of opportunities for personal growth. We are looking forward to another great year in Adams County.

The Library is Green?

2007-10-29T10:05:00.000-05:00

I have been reading a great deal the last few months about how important energy conservation is and how we will have to plan for becoming even more efficient in the future.

In a conversation with one of our staff members a few weeks ago, she expressed how green the public library actually is.

We are an institution which is set up to help share resources. Books, newspapers and magazines are shared among the many making a smaller tax on our natural resources.

I had not thought of our libraries in that way before.

We look around the library all the time trying to find ways to make our energy usage more efficient, or more to the point, lowering our heating and electric bills.

As a place which shares resources and organizes information in a way which cuts down on the time it takes to find answers, we really are involved with conservation activities.

Gifts that keep on Giving

2007-10-06T09:17:00.000-05:00

As we enter the fall season, I know my thoughts turn to Christmas and the Holidays. Well actually my mind turns to dread of snow, but that is another story.

However at this time of year, many people wonder what is a gift I can get for the person who has everything?

We at the Adams County Library System can help with a few suggestions.

Have you ever thought of placing a book in honor of them? What does this take?

All you have to do is contact the library and tell us what subject area the person has a special interest or type of book which the person would find interesting. We will need to get some addresses for contact letters and billing. A book is then ordered. When received, we will then place a plaque into the book with the person’s name and your name as the donor. The book then becomes a part of the Adams County Library collection and can be used by all the residents of the county.

The person who you are honoring also receives a letter recognizing the gift and you get a letter for your records.

What a great way to give something special to someone special!

Rosetta Stone Part 2

2007-09-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

I have very bad news. After my update last week about the changes coming to Rosetta Stone, we received news from the company that they were discontinuing the remote access program they offered.

Since we were in the middle of our renewal process, that contract was cancelled. So, we no longer have this product available for your use. We apologize and just have to explain that it is not easily within our control to govern how long some of these products will be available. The company can end a subscription or change that subscription at any point.

Continuing to offer high quality electronic information is an extremely important goal of the Adams County Library System.

We are investigating any other opportunities which are out there to offer quality language classes over the Internet. When we find one we can afford we will subscribe to it.

Rosetta Stone

2007-09-11T12:18:00.000-05:00

Last year the library system began to subscribe to a new product called Rosetta Stone. Many of you may have been familiar with the company. They are one of the premiere language learning companies out there.

Our contract last year allowed us to make available to you the entire collection of language courses which Rosetta Stone offers. It has been a very popular product.

Unfortunately, the company has eliminated this contract level. We have renewed our service with Rosetta Stone, but beginning shortly we will be offering five complete language courses to you which you will be able to download and use on computer.

It is a great service! This is a great way to learn a language. We will continue to look for convenient ways to bring new services to you.

Harbaugh~Thomas Library Opening

2007-08-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

The Harbaugh~Thomas Library will be opening for business on Monday, August 20 at 12:00 PM!

The newest facility in Adams County will be opening its doors to the public in the coming week. It is a great time for the Adams County Library System. The New library will greatly increase the system's ability to provide service to the public.

The new state of the art library will have close to 25000 books, DVDs, Audio books and other materials. It will have five public access internet computers and wireless internet access. Magazines and newspapers will be available for browsing. The library will have seating for dozens of people in the adult reading room and the children's area.

Also available will be two meeting rooms on the first floor. The larger meeting room will be able to hold 70 people comfortably for a meeting or workshop. The other meeting room will nicely hold a dozen or so for a board meeting.

We will have more news in the coming weeks.

Congratulations to the Harbaugh~Thomas Foundation and to the Harbaugh/Thomas families for providing the residents of Adams County with this new facility which will help to strengthen library service in the county for decades to come.

What $5.50 gets you!

2007-06-18T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Pennsylvania Library Association and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries have just released the findings of a study to determine the value of public libraries.

The study conducted by the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science found that Pennsylvania taxpayers get a return in services of $5.50 for every $1 invested in libraries.

That means that if libraries did not exist more than a billion dollars of economic activity would be lost in the state. This economic activity includes the services which the library provides, salaries, and the sales of other items at local businesses around libraries.

The study took into consideration convenience, availability of the service libraries provide in other venues and the actual services provided.

The conclusions showed that libraries provide very cost effective service models which stimulate other economic activities in their communities. Of course those of us who work in libraries have known that all along, but it is nice to have it validated.

The study was supported in part my a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the office of Commonwealth Libraries.

New Furnishings, Same Library

2007-05-17T20:07:00.000-05:00

When you next visit the Gettysburg Library, you are going to notice a number of changes. The most obvious is our face lift on the second floor. After fifteen years, the library tables have been retired.

Replacing the tables will be some new comfortable furniture. Two sofas and four chairs will provide some nice places to read.

Also, we have replaced the computer table with a new bigger table. This will allow us to add two new public access Internet Computers. These will be coming later this summer.

If you have some research to do or if you have some work to do, we will have a number of tables spread throughout the floor where you can spread out your work or use your laptop and take advantage of our high-speed wireless Internet connection.

This redecoration will nearly triple the available seats and add to the number of spaces where you can work independently or in groups. The older tables worked well for the past years, but they were wearing out and were becoming a bit unstable.

We want the library to be a comfortable space where you feel at home while you take advantage of the many opportunities to look for information.

Please come and check out the furniture. Sit on the new chairs and sofas and read for a while.

People and Books

2007-05-10T10:04:00.001-05:00

The past few days I have had the great opportunity to attend a meeting with 300 librarians thinking about the future of libraries. The meeting had a great title; it was called “Imagination to Transformation.” My next couple of articles will deal with what was talked about at these meetings.

Probably the most moving presentation that I was able to take part in was by Mary Catherine Bateson. She is an Anthropologist working on Life studies. She studies the process of aging and what the impact of aging is on our social lives.

She reminded us that libraries and librarians are not about the love of books, but the love of connecting people to books. That really is at the heart of the library of the future. Libraries are about connecting people with the ideas they want.

In the library of the future this will not just be about connecting people to books, but will also be about connecting people to the digital information which they want or need. It is all about engaging people’s imaginations. Making them think and enjoy learning. Learning which will help them to meet each challenge on the course of their life.

This will involves the five year old in his first story time and the ninety year old sending her first email message. The library will be at the heart of people learning the new tasks they need to function in the changing world. What an exciting image!

MyLibraryDV

2007-04-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

The Library is happy to announce a new service which will let you download and watch videos on your computer. It is called MyLibraryDV!

What is MyLibraryDV? MyLibraryDV features hundreds of documentaries, cooking shows, classic movies, travel series, how-to-programs and presentations on health and literature. Some examples of what is available: Antiques Roadshow, Inside the Law, Today’s Homeowner, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, Michael Chiarello’s Napa and many classic movies like My Girl Friday.

Some of you may ask why you would want to watch these videos on your computer. Well, you don’t have to watch them on your computer. You can connect your computer to your television, then using a media player, you can watch the video on your television. This is actually what I do at home.

This collection is going to grow and is the newest electronic resource we are able to offer to you at home. All you will need to do is to click the link on our webpage for MyLibraryDV, download the media player onto your home computer, have a library card, and then you are ready to view videos.

Library Hosted Annual Dinner at Gettysburg Fire Hall

2007-04-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

Thursday April 19th was the Library System’s Annual Meeting and Dinner. Many thanks to everyone who made the Meeting and Dinner such a great success.

At the meeting, Rev. Christopher Frye was elected to a second full three year term as a Trustee of the Adams County Library System and William Celio was elected to his first three year term as a Trustee of the Adams County Library System.

Also, Members of the Staff of the Library System were recognized for their years of service. Judy Doner, Tara Domina, Laura Goss, and Deb Shumate with five years; Trish Frazee and Virginia Green for ten years; and Becky Brown and Wilma Krepps for fifteen years of service.

The Adams County Library System has a great staff who is dedicated to providing library service to the residents of Adams County. In total, the Library System employs 47 people with a cumulative service history of 368 years.

Former County Commissioner Tom Weaver provided the Keynote Address. Mr. Weaver’s comments outlined his thinking about the library and library funding when the Library Dedicated Tax was put in place ten years ago. We thank him and all the commissioners for their support of the library over the years. It has made a great deal of difference in the lives of all Adams Countians.

The Library has made great strides in providing service to the residents of Adams County since 1996. Circulation is up 105%, registrations are up 120%, and collections are up nearly 100%. The additions of libraries, a new bookmobile and computers throughout the county have really helped the system to provide library services to every corner of our county.

Thanks to all County residents and the entire staff for a great night.

Hello and Welcome to the Adams County Library System

2007-04-18T20:48:00.000-05:00

This news letter is going to be a regular update from me, Rob Lesher, the director of the Adams County Library system.

I would like to welcome you to our online presence. I hope to use this forum as a tool to help keep you up-to-date on the activities of the Adams County Library System as well as providing updates on news in the publishing world and the broader library community.

The Library's web page has many links which you can use to take advantage of library services. One service on our web page which you might like to try is the York-Adams Inter-Library Loans link. On this page, you can request to borrow books or other materials which the Adams County Library System does not own.

I hope to use this news article to highlight these types of services which you can use through our website. Thank you for checking this out.