This summer, the North Kingstown Free Library, along with Cranston Public Library, North Providence Union Free Library and the Newport Public Library received software to install Overdrive Media Download Stations through grant money awarded to the Ocean State Libraries Consortium.  This software allowed each of these libraries to create a place for people to bring their mobile devices to download and transfer audiobooks, music and videos from the Overdrive collection.

When I received word that we were selected, I was very excited.  Our library, thanks to the efforts of Sue Moreland and the rest of our staff, has put a strong emphasis on our digital collection, referring many of our users to it for its convenience and speed.  Since we have a good number of people downloading materials from home, I was hoping that the in-house download station would accomplish two specific goals:

1. Provide a place for people without a high speed internet connection to download materials.
2. Increase exposure for the Overdrive program in general.

Each goal has been met with successes and setbacks.  First, by simply having the station, we have increased access to a significant portion of our population.  Along with the people that don't have internet access at home, there is a large group of people that use dial-up to connect to the internet.  The size of the media involved in the Overdrive program renders a dial-up connection insufficient.  These patrons now have quick and easy access to the digital collections. 

I also hoped that the Overdrive program would help to put Overdrive in the spotlight at the library.  Ideally, I thought people would read the posters and signs, and even if they did not have their devices with them, would take that knowledge home with them and explore the program further. While there hasn't been a significant bump in the Overdrive statistics yet, two months is not enough time for any real impact to take place.  It seems that the staff has been receiving a few more questions about the program as of late, which is a good sign.

But the download station has brought some small problems as well.  For less tech-savy patrons, the program can prove to be tricky the first few times using it.  The digital rights restrictions and the many different formats and devices still confuse some patrons.  The Download Station is not compatible with iPhones yet, and for iPod users, many have to take their device home to change settings before it can be used in the library.  Also, the ePub format is not available for download at the Download Station, so ereader users must continue to use their home computers to download books.

Even with a broadband connection, the download and transfer is far from instantaneous.  Often, the process can take up to thirty minutes.  And since our Download Station is used only for catalog access and Overdrive, a person must stay close to their device until the process is finished.  This also puts an additional worry on the circulation staff who felt they might have to "police" the download station, to make sure there weren't unattended devices being stolen.  Luckily, this has been a non-issue so far, as most people seem to be content staying close to their devices while the download finishes.

For the small amount of shortcomings, the Overdrive Media Download Station has proven to be useful for our library.  It has increased access to those in the population without a broadband connection at home or a home computer, and hopefully, it will also shine a light on the digital collections that we have worked so hard to grow.

The East Smithfield Public Library began the Share - A- Story Book Group eight years ago, and it has grown and evolved over the years. The group meets once a month from September to June and is open to fourth and fifth graders, along with their caregivers. The aim is to strengthen the bond between the caregiver and their child, promote communication and community and to share the love of reading and learning.

In addition to promoting literacy and reading skills, the books also provide a jumping off place for talk about topics such as gender, values, and responsibility. We read from a diverse selection of age-appropriate literature from a variety of genres. There is no set procedure for how families prepare for the once-a-month group meetings. Some parents read the book out loud at bedtime, some members read the book individually and some read a chapter at a time together preparing to discuss as they move along through the book. I am always amazed at the keen insight the children bring to the table.

It is wonderful to see a child' s eyes light up when they know their opinions are being valued. It is amazing when children express how they connected with a character, whether it is through a common experience that validates a feeling, or a memory that the book brings back to them in a fresh way. Making these connections is one way that the children begin to understand the world around them. It is also just fine for anyone to share that they did not like the book for some reason. In some cases this revelation leads to a lively discussion. We have learned that it is okay to disagree with a given opinion. This is a natural way to learn to be respectful.

When starting this program, I already had an established relationship with the faculty at Old County Road School. The principal enthusiastically jumped on board and the book group has been thriving ever since. In return, the principal and the teachers at the school generously volunteer their time and talents over the summer to conduct very popular story hours during East Smithfield Library's annual Summer Reading Program.

The children are mostly recruited from local public schools, as well as regular library patrons. I like that the children think it is cool to spend an evening at the public library with their caregiver. Reading is an important aspect of the group, but snacks reign supreme! Eating in the library is something that only happens on special occasions. Sometime the snack relates to the book. When we read Love, Ruby Lavender by Debbie Wiles, we all enjoyed root beer floats - a favorite snack of the main character . In June we have our annual ice cream party, the library supplies the ice cream and everyone signs up to bring a different topping. It is a tasty way to wrap up a year spent reading and sharing books together.

--Back in the day when I was a music librarian at a public library,  we would often be asked to identify pieces of music, especially songs, which patrons would sing, hum, or whistle to us over the phone.  Occasionally they would remember some tiny snatch of words from somewhere in the song, but nothing else.

One day a patron called, sounding very subdued and embarrassed, and asked: "I'm trying to find that song about the goat turd - can you help me?"

"Let me make sure I've got your question right:  this song is about a "goat turd" or it mentions "goat turd" in the lyrics?"

(less embarrassment; more enthusiasm) "Yeh, that's it: it's got "goat turd" in the words!"

At which point the patron breaks into furious, semi-tuneful la-lahing (sorry, no MP3 file), of the melody from the Sound of Music:

"High on a hill was a lonely goat HERD, Lay~ee o~dl, lay~ee o~dl lay~ee~oo."

Ah - those were the days....

--Do you guys have the book by JRR Tolkein about that small small guy with hairy feet?

--Once when helping out at the reference desk, I had a request from a curmudgeonly elderly gentleman who liked to pretend to great erudition.  He approached me and said "I want information on Dan Coyote".
 
 "Dan Coyote?", I asked.  Is he a native American, or could you tell me more about him so I will know where to start looking?" 
 
He looked at me with what can only be called a sneer.  "I can't believe it!" he cried, "You call yourself a professional and you don't know who Dan Coyote is? What kind of a librarian are you? How could you not know about Dan Coyote? Are you totally illiterate?"
 
Keeping my cool, albeit, with a somewhat steely smile, I asked again, "You'll need to tell me more about Dan Coyote.  Is he someone famous in history? I really don't recognize the name, but since you say he's famous, let's start by checking the encyclopedia " (note: this was in pre-Internet days).
 
Again he acted disgusted and said, "I'm telling you, he's Dan Coyote.  They even made a movie and a musical about him. With that famous song to dream an impossible dream or something like that!"
 
Suddenly the light dawned.  "Oh, you mean Don Quixote!"  "Yes, that's what I said, Dan Coyote!"  "I see, well then, follow me. . . I think we might just have a thing or two in the library about him!"

News:

Many Rhode Island librarians have asked about RILA's decision to sever ties with NELA, a decision that was voted on and passed at the annual conference in May.  For those who were unaware, or who would like to know more about the thought behind it, President Marlane has posted a statement on the RILA website detailing the reasons for the decision.

The Tiverton library received $1000 from National Grid for use in replacing books damaged by the flood this past spring.  The flood destroyed approximately 4500 books from the children's and teen collections, in addition to shelving, wiring and carpet.  Tiverton's Friends of the Library Group has raised about $10,000 so far to put toward replacing the collection.

The 2011 Reading Across Rhode Island title has been selected: The Unforgiving Minute by Craig Mullaney. Mullaney is a North Kingstown native and a graduate of Hendricken High School.  The book comes with a Reading List compiled by the author, photographs, and suggestions for donations to nonprofits that help military families, veterans and wounded soldiers.

The author will attend the annual videoconference with schools and RARI Breakfast on April 29 & 30

The Broadband Get Connected Tour was held on Monday, October 25 at the Cranston Public Library located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road. The event also featured speakers from OSHEAN and RIEDC presenting information on the federal broadband stimulus grants received by those organizations and how these agencies are working with Ocean State Libraries to maximize broadband resources in Rhode Island.

Ocean State Libraries (OSL) received two federal Broadband stimulus grants awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The grants include $1.6 million in funds to provide 600+ computers/printers and 10 mobile computer centers for public libraries at over 70 locations throughout the state - covering virtually every public library in Rhode Island.


Jenna Hecker, a May 2009 URI GSLIS Graduate has been chosen as one of ALA's Emerging Leaders for 2011.  "I am so excited to be selected to participate in Emerging Leaders, I am looking forward to meeting so many other new librarians, and learning from them."she said.  Jenna is the Technology and Reference Librarian at Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA, but she's still a Rhode Islander, living in Providence. 

Retirements:
Jamestown Philomenian Library Director Judy Bell is retiring.

North Smithfield Library Director Carol Brouwer is retiring.

Warwick Public Library Adult Programs Librarian Cynthia Trainer will retire in January after 20 years of service.

Programs:
Rochambeau Library:
English as a Second Language classes
Tuesdays, Thursdays, November 16, 2010 - December 21, 2010
1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Rochambeau Library, Providence Community Library
708 Hope Street
Providence, RI 02906

South Kingstown/Peace Dale: