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Fine Print  
May - June 2011 Vol. XXIII No. II |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the second issue of the newly reformatted Appleton Public Library newsletter, Fine Print.
The bi-monthly Fine Print is intended to provide you with more timely articles. That said, we would like you to
let us know your thoughts on how best and how often you would like to receive Fine Print as well as other communications from APL. Please complete a short survey by clicking here.
Thank you for being a subscriber to Fine Print and your continued interest in our wonderful library!
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 What's Going On with the Building?APL Library Director Colleen Rortvedt
During my first few months as Library Director, I have had a number of excellent conversations about the APL's building process. In the process I have gained a better perspective, thanks to insights from many of you. Here's a summary of what I've learned and where I think we should go from here.
We've done a lot of good work already! In 2008 and 2009 APL had two consulting firms conduct building studies. In 2008 there was a lot of public input - over 1,000 citizens were interviewed or surveyed. In 2009 we worked on building concepts - what could a new building look like vs. a remodeled building? In each study the recommendations from both consulting firms came back with similar recommendations:
a. A new building would provide more efficiency and allow for improved service (compared to a remodel)
b. It should be a single site downtown - not branches
c. It should provide adequate space for seating, materials, ADA accessibility, meeting room use, and technology
Since those studies were completed, the City of Appleton's Capital Facilities Committee has agreed that the library should remain as a single site and not develop branches.
Where do we go from here? There is still work to be done. While our consultants did great work in 2008 and 2009 we need more public conversations about the library. You are the experts in what you want in a great community - it is my job to be sure that APL creates services and programs that reflect what the community wants. Other than our marvelous staff, there is no greater investment than the facility which will serve as home for many of these community endeavors. While it is tempting to rush through a plan and settle for what is "good enough", my hope is that we honor the vision of the library Appleton deserves.
We want to hear from you. This is going to be Appleton's library - tell us what you want! The Friends of Appleton Public Library will be assisting in offering several public meetings this year. We'll be sure to notify you via Fine Print and the Library's website to be sure you have a chance to be heard. Feel free to contact me via e-mail at crortvedt@apl.org with any thoughts you may have or plan to attend one of the public meetings. |
The Fox Cities Book Festival & APL  A Match Made in Heaven
By Tasha Saecker, Assistant Library Director
The Fourth Annual Fox Cities Book Festival has come to a successful close. Here at the Appleton Public Library, the Festival programs drew more people in to the library than previous years and the buzz from attendees expressed their interest and happiness with the authors that the Festival brought to our community. If you didn't get a chance to participate this year, I hope you will join us next year for our fifth year.
The Book Festival means different things to various people in our community. For some it is a way to meet authors, for others a way to showcase their own work, for still others it is about socialization with fellow readers. For our library it means being able to celebrate books, authors and reading in a very public and shared way. It takes what we as a library are immersed in every day and reveals the pleasure of books and reading to the entire community.
Reading can be a quiet, solitary act. It is much harder to find people who have read the same book as you than to find others who watched the same TV show the night before. Books allow us to discover how others think and feel. They have depth that isn't easily captured in a quick sound bite. The Festival creates a week in time where we all read the same books. So there are people throughout the community who will understand when you speak about the intensity of Luis Alberto Urrea's writing, the storytelling skills of Michael Perry, and the beauty of Lynda Barry's writing and art. The Festival takes reading and makes it tangible, celebratory and social.
One of the most powerful pieces of the Book Festival is allowing people to meet the authors themselves. Books can be a window into an author's mind, so it is a pleasure to be able to meet the creator of a book that you find captivating, important or moving. There is a connection there immediately, because to some extent you know that person. At the same time, there is continued discovery: discovery of their full story, of the book's own tale, of that special relationship between writer and reader.
Having served on the Fox Cities Book Festival Board for all four years of the Festival, along with Festival Vice President (and APL's own) Michael Kenney, and with the addition this year of Brian Kopetsky, it has been an honor to play a small part in bringing this celebration of writers and readers to our community. As always, those of us on the Festival Board want to hear about what worked well and what you would like to see done differently. Visit the Festival's website (www.foxcitiesbookfestival.org) to fill out a survey, or feel free to stop and chat at our library. We love talking books, authors, and how to bring them here to Appleton.
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News from the Volunteer Desk 
Volunteers of the Year
By Colleen Holz, Volunteer Coordinator
As I write this, National Volunteer Month is winding down, and I am reflecting on all the amazing work that is done here by a crew of outstanding volunteers. I marvel as well at the wide range of roles that are enthusiastically performed every month--tagging, shelving, repairing CDs, assisting with programs for all ages, setting up used books sales, attending board meetings, contributing ideas for Teen Council, watering plants in the atrium, researching on microfilm, and delivering books to patrons who are unable to retrieve them on their own.
Volunteers reported 6,995 hours in 2010- that represents the work of over 3 full time employees! The APL staff and I are so grateful to work with an outstanding crew of people who express their love of our library through donating their time and talents.
In April we honored our Appleton Public Library Volunteers of the Year, Marie Liddell and Eleanor Miller at the Celebrate our Volunteers Gala and at a City Council meeting. Marie is the Used Book Sale Chair and a board member for the Friends of Appleton Public Library. When her committee members ran out of space in the work room used to prepare for book sales, Marie enthusiastically took the initiative to organize more sales and events and recruit more volunteers to work the sales. Marie also helped organize the Friends' first family fundraiser, the Book 'n'Bowl, last fall.
Eleanor Miller, the teen volunteer of the year, has been a dedicated volunteer at Appleton Public Library for 6 years. She has volunteered with the Summer Library Reading program and also helped out with RFID tagging project this year. She currently serves as the Teen Library Council representative on APL's Board of Trustees. Eleanor demonstrates great initiative and leadership in her roles at the library.
We also honored Sarah Polar, as APL's nominee for the Fox Cities Youth Alliance Service award at the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin's ceremony. Sarah has volunteered for the Summer Library Reading program for 4 years. She has shown commendable professionalism through taking extra shifts when there is a vacancy, helping orient new volunteers and offering extra assistance to library staff.
I wish a warm welcome to the volunteers who came on board in March and April: Mary Bailey, LeAnn Brackney, Mary Brennan, Cassie Cooney, Gus DeMay, David DeSalvo, Ally Eggers, Megan Eggers, Makayla Grundman, Viktoriya Iurchenko, Ya Lin, Mary Marchant, Mike Marichal, Lisa Mincks, Carlos Osenroth de Pereda, Shannon Rabas, Chandler Rabas, Chandler Rieder, Kourtney Rieder, Samantha Scaletty, Crystal Tanksley, Whitney Dedering, Abigail Dickinson, Katherine Goode, Danielle Juan, Sadie Jungers, David Kositzke, Sara Micheletti, Sade Morgan, Karen Rademacher, Deborah Robinson, John Wisneski, Sarah Wolfson, AND Brittani Wydeven. |
One World, Many Stories 
Children's Summer Reading Program
Summer library season is fast approaching. Pre-registration for the Children's Summer Reading Program is available online at http://read.infosoup.org/slp/register or at the Family Readers' Advisory Desk. The program officially begins on May 31st and runs until August 6th. Children can earn ten weekly prizes by reading 15 minutes a day independently or by being read to for 15 minutes a day. Check out the Children's Services summer webpage filled with fun activities for children and their families all summer long at http://kids.apl.org/summer/.
The library will be hosting storytimes, gaming programs, performers, craft programs, movies, book clubs, Lego clubs, tween workshops and more! Signing up for the Summer Reading Program is a free and fun way to keep children reading in the summer! Studies indicate that children and teens that don't read during the summer can fall behind up two years academically. So help your children stay sharp this summer and sign up for the Summer Library Program.
Tom Pease returns Children's Services' Summer Reading program for the 12th year in a row, on June 9th. Mark your calendars!
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Children's Services 
It's a Child's World After All
Nancy Carlson Author Visit
On the afternoon of April 12th, 162 Appleton students and educators came to hear author and illustrator Nancy Carlson speak at the Appleton Public Library in conjunction with the Fox Cities Book Festival. (Many of those students traveled to hear Carlson speak through to a generous grant from the Friends of Appleton Public Library covering the cost of bus transportation!) Nancy is the author/illustrator of over 60 children's books such as I Like Me, First Grade Here I Come, and Henry and the Bully. The students liked hearing Nancy speak about her creative process and especially enjoyed learning how to draw some of Nancy's characters. Nancy also spoke to a group of 63 mostly adults in the evening, who also enjoyed watching Nancy create art before their eyes.
Tween Scene Coming Soon
Starting Wednesday, June 15th, the Children's Section of the Appleton Public Library will be offering Tween Scene, a program dedicated to students going into 4th through 6th grade. Programs will include RIBYSI (Read It Before You See It) book discussions, workshops, art, and more. Some programs will require registration. All programs are only for students going into 4th -6th grade. Exceptions will be made solely at the discretion of the school age librarian. Go to kids.apl.org and click on the "calendar" link for more information, or contact Ellen Jepson, School Age Services Librarian, at 920-832-6187.
Visit http://kids.apl.org to learn more about exciting children's programming and activities!
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 Guest Community ColumnistBy Sharon Fenlon, President, Appleton Board of Education
"As a proponent of Public Education, I put Public Libraries right up there, too! I hope that both of these institutions, which we Americans consider basic to our lives, will continue to not only survive, but flourish.
Libraries are for everyone - any time that I walk into the Appleton library, I see many people - studious, frivolous, young, teen, elder, many nationalities - the library reflects the growing diversity of Appleton. Our library welcomes all!
Years ago, when my family moved to Appleton, the building was rather forbidding - you needed to cross a busy street to enter, and the children's department was on the second floor. Negotiating this with two toddlers was a major challenge. My friend Cynthia Johnson spearheaded the drive for the "new' library and it was a great success. Now we face the challenge of helping today's library meet future needs. It must continue to offer today's tools of literacy - technology, media - to the public.
I hope it will always have books, too - many of us first learned to love books when we walked into the library, and were overwhelmed by the sight and smell of millions of books! This experience continues to be inspiring and very reassuring. The library always cheers me up!"
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A New Perspective on the Library 
By Eleanor Miller, Teen Representative APL Board of Trustees
While I was growing up, my parents often took me to the library. I would walk in through the front doors, see if the anything was happening in the arboretum, pass through the security sensors, and veer right past the giant books into the children's section. I would grab as many books as I could carry and head for the reading train-- preferably the blue car- and spend some quality time with Dr.Seuss, Peter Rabbit and Strega Nona. That was my routine.
As I got older, I would come to the library to write my research papers because the staff here was a great resource for me and somehow the library made me feel smarter while writing my assignment. In my teens, I became a volunteer in the Children's and Teen's section to give back to a place I enjoyed so much as a child.
However, despite all the time I spent at the library and how involved I was, I never realized how much work it takes to maintain the level of service we have at our library. After being on the Teen Library Council for three years, I was asked to become the teen representative for the Library's Board of Trustees. At first I was uncertain exactly what the board did, but after the first few meetings I understood, kind of like seeing how the special effects for your favorite action movie.
The library board meets once a month. Although that may not seem like a lot, all the information to be discussed during the meeting is sent to trustees ahead of time for review so the actual meeting can be run efficiently. Going into my first meeting, I must admit it was quite intimidating. After all, I was only sixteen and had never really had experience with board meetings, let alone of the Board of Trustees. But after a few meetings all my anxiety melted away. I realized that everyone sitting at the table has a common goal: to make the Appleton Public Library the best it can be. The board members all seem to have great respect for one another which helps the meetings run smoothly. The business we conduct can include things such as budget issues, staff travel requests, policy making, composing a long range plan and the hiring process. It could be something as minor as authorizing contractors to fix a dangerous sidewalk to major projects such as the new RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system.
This May marks my one-year anniversary on the board. During that time, the board has gone through changes such as three new members and a new director and assistant director. Each new member was welcomed by all and treated with the same respect as the retiring member. Serving on the board has taught me how to properly conduct a business meeting, as well as how important and instrumental the board actually is to the everyday workings of the library I love so much.
I'm thankful for this experience and hope this gives you an insight to the inner workings of the library. |
You Are Here @! APL 
Teen Summer Library Programs
by Paula Wright, Teen Librarian
This summer there will be more than ever for teens to do at the Appleton Public Library. The Teen Summer Reading Program and the weekly teen programs have been integrated into one program giving teens more chances to Read, Review, Play and Win.
Read: Teens read books and enter into a weekly drawing for gift cards to the Fox River Mall.
Review: Teens review books or movies and submit those reviews to the Information Desk. Each review earns the teen a grand prize drawing ticket, which they can use to enter to win the grand prize of their choice. Teens can also earn an additional ticket for every 5 reviews they turn in.
Play: Teens participating in the weekly teen programs also earn grand prize drawing tickets. Weekly programs are on Wednesday afternoons starting in June. Don't forget you can ride the Valley Transit bus for free to the Library on Wednesdays when you show the driver your library card!
The weekly play programs include Game Break, Anime, poetry, a visit from Star Wars Author John Jackson Miller, crafts, trivia, movies, and more. The summer kicks off with an Ice Cream Social and Bingo Party on June 8th!
Win: This summer's grand prizes are better than ever and include two Barnes and Noble Nooks, a LEGO Grand Emporium Set, a Nintendo DSi, an Artist Kit, and a variety of gift cards. The grand prize drawings will be on Friday, August 5th at the Final Party!
Teens can register early starting May 2nd, either online or at the Information desk. The program officially kicks off on May 31st and runs through August 5th. Complete program rules and the weekly program schedule can be found on the teen website @ teen.apl.org/summer.
Where in Appleton is Captain Jack Sparrow? Teens should also keep an eye out for Captain Jack. He's been seen visiting local downtown business this spring. Starting in June, a new picture of Captain Jack will be posted on the teen website every Friday. Can you figure out where he is? Enter his location in the online submission form for a chance to an Appleton Downtown, Inc (ADI) gift card. We will also be showing Pirates of the Caribbean: at World's End later this summer to celebrate the release of the 4th Captain Jack movie in May!
Finally, teens interested books, video creation, and music remixes should keep an eye on the teen website for more information on an upcoming contest. Working together with Madison Middle School (AASD) the library has recently received a grant from YALSA and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to run a contest for teens who are interested in creating video remixes based on teen books. Details of the contest are still being finalized and more information will be on the teen website soon. Good Luck!
If you have any questions on any of the different programs the Appleton Public Library has for teens this summer, email Teen Librarian, Paula, @ teen@apl.org or check out the teen website @ teen.apl.org.
Funding for teens programs is generously provided by the Friends of the Appleton Public Library. Thank you for your continued support of teen programs and services!
Visit http://teen.apl.org to learn more about events and programming just for teens!
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Music @ the Library Concerts
Stiking a Positive "Note" Among Listeners at APL
Music @ the Library is a music series that began in October 2003. Since its inception we've hosted over forty free concerts ranging from Klezmer music to classical, and from an Elvis Tribute to Bluegrass. We've pretty much done it all, musically speaking. Attendance has grown at our popular concerts so we recently moved out of the Atrium and into the Lower Level Meeting Room which provides more space and is easily accessible to all.
We're always looking for musicians! Are you involved in a music group or do you perform as a solo act? Would you like to show off your talent to an appreciative audience at a Friends of Appleton Public Library funded Music @ the Library concert? Contact APL!
Concerts are held on Sunday afternoons during the school year and Monday evenings during the summer. Contact Elizabeth Eisen for further details at 832-6392.
May - June Concerts:
Sundays 2:00-3:00 pm
May 8 Lawrence University Chamber Music
May 22 PBR (Past Blue Rhythm) Bluegrass Band
Mondays, 6:30-7:30 pm
June 13 Owen Birr Originals and covers of country ballads
June 27 Don Stevens American frontier music on fyfe and drums, flute, keyboards and guitar.
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Friends, Indeed! 
Best Ever - Friends Used Book Sale May 19th - 22nd
$1 per item -- a price that can't be beat even in half-priced book stores. Savvy readers know that there's no better deal than the Friends Book Sales. Even better, all proceeds go to help the Friends organization support APL programs, technologies, materials, and innovations.
This spring we will have the best selection ever - so don't miss this golden opportunity to grow your library or share the gift of reading with a friend or family member.
Thursday, May 19 - Early Bird Sale for Friends Members-Only** (best selection) - 10am-6pm
Friday, May 20 & Saturday, May 21 - Book Sale ($1/item for most items, even less for some paperbacks, children's books, and videotapes) - 9am-5pm
Sunday, May 22 - Bag Sale (all items you can fit into a grocery bag for only $5) - 1-5pm
**Join Friends of Appleton Public Library online at http://www.apl.org/friends/membership.asp
Used Computer Special at this Book Sale:
Looking for a used computer system at an unbeatable price? This book sale offers a number of computer systems for $100 on a first-come, first-served basis.
The library periodically replaces their Dell OptiPlex business class computers when they are obsolete, inadequate to our tasks, or out of warranty. Even so, the systems are still capable of performing less demanding functions such as web browsing or email. Before donating the systems to the Friends, the library wipes each system disk and reinstalls the original operating system. No additional software is installed.
These are complete computer systems including the Windows operating system, CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cables. Attached to each computer is a specification sheet listing the hardware included.
All computer equipment is sold AS IS and without warranty. The library cannot provide after-sale support of any kind for these computers.
Check out more of what we do at http://www.apl.org/friends/about.asp
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Double Your Support for APL this Spring
A Friends' Opportunity for Matching Funds
Thanks to generous matching gifts from Renee and Tom Boldt and the Doug and Carla Salmon Foundation, all gifts and membership contributions to Friends of Appleton Public Library will be doubled up to $5000 this spring. There's no better time to show your support for the library.
Every gift and membership will enhance important library programs, technologies, and materials and will help us to achieve our matching gift goal.
Membership dues are good until June 30, 2012 - and any donation also qualifies you as a Friends member. This allows you to join us at our members-only Early Bird Sale on Thursday, May 19 for the best selection of books, CDs, and DVDs. So, please act soon.
Join online at: http://www.apl.org/friends/index.asp or send your check to: Friends of Appleton Public Library at 225 North Oneida, Appleton, WI 54911
Whatever your level of support, and whatever you can do to help us sustain this essential community service, we thank you.
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 Library HumorE-Books E-xplained
What are E-Books?
E-Books, also known as electronic books, digital books, or Those Blasted Things Putting Publishers Out of Business, are complete copies of books loaded onto devices such as the Kindle, the Nook, the iPad, and the Etch-A-Sketch.
How do the books get on these devices?
Through a complex system of electronic/magnetic/voodoo-istic synthesis, the books are downloaded from the Internet. Note that to download is the same as to upload in Australia.
Is it difficult?
Au contraire! (French for "Huh?"). But you will need a noodle XMR-2 connection, a wet suit, jumper cables, and three cans of whipped cream.
Once on the reader, how long will a book remain?
This depends on the type of system, and can range anywhere from ten million years to next Tuesday. Or, in the case of the Etch-A-Sketch, until you bump it. One tip and you can kiss the complete works of Shakespeare buh-bye!
Does it cost anything?
Again this depends on the type of system and the types of books you're up/down/side/in-between
loading. Books in the public domain (in Australia, boomerang domain) are usually free because the authors are dead and thus unlikely to sue. The exception to this is Jane Austen, who hasn't allowed a little thing like terminal not-breathing keep her out of the law courts(in Australia, tennis courts).
How are authors affected by E-Books?
The E-Book is another step in the gradual phase-out (in Australia, phaser-on-stun) of authors. Soon authors will be completely unnecessary. Merely by typing in a subject-say, vampires-the computer will take over and turn out a complete novel. Actually, this has already been done. It's called the "Twilight" series.
With computers writing books, how will this affect grammar?
This should have no effect on grammar. Or gramper. Or aunts and uncles for that matter.
That is a very old joke.
I am a very old columnist.
Who invented the E-Book?
The inventor of the E-Book is remaining in hiding for fear someone will make a movie of his life starring Justin Timberlake (in Australia, Crocodile Dundee). Jane Austen has also threatened to sue.
How are E-Book readers powered?
Coal is the ideal power source for E-Books, but because the technology for personal coal smelting plants is not foreseen until late 2012-ish, rechargeable batteries are the current fallback. There's been some success with solar power, but this would not work in Australia which, because of the Earth's tilt, has not received direct sunlight since 1932.
Can you re-charge an E-Book by yourself?
Well, a wall outlet is recommended. But be careful! We heard of one fellow with an extra-long power cord who was recharging his E-Book at the airport and forgot that he was still plugged in when he boarded the plane. The plane was halfway to Des Moines before the cord ran out and jerked everyone back to Chicago (in Australia, Perth).
What are the advantages of the E-Book?
With an E-Book reader, you can carry 1,000 (in Australia, 463) or more books at a time, which means that you can have all of the Nicholas Sparks novels with you at all times. Or you can carry any one Nicholas Sparks book in print, which would be the same thing.
What are the disadvantages of the E-Book?
That you can carry 1,000 Nicholas Sparks novels with you.
I only read books recommended by Oprah. Does she approve of E-Books?
All E-Book devices are required to contain every book recommended by Oprah. And please read them carefully because there will be a quiz (in Australia, a dingo). Oh, and Jane Austen has threatened to sue.
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