North Central Library District Newsletter
Going the Extra MileSeptember 2014
In This Issue
Susan Epley Retires
Big Library Read
Library News
Who is Charles Ormsbee
Why OCLC
Juking with June
Susan Epley
Susan Epley, Director at West End Library, retires

 

Susan Epley started as a volunteer for the West End Library in Union County about 18 years ago. At that time, the library was located in a 750 sf room. The books weren't cataloged or organized. Drawing on her experience as a children's assistant in a large library in New Jersey, Susan organized and cataloged the collection. Susan became the library director 15 years ago. During that time a new library was built. This from Susan: "I am grateful for having the experience of seeing this library grow in leaps and bounds over the past years due to the efforts of our quality staff, board, and community support." The West End Library Board is having an Open House on September 30th from 4:30 to 6:30 to congratulate Susan on her retirement and to welcome the new library director, Wendy Rote. We will welcome Wendy to the district in our next issue.

Overdrive news and stats
tablet_illustration.jpg
Big Library Read

The first ever "Global ebook club"! Here's how it works: Overdrive teams up with an ebook publisher to make available one title to public libraries and schools for lending. No limits! This year's Big Library Read is "Anatomy of a Misfit" by Andrea Portes. This YA book has been described as "Mean Girls" meets "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". The Bid Library Read will take place October 13 to October 28. The district will opt-in so that your patrons will have access to the title. Check out this blog for more information.

Click here for usage statistics for August for your library.
Library News
Priestley Forsyth's new book and DVD return. Looking good!

Children's Garden Dedication at JVB on September 5th. Nice crowd and the garden is beautiful.

 
Greetings NCLD Members,
Here's the September issue of the NCLD newsletter keeping you up to date on district activities. 
Who is Charles Ormsbee?

 

Charles Ormsbee has been working part-time for the North Central Library District for almost 11 years beginning in November 2003, hired as a Technology Trainer and web master. In his first years working for the NCLD he presented very popular computer classes for the public along with staff training. During one two year period he taught over 175 workshops for the public. In recent years his focus has been on helping District libraries set up and maintain their web sites.

 

Since 2012 Charles has been employed by the NCLD as a part-time consultant and is available to help your library develop your web site and online marketing for no cost to your library. Charles has his own web design business and brings the expertise learned from helping other businesses and non-profits to our libraries.

Born in Michigan, raised in Florida Charles has lived and worked around the country. An Elementary Education major, he graduated from the University of Florida and taught for 6 years in Florida schools. When personal computers came onto the scene he followed his passion for using computers to help students learn and obtained a Master Degree in Computer Instruction and Instructional Design from the University of Florida. This was followed by computer technology and instructional support positions at University of West Georgia in Carrolton, Georgia and the University of Eastern Oregon.  Taking time to pick up a Master of Library Science Degree from Brigham Young University, Charles then became the Director of the Media Resource Center at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.

 

In 1995 when the web was coming into its own Charles and family moved to Lewisburg, PA where he became the first and only Multimedia Librarian at the Bertrand Library at Bucknell University.


 

"I was really lucky that I got to see the web grow up over the last 18 years, while at Bucknell I was involved in creating the first online web instruction and support materials. I found my true passion, creating web sites and using online resources to enrich lives.  We can do great things with the web now.  What libraries can do now on their own web site is incredible and I want to help them get there" Charles stated.  Charles will soon be offering new video, print and Facebook support services free of charge to NCLD Libraries. Watch your email and the NCLD web site for more information. 

 

Why OCLC?

 

We're taking a look at the services the district provides to member libraries and the costs associated with them. In that vein, we looked at our OCLC membership and interviewed the staff that uses OCLC most often. Laura Spencer, Cataloging Librarian, says this about OCLC: "OCLC has the world's largest cataloging database, with over 30 million high quality records for all types of materials. When the James V. Brown library uses it as a source for catalog records, we provide free access to Marc records in our online catalog for everyone in the district to use as a reference. One of our services to all district libraries is the opportunity to call or email me to look  up your most obscure items on the OCLC database to give you a call number, subject headings, and other cataloging helps."

With the news that AccessPA will no longer perform full file replacements in lieu of replacing the database, OCLC is even more important to Interlibrary Loan and Cataloging. 
Juking with June
 
Training, training, training -- both giving and receiving! Jerry, Sue, and I just finished up our three scheduled technology trainings. Our thanks to the Public Library for Union County, Degenstein Community Library, and Blossburg Memorial Library for hosting us. We had 54 participants in all. 

I attended Statewide Regional Training in Hershey. Broadband was one of the topics. Got a sneak peek at the Broadband 101 training. Chris explains it in simple terms a layperson can understand. Yes, I now know the difference between fiber and copper! We also got to give some feedback on a draft of new regulations for public libraries. The state is at step 1 of this process. The feedback received at this meeting will be incorporated in the draft that will soon be coming out soon. Stay tuned!

I would also like to tell you about the Poverty Simulation Training in Grantville. Wow. It was powerful. We were given a taste of what it's like for the poor to navigate the system by doing some role playing. We found that so much of our time was consumed by the need to provide food and shelter, that we found it difficult to go to school and even to work. The poverty level for a family of four is $23,850. 13.7% of Pennsylvanians are considered to be in poverty. We discussed library policies and how they can be barriers for some of our patrons. 

We had a really good turn out of trustees at the two town hall meetings held in the district. Stacey Aldrich gave an overview of the Public Library Code and regulations, state aid, and statewide initiatives. Trustees had the opportunity to ask questions. 

Last month my library visits were a little closer to home. Here's where I've been:

Sayre Public Library, Spalding Memorial Library in Athens, Priestley Forsyth Memorial Library, Montgomery Area Library. West End Library, Blossburg Memorial Library, Monroeton Public Library, Mather Memorial Library, Degenstein Community Library, Allen F. Pierce Free Library. 


By the way, I'm listening to The Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs.
--June