SUMMER READING WORKSHOPS A SUCCESS

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1 January 8, 2010; #1704 In this issue: Summer Reading workshops Some stats from NM libraries Santa Fe Public Library Food for fines? The gift of giving The Accidental Librarian Grant writing workshop New Mexico Library Legislative Day SUMMER READING WORKSHOPS A SUCCESS In November and December of 2009, the New Mexico State Library offered four workshops to introduce the 2010 Summer Reading Program to librarians across the state. A total of 98 librarians attended the workshops that featured the theme of water, with the slogans Make a Splash Read for children, Make Waves at Your Library for teens, and Water Your Mind Read for adults. All the sessions were fun and informative, and offered time for participants to exchange ideas and questions. The State Library was pleased to partner with several organizations throughout the workshops. The NM Museum of Natural History & Science hosted the workshop in Albuquerque. Museum educator Tish Morris presented useful, interesting information and activities on water conservation and water in the environment. Sharon Sivinski, educator at the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, presented songs and other fun and educational activities for children relating to water conservation at the workshops in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Portales Public Library hosted the third workshop in the eastern part of the state, offering participants of that session great hospitality. New Mexico s newest state park, the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, hosted the workshop in the southern part of the state; the setting along the Rio Grande perfectly highlighted the SRP water theme (though wind was foremost on participants minds the day of that workshop with near gale-force winds!). Also

2 at that workshop, Maria Ehlers, a volunteer at the Marshall Memorial Library in Deming and Girl Scout representative, spoke on incorporating Girl Scout programs into SRPs. The collaboration with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will continue into Summer 2010 as Sivinski is creating resources on water conservation specifically for librarians and posting them on her organization s website. The State Library would like to thank all of the organizations that assisted with the workshops, as well as all the participants. The Summer Reading Program is funded through the Library Services and Technology (LSTA) program, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). For more information, contact Beth Crist, (505) or beth.crist@state.nm.us. BRIEFINGS Send your news or stories that you would like to share with the library community to the HH editor, Robert Upton, at robert.upton@state.nm.us Some stats from NM libraries. The number of New Mexico public libraries with web pages increased 20 % since 2005, from 48 % of libraries having them in 2005 to 68 % in Use of public access Internet computers in New Mexico public libraries rose 7 % from Total attendance at public library programs increased by 12 % since Total paid staff, however, declined by 5 % and total income declined 4 % between 2008 and No wonder they're tired! Santa Fe Public Library posted a set of statistics for the last FY on their blog at They point out some interesting increases: Borrowers (that's anyone with a library card) increased 8.22% Library visits increased almost 7% Circulation - books and other items checked out increased 21.12%. Almost 24% of those items were children's. Young Adult circulation increased by 43%. Self-check out increased by almost 55% 28% more holds were filled 499 programs were just for children, almost 10% more than last year 15,126 children attended library programs, for a 12.17% increase Adult program attendance increased by 60% Reference questions increased by almost 7% (who says the Internet will replace librarians?)

3 Interestingly, use of public PCs decreased by about 4%. Even though it seems as if the library s computers are always in use, SFPL staff believes that the Wifi at every branch has freed up the PCs a bit. Food for fines? The New York Times for December 29, 2009, ran a story, New and Creative Leniency for Overdue Library Books by Susan Saulny and Emma Graves Fitzsimmons, that took a look at some creative approaches to library fines and the need libraries have to get their books back. Since the beginning of the economic downturn, librarians across the country have speculated that fines for overdue items are keeping people from using the library particularly, large families whose children take out (and forget to return) many books at a time. Some libraries, the article said, learned that the fines, which are often as low as 25 cents an item per day, quickly multiplied for many people and were becoming an added hardship. And another thing: The libraries really need to get their books back. In the Illinois towns of Joliet and Palos Park, the economic downturn has pushed the public libraries into the grocery business, of sorts. Patrons with overdue books and hefty outstanding fines were recently given a way to clear their records: Donate canned goods or other groceries through the library to local shelters and food pantries. Dozens of library patrons in both towns jumped at the opportunity. Many libraries have been instituting amnesty days and weeks with increasing frequency this year, and offering programs such as food for fines. Read the whole story online at The gift of giving. The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library staff collected gifts, diapers, school supplies, and warm clothes for the Las Cruces chapter of Jardin de los Ninos (see the website at ). This nonprofit organization meets the needs of homeless children by offering them a safe, caring, and nurturing environment. The organization also supports the parents of the Jardin children by offering resources to be loving and supportive parents in spite of their life circumstances. Will this help? This fiscal year the New Mexico State Library Development Services Bureau is providing on long-term loan a copy of The Accidental Librarian by Pamela MacKellar. It is being sent to new library directors, especially those who do not have a master s degree in library science. It contains useful

4 information about the library profession and is geared to help directors and library staff. The book is a must-have for creating strong, community-centered libraries. Librarians who have not had formal training in library and information science have been and are increasingly being hired as frontline librarians in libraries of all kinds and sizes. They perform the specialized duties that are required to manage and operate libraries with the manysided functions that allow their libraries to serve their clients efficiently. Recognizing how common it is for non-degreed librarians to be in positions that require professional knowledge, Pamela MacKellar has written a book to help them, The Accidental Librarian. She has been a librarian for more than 25 years, holding positions as a newspaper librarian, library services director, assistant librarian, health services librarian, cataloger, technology consultant, and independent consultant in libraries of all kinds, including special libraries, school, public, postsecondary, tribal, prison, and state libraries, including the New Mexico State Library where she was a library consultant in the Development Services Bureau. The Accidental Librarian covers library principles, practices, and tools of the trade. In the book you will find tips and examples along with simple exercises designed to test your knowledge and increase your understanding. The roles librarians play in their communities and the value of libraries in the lives of the people they serve are emphasized throughout. Learn more at the Accidental Librarian website ( ). HH notes. The Hitchhiker is about you and your libraries. We depend on you to let us know what is going on at your libraries, and what you like or don t like about the content of the newsletter. Please help by spreading the word that Hitchhiker is back, and by reminding others to send their addresses so we can notify them each time a new issue is available. Send your news and announcements, and also new and corrected addresses to robert.upton@state.nm.us ANNOUNCEMENTS Send event and training announcements for the library community to the HH editor, Robert Upton, at robert.upton@state.nm.us Grant writing workshop. The Albuquerque Police Training Academy and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Albuquerque on February for beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county, and state agencies as well as nonprofits, K-12, colleges, and universities. This workshop covers how to write grant proposals from start to finish and how to locate and track relevant grant opportunities. This training is appropriate for government agencies as well as nonprofits. Purchase orders, checks, and cards are welcome. Multi-enrollment discounts are available. Tuition payment is not required at the time of enrollment. Tuition is $425 and includes all materials: workbook and accompanying 420MB resource CD packed full of tools and more than 200 sample grant proposals. Seating is limited, online reservations are necessary. For more information including venue location and maps,

5 graduate testimonials, and instant, online enrollment, please visit Contact Cathy Rittenhouse, Grant Writing USA, or for additional information. New Mexico Library Legislative Day. The New Mexico Library Association will hold its annual Library Legislative Day on Thursday, January 28, to show support for library funding and a 2010 library bond issue. The event will begin with an orientation at the Main Santa Fe Public Library, 145 Washington St. at 8:30 am. Library supporters in distinctive t-shirts will be in the House and Senate galleries when the sessions begin, and delegations of librarians will be introduced. There will be a table in the rotunda to display and distribute information about statewide library services. Supporters will visit with their individual legislators to advocate the importance of continued funding of library programs. For additional information, check the NMLA website at where there is also a link to the Bond for Libraries Facebook page. # # #