Public Library promotion

   The local public library has been a part of my life since August 15, 1974.  Yes, 40 years.  Hopkins County Madisonville Public Library has gone through several transitions after I left in 1984 to raise a family and I have been involved as a patron, volunteer, Friend, Trustee, Corporation member and now Foundation member.

   Serving as the Public Relations Chair for the Public Library Development Foundation - PLDF for the rest of this post, keeps me constantly thinking of ways to promote what the library is and what it does.  The Public Library is the keystone for lifelong learning.  I connects those who read a lot to more to read.  It connects those who have limited assets to often times just enough.  Both are of high value in each of their lives.  

  I also unfortunately know a lot of people who have never looked inside to see what they might see.  Telling the story of the library in a way to touch those as well as the users is a challenge but it is doable and it must be constantly attempted or it will never be accomplished.  Edison said 'I have not failed. I've just found 10000 ways that won't work."  But he kept trying.  I will keep trying - please help!

January and the Library - helping it back UP

   This January has been a month full of change and action.  Retiring from work as the Green River Correctional Complex Librarian on January 1, 2013, has started me on a whole new adventure.  Having served 10 years as Assistant or Associate Director of the Hopkins County Madisonville Public library; then 8 years as a substitute teacher while raising a family of three children and volunteering in lots of activities; then  becoming Children's Programmer II at the Muhlenberg County Public Libraries and finally serving time as a prison librarian at an all male medium security prison for 5 years, I have had a varied and blessed career as a librarian.
  Back in Hopkins County full time, with lots of time to spoil my family with homemade food, work on my housekeeping skills and volunteer with favorite causes, I find "older age" exhilirating.
  The library I helped build literally from the ground up is under attack - both the building it used to be in and the services and materials that make up the body that is currently misplaced and looking forward to a new home.  Local politics and even board members have strayed from the point and while working on their own agenda's forgotten that serving the public is the main goal.  Poor decision making and even neglect have led to serious consequences.  I am hoping in the next few weeks to gather the community to question, suggest and volunteer to help.  Volunteers have been rebuffed, money has been wasted, both seemingly good and bad board members have gone off on tangents beyond the norm.  There are two open spots on the board now and two more coming in June, and the appointments will be critical to changing the balance and dynamics so that further mishaps do not take the library further away from its public duty and more toward the wishes and dreams of a few select people.
       The days of monumental buildings are past.  Libraries will have to be smaller and smarter and mobile.  Apps, satellite kiosks, mailing books will all be ways to serve a public that is not mobile or technified as some.  The people who need the library's help to be informed are always the main focus.  The services provided to those who help themselves are more specialized and libraries have a mission to serve all, but the whole focus is an informed citizenry.  Those who do not have their own iPad or smartphone NEED the traditional library services, provided close to home and easy to access.  It is not about space, # of volumes any more but about services and access.

Thank you Steven Covey - Lift the Bar High

   Today we lost another leader in the positive side of publishing - Steven Covey.  His books were designed to help everyone lift their lives to a better place.  His writing had a purpose that was always intended as good for his community and his fellow man.  We need more authors who have a purpose other than making money.
     Libraries should lift the bar on what books they select to purchase with taxpayer money.  We should not support the authors who tear down our country, our community and any shred of decency in the falsely labeled name of Intellectual Freedom.
     There is nothing intellectual about bondage and submission, a red pain room or endless smirks and orgasms.  The recent media furor over a horrible piece of writing that bamboozled a lot of people into spending money out of curiosity is a prime example of spinning trash to make money.  Numerous reviews have quoted the bad writing, the poor geography, the repetitions of vulgar and distasteful language, and yet, people who should know better are trying to explain why they bought into the fad.
    Graphic sex, violence, vulgarity and perversions exist in the world.  I do not doubt that as I have worked inside a medium security prison for nearly 5 years.  Making the disgusting, depraved and dastardly more available in detailed description will in no way improve the situation.

    When computers first came out one of the teaching points was abbreviated GIGO - Garbage In Garbage Out.  Our brains and hearts work somewhat along the same lines and there is historical documentation to suggest that a better choice has been around for a long time.

  Philippians 4 : 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report...think on these things.
  Lead your library up to lift your community; lift the bar and block your library from sliding down the manhole into the sewer.  If you do not have the room to keep it all - and you don't, select and keep the good stuff!
 

   It's what's inside that counts!  Whether it is the book or the library - it is what's inside that counts.  A lot of money has been spent in recent years on library buildings, fancy architecture, meeting rooms, pendulums, odd shaped roofs that do not function  and other "stuff" that is just stuff - at the expense of the "taxpayers".  It is time to get real and get back to basics.
    The point of libraries since the days of Alexandria and Ben Franklin have been a way to share books and materials for education and enlightenment. And that is because the more people that learn and understand and share that knowledge, the better for the whole community.  The library's mission should not be lost in the art of the committee or the wow of the building.
    We went through a period in this country with people and government at all levels - including libraries thinking that next year's budget had to be bigger than last year's - even if we could not pay for it.  Smaller government entities than the Federal government cannot borrow from China per se so they are knuckling down all over and cutting things out of the budget. Someone needs to be saying - this is what we CAN do with what we have - instead of we can't do without that!
    Squeaky wheels and pet projects rise and and fall, and the quietly useful library is sometimes the brunt of more than its fair share of funding cuts.  But regardless of the building, the furniture or the other facility arrangements - - it is what's inside that can be shared that really matters.   Here is hoping that however the library is wrapped that the inside will still be the focus!

Courageous

Just watched the DVD of Courageous - a powerful film about fatherhood, commitment and families.
Five fathers live through tragedy and triumph at work and at home and make the commitment to become
better fathers - not just "good enough"...wonderful family film.  Lots of heartwrenching moments and some true joy.

Writing to a deadline

Project started but interrupted again.  I am pretty sure I cannot write well enough to support myself, but I do intend to follow through on book project.  Life just keeps getting in the way and since last post I have had a roller coaster of ups and downs, good civic programs, health issues and flooding issues to deal with. In amongst all that I have thanked God for the many blessings of family, friends and health that allow me to recognize the trials as opportunities to build faith and stories!  We start out with a blank page and all the good and bad things that happen create the story of us on that page.  The more interesting ones have ups and downs, climaxes and successes, danger and difficulties, otherwise the journey to the end would not be any fun.  Here is to a good journey.

Inspiring Words

      Friends of the GRCC Library set up a NLW bookmark contest similar to the one I did in 2009 but they  chose Inspiring Words instead of Positive Words as the theme.  We had as of last Thursday's deadline 62 entries and 2 disqualified.  Even something as simple as a bookmark contest in prison creates opportunity with whatever meager prizes available for some people to cross the line and break the rules.  Re-entry programs going on across Kentucky and encouraging progress aside there will always be one or two who do not open themselves to the message of rebuilding and the opportunity for something better.  Sad as it makes me I must celebrate the 62 entries that were sincere whether simple one word pieces of art or thoughtful choices of classic sayings.  Come back soon when I can announce the words of some of the winners - after the judging.