Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-08-19T16:07:51Z

My name is David and I am the assistant director of the Jacksonville Public Library in Jacksonville, Texas.

I am the computer guy by default and sometimes think people assume I know more about computers than I really do. But part of being a librarian is knowing where to find the answers and we can usually sort out minor problems and know when we're in over our heads when large problems arise.

Looking forward to reading other's stories, seeing what we might be able to use ourselves, and sharing what we can to help others.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-07-06T18:30:39Z

Don't forget the [url /do/Navigation?category=11446]E-Learning Clearinghouse[/url] hosted on WebJunction where you can search for online education programs and courses for library staff and information professionals offered by ALA-accredited graduate schools (and more!!). Use the "more search options" to limit your search to those programs that are 100% Online. There are many!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-06-28T14:56:47Z

I think there are some schools that are totally online, when you decide to start. You could get your degree while you're still working. Florida State offers an online program, and the Alabama offers one too. There are others. I Googled "MLIS Online" with success.

http://ci.fsu.edu/go/graduate/online_degrees_grad
http://www.slis.ua.edu/mlis/index.html

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-06-08T16:57:17Z

Hi Sue,
Yes, I know there's a lot going on in here! There is a spot where folks coming to [url forums/thread.jspa?threadID=6134&tstart=0]ALA are posting their introductions[/url], so that's probably the best place to focus to learn about those folks. The "single word" topic has been around since the project began, so that includes folks from all over, not necessarily those that are coming to DC.

I do see that [url /forums/message.jspa?messageID=43018#43018]Beth Reitan[/url] just posted her intro above, so have added that to the [url /forums/message.jspa?messageID=43031#43031]ALA intros[/url]...

Thanks for recognizing the need for clarification Sue!!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-06-08T16:24:53Z

Help! I'm getting lost in here! Will I find my way out in time to get on the plane to Washington?

It seems like there are so many threads on the Rural Library Sustainability Project....and subthreads! I just found a subthread (I guess that's what you call it) asking for a single word that describes rural libraries in each person's state.

I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to remember who's from where and who I really would like to talk to without printing all the messages...but then, I have to keep up with all the messages, too, because I might miss someone!

Suggestions, please...I just hope I can find my way back to read them!
Sue in CO

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-06-08T14:25:48Z

HI, my name is Beth Reitan, from Bottineau, ND. I am the librarian here at our library, Bottineau County Public. We employ a full time director, a full time librarian and a part time bookmobile driver that covers the county. Although I had no plans of working in a library when I was in college, I "fell into" this job, and have loved every minute of it. I hope to someday get my degree in library science, and am thrilled that I have the opportunity to attend the ALA conference in Washington DC in a few weeks! I am looking forward to learning as much as I can and meeting many new friends!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-01-24T01:01:06Z

Welcome Robin (and Evelyn!),
What a wonderful library you've "grown" with! Keep sharing all your great programs and technology solutions, and now that your working on building a new library, be sure to check out the [url http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=6281] Space Planning[/url] area. Keep us posted!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2007-01-23T20:14:35Z

Hi There!
I am Robin Maly, the Branch Manager of the Alpine Public Library in Alpine, Az.
We serve a population of 500 in the winter to around 1000 to 1500, if you stretch it a little bit, in the summertime!
We are what you really call "RURAL"!
I have been at the library now going on 18 years...and it has been so much fun to "grow" with the library! My assistant is Evelyn Williams who has been here for going on 3 years now and is my "partner in crime"! Hahahahahah!
We are now trying to build a new library within the next 4 years...it will be interesting to see how things come along!
We pride ourselves on the programming we "come up with"...the programs are always different and we have patrons who attend them from all over the place...EVEN NEW MEXICO! We are only about 11 miles from the border...I just had to put that in...our programs consist of quilting classes, making cheese classes,beginner and advanced web page classes, an assortment of computer classes,stained glass classes with everything else in between! Of course we have the regular programs like Story Time with our famous Story Lady Janie Heiserman Horak, and a 4 week long Summer Reading Program.
We have 10 computers that are always in perfect running order and that is because I work on them at least once a week! They are scared of me and stay in tip top shape! We are planning to go with all lap tops and wireless internet in the NEAR future!
We also have lots of interesting "visitors" that come by to see us like "Flop" the rabbit and "Tinkerbell" the pigmy goat.
We also have to perform duties that most librarians don't regularly do, like snow plow the parking lot before work...this usually happens in November and lasts until the last of March into April.
The only thing else I have to share is that we always.... and I mean ALWAYS have fun at what we do!
Why work if you can't have FUN!
Hope to be talking with you all soon!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-09-28T20:12:13Z

Hi! My name is Jen. I attended the RSL workshop in Roanoke, VA in April. I meant to join and post then, but let time get away from me.

My library system has a main library and three branches. I work at the circulation desk at the main library.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-09-15T17:17:21Z

Theresa- Nice to hear from you... it's great to have you as part of the community.

You may know this already, but there is also a discussion area that 's specific to New York workshop participants and it's located here: http://webjunction.org/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=252 .

Feel free to dabble around in there, as well.

Hope to hear more from you.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-09-15T17:00:58Z

My name is Teresa Genovese and I attended the RLS workshop for the Mid-Hudson Library System on May 3rd, 2006. I am a part-time clerk at the Beekman Library and until now have not had much chance to spend time on Webjunction during library hours, although I've taken a couple on-line courses on my own time. I'd like to become more involved, and wonder if other people in the Mid-Hudson in New York are out there on WebJunction. Just wanted to introduce myself for now...

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-08-17T21:01:49Z

Hi, My name is Marion and I am thrilled to be able to participate in this workshop. I hope to glean many good tidbits of info to help me with our library in Ash Fork.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-08-16T15:08:18Z

Hi Everyone, My name is Stacey Buick and I am the director of the Malvern Public Library in Malvern Iowa, and I attended the Libraries on the Prarie Conference in Omaha Nebraska on July 13. My library has just built a new addition and we have not been automated since the conference and I feel I may have missed a lot. I also have not been the director here for very long, just a little over a year and a half. I look forward to reading more about other libraries. I love implementing ideas into my library and seeing if I can make a difference. One of the new ideas that I took away from the conference was host computer training for our community patrons, first however, the staff and myself need to feel more secure in knowing what we are doing before we can teach others. I also would like to have more children's programs that offer homework help and afterschool projects that they can attend. Anyway, I look forward to talking with you.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-08-02T21:54:24Z

Isn't Vinton where Mary Ingalls went to college (we've been reading my daughter the Little House books - we're on These Happy Golden Years)?

~ Cassandra

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-08-02T18:00:50Z

Hi! I'm LaVonne Sternhagen, the director of a small library in the center of Iowa. The town's size is 210, which would be considered "extra tiny" by the lady discussing a library of 2,000. The name of the library is the Beaman Community Memorial Library. I am interested in small libraries' problems and solutions. Hope to get a lot of information from other small anf rural libraries.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-07-27T20:49:05Z

Hi, I'm Virginia Holsten from the Vinton Public Library in Vinton, IA a town of about 5200 people. I have been at the library 22 years and have seen my job change considerably from when I first started. I'm quite comfortable with computers, but the kids all tell me my cell phone is a dinosaur. I want and need to know more about IPods, MP3 players etc. If only there were more hours in the day.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-07-22T15:51:59Z

Hi! I'm Jan Peterson. I am the Director + at the Dunkerton Public Library in Dunkerton, Iowa. I have held this position for nearly 18 years and continue to learn more all the time just to keep up with the changes. We are in the early stages of building a new library to meet our needs. The library is currently in a flood plain and we had over two feet of water in the building in May, 1999. So, it is a must rather than just a desire to relocate. We have just formed our Friends' group and will begin writing grants very soon. The 50th anniversary of the library will be 2007 and we would love to be able to move into a new facility as part of the celebration.

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-07-14T16:29:23Z

The only bad thing about hearing such rich introductions by all you fascinating folks out there is that I want to be able have more time to sit and have regular cups of tea with you all, visit and glean from you as mentors. Thank you for all your great work and for your commitment to the mission of libraries. And welcome to WebJunction! The community is far richer with your presence and contributions. Thank you!

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-07-14T15:03:17Z

Hi,
I am Rebekah Tanner, and have been the director of the Fulton Public Library since January, 2005. It is a mid-sized library with one small branch serving a what might not at first sound like a rural library -- our charter to serve area is the City of Fulton, NY which has a population of just under 12,000 and we get a small amount of funding through the school ballot so also serve the school district which is all-in-all about 26,000 population. However, the total area of the City of Fulton is just 3.8 sq.mi and is surrounded by two very rural towns: Volney & Granby. Our region is described by the NY State Education Dept. in this way:
"The Central New York Region is New York State's agricultural center. The five-county area, which encompasses 3,590 square miles, borders Lake Ontario to the north and embraces the State's heartland."
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/career/nyteachers_central.htm
We have a 1905 Carnegie building and for the branch are using space donated by the local Catholic Charities, in their building. The City of Fulton has the Oswego River running right through the middle (north / south) so having the branch on the other side of town makes it possible to provide services to children, the elderly and disabled, many of whom live & or work at several facilities on the west side.
We have a total staff of 9 (6 FTE) including the custodian; I and our Youth Service Coordinator are MLS librarians.
Have a look at our Web site at:
http://fultonpubliclibrary.info
If you happen to need some homeschooling resources (a growing trend in rural areas of NY) feel free to go to the "Links" page and grab some ideas off our Homeschooling page.
What else? We were awarded the NEH / ALA "We the People" Bookshelves on Freedom & Becoming American in 2005 & 2006 and have leveraged them to get funds to expand our offerings of public programs, many of which take place at the David E. Vayner Branch Library now that it has been expanded and renovated and went online with our North Country Library System's SIRSI system at the start of 2006.
And if after all that you still want to know more about me you can check out my resume on my personal Website at:
http://foxgull.com

Re: Welcome and tell us about yourself!

2006-07-01T16:09:55Z

I'm Pam Kenney from The Cundy's Harbor Library in Harpswell, Maine. I have attended a well-run Rural Sustainability workshop and am excited about becoming better informed and more tech savvy through Web Junction. My library is one room, we have 250 patrons (about 35 are active), and have one old very old computer for patron use and one fair-to-middling one that I use. We do offer wi-fi. We'd like to have more (and better) computers for patrons to use, but our current space limitation prohibits their acquisition now. As the only employee, I'd love to be able discuss via this forum the problems unique to tiny libraries with directors of similar ones. At the moment, it's difficult for me to do anything but dream about better technology when I still have to walk to the porta-potty next to my building when nature calls ;-)