Getting a library card

Getting a library card at the Tumbler Ridge Public Library is fairly easy. There's no charge. We just ask the patron to sign a statement of responsibility and show library staff two things:

• some kind of identification (we prefer photo ID like driver's licenses, etc)
  
• proof of the patron's mailing address in Tumbler Ridge

The library requires proof of mailing address for a simple reason. We need to be able to contact patrons. We send overdue notices and bills by mail on a regular basis, and other library notices sporadically.

At one point in the past someone registered a particular patron without a mailing address. A few months back that patron had an overdue book, her phone number was out of service, and I had no way of contacting her. The book was never returned and I've been unable to bill that patron. The library is simply out the money for the book with no way of recovering it.

For that reason, library staff members will not give a patron a library card without proof of their mailing address in Tumbler Ridge. Please don't ask.

There are three alternatives if a patron cannot provide a mailing address in Tumbler Ridge.


1) BC OneCard

If a patron has a valid card at a public library elsewhere in BC, we can issue that patron a BC OneCard. The OneCard serves as a limited membership at the library. At the Tumbler Ridge Public Library, OneCard patrons may only borrow five books at a time, may not request interlibrary loans, and may not borrow other library materials such as audiobooks and DVDs.

A OneCard membership also allows patrons to borrow books from the Tumbler Ridge Public Library and return those books to any other public library in BC.

*NOTE* BC OneCard policies vary from library to library. The policies described here apply to the Tumbler Ridge Public Library and may not be universal.


2) Temporary Card

If a patron does not have a mailing address in Tumbler Ridge and does not have a library card elsewhere in the province, a temporary library card is available. A temporary card costs $70, $40 of which is refundable upon return of the card if the patron is in good standing.


3) Go without a card

This sounds like a ridiculous option, but there are basically only two library services at the Tumbler Ridge Public Library that require a card: borrowing library materials and requesting books through an interlibrary loan. The following library services do not require a library card

• reading library materials in the library
  
• using the public Internet computers
• asking reference questions
• attending library programs (Itchy Feet, Storytime, Pageturners, etc.)
  
• photocopying/printing/faxing (we do charge for these services, but they do not require a library card)

To sum everything up, if you've got proof of your mailing address in Tumbler Ridge, we're happy to issue you a library card. If you don't, but you've got a library card from a different public library in the province, we're happy to issue you a OneCard. If you don't, but are willing to pay to access the library, we're happy to issue you a temporary card. If none of these apply to you, we encourage you to take advantage of all the library services that do not require a library card.

Summer Reading Club 2009 - Follow the Reader

We've all heard the old joke about how kids have ten months of the year to learn and two months of summer vacation to forget what they've learned. The sad part is that the joke has some truth to it. Two months away from school can have an impact on learning and literacy.

Summer school isn't a popular option, but there is a middle ground: the Summer Reading Club at the Tumbler Ridge Public Library. This seven week program is free, designed for toddlers to teens, and is intended to help keep their minds active over the summer.

Summer Reading Club Schedule

Wednesday, June 17th at 3pm -- Opening Ceremonies
Registration
Face painting
Musical entertainment
Craft
Door prizes

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm -- storytime and a craft

Every Wednesday and Friday at 3pm -- storytime

Tuesday, August 18th -- Reading Records due

Thursday, August 20th at 3pm -- Closing Ceremonies

Weekly Themes

Week 1: July 7-10: Readers are Leaders
Week 2: July 14-17: Ring Around the World
Week 3: July 21-24: On the Sunny Side
Week 4: July 28-31: Read for the Top!
Week 5: Aug. 4-7: Bring it on!
Week 6: Aug. 11-14: Readers Unite!
Week 7: Aug. 18-20: Step Out, Into Books

Parents who are reading this, please sign your children up for the Summer Reading Club. They will

• have some fun at the library four days a week
• get to make a neat craft twice a week
  
• be exposed to some wonderful books
• have endless reading material for (similarly) endless car rides during vacations
• win prizes at the end of the summer for completing their reading record
  

End of the Itchy Feet Season

When the projector screen is raised later tonight, it will signal the end of the 16th season of Itchy Feet at the library. This season we started in the schools of Nicaragua and ended on the other side of the world -- Kruger National Park in South Africa. In between, we covered nearly a dozen countries spread across six continents and visited with authors and artists from our own part of the world.

Highlights included wild animals, beautiful landscapes, exotic temples and peace memorials.

Everyone at the library (and I'm sure all the people who've enjoyed Itchy Feet this season) would like to give thanks to:

Captain Eric Blackburn (Nicaragua)
Ben Gadd (author)
Don Pettit (author)
Kevin Sharman & family (Belize, Wild Flowers in Macro)
Larry and Crys White (USA)
Charles and Daniel Helm (USA)
Peter von Tiesenhausen (artist)
Jeanette Johnson (Ecuador)
Vickie Davis (Thailand)
Sarah Gamble (archaeology update/ice climbing)
Craig Waters (archaeology update/ice climbing)
Jacob Fehr [me] (Japan)
Jim Way (Ice Roads)
Joe Cramp (Peru)
Moire Jones (Cuba)
Mike Nash (author)
Betsy Trumpener (author, CBC radio personality)
Vicky Bye (Elephants)
Jean Pawlucki (Australia/New Zealand)
Charissa Tonnensen (Australia/New Zealand)
Larry Jacobsen (author)
Bert Schalekamp (South Africa - Kruger National Park)

We couldn't have done anything without you folks!

Peace Region Palaeontology Symposium

On May 23rd the Peace Region Palaeontology Symposium will be taking place in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre as well as the Public Library. The symposium will include a number of different activities throughout the day:

Rich McCrea, Lisa Buckley, Charles Helm, Sean Robson, Paul McNiel, and Bruce Archibald will all be giving lectures.

From 12:30pm-1:30pm, the 4th Annual Fossil Road Show will be taking place. I encourage people to bring in small fossils they've found for identification.

Finally, the Library will have four sessions of children's activities during the day (10-10:45, 11-11:45, 2-2:45, 3-3:45). Children are limited to participating in one session (all the sessions will contain the same activities), and pre-registration is required.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the Community Centre for the Palaeontology Symposium.

Itchy Feet South Africa: Kruger National Park

On Tuesday, May 26th, the Tumbler Ridge Public Library will play host to the final Itchy Feet presentation of the season. Bert Schalekamp will present Itchy Feet South Africa: Kruger National Park. It starts at 7pm, May 26th at the Tumbler Ridge Public Library.

Author Visit: Larry Jacobsen

On Tuesday, May 19th at 7pm, the Tumbler Ridge Public Library will play host to author Larry Jacobsen. Larry came to Canada as a baby in 1929, the third in a family that eventually numbered 12 childen and retired for the final time at age 78. Larry will be talking about his third book, Jewel of the Kootenays.

Library Book Purchases

I just thought I'd write a bit about the book purchasing process at the library. I've already written about one part of it in the post about expanding our graphic novel/manga collection, but there's more to it than that.

The process Sharon and I followed when expanding our graphic novel/manga collection was what we do in general if a particular area in the library is lacking. We identify the gaps, try to find a selection of good books that will fill the gaps, and purchase some of them. Previously library staff have done this with computer books (shortly before I began last August) and law books (a few months ago).

If we aren't trying to fill a particular gap in the library's collection, Sharon and I look for books that are informative, interesting, or entertaining. For every book we're interested in, we consider a few factors:


1) What the library currently has in its collection

If the library already has a number of books in a particular area, a book in that area has to be very good or unique for us to consider purchasing it.

An example of this happened when I was looking for a new book about programming websites (the books that were in our collection were around ten years old). I came across a book called The Baby owner's manual that looked pretty interesting. Sharon reminded me that we already had many books in that area. We took a closer look at our collection, and realized that the tone and audience of this particular book are quite different from the other books about babies in the library's collection, so I ordered it after all.


2) The price of the book

Nomatter how wonderful a particular book is, there are limits on how much we're willing to pay for it. While researching graphic novels for the library, I found that we could purchase a hardcover edition of the complete Death and Life of Superman for around $70. That was one of the biggest comic book storylines of the last two decades, but that price was (sadly) too much for a comic book. When Sharon and I discussed expanding our graphic novel collection, we agreed to spend around $100, so spending $70 on one book was not a practical choice.


3) The expected popularity of the book at our library

The library has already pre-ordered Dan Brown's newest book based on the overwhelming popularity of his previous book The Da Vinci Code. We also recently purchased The Dark River, because it was the sequel to The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks, which had circulated a relatively high number of times for a library of this size.


4) Reviews of the book

We often check the reviews for a particular book on amazon.ca before purchasing it. We're well aware that the reviews there do not represent everyone, but they give Sharon and I something to consider.


5) Patron suggestions

Sharon and I both welcome purchase suggestions from library patrons. If possible, give us the title and author (the ISBN is also welcome), and we'll take a look (at the items listed above) and consider our options.

A word of warning: if the book is overly esoteric or expensive, we probably will not purchase it unless there is sizable and continuing demand for it. If that demand never materializes, we'll likely suggest you wait and then request the book through an interlibrary loan.


If you think you've found a book the library should purchase, consider the things I've typed above, then suggest it to Sharon or me. You can do it in person or by leaving a comment after this post (a Google account is required)

Itchy Feet: How to Eat Kangaroo Pizza

On Tuesday, May 12th, Jean Pawlucki and Charissa Tonnensen will be at the Tumbler Ridge Public Library for Itchy Feet: How to Eat Kangaroo Pizza. They recently visited Australia and New Zealand and (presumably) sampled some native cuisine.

Did this cuisine really include kangaroo pizza? You'll have to come down to the library at 7pm on Tuesday to find out.

The Overdue System at the Library

I take care of overdues at the library. Lately I've noticed that many people aren't aware of how the overdue system works, so I thought I'd write a post detailing the system from front to end.

Every Wednesday, I process the overdues. One of the components of the library's ILS (integrated library system) is a report program. On Wednesdays, I use the program and one of its report files to print a report of books that have been overdue 7-90 days, sorted by patron. I compare this list to the previous week's list and note a few things. Any new items are starred, and any previous contact between me and the overdue patrons is noted.

I search the shelves for any new items on the list. Sadly, mistakes do happen (everyone who works here is human, after all), and this search allows me to catch most of them. If I happen to find a book, I check it in and remove the accompanying fine from the patron's account. After my search, I continue with the paperwork portion of overdues.

I produce two different kinds of print notices for patrons. The first is called an overdue notice, and is created when the patron has items that are 14-21 days overdue. It is accompanied by a short letter that outlines the library's overdue policy. The second is called an overdue letter (for items that are 28-35 days overdue), and is the final print correspondence between the library and a patron before the patron is billed. I print out and stuff envelopes to the patrons, then mail them out.

Later in the day (usually after I've finished my supper break), I start calling patrons about their overdues, and make brief notations on my list for what kind of contact was made on a particular date:

-C ("called" -- talked to person listed)
-LM ("left message" -- either with another person in the household or on an answering machine)
-NIS ("not in service" -- phone number gave me a "not in service" message)
-MN ("mailed notice" -- the first written notice)
-ML ("mailed letter" -- the second written notice)

If a patron insists that the item was returned, I search again for the item (on some occasions, it has been returned after I printed the list for the week, but before I started calling).

And the next week the process continues.

The final aspect of the overdue process is billing. Until now it's been done sporadically (I held onto the belief that nobody could have items overdue for three months until just recently), but now that I've started, it will be done every week for items that are 91-97 days overdue.

When items are three months overdue, I search for the items again. If I find an overdue item, I check it in, and adjust the patron's fines. If I cannot find the patron's items, I suspend the patron's account and bill the patron as follows:

• the replacement cost of the item
  
• the full amount of fines accumulated to date on that item
• a five dollar processing fee for each item(to cover the time and materials required to process a replacement copy)

If the patron can find the missing items, the processing fee and replacement costs will be removed, just leaving the original overdue fine.

Overdue Schedule Summary
0-7 days: nothing
7-14 days: phone call
14-21 days: mailed notice, phone call
21-28 days: phone call
28-35 days: mailed letter, phone call
90+ days: suspension, bill

That's the unpleasant side of things. Here's the more pleasant side.

First, the library allows patrons to renew items. As long as the item doesn't have any holds or reserves on it, we're happy to renew items up to two times by phone or e-mail, even if the item is already overdue (though the fines up to that point will remain). After those two renewals, we require patrons to bring the item into the library for subsequent renewals. This is to prevent patrons from renewing a lost item over and over again instead of telling us it has been lost.

Renewals on Interlibrary loan items (ILLs) are a little trickier because I have to contact the lending library. But if a patron requests a renewal before the item is due, I'm more than happy to do it.

Second, all the money collected from overdue fines goes into the library's budget, which allows us to spend more money on new books and other materials for the library.

Third, I'm not a mean person. I don't enjoy calling people about their overdues, but I'm never rude or angry on the phone. So don't worry if you answer the phone and I'm calling about overdues. I won't start yelling unless you do first.

Weeding the stacks

I spent a few hours weeding on Saturday. For the uninitiated, weeding (in a library) refers to removing books from our collection based on a number of criteria including age, circulation, relevance, and obsoletion. I started with a list of books that had not been circulated in 500 days. This seems arbitrary, but it was a nice round number, and gave me a good-size list of books to work with.

The resulting list of books was simply a place to start from -- not the list of books to be weeded. I went through the list of adult non-fiction, and checked the list to see if the books were duplicates (there are times when the library ends up with two copies of a particular book), outdated (science and health books in particular), obsolete (if we had a newer edition of the same book, or a newer book on the same subject), or just not used (a few of the books on the list had never been circulated).

If a book hadn't circulated in 500 days and failed another criteria for keeping the book, I pulled it from the shelves, and put it into a stack near my desk for further review with Sharon. We ultimately kept five of the books (there were around sixty in the stack) because of high overall circulation (one or two of the books had been signed out 9-10 times overall) or relevance (a book about the history of the Peace region that we had two copies of). The rest were deleted from our catalogue and will be sold.

Some of the books I weeded include
extremely dated medical books (AIDS, the medical mystery [1983])
old financial books (Chand's top 50 mutual funds [2002])
general out of date books (The Complete guide to Canadian universities [1992])

There are quite a few benefits of weeding, and most of them apply here. First, weeding removed out of date books that could contain incorrect, if not dangerous, information. Second, weeding allowed Sharon and I to identify some gaps in our collection. Finally, our shelves are extremely crowded at the moment, and weeding helped to give library staff a little more space to work with.

Graphic novel/manga collection

For the past few months, Sharon and I have discussed expanding our graphic novel/manga collection. We had some very good graphic novels such as Watchmen, Sandman, and various DC superhero stories, but we really didn't have that many of them and they were stuck in a poor location in the library. Since the graphic novels were moved to the very end of the adult fiction section, I'm not sure how many people have even looked at them. So Sharon and I discussed the situation and agreed on a four part plan.

First, I made a (fair sized) order of new graphic novels and manga. We agreed on an amount of money to spend, and I did the research. I picked a mix of graphic novels (mostly superhero stuff) and manga (continuing one series we already have, and starting a new one), and talked about my suggestions with Sharon. She agreed that they sounded good, and I ordered them.

Second, we talked about making a new home for the graphic novel/manga collection. The library manager had commented that we could probably box up much of our foreign language collection, because the books were either out of date or were written during communist regimes and were propaganda. I had a page box up many of the foreign language books, and I shifted books around until we had a vertical section (4 shelves) that could be dedicated to graphic novels and manga.

To make life easier for the pages, I relabelled all of the graphic novels with the prefix GN. This labelling replaces the hodgepodge of AF, APB, JF, JPB labels that were previously on the graphic novels/manga. It also helps set apart this collection from the rest of the library. Previously, they were books that belonged to different sections of the library but just happened to be shelved together.

Finally, Sharon and I agreed that we'd continue to develop our graphic novel/manga collection gradually, by adding another title or two to every book order we make. Sharon just completed a very large book order, and included another four titles (three manga, one graphic novel) in it.

As it currently stands, the titles I ordered have been backordered (Sharon's order is still being processed), but here is what will be coming to the Tumbler Ridge Public Library:

Graphic novels
Batman Year One
Green Lantern: Rebirth
Infinite Crisis
Serenity: Better Days
Serenity: Those Left Behind
Superman: Birthright

Manga
Bleach volumes 3-6
Death Note volumes 1-5