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Inspire A Lifelong Love of Reading…One Party at a Time

By Adam W. 

The love of reading happens over the Summer, after you shut the text book for the year and chart your own reading course. Kids are going to read in November because they read what they wanted in the Summer. The Summer Reading Party is just an extension of reading, it is one chapter to spark a lifelong love.

The 2014 theme is Spark a Reaction and that is exactly what we do with the Library Kick-Off Party. We kickstart the rest of the Summer. We have rides, bounce houses, authors, prize giveaways, Kindles, GoPros, Boat Rentals, even a PS4.

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I <3 My Library!

By Shawn K.  Our library is a small, but a vibrant part of our rural community. They are constantly looking to the community for ideas on how to improve and make things better. My kiddos love going to check out books, of course, but they also love going to all of the different activities sponsored … Read more

Who Are Your Patrons? Where Are They Coming From? And What Branches Do They Visit?  

Public Library Branch Insights and User Visits and Demographics

Patrons at your main branch mostly hail from all over town, but patrons at your eastside branch come from within just a few blocks away. Or do they?? Do you know how far people travel to get to a particular location? And, if you did know, how might it change your collection and outreach programs?

Branch Insights, a new Analytics On Demand app, tracks cardholders’ use across various branches in a single library system. With this information presented in maps and tables, you can gain insight into where and how individual patron types are engaging the library system so you can tailor materials, programs, services, and outreach to meet patron needs at each library site.

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7 Obscure March Holidays with InfoTrac Articles to Match

By Nick Schultz

When you think of March holidays, St. Patrick’s Day may be the only one that comes to mind. Well, I’m not Irish, so I felt the need to explore holidays I could rally behind… with food. The InfoTrac Culinary Arts Collection proved to be the perfect source!

Feel free to share these images and the links to the InfoTrac articles and recipes with your library users on social media. Lure them in with food!

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It’s Always Time to Love Thy Own Heart

By Jacqueline Longe

This winter has seen record lows with artic freezes, seas turned red by the blood of 21 Egyptians, a measles outbreak, viable threats of terrorism in malls across America, and a whole host of other things to make even the warmest of hearts turn cold.

Despite reason for melancholy, there is focus on one matter that we can all rally around—heart health. Though the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide is heart disease, this month facing such a fact and doing something about it on a personal level is a step toward optimum health. That warms the heart.

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Patrons We May Not See

By Tina M.  A patron came into the library one afternoon and was waiting patiently at the staff counter. I asked him if he needed any help and he did say someone was getting some hold items for him. He proceeded to tell me that he was so thankful we had the process of reserving … Read more

A Way of Life

By Deb C.  The library has always been an important part of my life. My first memories of the library where I grew up was walking to the little “store front” library branch around the corner and spending hours pouring over the nature books. I loved the smell of the old card catalogs! When I … Read more