Calling all EBook readers - use Bilbary and help the Library!

Are you the proud owner of a EReader like a Nook or  a tablet, like an IPad? 

Do you read your books with a digital device?

Did you know that the Library has a growing collection of EBooks?

Well we do.  Our collection is growing thanks to support from our Friends of the Library. 

Did you know that you can use a service called Bilbary to buy EBooks, and if you connect to Bilbary using the Library's link, we get part of the purchase back? 

We just started working with Bilbary and they have a great selection of new EBooks that you can buy and download.  Click on the link on our Support the Library web page, set up an account, buy books and help the Library. 

Publishers are still trying to figure out the whole EBook business model, and have made it difficult for us to get many new titles.  A number of publishers - Simon & Schuster, Penguin, etc. - won't even sell EBooks to libraries.  Our partnership with Bilbary can help us support our electronic collections, and provide you with more titles for your EReader, Smartphone or Tablet.

Give Bilbary a try, and help the Library!  Thanks for your support! 

October and the weather is scorching...

Ah Fall...
In most of the country, leaves are turning color, the days are getting shorter and cooler, and things have the look and feel of Fall.

But not here in Southern California. 

Today it is 91 degrees here in Huntington Beach.  91!!??? Not your typical beach weather, that's for sure.

Even though it is way too hot, the Library continues to provide a cool place for everyone to come and explore.

Here's some highlights of what is going on in the Library this month -

We were able to replace our old and malfunctioning Microfilm Reader/printer.  Our new Scanner/Reader/Printer is a real improvement on the old technology.  With the new unit, you can crop sections of the film, improve the quality of the image, print or send an image via email or save it to a flash drive.  The new machine makes it easier to do research in all our newspapers on film. 

We are about to launch our Chromebooks - we were lucky to receive a grant from the California State Library to provide Chromebooks for checkout.  We plan to have the units available within the next couple of weeks.  The Chromebooks use a WiFi connection and make it easy to check email, search the web and do a wide range of other tasks "in the Cloud".  Keep your eyes open for the announcement on the Chromebooks. 

Our Geek the Library campaign continues - look for us at Surf City Nights, on local bus benches and on yard signs that are now available.  (If you Geek your Library, come on in and get a yard sign. Help us get the word out about all the great things available at your Library.)

October is going to be busy!

Summertime at HB Library - What do you Geek?

Here we are in AUGUST already!  Every summer, time seems to fly by faster and faster.  At the Library, we have 3 weeks of summer reading left, and all of our participants are reading at blazing speed.  We have over 5,000 participants of all ages, and I know that the final 3 weeks will be terrific, with programs, prizes and activity.

This August is going to be extra busy - we will be winding up the Summer Reading programs and then launching our Geek The Library campaign.  We have been doing a strategic "check in" with our patrons and community, and though we have lots of library patrons, lots of programs and events, and most people seem to be happy with what we do, still people don't know all the really great things that their library does.  So we've scrounged some money from various sources, and we will be heading out into the community asking everyone about what they Geek, and how the Library can help you get your Geek on.

I remember when to be a Geek was a bad thing (anyone get teased for being a Geek in Junior High? I know I did...). 
But really, think about it, what makes someone a Geek? 
A love, passion or obsession for something, be it a hobby, a subject, etc. 

Steve Jobs was a Geek.  Silicon Valley is FULL of Geeks. 

I know I'm a Geek.  I geek lots of things - shoes, Ragdoll Cats, College Football, just to name a few.  There are lots of us Geeks out there.  I say be proud - Get your Geek on.

Whatever you Geek, come on into the Library.   We'll help you realize your dreams. 

Ebooks, the American Library Association Conference and Summertime...

This past week, the American Library Association Conference was held in Anaheim, at the Anaheim Convention Center.  I was in attendance, along with librarians from all across the country.  After lots of meetings, lots of discussions about books, reading, authors and Ebooks, along with many visits with vendors, I came away from this year's conference in a relatively good mood.  Some ideas are percolating, and there are some really interesting possibilities coming soon...

Lately, I am somewhat conflicted about conferences and their value.  The networking opportunities and the vendor exhibits are always worthwhile, and hearing the current "buzz" in the field on things like Ebooks and digital content is important and invigorating.  HOWEVER, I seem to come away from conferences absolutely exhausted, regardless of travel.  And the actual programs and speakers at conferences haven't been working for me lately.  This ALA was no exception - programs that looked new and interesting often turned out to be just another take on "How we did this well, and you could too.." 

Am I getting cynical?  Maybe. 

Am I suffering from "Conference fatigue"?  Maybe. 

Do we need to rethink conferences and how to give attendees the best value for their attendance?  Maybe. 

I do think that there is room for improvement with the program for most professional conferences.  At least at this ALA we were grappling with the Ebook issue - we may not have resolved anything yet, but we are engaged and there is work being done.  Let's hope ALA's efforts bear fruit, and the large publishers figure out that Libraries are an amazing marketing tool for their authors and books, no matter the format. 

There's an APP for that!

The Huntington Beach Public Library has just implemented a new smartphone App that lets you check for books, place holds, renew items and keep up with your reading, all on you  mobile device.  The App is Bookmyne, an App made available by our library system vendor, SirsiDynix.  Bookmyne is available through the iPhone App and Android stores.  With a simple download, you are ready to find your library, and then login to your account. 

I am really excited that we can add this additional service for our mobile customers - with all of the recent budget challenges, it is really great to add a new service.  As more and more of us do more and more with our smartphones, Bookmyne puts the Library where you want it and need it. 

Give it a try and let us know what you think! 

Great Article on Oak View Homework Club

Today, in the local paper The Huntington Beach Independent, there is a terrific article about our Oak View Branch Library Homework Club.  With budget reductions and funding cuts, the Homework Club is at risk and this article really highlights how important these kinds of services are for kids.  Thanks, Michael Miller and the Independent, for helping us get the word out! 

If you are interested in learning more about our programs at Oak View, feel free to call us at the Library, or send us an email.  Our Homework Club, Reading partners and Math Club programs help lots of kids, and we can use your help and support.

Thank you, Anglers of Huntington Harbour!

The Anglers of Huntington Harbour have generously donated $1,200 to support our Aquarium!  On Monday, they came into the Library for a presentation, and had their picture taken with the Fish!

Our fundraising program to keep the Aquarium going is gaining momentum. 

Thank you to all the Fish Supporters!  With your help, the Library will be able to maintain our little piece of the ocean in the Library for the children.

If you haven't had the chance, stop by and check out the donor wall seascape and find out how you too can Lend a Fin, and help save the Fish!   

Follow the Library on Pinterest!

Calling all Pinners!

The Huntington Beach Public Library is now on Pinterest.  Check out our Boards on new books, new  music, new movies and other cool library stuff!

So follow us and find out more about your library. 

Taste of Huntington Beach this weekend!

Hey, all you foodies out there -

This Sunday, April 29 is the Taste of Huntington Beach.  Running from Noon to 4 PM, one entry fee gets you all the food and drink you could want, from all the great restaurants here in Huntington Beach.  The event supports the Children's Library, and over the years the Taste has raised lots of money for Children's services. 

This is your opportunity to come out to the Sports Complex, enjoy a warm Southern California day, and eat terrific food.   The mix of restaurants, wineries and breweries is once again impressive, and guarantees that there will be something for everyone. 

 Come out, have fun, and thank you for suppporting the Library! 

California Libraries need everyone's help!

Once again, Governor Brown has proposed the complete elimination of support for Public Libraries in the State Budget. The legislature is starting their budget hearings, and they need to hear from everyone that Public Libraries are important, and need support.

Libraries have never received much funding from the State - last year only $15.2 million was part of the original budget. UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THE $ 15.2 MILLION WAS ELIMINATED UNDER THE TRIGGER BILL in December.

The complete elimination of this $15.2 million puts an additional $16 million in Federal funds at risk. This relatively small amount of money (when we are talking about BILLIONS at the State level) DOES SO MUCH. Here in Huntington Beach, we have received grants for Literacy, Homework support, Volunteer Development and interlibrary loan.

California NEEDS strong libraries. If you care, write to your legislators, and ask them to RESTORE LIBRARY FUNDING! For more information, along with sample letters and e-mails check out the California Library Association's Library Advocacy information.

April looks like a busy month at the Library...

Happy April!

Springtime definitely feels like it is here - after a slightly stormy weekend, April came in with clear skies and warming temps. The Central Park is green, and pretty, and we are seeing lots of birds and other wildlife.

What's going on at the Library in April? We have LOTS of Children's programs, of course. Ballet Etudes will be in residence mid month. And the month will round off with the Taste of Huntington Beach, the largest fundraiser for our Friends of the Children's Library. So far, it sounds like the Taste is going to be another terrific event this year. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, please do so. All proceeds benefit the Children's Library. I hope to see you there.

Rain, solar panels and lighting

I love the day after a rain in Southern California - the air is clean, crisp and clear. Here in Huntington Beach, the Central Park looks freshly washed and the birds are out chirping and foraging for worms in the soft earth. Lovely.

What does this have to do with the Library, you may ask? Well, the weather and the rain got me thinking about our solar panels and that leads me to all of our recent improvements in the library's physical plant.

Our solar panels are working and there is a new portal for the City which will allow us to view the production of the panels. Along with the solar panels, the Central Library has been undergoing a series of efficiency projects, to make all our systems more efficient, effective and green. Right now, our lighting is being retrofitted, improving the overall quality of our light while becoming more efficient and saving energy.

We have had a series of other improvements, and another project is coming up which should help us with our cooling and heating of the building. The City's Energy Projects Manager, Aaron Klemm has done amazing work for us, helping us improve our building systems to save us all time, energy and money over the long term.

We can feel good about our library here in Huntington Beach - not only is the Central Library a beautiful place, in a beautiful setting, but it is also a smart building that minimizes its impact on the environment.

HB Reads Event with Temple Grandin

This week, Temple Grandin, the author and Autism advocate, will be here in Huntington Beach, for our HB Reads program.

I am really looking forward to the visit - Temple's story is inspirational for anyone who has been touched by Autism or other related disabilities. Her work with animals is also inspirational - her research into animal behavior is fascinating and illuminating. I first heard Temple speak on NPR, talking about one of her books on animals. She spoke of her own autism, and how she relates to animals. Her talk made me check out her books, and learn more about her own story.

I am looking forward to hearing more, this week.

More Ebook talk...

I was checking the Internet on the question of Ebooks - with Random House raising their prices (by as much as 300% in some cases), there has been a lot of discussion about the eBook market, publishers, etc.

It was nice to see the topic show up on a Tech blog - TechCrunch, one of my favorite technology blogs, had a great overview of what is going on. My favorite part of the article was in the last paragraph - a nice statement about the continuing value of libraries in our fast changing technology driven world.

Help Restore Funding for California Public Libraries!

Last year, the California State Budget had all of $15.2 million for the support of California Public Libraries. The money supported cooperation, Literacy programs and provided some basic operational support for public libraries. When the Trigger bill was "pulled" in December, all of this funding went away. Support for Public Libraries was the only program in the State Budget to be zeroed out.

The State is once again working on the budget, for the next fiscal year. The Governor's proposed budget includes NO support for Public Libraries. We need to change this.

If you care about your library, and the quality of life in California, please take a moment to call, e-mail, write or fax your representatives and the Governor. We need more voices being heard in Sacramento, and every voice matters. The California Library Association has good information about who to contact and how, on their website.

Let Sacramento know that you value your Library - ask your Senator or Assembly Member to restore $15 million for Public Libraries!

More on EBooks, Publishers and Libraries...

The news on EBooks for libraries just doesn't get better -

We don't have access to Penguin titles now, along with lots of other publishers. The American Library Association has had discussions with the "Big 6" publishing houses, and the publishers are concerned about "friction" - the idea that library patrons can check out an EBook easily, with minimal inconvenience concerns them. It sounds like the publishers think that easy library checkouts will reduce their opportunity to sell books. And then just to make things more interesting, the cost of our Random House titles through our vendor, Overdrive, just jumped through the ROOF - titles that used to cost $10 - $25 are now coming in at $45, $50, even as high as $90 for one copy.

What is a library to do? There are a couple of alternatives in development - Baker & Taylor has a new service, but it doesn't provide for Kindle checkouts. 3M is developing their "Cloud Library" which looks really good too, but it is still in beta testing and so far I'm not hearing good news about pricing... Things are still so much up in the air, with everyone trying to figure out how to get the most dollars for EBooks, that I am worried about the Library model. I know that our community wants us to have EBooks - our current Overdrive collection is stretched to the limit, with sometimes as many as 22 holds per title. But with all these limitations, we simply can't meet demand.

If you are a reader, and you want to be able to read titles on your EReader, through your library, contact the publishers and let them know how you feel.

Publishers and eBook lending

On February 9, 2012, Penguin Publishing announced that they were ending their contract with Overdrive, our Library eBook vendor. No new titles published by Penguin will be available for libraries to purchase or license. Access to eBooks already in our collection will continue for EPUB titles, but anything previously available in Kindle format will no longer be available.

This is just the latest publisher to cut off library lending for their titles. Hachette, Macmillian, Simon & Schuster and Brilliance Audio do not sell or license to libraries either. The American Library Association has spoken with representatives of the publishing industry about eBooks and eBook lending, but progress has been limited.

So if you don't find something in our eBook collection, we may not be able to get it for you.

This is incredibly disappointing for libraries and library patrons.

Internet Lab upgrade underway...

We are installing new PC Reservation software in our Internet labs at the Central Library this week. Parts of the Adult lab are down through Thursday, but the good news is that we will be able to offer PRINTING again! Yay!

We went through an awful 3 months where our printing went down due to a virus attack and ongoing problems with our printing software interface. I know how frustrated our library patrons were - we had this weird work around that we cobbled together where you had to save things to a flash drive, go to the Children's department, etc..

I know it was driving everyone crazy - our staff, members of the public, everyone. I know how much I hated the situation, so I can only imagine how awful it was for people who depend on our system and computers.

I am so EXCITED that we are able to get this fixed - the change took us a while, but I know that the changes we are making ARE GOOD ONES. Printing will be easier, it will be cheaper and it will be better. (Prints and copies will be 15 cents for BW, 50 cents for color) Time management on the computers will be easier, for everyone, and the new software is much more flexible and robust, so we should have greater stability in our lab. ALL GOOD.

I just want to say thank you to everyone for their patience - the wait is almost over. Just a few more days...