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.