09.15.08
Librarian Susan Novak retires after 35-year career
Susan Novak, center, at her retirement bash
Farewell to librarian extraordinaire Susan Novak who retired from the Stanislaus County Library last Friday after 35 years of service to the community.
Novak leaves the library with a long and distinguished track record as head of children’s services, branch librarian, and most recently acquisitions librarian.
A voice of reason at the library, Novak worked through several “bad times” of library funding in the 80s and 90s and was able to provide perspective and hope to newer employees. She will be missed.
09.12.08
Real shocker? Library use increases in hard times
The Modesto Bee ran an article the other day to hghlight that people use libraries more in tough economic times. (Well, duh!) The article had great info on increases in library use nationwide as well as locally.
Increasingly, folks are turning to one of the best public institutions–the library!–to help them change careers, get training, or just cope with hard situations by free reading material, movies, books on tape, and programs like magicians and dinner theater for kids.
Some folks commented in the Modesto Bee article that the library is behind the times because it doesn’t offer wireless access. Well, word has it that wireless is in the works, but it’s taking time. Read the rest of this entry »
07.09.08
Online social networking for FOL groups
Doorway to little amphitheater
So what if you offer a workshop on online social networking for Friends groups, and no one signs up?
I wonder if it’s a demographics thing. You know. The age thing. I’m under 50, and most people on library foundation boards or FOL boards seem to skew to a different generation.
However, when I mentioned using MySpace, Facebooks, and blogs at a recent area Friends meeting which involved FOL groups from all 12 of our library branches, I had many folks ooohing and ahhhing at the prospect of marketing our organization online to millennials and Gen-X. So I offered to do a workshop this Saturday to introduce the tools that our own group, the Modesto Friends, has started using.
So far, no takers.
And how did we publicize this meeting, you ask?
I say, “Via email, which isn’t used by most FOL board members in the first place.” D’oh!!
05.02.08
Major cuts to SCFL system announced
Stanislaus County Librarian Vanessa Czopek issued recommendations yesterday to deal with the SCFL’s projected budget shortfall for FY 2008/2008. The recommendations include closing the Modesto Library on Sunday, letting all P/T employees go, and closing all branches an additional two days per week. The book budget will also decrease by one-third. WHAT??? It’s all bad news, folks…read about it here in the Modesto Bee piece Stanislaus County Library cuts 94 part-time jobs.
I’m shocked that this is happening Read the rest of this entry »
