The-Librarian-Blog

Chambers County Library System – January, 2017

Please forgive the late writing of this monthly report, but January passed us by as quickly as it came!  On the administrative side of things we spent time with our regular vendors, set up our 2017 budget, dealt with the day to day operations of running a library system, and focused on upcoming activities for the new year.  We’re looking forward to starting our 2017 purchases in the next couple of weeks.

On the 9^th, the Chambers County Library in Anahuac celebrated its 9^th year with book club.  Members gathered at Iguana Joe’s in Mont Belvieu to discuss their latest book, Homegoing.  Staff member Jennifer Kellum is in charge of the Anahuac group and states that the secret to their long success is the unity that is formed with the members.  “Everyone has different tastes, I get suggestions for titles from the members and sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s not!  But that’s what makes book club great.  The members not only discuss their book title each month, they also use their time to talk about what’s going on in the world and in their lives.  They eat great food, read something they might not otherwise read, and it’s a fun way for them to stay involved with the library and community.”  A few upcoming titles for 2017 include, Take me with you by Agatha Christie, and The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter.  The Juanita Hargraves Memorial Branch in Winnie is in their 5^th year.  Staff member Mary Abshire leads the group.  Upcoming titles include, The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck, and Hearse and Buggy by Laura Bradford.  The Sam and Carmena Goss Memorial Branch in Mont Belvieu began an inspirational book club that is also in their 5^th year.  Staff member Kellee Traylor will be taking over the club and will begin to include a wide variety of titles for the group.  Kellee decided to name her book club, “The Best Lil’ Book Club in Texas”.  Their upcoming book for March is At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen.  Check with your local library for meeting times and dates.  You’ll get hooked on good books, good company, and good conversation. 

The Juanita Hargraves Memorial Branch in Winnie held an adult movie night on the 12^th.  GED prep classes also continue there every Tuesday at 5pm. 

The teens at Mont Belvieu were treated to a Japanese themed event called Yukikon.  Teens enjoyed videogames, a ramen noodle bar, crafts, trivia, a drawing contest, and movies.  Staff member Shelby Fielding organized the event and her efforts proved successful with over 20 teens joining in the fun. 

Staff member Lori Knapp held a “Kombucha 101” class at Mont Belvieu on the 24^th.  It was standing room only as participants tasted different types of Kombucha, heard about its health benefits, and learned how to make their own home brew.  Everyone was given a “scoby” to take home, which is like a starter for the popular tea blend.  

At Anahuac, the ever popular crafting classes still boasts a long waiting list.  Monthly adult craft club is held the 2^nd Wednesday of the month, and a homeschool craft group meets the 2^nd Thursday of the month.  Sewing classes are also held on random times throughout the year.  Registration is required for crafting classes.  Sign up early to reserve your spot!

And of course each of the libraries offer a weekly Storytime and Babygarten program.  These programs are targeted towards our tiniest patrons with stories, songs, activities, crafts and more. 

Until next month!

Chambers County Library System – November, 2016

The Texas State Library provides to Chambers County a large group of electronic databases for use by the public.  The cost for these databases, (for which we pay $815.76 per year), would cost $113,677.01 if we were to purchase them individually.  The combined bargaining power that the State Library uses to negotiate this service for public libraries, colleges, and medical libraries of Texas is of great value to us; in the State’s fiscal year, which ended on August 31, the databases were accessed by Chambers County residents a total of 5,399 times.  Instructions on how to use these databases are available at the libraries; the databases can be used at home or in places of business with the proper login and password, which are given to any library cardholder in good standing.  

   

   

Several staff members completed continuing education webinars during the month of November.  The library strives to keep on top of the latest library trends and topics by attending online and face to face meetings.  Children’s Librarian Michelle Mims traveled to Richmond, Texas to attend a workshop on incorporating STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) in Preschool Storytime.  Popular workshop presenter Kim Lehman inspired the group with ideas and hands on activities to take back to their libraries and schools.  Other staff members who weren’t able to attend will have a chance to view the archived webinar on the topic.  Storytime and Babygarten programs continue to take place weekly.  The little ones and their parents/caregivers enjoy weekly themed stories, songs, crafts and activities.

Teens from Anahuac and Mont Belvieu traveled to the local theater to see the latest book to movie release based on the popular Harry Potter spinoff series by J.K. Rowling.  The groups enjoyed hanging out with each other and talking about the movie afterwards. 

 

The tween crowd at Winnie enjoyed a Diary of a Wimpy Kid party on the 3^rd.  Kids enjoyed games based on the book series, and had some green screen fun taking pictures. 

Homeschool programs were held at all Chambers County Library System branches during the month of November.  The Anahuac branch held a homeschool craft club, while Winnie and Mont Belvieu did their monthly “Homeschool Explorers” program. 

The adults also had several programs to take part in during November.  Anahuac held their monthly craft program along with a special six part t-shirt quilting course.  Winnie held another adult coloring program on the 8^th, and Mont Belvieu held an e-couponing class, and also participated in a “NaNoWriMo” (National Novel Writing Month) which was live streamed from California.  NaNoWriMo is held annually to allow participants time to write towards the goal of a 50,000-word novel within the month of November. 

The Library Advisory Board met on the 8^th to discuss any proposed policy changes.  Members meet quarterly at the Chambers County Library in Anahuac.  Long time board member Marlin Moore stepped down after 9 years of service and was presented with a plaque recognizing him for his leadership, and diligent efforts on behalf of Chambers County residents.  To fill his expired term, Heather Puppa of Mont Belvieu will begin serving with the board in February. 

                    

Library Board Members: Sarah Kathan, Sammy Little, Marlin Moore, and Susie Davis.   Notpictured are: Rhonda LeBlanc and Carolyn Caldwell

As the fiscal year winds down, the library begins to receive calls from vendors to schedule meetings to share their latest books and products.   We’ve already started the process of purchasing books for 2017.  These books won’t be delivered until after January 1, and will then go through the cataloging and processing steps before they reach the branches. 

The library recently purchased Library Aware, a marketing software for libraries.  This allows us to connect with readers and keep them engaged using templates and tools to create flyers, bookmarks, and more for promoting books and resources throughout the library.  We’re looking forward to implementing this in early 2017.

Until next month!

This was our busiest September to date at the Chambers County Library System with over 20,000 items circulated.

September began with programs catered to our tiniest patrons.  Storytime and Babygarten started the week of September 6^th at all the libraries with crowds that didn’t disappoint.  Our traditional storytime programs feature songs, stories, crafts and activities for the 6 and under crowd, while our newest program Babygarten, focuses on music, rhymes, and developmental skills for babies up to 24 months.  Babygarten has proven to be a huge success, and the children’s staff is to be commended for the fantastic job they have done planning and implementing programs for each of these age groups.  Newest children’s staff member Jinnie McClennan and Teen Programmer Shelby Fielding attended a Transforming Preschool Storytime workshop where they learned some tips on early literacy skills and engaging children with stories. 

On the 19th we held our annual Summer Reading planning meeting. This meeting (which used to be held in February) is our first attempt to strategize and brainstorm ideas for the upcoming summer reading program. Key staff from all the branches attended and shared ideas for programs, received important deadline dates, and talked about new ideas that we can incorporate for the next year.

Zydeco dance classes were back by popular demand at Anahuac on the 8^th.  Staff member LaShebia Haskin held a Basic Zydeco dance class to get Anahuac residents prepared for Gatorfest.  The meeting room was packed with people learning the basic twists and turns.  Another class is scheduled for November. 

Homeschool programs are now offered at each branch in the system.  Anahuac’s monthly craft club allows for students of all ages to get creative with unique crafts.  Winnie and Mont Belvieu hold a monthly geography program featuring a specific country each month.  Fun facts and activities are shared with the group as they travel to different countries each month.  Mont Belvieu also held a Homeschool Orientation for anyone interested in learning more about library resources available to the public.  Providing programs for homeschoolers has proven to give families in the area different opportunities in their day-to-day learning.   Nothing we do is curriculum based, but done to supplement the home education done by parents.  Our job as librarians is to provide the space, the resources, and promote library services to all groups that come in the library.  

County Librarian Valerie Jensen taught a book mending class for staff members assigned to repair books.  There are several specialized techniques for repairing books with torn pages, broken spines, and even tattered corners.  Special supplies are ordered yearly so that we can prolong the life of some of our most popular books. 

The Chambers County Library in Anahuac and Juanita Hargraves Memorial Branch in Winnie held Hispanic Heritage Month programs for the public, which is traditionally celebrated September 15-October 15.  Traditional foods, crafts, and music were enjoyed, while the staff presented facts about the five Latin American countries that celebrate their independence each year.  Both programs had packed rooms and it was great to see patrons come together and be educated on heritage and culture. 

September 25 - October 1 was Banned Books Week for libraries across the nation.  Banned Books Week was celebrated, so to speak, at all three libraries, with very interesting, and different, displays at each site. The displays tended to generate discussion by the patrons with the staff, some of it not quite what we might have expected!  But that, of course, is part of the whole effort behind Banned Books Week – to get people talking about censorship, the books that have been challenged, and to get them thinking about their own opinions of the same.

In personnel news, Kellee Traylor joins the CCLS team at the Mont Belvieu location.  Kellee will be providing front desk relief as well as assisting with programs as needed.  Kellee’s first day was on the 28^th so stop by and say hi!

In historical news, A. Lynette Parsons was hired as a part-time employee to help take on the task of digitizing and cataloging historical items from the museum and library.  The library acts as a liaison to the Historical Commission and with the museum temporarily closed, this allows us to bring some order to the items inside the building so that the public can have access to viewing images, artifacts, and documents that have been hidden away for many years.  

Until next month!