The-Librarian-Blog

Chambers County Library System – January, 2013

January 1 is always the library’s favorite day of the year.  It’s the day our new budget kicks in, and we can take a deep breath knowing we don’t have to squeak by like we do in the later months of the year. Our vendors start calling in November to reserve their spot to show off their new titles and products we desperately want to provide for our patrons.  We try to stay within our budget to provide for the public, but it’s always a balancing act since there are so many new services libraries can offer. 

A couple of those new services we will start offering in March include, ChiltonLibrary and Powerspeak Languages.  Chilton is a familiar name with those who frequent our auto repair section.  Patrons will be able to log in with their library card and print or view maintenance, repair, or recall information.   The online Chilton library covers current vehicles all the way back to 1940.  Of course those Chilton books will still be available for checkout!  Powerspeak Languages is our next new database.  It’s a wonderful tool to learn a new language.  Powerspeak has been compared to Rosetta Stone in its success rate and ease of use with video/audio tutorials and interactive lessons.   Languages that will be available are Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, and English (ESL). 

Online services are increasingly popular with libraries and Chambers County Library System is proof of that.  In December our website saw over 6,000 hits that took patrons to places like Overdrive for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks.  Free downloadable music, free newspaper access, Ancestry, resume makers, and hundreds of other informative databases are heavily used each month.  If you haven’t checked them out lately, go to the library’s website at www.chambers.lib.tx.us  and click on the image slider to explore something new!

The Juanita Hargraves Memorial Library in Winnie held a Community Book Swap sponsored by some East Chambers ISD teachers.  Lisa Ledoux and Kellie Rogers brought books to swap with patrons who either wanted something new, or decided to donate to the cause.  Quite a few patrons took advantage of the swap and requested more in the future. 

In other programming highlights, Anahuac offered a Spring gardening class and the Book Club celebrated 5 years with a trip to Luna’s.  Winnie held a teen Superhero day, and Hobbit Day along with their Community Book Swap.  And this year, Mont Belvieu took on the Anime Winter Ball with teens from Anahuac and Mont Belvieu coming together to talk anime, manga, draw, play videogames, and enjoy a night at the library sharing common interests. 

And finally, it’s that time of year where tax forms are in high demand.  This year the IRS is delivering forms and booklets as they become available.  For taxpayers who can file their return beginning January 30, those forms have been received and are available free of charge at your local branch.  Forms that can’t be filed beginning January 30 are not yet available.  Check back or call to check the status of tax form and booklet deliveries.

Until next month!