Done done and done!

YAY LATI is done. The showcase was great...it really was like being at a science fair. Knowing ahead of time that I didn't have to get up and talk was a great relief. Now it's time to focus on trying to get ready for the building to ...ahem...CLOSE. I've heard this rumor but I don't know how true it is. I'm thinking that we'll get a call from Director John next week and he'll give us 2 days to close up. We WILL be ready.

The night before Show Time

I know I have to get some sleep pretty soon, but I'm sort of wired right now. I'm wondering how much I'll miss going into the LATI website all the time. Not that I'll have more free time. Seems like there's always something else to do. I'm glad it will be available to us for a while longer. I like reading what others have written, and there are 3 staff from Allegany who are doing it now. I remember when Sherry and I first started it, I was calling Pam and Nora (they took it right before us) with all kinds of questions. They were great answering what we asked...NOT answers of course...but it was nice that they calmed fears and all. We're doing the same thing for Pat and Ginny...sort of like being cheerleaders I guess. They all laughed when I told them one of the most memorable things I saw was COFFEE-IN-A-BOX at the first face to face meeting. I had never seen that before and had to ask how it poured. But would you believe that on our way to a TIG meeting last week...we stopped at a coffee bar in Cumberland before we started out and they had them there!! Now if we could only get a Panera here!

MLA

It was funny that MLA was brought up during the conference today. While I was talking to my director before the Board meeting, he asked me if I wanted to go to it! OCEAN CITY!! I've never been there although I was in Salisbury a few months ago for a workshop and saw that I was about 30 miles away from there. It was the first time I went over the Bay Bridge. Twice. Going and coming. Very impressive. So I need to check with him to see about taking the display board with us. I've never been to an MLA convention before but I have attended 2 ALAs...winter one in Boston (YAY ME) and last year the one in DC. After the first one, the lesson I really learned was to watch what I pick up to bring home. There is so much STUFF. I learned to be selective.

Thoughts continued

I enjoyed the telebridge conference today. A couple of the questions that were asked had been in my mind too, especially the question about having to actually stand up and give a presentation at the showcase. I'm feeling less nervous now that I know I DON'T have to... this speaking to a lot of people has always been a bad thing for me. In school we had to give oral book reports at the front of the classroom. I never did complete one because I'd start laughing and couldn't stop. The teachers finally realised it would never happen. I didn't make it back in time for the game this afternoon. I had to speak to our Board of Trustees. What started out as a 10-15 minute presentation took a bit longer than I thought. This wasn't a "crowd" but I was still sweating it. I didn't get back until 5:30 so I missed out. I was looking at my planner this afternoon and I can't believe I have so many outreach programs scheduled for next week. What was I thinking??? The showcase is only days away!!!

Thoughts on the past few months

I'm standing here thinking about all that has gone on in the past few months. Wow. It doesn't seem like it has been months. I know the whole LATI thing intimidated me at first because I kept hearing how much time it took and this made me nervous. Even though we are a small branch, I still multi-task. I'm the branch manager and childrens services, and there are just 2 full time staff: Sherry and me. I was worried that I wouldn't have the time that was required. With a lot of support from my supervisor, Lisa M., I brought our sub Sharon in which allowed me time in the workroom. What a pleasant surprise it was to see that most of the work to be done for LATI was covered by workshops I had attended over the years. The biggest difference I saw was LATI dug a little deeper and was a bit more detailed. It WAS time consuming to finish the resources and it all got done. I'm having fun working on our project: I do not like having my picture taken and I can't stand to listen to my voice narrating photo story. I did a photo story a couple of years ago and didn't like my voice then. It's worse now. Oh well.
....to be continued.....

Last minute things

Well. I finally finished my resources. I can't believe it. I've been checking over the whole gimongus notebook to make sure I have it all and didn't forget something....like a module feedback? I feel like a weight has lifted off of me...this was the hardest part of all I thought. The resources took a lot of time for me, but now that IM DONE it seems well worth it. Again I didn't know how far behind I was until last night. AND...I have noticed that I did forget something after all. Dan. DAN PINK. I never wrote anything about "A whole new mind". Talk about tying up loose ends. I should get back to that one tonight or tomorrow. I am looking for do our project. I don't think it will be as hard as the resources.

Thursday blog

I was reading the first of the "28 day countdown" and I noticed the wonderful adjectives that were used...prepared, excited, relaxed, well rested. Does NERVOUS count???

Project and other things

I think the 28 day countdown is going to make me panic. Really. I'm backtracking to make sure I didn't skip over/miss too many things and I'm playing catch up. My notebook is up to date; I'm finishing up other things. I'm glad to have some down time this weekend...that means no distractions and more work done. And yes, once again my building's closing date has been moved back. This makes the third time. I/we may know for sure next Thursday when the new date is set. This has totally messed things up for Sherry and I. The biggest things I've learned from this are a. Don't put too much faith in schedules and b. Make sure you have a Plan B. We had it all set that we would be moving right along in February to go to another branch at least one day a week to work on our project. Not happening. BUT...here we have a Plan B. Thank goodness for our sub, Sharon. She's going to be working a lot in the next few weeks. Then, Laura (being EXTREMELY nice) told me there's no internet connection where the showcase will be held. Oh. Okay. Since I had no clue what an aircard is...well I called Jason our computer guy. Oh. Okay. That's out then. HA...move on to another Plan B. The reason I deserve an A is for coming up with all these Plan B's! I hope I don't have to come up with Plans C and D. I know everything will eventually fall into place...after all...we've been working our project for the past 2 months!

Google

Did youse type in your names with ""'s? Sherry just had me do it...we're in the workroom working on LATI. I was totally amazed!! I had a mess of hits. I see what she means by going public. Wow.

Face to Face

I guess we made the right decision on Thursday 16 January. I had to call Honore early that morning to tell her we were under a "winter weather advisory". Sherry said that if we didn't go, the weather would hold and if we did go the weather would turn nasty. So the decision was made and we didn't go. Less than an hour after calling Honore, it starting snowing. We ended up with snow and sleet. Schools let out and our system closed down early. We heard that the traffic on Sideling was maybe 30 mph. THAT'S a scary place! First time ever I listened to my gut-feeling. But I was sorry we missed the program because whenever I go to one of these workshops, I pick up a lot of new/useful stuff. Maybe another time. maybe in good weather.

LATI assignments

I'm finally catching back up. We're taking a break from weeding, pitching and tossing and all of that for the rest of the week. I brought a sub in today and tomorrow so Sherry and I can take turns in the workroom and get busy. I thought I'd start with assignments that are due this week, and then work backwards. I had no idea until this afternoon just how far behind I was. I'm glad my supervisor knows/understands what we've been going through. I really like the health module. It makes things so much easier when you can understand what you're reading. I couldn't stand the Maryland Share portion of the community information module. I did find out that the girl who had been working on it a LONG time ago gave it up and no one has worked it since then. It made that assigment very difficult. It took a long time to complete and my frustration level was over the top. I'm really excited about the Readers Advisory meeting this week. I've seen Kelly Vikstrom in action a few times and she knows her stuff. She ALWAYS gives great presentations. (She's coming to Allegany in the spring to do a workshop). So maybe I'll be totally back on track the end of the week. I hope it doesn't snow Thursday.

On YOUR list pt. 2

I was reading through the Publishers Weekly lists...especially the childrens books. I recognised quite a few that my library owns. Have you read the Knuffle Bunny books? Theye're so neat. Looking at all the titles made me realise what a job it is in doing the ordering for my branch. I'm partial to certain catalogs and websites and it's a shame my budget isn't bigger!

Kindle

You know what first struck me? No newspaper print/ink on one's hands! I think it's fine for people who like the latest technology/gadgets/toys...but I'm not particularly interested in one. I LOVE books...REAL books that I can hold in my hands no matter how big or small they may be. I LOVE the SMELL of new books. I don't even mind getting old-book-dust up my nose. Newspapers...I read local news, obits and front pages. I read my Boston Globe online (and the actual hard copy Globe is a huge newspaper). I think Kindles are a great idea...but not for me.

I can't say I'm really surprised....

I don't have much faith in schedules.IMO schedules are created to put ME in a get-it-done-right-now mode. For the past month, besides the network acting goofy, I've been weeding out my buiding, changing programs,pitching and tossing all sorts of things, and worst of all...putting to the side (a nice way of saying PUTTING OFF) other things I should have been doing (as in LATI). Well. An email came yesterday informing me that renovation has been postponed for a month. We were getting ready to close next Saturday, new schedules for Sherry and I had been made up...all sorts of things had been accomplished and set up. I think before November 2006 I would be majorly ticked off right now. That was when we were closed for minor repairs and a new roof..."they" said closed for 9 business days when we were actually closed for 3 weeks. See what I mean? I like the idea of an extra month though, because it's buying me some extra time to finish cleaning out and weeding. I wonder if it means I'm getting used to NON schedules?

Just an idea....

In Allegany County,up until maybe a year or two ago,the elementary schools had partnered with the Allegany County Arts Council.Art teachers submitted students artwork to the council, who in turn sent it on to the libraries. We all had big display boards showcasing the students works from the schools nearest to us. They were prominently displayed in the libraries (ours were in the lobby as you come in the door). The works were changed every so often during the school year and was a great opportunity for the whole community to enjoy.So many proud parents and students! I'm not sure why they stopped it but I wish they'd bring it back.

It's really gonna happen

December 21, 2007 10:57 pm
Reading room to enchant children
Westernport library getting renovations
Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News
WESTERNPORT — Local library branch manager Nancy Sudine has not gotten caught up in titles — for people, at least. But if she had to pick one to hang her hat on, it’d be director of children’s services.

It’s a good fit for the 21-year veteran. As she puts it, “that’s my niche.”

It might not be coincidence then, that the children’s storytime area at the Westernport Library is to be the “major jewel of the crown” of renovations, which begin early next year. The library is scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 and take a week to empty the building.

From Feb. 4 until its scheduled reopening on April 7, the inside of the library will be transformed. It’s the first major renovation to the 38-year-old building and should put the memories of the 1996 flood out of mind.

“It’s time,” Sudine said of the need for renovations.

John Taube, director of the Allegany County Library System, recently asked Sudine to come up with a theme of the storytime area as an enchanted forest. Because memories of the flood remain fresh in her mind, Sudine insisted the library “did not want anything to do with water. It was a bad experience cleaning up the muck and the mud.”

Sudine chose an enchanted forest theme. It’s one that makes sense, she said.

“When you look around this end of Allegany County, you see forests, trees,” Sudine said.

In fact, trees are going to play a major role in the renovations — literally. Tree stumps are going to be configured to serve as the end panels of bookshelves.

“They are gorgeous,” Sudine said.

The upcoming renovations have Sudine and her staff excited. Working with Andrea DePalatis, of Spectrum Design in Frostburg, Cumberland’s Terry Bachman of Tangram Woodworks is using his expertise to add to the natural scenery look of the area. Sculptor Kurt Bonello of Everett, Pa., is using natural objects — glass and stone — for a creation to hang from the ceiling.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Sudine said. “We’re doing a happy dance.”

Sudine and the library’s loyal patrons have a lot to look forward to. Beginning with the storytime area, “it’s going to be completely different,” Sudine said.

The current project will rewire the facility and allow it to handle computers — something not thought of in 1969, Taube said. There also will be new furniture, new carpet and the inside will be painted. The meeting room also will be renovated.

“We want to make the place as warm and welcoming and bright and colorful as the community and the staff there is,” Taube said. “It’s a real piece of the community.”

A local artist is creating a sculpture to display and a local woodworker is helping to build the child’s storytime area.

The building was constructed in 1969 and opened the following year. After the 1996 flood damage, carpet and some furniture was replaced, Taube said, but the building still had needed repairs and updates. It received a new floor and roof last year at a cost of about $122,000.

The remaining $23,000, combined with other money from a 2006 bond issue the county borrowed, created a total of $80,000 in county funding for the current project.

Taube has acquired about $63,000 in state grants — matched with county funding — to help complete the project, said county Finance Director Jerry Frantz.

“They will have a pretty nice library when it’s all said and done,” Frantz said.

Taube said he’s thankful county officials recognize the need for this project and hopes they are as generous with future improvement.

Taube knows how much the town celebrates and patronizes its library. He might not be aware of the depth of their excitement, however. Sudine said casual conversation led to the idea of having a party when the library reopens.

That talk led to the possibility of a full-scale parade — complete with children pushing shopping carts like those used in libraries down Main Street.

“It’s so exciting,” Sudine said.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.

No network

Last week was a horrible week. We had no network in our building...or in town for that matter...from Monday until Friday.Power went out at the tower and Allconet was totally down. No circ. No internet. It made for an interesting week. We hooked our computer in the back room up to the web ramp which meant no fax machine. I forgot how slow dial-up was. AWFUL slow. AND...no scanner. All the barcodes and every number coming our way had to be typed in by hand. This couldn't have happened at a worse time. We had piles of deletions waiting to be scanned. Piles of returned books to be scanned. Thursday we were up and down so fast it made us dizzy. I've never seen Sherry discouraged before.(Not a pretty sight!) A big thank you went out to my supervisor Lisa M. We scanned barcodes on a word document and got them to her during one of the 2-minute up phases and she took care of quite a bit of them for us. So thankful were we come Friday when the system went up and stayed up. What a backload to take care of.

Maryland Share for Allegany County

I'm having a problem with Maryland Share. I don't know who is "in charge" of it if anybody. Any information for Allegany County (and there isn't much) is outdated. I didn't have time to look at other counties but I will today. I'm having the same problem with my town...there isn't a whole lot of anything posted wherever I've looked. This is going to prove to be a challenge to locate information. It's making me wonder how in the world I've answered any questions pertaining to community programs in the past other than what I already know.We do have a link on our homepage but it doesn't cover everything I'm searching for. Another good lesson for me.

Reference Challenge

And it became a REAL challenge for me today. I've been writing, erasing, neatening up my answers on paper for weeks now. So...today was the day I was going to type it all in. I brought a sub in so I could take my time and stay in the workroom working on this. I had 2 questions left to answer. I LOST THE WHOLE THING.All my B-D answers. Talk about being a crybaby. There went more time while I redid it. DONE! FINALLY!

Time Off ?

I'm off for FOUR days this week...no traveling, no work and bad luck to my kids...no babysitting either. I'm playing catch up on all sorts of things...LATI homework included. Now if I could just stay off Fox News online...and especially GretaWire. I'm addicted to her blog!