Celebrating Our Freedom to Read – Banned Books Week

The library is celebrating banned books week September 25 – Oct 2. “Even though not every book will be right for every reader, the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely are core American values,” said Barbara Jones, director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”

Lauren Myracle’s best-selling young adult novel series "ttyl," the first-ever novels written entirely in the style of instant messaging, tops the ALA’s Top Ten list of the Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009.

Two books are new to the list: Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer and “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult. Both Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” and Robert Cormier’s “The Chocolate War” return after being dropped from the list in 2008.

For nearly 20 years, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has collected reports on book challenges. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed or restricted because of content or appropriateness. In 2009, OIF received 460 reports on efforts to remove or restrict materials from school curricula and library bookshelves.

Though OIF receives reports of challenges in public libraries, schools, and school libraries from a variety of sources, a majority of challenges go unreported. OIF estimates that its statistics reflect only 20-25% of the challenges that actually occur.

The ALA’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle

Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs

2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

Reasons: Homosexuality

3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee

Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult

Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker

Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier

Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Come to the library to see our display of books that have been banned over the past 20 years and celebrate our freedom to read.

Computer Classes

The library is offering both beginning and advanced computer classes. On March 1 at 2:00 pm we will be having ‘Mousing Around’. This class teaches you how to use your computer mouse to navigate around your computer.

At 6:30 pm on March 1, we will be showing you how to connect with friends and businesses using email. The class is called ‘Email with Yahoo! Email’. You will find out how to set up your own free email account and how to use it.

On Monday March 29th at 6:30 we will be offering an advanced computer class on EBay. If you want to learn how to buy and sell items on this popular site, come to this special library class.

All of the classes are free. They are hands on. You will be able to practice on one of our new laptop computers.

We will be offering basic classes such as the email and mouse ones every month. There will be a different advanced class each month. In April we will be showing you how to download free audiobooks and ebooks from the Kansas State Library’s website. You can find information about the dates and time for the classes online at cvillepublib.org or you can come by the library for a copy of our newsletter which lists the information about all of our programs.

If you have any special class, advanced or beginning, that you would like us to offer please let us know.

You must register to save a place for you in the class. You can register by calling 785-251-1370 or at the desk in the library.

Movie Nights at the Library

Every third Thursday we have Movie Night at the Library from 6:00 to about 8:00.  If you would like to enjoy a good movie and some popcorn, come join us.  You can find out the title of the movie when you come to the library. We have the title of the movie posted for a week before the show.

Bring some friends and enjoy Movie Night at the Library!

Southeast Kansas Library System

Coffeyville Public Library is part of the Southeast Kansas Library System. SEKLS is headquartered in the Iola Public Library. It serves fifteen counties of southeast Kansas. Most services are offered to and through local libraries like ours. Membership in SEKLS is held by 54 public libraries, 41 school districts, 7 college/university libraries and 2 special libraries.

SEKLS provides many services to its member libraries. During 2009, 23 workshops or other continuing education events were offered. A total of 528 people attended these workshops. SEKLS also proves Interlibrary Loan, Cataloging and Rotation Book services.

A consultant from SEKLS maintains patron contacts, distributes informational materials, visit patrons and institutions to implement the Special Needs Services. Related services include Talking Books, BiFolkal kits, Descriptive Video Services videos, Braille/print/picture books and recreational therapy aids.

2009 was the fist full year of SEKnFind, a regional shared integrated library system (ILS). SEKnFind libraries, including Coffeyville, share a common catalog, facilitating resource sharing in the region. User can search all collections simultaneously, place holds on books regardless of their location, make comments on books, make purchase requests, renew books, review their reading history, and their current circulation status. SEKnFind currently has 16 active members and 5 additional libraries who are in the process of joining, These libraries exchanged 14,716 items among themselves during 2009.

A Youth Services Consultant assists libraries in improving children’s programs, collections, and services.

Coffeyville Public Library receives an annual allocation (grant) from SEKLS. During 2009, SEKLS awarded a total of $22,687 in Equipment Grants and $60,972 in Material Delivery Grants to offset the cost of interlibrary load shopping expenses.

SEKLS provides great individual help and advices to member libraries as needed. SEKLS staff made consulting 774 visits to member libraries during 2009.

Technology consultants help our library in acquiring and using computers and other technology. They also solve computer programs, etc.

SEKLS is funded largely by a property tax on property not already being taxed to support a local public library and by state aid. In 2009 the mill levy was 1.225 mills.

To find out more about the Southeast Kansas Library System you can visit their website at www.sekls.lib.ks.us

Old Pictures

The library is trying to pictures of Old Downtown Coffeyville preferably from the 50's or any decade. If you have any picture you would like to share, please email or scan a copy for the library. We have people in all the time looking for old photos of Coffeyville and you picture just might be the one they are looking for. Thanks

Computer Classes

We have four computer classes and one drop in help session scheduled in February.

Mousing Around - Feb 1 at 2:00 - learn how to use a computer mouse
Yahoo! Email  - Feb 1 at 6:30 - find out about using Yahoo! Email
Facebook - Facebook is the largest social networking site. Linda and Cindy will show you how to get the most out of it.  Feb 22 at 6:30 and Feb 23 at 2:00

Drop-In Help Feb 17 at 10:00

Registration is required. Call 620-251-1370 or come by the circulation desk to register.

Free Resume Workshop

Looking for a job?  Don't miss this special Resume Workshop!

On Tuesday Jan 26 at 1:00 the Library is hosting a free resume workshop.

Resume expert Barbara Safani will teach you how to create a powerful, effective resume that gets attentions - and interviews.

Find out how to make your resume WOW!

 * Write a powerful profile and skills summary that show who valuable your experience is to hiring managers
 * Transform a list of job tasks into powerful success stories.
 * Leverage education and internships to prove you have "the right stuff" to do that job.
 * Use resume design templates to help you stand out from the crowd.

This resume workshop is hosted by Tutor.com

We hope to see you in the Community Room at the Library on Tuesday Jan. 26th at 1:00.