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.

Automatically Yours

The Coffeyville Public Library is starting a new service called Automatically Yours. Tell us which fiction authors whose new books you want to read and we’ll automatically put you on reserve for each new book from those authors. We will then let you know when it’s ready to check out. No more having to be alert to when a new book is published or if you’ve reserved it yet or not.

You can add or drop authors from your automatic reserve list at any time by asking at the desk.

We have a list of 105 authors that we will reserve for you. Some of the authors are David Baldacci, Dan Brown, Janet Evanovich, W.E.B. Griffin, Dean Koontz, Karen Kingsbury, Terry Goodkind, James Patterson and Danielle Steel.

You can pick up the Automatically Yours form at the desk in the library

Library Foundation Silent Auction

The Library Foundation's holiday fund raiser this year is a silent auction of 3 baskets and an original painting by Sylvia Rutledge.

One basket was donated by the 1st United Methodist Church and contains chocolate, holiday mugs and lots of fun food for the holiday.

Two baskets were donated by the libray staff. One is a "Curl up and Read" basket. It has mugs, chocolate and some light reading in it. The other is for someone who would like to be up and doing. It has work gloves, batteries, duct tape as well as two action DVD's.

The centerpiece of the the auction is an awesome landscape by Svlvia Rutledge.

The auction will end at noon on Saturday Dec. 19th. Come in and bid often to support the library foundation.

Southeast Kansas Community Action Grant

We have received a grant from the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program for $5,969.95 to start our computer lab! We will purchase 5 laptop computers that we will use for free, public computer classes.

The classes will begin in January. They will range from the very beginning computer use such as 'Taming Your Mouse" to more advanced Internet topics such as "How to Ebay". If you would like to have a class on a particular subject, just let me know in the comments section below this blog.

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, we thought we would share a bit of Thanksgiving history.

Thanksgiving has been an American tradition for many years. In 1621 the pilgrims with the Wampanoags held a three day celebration. Only half of the people who came to America on the Mayflower had survived. These survivors, including 4 women and several children, gave thanks for the harvest that would help them live through the next winter.

George Washington proclaimed a Thanksgiving in December 1777 as a victory celebration honoring the defeat of the British at Saratoga. In October 1789, President Washington created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America. Several Thanksgiving Days were proclaimed in the following years, not all of them in the autumn.

New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom in 1817. By the middle of the 19th century, 25 states and two territories celebrated a Thanksgiving Day.

President Lincoln, in 1863, was the first president to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday at the behest of Sarah Josepha Hale, who had spent 40 years writing to congressmen, lobbying five presidents, and writing countless editorials in her campaign to create an official day of thanks.

Every president since Lincoln has declared a Thanksgiving Day. For most years it has been the fourth Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, 1940 and 1941 declared it to be the third Thursday in November so that the Christmas shopping season would be longer. This aroused such uproar that he changed it back to the fourth Thursday.

To find out more about Thanksgiving the library has many books about the holiday. You can check out books about Thanksgiving crafts, traditions, and stories of the pilgrims. We also have a great selection of cookbooks if you want to add something special to your feast. Many popular authors for adults and children, including Janet Evanovich, Eve Bunting, Jennifer Chiaverini and Dav Pilkey, have written books that include the Thanksgiving holiday.

International Magic Week

October 25-31 is International Magic Week. It is the week leading up to Harry Houdini's birthday Oct. 31. It is a time to celebrate magicians and the world of magic.

Coffeyville magician, Pete Walterscheid, the World's 41,532nd Greatest Magician, has a display of items he uses in his performance on display at the library. You can visit Pete's webpage to find out more about him. http://www.magicbypete.com/

Come by a see the display and check out a book or two about magic.

Community Bulletin Board

We have completed the new bulletin board for the lobby of the library. There are three sections to it. One is for the Genealogy Society, one is for Library events and the middle section is for Community Events.

If you have a poster or flyer for a community event that people in Coffeyville and the surrounding area might be interested in, bring it to the library and we will post it. All items must be taken to the circulation desk before they can be posted.

Drop by to see what is happening in the Library and in Coffeyville.

New At the Library

A new evening book club is forming. The first meeting will be after our author visit on Monday Sept. 14th at 6:30. Anyone interested in sharing their ideas about books is welcome to come.

Sept. 14 at 6:30, Christian-fiction author, Terrye Robins, will be our guest speaker at the first evening book club meeting. This teacher-turned-author will be sharing information about her writing career and giving reviews of her fun mystery novels.

If you are looking for inspirational fiction, you can find it easily, thanks to our new labels. Clear lavender labels are now on most of the inspirational fiction books and DVD’s. Thanks to Debbie Fesler for implementing this project.

Our new Community Bulletin Board is located in the lobby of the library. We will display items of community interest in the center section of the board. Genealogical information will be on the left side and information about library programs will be on the right side. Please check at the desk if you want to have your community information on our board. Thanks to Elaine Wylie for making this project possible.

Welcome Bags are now available to people who are new to the community. When a newcomer gets a library card he or she will also receive a bag that contains information about Coffeyville and Kansas. Linda McFall and Cindy Powell created and produced the Welcome Bags. We would like to thank Country Mart for their donation of ‘green bags’ to hold the information.

Grants from the Gates Foundation and the Southeast Kansas Library System have allowed us to have two new computer workstations for people to use. These computers have Microsoft Word and Excel as well access to the Internet. We were also able to replace one of the computers in the Children’s area with a new one.

Yoga and Pilate classes are continuing. However the Pilates time has moved to Fridays from 9:00-10:00. Yoga classes are Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30. The instructor, April Foreman, provides very good workouts. No registration is required.

We are still giving Library Foundation book bags to anyone who writes a book review. It is easy. Just tell us what you liked or didn’t like about a book. You can find reviews from patrons on our website, cvillepublib.org. Thanks to Joy Duvall for spearheading this project.

Once a month we will have movie night at the library. The dates are Sept 17, Oct 29 and Nov 19. The shows start at 6:30. We provide the popcorn. The DVD’s will be current popular movies. Adrian Keith is the staff member who is making the movies possible.

A children’s movie will be shown on some of the days when school is not in session. The first one of this series will be on Sept 16th at 2:00. It will be a popular movie for grade school children. Again we will provide the popcorn.

Wii for Teens is a program for young people who come to the library to play Wii games on our new 46” TV. Wii for teens is on Wednesdays at 3:30. We also have Wii for Kids on Tuesday evenings at 6:30.

Starting Oct 1, we will be having a very special storytime for 2 year olds and their special adults. This will be a 20 minute program of songs, rhymes and stories. Tot Time for Twos will begin at 9:15 each Thursday. Registration is required for this program.

We are beginning a monthly newsletter. New issues will be available about the 15th of each month. If you want to know what is happening at the library, read reviews written by other patrons, see what classes and activities are available, be sure to pick one up.

Library's Facebook

The Coffeyville Library now has a Facebook Fan page. Facebook is a social network that connects people with friends, family and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends and family through pictures and quick postings. Facebook is becoming the fastest growing networking site in the country. Currently the average Facebook user is female and 35 to 40 years of age, with the over 55 age group a close second. This allows grandparents to stay current with their grandchildren and children. So if you haven’t already, now is the time to join facebook and become a FAN of the Coffeyville Library.

Homework Kansas

The new school year will be starting soon and homework will become a part of life for many students. Have you ever wanted to get some help with your or your favorite student's homework? If so Homework Kansas is for you!

This online service will connect students with live tutors to help them understand their homework assignments. The tutors will help with the questions but will not give the answers.

Subjects for assistance include math, science, English and social studies. Assistance in Spanish is offered in the subject areas of math, science and social studies. An interactive screen is available for students to see how math problems work. You can upload a file so that you and the tutor can work on it together.

Help is offered through a K-12 Center, College Prep Center, and Adult Career Center.

People at any of the centers can work with a live tutor or use the Skills Center: Resource Library that has thousands of worksheets, tutorials and study guides.

New to the service is college entrance practice tests like ACT and SAT, graduate school exams like GRE and LSAT, Advanced Placement, ASVAB and TOEFL, and GED prep tests. HomeworkKansas will also offer assistance with sample resumes and cover letters, financial literacy and assistance with proofreading of papers.

You can get to Homework Kansas by going to our library website http://www.cvillepublib.org/ then clicking on the Young Adult link, then clicking on the words "Homework Kansas"

Check or Die

We have begun an inventory project at the library. While we are going through all of the books we find some that look interesting but no one has checked them out. We are putting these lonely books on a special display called "Check or Die"

If someone finds one of these books interesting and checks it out, the book is saved. It will go back to its place on the shelves. However if it stays on the display for three weeks and no one chooses it, it will die. Well, it will not really be destroyed, but it will be put in the book sale where we hope someone will give it a home.

Review a Book

Joy has started a book review page on our website. If you would like to have your book suggestions on the page, just email her at jduval@cvillepublib.org. or you can pick up an easy form at the library. You will get a neat canvass tote bag, just for telling her what you liked about a book.

You can review any book, fiction or non-fiction. You do not have to like the book to review it. Sometimes knowing that a book is not worth reading will save other people the time of reading it.

To review a book send Joy the title of the book and the author. Tell here what the book is about, what you espceailly liked/disliked about it, then rate it 1. Don't bother, 2 Only as a sleep aid, 3 It's worth reading 4. Really good! I'd recommend it! 5. A Must Read!

New at the Library

We now have Wii gaming for children and teens! Children can come to the library on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 and Wednesday afternoons at 3:00 to play on the new library Wii. Miss Cindy will be organizing the games in the Junior side of the library.

On Tuesday afternoons at 3:00, teens will be able to play the Wii games in the Community room. We have basketball, tennis, golf, and boxing, some brain games and a Dance, Dance Revolution.

Friday afternoons at 2:00 we are showing a children’s movie on our new 42” monitor. Families are welcome to come and enjoy a cool hour or two watching a favorite Friday Flick.

We are able to present these programs thanks to the efforts of the Coffeyville Public Library Foundation, which purchased the Wii console, games, monitor and cart. The Foundation provides its support through the quarterly book sales and memberships. Membership in the foundation is $10 for individuals and $15 for families yearly. In addition to knowing that you are helping the library, foundation membership allows you half price for the community room rental, photocopying and fax services, and fines.

We are giving Library Foundation canvas tote bags to people who help us share there opinion about books. If you write a review, you will receive a tote bag. The review is simple. We ask that you tell us the title, the author, what the book is about, what you especially liked/disliked about it and a rating of don’t bother; only as a sleep aid, its worth reading, really good I’d recommend it, or a must read. With your permission, we will post the review on our website and have it available to people at the library.

You can see some reviews that are posted on our website, cvillepublib.org. Click on the Book Reviews tab at the bottom of the list on the left.

How To Make a Comment

If you have a favorite western book or any book that you would like to share with others, you can post a comment to this blog entry or any other 'post'. To make a comment, click on the word comment below and and new page will pop up.

In the box that says 'post a comment' write what you would like to share.

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I would really like to hear what you have to say about the library, books, internet sites or any form of information.