Seekonk Public Library News 3.5 Monday May 3, 2004 A monthly newsletter about the Seekonk Public Library http://www.seekonkpl.org news@seekonkpl.org _________________________________________________________________ Greetings from the Director, Sharon St. Hilaire: People have been asking how the Board of Library Trustee's decided when to close the library beginning July 1st. First, they examined use. Over 300 people use the library each day so technically there is no slow day. Fridays, however,are slightly less busy than all other days. Second, they used a loophole in the library's certification requirements. The State allows libraries to cut hours below the standards between Memorial Day and Labor Day without being decertified. Seekonk can close Saturday's and not be penalized. The library will be open again on Saturdays in September. This will be a difficult time for everyone but as always, our goal is to serve you to the best of our ability. ________________________________________________________________ *******************Friend's of the Seekonk Library************* The next FOL meeting will be May 10th at 7pm. The Friends meet in the Director's office. All are welcome!!! *************************************************************** Meet Marjorie Bradley – Technical Services Associate What, you may ask, does a Technical Services Associate do? Well, I process the orders for all materials chosen by senior staff members; I check to be sure we’re not duplicating items, send off orders to various vendors and keep track of the dollar amount of the materials we order. When all the wonderful new materials arrive I unpack them and make sure we’re being billed for what we’ve received. I then catalog everything – attaching holding records to all items so that when you search for an item in IBistro you will find what Seekonk owns; everything from magazines,to movies, books, talking books and reference materials. I also take care of discarding materials and oversee the mending of materials. I have a small core of dedicated volunteers who help in ways immeasurable to prepare new and mended materials for circulation. My professional journey to this position at Seekonk Public Library has been a rather convoluted one! I graduated from Burrillville High School and Johnson & Wales and worked for attorneys in Johnston and Providence. I then took time off to be an at-home mom and returned to work at Seekonk Congregational Church. I began at Seekonk Public Library as a circulation clerk in 1992 and then came to Technical services on a part-time basis in 1994. I now work 34 hours a week in the ‘back room’. I have lived in Seekonk with my husband Richard for over 25 years. I have two grown daughters; my oldest is currently living in Colorado and my youngest is a student at Rhode Island College and living at home. I have a step-daughter who lives in Dighton with her husband and two daughters. I have many hobbies including gardening,canoeing, hiking and camping. I can’t imagine life without reading! I read everything - the newspaper, magazines, catalogs and books of all types.Recently I have read My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult and The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg; both fiction titles. I am also reading The Working poor: invisible in America by David Shipler which is a heart wrenching look at the legions of underpaid service employees in America. *********************************************************** LIBRARY STATISTICS: March 2004 Items borrowed 24,878 Up by 5.7% Children's programs 30 Attendance 493 Reference Questions 1075 *********************************************************** MAY 2004 Program Highlights CHESS CLUB is scheduled on the following dates: Wednesday May 5th, May 12th & May 26th from 4pm to 5pm Tuesday May 18th from 4pm to 5pm STAMP CLUB will be meeting Saturday May 1st & May 15th from 2pm to 3pm MOVIES are scheduled every Friday between 3pm & 5pm LIBRARY LAPSIT is Friday May 7th at 10:30am Due to pre-registration program is full for this session KIDS ONLY READING CLUB will be hosting Animal stories by a special guest reader from Buttonwood Park Zoo Wednesday May 19th at 3:45pm Bring your favorite stuffed animal. PARENT-CHILD BOOK CLUB moderated by Mary & Abby Forget will be meeting Monday Night, May 17th at 6:30pm Meeting will be held in small computer room due to Election. FAMILY NIGHT - Animal Affair is back by popular demand on Monday, May 24th at 6:30pm. Meet this portable petting zoo from Seekonk with animals such as baby pigs, goats, sheep and more. Sponsored by Friends of Seekonk Public Library HOMESCHOOLING: A "How-To" Workshop for Adults Tuesday, June 1 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm Whether you are actively considering home education or are just curious about how it is done, this workshop is for you. Topics covered will include Making the Decision, Planning, Teaching and Support. Registration is preferred. ADULT Programs May 12, 2004 Wednesday 6:30pm hosted by Mel Simons. Return to those thrilling days of yesteryear and hear the actual recorded voices of some of Radio's greats COMPUTER CLASSES are still on going. Registration is required. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Times are available on our website www.seekonkpl.org Our library is closed Memorial Day, Monday May 31st. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~