Gates Chili Middle School Career Fair

Dear Librarian,

“Thank you for coming to the Career Fair. Your job was very different from the others in many ways. You get the most books of the ones I’ve seen. You get to enlighten children’s by reading to them… “

This is how the letter starts out I received yesterday from a 6th grade Gates Chili Middle School student. Each year the school coordinates a career fair for over 1,000 middle school students. This year the event took place May 8th. Throughout the day the students spoke to participants from different careers. The students asked the participants to describe their jobs, what education they had in school, what skill sets are required for their job, etc.

I found the kids to be inquisitive and well behaved. Patricia Cipolla did a great job coordinating the fair. The library had a career table with plenty of handouts (bookmarks, program guides) to give away, and samples of career books from the library. I had two clerical staff join me (Deb Amesbury and Carol Fogarassey), and one of my pages Declan related to the kids his experiences as well.

Some of the kids admitted to being active readers, while others said up front they don’t like to read. Kids will always tell you what’s on their mind. But even for the non-readers after talking to them we found common ground on topics they found of interest and we suggested they try us out. Overall it was a great experience for both students and participants.

CPL Teen Photo Contest - 73 photos and counting!

As of today the Chili Public Library has 73 photo entries from teens all across the county. What a great response from a group of talented teens. Be sure to come and see the show of photos Satruday, May 31 at 3 pm and cast your vote for the "viewer's choice".

Big Read Book Discussion

Chili Public Library’s Big Read on May 6th was a successful program with 20 people in attendance and some great discussions! We also had an in-library Big Read survey asking patrons if there was a specific book they could save from book burning what would it be? The responses were interesting and the Bible was the winner. Feel free to leave your comment of what book you would save from book burning.

The book under discussion was Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. For those present we had Fahrenheit 451 t-shirts, bottled water, fireballs, and spicy salsa with chips!

The next adult book discussion on June 3rd is Widow of the South by Roberts Hicks, and on July 1st the discussion is Wild Swans by Jung Chang. The CPL Book Discussions are sponsored by the Friends of the Chili Public Library. The program is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.

First Robotics Demonstration - 5/10/08

Welcome to the 21st century and beyond. This Saturday you will get a chance to have a hands-on look at robots. At 10a.m. and 1p.m. in the library’s multipurpose room, students from the Churchville-Chili High School will be demonstrating the robots they’ve created and entered in FIRST Robotics competitions.

FIRST is a worldwide program to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.

Churchville Chili High School has two FIRST Robotic teams and has won FIRST's highest honor the Chairman's Award, twice, and the Engineering Inspiration Award for the creation of a second team.

Coloring Contest at CPL

We have talented artists in our midst. Children's Librarian, Jenn Lindsey and Rebecca Czologz, 8, pose with Rebecca's winning coloring picture in the 6-8 year old category in the Chili Public Library's recent coloring contest. There were three age categories, - all three winners received a gift card to Borders. Come to the Children's area this week and see all of the children's entries.

Earth Day at the Library

Yesterday, several library staff during their lunch hour took part in this year’s Earth Day festivities, collecting up to 12 bags of refuse. Most of the litter was found down the embankment and in the creek on the eastside of the Town Hall/Library Complex. Terry Spurling and Pat Tindale organized the cleanup.

There were plenty of plastic bags and soda bottles to pick up. Other finds were a library card, hubcap, and a fire extinguisher. During our clean up it even began to lightly snow, but that didn’t last long as the snow pellets melted as soon as they touched the ground. Pat with her hip boots on came across a large and not too happy garter snake.

After the cleanup we felt glad knowing the area was left cleaner than we found it. Thanks to David Lindsey and his highway crew for picking up the bags soon after we were finished.

National Volunteer Week

The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. DeAnn Hollis

This week is National Volunteer Week and I extend my thanks to the dedicated and generous volunteers who give their time to the library. Each year the library shows it’s appreciation to our volunteers by having a luncheon in their honor. This year’s luncheon was Monday, April 28 in the library’s multipurpose room.

The library has 16 volunteers who perform a variety of tasks, such as pulling books from our shelves that were requested by patrons via computer, watering the library’s indoor plants, unloading totes delivered from other libraries, cleaning DVD’s and CD’s, etc. In 2007, the library also started a successful Dewey Duster program with volunteers adopting a shelf and keeping them clean and orderly.

Donna Belliveau our volunteer coordinator does a great job overseeing our volunteers. She also organized the luncheon. Three of the library’s trustees, Chris Reece, Jim Lechner, and Glenda Melville were present at the luncheon to express their thanks to the volunteers. Our volunteers help the library, by doing those extra tasks that would otherwise take time away from our staff to perform the jobs they do so well.

The Big Read – Fahrenheit 451

Imagine a world without books. A world where firemen instead of putting out fires, use fire to destroy the ideas and knowledge we hold most dear. That is the basis for Ray Bradbury’s futuristic book Fahrenheit 451, and is the book the Monroe County Library System has chosen as part of The Big Read.

The Big Read is a grants program begun by the National Endowment for the Arts in response to their 2004 study, Reading at Risk. The study uncovered a significant decline in literary reading among Americans. The Big Read attempts to reverse this trend by supporting the concept of one community reading one book over a scheduled period of time.

The Monroe County Library System will be offering programs based on the novel between April 13 and May 31. The Chili Public Library is offering a Book Discussion led by library staff on Fahrenheit 451 on Tuesday, May 6 at 7pm. The library will also be showing the movie Fahrenheit 451 on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30pm. No registration is required for either program.

For a list of the other Big Read programs in the Monroe County Library System
click here.

Chili Public Library Teen Photography Contest!

If you are a teenager and have a creative streak, don't' miss your chance to snap a photo and win the first ever Chili Public Library Teen Photography Contest! It's easy to enter and there are several ways to win! Submissions will be accepted May 1 through 15. No late entries will be accepted.

There is a first place $50 mall gift certificate; Second Place, $30 mall gift certificate; Third Place $20 mall gift certificate. All photos will be displayed in the library during the month of June, 2008, and winners will be featured on the Chili Public Library's website! A show of all photographs and a reception will be held at the library on Saturday, May 31 at 3 pm. There will also be a "viewer's choice" ($10 mall gift certificate) award, that will be voted on by patrons of the library that view the display. Votes for the “viewers choice” will be tallied on June 10.

Click here for more submission guidelines and good luck!

Tales for Tails! Program That Was Held Monday, April 14

The Tales for Tails! program was a big hit. Each child had a special moment with a therapy dog, and relished in the joy of reading. Dogs do not judge but sit back and listen with head on lap as the child learns to feel comfortable reading out loud. The library plans on having more Tales for Tails! programs in the future.

National Library Week, April 13-19, 2008

This week marks the 50th anniversary of National Library Week. Begun in 1958, it is a time to celebrate all things library.

Libraries have much to offer the community in terms of education, recreation and learning. During this week alone let’s see what the Chili Public Library has to offer.

On Monday April 14 the library welcomed families to read to therapy dogs at our Tales for Tails! Program. It was a very popular program drawing in over 50 people.

Also on Monday teenagers took part in the library’s Decorate a Drawstring Bag for ages 10-18.

On Tuesday, April 14th the library welcomes spring with a Spring Craft with Deb Coller program. The program is being held at 10 am and again at 11 am for ages 4-12.

In Jest, a comedy and variety show will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 11 am. This show is for all ages and no registration is required.

Books 'N' Nibbles, a book discussion for children in grades 1-3 will be held on Thursday, April 17 at 4-4:45 pm. We will be celebrating National Poetry Month by reading Take Me Out of the Bathtub by Alan Katz. Please call the library at 889-2200 x 321 to let us know if you will be coming.

Thursday evening the library is offering Family Movie Night! at 6:30 pm. It is a time to come and enjoy a family movie! Popcorn will be provided. No registration required. For information on the movie title call 889-2200 x321.

The library will be holding an Earth Day/Arbor Day program on Saturday, April 19 at 10 am. Where children ages 2-12 will come hear earth day stories, do a craft and take home their own tree to plant! This program is full.

During the week the library estimates to have over 1,600 people visit the library, with over 7,300 items being borrowed from the library, and staff responding to over 430 reference questions. A typical week in the life of a community library.

Renew your items from home

Though we love to see you at the Chili Public Library, there are several ways you can access your patron account from home. From a computer visit our webpage at chililibrary.org. On the left side of the webpage select ‘Renew Your Books’. Enter your library card number and your last name and you will see your patron account.

Here you will be able to check to see if you already have placed an item on hold. You can cancel your hold if you no longer require the item. You can also review items currently charged out to you, overdue items, or lost items.

You can renew items (two times per item) currently charged out to you. To do this after you log in, there is a "Renewal All" button to the left of the main screen or click on the "Checked Out" button to renew selected items. Please Note: Not all items can be renewed. You will get a message if they are not renewable.

Another way to renew items is by calling the Monroe County Library System Circulation Service at 428-4455. This is an automated service. All you need is your library card to use it.

Finally feel free to call the library directly at 889-2200 and one of our library staff will assist you if you have questions about your account.

Movies at the Library

If you’re like me popcorn and movies go together. Here at the library we have been serving popcorn at our monthly movies series. Recently the library completed a Sunday Movie Matinee’s series and showed such classics as ‘From Here to Eternity’, ‘Easter Parade’, ‘It Happened one Night’, and ‘Going My Way’. Every movie took place in the library’s multipurpose room. We will continue our tradition on May 8th at 6:30pm with a movie based on a ‘Mother’s Day’ theme, and on June 10th at 6:30pm, with a movie based on a Father’s Day theme. Look for movies during the summer that will compliment the library’s Summer Reading Theme, ‘Catch the Reading Bug’. There are many buggy movies out there that need to be shown. Arachnophobia anyone? Our Family Movie Night has been just as popular. For example last month, children, parents, and grandparents enjoyed watching together the recently released movie 'Enchanted'. The next Family Movie Night is Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. So sit down, grab your popcorn bag, and let the movie credits begin.

The Library’s Magazine Collection

It is my aim to create an ambience within the Chili Public Library that is both stimulating and welcoming. To that end the library has built an assortment of fine magazines for you to read on a variety of topics.

If you are an animal owner you’ll enjoy browsing through the magazines Dog Fancy, and Cat Fancy. If your interest is the news, thae sit by the library’s fireplace and read the latest New York Times and Rochester Business Journal. Are you crafty? You can get plenty of ideas from the magazines Paper Crafts, Sew Beautiful, and Crafts N’ Things. If you are handy try your hand looking though Fine Gardening, Fine Homebuilding, and Find Woodworking.

If you are a sports fan Sports Illustrated, New York Game and Fish, and Golf Magazine are for you. If you like to cook, try Cooking Light, Taste of Home, Gourmet, and Bon Appétit for some delicious recipes. Do you like to reminisce about the past? Then Reminisce, Early American Life, and Antiques Magazines will put you in a reflective mood. If you like history and science, the library subscribes to Civil War Times, Discover, Scientific American, and Smithsonian. We also have a selection of magazines in other fields.

We keep 1-2 years of back issues of magazines and 1-2 months of the newspapers depending on the title. All magazines except current issue can be checked out.

Consumer Reports Online

The library offers you an easy way to look through back issues of Consumer Reports. Just visit our library website at http://www.chililibrary.org/ and select the “Search Consumer Reports” link. This brings you to a list of online magazine indexes available to you. From the list choose “EBSCO MasterFile Select”. EBSCO MasterFile Select is a database that searches over 800 magazines, Consumer Reports among them. If you are doing the search from home you will need your library card to access this database.

In the ‘Find’ box, type in your search. In the ‘Magazine’ box type in “Consumer Reports”. Select the search button and your articles appear. I did a search for ‘water heaters’ and seven articles appeared, the best one being an article from the February 2005 Consumer Reports.

It took just seconds to perform the search. Hopefully my water heater will last a few more years, but should it go I will be able to move on it quickly.

How do you keep your kids from melting down during errands?

The April 2008 edition of Family Fun recommends first to Start at the Library. Have the kids check-out library books to read in the car. You get some peace of mind and the kids enjoy a new adventure to read and explore.

What's Available at the Chili Public Library

Here are just some examples of what things you will find at the Chili Public Library.

Books
Large Print Books
"Quick Read" Collection
Magazines
Full Text Databases
Music CDs
DVDs and Videos
Books on tape and CD
Digital Books
Internet Access
Internet Instruction
Free Wireless Internet
Local History Collection
MS Office Software Programs
B&W and Color Printing From Computers
Playaways
Programs For All Ages
Book Discussion Groups For All Ages
Meeting Room for Nonprofits
"Books to People" Delivery Service
Chili Express Monthly Newsletter
Displays and Exhibits
FAX Service
Copier Service
Tax Forms

Email Notification of Checked-Out Materials

If you have not already signed up for email notification of checked- out materials there is no better time than the present. To better serve our patrons the Monroe County Library System
has added an email notification option. This option allows you to receive email notices for:

* Holds ready for pickup,
* Overdue items on your library account,
* Courtesy reminder for items on your account that will be due in 3 days.

If the email notice for an item on hold or overdue is unable to be delivered, you will then be notified via the automated phone system, or if the phone call fails, a mailed notice.

Once you sign up the subject to look for is "Item Notification." Email messages are sent from: notices@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us or courtesy@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us so be sure to set your email up to allow messages from these addresses. Worried about privacy? The Monroe County Library System is committed to confidentiality for all patrons. Your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than library related business.

Sign up for email notification the next time you visit our local library or visit the library's website at http://www.chililibrary.org/ and select the “Your Library Card Information” link. You will need to supply your name, library card number, and email address.

New Book Display

There are many exciting projects currently underway at the library. After March 24th look for new shelving located in our New Books section. The attractive oak stained shelving unit includes a three door glass display case and corner display cabinet. The display unit was built by the library’s own Dave Tyler who not only works at our Circulation desk but is a skilled craftsman as well.

Chili Public Library Adult Book Discussion.

Last Tuesday I took part in the Chili Public Library's Adult Book Discussion group. The Book Discussion group meets the first Tuesday of each month. This month we discussed the book "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits" by Laila Lalami. It is this year's book for "If All of Rochester Read the Same Book..." program initated by Writers & Books.

If you haven't taken part of a book discussion group I suggest you give it a try. It is quite fun to share you perspective with others who enjoy reading as much as you do. Not only was I able to delve deeper into the meaning of the book but learned about the people in the group as well.

The next adult book discussion group at CPL is Tuesday, April 1st at 7pm. The book to be discussed is The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. No registration is required and books are available at the Circulation Desk. The book discussion group is sponsored by the Friends of the Chili Public Library and has been going on now for the last 8 years!

PLAYAWAYS ARE HERE!

The library offers a variety of formats for the reading and listening enjoyment of its patrons, from paperback to hardcover, CD to DVD, largeprint, graphic novels and more. On my February 8th blog I mentioned downloadable audio books from OverDrive as another new format libraries are offering. OverDrive is a great resource and many have used it, but it requires you to download a title to your PC and ultimately your MP3 player. For those who do not want to do this but still want the benefit of listening to a title on an easy-to-use player the library now offers Playaways.

A Playaway is a simple and immediate way to enjoy an audio book. Its portability allows you to enjoy a title on-the-go.

After checking out a Playaway with your library card, all you have to do is press play to start listening immediately – there is no need for you to have a separate MP3 player, and it comes with earbuds and a battery to make it play.

· Each Playaway contains an entire book, for example one playaway we own has the title “Atonement”, and another “No Country for Old Men”.
· A Playaway weighs only 2 ounces and can easily fit in a pocket for portability.
· They come with an automatic bookmark function that remembers where you left off.

Through a contribution of the Friends of the Chili Public Library the library has purchased 14 playaway titles and have 6 more on the way. There are 277 playaway titles in the Monroe County Library System. Come to the library and try it out. Playaways are loaned for 3 weeks.

Children’s Stories Read To You By The Screen Actors Guild

Visit the website of the Chili Public Library www.chililibrary.org/ and with your children listen to Melissa Gilbert reading the book “My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother”. See Elijah Wood reading the children’s book “Me and My Cat”, Al Gore reading “Brave Irene”, or Amanda Bynes reading “The Night I followed the Dog”. The Screen Actors Guild Foundation brings you these three stories and more from Storyline Online, an on-line streaming video program featuring SAG members reading children’s books aloud!

Story time programs for children of all ages are popularly attended at the Chili Public Library. What better way to connect with your child and introduce them to the joy of reading then through story time. To access this feature from the Chili Public Library website, select ‘Children’, then select “Storyline Online”. For each online story there is an activity guide you can download.

Here is a comment from a mother of four with two children under 6 on using this website: “This site is wonderful especially on those nights when I am too tired after work or it is too late to read. The kids love it, it is interactive and enjoyable for both them and myself”.

The Most Trustworthy, Up-To-Date Health Information for the Rochester Area

Put the phrase ‘Treatment of Animal Bites’ into Google and you will get 1,910,000 results. Now the challenge is to choose which result is best for you. The first thing you should ask yourself is how trustworthy is the information? The website I selected from the list looked reputable though on the website there was an ad to win a spa getaway that gave me pause.

For the most trustworthy, up-to-date health information for the Rochester region, the database Clic-on-Health is the answer. It is freely available from our website. Just go there and select the Clic-on Health logo. CLIC-on-Health is a project that brings together libraries, health organizations and associations, healthcare delivery systems, and educational institutions in order to provide all the people of the greater Rochester area with the high-quality healthcare information and resources they need to make wise lifestyle and healthcare choices. The project features a web portal with information specific to Rochester health care – a “one-stop-shopping” site for health information.

I tried my search again but this time in Clic-on-Health and that led me to several reputable sources. For example there was an overview about animal bites from the American Academy of Family Physicians, as well as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

One of the best features of Clic-On-Health is the’ Rochester Area Services’ feature. By selecting this feature you can quickly find the local organization that best can assist you. For example by typing in “Long Term Care” 17 area services in Monroe County were given, each with telephone numbers, addresses, and service description. There is much more to the Clic-On-Health website. Give it a try.

The Chili Express Newsletter

Each month the Chili Public Library creates a newsletter called ‘The Chili Express’. In the Express you will find what’s new and exciting at the library, along with a list of new acquisitions added to the community’s collection. The newsletter also includes a calendar of events for the upcoming month.

You can sign up to have this newsletter sent directly to your e-mail address. To subscribe to the newsletter, go to the Town of Chili website:
· Move your mouse over ‘Interact’ in the menu at the top of the window
· Click on ‘Signup for Newsletter’ in the menu
· You will then be provided with a list of available newsletters to choose from, such as the Library, Recreation Department, Senior Center, and the Town
· Click the ‘Subscribe’ button next to a newsletter to subscribe
· You will be asked to provide your name and valid email address

Be the first to see what programs the library will be providing children, teens and adults. Sign up today!

Cyberspace Library Book Club

Join our Online Book Clubs by visiting our library webpage at http://www.chililibrary.org/ and clicking on the link Online Book Clubs. It is easy to sign up. Once you sign up, every day, Monday through Friday, you will receive in your email a five-minute selection from a chapter of a book. By the end of the week, you’ll have read 2-3 chapters, enough to tell you if reading the complete book is to your liking. Every Monday a new book is started. The genres available for you to join are fiction, nonfiction, teen, business, romance, good news, science fiction, mystery, horror, audio, and pre-publication.

This week’s online fiction book was Challenger Park by Stephen Harrigan. In this book he pens a novel of extraordinary power and excitement that takes readers to the heart of what it's like to be one of today's astronauts, and to experience the unimaginable joy and terror of going into space.

This week’s pre-publication book was The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd. Floyd has written an astonishingly powerful debut novel of suspense that is told from the point of view of a serial killer's wife, who finds herself caught in the net of her husband's past.

See what new books will be in the online book club next week. Sign up and start reading.

Enter the Woman's Day Library Contest

Woman’s Day magazine along with the American Library Association is running the contest, “Has the library positively impacted your health?” If the library’s resources have helped you find a diagnosis for yourself or a loved one, or improved your physical, mental or emotional well-being, enter the contest in an essay of 700 words or less. You may be one of the four women featured in an upcoming issue of Woman’s Day. You may enter by e-mailing the essay to womansday@ala.org between Feb. 12 and May 11, 2008, noon ET. Click here to see the contest rules.

The March 4, 2008 issue featured the four winners of “The library helped me start my business”.

CHILI QUICK READS

If you are a fast reader than the Chili Quick Reads are for you! The library has a collection of popular books from bestselling authors located in our New Books section of the library. These books are set apart from the rest of our collection in that the loan period for Chili Quick Reads is one week instead of three, and the books are not renewable. At any given time we have over 100 books in the Quick Read collection. This week you will find Jonathan & Faye Kellerman’s Capital Crimes on the shelf, as well as John Grisham’s Playing for Pizza, and Catherine Coulter’s Wizards Daughter.

Downloadable Audiobooks for Your Listening Pleasure

When browsing the library collection don’t forget about our downloadable audiobooks! As a member of the Monroe County Library System, the library has access over 1,000 downloadable audiobooks you can choose from and check out with your library card. Listen to the new release Peony in Love by Lisa See or choose the classic Pride and Prejudice by Janes Austen. Learn a new language or listen to the popular biography The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown. The library never closes with our digital library. Browse, checkout, and download these audiobooks to your PC or MP3 player anytime from anywhere in the world. Visit our library's webpage or click here to get to the downloadable audiobooks.

Tax Time Is Here

Tax time is here and the Chili Public Library has copies of popular tax forms in our lobby. To find online tax forms and information on free tax preparation in Monroe County click here for tax information.

If All of Rochester Read the Same Book

We all have the opportunity to share the same experience by taking part in Writers & Books http://www.wab.org/ “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book”. This year the selected book is Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lahami.

The book is about four Moroccan Muslims who illegally cross the Strait of Gibraltar in search of a better life. We learn what led them to take this risky journey as well as the ramifications the trip has brought upon their lives. I enjoyed reading this book and hope you do too. With clearly written prose and crisp characterization this book accomplishes what good fiction is meant to do and that is build upon our view of the world by introducing us to the life experiences of others.

Latest web poll

Here are the results of the latest poll: What type of fiction books do you best like to read? If there are any other polls you would like to see just let me know.

Mysteries – 33%
Historical Fiction – 33%
Realistic Fiction – 22%
Romance – 22%
Crime 11%
Detective – 11%
Fantasy – 11%
Science Fiction – 11%
Western – 11%
Action-Adventure – 0%

Mary Thorn's Journal

Step into the 1800’s and visit the life of a Quaker girl from the Chili area.

Yesterday the Chili Public Library was glad to receive the donated book Mary Thorn's Journal: A Quaker Girl's Life in 1855. The book is an annotated transcription by Barb Chapman of the diary of Mary's Thorn. Sandra Erickson, a librarian from the Central library presented the book in honor of Ms. Chapman who was present.

Mary Thorn was 21 years old when she wrote the diary. She had finished her schooling at the Chili District No.4 Cobblestone Schoolhouse when she was fifteen years old. She taught at both the Chili Cobblestone School and at the Scottsville District No. 1 School on East Genesee Street. At the time that she was writing the diary, she lived on a farm with her family on Scottsville Road in the Town of Chili. She had responsibility for the two young children in the Thorn household and of helping with the cooking and cleaning.

The original diary is in the Skivington Library at the Sage-Marlowe House, owned by the Wheatland Historical Association, in Scottsville. The book is a welcome addition to our local history division.

Mrs. Barbara M. Ireland

The library lost a good friend with the passing of Mrs. Barbara M. Ireland on January 23. She was one of the founding members of our library and served on the Board of Trustees in the early days of the library. Through her persistence and dedication her dream became a reality when in 1961 the Chili Public Library became a member of the Monroe County Library System and subsequently opened its doors to the public on October 15, 1962. It was under her leadership of the first library board that Chili’s public library took root. In later years she remained an active supporter of the library and was a member of the Friends of the Chili Public Library. The library extends our sympathy to her family and to her many friends.

The Friends of the Chili Public Library Winter Booksale

It's time to find that special book you have been looking for a fraction of the price! The Friends of the Chili Public Library will be holding their Winter Booksale! Be the first to get your foot in the door Friday, February 29th as there will be the Friends preview sale from 2:30-4:30pm. You may join to be a Friend at the door. Learn about becoming a Friend of the Chili Public Library at the following website http://libraryweb.org/chili/friends%20membership%20form.htm.

Saturday, March 1st the sale will be open to the public from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Enjoy!

What is the best non-fiction or fiction book have you ready lately?

One of you asked me to put this question out in the blog and I think that is a great idea. Let's hear what you are reading. Please leave your comment and if you like share with everyone what you liked about the book!

Love Your Library License Plate

Recently I contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles Custom Plates Unit and obtained a Love Your Library License Plate. It’s a beaut! The license plate features a design logo of books, computer keyboard, and the globe and includes the words "READ * LEARN * EXPLORE."

Getting a Love Your Library License Plate is one way library lovers can show appreciation of their libraries. Proceeds from the plate's annual fee go to the Love Your Library Fund, which supports the New York State Library's Statewide Summer Reading Program at public libraries across the State. Each custom plate displays a designated plate number, but you can select a personalized combination for many custom plates for an additional fee.

The Department also issues custom license plates for other organization and causes such as a plate that supports the Environmental Protection Fund, New York State Cultural Institutions and Museums, Olympic Spirit, the Empire State Flower, and the Lions Club for example.
To order a custom license plate contact the DMV's website at http://www.nysdmv.com/, DMV's Custom Plates Unit at 518-402-4838, and all local Issuing Offices.

A Word Cloud

What is a word cloud?

Sounds like the dream one has after an all night read.

Actually, the word cloud is part of our Visual Catalog. The Visual Catalog helps you think of the best search term for the item you are trying to find in the library.

Try it out at our library’s website at www.chililibrary.org by selecting ‘Visual Catalog”
When the Visual Catalog appears enter any word and you will see an explosion of related words surround it. I typed in the word ‘Bear’ and the words Grizzly, Berenstain, Teddy, and Paddington appeared. By selecting the word Teddy my search was further refined and I decided on the book The First Teddy Bear by Helen Kay. The book is a history of the stuffed toy. What I like about the word cloud is that it brings back the browse-ability we used to get with the traditional card catalogs. Give it a try.

Web Poll Results - How My Favorite Time at CPL is Spent

The web poll How My Favorite Time at CPL is Spent is now closed. With 10 votes in, the number one activity chosen is Browsing the New Books Section, with 60% of the vote. 30% voted for Reading by the Fireplace, 10% for Using the New Computers and Software, and 10% voted for Walking the Children’s Literary Garden. Thank you to those who responded to the poll.

If there is any other web poll you would like me to put up on the blog, just let me know!

Staff Picks

Staff Picks is a new feature on the library’s homepage http://www.chililibrary.org/. With Staff Picks we offer our suggestions of material new and old at the library for your reading and listening enjoyment. We update the list on a regular basis.

My recommendation this month is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is a well known storyteller who portrays strong characters in her books. Bean Trees and the Poisonwood Bible are two well known novels by her. She now ventures into non-fiction recounting a year in which her family made every attempt to feed themselves only from animals and vegetables raised in their own neighborhood, or raised by themselves.

If you would like to follow up on her project visit http://animalvegetablemiracle.org/. There you can take an online tour of her farm, get recipe ideas, and see links to organizations with relevance to local, sustainable and responsible food.

www.chililibrary.org

It is now easier to remember the library's web address. Try the new web site address of www.chililibrary.org. It will lead you to the library's webpage where you will find the online catalog, magazine articles, upcoming library programs, staff picks, and more. If you are still partial to using the old web site address of www.libraryweb.org/chili that still works too.