State Library Now Offering Employment Hubs

The South Carolina State Library is doing its part to assist out-of-work citizens find jobs. The Library now offers two specialized public access computer workstations where users can create resumes, develop PowerPoint presentations for job interviews, search for State Government and public sector job opportunities, and much more. Agency staff have developed a South Carolina Workforce Development program to bring together public libraries and state government business-related agencies to provide partnership opportunities to assist South Carolinians during these tough economic times. The employment hub computers are part of this overall goal.

In addition to the two employment hubs, the State Library also offers a bank of public computer workstations with Internet access. To use the computers, patrons need a photo ID and can sign in at the front desk.

Users may access the workstations on a first-come, first-served basis during normal library operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The library is located at 1500 Senate Street in downtown Columbia at the corner of Senate and Bull streets.

For more information about library services, visit www.statelibrary.sc.gov. For additional information about business resources, visit http://business.statelibrary.sc.gov. Or, call the agency at (803) 734-8666.

State Library Announces Economic Development Conference

How is your community faring in these challenging times? How can the public library help to get the local economy back on track? It’s Not Just Business as Usual at the Library!: Connecting Partners to Boost Economic Development in South Carolina will be held on Wednesday, May 6, from 10am-3pm at the South Carolina State Library. Business assistance agencies, community representatives and library staff and directors, this is for you!

The Library addresses this topic with a timely and informative day-long conference centered on strategic information and economic development. The morning will feature Christine Hamilton-Pennell, an accomplished speaker and trainer who has a background in both economic development and library research services for those in urban and rural communities. Following lunch, Ms. Hamilton-Pennell will continue the discussion with a panel of experts, including representatives of the SBDC, Office of Small & Minority Business Assistance, Women’s Business Center and USC Springs Business Library.

This conference will bring together library staff, businesses, and state government to explore roles in economic development. Librarians will learn how to put information-seeking skills to work to foster entrepreneurship and encourage business growth. Nonprofits and government agencies will learn how to work with libraries to gather information to support local business clients and foster economic development through partnerships and collaboration. Bring your agency brochures and handouts for a swap of agency materials. Space is limited so register today through the State Library’s event calendar at located at www.statelibrary.sc.gov. Your $15 registration fee includes morning refreshments and lunch. For detailed information on our experts, please visit: http://business.statelibrary.sc.gov/index.php/Special_Event.

State Library Announces Library Value Calculator

How much do you pay out-of-pocket for the services your local library offers - $5, $10, or $15, or more? You might be surprised by what you find out by using the State Library’s new Library Value Calculator.

Library patrons can now visit the South Carolina Library Value Calculator and find out how much the library services used during a month equal in real dollar amounts. The calculator was adapted from the original Library Service Calculator provided by the Massachusetts Library Association. Visit http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/library-use-calculator and see how much your library’s services are worth to you!

Library Director Wins National Recognition

Drusilla Carter, Director of the Chesterfield County Library System, has been recognized by Library Journal as one of 2009’s Movers and Shakers. This award recognizes individuals who are changing libraries for the better.

In its description of the Movers and Shakers award, Library Journal says “these individuals comprise the coming generation of library leadership. Overachievers all, they represent a Who's Who of creativity and library trends.” Carter was recognized especially for her efforts to make the Chesterfield County Library System a center for the community and for the new programs and services that the county libraries have developed under her leadership. The award also applauds her collaboration with other community agencies to tackle the challenges facing the citizens of the county.

Carter is only the seventh South Carolinian to be recognized in the award’s history. “I am deeply honored that my colleagues have recognized me with this award,” said Carter. “I am especially grateful to the hard-working staff at the libraries, who make it possible for us to do so much for the community.”

Library Journal is the premier publication regarding libraries and librarianship in the United States and around the world. For the full article online, visit http://www.libraryjournal.com/MS2009Inductee/2140336017.html. For more information about the Chesterfield County Library, please visit www.youseemore.com/chesterfield.

Obama’s Speech Highlights How Libraries Serve Everyday Americans and Students

The American Library Association (ALA) and the South Carolina Library Association (SCLA) lauds President Barack Obama for noting how libraries assist Americans during the president’s recent address to Congress.

The president shared a story about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, a young student from Dillon, South Carolina, who went to her local public library to write a letter to Congress to tell them how students today are committed to their education and determined to change the world.

“This anecdote not only shows how engaged the young people in our country are, but it also sheds light on how important the library is to these students,” ALA President Jim Rettig said. Yolanda McCormick, director of the Dillon County Library System, said, “I’m excited that she mentioned the library. We’re a poor county and everyone comes here to the library when they need to use a computer and the Internet. It makes me happy that we have these kinds of services available to the public. I’m glad we were here when she needed us!”

According to Jim Rettig, “The public library is the only source of no-fee access to the Internet for 73 percent of communities and a place where individuals like Ty’Sheoma can access computers and technology as well as benefit from the trusted guidance of a librarian. I thank President Obama for sharing Ty’Sheoma’s inspiring story. I hope it encourages our nation’s governors to use stimulus money wisely to ensure that every community has a local library – a library open ample hours with a librarian to help every child like Ty’Sheoma who needs a place to study or aspire. Our libraries are important not only to our youth, but also to adults; libraries are helping to rebuild the economy through assistance with online job searching and resume development, education on personal finances, and other services that respond to today’s pressing needs.”

SCLA president Libby Young said that she was elated that President Obama highlighted libraries in his address. “It’s important that the general public understand what kinds of resources are available at their local libraries. The fact that Ty’Sheoma was able to use her local library speaks a lot to what wonderful resources are available even in an underfunded county such as Dillon."

Union County Carnegie Library Named the Best Small Library in America 2009

Union County Carnegie Library (UCCL), in Union, South Carolina, has been named the Best Small Library in America 2009 by Library Journal. This annual award, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, showcases the exemplary work of public libraries serving populations under 25,000 whose high standards, innovative services, and commitment to their community make them extraordinary.

UCCL serves the 8,973 residents of the city of Union and a number of its smaller communities in the surrounding rural county. The beautiful and historic library was chosen this year for the incredible transformation that it underwent over the past three years which, according to a local resident, turned a once “selective club warehousing an out-of-date collection” into an “inclusive, modern, service-oriented, community center.” Overall, visits to the library have increased exponentially and patrons now represent the diverse demographic of the community. This transformation is the result of new leadership, vision, accessibility, and exemplary customer service.

In October 2005, Nancy Rosenwald revolutionized the UCCL when she stepped in as the library’s new director. Immediately recognizing the need for change, she first focused on excellence in customer service and making that service easily available to patrons regardless of race, gender, age, ability or status. The front-line staff became a major player in this mission and members of the community’s teens were added to the front-line staff on both a paid and volunteer basis because they are “vibrant, enthusiastic, willing learners and teachers” said Rosenwald. Smaller changes such as the elimination of late fees and fines were implemented to help bolster the service transformation.

The library also underwent a total technology transformation to ensure that Union County citizens could participate in a world that is increasingly reliant on computers and the Internet. With modest budget realities, UCCL was forced to make savvy decisions to move this initiative forward. The library worked with a local university to buy 18 of its computers at a deeply discounted rate when a lease expired. It also ensured that the staff was up-to-date on new technologies offered at the library so that patrons can get the help they need learning how to use the computers and the Internet. Additionally, the library’s bookmobile was equipped with wireless Internet so that the driver can access online resources for remote users.

Today, the library’s computer workstations, including special family-oriented stations and those open to everybody from teens to seniors, are in full demand from open to close. Located in the heart of a rural county, the library also provides the only high-speed Internet access available to many residents.

One of the biggest changes in the library was revamping service for children and teens. Previously, children and teens were welcomed reluctantly in the small space. The children’s section underwent a makeover and the colors of the walls and shelves were repainted from gray to bright yellow; an art cart was brought in to foster creativity; and healthy snacks were made available during after school hours. In 2005 the summer reading program had 300 participants. This number rose to 4000 by summer 2008. Now each child in the district leaves school for the summer with a summer reading packet supplied by UCCL.

“The staff and the board of the Union Carnegie Library deserve the greatest recognition for this wonderful honor,” said Nancy Rosenwald. “Without a mandate for change from the board, we could not have moved forward so readily; without the staff’s desire to provide excellent service to their community, the vision would not have been realized. We are ecstatic to have won this award for our community!”

This year, for the first time in the award’s 5-year history, two finalists will also be receiving prizes. Of the over 60 institutions nominated, LJ proudly named Pinewoods Library and Learning Center in Athens, Georgia and Idaho’s Weippe Public Library as the finalists for the 2009 Best Small Library in America.

Union County Carnegie Library will receive a $15,000 cash award to support its services and outreach to the community. The winner and two finalist libraries will each receive conference costs for two library representatives to attend the 2010 Public Library Association conference in Portland, OR, and recognition at a special awards ceremony on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“We are pleased to support the Union County Carnegie Library,” said Jill Nishi who leads the Gates Foundation’s work on behalf of U.S. libraries, "and we applaud the library's staff and supporters for their dedicated work to ensure it can connect people to information and education through technology. Their resourcefulness, use of community partnerships, and focus on transformative programs and services sets an important example for libraries across the country that are striving to bolster opportunities for patrons in the face of a challenging funding climate.”

See more information about the winner and finalists in the cover story in the February 1 issue of Library Journal and online at www.libraryjournal.com/bestsmalllibrary

Toy Libraries?

Toy Libraries: An Idea in Need of a Comeback?
Posted by Amy Kuras
Since we’re apparently – at least here in the cradle of the car industry – blowing right past “recession” into raging depression (in every sense) I think toy libraries are an idea whose time has come again.

In San Diego, a toy library started in 1937. Works Progress Administration workers (part of Roosevelt’s New Deal) cleaned and repaired 2000 toys that had been collected by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Many of them came from a department store that had burned down.

The first toy library opened at an elementary school in the city, and soon there were 9 within the city of San Diego and 14 around the county. More than 5,000 children were registered. There was no charge to join, nor were there overdue fees or damage fees. Instead, if a toy was badly damaged or overdue, children lost borrowing privileges for a certain time. In between uses, workers would clean and sanitize the toys for the next user. A certain number of toys retuned on time earned children one toy that they could keep.

The idea was that being responsible for the borrowed toys helped build character. It was also thought to lessen juvenile delinquency, because children would not steal what they could borrow.

This was back in the day where children didn’t have very many toys, unlike today’s kids. I think in this economy, this could really help families ot save – after all, how often do you buy your kid a toy that’s their favorite thing for like a day and then just sits? This would be a great way to try out toys and see what’s worth buying, and would be so great for families that can’t afford high quality toys for their children.