Summer is Here!

When we think of summer, we think of good summer reads on the beach and explorations to other day-trip destinations. So here is a list of resources to help you with some ideas and planning.

1. Summer Reading is everywhere! This year’s theme is “Be Creative @ Your Library” and you can watch a nice jingle about it on YouTube:
   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdnyF5X-V0I

Free summer reading programs are to be found in Maryland public library systems.

Here is an alphabetical list – contact your county’s public library for further details, or better yet, just drop by and ask at your nearest local library!

1. Allegeny County: http://www.alleganycountylibrary.info
2. Anne Arundel: http://www.aacpl.net/src_09/index.html
3. Baltimore County: http://www.bcpl.info/kidspage/summerreading.html
4. Calvert County: http://calvert.lib.md.us/summer09/
5. Caroline County: http://www.carolib.org/library/
6. Carroll County: http://library.carr.org/
7. Cecil County: http://www.cecil.ebranch.info/kids/summer-reading/
8. Charles County: http://www.ccplonline.org/kids/summerreading09.html
9. Dorchester County: http://www.dorchesterlibrary.org/childrenservices.html
10. Enoch Pratt (Baltimore City): http://www.prattlibrary.org/home/index.aspx?id=33502
11. Frederick County: http://www.fcpl.org/information/programs/2009/src-events.php
12. Harford County: http://www.hcplonline.info/kids/summerreading.html
13. Howard County: http://www.hclibrary.org/index.php?page=218
14. Kent County: http://www.kentcountylibrary.org/newsletter/2009/06/summer_reading_your_library_20.html
15. Montgomery County: http://montgomerycountymd.libguides.com/summerreading
16. Prince George’s County: http://www.pgcmls.info/Current/SRP.html
17. Queen Anne’s County: http://www.quan.lib.md.us/
18. Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County: http://www.relib.net/events.asp
19. Somerset County: http://www.some.lib.md.us/scls-children2.shtml
20. St. Mary’s County: http://www.stmalib.org/summer09.html
21. Talbot County: http://www.tcfl.org/child/summer_reading_2009.html
22. Washington County: http://www.washcolibrary.org/src.asp
23. Wicomico County: http://www.wicomicolibrary.org/
24. Worchester County: http://www.worcesterlibrary.org/

2. For getting around: Need to know the best gas prices around you? GasBuddy offers an easy way to check Maryland:
   
   

http://gasbuddy.com/Gas_Prices/Maryland/index.aspx

For outside Maryland, you can see the state listing on GasBuddy’s home page:

http://gasbuddy.com/

Prices can suddenly change, but these indicators can sometimes be helpful.

If you are already out and about, you may want to check for gas stations and their prices using your mobile. The helpful site “Mashable, The Social Media Guide” offers suggestions (from last year):

http://mashable.com/2008/05/05/check-gas-prices-online-11-handy-tools/

3. Maryland’s official tourism site offers a listing of events, ideas, and a bonus! You can order up to nine brochures/maps/guides for free:
   
   http://visitmaryland.org/Pages/brochures.aspx
   

4. At the Beach is a nice site listing events at major Maryland and Delaware beaches:
   
   http://atbeach.com/events/new/
   
   Click on the event’s name for details. Most listed are free.
   
   
5. Free Music Events in the Maryland/DC region: About.com offers a resource list for finding outdoor, free concerts:
   
   http://dc.about.com/od/concerts/a/summerconcerts.htm
   
   

For Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, you can see a list of free outdoor concerts here:

http://baltimore.about.com/od/artsentertainment/a/outdoorconcerts.htm

More Baltimore-area events (mostly free) are listed on the “Top of the World” at:

http://www.baltimore.to/TopOfWorld/index.html

This is from the tourist/informative site all about Baltimore at:

http://www.baltimore.to/index.html

If you have other questions about what to do this summer and how to get there, remember that you can always log onto Maryland AskUsNow! (http://www.askusnow.info) and chat with a live librarian, anytime day or night.

Have a fun adventure!

National Library Week 2009!

National Library Week is here!

This year’s theme is “Worlds connect @ your library.” All types of libraries participate in this annual celebration (school, public, academic and special). While I was reviewing this year’s theme, I began to realize how we are actively and effectively participating. Let me explain:

This year, the National Library Week’s spokesperson is Jamie Lee Curtis. The promotional image (PDF format) shows a postcard with a brief note to all: “The library is where I connect. Connect with your world this week @ your library!” Ms. Curtis is smiling (her “I know something good” grin), seated on a library carpeted floor, with a computer on a work-desk and book stacks behind her.

The mix of technology and library bound books and the casual yet “let’s get to work” attitude speaks to every librarian. We are creating places that actively extend far beyond the bricks and mortar, glass and metal of our buildings, reaching our communities in their homes and wherever they may be. I imagine I can be a patron on a yacht sailing the Caribbean, hiking the Himalayas, traveling to study abroad. We all know “books can take us places.” We are now in a time when we can connect with our patrons in those places. Librarians and patrons have adapted tools to help keep us all connected in a mobile environment.

The other side of this is something I’ve seen on occasion in my current position –that is, connecting with customers outside our tax-paying patron base. Primarily for those of us who work on Maryland AskUsNow! on a global hour, we see questions from all over the United States (not everywhere, but many places). Once in a while we have questions from people outside Maryland, even outside the U.S. During my short time in this position with AskUsNow! I have even worked with a patron as far away as Costa Rica.

Although this is rare, it is a good reminder to me that our library services are reaching beyond walls and boundaries. It is encouraging to see the successful application of various technologies and incredible resources to help our patrons connect with information they need, whether they are within our buildings or home, even far from home at a business conference or on an exotic adventure.

You can celebrate National Library Week this year by participating in your library’s events. Many libraries are promoting the Week in some way, calling notice to our nation’s librarians, facilities and their services. Tuesday, April 14^th is focused upon recognizing our library workers:

http://www.ala-apa.org/about/nlwd.html

For American Library Association’s events and for more information, please view ALA’s website at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm

Greet your fellow librarian and enjoy the week!

(posted by Cathay Crosby, Operations Assistant, Maryland AskUsNow!)

Jamaica Library Service’s 60th International Conference

A Fabulous Week at the Jamaica Library Service’s 60th International Conference
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

http://www.jls.gov.jm/

Sometimes a librarian gets an opportunity to attend a conference outside her system, whether it is beyond the boundaries of her library’s community or job responsibilities. I have recently returned from the Jamaica Library Services 60th International Conference, and this is a good time for me to dive in with my first attempt at writing a blog posting for Maryland AskUsNow!

The JLS conference was held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica during February 16-21, 2009. The theme of this conference was “Public and School Libraries: your partners in National Development” and centered upon Jamaica’s Vision 2030. It has been ten years since the previous conference. The level of excitement and involvement was nationwide, from the Minister of Education who spoke at the opening (Plenary) session to representatives from many of the island’s numerous libraries.

Just for the record, JLS was started in 1948 (before Jamaica’s emancipation/independence from Great Britain). It has 13 Parish libraries, and within those, numerous branch libraries (148 in all). Jamaica’s outreach service extends to hundreds of stops all over the island. The library’s partnership with its schools is well enmeshed, and collaboration with the National Library and the University of the West Indies is apparent.

I was a speaker who, with my husband’s assistance (he was my ‘live example’), presented a workshop on programming lifelong learning in public libraries. Throughout the week, other workshops covered e-resources, social networking, unified access of OPACs, and the overall theme of where the library is going. (Note: I am told that information, pictures, and recordings of my workshop and others will be available in the near future, from JLS online. - CC)

As of a year ago, the JLS initiated free Internet access at all their libraries, and their new website (linked above) was rolled out just a few days ago. Plans for unification of the cataloging system, renovations, incorporating more activities and building upon ones they have now are underway. The island’s biggest program is the National Reading Competition, which now includes an adult category. You can see more about this at:

http://www.jls.gov.jm/Prog_serv.htm

From the overall organization of the conference to the information presented, I was newly impressed with the Jamaica Library Service.

Its Director General, Mrs. Patricia Roberts, is an amazing woman of charm, energy and vision. She clearly motivates those around her. Her background in business and management is a grounding force for the library island-wide.

One event I was able to hook up with was a field trip to St. Ann’s Parish library.

The library’s renovations include revamping the teen area, moving the reference department to a larger area upstairs, increasing the number of public computers, and the creation of the Marcus Garvey room (a huge event is planned for its opening).

The library is surrounded by a park, and the Marcus Garvey statue stands solidly in front.

I feel extremely fortunate that I could participate in and attend the Jamaica Library Services 60th International Conference. The location (the Sunset Grande Resort in Ocho Rios) was almost secondary to the tremendous conference itself. Almost.

(posted by Cathay Crosby, Operations Assistant, Maryland AskUsNow!)