Library Plan for Christy

[JJ&JHsmom]

Hope all goes well with your selectmen tomorrow.

Cassey

 

[mommy2mrb]

Good Luck today with the selection groups!

 

[joyah]

So the selectman have asked the town manager to speak with an engineer to start developing plans for a rebuild/retrofit of another building (old 1830"s church) in the village. Tom will be meeting with the engineer on Monday.

So my question to you all that use libraries and hopefully a few know librarians for a small village with under 10,000 volumes what size building and what we would like to see. Since librarys are a changing thing would the size now still be needed in 5 years? It's all very confusing as none of us signed on to rebuild and none of us really know the answers. We will be polling the village but not for 2 more weeks @ our annual Halloween party. So any advice you all can share would be great.

As for the books I'm still catalogging them. We had our first deliverary a bit earlier than planned so we have abt 1500 kids books that have come in to add to the collection that we already are working on.

 

[LindaBabe]

So the selectman have asked the town manager to speak with an engineer to start developing plans for a rebuild/retrofit of another building (old 1830"s church) in the village. Tom will be meeting with the engineer on Monday.

So my question to you all that use libraries and hopefully a few know librarians for a small village with under 10,000 volumes what size building and what we would like to see. Since librarys are a changing thing would the size now still be needed in 5 years? It's all very confusing as none of us signed on to rebuild and none of us really know the answers. We will be polling the village but not for 2 more weeks @ our annual Halloween party. So any advice you all can share would be great.

The village I grew up in was small - our library was in an old (very small) church. My town now is also small, but the library is part of the county wide system.

I would think you need, besides the obvious book space, at a minimum

• Restrooms
• a meeting space that can be shut off from the rest of the building for book club, classes, etc.
• a kids area
• space for new books by subscription (here we get McNaughten books - they come all ready to loan)
• Space for computers - this may be the time to computerize your catalog (and if they want to sell the old card catalog, I'm buying!)
• also a plan for computers for public use -we have two catalog computers and 2 public use computers. The catalog computers link the the larger library system and books can be ordered through it.
• DVDs and music cds are also big in our area different shelving than books
• good lighting!
• tables for doing homework, tutoring, or just reading
• nice to have but not necessary - some comfy chairs in a 'reading nook'

As for the books I'm still catalogging them. We had our first deliverary a bit earlier than planned so we have abt 1500 kids books that have come in to add to the collection that we already are working on.

That's GREAT, Christy!

I already have two boxes of recent adult fiction.

 

[joyah]

Thank you Linda! I have a feeling the card catalog system will be for sale in the near future as we emptied it and threw out all the cards. If I have my way we will NOT be going back into a library with out being automated fully! So I will put a note in Tom's library binder about your interest. the one we have is a multi layered system and when we move it out of the trailer and into storage I will take some pics for you and send them.

Your ideas are right along with mine so I'm glad to know I'm not all that far off with my thinking. While I LOVE to retro the church I'm not sure that it won't be a money pit. I'm going to need lots of grants (and there must be some out there for historic buildings) because I can't see the taxpayers approving much for us unless the town manager and selectboard bury it in the general fund somewhere.

Well off to get going for the day we have a night opening at work (so not what I wanted to do on my friday night) and I have to go let the deliverary drivers in shortly.

 

[JJ&JHsmom]

Christy, I agree with Linda. That is much the set up here at the library in town. A small church would probably provide enough space but renovations and upkeep may be expensive. Good luck with the plans and let us know when you would like books.

Cassey

 

[LindaBabe]

My in-laws are here, so yesterday, we drove to Vermont. I must have said OH.MY.G*D. at least 100 times!

People, until you have seen it, you will not believe the devastation.

Picture a babbling brook with dark, moss covered rocks in a shady chasm beside the road. . .

Then picture the same space with the walls ripped away to expose gravely banks, trees fallen across the stream, and gravel and boulders everywhere, including on the wrong side of the road.

Mountain lakes, formerly clear enough to see the bottom were the color of yellow split pea soup.

homes hanging over the abyss where their foundations were washed away.

Unfortunately, I was driving, so there are no photos.

Please support Christy's library as much as you are able! The Vermonters will never ask for help - but they CERTAINLY need it!

 

[joyah]

yep that about sums it up. The river in the village rose to 28.3 feet and probably took over width wise 2 football feilds in spots possibly more. I know I promised village pics but they are really devastaing

 

[LindaBabe]

Anybody coming to the Connecticut Crop this weekend with books ready to send? I'm going to see if I can arrange to meet Christy within the next week or so!

 

[tinkryansmom]

Keep me posted also!

 

[LindaBabe]

We're going to Vermont on Monday and will do the drop of any books collected so far.

 

[LindaBabe]

OH. My gosh! our Library's book store has kids books for sale for $1 for hard backs and 50 cents for paper backs. I bought a huge tote bag full!

 

[joyah]

 

[LindaBabe]

Got a BIG bag from Lisa (Thank you) a bag of kids books from the library store, and two boxes. My basement feels lighter already! We expect to be there by the time you get off work, Christy!

 

[joyah]

Thank you all!!! i'm sure it will be amazing. I'll be there Linda told them all I'm outta there like my butts on fire. See you tomorrow!

 

[Lisa]

Glad to help! Thanks Linda for bringing the books up.