Bargain Book Fair Extravaganza This Weekend!

The Friends of the Delaware County District Library will hold another gigantic Bargain Book Fair this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Delaware Main Library, 84 E. Winter St., and in conjunction with the Delaware Arts Festival.  The Friends Book Fairs are truly a sight to see, with thousands of books, DVDs, videos, and magazines for adults, teens and children, well organized to make it easy to seek out just what you’re looking for.

You are bound to find something for everyone in your family, and when you have that perfect pile of materials,  you simply make a donation to the FOL.  Funds raised by the Friends go back to buy more Library books and to support Library programs and events.

The Friday evening event is from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  and is for Friends members only, but you can join on the spot if you’d like to make your selections early.  The Bargain Book Fair will be open to the public on Saturday from 9:00-5:00 and on Sunday from 12:00-3:00 p.m.

You can find out more about the Friends of the Library by visiting their web site at http://www.delawarelibraryfriends.org or by picking up one of their brochures at any Library location.  Library staff are always happy to help you become a Friend, because, as you know, you can never have too many Friends!

Volunteer: To choose to act in recognition of a need,without concern for monetary profit, going beyond one’s basic obligations

For years, Delaware County residents have asked to volunteer at the Delaware County District Library, and dozens of people have donated time to help with special projects or activities.  We realized, however, that there was a need for an organized Library volunteer program, providing opportunities for folks who want to help the Library on an ongoing basis.

Nearly a year in development, the Library’s Volunteer Program is now making its debut.  Volunteer Supervisor Megan Cochran has created interesting and exciting opportunities for volunteers, such as Book EMT (repairing torn and damaged books, DVDs and audio books); Circulation Assistant (helping circulation staff at their busiest times); Eventurer (attending and assisting at Library events, parades and booths); Interior Decorator (helping to decorate the Library buildings for seasonal and special events); IT Project Assistant (working with the Library’s Information Technology staff to maintain computer equipment and software); Technology Coach (helping customers use hardware, software and other computer devices such as digital cameras, copiers, eReaders); Adopt-A-Shelf (care for “your” shelf in the Library by keeping items in order and in good repair); and Homework Helper (being available in the afternoons during the school year to help students of all ages write papers, do math, and so forth).  With all of these opportunities, there is surely one that will suit you to a T.

You can find out more about the Library’s inaugural volunteer program by calling Megan at 740-362-3861 or by checking the Library’s web site at http://www.delawarelibrary.org .

I invite you to learn, inspire and lead by becoming part of DCDL’s Volunteer Program.  I know you will find it rewarding, exciting, and a wonderful way for you to share your talents and skills with others in our community.

Read Down Your Fines!

To celebrate National Library Week, April 14-21, you have the opportunity to read down your fines at the Delaware County District Library.  If you owe fines for overdue DVD’s, come into any DCDL facility during National Library Week, sign in at the circulation desk, and start reading!  For every 10 minutes that you read, Library staff will reduce your fines by $1.00.  The Read Down program is only for FINES.  You cannot read away the cost of lost or stolen items.  ”Read Down” only applies to late fees.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Grab a book, magazine, newspaper (or whatever looks interesting to you) at one of our library branches and tell one of our library staff at the circulation    

desk you want to “read down” your fines.

2.  We will look up your record and tell you how long to read. Then we’ll write down your start time.

3.  START READING!

If you can’t read on your own, get someone to read to you. That counts! (So do audiobooks).

4.  When you’re done, tell the library staff. They’ll add up your time and apply the earned discounts to your account.

5.  Still have fines? You can come back another day this week. The Read Down event runs only during National Library Week, April 14 – 21.

The fine print:

There is no cash value for fine credit earned.
Additional reading after your library card account is cleared cannot be applied to future charges.
Fine credit is non-transferable. (You can’t give earned fine credit away.)

Still have questions about reading down your library card fines? Call or visit one of your local DCDL library branches in Delaware, Ostrander, Orange Twp., or Powell and speak with one of our friendly staff who can help you. Or call 740-362-3861.

Mary Jane Santos, Director

Grocery Savings Workshop

When:  March 26, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

Where:  Delaware County District Library’s Orange Branch

What:  Grocery Savings Workshop!

Lynette Rice, author of CleverlySimple.com and a Savings.com DealPro, will cover a variety of topics including realistic couponing, strategic grocery shopping, and practical meal planning. All participants will also receive a workbook. Come ready to learn and connect with others who are excited about saving money! Click here to read about the different things participants learned in an earlier course offered at the Delaware Main Library.

Pre-registration is required. Reserve your free seat at www.CleverlySimple.com/SavingsNation.

Learn How to Sell Your Stuff Tonight!

Whether you have a mild interest in selling items you already own or know you want to grow your existing business by adding eBay as another vehicle for sales, this presentation is for you! Learn the necessities for how to get started selling including: how to research the marketplace and determine a selling price, create a title and description that will draw buyers to your item, determine which of the “upgrades” will help you sell your item, upload professional photos, and calculate fees. Come prepared with an item you would like to sell!

Presenter Bio: Like many people today, Melissa was looking for a way to supplement her income. After being self-taught how to sell and learning many lessons the hard way, Melissa took the “Basics of Selling on eBay” course. She learned a bunch of tips and tricks and discovered it would have saved time (and costly errors) to have taken the class right when she started selling. Her goal is to pass these ideas on to others! Melissa’s background in both computer consulting and counseling gives her a unique perspective when presenting on the topic of eBay.

Join us tonight at the Delaware Main Library from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Weather and the Library

Currently, Delaware County is under a Winter Storm Warning, and  when the weather turns ugly, unexpected closures may occur at the Delaware County District Library.

We certainly do not want to inconvenience you in any way; however, for your safety and the safety of our staff, the Library will always and immediately close when the Delaware County Sheriff issues a Level 2 or Level 3 snow emergency, and will remain closed until the level has been reduce or canceled.

When an emergency situation causes the Library to close, we will notify the local media (Gazette, news station on Columbus television, radio, and so forth) as well as post closing information on the Library’ web site at www.delawarelibrary.org.  We will also use social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to get the word out.  All four Library locations will provide closing information on their answering machines to communicate any irregularity in hours, too.

Among the Delaware (Main) Library, and the Powell, Ostrander and Orange Branches, we are open 250 hours per week, and we are closed only on seven holidays each year:  New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We are also closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for staff training.

Making the Library accessible to you is important to us, and we minimize the days and times we will be closed as much as possible.  Nevertheless, emergencies do unfortunately happen, so we will do our best to let you know as soon as possible if the Library has to close unexpectedly.

The Library will be open on Presidents’ Day

The Delaware County District Library will be open our regular hours on Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 18, 2013.  Stop in to pick up a bestseller, a blockbuster DVD, to read a magazine or newspaper, or simply to relax.

We are also offering story times on Monday.  At the Delaware (Main) Library, Baby Story Time will be held from 11:00-12:00 a.m.  Believe it or not, getting your child ready to read begins at birth. Baby Time at DCDL involves rhymes, movement activities, songs, books and playtime. It is structured to be 20 minutes of interactive rhymes, songs and stories, and then the remaining 40 minutes are open play.  For babies from birth to 24 months.

It’s Magic Time at the Powell Branch from 2:00-3:00, for children 5-8 years old.  Does your child want to learn cool magic tricks to show his or her friends? Check out this great program where you can learn how to perform illusions that amaze!  Pre-registration is required. Call 614-888-9160 or stop in today.

Family Story Time will be at the Delaware Library on Monday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  Family Story Time is a combination of books, flannel stories, songs, rhymes and sometimes crafts. We include activities that appeal to a wider age range so the whole family can join in on the fun.  Engaging children in simple but powerful activities every day help them develop early literacy skills that help them get ready to read. These activities or practices are talking, singing, reading, writing and playing. All of our story times are planned using these skills that educate your children in fun, interactive and effective ways.

Check out the Library’s web site at www.delawarelibrary.org, for more details on these and many more programs offered next week.