The agenda will focus on understanding where Delaware County is today: Why do people live here? Why do they stay? What are its greatest assets? What are its opportunities and challenges? How will the community change over the next few years, and what factors will be driving those changes? As the last step, the group will discuss ways in which the Library can contribute to these ideas and help the community achieve its goals and aspirations.

 If you are interested in discussing the future of Delaware County and Delaware County District Library (DCDL), please register to attend the Strategic Visioning Seminar by calling Nicole Fowles at 740-362-3861 or by email at nfowles@delawarelibrary.org, or register online at  http://bit.ly/dcdlvision. 

Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Deadline to register is Thursday, February 23, 2012 no later than 5:00 PM.

For more information about the Community Visioning Workshop, please contact Shea Alltmont, Communications Manager, at salltmont@delawarelibrary.org or (740) 362-3861.

Hope to see you soon!

Many of us have a myriad of errands to run on any given day, with the weekends oftentimes the most jam-packed with trips to several businesses, and if you’re like me, you want to minimize the number of trips you make and the amount of gas you use.  Whether you are doing your regular weekly grocery shopping or simply stopping by to get a gallon a milk and a loaf of bread, you can maximize your trip to Buehler’s by combining it with returning your Library books.

Of course, I would hope that your weekly errands include a visit to one of the Delaware County District Library’s locations, with time set aside to browse books and magazines, let your kids enjoy the toys, books, and puppets in the children’s departments, spend a few minutes surfing the Internet or reading the Gazette and Dispatch.  All of our locations are open on Saturdays, and the Delaware, Powell and Orange locations are also open on Sundays for your convenience.  But, we understand how precious your time can be on a busy day, so striking a cooperative agreement with Buehler’s seemed like a great solution to subtract a few minutes from your errand-filled day.

Please remember, however, that Library materials are not truly checked in until they are scanned at the Library.  If you have DVD’s that accumulate fines checked out, you may want to avoid those late charges by returning them directly to the Library.  Buehler’s staff is excellent about getting Library materials to us expeditiously, but not necessarily every day.

A classic example of supply vs. demand, it was easy to see that the Library needed to supplement the number of eBooks that were available to our customers.  We have been a member of the Ohio EBook Project for several years, a statewide consortium that provides downloadable eBooks, audio books, music and movies for all Ohio residents who have library cards at participating libraries.  The Ohio EBook Project is a wonderful resource-sharing system, but the supply of eBooks is outstripping the demand for them.

To help alleviate this situation, the Library recently contracted with another eBook supplier, Axis 360, and we recently purchased nearly 600 titles that will only be available for DCDL customers. These titles are still listed in the Library’s catalog as “EBooks,” but the link that you click on to access the book is called “Blio EBook.”  Blio is the name of the reader that is a free download.

Blio books come in full color, and we have ordered dozens of travel books, how-to books, children’s books, as well as fiction.  They are easily checked out and can be downloaded for reading on multiple devices. As with any eBook, if you have any trouble downloading a Blio eBook, simply ask any of the librarians who are fully versed on nearly every device currently available.

EBooks continue to be in demand, and we are diligently working to increase their supply.  I think you will find Blio eBooks a nice addition to the thousands of eBooks available on the Ohio EBook Project.

If you are interested in participating in the discussion of this wonderful classic movie, stop by the Library today to pick up a copy of “The Big Sleep” to watch in the comfort of your own home.  Then join others on February 15th to share your thoughts, enjoy your popcorn, and be a part of the discussion led by Circulation Associate Brice Patterson-Blight.

DCDL Cinematheque meets the third Wednesday of each month to discuss a different movie.  On March 21st, “The Wind that Shakes the Barley,” a 2006 film that offers a sympathetic look at Republicans in early 20th century Ireland, and two brothers who are torn apart by anti-Brit rebellion will be the featured movie.  Copies are available at the Library for your viewing pleasure.

Even if you have never joined an informal discussion of a movie, I think you’ll find the friendly atmosphere and interesting conversation at DCDL Cinematheque stimulating and enjoyable.  And, don’t forget…free popcorn!

The Library offers you many options for listening to a book.  You can check out a book on CD or cassette.  The Library owns nearly 9,000 books on cassette or CD, and you can check them out for 4 weeks.  I am currently listening to Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand on 14 discs and I will need all of those 4 weeks to complete it.

The Library also has books in MP3 format.  Similar to a book on CD, an audio book in MP3 is usually contained on only one CD, eliminating the need to change discs, a task that can sometimes be distracting when driving.  Most cars built after 2007 can play the MP3 format in their CD player, and if you’re not sure, check one out to test it.

Have you ever checked out a Playaway?   Unlike CDs, cassettes or MP3′s , Playaways do not need a separate player–they comes preloaded and ready to use with high definition audio content in a container about the size of a credit card.  You can listen to a Playaway with earbuds, or by connecting it to your car’s stereo system with a small, inexpensive cable.  They are also great for runners and walkers because Playaways are so small and compact.

And don’t forget downloading an audio book.  You can log onto the library’s web site and click on “EBooks” to connect to the Ohio EBook Project to access thousands of audio books that can  be downloaded to your laptop, Kindle, iPhone, iPad, MP3 player, iPod, tablet, and soon, to your Nook.  Instructions and software are available at the Ohio EBook site, and of course, Library staff can always help you download to whatever device you have.

If you haven’t listened to a book, you should give it a try.  The narrators of audio books are accomplished actors, and the production is quite theatrical, not at all a monotone voice reading in a dull fashion.  Many books have multiple narrators reading as different characters, and occasionally, the author may read his or her own work.  Listening to a book while driving is my favorite way, but many folks listen to a book while working, doing chores around the house, or instead of watching TV.

Having a book to listen to when I’m traveling makes the trip much more enjoyable for me, and frankly, I look forward to having to drive longer distances, because I know that I will be entertained (and maybe even educated) along with way!