March is Women’s History Month

February 22, 2010 — librarian

Celebrate  women of history with some wonderful biographies. There are so many great women to read about that we could not mention them all. Here are some recommended reads.

For adult readers we recommend:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Patriot Hearts: a Novel of the Founding Mothers by Barbara Hambley

Abigail Adams: a Life by Woody Holton

The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir

The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman by Margaret Mifflin

For younger readers we suggest:

‘A’ is for Abigail: an Almanac of Amazing American Women by Lynne V. Cheney

Amelia Earhart: Legend of the Lost Aviator by Shelly Tanaka

I Could do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda White

Be sure to ask your librarian to help you find reading material on your favorite women in history. Or, log on to the Nexpress link and enjoy the search on your own!

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Hot off the press!!

February 12, 2010 — librarian

Your favorite author has a new release and you can’t wait to read it. Join our Best Sellers Club and we will automatically put your name on the waiting list for a new release. All you have to do is fill out a form -available at the library- and let us know who your favorite author is, or you can choose multiple authors. We can’t guarantee you’ll be first in line to read, but your name will be on the list. As soon as a copy is available we’ll let you know! You will automatically receive an e-mail or we can call you too.  Simple as pie!! Ask your librarian about this fun service and start reading!!

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Welcome to NExpress/KOHA

December 28, 2009 — librarian
We are excited to see so many of our patrons using our new NEXPRESS catalog/circulation system.  Every day we are receiving items that our patrons are placing holds on from their home computers.  When the items arrive at the  library, we scan them and an e-mail is sent notifying the patron, if an address has been provided! Not sure how to get started doing this yourself?  First, call the library to find out your Log In and Passwords.Then watch this tutorial video, just copy and paste the address below:
New Catalog Overview Video for Patron:

http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/nov09opacoverview.swf

If you prefer to look at only the Seneca Library catalog, or any one library’s catalog, use the Advanced Search option.  Near the bottom of the Advanced Search page there is a drop down box that lets you select all libraries or choose which library catalog you want to search. Not only can you place books, DVDs, books on CD, etc on hold, you can renew your items online also, by going to the My Summary tab. As long as your books are not already overdue, you can renew them this way. Here is another video to help you learn how to use your library account:

New My Account Overview video for Patrons

http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/nov09myaccountoverview.swf

Also new to this system, some of our new items have a ONE WEEK check out. We sometimes forget to mention this to our patrons. You’ll have to check your receipt or go on line to see when your material is due back to the library. Or sign up to receive advance notice on your e-mail account.

Helpful hint: NEXPRESS/Koha, an open source web based system, likes the Firefox search engine better than Explorer. If you are having trouble viewing the video or using NEXPRESS, try downloading Firefox. It is a free download. Go to Firefox.com and follow the prompts to download to your computer. MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN EXPLORING NEXPRESS!
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SNEAK PEAK @ KOHA

November 24, 2009 — admin

Monday November 30, after a long holiday weekend, the library will open with a new circulation system. We’ve been talking about this for months, it’s finally going to happen!

Beginning that day, you’ll be able to click on the NEXPRESS button in the upper right hand corner, search the library catalogs of over 30 libraries in northeast Kansas, put an item on hold and have it sent to any library in the area for you to pick up!

To help you get used to the idea, below are the links for training videos that our regional office has prepared. I think they are each only 5 minutes long, but each one has lots of helpful information. You will have to copy and paste the addresses to your search engine.

After November 30, you’ll need to call the library to get your Log In and Password information.

New Catalog Overview Video for Patrons:

http://www.nexpresslibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/nov09opacoverview.swf

If you cannot find what you are looking for in NEXPRESS, ask a librarian and we can check the state wide catalog for you or set it up so you can also do that yourself!

Helpful hint: The Regional Office tells us that Koha, an open source web based system, likes the Firefox search engine better than Explorer. If you are having trouble viewing the videos or using NEXPRESS, you might download Firefox. It is a free download. Go to Firefox.com and follow the prompts to download this to your computer. We have already downloaded Firefox to all the computers at the library.
The library will close at 5:00 pm Wednesday November 25 and reopen at 10:00 am Monday November 30.

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Library Joining the NExpress Shared Catalog

November 4, 2009 — admin

The Seneca Free Library is joining NExpress, a regional shared catalog service of the Northeast Kansas Library System. Seneca Free Library will be one of over 30 libraries currently participating in the shared catalog.

The transition from the current library circulation system to the new Koha system will take place over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The library will close at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, and reopen on Monday, November 30, at 10:00 AM with a new library circulation software system called Koha, an advanced open-source integrated library system, used by thousands of libraries worldwide.

Once our library is on the new system, Koha will:

  • allow patrons to renew materials, place requests and view checkouts, holds, and fines online with a secure username and password
  • enable requests for materials delivered to the patron’s home library from the shared collection of almost 500,000 items—movies, books and audiobooks
  • allow patrons to place multiple titles in a Cart for easy, one-step request processing, and create personalized lists
  • permit patrons to view their complete reading and checkout history
  • notify patrons via e-mail when holds are available for pickup and when materials are due

Library patrons will need a new NExpress library card to access the system. Talk to a librarian today if you don’t have your new card.

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Summer Line-up @ the Library

May 29, 2009 — admin

Mark your calendars now!

Don’t miss the summer entertainment programs planned for children of all ages.

 Performers scheduled to appear at the Library this summer are:

Tuesday June 2, 10:30 AM – “Unlimited Imaginations” by Jay’s Laughing Matters

Monday June 8, 10:30 AM -”Creative at the Library” by Monty Harper

Wednesday July 1, 10:30 AM – “Be Creative” by Kareen King

Tuesday July 14, 10:30 AM – “Make Your Own Rainbows Magic Show” by Eric Eicher

 

 

 

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Be Creative with Summer Reading!

May 15, 2009 — admin

Be Creative @ Your Library is the theme for this year’s summer reading program.

The sign up party at Seneca Free Library will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26th. There will be bookbags filled with goodies, pop, cookies and door prizes. Sign up continues for a couple of weeks if you are unable to attend that day.

The best part of summer reading is the surprise of new books! The library staff has been working on stacks of new material and hoarding them in the back room. Come in weekly to see what is new this summer. But don’t forget the your old favorites and the classics! Remember…read 20 books by July 31, and you’ll receive a certificate for a Personal Pan Pizza from Valentino’s!

Seneca Free Library Summer Reading Sponsors are: Northeast Kansas Library System, Seneca Wholesale, Ray’s Apple Market, Valentino’s Restaurant, United Bank & Trust, McDonald’s of Seneca, and Rogers & Sons Electric

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Story Hour Takes a Break

April 10, 2009 — admin

Wednesday April 22 will be the last Story Hour this spring. We will resume this summer, after our Summer Reading program begins. Please check back here later for more details on dates and times to sign up for Summer Reading.

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Library Receives Recognition

April 1, 2009 — admin

Seneca Free Library has received recognition again as a library with overall exceptional library performance. The Library Journal, a well-known and well respected magazine in the Library World, came out with an index rating that shows libraries across the country that are headed in the right direction for high quality service. Based on a 3, 4 and 5 star rating much like the Michelin star rating for restaurants, libraries are rated on real usage and outcomes like circulation, visits, programming and internet usage. A total of 16 Kansas libraries were rated, allowing Kansas to claim the third highest spot in the country. Only New York and Ohio received more stars.

Seneca Free Library and Johnson County Library in Overland Park were the only two librariesin Northeast Kansas to receive 4 stars. No other library in Northeast Kansas was rated in any 3, 4, 5 category. Seneca can be proud of this honor and it shows the care and concern its residents give to the local library.

The libraries were ranked using data collected by the State Library of Kansas for the National Center for Education Statistics and processed through a new assessment tool for public libraries called the “LJ Index”. The four categories used for analysis included: number of times an average individual visited the library, the average number of items checked out by an individual, the program attendance per person, and the number of times an average individual used a library computer terminal.

Kansas has 327 public libraries, about one library for every 8,500 people. Kansans use their libraries significantly and this rating shows that Kansas is headed in the right direction. The primary mission in each library in Kansas is to serve its residents through direct services with help from the State Libary of Kansas.

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Reading Winnners Announced!

March 13, 2009 — admin

Winners of the drawings for the Winter Reading Program for Adults were: Kathy Copeland, Vi Megill, Patty Buessing andKen Haggard. The Grand Prize winner was Eunice Winkler. We also had 2 coffee mugs to give away, those went to Kathy Copeland and Ginger Cooper.

There were 41 patrons signed up to be part of the program. For each book they read, they filled out  short form about the book and put their name in for a drawing.

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