Summer Reading Program 2010 - Book a Trip!

Let reading take you on a journey around the world!

Readers of all ages are invited to join and enjoy a summer filled with free activities and good books. The action begins on Thursday, June 3 and continues until the finale on Friday, July 23. For a full listing to print out of all our programs check out the PDFs on the Upcoming Programs section and the website calendar.

It is hard to believe that the Summer Reading Club is almost over. Here are some of the fun activities that the 800+ reading club members participated in:

www.flickr.com WoodstockPublicLibrary's Summer Reading Club 2010 photoset

The State of Illinois has not delivered on the promised budgeted funding for the nine regional library systems that provide, among many other services, the van delivery system that moves library materials (books, dvds, cds, etc) between libraries throughout Illinois. The library systems are struggling to stay open and maintain core services like van delivery between libraries.

If the State does not come through with funding to the library systems then there may be some changes in services for our customers. The first most noticeable change would be that our customers who request materials from other libraries may experience longer than usual delays in receiving materials. Woodstock and other area libraries are working together to find new ways to keep library materials moving between the libraries.

Illinois Regional Talking Book Centers may be shuttered until funding resumes. The inability of the State to deliver promised funding to the Regional Illinois Talking Book Centers will most likely result in two of the four Talking Book Centers to be closed by the end of July. Part of a federal program, the Talking Book Centers provide audio and Braille books for Illinois citizens with visual or physical handicaps that prevent them from reading printed books.

The Woodstock Public Library is a member of the Prairie Area Library System. Crystal Lake Public Library and McHenry Public Library (and most other libraries east of Woodstock) are members of the North Suburban Library System. 

Links for more information:

Federal Funding May Rescue Audiobook Service (6/7/10 Daily Chronicle) Referring to  Voices of Vision Talking Book Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

North Suburban Library System's Final Weekly e-Newsletter (5/28/10)

Prairie Area Library System Status Update (listing of services that are continuing or ending  5/27/10)

Illinois Regional Library Systems Forced to Slash Services/Staff (Library Journal 5/20/10)

Prairie Area Library System (PALS Board Agrees on Next Steps 5/18/10)

North Suburban Library System (NSLS's Immediate Future 5/11/10)

North Suburban Library System on Death Watch  (Sun Times Article 5/14/10)

The Summer Reading Club brings hundreds of children and their parents to the library. They will be participating in the 80+ programs offered by the Children and Adult departments. The majority of these programs are offered from Monday through Friday. As a result the library has the greatest demand on its services and staff during that period.

The City of Woodstock has a hiring freeze in place. In order to safely staff the building and provide quality customer service with the library's current staffing levels the Library Board and staff have made the difficult decision to close the library on Sundays for the Summer of 2010.

The Library Board and staff are committed to providing access to information for all residents of the City of Woodstock and the Rural Woodstock Public Library District. Residents can take full advantage of the many online resources that are always available through this website, our Online Branch, including downloads of eBooks and audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, genealogy materials and more. All that is needed to access these materials is a Woodstock Public Library card number. Full service Woodstock Public Library cards also allow residents the flexibility to check out and return materials from public libraries throughout the State of Illinois.

A complete listing of all the Summer programs will soon be available on the library's website and are published in the Summer issue of the City Scene newsletter.

Library Closed Dates:

Friday, May 14 - Closed until noon for staff training
Sunday, May 9 - Mother's Day
Sunday & Monday, May 30 & 31 - Memorial Day
Sundays, June-August 15 - Library Closed
Sunday & Monday, September 5 & 6 - Labor Day
 

Friends of Woodstock Public Library Mini-Links 18 Hole Golf Course was a tremendous success - over 192 golfers triumphed on our toughest course yet! Planners are already reviewing today's competition and planning for next year.

The Friends and Library Staff would like to thank everyone who made today a success:

The MiniLinks Committee, the Friends' Board, the Generous Sponsors of all the Holes and Raffle Prizes, and all of the Wonderful Volunteers who helped make today possible.

Photos from the 2010 MiniLinks now available on Flickr...

www.flickr.com WoodstockPublicLibrary's MiniLinks in the Library 2010 photoset

The Friends Would Like to Thank This Year's Sponsors:

If you were in the library on Wed February 10th you may have noticed some unusual activities: photographs being snapped throughout the library, people being counted, surveys being taken. Behind the scenes library staff was also monitoring how many times our various online resources were being used. The library was participating in a statewide effort Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries - libraries across the state working together for one day to show what happens in libraries every day.

The state results are not yet in but we would like to share our numbers and photographs from February 10th.

One Day in the Life of the Woodstock Public Library:

864   people came to the library
316   people used the library's internet stations
48   Reference Questions answered
46   Children participated in programs
21   Adults participated in programs
1056   Items (Books, DVDs, etc) checked out
155   people used our Online Databases to research information on the internet
601   visitors to our website (2885 page visits)

Survey Comments:

Here are some highlights from the Love My Library surveys that were filled out

“The library means community—a place to go for programs, books, cds, and many other items.”

“It is my favorite place in Woodstock! It means the world!”

“Everything! I could spend hours in this library. Everyone is helpful—things are easy to find. Love it all!”

“The library is where I developed my love of books and the pursuit of knowledge. A thriving library makes our community a better place to live.”

“I love how friendly and helpful all the staff is no matter what day of the week or what time of the day.”

www.flickr.com WoodstockPublicLibrary's Snapshot: One Day in the Life of the Woodstock Library photoset

How will I find the book I requested?
Items will be shelved alphabetically using a unique code for each patron. For privacy labels will cover the entire item.

What is my code?
3 – the first three letters of your LAST name
1 – the first letter of your FIRST name
2 – the last two digits of your library card number

How will I know when I something I requested has come in?
Customers will be called or emailed when their item is ready for pickup. Talk to a staff member about adding your email to your library account in order to receive emailed library notices.

How long do I have to pick up my item?
Seven days.  After seven days any unclaimed items will go on to the next person on the waiting list. If no one is waiting for the item then it will be re-shelved or returned to the library that we borrowed it from.

How do I check out my item?
 You are welcome to check out your own materials using the Self Checkout Station directly behind the Holds Pickup Station or wait in line for a staff person to check you out.

What if someone else checks out my book?
Each item is on hold for a specific customer. Only that customer’s library card can be used to check out the item on the Self Checkout Station.

What if I want to pickup the book someone in my family requested?
 If you want to check out an item that is on hold for a family member you will need to bring their library card to the library or request a staff member to assist you.

Why is the library offering this now?
As the library has become more and more busy wait time to check out has increased. This new service allows customers to pickup and check out their own books and other library materials without waiting in line. It also allows for those customers who prefer not to interact with staff to take their library experience to a more independent level.
 

The library will be offering Online Program Registration for its Adult Programs and Computer Classes for the first time beginning on Monday, January 4th.

Online Registration is easy:
1) Click on the Calendar link at the top of the website.
2) Locate the program you wish to attend.
3) Click on the Sign Up for [program name] link.
4) Fill in the requested information.
– The email address field is required. You will receive a signup confirmation and a reminder email.
– If you do not wish to enter an email address or do not want to receive a confirmation emails, then use [yourname]@librarysignup.com as an email address.
– If you are registering two or more people for the same class, you need to use separate emails for each registrant, or opt to use the [yourname]@librarysignup.com option.

If the class that you are registering for has a cost associated with it, the charge will be added to your library card account. If you prefer to register in person or by phone you may do so. The library hopes to make online registration available for the youth programs later this year.

In order to save the library hundreds of dollars a month in postage the Woodstock Public Library will no longer be mailing the 7 and 14 day overdue notices by mail.

Instead of printed notices the library's automatic telephone notification system will notify households that they have an item(s) overdue. If you are a Woodstock Public Library customer and have given the library your email address you will still receive email overdue notices with the new system.

For privacy reasons, the automatic telephone call will not list the items that are overdue.

To find out what is overdue there are two options:

a) you can call the library at 815-338-0542 and ask what is overdue. Please have your library card barcode number available, the staff person will need it to confirm your identity before sharing this information. Some overdue items maybe renewed unless there is someone else waiting for the book or if it has already been renewed the maximum number of times.

b) you can also see what you have checked out by accessing your library account on the NIC Computer Catalog and see what you have checked out and the dates the items are due back. If it is the first time you are logging in to your account, follow the on-screen instructions. If you have any problems please call or email the library for assistance.

If you share your email account with the library you can save money! Customers who list their email address with the library receive emailed alerts to tell them when they have items that will be due back at the library two days before the due date.

To add your email address to your account:
1) Login to your account
2) Click on "Update Contact Info"
3) Add or Change your email address
4) Click the bullet in front of the "I would like to receive my notices from the library by -> EMAIL.
5) Click SUBMIT

If you have changed your email address or telephone number be sure to change it on your library card account so that you do not miss any notices.