Volume 3 Marion County Public Library System’s Quarterly Newsmagazine | Issue 1 | wordsSpring 2011 GivES A ‘HOOT’ IN OCALA of the ocala public library Telling Your • Events Snapshot: • Book Review A Day in The Life of Library Story Marion County’s Libraries PART II • Profile words Marion County Public Library’s Quarterly Newsmagazine Volume 3 | Issue 1 | Spring 2011 Marion County Public Library 2720 East Silver Springs Boulevard aword Ocala, Florida 34470 from The DIrecTor 352-368-4507 By Julie Sieg • Director, Marion e-mail: [email protected] County Public Library System web site: http://library.marioncountyfl.org Library Director: Julie Sieg neWsmAGAZIne STAFF: ow do I love thee? Let me count the ways… Publisher: Friends of The In this issue of WORDS, you will read about the first Snapshot: Ocala Public Library A Day in the Life of the Marion County Public Library System Editor: Karen Jensen Hevent which occurred on January 29. Community Liaison Snapshot was a state-wide project designed to collect information, including Writers: Michelle Risko, photos, illustrating the many and varied ways in which our public libraries are Ken Tipper, used. It also offered our patrons and the public an opportunity to tell us how Lucy Beebe Tobias they feel about their public library. Over 600 patrons willingly and joyfully Concept Team: Pat Anderson, shared their comments about the Marion County Public Library System, and Karen Costello, Domina what it means to have access to its services. Daughtrey, Michelle Risko, One of our Belleview users wrote, “On our tight budget having access to free Lee Schwartz, Susan Valle, books helps fill a need for me and my kids. Kids Programs for toddlers, tweens Nancy Young & teens provide safe learning activities & crafts. We LOVE Toddler Time!!” Photography: Joe Kays, Andrew The project coincided with February’s Love Your Library month, when we Kays , Lucy Beebe Tobias asked library users to pen their favorite reasons why they love their public Distribution: Susan Valle library. Again, the response has been overwhelming as evidenced by the heart- shaped note cards written by patrons that now adorn our library windows. A sampling of comments includes: “I have loved them all my life. I started onthecover: reading when I was very young and am now 81,” “I love my library because Carl Hiaasen is coming to Ocala. they are my best friends,” “It’s free,” “It’s Awesome,” “I love to learn,” “I can See Calendar Programs read for free” (this was repeated over and over again) and “I love to read.” Spotlight for details In these challenging economic times, the outpouring of appreciation and Photo by Tim Chapman support for our public libraries is a reminder to all of us who work here that what we do does make a difference, in the lives of children and adults in Mar- ion County, across Florida and this nation. Did You Did you know that The Marion County Public Library System is a the library carries department of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and is funded by them through Know? general funds. The WORDS newsmagazine is funded federal tax forms? by the Friends of the Ocala Public Library. 2 words Spring 2011 library.marioncountyfl.org snApsh T: A day in the life of Marion County’s Public Libraries By Michelle Risko n January 29th, the Marion County Public Library System posed Ofor Snapshot: A Day in the Life of Marion County’s Public Libraries. Created by the American Library As- sociation, Snapshot: A Day in the Life of Libraries is part of a nationwide program designed to showcase what goes on in dynamic, modern libraries. Why is it important to publicize what really happens in libraries these days? According to the Florida Library As- sociation, which organized Florida’s participation in the Snapshot project, nearly 89 million people visit Florida’s Vanguard High School senior Andrew public libraries every year, compared Kays coordinated Marion County’s to approximately 67 million people Public Library System’s Snapshot Day who visit Florida’s famous theme parks. Public libraries are utilized now more than ever before and the Snap- My library is like my shot project was a way to showcase the importance of public libraries. best friend! What if a comparable list of statistics ~ An avid reader from Belleview could be compiled for libraries across Florida for one day? How many pa- teers, together with other statistics, has Day in the Life of Marion County’s trons checked out books? How many been provided to the Florida Library Public Libraries will serve as Andrew individuals used library computers? Association. Kays’ final project in achieving Eagle How many programs were attended by From some of the 550 surveys Scout status. “As an Eagle Scout proj- children…by teens… by adults? collected, it’s clear that Marion ect, it was a fantastic opportunity to Vanguard High School senior An- County’s portion of those 89 million see what happens at the library; all the drew Kays coordinated Marion Coun- Florida library users do love their ways it’s utilized by the community, ty’s Public Library System’s Snapshot libraries. “I’m proud to show visitors and how the community and sponsors Day. Kays, 17, used Facebook to re- this wonderful place,” stated one (like Clear Channel) were so willing cruit forty-two volunteers to staff five Dunnellon Public Library patron. to participate in this event,” said Kays. Marion County Public Library branch- Another avid reader in Belleview says, For the Marion County Public Library es. Volunteers spoke to library visitors “My library is like my best friend. I System, Snapshot is further evidence about Snapshot day, offered surveys am also honored by the fact that my of the needs met by libraries and of for patrons to describe their use of the granddaughter shares my love of the loss our communities would suffer library, and took photos. The informa- books. She is a regular customer.” without them. gw tion collected by Kays and his volun- The coordination of Snapshot: A Spring 2011 library.marioncountyfl.org words 3 telling your your telling library story library yoUR Wisdom of the Past, Witness to the Present, Window to the Future LIbrAry: By Lucy Beebe Tobias eddick, a town in North- present storytimes to pre- No one ever dremd that her west Marion County, has school children. “I like First a population of approxi- the community here, the Vowj wood olso be her last. On Rmately 669. But as the home of the people I see every week, The Reddick Public Library, small num- their involvement in their Nit of aprl 14 1912 the psnjr bers have never diminished a large community,” says Linda. interest in books. Jim Stroup (be- The Reddick Public Li- Liner rms titnck struk a isburg low), the mayor of Reddick, previous brary officially opened as In the north atintik. Within library volunteer and staff member a branch of the Marion Mins for five years, straightens up the big, County Public Library on Wtr bgan poring in too her stuffed bear in the children’s room October 1, 1988. In 1993, Lower deck. With les than three at the Reddick Public Library and the library moved to its Awrs puts a book in its paws to make the current home, a building bear a reading model for kids. They that used to be the agri- Her prpeirs started too ris owt of cultural facility for the old The wtar. With onle, 1500 left on Reddick School. There are Bord ther was now over 19,000 books in Litl hope of esap. Soon the the collection, not includ- Bigst ing paperbacks. Today, the bank of four Ship the world has ever sen wod public access computers Plung too the botm of the oshin. next to the checkout coun- ter stays busy pretty much all the time. Visitors check e-mail and a classroom computer when he was stay in touch with families, update in kindergarten in 1989. His teacher their resumes, and search for jobs. A at Reddick-Collier Elementary, Miss couple comes into the library with Sharon, brought her classes regu- a bag of books, all mysteries, to re- larly to the Library programs where turn. they handled and read books, talked Just how important is reading in about fiction vs. non-fiction and -of get the message. Preschoolers, many this small community? One of Lee ten let each child check out a book. from Head Start, are regulars at sto- Fanelli, former Reddick Public Li- One day they read about the Titan- rytime. Children’s librarian, Linda brary supervisor’s favorite stories is ic. Matt’s excitement and fascination Brooke, comes from the Headquar- pictured above. It is an exact copy of could hardly be contained; he could ters-Ocala Library once a week to a writing Matthew Roland typed on not read but listened to every book, continued on page 14 4 words Spring 2011 library.marioncountyfl.org book reviews with a Good Book! Cozy Up Reviewed By Linda Porter Wisdom of the Past, arl is coming! Get in the mood for Carl Hiaasen’s April Witness to the Present, 16th appearance in Marion County by reading his latest Cnovel, Star Island. Cherry Pye, a twentysomething has-been, lacks the talent Window to the Future needed to restart her flagging singing career. Cherry’s life is one long series of bad choices—especially those involving illegal substances. Her manager/parents have hired an actress to appear as their daughter when Cherry is too drugged out to appear in public or is in yet another round of rehab.