HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the OLDEST LIBRARIAN

On September 15, Martha Smith of Vinland, Kansas, celebrated her 103rd birthday! Congratulations to Ms. Smith, who according to the American Library Association, is the oldest librarian. 

Ms. Smith has been working almost non-stop at the Vinland Public Library since 1926. The Library first opened in 1859 and is now filled with historic finds--like Ms. Smith herself. She has never ventured farther away than Nebraska.

According to a story about her in the Kansas City Star online newspaper, Ms. Smith follows John Wesley's motto, "Do all the good that you can to all the people that you can and by all means that you can as long as you can."

Best wishes, Ms. Smith, and thanks for all the good that you've been doing for so long!

LIBRARIES Lead the Way to Fun and Education

Libraries Are the Popular Place To Be

More than 1.3 billion library visits were recorded in the last year, according to the American Library Association's newsletter of August 28. The leading cause for this increased use is the declining economy. While the poor economic state is not good news, it is good news to see Americans making use of the great services and products which public libraries provide.

 

If you haven't visited your library for a while, now is the time. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see what a wide variety of materials and services they have available. With the new school year just under way, you'll be happy to hear that more than 83% of the libraries offer online homework resources as well as live tutors. Now that's something to smile about. 

A couple other fun and educational places for students are AskKids.com and Merriam-Webster's WordCentral.com.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK April 13-19

Nancy Pearl, world renown librarian immortalized with her very own action-figure, is pictured to the left to announce that today, April 13, is the start of NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK.

The American Library Association's website provides a brief history and explanation of this special week promoting libraries:

What is National Library Week?
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate.

The entire month of April is School Library Media Month. I know I'll be celebrating with school students in the St. Alban's School Library on Wednesday when I spend time with two first grade classes and their extremely well-organized and energetic librarian, Christy Bobbit.

How do you plan to celebrate libraries this week? Here are some suggestions:

• Check out a library book--or two or three or more


• Say an enthusiastic "THANK YOU!" to your librarian


• Send your favorite library (librarians) a "Just Because You're Special Card"


• Donate time or money to your favorite library


• Attend a library story time with your children


• Soak up the zen when you stop by your favorite library for some quiet reading time