July 1, 2009
Celebrate Citizenship at the Library!
As we celebrate Independence Day 2009 we are joined by a number of local residents who will spend their first 4th of July as United States Citizens. On Saturday, June 20, the Orlando Public Library hosted a World Refugee Day event. The highlight of the day was a U.S. Naturalization swearing in ceremony. Twenty-five new citizens were sworn in by Margaret Iglesias, Field Office Director for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. In addition, Bishop Wenski from the Catholic Diocese as well as Congressman Alan Grayson were guest speakers. Both men spoke about the importance of honoring the contribution immigrant communities have made to our country since its inception.
This event tied in well with one of the Library's current initiatives, Citizenship Inspired. The Library is fortunate to be the recipient of a $120,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services with which we have created and promoted the program. This citizenship focused series was designed by Library staff to meet a local need to provide support and training for residents who wish to pursue the naturalization process. Although the program has only been around for 6 months, we have already had over 250 participants enroll in our Citizenship Inspired program with many students coming back to report they have gone on to pass the Citizenship Test, and have become full participants in U.S. Citizenry.
The Library continuously seeks ways in which we can support the needs of our community, whether partnering with Workforce Central Florida to assist job seekers or FINRA to provide important financial education to our residents. An English language version of this program is coming in Fall 2009. If you know of an opportunity or a community need let us hear from you!
Join us during July to celebrate National Hot Dog Month at our Herndon Branch (July 20, 6:30 p.m.) or to pick up a new computer skill. And Save the Date for our Evening with the Author featuring New York Times best selling author, Jeffrey Zaslow, on Friday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m.
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June 1, 2009
WebTopicks
Are you baffled by blogs? Troubled by Twitter? Would you like to learn more about the world of social networking? Try the Library's new WebTopicks program and enter a drawing for sky-box tickets to an Orlando Magic home game for the 2010 season!
You can participate in the entire program from home or office at your convenience and at your own pace. Sign up on our website and you'll be sent all the information you need to join us in a new learning journey!
WebTopicks consists of 10 units. These units will cover a number of topics including: blogs, RSS Feeds, podcasting, social networking, online language learning and much more. Take a sneak peak of each unit here. The first unit will be available on June 15th. You'll be a social networking expert in no time.
To qualify for the sky box drawing, all 10 "missions" must be completed and submitted to the Library by August 24, 2009 to be entered into the drawing.
This is an interactive hands-on experience you don't want to miss!
If you can't wait to "get social" with the Library, check out our new OCLS Social page!
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May 1, 2009
Libraries Yesterday and Today- What a Difference!
Do you remember what your home town library was like? How many of you can conjure up a vivid image of your childhood hometown library? Can you smell it? Can you see the rows and shelves of books rising toward the ceiling of the building? Can you picture the sliding ladder leaning precariously against shelves of old leather-bound volumes and the librarian ( perhaps with her hair in a bun with a pencil behind her ear and sensible shoes?) climbing up the top to reach the book you wanted? Do you remember the huge wooden card catalogue and the large green books called Readers Guide to Periodical Literature?
Because our patrons need it and demand it and because technology is amazing, libraries have redefined themselves in a myriad of ways. They are no longer just a warehouse or repository for books - a passive, quiet, retreat for those with leisure time to read. Rather they are a whirlwind of activity and learning and moving parts and programs. While there are more, let me share just a few significant differences I've seen in the past seven years I have been here.
Libraries are focused on technology, both as a way to make limited tax dollars go further and to deliver the information, the experience, the learning in better, faster, and more interactive ways. We develop new technology so that we continue to be relevant and more importantly so that we can help our customers keep relevant. Check out some of our technology innovations including OCLS Mobile which lets you take the Library with you.
From job skills to languages, the Library is about learning. How much of what you learned in school is still relevant? I guess it depends on when you went to school. Speaking for myself, just about all of what I learned, especially in the sciences, is hopelessly outdated. We must keep up with the extraordinary pace of our changing world and information about it. We have to keep informed about the latest developments in our fields.
As funding continues to be an issue, libraries are looking for partnerships to extend their reach and to better leverage their tax dollars. OCLS worked with Rotary of Dr. Phillips to have a very successful After Hours event with Bill Belleville, noted environmentalist in April. We have also partnered with the Orlando Science Center on a grant written to help address the need for improving kids' science knowledge in elementary school. Brighthouse has partnered with the Library to host several successful author events with Helen Thomas, Seymour Hersh, and Carl Hiassen. If you have an idea for partnership get in touch with the Library at comments@ocls.info.
The Library will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs and interests of the community we serve. We appreciate your support and feedback as we forge these new directions.
Mary Anne Hodel
Library Director and CEO
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April 1, 2009
National Library Week
It's no secret that during down economic times, library usage tends to go up. And why not? Where else can frugal families find free sources of information and entertainment like books, DVDs, video games and fun library programs? Out-of-work people can take advantage of job search tools or take free computer classes to polish their resume or brush up on technology skills. April 12 -18 is National Library Week and this year - given the tough economic times - there's cause to celebrate all that public libraries offer more than ever. In fact, library use is up nationwide among all types of library users, and the library remains the number one point of Internet access for those without access at home, school or work.
The Orange County Library System invites you to celebrate National Library Week by joining us for one of the special events we have on tap. To discover how you can take full advantage of your library, be there for the OCLS Innovation Presentation on Thursday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Orlando Public Library. You'll see the unveiling of innovative OCLS resources and services including an Ambassador Tool Kit, Guide By Cell and the announcement of the Create A Commercial Contest winner. Or help us wrap up the week on a sweet note with our participation in the Books2Eat Festival and join us to taste literary-themed cake entries from local bakeries on Friday, April 17 at 11 a.m. at the Orlando Public Library. That same night, you are invited to hear Florida author and environmentalist Bill Belleville speak at the Southwest Branch at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
In light of the poor economy, OCLS has launched a special program series called H.O.P.E. which stands for Helping Others Persevere and Endure. Take advantage of programs like Lowering Health Care Costs, Maximizing Your Energy Costs and many more offered as part of the H.O.P.E. series. In closing, as we look to the future with optimism, please keep in mind the words of the late Christopher Reeve who said, "Once you choose hope, anything's possible."
Mary Anne Hodel
Library Director/CEO
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March 2, 2009
Grants at the Library
Last month we mentioned some successful grant applications here at the Library. Here is bit more information on our GRANT (Getting Results Amidst Needy Times!) program.
Through our persistent search for appropriate opportunities, OCLS received nearly $400,000 in grant funds for the current fiscal year. One of the funded projects, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is our Citizenship Inspired program. Citizenship Inspired prepares legal immigrants for the written and oral exam to become a U.S. citizen. Classes meet weekly for 6 consecutive weeks of In-person classes supplemented by online review modules. We now have 3 new citizens who are graduates of our program. The program is so successful that we have increased the number of classes and locations.
The Library believes that the children in our community are SuperStarz!. Through Library Services and Technology Act funds, the Library is providing programming at 7 community youth centers. Weekly, library staff provide FCAT and academic skill-building sessions to students in 3rd - 5th grade.
Through $15,000 in funding provided by Entertainment Arts (EA), the Library just completed Edu-Gaming: Extreme Technology for Teens! Participants learned how gaming can be educational as well as fun and took classes on game creation. A game creation contest was held and judged by representatives from EA.
Other successful projects include support for a healthy lifestyle through Fit for Life programming, sound financial planning for Hispanic residents through our Smart Investing programs sponsored by FINRA, and support for family literacy through our Prime Time programs, funded by the Florida Humanities Council.
The Library would like to thank all of our funders and our staff whose creativity and energy make these successful grant programs possible. Through this funding we are able to connect our changing community to the evolving world of ideas, information and technology and bring even greater value to the residents of our community.
Mary Anne Hodel
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February 3, 2009
Your library card: In today's economy, don't leave home without it!
Even libraries are feeling the effect of the slower economy. A failing economy equates to an increased demand for services - especially among job seekers using library computers or families looking to save by checking out books and videos instead of buying them. In this economic downturn, libraries are being called upon now more than ever as many have nowhere else to go.
It's apparent that what the library has to offer is more attractive at a time when cutting back on expenses becomes commonplace. A look at the numbers for all kinds of library usage shows that essentially, everything is up as OCLS is tracking a significant spike in visits and circulation. We've seen a surge in circulation numbers as regulars rely more on our services and new faces come through the doors every day. At the Orange County Library System (OCLS) in December, circulation was up 20 percent. Over the last year, new library card registrations have increased 25 percent. Use of public access computers is up 17 percent.
Meanwhile, out-of-work people use the public computers to search and apply for jobs while families forced to be frugal turn to public libraries for free entertainment, DVDs, videogames, music and reading materials. Attendance in the Orange County Library System's free computer classes have increased 41 percent in the last year as many unemployed enroll in classes such as Resume Writing, Searching for Jobs Online, Writing Cover Letters and Online Resources for Successful Interviews.
The upswing in library activity is only half good news. The bad half is that the economic climate has also resulted in reduced funding for libraries. The very same economic conditions that are bringing more people through our doors also mean less funding for libraries. With declining home values, libraries - funded mostly by property tax dollars - will be receiving fewer dollars. We're being forced to serve more people with fewer resources. Not exactly a sustainable proposition. In fact, the worsening economic picture is affecting libraries in Florida and all across the country. Make no mistake - the library constantly struggles to keep costs under control while providing services to the community.
Many libraries - including some in Florida - have had to cut hours and reduce purchases of new books, DVDs and other materials as well as significantly decrease the number of library programs available to the public. Numerous libraries have had to cut hours, days of operation, book budgets or staff positions. Thanks to a fiscally conservative Board of Trustees and library administration, that is not the case in Orange County. A combination of sound fiscal management and creative strategies has enabled us to not only to keep libraries open but to continue to improve what we offer to the community.
OCLS has aggressively gone after grants and is currently in receipt of nearly $400,000 in funding from a variety of outside sources. These funds make it possible to provide vital services and programs to the community - things like family literacy, a series of financial workshops offered in Spanish, academic success programs for area students, a health and wellness series, and classes to help those pursuing citizenship. More than a million dollars in additional grant funding is pending.
Public libraries are no longer just quiet places where people go to check out books or study. Libraries have worked hard to respond to patrons' evolving needs, and today many public libraries are vibrant community centers offering information, education, cutting-edge technology and entertainment. The changes couldn't have come at a better time when consumers are searching for discounts, freebies and any place where they can save a few bucks. With disposable spending budgets gone, we are just glad we can be of service to people. To steal from a familiar marketing slogan . . . Your library card: In today's economy, don't leave home without it!
Mary Anne Hodel
Library Director & CEO
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January 1, 2009
New Year, New Opportunities
Happy New Year! Hard times hit hard this past year so let's look ahead with hope as realism and optimism are recession 'musts.' The economy in a recession has meant lean times and less disposable income for a lot of families.
While we wait for the tide to turn, let the library be your lifeline in tough economic times. Don't let a layoff push you off the edge. The library system offers hundreds of computer classes (free with a library card) each month on topics including resume writing, searching for jobs online, writing cover letters, online resources for successful interviews and many more such as QuickBooks, Web design, Excel, PhotoShop and PowerPoint. Checkout one of these classes: Using the Internet for Successful Job Interviews or Search for Jobs Using the Internet
Also, this month we are pleased to launch a special series of workshops in partnership with Rollins College called Smart Investing @ Your Library. This series -- created for our area's Hispanic population -- covers everything from money fundamentals and basic investment strategies to retirement planning. Presented in Spanish by Rollins MBA students, these free classes start January 20 at the Southeast and South Creek Branches. Childcare is available for ages three and up.
Unfortunately, scams increase during uncertain times as con artists use unsolicited email and phone calls to get personal and financial information for fraudulent offers. To help you avoid such threats, OCLS is presenting two programs on Identity Theft at the Alafaya Branch Library this month. The first is Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. and then again on Saturday, January 31 at 11 a.m. Get informed and protect yourself from becoming a victim.
As we all adjust to more frugal lifestyles, the library is a year-round source for free resources and information. We bring you new release DVDs, video games and downloadable audiobooks and eBooks. Free WiFi is available at all 15 library locations. We offer free art exhibits, musical performances and a wide array of entertaining programs for all ages. And of course, you can always check out books for free or buy gently used books at amazingly low prices in our Friends of the Library Bookstore. Taking advantage of your local library is a great way to expose your kids to cultural and educational activities as well as a great way to save money! And speaking of saving money, try our Personal Finance e-guide or our Money Matters! virtual gallery. Again, Happy New Year! I wish you health, happiness . . . and will be hoping right there with you for a turning point in the economy in 2009.
Mary Anne Hodel
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