Whirlwind

Busy doesn't even begin to describe this semester...and I cannot get over how fast it's moving along. It's been a whirlwind...

I've been spending my time doing homework/reading for LIS 7996, working at my practicum site (Caro Area District Library), and attending workshops to broaden my learning experiences...

Earlier in October, as part of my practicum project, I launched a survey in hopes of raising awareness and gaining insight into the information needs and practices of the legal community in Tuscola County. This morning, a similar survey targeting patrons and their legal information needs was launched within the library. 

Last week, I attended two "meet the candidate" sessions at Thumb area libraries which were facilitated by Bryon Sitler, Director of White Pine Library Cooperative. Session 1 was at Rawson Memorial District Library and featured 84th District House candidates Terry Brown (D) and Dan Grimshaw (R). The second session was held at Sandusky District Library and featured 83rd District House candidate Carol Campbell (D) -- Paul Muxlow (R, incumbent) was not present. All of the questions in which Sitler asked were relevant to libraries and the various issues in which they face.

Terry Brown (D), Me, Dan Grimshaw (R)

Carol Campbell (D) and I

To bed I go...

I Geek..

Pinterest for Public Libraries

Recently, a blog in which I follow -- Ideas from The School of Library and Information Science -- shared two posts written by Laura Brown on how public libraries can utilize the ever-popular Pinterest:

10 Ways that Public Libraries are Using Pinterest
10 More Ways that Public Libraries are Using Pinterest

(Thanks, Laura!)

The 940s

I've kept this blog free of politics with the exception of library funding issues and my recent announcement of non-partisan candidacy for Watertown Township trustee -- the latter has been kept to a bare minimum. However, I recently spotted this image making its rounds via Facebook (a friend shared the image via the page, Being Liberal) and I couldn't resist sharing. I think it's a great point...

I find it not only disgusting and disturbing that someone could even make a comparison, but feel that those who make such statements are minimizing the atrocities committed by the Third Reich. Regardless of your political affiliations, there is simply no comparison and the subject is certainly nothing to joke about...

Further (and the main reason for sharing this), anyone that compares a U.S. President to the infamous dictator with a toothbrush mustache smacks of ignorance and cannot be very knowledgeable in 20th century history. I strongly encourage them to visit their local public library (it's free) and do some reading up in the 940s. While they're in the 940s, they should also read up on Stalin -- who murdered an estimated 20 million people. Once again, there is no comparison.

Use Libraries and Learn Stuff.

/end rant

Other posts I've made about Hitler:

Mein Kampf: Case Study

Meeting Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf

Priceless

Via Facebook, River Rapids District Library in Chesaning, Michigan shared this photo which was posted by Grand Forks Public Library in Grand Forks, North Dakota:

30 Years and 30 Libraries: Statistics

Image by Andy Thompson

In case you're just tuning in, before my 30th birthday, I began pondering something unique and special to celebrate the milestone. At first I thought about a staging a literary-themed costume party, hosting a read-in, or even a literature-to-film night; however, a better idea came to me: a campaign of library tours called 30 Years and 30 Libraries.

Throughout the months of November, December, January, I visited, photographed, and toured 30 different libraries and wrote about my various adventures via this blog. The 30 Years and 30 Libraries project not only provided me with fun and adventure, but also served as a learning experience for my professional development.

This post will serve as a final wrap-up that'll share some interesting 30Y.30L statistics and anecdotes! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jcbrown at wayne dot edu.

Fun with Numbers

• Negativity: In the early stages of putting together this project, I ran into issues with 6 libraries -- one of which, the director actually laughed at me and was incredibly rude on the phone when I was attempting to explain the project (this was even after she received a letter in the mail detailing the project and explaining my background). Needless to say, I didn't end up touring her library!
• The remaining 5 libraries didn't return phone calls during the planning process and were subsequently dropped from the 30Y.30L list after several unsuccessful attempts;
• I drove 3,035.80 miles (round trip -- plus picking up a travel companion prior to heading to the upper peninsula)
• Averaging the cost of gasoline at $3.50 a gallon, I spent about $530.00 on fuel.
•  I spent a total of 73 hours driving;

This photo was taken after the weeds and debris
were removed from the truck's undercarriage.
(Notice the mudsplatter is backwards on the
truck because I left the highway at a spin!)

• Out of the 73 hours, I spent 16.5 hours driving for the upper peninsula trip;
• Sans the 2 libraries located in the upper peninsula, the average drive time to a library visit (one-way) was about 1 hour;
• I got into one single-vehicle accident due to an encounter with black ice on westbound I-69 just slightly past the on-ramp near Imlay City. My truck ended up on the far north-end of the grassy slope near the MDOT fence -- OnStar as well as my four-wheel drive assisted in the recovery effort.
• A total of 59.25 hours were spent touring the thirty libraries which means the average visit lasted around 2 hours;
• For two library visits, I had to use a ferry -- tour #4: Reader's Cove Library and Tour #29: Drummond Island Library -- total fares $19.00 ($7.00 for the ferry to Harsen's Island and $12.00 for the ferry to Drummond Island);
• I stayed two nights in a hotel for this project; 
• Of the libraries toured, 7 were in Sanilac County, 6 were in Tuscola County, 5 were in Huron County, 5 were in Oakland County, 2 were in Lapeer County, 2 were in St. Clair County, 1 was in Chippewa County, 1 was Mackinac County, and 1 was in Wayne County;
• 60% of the libraries were located in Michigan's Thumb area;
• 18 libraries belong to White Pine Library Cooperative, 5 libraries belong to The Library Network (TLN), 3 libraries belong to the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative, 2 libraries belong to the Superiorland Library Cooperative, 1 library belongs to the Suburban Library Cooperative, and 1 library didn't belong to any cooperatives due to being private;
• 2 agencies were a blend between public libraries and school media centers -- Tour #18: Opperman Memorial Library and Tour #29: Drummond Island Library;
• 2 libraries renovated former strip malls for their new homes -- Tour #9: Reese Unity District Library and Tour #27: Addison Township Public Library;
• Of the 29 library directors interviewed, only 4 were male -- Tour #6: Bullard Sanford Memorial Library (Eric Andreychuk), Tour #16: Oxford Public Library (Bryan Cloutier), Tour #21: Fairgrove District Library (Larry Haubenstricker), and Tours #29 and 30: Drummond Island Library and Les Cheneaux Community Library (Ken Miller).
• Out of the 30 libraries toured, 11 were under the supervision of a director holding an MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Those interviewed for the project: Tour #11: Eastpointe Memorial Library (Assistant Director: Sue Todd, Wayne State University); Tour #13: Brandon Township Library (Director: Paula Gauthier, University of Michigan); Tour #14: Aitkin Memorial District Library (Jennifer Walters, University of Michigan); Tour #16: Oxford Public Library (Bryan Cloutier, Wayne State University); Tour #17: Orion Township Library (now retired, Linda Sickles, Western Michigan University); Tour #23: Lapeer District Library: Clifford Library (Branch Manager: Rachael Smyczak, Wayne State University); Tour #24: Caro Area District Library (Marcia Dievendorf, Kent State University); Tour #27: Addison Township Public Library (Jaema Berman, Wayne State University), Tour #28: St. Clair County Library: Burtchville Township Library (Branch Manager: Jane Fortushniak, Wayne State University); Tours #29 and #30: Drummond Island Library and Les Cheneaux Community Library (Ken Miller, Wayne State University).
• 6 graduated from Wayne State University's SLIS program!
• The average size of a library toured was a Class 3.
• Class 0 (private library): 1; 
• Class 1 (population served: 0 – 3,999): 4; 
• Class 2 (population served: 4,000 – 6,999): 10; 
• Class 3 (population served: 7,000 – 11,999): 6; 
• Class 4 (population served: 12,000 – 25,999): 3; 
• Class 5 (population served: 26,000 – 49,999): 4; 
• Class 6 (population served: 50,000+): 2
• Press and Coverage: The 30Y.30L project was featured on the front page of the Vassar Pioneer Times; via Facebook, the School of Library and Information Science shared the Hermionish link to the Vassar Pioneer Times article; Bullard Sanford Memorial Library featured the project on their website; my 'featured student' profile on the School of Library and Information Science website mentions the 30Y.30L project and links to this blog
• At the 2012 Rural Libraries Conference at the Grand Traverse Bay Resort, I was approached by several librarians who inquired if I was 'the same Jill Brown who toured all of those libraries.'

Rank by Miles Away

A map showing the 30 libraries!

1. Sandusky District Library (6.3 miles)
2. Elk Township Library (7.5 miles)
3. Aitkin Memorial District Library (18.2 miles)
4. Deckerville Public Library (18.4 miles)
5. Lapeer District Library: Clifford Library (18.9 miles)
6. Marlette District Library (19.0 miles)
7. Brown City Public Library (20.1 miles)
8. Moore Public Library (21.8 miles)
9. Opperman Memorial Library (22.6 miles)
10. North Branch Township Library (25.9 miles)
11. Sleeper Public Library (31.8 miles)
12. Burtchville Township Library (33.3 miles)
13. Rawson Memorial District Library (34.1 miles)
14. Caro Area District Library (38.4 miles)
15. Bad Axe Area District Library (40.7 miles)
16. Bullard Sanford Memorial Library (46.8 miles)
17. Fairgrove District Library (47.5 miles)
18. Harbor Beach Area District Library (50.3 miles)
19. Reese Unity District Library (52.7 miles)
20. Addison Township Public Library (52.9 miles)
21. Pigeon District Library (56.6 miles)
22. Port Austin Township Library (58.0 miles)
23. Reader's Cove Library (64.3 miles)
24. Oxford Public Library (64.5 miles)
25. Orion Township Library (65.7 miles)
26. Eastpointe Memorial Library (71.2 miles)
27. Brandon Township Library (75.5 miles)
28. Holly Township Library (86.8 miles)
29. Les Cheneaux Community Library (287 miles)
30. Drummond Island Library (321 miles)

Rank by Class Size

(Note: this ranking is slightly skewed due to several libraries being a branch of a larger system library)

Guide:
Class 1 (population served: 0 – 3,999)
Class 2 (population served: 4,000 – 6,999)
Class 3 (population served: 7,000 – 11,999)
Class 4 (population served: 12,000 – 25,999)
Class 5 (population served: 26,000 – 49,999)
Class 6 (population served: 50,000+)

1. Class 0 (private library): Reader's Cove Library
2. Class 1: Elk Township Library
3. Class 1: Fairgrove District Library
4. Class 1: North Branch Township Library
5. Class 1: Sleeper Public Library
6. Class 2: Addison Township Public Library
7. Class 2: Bad Axe Area District Library
8. Class 2: Brown City Public Library
9. Class 2: Deckerville Public Library
10. Class 2: Harbor Beach Area District Library
11. Class 2: Marlette District Library
12. Class 2: Moore Public Library
13. Class 2: Opperman Memorial Library
14. Class 2: Port Austin Township Library 
15. Class 2: Reese Unity District Library
16. Class 3: Aitkin Memorial District Library
17. Class 3: Bullard Sanford Memorial Library
18. Class 3: Caro Area District Library
19. Class 3: Pigeon District Library
20. Class 3: Rawson Memorial District Library
21. Class 3: Sandusky District Library
22. Class 4: Brandon Township Library
23. Class 4: Holly Township Library
24. Class 4: Oxford Public Library
25. Class 5: Drummond Island Library
26. Class 5: Eastpointe Memorial Library
27. Class 5: Les Cheneaux Community Library
28. Class 5: Orion Township Public Library
29. Class 6: Lapeer District Library - Clifford Branch
30. Class 6: St. Clair County Library - Burtchville Branch

Rank by Operating Budget
Note: three libraries will be excluded from this list -- (1) Reader's Cove Library on Harsen's Island due to being private and operating on donations; (2) Opperman Memorial Library -- only a collection development budget was provided; (3) Burtchville Township Library (a branch of the St. Clair County Library System) -- only a collection development budget was provided.

1. Bayliss Public Library (Class 5): Drummond Island Library: $25,440
2. Lapeer District Library (Class 6): Clifford Library: $42,688 
3. Brown City Public Library (Class 2): $45,000 
4. Elk Township Library (Class 1): $45,000 - $50,000
5. Bayliss Public Library (Class 5): Les Cheneaux Community Library: $48,180
6. Deckerville Public Library (Class 2): $64,000
7. Port Austin Township Library (Class 2): $72,000
8. Sleeper Public Library (Class 1): $72,000 - $75,000
9. Reese Unity District Library (Class 2): $100,000
10. North Branch Township Library (Class 1): $101,000
11. Marlette District Library (Class 2): $110,000
12. Fairgrove District Library (Class 1): $134,000
13. Moore Public Library (Class 2): $175,000
14. Addison Township Public Library (Class 2): $210,000
15. Aitkin Memorial District Library (Class 3): $230,000
16. Bad Axe Area District Library (Class 2): $248,000
17. Pigeon District Library (Class 3): $250,000
18. Sandusky District Library (Class 3): $250,000
19. Rawson Memorial District Library (Class 3): $300,000
20. Holly Township Library (Class 4): $344, 193
21. Bullard Sanford Memorial Library (Class 3): $400,000
22. Harbor Beach Area District Library (Class 2): $438,710
23. Caro Area District Library (Class 3): $500,000
24. Eastpointe Memorial Library (Class 5): $708,000
25. Brandon Township Library (Class 4): $908,149
26. Oxford Public Library (Class 4): $1,100,000
27. Orion Township Public Library (Class 5): $2,500,000

Total: $9,418,360*
(*Note: When a range was given, the smaller budget amount was utilized.)  

Once again, I'd like to thank the 30 libraries that participated in this project -- I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for this special and unique opportunity. I learned so much from them!

Please, please support your local library. As Marcia Dievendorf of Caro District Library said, "Access to information and knowledge -- that's the driving force. Libraries are an important part of our democracy. You can educate yourself for free."

Lady Bird Johnson said, "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest."

And Lesley Conger once said, "The best of my education has come from the public library...my tuition fee is a bus fare and once in a while, five cents a day for an overdue book. You don't need to know very much to start with, if you know the way to the public library."

World Read Aloud Day 2012

For World Read Aloud Day 2012, I had a complete riot reading aloud several Shel Silverstein poems!

What am I talking about? Here's an explanation from LitWorld's website:

"Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate.

Imagine a world where everyone can read...

World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology.

By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world."

Reading aloud and sharing a few of my favorites to show I care...

Geeking the Geek Gear

On Saturday, when I volunteered to help with the final clean-up at the old Addison Township Public Library, I sported an old Geek the Library shirt which read: I Geek Libraries. It was my very first Geek shirt that I purchased during Winter 2011 term while working on a strategic marketing plan for LIS 7040 that utilized the Geek the Library campaign. Quite a few fellow volunteers inquired about my shirt...

Last night, I gave Anne Switzer, the facilitator of Lit to Film Club, a custom Geek the Library shirt. The group began asking questions about how I procured such a shirt...

So how can you get a custom Geek shirt? There are two answers: (a) I purchased my first few shirts directly through Geek the Library which has a Zazzle store; (b) The rest of my shirts, including Anne's, were purchased via my local public library once they kicked off their campaign -- be sure to check with your local library, too.

Please note:
If you wear a Geek the Library shirt in public, be prepared to answer questions about its meaning -- which fulfills the purpose of the campaign -- to raise awareness about public libraries!

For those interested in reading my marketing plan, which was created for a fictional rural public library, you can do so here:
Geek the Library: Applegate District Library Awareness Project by JC Brown

Guest Post: To Write Love on Her Arms

By Heather Anelie Holloman (3/1/2012)

You might notice that some of your coworkers or classmates are walking around today with the word 'Love' scribbled on their arm. Today is National Self Harm Awareness Day. Millions of people will be writing the word 'Love' on their wrists and arms as a silent show of support for those around them struggling with depression.

Last month, a boy from my home town took his life. He was only fourteen. His family is heartbroken and thousands of classmates and friends were affected. Suicide is no stranger to the school district. When I was in middle school, the town experienced a record breaking amount of teen suicides and attempts. As students, we had meetings, counseling groups and events to address grief and prevention. There was an annual Celebrate Life Day, assignments that required us to film PSAs for local television, and peer mediation. It was a raw, deep subject to be faced with at such a young age. The song The Freshman played regularly on the radio at that time, and most of my friends had either lost someone to suicide or had someone close attempt it. Its scary and sad to think about children feeling so alone and without any other options.

The nonprofit organization http://www.twloha.com/ (To Write Love On Her Arms) has been promoting this day of awareness for several years through their website, merchandise and Facebook. Their mission is to show love and support to the people around us that suffer from depression. The site offers encouragement and information about treatment. Please take time today to write 'Love' on your arm; you never know who might be affected by it.

Guest Blogger: Heather Anelie Holloman
Heather is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design and works as freelance designer living in the Grand Rapids area. Her work was recently featured at ArtPrize 2010. She is the author of Shades of Tangerine.