A Case of Credential Fraud?

When I was mulling over my 30Y.30L project in 2011, it was a no-brainer to include Brandon Township Library as I had grown up in the neighboring town of Oxford. Further, having worked in the new Oxford Public Library, I learned that BTL was deemed a sister library, of sorts, sharing the very same architect.

I have much to write about; however, each time I start working on the post, I begin having doubts and questioning my professional ethics -- see, there is a bit of a scandal coming to light in Michigan library-land...

The issue: Brandon Township Library hasn't received State Aid in the past 5 years and the library board wanted to know why. Upon calling a special meeting, the library director tendered her resignation effective immediately and subsequently retired.

Here are the relevant articles in the press:
11.20.2013: Brandon Twp. Library Director resigns; investigation underway
11.27.2013: Brandon Township Library on administrative lockdown
12.4.2013: Brandon Township Public Library director resigns after library receives no state funding for five years
12.20.2013: Brandon Township library hires forensic auditor, tightens finances after director’s resignation

A case of credential fraud?

Having just jumped through all of the hoops in order to complete my MLIS...and the fact that I currently hold a nonprofessional/non-salaried position in the LIS-field, this is a very bitter pill for me to swallow...

When I attended the library board meeting back in November, I was surprised that the board refused to directly respond to any of the comments or questions raised by taxpayers and former employees. I am not sure if that's their standard operating procedure...or if it's due to the open investigation. (Note: I serve as a trustee on a township board and that is not how we conduct our meetings.)

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...

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:

Rural Libraries Conference: Day 3

The past few days have been a whirlwind -- my apologies for not posting a synopsis for Day 3 of the Rural Libraries Conference sooner.

I won one of the fabulous gift baskets: Dream Big -- which contained picnic supplies: decorative paper plates, a pinwheel, a bottle of blueberry wine, dark chocolate, a bubble wand, and a "chillable" gel wrap designed for a wine bottle.

Our morning keynote speaker was the "amazingly informed & therefore properly opinionated" Librarian in Black, Sarah Houghton! *virtual applause* 

• "Digital content forces us to be ethical people." 
• There is a significant difference between the lingo salespeople use when talking to libraries about digital resources -- they commonly use terms such as buy, sell, and own. On the flip side, the contract for these services utilizes a whole different lexicon -- license, subscription, and lease. 
• Houghton referred to the publishers whom are not lending e-books through libraries as the "Naughty Six." 
• "If you don't play nice with libraries, than you're an evil villain!" 
• Recently, a new director purchased several Kindles and using a smattering of faux Amazon accounts loaded bestseller content onto the devices which are now being circulated in the library!
• After 6-9 months, still no word from Amazon.
• Sarah Houghton, who just became director of San Rafael Public Library, plans on following suit. 
• Digital resources I want to look into: Open Library, Podio, Gluejar, and LibriVox.
• Barnes and Noble have remained library-friendly. In fact, they have a loophole in their TOS that allows the purchase of a title and placement onto 6 different devices. Impressive. 
• If I buy an e-reader, it's definitely going to be a Nook of some variety. 
• Patrons using Kindles + OverDrive are unknowingly having their personal data collected and stored by Amazon. Creepy!
• Houghton cited Doctorow's First Law (Cory Doctorow): "Any time someone puts a lock on something that belongs to you, and won't give you a key, they're not doing it for your benefit." 

After the morning keynote, we split up into various break-out sessions. I attended Non-Fiction Reader Advisory for Everyone which was presented by Holly Hibner, Plymouth District Library, and Mary Kelly, Lyon Township Public Library.

• As I stated in my notes from Day 2 (Thingamabobs and Doodads: Tech Support IS Reference), these ladies could easily have their own comedy show. For now, we have their fabulous blog Awful Library Books. 
• Hibner and Kelly didn't focus on all new books for their presentation -- as it's beneficial to have back-ups when the newer materials are all checked out. 
• "Eye appeal is appeal." --Mary Kelly
• "You need to pair David Sedaris with the right reader." --Holly Hibner, (I think)
• Note: I am that reader.
• When working with patrons, librarians need to go with the moment, start a relationship, and share the pain of everyday life. 
• "There is such stereotypes out there. People feel the need to be serious when talking to us. Lighten up!" --Holly Hibner
• Think broadly when working with teens -- they read all over the place -- from children's to adult materials.
• Keep cool things/objects on your desk -- they're great conversation starters.
• Keep creep out things nearby -- teen boys love them.
• Stop using the word 'read' and try using 'look at this' instead.
• You don't necessarily have to read the book to have it on your go-to list -- patron recommendations work just fine. The key is knowing where the book is located that way you can keep the conversation with the patron flowing.
• When constructing your go-to list cover the gamut of the entire Dewey range.
• There was some discussion of interfiling / inter-shelving of adult, YA, and children's non-fiction materials. Popular reasons:
• Size driven -- frees up much needed space;
• Stigma -- people with different reading levels are spared browsing in the juvenile area and vice versa.
• Keep a 'cool book cover' pile on your desk -- another great conversation starter with patrons. 
• Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library in Imlay City had a unique idea 'Blind Date with a Book' 
• Books are wrapped in brown paper and a bow adorns the cover
• Barcodes are placed on the front or back of the brown paper for circulation ease.
• Encourages patrons to broaden their reading territory. 
• Has been received very well by the library's patrons! (Great idea!)

Rural Libraries Conference: Day 1

Day 1 of the Rural Libraries Conference is now complete and I must say: it was an absolute blast. Hopefully there aren't too many typos in this post -- I'm pooped.

It was great seeing a number of familiar faces -- Thumb area directors -- as well as making new acquaintances. I absolutely love hearing the seasoned librarian reflect upon his/her career and the amount of passion and pride in their voice for the field. While I am without a doubt that I have found my calling, it's moments like these that just help to cement the fact and further inspire me.

Nancy Robertson, the State Librarian, presented the LSTA Five-Year Plan Needs Assessment. The 6th priority, which I found particularly intriguing stated,"Targeting library and information services to persons having difficultly using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children (from birth through age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line..." What I found interesting is the fact that she used the word "underserved" while referring to both urban and rural areas -- a fact in which I feel my library school and much of the student body as the tendency to overlook. (It came as no surprise to me as I am familiar with State and Federal grant data collection from my time in the human services field.)

A memorable quote from Robertson after the microphone was passed around the room allowing librarians to share innovative programs their libraries are offering, "Even while we're drowning, we're doing really good stuff."

Representatives from Gale Cengage Learning gave a presentation titled "How to Tell the Story of Your Library's Impact." While the whole presentation was very informative, a key point I'd like to share touches on the evolution of library marketing: there is a shift from hard information such as citing data and generating reports to utilizing more soft information such as sharing feelings about the library as well as stories. Several examples were shared and I especially liked the notion of utilizing OCLC's Geek the Library as a launchpad or "springboard" (a term they used) as a means of getting patrons to share their experiences and stories.

After the opening luncheon, I headed to Get Anime-ted! Get Graphic! Adding Graphic Novels, Anime, and Manga to Your Collection which was facilitated by Roy Soncrant and Robert Gorney from the Genesee District Library. Not only was it very informative, but also quite entertaining! I learned a great deal more about the history of comic books and some finally tuned methods for purchasing.  Here are some facts and points that I found interesting:

• Author Jodi Picoult actually did a Wonder Woman comic. 
• Famous Funnies -- 1st American comic book that featured original content.
• The comic book / graphic novel business is a billion dollar industry -- is any more rationale needed for inclusion in your library? 
• The notion of telling stories via images is ancient -- think: cave paintings.
• Many comics from the WWII era are quite rare as they were commonly pulped and the ink squeezed for paint thus making surviving editions very valuable. 
• When America went to war, comics became much more violent in nature. 
• After the war, the superhero fad cooled and horror comics became much more popular. 
• The Comic Code actually had a ban on vampires until 1970. 
• Chatting with a rural librarian after the session, she mentioned the benefits of having a relationship with an area comic book store -- they really make easy the confusing business of purchasing series and crossovers. What a great idea!

From this session, I headed to Problem Patrons: Addressing and Responding to Patron Behavior which was presented by Anne Seurynck from the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins, & Smith, P.C. Like the first session, I also found it to be quite interesting -- especially when directors and staff shared their horror stories some of which included patrons spreading feces on bathroom walls and even a potential internet prostitution ring ran out of the library. Trouble happens in Mayberry, too. Naturally Seurynck shared several key cases relevant to libraries: Kreimer vs. Morristown, Armstrong vs. District of Columbia Public Library, Neinast vs. Board of Trustees of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Brinkmeier vs. City of Freeport.

30Y.30L Tour (#25): Bad Axe Area District Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Wednesday, January 11, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mimi Herrington, director of Bad Axe Area District Library.

Like Nartker (director of SDL), Herrington has consistently been a go-to person for asking questions pertaining to the LIS-field. For example, just last summer Herrington provided me with the BAADL's collection development policy which put LIS 7340 (taught by Dr. Holley) into rural library terms for me.

My connection to BAADL: When I was working in Huron County as Shelter Operations Manager / Legal Advocate (and interim Executive Director, for a spell), I was putting in incredibly long hours. The distance between my home and work was 40 miles. By the time I was back in Sandusky, the local library would often be closed; therefore, I opted to procure borrowing privileges from BAADL which was based on an annual fee. The fee of $40.00 was well worth it to me as I would no longer feel guilty about using the library's services for free. Thus BAADL became my library away from home, allowing me a quiet place to work on homework and projects before heading home to unwind. Since leaving my post in order to focus on graduate school, I still frequent BAADL as a place to study and use the library's collection for projects (e.g. LIS 6510 with Suzanne Todd).

Location
As the library's name hints, BAADL is located in the City of Bad Axe, Michigan which is the county seat of Huron County. For those not familiar with the area, Huron County is located at the tip of the Thumb -- a peninsula of a peninsula. From my home library (Sandusky District Library), BAADL is 35 miles northwest or about 45 minutes. From Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, BAADL is 112 miles north or about 2.5 hours.

The library is located just off of Huron Avenue -- next to the court house, City Hall, and Bad Axe Police Department.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
Bad Axe Area District Library serves the Bad Axe school district which is compromised of the following townships: Bingham (portions), Colfax, Grant, Lincoln, Meade, Verona, and Sheridan. The population for the area is between 6,400 - 6,600 giving the library a Class 2 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 2 library serves a population of 4,000 to 6,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 20 hours per week;
• Employ (at least 20 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

Facts and Relevant Figures:

• Operating budget: $248,000
• BAADL has a staff of 7 -- one of which is full-time (the director)
•  36,000: number of items in the collection
• 73,000: annual circulation which is up from last year
• 56: number of hours open to the public each week

About the Director
When Mimi was home visiting the area from Chicago, she saw an ad in the paper for an opening with Bad Axe Area District Library. Longtime director, Marilyn Berry, was retiring. "It planted a seed in my head," said Herrington. "It's such a great job: being up late grading papers versus being the director of a beautiful library." Mimi has been director since September 2003.

Like many librarians, Herrington was in the education field for several years before entering the LIS field. (Even before her years as a teacher, Mimi practiced law!)

Favorite parts of the job: "Successful children's programming...seeing the excitement...a really good book club -- everyone has read the book...watching them get into the book and characters. Watching children read and learn."

Favorite review sources: Publishers Weekly and Booklist.  (Note: Mimi got me addicted to PW. I get so excited reading about trends and upcoming books!)

Advice to those entering the profession: "I'm very glad I had my legal and education background. It's been so helpful to me. I feel really comfortable. Take an array of classes...stay well-rounded. You see all aspects of society."

Notes and Observations

• Elimination of the personal property tax will cut about $100,000 in revenue to 6 Huron County libraries. Putting it into local terms, its the equivalent to a 10% cut or eliminating 1 service day.
• During Mimi's first month on the job, an issue with the library's insurance popped up. Thanks to her background in law, she was able to quickly and comfortably draft a memo to an attorney to have the issue resolved.
• The library participates in the New Parent project (Huron Medical Center) by supplying the kit with information about the library and its services to babies and families. 
• A rarity worth noting, Bad Axe Area District Library has had excellent collaboration with the schools in the area! Every fall students visit and are provided with a library orientation. Mimi has given presentations to teachers about Michigan e-Library and the many resources available to them as well as administered surveys to students about their various library needs and interests.
• BAADL has a janitor that works 6 days a week for about 2 hours a day at keeping the library looking pristine and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.
• Youth and young adult non-fiction items are shelved with the adult non-fiction collection. Orange dots on the spine labels help patrons identify youth materials.
• Interesting reference questions:
  (1) When MeLcat was likely new on the scene, the library received a phone call from an out-of-area woman looking for a specific dessert recipe. BAADL had the cookbook, copied, and faxed the recipe to the woman's home library.
  (2) An author writing a book was researching bank robberies committed in the 1960s -- specifically looking for information about a blown safe.
  (3) Research was conducted by several local authors including Jacki Howard, author of The Thumb Pointed Fingers, and Richard W. Carson, author of Murder in the Thumb.
  (4) Locating a wedding announcement from 1963 for a 50th wedding anniversary party. 
• Special collections: Tumblebooks, cemetery records, local history, Bad Axe Historical Society books and records, BAHS yearbooks, microfilm collection, Golden Jubilee, and the Wall of Flame. 
• My favorite quote from interviewing Mimi: [About her library job] "I never get that pit in my stomach on Sunday nights."

Geek Wear

Taking a quick break from working on homework, I ordered a few shirts to add to my growing collection of geek wear:

"Cuts to libraries during a recession are like cuts to hospitals during a plague."

"I majored in the Z class."

A parody of the classic "Keep Calm" shirt:
"Use Libraries and Learn Stuff."

And a 1940 WPA print shirt:
"For greater knowledge on more subjects, use your library more often."

30Y.30L Tour (#21): Fairgrove District Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Wednesday, January 4, a beautiful sunny day, I cruised over to Fairgrove in order to meet with Larry Haubenstricker, Director of Fairgrove District Library.

Location
The Village of Fairgrove, Michigan is a small, rural town located just 9 miles northwest of Caro -- the county seat of Tuscola County and home of Caro Area District Library.

From my home library, Sandusky District Library, Fairgrove District Library is about 40 miles northwest or roughly an hour drive. In terms of the School of Library and Information Science, housed in the Purdy-Kresge Library on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus, FDL is anywhere from about 100-115 miles (2.25 hours), depending upon the chosen route.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
Fairgrove District Library serves its namesake, the Village of Fairgrove, portions of the Village of Akron as well as several townships including: Almer, Columbia, Gilford, and Wisner. Currently, the district has a population of 4,537 giving the library a Class 2 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 2 library serves a population of 4,000 to 6,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 20 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

The library has 18,280 items in its collection with an annual circulation of 26,400. Eight staff are employed by FDL, two of which are full-time. Fairgrove District Library operates by way of a $134,400 budget.

About the Director
Haubenstricker joined the LIS profession 16 years ago when he took on the position as Library Director. His degree and background in business has been beneficial to him throughout his tenure.

Favorite part of the job: "Ordering books." (Note: when I arrived for my visit, Larry was working his way through an Ingram Book Company catalog.) Least favorite part of the job: "#1: the State Aid reports and #2: fundraising."

Challenges Larry has faced over the years: "Two millages, going from a public to a district library [in 2000], dealing with lawyers and other governmental entities."

Advice to those entering the profession: "A library director wears a lot of hats...especially for a smaller library. I used to mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks...Always, always be about 10 steps ahead. Look to the future and every possible thing that could happen. Keep your nose out of the politics of the government."

Notes and Observations

• FDL's millage is in perpetuity.
• The library is in the process of re-designing its website. 
• Like me, Haubenstricker is interested in World War II and the Holocaust. 
• One of the public computers has a screen magnifier which helps facilitate access for patrons with low vision. 
• The library has an inspirational fiction collection which is shelved separately. 
• For space reasons, Habenstricker will occasionally stack books in between those shelved traditionally. (See the slideshow for an example)
• FDL has a large collection of science fair books. 
• The library recently invested in a cash register which has made financial transactions easier to track for auditing purposes. 
• Bev, who is second in command, said, "Our boss has worked very hard to get the library in shape!" 
• Patrons cannot check-out additional materials until fines are paid up. The names of patrons with grossly late materials are referred to the police. 
• The library automated in 2000 -- the same year in which the library went district.
• In 2006, the library was remodeled and had a custom-built circulation-reference desk. 
• Based on circulation data and for fiscal responsibility reasons, Haubenstricker chose to eliminate the periodical and audiobook collections. 
• The children's picture books are shelved by subject. 
• The Fairgrove Township Hall is housed on the opposite-side of the building.

30Y.30L Tour (#18): Opperman Memorial Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Thursday, December 15, in the middle of working on a final exam for LIS 6510, I took a break to meet with Glenna Ford, director of the Opperman Memorial Library in Kingston, Michigan.

Out of the libraries selected for this project, Opperman Memorial Library and Reader's Cove are the most unique. Why? Reader's Cove is a private library and Opperman is a cross between a district library and school media center. In other words, it serves both the general public as well as the students and teachers within the school district.

How did I know about Opperman Memorial Library? I first heard about it this past summer when I took collection development (LIS 7340) with Dr. Robert Holley. The class was broken into small groups based upon our library interests with each group required to select or create a library to serve as a model of sorts and one of the groups in my class chose the Opperman Library in Kingston...

Location
Opperman Memorial Library is located off of M-46 in the front part of Kingston High School. From my home library (Sandusky District Library), OML is 18 miles, or about 20 minutes, away. In terms of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, OML is about 90 miles, or 2 hours, away from the downtown Detroit campus.

History
From the library's website:

It was 1970 that the Kingston Community Library merged with the school library. Jacquelin E. Opperman was the first librarian. It was years later after her death (April 18th, 1980) that her successor Aneita Denhoff had the library renamed Jacquelin E. Opperman Memorial Library. A picture of her hangs in the library along with a biographical sketch and a story about the mark she made on the community. During holidays her ceramics that she made are showcased.

Notes from my visit:
Jacquelin studied at Central Michigan University -- majored in English and minored in Library Science. She graduated in 1958. The new principal at the Kingston school viewed libraries and librarians as useless. If she wanted a library, then she had two months to get it up and running -- which she did.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
Opperman Memorial Library serves the Village of Kingston plus four townships: Dayton, Kingston, Koylton, and Wells. To date, the library serves a population of 4,080 -- which is up in comparison to years previous.

Currently, the library is designated as a Class 1 agency, but based on the recent population numbers, there is a possibility that the Library of Michigan might raise OML to a Class 2.
According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 1 library - serves a population of 3,999 or less and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 15 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 15 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

Other relevant facts and figures:

• OML currently has a collection development budget of $8,000.
• The library is open 46 hours and employs two staff members.
• Part of the school's operating budget covers the library. Think: utilities, copier costs, and cleaning...
• 35,963: number of items in the library's collection.
• Circulation data: 2011 = 13,020 (as of 12/15); 2010 = 12,122; 2009 = 15,974; 2008 = 17,791

About the Director
Glenna Ford first came to Opperman Memorial Library 9 years ago when a staff position opened which would allow her to work where her children went to school. Just two years after joining the Opperman staff, she became library director.

Her favorite part of the job: "Working with the patrons."

Advice to those entering the profession: "Get to know the public. Each individual person is different. You get know what they want and expect out of you and the library. It takes time."

On the late Jim Rancilio: "He was a mentor -- my go-to person. I miss him."

Notes and Observations

• Prior to visiting the library, one of my friends inquired about library security -- since the agency is housed within a school building. In interviewing Ms. Ford, I learned that security really isn't an issue. The library is small enough that it is easy to keep track of patrons and Kingston being a small, close-knit community certainly helps. 
• The library can be used by the public during school hours. 
• A bonus to students: if they can't find what they need in the juvenile non-fiction section for a class project, the adult non-fiction collection is just a few feet away. 
• During the nine years in which Glenna has been with Opperman, she has not experienced a challenge to library materials.
• The library has two special collections - 5 books written by a local author (see slideshow) and the Kingston Enterprise, the local newspaper which is no longer in print, on microfilm.
• Because she would be working for the school, Glenna was subjected to many of the same background check procedures as a teacher.
• A separate room, accessible to library staff,  houses the teachers' collection. 
• The children's collection is housed in a room located off of the main library area.
• Remember Channel One? The digital broadcast equipment is located in the library.
• Opperman has an amnesty week for overdue books during Library Week in April.
• The library is a popular lunchtime hang out for students. Thankfully, I took most of my photos beforehand! 
• I love how Glenna alternated spine label colors for the picture book collection. Example: All of the As are one color and all of the Bs are a different color! It makes for easy browsing and shelving.

30Y.30L Tour (#17): Orion Township Public Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Tuesday, December 13, I continued my suburban adventures and met with Linda Sickles, director of Orion Township Public Library.

Why did I select OTPL for the 30Y.30L Campaign?  My grandmother. Before her health deteriorated, Georgie was a patron of the Orion Library. Occasionally, when she would babysit me, I recall visiting the library in order for her to pick up the next book in a series in which she was reading.

Location
Orion Township Public Library is located in Lake Orion, Michigan -- a suburb in Northern Oakland County which is just south of my hometown. From my home library, Sandusky District Library, OTPL is 75 miles, or 1.5 hours, southwest. In keeping with my other blog posts, OTPL is just 37 miles, or 45 minutes, northwest of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus.

History
From OTPL's website:

The Orion Township Public Library, established by the Lake Orion Women's Club in 1926, was first located on the second floor of what is now the Village Hall.

In 1940 it was moved to the Hemingway House on Lapeer Street in the Village of Lake Orion and grew until the floor boards sagged.

In 1964, the first formal library was built on M-24 where the Michigan Catholic Credit Union now stands. Opening in 1965, this building met the community's needs for the next 23 years.

In 1986, the Orion community passed a bond to create the new Orion Township Public Library to serve the next generation of Orion residents. The 29,000 square foot building opened at its current location on Joslyn Road in February of 1989. Designed to serve a population of 30,000 and house a collection of 100,000 volumes with a capacity for a 200,000 items per year circulation, the new Orion Township Public Library was spacious and inviting, offering quiet study areas, comfortable seating, meeting rooms for community gatherings, and the latest titles, as well as state-of-the-art computers and other new technologies.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
By the name of the library, you can certainly deduce that Orion Township is part of the library's legal service area. In addition, to Orion Township, the library also covers the Village of Lake Orion. The population in the library's service area is around 35,000 giving the library a Class 5 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 5 library - serves a population of 26,000 to 49,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 50 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 35 hours per week) a director with a Level 1 certificate.

The Library of Michigan further defines a Level 1 certificate as:

(a) A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association, and;
(b) Four years of full-time library employment, or its equivalent, after receiving an MLS.

 Other facts and figures:

• 45 people are employed by OTPL
• Operating budget: $2.5 million
• Number of items in the collection: 175,000
• Annual circulation (2010): 515,000

About the Director
Linda Sickles, who has been in the LIS field a total of 42 years, retired at the end of 2011. (I was very thankful for the opportunity to meet her before she left the agency!) During her tenure with Orion Township Public Library, Linda has been through 8 elections. 

What interested Linda in the field: As a child, she worked in libraries as well as during the summer break while in college. She has always loved finding answers and helping people which was perfect for her work as a reference librarian. Prior to her tenure at OTPL, Linda worked at Baldwin Public Library (Birmingham, Michigan) and Rochester Hills Public Library.

Like so many directors interviewed for this project, Linda's favorite part of the job entails working with the public. 

On the challenges of librarianship: "Keeping the library in the forefront of people's minds. Marketing has become a big factor in public libraries. Wherever people are, the library needs to be there, too. You cannot sit back and wait for people."

Advice to those entering the profession: "Get a broad experience with classes and an internship so that you can apply for any library job out there. Put everything you have into it. No library job should be beneath you."

Notes and Observations:

Youth Services: Debra, Linda, and Kristen

• The library is situated off Joslyn Road on 19 picturesque acres. According to Linda, "the major thrust of the building was to invite people in yet keep them with nature." Large windows and even an outdoor area for patrons help them reconnect with nature while enjoying the literary world.
• While touring the library, I met three WSU-SLIS alumni who work in youth services at OTPL: Linda Pamuto (2001), Kristen Remenar (2006), and Debra Refior (2008). 
• The youth services department has had 2,700 program contacts in the last month (as of 12/13).
• The youth services area has a collection specifically for middle school students. 
• In the picture book section, small tactile games are mounted on the endcaps. 
• Like OPL and BTL, Orion Library has a separate room for story time and crafts. A large framed mural that ties together literary elements such as Make Way for Ducklings with the Lake Orion area adorns one of the walls in the room.
• I appreciated the fact that signage was available in the juvenile non-fiction section to direct patrons to specific subjects within the collection. 
• Due to weeding efforts, the adult non-fiction collection has stabilized and additional shelving has not been needed.
• Like Brown City Public Library, OTPL is also a voting precinct; however, a large, separate meeting room is available which means that the library does not need to suspend services to patrons.  
• The library displays local artwork that changes every month -- very popular with patrons. 
• A quilt on display in the lobby features scenes from Old Lake Orion.
• Like Brandon Township Library, OTPL has a vending machine available for patrons in the lobby area; however, in the case of OTPL, it is a Keurig coffee station. 
• Hartzell-Mika Consulting, which is co-owned by Professor Emeritus Joseph Mika, WSU's School of Library and Information Science, is assisting with the search for a new Library Director. 
• The library uses retail-oriented display methods. 
• Friends of the Library book sale brings in around $1,000 a month in proceeds.
• OTPL has a separate room geared especially for teens. 
• A separate room houses the library's local history and genealogy collections. 
• Like Harbor Beach Area District Library, OTPL has grocery-style hand baskets available to make browsing for books easier!

30Y.30L Tour (#16): Oxford Public Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Monday, December 12, I took a road trip south to my hometown of Oxford, Michigan and met with Director Bryan Cloutier.

Why did I select Oxford Public Library as part of the 30Y.30L Campaign? Easy. OPL is the library that started it all for me. Growing up in the Village of Oxford, I used to pull my Radio Flyer wagon to the old library located on West Burdick Street. I would load up my wagon with all sorts of treasures and stay up much past my bedtime reading books by way of the light mounted on the headboard of my bed. 

OPL was my very first LIS job which consisted of shelving books in the children's department and the YA alcove. I'd also check-in books deposited in the return bins. From time to time, I would shelf the adult collection when my fellow classmate Ainoa needed time off.

In reflection, I can say that working at OPL was my favorite job. Not only did I enjoy scoping out which books were circulating (which gave me lots of ideas of what to read...and not to read), but I also got a kick out of cleaning soiled books and shelf reading. It doesn't get much better than working in the stacks and creating order amidst the chaos we sometimes call life.

Yes, it is certainly safe say that I've always been a bibliophile...

Also of note: The head of teen services at OPL, Charli Osborne, inspired me to pursue a MLIS from Wayne State University.

Location
Oxford Public Library is located in, you guessed it, Oxford, Michigan which is a suburb in Northern Oakland County -- just north of Lake Orion.

From my home library (Sandusky District Library), OPL is almost exactly 70 miles, or 1.5 hours, southwest. For those not familiar with the area, Oxford Public Library is 40 miles, or roughly 48 minutes, from Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus. 

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
OPL serves the Village of Oxford as well as those residing in Oxford Township. The legal service area is comprised of 20,526 citizens giving the library a Class 4 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 4 library - serves a population of 12,000 to 25,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 35 hours per week) a director with at least a level 2 certificate.

In the Michigan LIS world, a level 2 certificate requires: "A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association." Of the 26 staff employed at OPL, 12 have MLIS degrees!

Other facts and figures:

• Operating Budget: $1.1 million
• 88,000: number of items in the library's collection
• Annual circulation is approaching 227,000
• 3,091: public service hours

About the Director
Bryan J. Cloutier, director of Oxford Public Library, obtained his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in 2003. He has been in the LIS field since 1994 and in his current position since 2007.

Bryan's Book Picks

Administration philosophy: "Treat the library as a business." As a result of Bryan's philosophy, OPL is one of the few libraries in the area that will be able to remain open on Sundays. (Well done, Bryan!)

Favorite part of the job: "Seeing and hearing patron stories of very satisfactory experiences." Least favorite part of the job: "[The LIS field] is not what it used to be...not what I dreamed of when working on my degree due to the economic climate. It is disheartening in many ways: libraries are closing, people are being laid-off, and hours cut -- it's not what libraries are supposed to be about. It's not fun anymore."

Advice to those entering the profession: "If you're entering the profession for money, don't do it." Bryan described the line of work as rewarding by giving back to the community with the auxiliary rewards to be more fulfilling than the pay.

Notes and Observations

Shae Smith and Charli Osborne

• OPL has an aquarium in the library's lobby that features a large fish by the name of Winston.
• Brandon Township Library and OPL used the same architect for their new libraries.
• For my fellow classmates who are pursuing the graduate certificate, services to children and young adults: Charli Osborne, Head of Teen Services, and Shae Smith, Head of Youth Services, are both graduates of Wayne State University's School of Library and Information Science.
• Professor Emeritus Joseph Mika, WSU's School of Library and Information Science and co-owner of Hartzell-Mika Consulting, collaborated with OPL staff to develop the 2011-2015 strategic plan. 
• The library features a large fireplace located in the adult area that has ample space around it -- perfect for reading on cold winter days. 
• Like Brandon Township Library, OPL has several bump-outs that serve as quiet study areas.
• OPL has both a central courtyard and an outdoor children's area.
• The teen room is one of the few libraries in the state of Michigan to have a dedicated teen service desk. 
• I had difficulty taking pictures in the adult collection due to the lighting. While the light source it is perfectly comfortable for reading and conducting research, I ended up needing to enhance every photo taken in that area for the purposes of the slideshow.
• Director Bryan Cloutier keeps a blog: Oxford Public Library.
• The endcaps of the juvenile non-fiction feature the subjects rather than just the Dewey numbers. Also, the juvenile biography collection is easy to locate.
• Cooperative: The Library Network (TLN). 

30Y.30L Tour (#14): William H. Aitkin Memorial District Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Thursday, December 8, I ventured to Croswell to meet with Director Jennifer Walters and tour the William H. Aitkin Memorial District Library.

Location
The City of Croswell is located in the southeast corner of Sanilac County which is situated in Michigan's Thumb. From my "home" library, in Sandusky, WHAMDL is about 20 miles southeast.

For those not familiar with the area, the Croswell Library is about 85 miles, or 2 hours, northeast of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus.

View of the front portion of the library

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget 
The Croswell Library serves two municipalities: the Croswell-Lexington School District (better known locally as Cros-Lex) and the City of Croswell. The library's legal service area neighbors that of Moore Public Library which is just 5 miles away. According to Walters, there are 7410 people residing within the district which gives the library a Class 3 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 3 - serves a population of 7,000 to 11,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 30 hours per week;
• Employ (at least 30 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 3 certificate.

The library's collection consists of 37,727 items, employs seven staff, and operates with a budget of about $230,000. Compared to 2010, the library's budget is down by $20,000. Annual circulation is about 35,500.

History
In several of my other posts, I have cited the various histories associated with each library. However, I was pleased to note that the William H. Aitkin Memorial District Library has a very detailed history noted on their website. However, I will note how the library obtained its name:

On Dec. 10, 1930, the library's name was changed to the William H. Aitkin Memorial Library. William H. Aitkin was a prominent member of the community who worked as a banker, lawyer, and State Senator. He died in 1927, and his wife, Hattie, and son, Melvin, presented the William H. Aitkin Memorial Fund to the City to build a library building, which was dedicated on March 23, 1931.

About the Director
Like Paula Gauthier, director of Brandon Township Library, Jennifer Walters also earned a Master in Information Science from the University of Michigan. She graduated in 1995 and has held her position as director of the Croswell library since 1996.

Her favorite part of the job: "Purchasing books and programming."
Least favorite part of the job: "Cataloging." I'd like to let the record reflect: I am finding this to be a relatively common sentiment amongst librarians.

Advice to those entering the profession: "Be prepared for anything! One second you might be working on the budget and the next plunging the toilet. You have to have a sense of humor in this job or you'll go insane. [On collection development] Know your patron population. Just because someone in New York City finds it good, doesn't mean someone in rural Croswell will like it."

Intellectual Freedom
Last year, when I was required to visit several libraries for LIS 6010 with Dr. Maria Gonzalez, I began asking librarians how the Harry Potter series was received in the community. The series has experienced controversy over the years and has landed itself on the frequently challenged materials list compiled by the American Library Association.

The Potter series incurred no problems in Croswell! In fact, it is safe to say (knock on wood), that WHAMDL has not had an official challenge since Walters became director in 1996; however, there was some controversy surrounding the Christian Fiction collection (via an anonymous complaint) which was immediately ironed out by placing spine labels and noting circulation statistics.

Observations

• The library has cameras placed throughout the building to help deter theft, vandalism, and juvenile delinquency. 
• A separate room houses the library's reference and genealogical materials.
• William H. Aitkin Memorial District Library recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. 
• The children's and young adult collections are housed in the library's basement. Colorful murals adorn the walls.
• A different quilt is on display each month at the library.
• The non-fiction endcaps feature subjects rather than Dewey numbers.
• Paperbacks are shelved with the fiction collection rather than separately. As a result, according to Walters, the circulation for PB items has increased.

30Y.30L Tour (#13): Brandon Township Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Wednesday, December 7, the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I took a drive to Ortonville, Michigan to meet with Paula Gauthier, Director of Brandon Township Library.

Why did I select this library? Well, first off, I grew up in Oxford, Michigan, a small suburban town in northern Oakland County. Brandon and Ortonville were practically in my backyard which constitutes my old "stomping" ground. Secondly, I wanted to mix in a few larger libraries to add depth and diversity to the 30Y.30L campaign. And third, the very same architect which designed the library that started it all for me, Oxford Public Library, created Brandon Township Library -- a stunningly beautiful library with an impressive website to boot!

Location
Brandon Township Library is nestled in the rural-suburban Village of Ortonville, Michigan which is located in northern Oakland County. From Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, Brandon Township Library is about 50 miles northwest of Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus. For me, however, the drive was a bit longer! For simplicity's sake, BTL is about 80 miles, or 1.5 hours, southwest of Sandusky District Library which is my "home" library.

About My Visit 
Because of the library's size, in comparison to the smaller rural libraries visited, I traveled from department to department meeting both public and technical services staff. The end result was amazing: I not only networked with some fabulous and innovative people, but ended up filling half of a brand new legal pad with anecdotes, ideas, and observations.

It's safe to say that I was completely engrossed in my visit and interviews because four hours passed from the time I walked in the door and it dawned on me that I hadn't eaten since the night before! Yet...I drove away completely energized and excited about my visit. Since I was down in the suburbs, I had a late lunch/early dinner with my mum at one of my favorite restaurants, CJ's, in downtown Lake Orion.

History
From the library's website:

The Library was established in 1926 by the Women’s Club of Ortonville, which raised money for a library by giving teas, shows, bridge benefits, and tag sales. By 1940 there was an average of 3600 books per year being checked out by cardholders.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
As the name hints, Brandon Township Library serves only its namesake. In the recent past, the library had a contract to also serve Groveland Township which is now covered by Holly Township Library.

Like many libraries, BTL also serves out-of-area patrons, but for a fee which is completely understandable and justified in my opinion. (After all, people residing within the area are paying for library services by way of taxes. Why should someone like me, who pays taxes in Watertown Township, get free services in Brandon Township? I really need to write a blog post about the misconceptions surrounding library funding!) Any way, I digress...

The population in Brandon Township is about 15,200 giving BTL a Class 4 designation. According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 4 library serves a population of 12,000 to 25,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 35 hours per week) a director with at least a level 2 certificate. The director will complete the New Director’s workshop within one year of becoming a director and complete the Advanced Director’s workshop within two years of becoming a director.

(To read more about librarian certification, please visit my Eastpointe Memorial Library post.)

Statistics from 2010: BTL has  about 79,000 items in its collection and circulated about 159,000 materials.

Brandon Township Library employs 20 staff and currently (2011) operates with a budget of $905,149 which experienced a -12% change from just a year ago. Due to the current economic climate, the 2012 budget will experience a -16% change from 2010. As a result of the economy, the library has lost 9 staff due to a combination of lay-offs and retirements and will cut public service hours by closing the library on Fridays. By dropping Friday service hours, the agency will be just 1 hour above the minimum for a Class 4 designation.

About the Director
Like several directors interviewed for this project, Paula's professional roots began in the education field. "You get back what you give," said Paula. She wanted a career that was giving. Following that philosophy, her passion to help others and teach inspired her to pursue a MLS from the University of Michigan.

Paula has been in the LIS field for a total of 31 years. Of note, eleven of those years she was branch manager for the famous Kent District Library in the Grand Rapids area! To date, Paula has been with Brandon Township Library for just over 10 years with 6 of those in her current position as director.

Her favorite part of the job: "Building collaboration in the community." Following that same train of thought, later in the conversation, Paula said, "You can't be a successful library director if you stay in the building." Her least favorite part of the job: "Keeping the library operating under the current fiscal conditions."

Advice to the those entering the profession: "If you're going to enter the profession, only do it if you are innovative and forward thinking." She went on to add, "The digital age is upon us. Stay relevant in the 21st century. We need to embrace it."

While Brandon Township Library is not currently hiring, Paula shared some thoughts on the type of candidate she would be looking for:

• A big background in technology...a candidate that would meet the tech needs for the various patron populations;
• experience with social media and the ability to appropriately manipulate it for the library;
• experience in website development;
• knowledgeable about providing 21st century services to the various patron populations; and,
• a candidate that comes to an interview with three really great ideas in which they developed themselves. 

Intellectual Freedom
Last year, when I was required to visit several libraries for LIS 6010 with Dr. Maria Gonzalez, I began asking librarians how the Harry Potter series was received in the community. The series has experienced controversy over the years and has landed itself on the frequently challenged materials list compiled by the American Library Association.

As far as Brandon Township is concerned, it was received very well by the Brandon/Ortonville community. The library hosted a Harry Potter lock-in for one of the midnight releases. Kids were sorted into houses, made wands and developed their own spells using a Latin dictionary which staff would then translate and judge. 

Notes and Observations 

• From the youth services 2010 annual report (compliments of Fran Hotchkiss and Robin Loughlin), BTL delivered "a total of 677 planned programs with a total of 14,067 in attendance. [They] had a total of 4,029 children use the computers for educational games, 3,395 reference questions, 2,412 readers' advisory questions, 4,190 directional questions, and a total of 1,598 individuals used the story room for quiet reading."
• As mentioned above, BTL has a story and craft room that is attached to the children's area. They even have a special bathroom with a miniature toilet just for kids! (See my slideshow.)
• The children's area has a circulation desk! 
• BTL has a vending machine available to patrons in the library's lobby. 
• Paula made and donated the quilt that hangs in the board room. 
• The library has a natural-gas fireplace. 
• Beyond the geographical location, Oxford and Brandon are sister libraries -- the same architect created both buildings. 
• In the library's lobby area, there are several displays setup that help promote the various elements of the collection. One of the displays was actually purchased from the now defunct Borders.
• Jeanette Marks, teen librarian, gave me a tour of the teen and adult areas. I found out that her background was also in the human services/social work field prior to obtaining her MLIS from Wayne State University. There is a photo of the two of us featured in my slideshow. 
• Through collaboration with MSU-Extension, Ortonville Downtown Development Authority, and the local 4-H group, the library was able to develop a unique and innovative program called Entrepreneur Explosion which is targeted at teens. After attending a lecture series, of sorts, interested teens will be challenged to develop a business plan. If their plan is selected, they'll win office space rent for a year!
• BTL has a local history collection that is housed in its own room. 
• The library saw a need in the community and created a Business and Career Resource Center! Patrons can develop their resumes and build business plans. Colleen Stringer does the collection development for this section. The room also houses the library's business periodicals and features a bulletin board for job leads and fairs. 

30Y.30L Tour (#11): Eastpointe Memorial Library

On Monday, December 5, I took a road trip down to Eastpointe, also known as East Detroit, and met with Sue Todd, Assistant Director of Eastpointe Memorial Library. I've been asked, "Why Eastpointe?" Well, the answer is simple. Sue Todd is adjunct faculty at Wayne State University and my instructor for LIS 6510 (Children's Literature: Infant - 3rd Grade). I have thoroughly enjoyed her class and wanted to get a chance to chat with her about the LIS field and thank her for a wonderful semester.

Location
I had to laugh when thinking about how to write this section. If you have been following the 30Y.30L posts, you'll notice that I cite mileage and general direction from Purdy-Kresge Library in Detroit. Well...this library is just a hop, skip, and a jump from campus.

Eastpointe Memorial Library is just 10 miles northeast of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus. For those living in the Thumb area, EML is 75 miles southwest of Sandusky District Library.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget 
Eastpointe Memorial Library serves primarily the City of Eastpointe, but also the surrounding areas which include Harper Woods, Roseville, and Saint Clair Shores. I was astounded by the population numbers: Eastpointe (32,422), Harper Woods (14,236), Roseville (47,299), and Saint Clair Shores (59,715) -- giving the library's service population a total of: 153,672. Because the library's primary service area is Eastpointe and the population is less than 49,999,the agency falls under a Class 5 designation.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class 5 library serves a population of 26,000 to 49,999 and needs to:

• Be open a minimum of 50 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 35 hours per week) a director with a Level 1 certificate. The director will complete the New Director’s workshop within one year of becoming a director and complete the Advanced Director’s workshop within two years of becoming a director.

You may have noticed that the libraries visited thus far have been a Class 1 - 3 agency which requires the director to have a minimal of Level 3 - 4 certification (depending on the class size); however, when a library is designated as a Class 4 or Class 5 agency, the director is required to have a higher certification. Here is the low-down on library staff certification from the Library of Michigan:

Level 1 certification requires:
(a) A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association, and
(b) Four years of full-time library employment, or its equivalent, after receiving an MLS.

Level 2 certification requires:
(a) A master’s degree or its equivalent from a library school accredited by the American Library Association.

Level 3 certification requires:
(a) A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and
(b) Completion of the Beginning Workshop offered by the Library of Michigan.

Level 4 certification requires:
(a) A high school diploma or equivalent, and
(b) One year of full-time library employment after receiving high school diploma or equivalent, and
(c) Completion of the Beginning Workshop offered by the Library of Michigan.

Eastpointe Memorial Library has an operating budget of $708,000. Comparing the budget to just two years ago, EML experienced -33% change!

Other relevant data:
Number of items in collection: 69,320; annual circulation: 158,038.

About the Assistant Director
Sue, an alumna of the School of Library and Information Science at Wayne State University, began her career in the LIS field 27 years ago when she first started at Eastpointe Library while working on her MLIS. However, certainly worth noting, she was a library aide during her middle school years and worked, while in undergrad, cataloging dissertations for Michigan State University's library.

According to the library's website, her first professional position was that of Adult Services Librarian. The year 2004 was a big one for Sue! It's when she first started teaching for the SLIS program at WSU and she became the Youth Services Librarian. Almost 5 years later, in spring of 2009, Sue became the Assistant Director of Eastpointe Memorial Library.

Favorite Part of the Job:
"Talking to the patrons. We have a good collection and good people on staff -- it's what keeps them coming back. The two go hand-in-hand: without the collection, we won't exist; without the people, we won't exist." Sue also enjoys when patrons who used the library as children come back with children of their own.

Advice to those entering the profession:
Sue offered tons of advice throughout the interview! "Every job can apply to the LIS field...Know your patron base...If you see a patron coming out of the stacks empty-handed, ask them if they need help finding something...Make yourself available and approachable...You need to adapt to different personalities...Be open-minded. Be flexible. Jobs will be available. You need to make yourself relevant."

Notes and Observations

• Due to budget cuts, the library no longer has pages on staff. Everyone pitches in and shelves these days.
• EML has a parent-teacher collection in the youth department.
• The library has a wonderful courtyard/patio that is used for story time and the summer reading program.
• Youth services typically has the most sections to navigate. 
• Sue finds the collection shelved under J398.2 the most difficult to weed. 
• EML is participating in the Geek the Library campaign.
• The library belongs to the Suburban Library Cooperative.
• By the time I left the library, it was 6:30p and dark! I couldn't take any exterior photos. (I didn't get home until 8:30p.)
• EML is one of the few libraries in the Metro-Detroit area that has a Christmas tree on display during the holiday season.

30Y.30L Tour (#10): North Branch Township Library

Image by Andy Thompson

On Friday, December 2, I headed just a few miles from home and met with Kelli Lovasz, director of North Branch Township Library.

Location
The Village of North Branch is located in the northeastern corner of Lapeer County. Highway M-90 runs right through the downtown area with M-53 and  M-24 just to the east and west, respectively. For those not familiar with the area, North Branch Township Library is exactly 74 miles almost due north of Purdy-Kresge Library, home of the School of Library and Information Science, on Wayne State University's downtown Detroit campus.

History
North Branch Township Library has been in their current building for 7 years. Prior to their move, they were housed across the street with the township offices.

Service Area, Size, and Operating Budget
As you can tell by the library's name, North Branch Township Library serves the Village of North Branch as well as the township. Due to several outlying branches of Lapeer District Library, NBTL serves parts of Deerfield and Rich Townships in addition to all of Arcadia Township. The population in the library's legal service area is 3,595.

According to the Library of Michigan, a Class I library:

• Serves a population of 3,999 or less and needs to;
• Open a minimum of 15 hours per week.
• Employ (at least 15 hours per week) a director with at least a Level 4 certificate.

North Branch Township Library is currently open 52 hours a week, employs 7 staff, and has an operating budget of $101,000. The library has 38,000 items in its collection.

About the Director
Kelli Lovasz has worked for North Branch Township Library for the last 7 years and has been in her current position, as director, for the past 2 years. Karen Lambert, the previous director of 31 years, has served as a mentor for Kelli in her new position. 

Like so many of the directors interviewed, Kelli's professional roots were in the education field. Prior to her library work, she taught history for North Branch school district. She actually fell into the job by way of substituting for sick co-workers.

Kelli enjoys working with people; however, now that she is library director and is a bit more removed from the public-end of service delivery, she finds herself missing that aspect of her old job. Challenges that she faces: space (at times), clearing up misconceptions about why a library is needed in the community, as well as an upcoming millage renewal (2012).

Advice to those entering the profession: "Prepare to not sit behind a desk." Rather than calling the tech-guru, she wishes that she was more tech savvy.

Intellectual Freedom
Last year, when I was required to visit several libraries for LIS 6010 with Dr. Maria Gonzalez, I began asking librarians how the Harry Potter series was received in the community. The series has experienced controversy over the years and has landed itself on the frequently challenged materials list compiled by the American Library Association.

According to Kelli, "We have not had any problems." She went on to say that the school district actually owns multiple copies of the books in the series!

Notes and Observations

• I found lots of signage throughout the library directing patrons to various parts of the collection. I especially loved how the non-fiction section was labeled. (Check out the slideshow below).
• Kelli reported excellent collaboration with the area school. "We field lots of calls!"
• Unlike many of the libraries in the Thumb area, North Branch Township Library belongs to the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative. (The majority of the libraries visited thus far have belonged to White Pine Library Cooperative.)
• Each year for the holidays, North Branch Township Library holds workshops for gingerbread house building as well as for Easter egg coloring. For the gingerbread house project, all of the supplies are provided by the library. When Easter rolls around, just bring your own hard-boiled eggs.