Workforce Recovery Athens Responds

July 1, 2011
Athens Responds
Congratulations to Athens-Limestone Public
Library for all their hard work to keep people
and businesses safe after the events of April
27, 2011. The library stayed open for longer
hours, and it even opened on a Sunday, a day
they are normally closed, in order to help local
communities recover. Their dedicated and
hard work shows just how important Alabama
public libraries are.
From the Athens-Limestone Public Library’s
The Acropolis newsletter.
Workforce Recovery
Mark your calendars for the July 21st
Workforce Recovery Workshop hosted
at Alabama Public Library Service in
Montgomery. This Project Compass workshop
is designed to investigate job seekers’ specific
demands on public libraries and will bring
forward creative new insights on potential
partners and strategies for successful
collaboration with workforce agencies.
The meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at
approximately 3:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch
will be served. One representative per library
can be reimbursed for an overnight stay the
night before and dinner. Please bring hotel and
dinner receipts to the sign-in table the day of
the meeting along with mileage. To register,
contact Vanessa Carr at 334-213-3902 or
Dorothy Baker at 334-213-3940.
Some have asked if we were busy at
the library after the tornadoes struck
our area. The quick answer is, “Yes.”
Our library became the hub for those
seeking to assure loved ones they were
safe. Every electrical outlet was used by
cell phones or computers re-charging.
Important business was able to
continue. Several offices paid payroll
by using our computers or our internet
connection. City attorneys from
Huntsville commended our staff for
being welcoming and accomodating.
They were able to meet a required
deadline using library services.
We have many invaluable resources
here at the library. The most importnat
resource is our staff. Every day they
connect people to the information they
need.
Library in the Forest
The United States Green Building Council
officially declared the new Vestavia Hills
Library in the Forest as the 1st LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) certified library in the State of
Alabama.
This library joins 39 others across the nation
with a LEED certification. The Vestavia Hills
Library earned the LEED Gold, which is
the second highest ranking. Only the LEED
Platinum ranking is higher.
If you haven’t had an opportunity to visit the
library, please stop by. They are proud of the
sustainable site, conservation of materials
and resources, innovation and design, water
and energy efficiency, pleasant and healthy
atmosphere, and indoor environmental
quality. This building and designation are
great accomplishments for Vestavia Hills,
Jefferson County Library Cooperative and the
State of Alabama.
Have You Met...
Auburn Public Library
Being a book lover, Margie’s favorite part
of the job is seeing all of the new books
arrive. She also loves her patrons. She
said, “My staff and I try to make everyone
feel that their trip to the library was a
pleasant and worthwhile event.” They host
several wonderful programs throughout
the year, but her favorite is the annual
Halloween party. There is always a large
turnout, and the adults enjoy it as much
as the youth.
Margie loves books too much to pick just
one favorite, but she can pick her favorite
part of coming to work each day – “I’m with
delightful people – staff and patrons.”
Director Margie Huffman of the Auburn
Public Library has seen a lot of change and
growth in her 40 years of service. Hired in
1971, the library was in a small building
at that time, but with years of support
from the Friends of the Library group and
the Trustees, a larger facility was built in
1986. Once again, the library outgrew
their structure and built their current
building in 2001.
An empty programming area (above) is
a great place to fill with kids for various
programs and events (below).
Director Margie Huffman
Kathryn Tucker
Windham
Kathryn Tucker Windham was an asset to
the state. Her creativity, talent, and natural
gifts made her loved by millions. She was not
only a state treasure, but also a national one
who captivated audiences with her masterful
storytelling, beloved books, and kind heart.
Prattville Bookdrop
Adored author and storyteller, Kathryn Tucker
Windham, died in her Selma home June 12,
2011. Born June 2, 1918, she grew up in
Thomasville, AL and showed an early interest
in writing. After graduating from Huntingdon
College in 1939 and working as a freelance
journalist for a brief time, Windham started
her career as a fearless police reporter for a
Montgomery newspaper, The Alabama Journal,
in 1940. Her determination and talent as a
serious journalist earned her respect among
male reporters.
By 1943, she was living in Birmingham and
working for the Birmingham News where she
met her husband, journalist and World War
II veteran, Amasa Benjamin Windham. They
married in 1946, moved to Selma, and had 3
children before he passed away in 1956. To
make ends meet, Windham began writing a
column for the Selma Times Journal.
During the next decade, she began writing
about Jeffrey, a ghost that took up residence
in her Selma home. Jeffery along with 13
other ghosts made up one of her most well
known works: 13 Alabama ghosts and
Jeffrey published in 1969. She published
over 20 books in her lifetime, focusing on the
supernatural, southern lore, and recipes.
When the Prattville Public Library needed a
new book drop, director Jan Earnest got on
the phone and called on volunteers Ed and
Carol Oliver. Mr. Oliver came out and took
some measurements of the old book drop and
went to work. The new book drop is made from
treated lumber and sits under the library’s
covered front porch. It is just perfect!
Grants 101
Make sure to convey how the grant
funds will have a lasting effect on the
community. Funders want to know
they are choosing the best organization
when giving away their money. By
showing that the money will provide
a long-term service or benefit to the
community for many years to come, you
will increase your chance of winning the
grant. MCCPL News
Montgomery City-County Public Library
System recently appointed 3 libraians to 3
branches. Taylor Barth is a Librarian I at
the Hampstead Branch Library, Rachel Cole
is a Librarian I at the Rosa Parks Branch
and Julia-Ann Jenkins is the new Branch
Head at the E. L. Lowder Regional Library.
Congratulations to all 3!
Taylor Barth (left) and Rachel Cole (right).
Julia-Ann Jenkins
(left).
ConGRANTulations
Congratulations are in order for both
Rogersville Public Library and Russellville
Public Library. Both libraries received a
Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant to
help with their Summer Reading Programs.
Alabaster Program
More than 420 children signed up during
the first week of the summer reading
challenge at the Albert L. Scott Public
Library in Alabaster. The One World, Many
Stories Summer Challenge started on June
1st for children from birth to 10 years old.
The You Are Here Summer Challenge kicked
off on June 2nd for children 11 to 18 years
old. Parents can sign children up until July
8th. The challenge ends on July 13th.
Retirement
Jenny Holliday, director of Annie L. Awbrey
Public Library in Roanoke retired June 30,
2011 after 14 years of dedicated service. We
will miss you, Jenny!
Town Hall Meetings
The series of 7 Town Hall Meetings began
Thursday, June 9th at the Enterprise Public
Library. The purpose of the meetings, arranged
by Alabama Public Library Service, is to get
feedback on what should be included in the
next 5-year plan. Dr. Elizabeth Aversa and Dr.
Jennifer Campbell-Meier from the University of
Alabama’s School of Library and Information
Studies led 3 exercises to record attendees’
input. Everyone had the opportunity to record
how they view Alabama public libraries, what
direction they think libraries are headed, and
any critical political, social, or economic events
that could possibly impact library planning
in the future. Participants then broke off into
smaller groups to brainstorm different library
issues and needs. These meeting will play an
essential role in APLS’s plan for the future.
The Book Nook
Title: Leonardo da Vinci
Author: Mary Pope Osborne & Natalie Pope
Reading Level: Ages 5-8
ISBN: 0375846654
Reviewed by: Victoria Bennett
Library: Bay Minette Public Library
Review: This book is a companion guide
to Monday with a Mad Genius, a Magic Tree
House Series book. It has a lot of pictures and
illustrations. The book further explains some
of what happens in Mad Genius story. There is
a good list of websites in the back of the book
to help with further study.
Title: It’s K! (It’s the Alphabet!)
Author: Kelly Doudna
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
ISBN: 9781604535983
Reviewed by: Kelly Cardenas
Library: Pell City Public Library
Review: Another promising letter recognition
series from Kelly Doudna. The author does a
good job introducing letters to new readers.
Title: The Human Skeleton
Author: Jody Sullivan Rake
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
ISBN: 1429638885
Reviewed by: Laura Davis
Library: Florala Public Library
Review: This book shows the framework of
the body and how it works with the connective
tissues, muscles, and bones. It shows what
it takes to maintain strength so that all these
elements work in harmony together. Also
covered are facts about the body’s bones and
that everyone should strive to keep healthy,
strong bones.