February 02, 2012

A Shelf Full of Librarians

Do you think librarians spend their days reading books and shushing people? Think again! Librarians are highly educated professionals who choose library materials, decide how to organize them, make sure that patrons can find items, help people learn new skills, provide programs for all ages, manage information online, create websites, and so much more. Check out one of these books (use the links below to place holds on any titles that interest you) and delve a little more deeply into the real world of librarianship or indulge yourself with a novel that shows the star-power of librarians!

NONFICTION
Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian
by Avi Steinberg
In this captivating memoir, Steinberg, a Harvard grad and struggling obituary writer, spends two years as a librarian and writing instructor at a Boston prison, attracting con men, minor prophets, ghosts, and an assortment of quirky regulars searching for the perfect book and a connection to the outside world.

Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese-American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference
by Joanne Oppenheim
Provides the story of life in a Japanese internment camp during World War II through the correspondence of the children in the camp to their librarian, Miss Clara Breed, who worked on their behalf to show the injustice of their imprisonment.

This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All
by Marilyn Johnson
Those who predicted the death of libraries forgot to consider that in the automated maze of contemporary life, none of us--neither the experts nor the hopelessly baffled--can get along without human help. And not just any help--we need librarians, who won't charge us by the question or roll their eyes, no matter what we ask. Who are they? What do they know? And how quickly can they save us from being buried by the digital age? This book is a romp through the ranks of information professionals and a revelation for readers burned out on the cliches and stereotyping of librarians. Here are bloggers, radicals and visionaries who fuse the tools of the digital age with their love for the written word and the enduring values of free speech, open access, and scout-badge-quality assistance to anyone in need.

FICTION
The Borrower
by Rebecca Makkai
Lucy Hull, a young children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri, finds herself both a kidnapper and kidnapped when her favorite patron, ten- year-old Ian Drake, runs away from home. The precocious Ian is addicted to reading, but needs Lucy's help to smuggle books past his overbearing mother, who has enrolled Ian in weekly antigay classes with celebrity Pastor Bob. Lucy stumbles into a moral dilemma when she finds Ian camped out in the library after hours with a knapsack of provisions and an escape plan. Desperate to save him from Pastor Bob and the Drakes, Lucy allows herself to be hijacked by Ian. The odd pair embarks on a crazy road trip from Missouri to Vermont, with ferrets, an inconvenient boyfriend, and upsetting family history thrown in their path. But is it just Ian who is running away? Who is the man who seems to be on their tail? And should Lucy be trying to save a boy from his own parents?

The Ice Queen
by Alice Hoffman
After a small town librarian survives a lightning strike, she seeks out a fellow survivor in a quest for meaning, only to begin an obsessive love affair between two opposites joined by a single common thread.

Lord of the Libraries
by Mel Odom
Working as a master librarian at Great Library, Edgewick Lamplighter takes on inexperienced apprentice Juhg to help acquire volumes for the Vault of All Known Knowledge, a task that is compromised by dark forces.

BONUS: A movie about a librarian!
The Librarian
directed by Peter Winther
A geeky librarian is hired by the prestigious Metropolitan Library, keeper of such top-secret treasures as Excalibur and Pandora's Box. When the Serpent Brotherhood, seeking world domination, steals one of three parts of the magical Spear of Destiny from the library, only this librarian, aided by a gorgeous bodyguard, has the know-how to thwart their plan. But does he know how to be a hero?

Want more recommendations? Looking for something different? Stop by and ask - librarians love to help you find what you’re looking for!

Love Your Library Returns!

Traditionally, St. Valentine's Day is a time to share what's in your heart and give to those who you hold dear. Kent County Public Library invites you to celebrate on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 by taking part in the Love Your Library fundraising campaign kick-off event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chestertown Branch.

KCPL exists to support the community and we are grateful to those who can help support the library. No donation is insignificant and all are appreciated, no matter how small. All funds donated help KCPL to keep the doors open and to continue to provide materials and services to support this community.

Beginning February 14th, all donors to the Love Your Library campaign will receive a small "thank you" gift; those who give $50 or more will receive a special 50th Anniversary sticker for their library cards; and the first ten donors who give $100 or more will also receive a delicious box of Valentine's chocolates!

Those who wish to take part in the campaign, but are unable to join us for the Love Your Library kick-off event, may make a donation online at KCPL’s website, deliver donations in person to one of KCPL’s three branches, or mail donations to:

Kent County Public Library
Love Your Library Campaign
408 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620

Please join our campaign and show the world that you Love Your Library!

Know what we love? Knowing that the library is an important part of your life. Thank you for your enthusiastic patronage and continued support!

January 31, 2012

Spotlight on: Maryland's Digital eLibrary

Did you know KCPL provides eBooks and audiobooks that you can download at no cost and without making a special trip to the library? Thanks to Maryland's Digital eLibrary, all you need is your library card for free access to thousands of titles.

Want to give it a try?

Here's what you need to do:

1. Visit KCPL's website.
2. Choose the eLibrary tab from the left-hand menu.
3. Click the link for Maryland's Digital eLibrary (or choose a tutorial for more information on how to use your eReader or audio player with the eLibrary).
4. Click Login and select Kent County Public Library from the drop-down menu.
5. Enter your library barcode number with no spaces or punctuation.
6. Click the Help tab and read the Quick Start Guide for information on the initial set-up you will need to do prior to downloading items from Maryland's Digital eLibrary. (The initial set-up is very important, so don't skip this step!)
7. Search or browse the virtual collection and begin downloading!

Good luck! If you run into difficulties or need help with the process, please let us know.

January 25, 2012

AARP Tax Help @your library

KCPL is pleased to announce that AARP Tax Help will be returning to the Chestertown branch this year to help taxpayers of all ages prepare and e-file their 2011 federal, Maryland and Delaware tax returns.

IRS-certified AARP volunteers will be available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursdays beginning February 2nd and ending April 12th.

Administered by AARP, in cooperation with the IRS, this free tax help is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers of all ages. Returns will be prepared on the computer and filed electronically at no charge to the taxpayer. Each taxpayer will receive a paper copy of his or her return.

Walk-in clients are accepted, however, making an appointment is strongly recommended in order to avoid a lengthy wait. Appointments for tax preparation must be made via Upper Shore Aging. To make an appointment, please call 410-778-2564 on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. Tax help for those who are home-bound is available and can also be arranged by calling Upper Shore Aging. Tax assistance services for those who are home-bound can also be arranged by contacting Upper Shore Aging.

January 22, 2012

January 23rd - This Week @your library

There's always a lot happening at KCPL -- book groups, technology workshops, programs for all ages, and more! Here's what's coming up this week:

Monday, January 23rd
10:30 a.m. - Dick Lance's Digital Walk-In Clinic

Wednesday, January 25th
4:30 p.m. - Chestertown Book Group

Thursday, January 26th
12:00 p.m. - Literature with Lunch Bookgroup

Friday, January 27th
2:00 p.m. - Winter Film Festival: Stand & Deliver

Saturday, January 28th
10:00 a.m. - Financial Wellness @your library: Examining Your Financial Future

For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit our online calendar. Have a suggestion for a program you'd love to see at KCPL? Please let us know!

January 21, 2012

Late Opening Saturday 1/21

Due to the weather and current road conditions, KCPL will be opening late at 10:30 a.m. today, Saturday, January 21st, 2012. We apologize for any inconvenience.

January 11, 2012

Holiday Closing: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

All branches of Kent County Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

January ART @your library

Stop by the Chestertown branch of KCPL and enjoy this month's art exhibits! Painter Theresa Schram and photographer Terry Willis have filled the library with their captivating art.

Theresa's pieces focus on bold images, intense color and an interest in design. She claims a quote from Pierre Auguste Renoir as her artist statement: "To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty, yes, pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them."

Terry describes his wildlife photographs as portraits. Whether in his kayak or hiking, something about a scene will speak to him, saying, "Photograph me!" Rather than attempting to stage the scene, he captures what nature has presented.

In addition to the work of these professional artists, the Children's Department is currently featuring art created by students from Kent County Middle School.

Please stop by and enjoy this showcase of local art.

January 05, 2012

Financial Wellness @your library

January is Financial Wellness Month! In addition to the resources you can borrow from KCPL's collection, we're offering two special programs to help boost your financial knowledge.

Smarter Personal Banking
Saturday, January 14, 2012 | 10am - 12pm
Main Meeting Room, Chestertown

Join Larry Lyons and Cecil Unruh from Peoples Bank as they suggest ways to:

* improve your on-line banking experience
* prevent Identity Theft
* prepare for financial emergencies

Start the new year with some free financial education!
Refreshments served.

Examining Your Financial Future
Saturday, January 28, 2012 | 10am - 12pm
Main Meeting Room, Chestertown

Join Martin Knight & Michael Kelly from Chesapeake Investment Advisors as they present information about developing a lifetime strategy for saving and investment.

Refreshments served.

If you would like more information about these programs, please visit our online calendar or call 410.778.3636.

Interested in additional financial wellness information? We have resources covering personal finance, consumer credit, investments, eliminating debt, home-ownership, and more!

December 21, 2011

Holiday Closings

In celebration of Christmas and New Year's Day, KCPL will be closed or closing early on the following dates:

Saturday, December 24th - CLOSED
Monday, December 26th - CLOSED

Saturday, December 31st - 1/2 day (closing at 12:30)
Monday, January 2nd - CLOSED