MORE DVD's!!!!

Oh my gosh, that wonderful, wonderful family that has donated HUNDREDS of DVD's, many unopened, as well as HUNDREDS of brand new books. They've struck again, bringing in 101 DVD's. Give us a few days, that's a lot of processing and computer input but hopefully before Easter all will be on the shelves.

The Chickens are coming!!!

JOIN US FOR CHICKEN STORY TIME!!!

Wednesdsay, April 7 * 10:30 am
Join the Miss Sandy and Kristopher's chickens for story time!
We'll be meeting outside in front of the library with our fine feathered friends
for a fun morning of chicken stories and playing.
Be prepared to pet the peeps!!!

The library has ..... CHANGED!!!

If you've been in the library lately, you've noticed lots of books stacked around, being moved, reorganized, and reworked. I'm sure we'll confuse you all for a bit with our changes, but honestly, the library will be a bit more user friendly. We've rearranged the childrens department so that all picture books are within arms reach for the little ones. The young adult section has been expanded to allow some much needed space and room for growth. I personally think that the non-fiction section of young adult is a lot more accessible. Here's hoping more find the wonderful books in non-fiction that have been in hiding.

I think we've touched every single book in the adult non-fiction section lately. We've laid the books that are too large to stand on their backs, spines exposed so that people can see them and possibly use them once they can see the titles. We've expanded this section to be the perimeter of the room, so books are spread out a bit more and exposed, hopefully easier to find as well.

The entire fiction collection for adults has been reworked, again exposing those hidden gems we have and adding lots of goodies that you've been looking for.

And as for MOVIES??? We have had some absolutely incredibly generous donations which have made me cry! The generosity of people has been overwhelming. One family donated over 100 DVDs, over half of which have never been opened. They also have brought in hundreds of brand new books, best sellers. Others are sharing their books on CD collection with us, increasing our collection greatly. As a result, these two sections have LOADS of new titles just waiting for you to find them. The easiest way to see what is new? In our catalog at the top is an a button that says WHATS HOT. Click this and you can choose what new items you'd like to look at and how recently they were added. Since many of the items that are new are circulating, if you see a title you want and it's out (indicated by red highlighting), we can reserve it for you and call when it is returned.

Constant changes, exciting updates. Check us out!

ResumeMaker available to patrons at NO COST

Newest addition to the LHPL? RESUMEMAKER!!! Provided free of charge to our members, the Texas Library and Archives Commission, Central Texas Library System and the Alamo Area Library System have partnered to bring ResumeMaker to our library and patrons. Click the logo below to register and get started for FREE!!!

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Technology in your library

The future of libraries is changing; technology is having a big impact on what we thought of as “that quiet book place.” The Liberty Hill Public Library is fortunate to have recently been awarded a grant for a Texas Workforce Commission workstation. Sometime during February or March, we will be receiving a fully outfitted computer from the TWC that will be dedicated to job seekers. This spring, libraries across the state will be joining together for classes on revamping computer use policies, giving job seekers and those taking online classes priority to computer use.

Our local Central Texas Library System has partnered with two other systems to bring ResumeMaker to the Liberty Hill Public Library and our patrons. Links are being added to our website and to all access point so that this software can be accessed from within the library or from your home.

Our local library system has also listened to requests the LHPL and other libraries have submitted regarding a need for beginning computer classes. In approximately 7 months, we will be seeing classes such as “Computers for Beginners” being unveiled within the Liberty Hill community. Our four computers will be utilized and our regional system will be bringing in laptops and instructors so that we may maximize exposure to the class. Dates are not yet set, but be assured that the classes will be FREE to all participants. Once local staff has been trained to teach, these will become ongoing classes.

Currently, our staff is participating in a learning program called “23 Things”. It is a program dealing with web 2.0 technologies that are in use today and enveloping us in the use of them. Web 2.0 includes such things as blogging, avatars, flickr, virtual worlds, twitter and many of the mashups in existence. The internet is now a two way street, not just for information reading, but for users to build and be a part of. Ask us for help, you might be surprised how up-to-date we are on technology knowledge!

The Liberty Hill Public Library is involved in social networking and other technologies, believe it or not! Follow us on:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Liberty-Hill-TX/Liberty-Hill-Public-Library/61011038795?ref=nf
Twitter http://twitter.com/LHPL
delicious http://delicious.com/lhpl for reference help
Sandy has a blog located at http://lhpl.blogspot.com/
Susan’s blog is at http://theheartofthehill.blogspot.com/
LHPL website at www.lhpl.org has links to all on the front page.
Oh, by the way, we also have a chat window you can contact us through for immediate answers, again located on our website.

One very simple piece of technology you need to know if you have a computer.....you can access your library account online. Again, head to our website and midway down the page you will see in red, “YOUR ACCOUNT.” Click this link and follow directions to log into your account. You now have the ability to browse our catalog, review books, read reviews, renew and reserve books, among other things. We will soon be adding the option to pre-reserve books by the most popular authors.

Keep your eyes open. Technology changes fast and we are staying at the forefront. As we’ve been reading in the library journals, we as library staff must embrace and use this technology or be left behind. We look forward to helping you in any way we can. Remember, we are YOUR free community library. Come check us out!

Library and Donations......what a combo!

Saturday morning at the Liberty Hill Public Library, two lovely people walk in carrying boxes. “Merry Christmas,” exclaims the gentleman. Merry Christmas indeed! Kay and Jim Baker had come with two large boxes of audio books on CD for donation to the library. I can not express the feeling in my heart over their generosity; I can only hope my words said half of what I felt. Their generous donation of 89 audio books has given the library a much needed boost in that particular collection area. With 183A and Parmer open, we are seeing many members who commute into Austin come looking for materials to listen to while driving.

It is through donations that the library was established. It is through donations that the library will continue to flourish. As many in Liberty Hill are aware, the funding for the Library is entirely through sales tax revenue generated by the businesses within our district boundaries (which follow the ISD boundaries). This means that of that 8.25% sales tax you pay shopping within the LHISD boundaries, that .25% comes back to fund your public library. We are not a city, county or state associated library, so no funding comes from any of those sources, only the sales tax revenue and any grants and donations received.

Our website (www.lhpl.org) will soon have a page dedicated to our growing donation programs. While the library gratefully accepts donations of books, there are other methods of donating if you desire.

Memorial and Celebratory Donations: Consider honoring someone special. Congratulate a graduate, honor an anniversary, thank a co-worker, or present a memorial. The Library accepts monetary donations for the purchase of Library materials to honor the memory of individuals or celebrate a special occasion. Bookplates are placed in the materials acknowledging the honoree and the donor. Notification is sent to the memorial family or the honoree, and the opportunity to reserve the material for the first viewing when the item has been received and processed.

Adopt an Author: Yes, you can “adopt” one or more of your favorite authors! To adopt, you agree to sponsor the purchase of one copy of each title by that author for a year. We will purchase the books for you at cost (usually a 40% discount), accepting reimbursement upon arrival. For adopting an author, you get the privilege of being first to check out each of your author’s books. Each adopted book will have a bookplate with your name.

Consider how you would like to support your local library. Oh, a last note. As the Bakers left the library, they asked me if they could take the empty boxes home with them. “To refill them and bring them back to you again.” Liberty Hill, your support is awesome. We are so blessed by your generosity. Come by your library and see what we have for you.

What's in my Book Bag?

Lately I've been reading through the House of Night Series, geared toward young adults. For fans of vampire books and Twilight, here's a series you may enjoy. Currently a series of six, book seven will be released shortly......join me reading this one!