Things On My Desk

Civil Defense Program - April 03, 2009

2009-03-17T12:44:00.000-05:00

Friends of Perry Carnegie Library will be hosting a civil defense program April 3rd, 2009 in the Thelma Knox Brown conference room. Lloyd Brown, Noble County civil defense director, will present a free 45 minute program on severe weather preparation, including what to do in the event of storms and tornadoes. Mr. Brown will also be able to answer questions concerning weather radios, and assist attendees in programming their own units.

For more information on this program, please call Perry Carnegie Library at 580-336-4721 or e-mail staff@perry.lib.ok.us.

Winter Weather Update: Library Open Today, But No Storytime

2009-01-27T08:51:00.004-06:00

We hope that everyone throughout Perry and Noble County are taking it slow if they have to get out in today's winter weather. The library will be open for its normal hours of operation.

However, please note that THERE WILL BE NO STORYTIME TODAY. We hope to see all our favorite kids next week, but today, we encourage you to stay in with your little ones.

Tax Forms Now Available At Library

2009-01-14T09:42:00.001-06:00

Free paper copies of most federal tax forms are now available at Perry Carnegie Library. Some federal forms/schedules and ALL state income tax forms are only available via the Internet and can be printed for $0.25 per page. For more information, please contact the library at 580-336-4721.

"Obesity In A Bottle" Program At Library

2008-12-01T13:18:00.000-06:00

On December 10th, 2008 at noon, Maria Lewellen with the OSU Extension will present a brown-bag seminar entitled “Obesity In A Bottle” at Perry Carnegie Library. During this presentation, Maria will explain the role of beverages in nutrition, and help attendees make healthier choices using a Powerpoint slide show and free samples. For more information, call Perry Carnegie Library at 580-336-4721.

Animal Safety & Crime Prevention Program

2008-10-07T12:49:00.000-05:00

At 10:00 on October 17, 2008, Perry Carnegie Library will be hosting Officers McGuire and Tygo from the Perry Police Department. The officers will demonstrate Tygo's abilities as a police dog, including how he assists the human officers in their duties, and provide information on animal protection.

Children of all ages, as well as interested adults, are encouraged to attend. Sign-up is not required. This event will be held in the Library's Thelma Knox Brown Meeting Room.

For more information, contact Linda Branson, Children's Librarian, at 580-336-7300.

Sponsored by Friends of Perry Carnegie Library.

Website Updates

2008-09-18T09:43:00.002-05:00

I have just updated the Programs section of our website with the following information:

2008/2009 RIF Dates (This will be our 31st consecutive year with RIF. We are the longest running program in the State of Oklahoma.).
New Lapsit/Toddlertime/Storytime Schedule.
Preliminary information about the 2009 Summer Reading Program theme.

New Book List

2008-09-15T09:42:00.001-05:00

I've just added a new book list to our website. Please come by and check out all the great new titles we're stocking!

Library Closed 09/13/2008 For Cherokee Strip Celebration

2008-09-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

Perry Carnegie Library will be closed Saturday, September 13th, 2008, to allow its employees to celebrate the 115th Cherokee Strip Land Run Celebration with their friends and family.

Normal business hours will resume Monday, September 15th at 9:00 A.M. Anyone wishing to return items during this time may place them in our book drop.

Part-Time Children's Assistant Position Filled

2008-08-13T12:34:00.001-05:00

Shane Henderson, our Summer Reading Program assistant, has been promoted to Part-Time Children's Assistant. This means that instead of just being around for the summer, Shane will be working part-time downstairs on a permanent basis. Please welcome Shane to the team!

Cool Off With Summer Movies @ Your Library

2008-07-11T13:46:00.002-05:00

Perry Carnegie Library will be showing popular movies at 1:30 PM every Friday from July 11 - September 5 in the Thelma Knox Brown Meeting Room.

All selections will be taken from the Library's extensive collection of current and classic titles for adults. This program will allow our citizens to escape the summer heat as well as the high gas prices with some free entertainment. Coffee will be provided, but attendees are asked to bring any other refreshments they would like to enjoy during the movie. No registration is required. Simply be seated and ready to watch when the movie starts. For more information, call the Library at 580-336-4721.

Website Changes

2008-07-03T16:35:00.001-05:00

I have made a number of small but important changes to our website, mostly regarding how easy it is to read and how things are laid out. Please feel free to pass along any comments you may have about these changes.

Summer Reading Program

2008-07-02T16:27:00.001-05:00

Catch The Reading Bug...

Summer Reading Program is in full swing. Download the brochure here for full details and signup information!

Job Opening

2008-04-22T12:44:00.000-05:00

Perry Carnegie Library is currently taking applications for a Part-Time Children's Assistant to help the public in all areas of the Library. Main duties include assisting with all children's programming , Summer Reading Program, checking materials out to patrons, shelving items returned to the Library, and assisting full-time staff in their duties as necessary.

A full job description is available upon request.

The Reference Assistant will work three weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM. Pay is $8.00 per hour.

For more information and an application, please call 580-336-4721 or e-mail jobs@perry.lib.ok.us.

The City of Perry is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Oklahoma Library Association Conference

2008-04-22T12:41:00.002-05:00

At this moment, I'm blogging to you all from the 2008 Oklahoma Library Association conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We're learning a lot of great new things that we can bring back to Perry and implement at the library. Personally, I am taking a number of different seminars concerning public libraries, as well as a couple of classes outside my normal "comfort zone" so that I can be well-rounded. For example, I'm about to go learn how to implement gaming programs at my library.

I hope everyone is having a great April!

Upcoming Events

2008-04-08T15:57:00.003-05:00

We would like to invite everyone to join us during National Library Week for two very special events.

Perry Progress Club Annual Fundraising Coffee

April 16, 2008 - 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM - Open to the public. Come and visit the library, meet the staff, and assist the ladies of the Progress Club in raising money to fund library projects.

April 16-18, 2008 - Friends of the Library Book Sale - 9:00 AM - 5:00 Wed/Thu, 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM. Lots of books, movies, music, and other assorted items will be available for sale. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library, who use their funds to assist with library projects.

March 2008 Update

2008-03-14T12:46:00.003-05:00

We are happy today that our young library users are visiting for the final RIF distribution of this cycle. Today concludes our 30th straight year helping the children of this area achieve literacy through the distribution of free books.

Additionally, we are planning a lot of new, fun activities for the upcoming months and the summer.

In order to tell the community about what we have planned, I will be the featured speaker at the Perry Rotary Club meeting on Monday, March 24, 2008. The meeting is at the First Christian Church, 7th & Holly.

Linda Luthye

2008-02-21T10:33:00.001-06:00

We are happy to announce that we have added Linda Luthye as a member of the library team. She is working as a part-time assistant to our Assistant Librarian. Please say hello to her when you visit the library!

Author M.E. Cooper To Speak At Library

2008-02-08T15:45:00.000-06:00

Stillwater author M.E. Cooper will be at the Library at noon on February 28, 2008 for a brown-bag lunch presentation. Mrs. Cooper will read from her books, discuss what it's like to be an Oklahoma author, and then do a book sale/signing.

Mary Ellen ( M.E.) Cooper has lived most of her life in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Her latest true crime book, BOLD AND BRASSY, which details a historic murder, was released in late December 2007.

SLOW DEATH and OTHER OKLAHOMA MURDERS (2004), took place in Perry, OK, and has been frequently shown on television's Forensic Files.

Mrs. Cooper's published credits demonstrate her varied interests, with over 50 articles and stories published in the last few years in national publications. Her credits include: Oklahoma Today, Mature Living, Challenge, Globe, Country Collectibles, Fireside Companion, Income Opportunities, Our Sunday Visitor, the Catholic Digest, Byeline, Family Motor Coach, BBW (Big Beautiful Woman), Official Detective, Startling Detective, True Detective, True Experience, Living, Purpose, Antique Trader Weekly, Family Digest, Inn Times, and Whispering Willow magazine.

She has appeared on Arkansas television stations in Little Rock and Fort Smith and also on Tulsa TV station KTUL. She has appeared on a half hour program Writing Out Loud which was shown in the Tulsa area four times. She has been interviewed several times by Oklahoma City's KTOK radio station, and has been heavily involved Writers Conferences in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Colorado.

Cooper has been a licensed beautician, an insurance agent, and was in charge of a motorcycle dealership for 21 years. She especially enjoys encouraging senior citizens who are interested in taking up writing. Her hobbies are reading, traveling, hot air ballooning and collecting antiques. Besides being a wife for 55 years, she is the mother of eight, grandmother of eleven and great grandmother of four.

January 29, 2008 Update

2008-01-29T08:34:00.000-06:00

We are hard at work on a number of projects right now. Our new infant lapsit program is going extremely well, with high attendance, enthusiastic children, and receptive parents. At this point, we're doing lapsit every other Monday. February 11, 2008 will be the next lapsit session. If you're interested in bringing your infant to this program, please call Miss Linda at 580-336-7300.

There are a number of new books available for both children and adults. Please check the new books list on our website for further information. Please call if you would like us to hold a title for you.

Additionally, we are wrapping up the details of an upcoming author visit, which will include a book signing and talk. In a day or so, once I have things finalized, I'll make a new post here.

Finally, I would like to encourage everyone to participate in the Friends of the Library Best Choice Labels program. If you buy Best Choice products at either Larry's BestYet or Homeland, you can cut off the UPC label (the bar code) and bring the labels to the library. Our Friends group collects them, and when they reach a certain number, they redeem the labels with the parent company for money. These checks assist the Friends in doing special projects at the Library.

PCL Closed For Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

2008-01-16T10:00:00.000-06:00

Perry Carnegie Library will be closed Monday, January 21, 2008 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

DTV Transition

2008-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:00

On February 17, 2009, the era of analog broadcast television in the United States will end, as the nation completes its transition to an all-digital system. While this change will mark the end of the traditional analog method of broadcasting over-the-air television, it won’t signal the end of free broadcast television, and your favorite broadcast programs and local television stations will still be available.

PCL has received numerous inquiries about this switch. So here are a number of helpful information resources, plainly worded, that tell the public what will be happening and when:

DTV Flyer

DTV Fact Sheet (from the Federal Communication Commission)

Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (each American household can request two $40 coupons toward the cost of the converter boxes that will be needed for TVs that have been working on "rabbit ears" or rooftop antennas).

Hopefully, this information will prove useful to all our customers.

Events Update

2008-01-11T13:53:00.001-06:00

The new year is going very well, so far. We have seen a nice upswing in Storytime attendance due to our publicity efforts and a new brochure we've been sending out.

Staff is also hard at work on planning out this year's Summer Reading Program. We will be making full announcements about all the fun activities in coming months, but we are proud to say that perennial favorites Monty Harper (singer/storyteller) and Steve Crawford (magician extraordinaire) have already signed on to perform in the city courtyard as part of SRP.

Beginner's computer classes are also going to be offered again in the near future. Tentatively, the next class will be the first week of March. I will provide more details on the library website soon.

Job Announcement

2008-01-11T13:50:00.000-06:00

Perry Carnegie Library is currently taking applications for a Part-Time Reference Assistant to help the public in all areas of the Library. Main duties include checking materials out to patrons, shelving items returned to the Library, and assisting full-time staff in their duties as necessary. A full job description is available upon request.

The Reference Assistant will work three weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM. Pay is $8.00 per hour.

For more information and an application, please call 580-336-4721 and ask for Jeffrey.

The City of Perry is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Happy 2008!

2008-01-03T15:42:00.000-06:00

We hope everyone is having an enjoyable start of 2008!

There is a lot going on right now at Perry Carnegie Library! Storytime starts again next week, we have an upcoming RIF distribution. Next month, the Friends of the Library will be putting on their annual Valentine "Chocolate Fantasy" fundraiser. We are also going to be starting the preliminary meetings to introduce Lapsit (basically, storytime for infants) soon.

It is a great time to be involved at PCL!

PCL Holiday Schedule

2007-12-20T13:21:00.000-06:00

Perry Carnegie Library will observe the following holidays:

CLOSED - Monday, 12/24/07 (Christmas Eve)

CLOSED - Tuesday, 12/25/07 (Christmas Day)

CLOSING AT NOON - Monday, 12/31/07 (New Year's Eve)

CLOSED - Tuesday, 01/01/08 (New Year's Day)

Library staff and the Friends of the Library would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holidays.

PCL Resumes Normal Hours Of Operation

2007-12-11T09:09:00.001-06:00

Conditions have improved enough that the City of Perry, including the Library, resume normal operating hours today.

We would like to extend our condolences to those who have suffered losses during this trying time, and our warm wishes to everyone in the state of Oklahoma for a speedy recovery.

For updates on how Oklahoma is faring:

Statewide:

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management - Ice Storm 2007

Oklahoma City:

KFOR - Newschannel 4 - NBC

KOCO - Channel 5 - ABC

KWTV- Channel 9 - CBS

Tulsa:

KJRH - Channel 2 - NBC

KTUL - Channel 8 - ABC

KOTV - Channel 6 - CBS

PCL Closed Today Due To Ice Storm

2007-12-10T09:16:00.001-06:00

Perry Carnegie Library is closed today due to the ice storm that is gripping much of the state of Oklahoma. Our City Hall is also closed today, as well as the local public school system.

Based on our understanding of the weather situation later tonight, City Manager Roy Rainey will decide the status of city offices for tomorrow. For the library's status, keep checking here. For other city offices, please monitor your local news outlets as well as official communications from City administration.

Christmas Tour of Homes

2007-12-05T10:42:00.000-06:00

The Library is on the Christmas Tour of Homes this year, and so we'd like to provide you full information about the event:

The Tour takes place on December 09, 2007 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Included are five area homes and Perry Carnegie Library.

Advance tickets will be sold at Thorn Originals and Foster's Corner Drug Store for $7.00. Tickets will be $8.00 at the door.

After taking the Tour, you are cordially invited to the Cherokee Strip Museum at 2617 W. Fir for refreshments.

Staffing Changes

2007-11-29T20:26:00.000-06:00

I would like to pass along two changes that the public will notice starting in mid-December.

Cherie Cowan has been promoted to Assistant Librarian from her current position as Part-Time Reference Assistant.

O'donna Dean will move down to the Children's Department and be the Part-Time Children's Assistant.

We will be opening a job position for a Part-Time Reference Assistant soon.

Holiday Season

2007-11-27T17:23:00.000-06:00

We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. We would like to thank the Friends of the Library for decorating the library for Christmas. The Library is on this year's Christmas Tour of Homes, and we invite everyone to join us at the library on December 9th.

Oklahoma Statehood Day

2007-11-13T14:35:00.000-06:00

We would like to encourage everyone to attend the Oklahoma Statehood Day events this Friday, November 16th. The two closest to Perry are probably the Guthrie Centennial celebration and the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular in Oklahoma City. The OKC event will be broadcast statewide on OETA, so you can watch it there if you can't make it to Oklahoma City.

PCL In The News

2007-11-02T09:34:00.001-05:00

The library made yesterday's Perry Daily Journal not once, but twice. The first was a story about the first RIF distribution that was held on October 25-26th. Our local Friends group gave the Library a check for $250 toward our costs, and that award is pictured in the article. We appreciate the Friends of the Library and all they do.

The second library related appearance concerned my attendance at "Breakfast With Main Street" on Tuesday. Once a quarter, local businesspeople and community leaders gather to discuss important issues and participate in a program arranged by Main Street. This Breakfast featured Wayne Speer, former Pawnee County Assessor, who travels North America as an Oklahoma Centennial Ambassador portraying Gordon "Pawnee Bill" Lillie. All attendees had a great time walking through Oklahoma History with Mr. Speer.

Upcoming Holidays

2007-11-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

Perry Carnegie Library will be closed the following dates in November:

November 12, 2007 - Veteran's Day (Observed)

November 16, 2007 - Oklahoma Statehood Day

November 22 - 25, 2007 - Thanksgiving

This schedule means we will have three "long weekends" in November. Also, please remember that even though we do not make items due on closed dates, you can still drop your materials into the book drop.

Halloween Redux

2007-11-01T12:33:00.000-05:00

We had an absolute blast at Perry's Halloween celebration. I and four members of the Friends of the Library handed out candy and goodies to area children. It is great to know that the City is so generous in providing our children safe, respectable, and wholesome avenues to have fun. Children always look forward to trick-or-treating on the Square. We also hear that the various events held by local places of worship had large numbers of children.

Now, we start to look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Halloween

2007-10-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

We would like to encourage all local citizens and children to attend the official City of Perry Halloween celebration tomorrow from 5:30 - 7:30 PM on the Square. The Library & Friends of the Library will be handing out candy and goodies the whole time.

LIbrary Board Meeting Postponed

2007-10-24T16:16:00.000-05:00

The library board meeting originally scheduled for October 25, 2007 has been postponed until a later date. More details will be provided once a new date and time has been determined.

RIF

2007-10-24T12:55:00.000-05:00

Today starts the first RIF distribution, for the homeschoolers and daycare kids. We're very happy to host the children and hope they enjoy their free books!

Children's Department Blog

2007-10-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

Given that my blog has been going so well, we've also decided to start a children's blog. Miss Linda will be making her first posts as soon as the first RIF distribution is over.

"Happy Feet"

2007-10-19T12:21:00.001-05:00

Today, we're happy to be sponsoring the children from Christ Lutheran Learning Center for a fall break movie time, full with snacks and activities. Miss Linda will be showing Happy Feet, and will wrap things up with a few Fall/Halloween stories if time permits.

Upcoming Meetings @ Library

2007-10-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

Noble County Genealogy Society, Saturday, October 20th, 2007, 10:00 AM

Friends of the Library, Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007, 2:00 PM

Library Board, Thursday, October 25th, 2007, 5:30 PM

All meetings take place in the Thelma Knox Brown Meeting Room. If your non-profit community organization would like to host an event at the Library, call 580-336-4721 for available times/dates and a copy of our meeting room policy.

Updated New Book List

2007-10-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of days, we got in a great shipment of new books. Take a look at the new book list on the PCL site, and then come in to check them out!

Storytime Update

2007-10-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

A couple of things to remember about upcoming storytimes:

1) Due to the first RIF distribution, there will be no storytime next week. We'll be busy setting up the Thelma Knox Brown Meeting Room with lots of great books for children.

2) For the Halloween storytimes (10/30 & 10/31), we would like to encourage all children and adults to show up in their best ghoulish garb! Wear your costumes and see who Miss Linda thinks is SCARY!

New Books

2007-10-13T14:51:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to always check both the PCL website and the Perry Daily Journal for lists of new books available for checkout at the library. If you see a book on the list you would like, you can also call us and have a hold placed on the title. That means we'll either pull it from the shelves so you can pick it up immediately, or, if it's already checked out, we'll put you next on the list to have the book.

There are many great services available at Perry Carnegie Library. Drop by and we'll tell you all about them!

Website Changes

2007-10-12T10:35:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've been making some changes to the PCL website in order to make it more "user-friendly". I'm standardizing a lot of the links on the left-side menu, as well as making sure everyone can navigate to my blog from the website.

I've set it up where my blog will open up in a new window and not direct you away from the PCL site in the process.

I'd like to encourage any member of the public to send me suggestions about what you'd like to see done with our website.

For example, one suggestion I've had is that the library create a Myspace page. Sounds like an interesting possibility that I'll have to look into.

Another is to create different pages for teens, kids, etc.

RIF

2007-10-12T09:10:00.001-05:00

It's almost time for for our first RIF distribution for this year.

RIF is the nation's oldest and largest non-profit children's literacy initiative. We partner with the federal government in a 75%/25% cost-share.

Perry has three distributions per year, and local children (from the school, daycares, etc.) each get to pick out one free book per visit. All books are age appropriate and purchased from reputable national book vendors.

PCL has been involved in this program for decades, with the welcome support of the community. Generations of school children remember coming to the library to get "their RIF books".

I and my staff are proud to be able to continue this fine tradition.

Distribution Dates 2007 - 2008

RIF Distribution Dates
	Middle School	Elementary	Daycare / Headstart
1st	10/26/2007	10/25/2007	10/24/2007
2nd	01/18/2008	01/17/2008	01/16/2008
3rd	03/14/2008	03/13/2008	03/12/2008
Homeschooled students may come any afternoon the day of the distribution.

Middle School Tours

2007-10-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

Today, we're happy to be hosting tours of Mrs. Brand's 6th Grade English classes. They are learning about the library and its importance to their schoolwork! So, if you see lots of middle schoolers around, say hello and welcome them to the Library!

City Council Meetings

2007-10-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

One of my responsibilities in the City is to attend and contribute to meetings of the City Council. The Council meets every other Monday (not counting Federal Holidays and such) to make policy decisions about the City. In my capacity as Department Head, I attend to give City officials any information they need about the library, as well as to be informed about what is going on in other City Departments.

The next Council meeting is Monday, October 15th, so I will be attending once I return from the Public Library Director's Council meeting in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

All City Council meetings, as well as many other types of local programming, can be seen on Suddenlink Channel 19, Perry Information Network (typically referred to by our local citizens by the acronym PIN).

Public Library Director's Council

2007-10-11T10:41:00.001-05:00

On Monday, October 15th, I will be attending Public Library Director's Council meeting at Stillwater Public Library. We meet every other month at different Oklahoma Libraries to discuss items of consequence to Oklahoma library directors.

For example, we discuss upcoming legislation involving libraries, how to make sure libraries are well funded, and how to make sure we let our local citizens know how important their libraries are.

It is also a great opportunity to network with my fellow directors and trade ideas about what we're all doing in our communities.

Things On My Desk

2007-10-11T10:06:00.001-05:00

This blog replaces the old "Director's Corner" page I was publishing as time permitted. Having a more streamlined format will allow me to pass along news and information about the library and the community to all our readers in a much quicker fashion.

Given that I am fairly tech-savvy, I think that this will be a wonderful addition to our library's web presence.