September is National Library Card Month and Poudre River Public Library District wants you to sign up for a library card!
Summer is ending and it is time to buy school supplies. Why not start with the best school supply of all, the library card? Not only is the library card an important tool for students going back to school, it is also free! The library card gives access to a world of information through not only books, but Internet research and databases, programs and events as well. Give your children the tools to succeed and kick start the school year by helping them get their own library card.
Your library is a hub for the local community and your library card is a passport. It permits its owner to travel to other places and times through the pages of a good book. The library has the resources you need to study, research, and prepare for the new semester. Meet new people while discovering the electronic tools available for you. Membership in the public library places thousands of resources at students' fingertips. Celebrate National Library Card Month with a trip to your local library or visit the virtual library at poudrelibraries.org to explore all the many resources available!
The Poudre River Public Library District chose the theme of Renew, Refresh, Read Local for 2010. The Board of Trustees and staff worked to "Renew" our connection with our customers by conducting research on how they use the library. The market analysis and customer survey told us that our customers still look to us as a primary resource for books and information in paper and electronic formats. Our customer segmentation has helped the Library District to identify opportunities to improve services to the community in preparation of a new strategic plan.
The Main Library "Refresh" project is well underway. We are excited about the possibilities that a remodel and modest expansion provide including a larger meeting room, group and individual study rooms, an enhanced children's area and even a cyber café. Staff also did some internal "refreshing" by changing the Library District's organizational structure and implementing a staff website. Even though these inside projects aren't readily visible to our customers, the new communications tool and efficiencies make our Library District better able to face the changing needs of the future and to serve you better.
The "Read Local" events showcased the wealth of authors we have in Colorado. The Autumn Authors series provided our customers the opportunity to meet some of their favorite authors. Many of the invited authors spoke about the importance of libraries and intellectual freedom in their lives. They are great advocates for libraries!
Despite the growth in digital information and the Intranet, people are seeking resources available at their local libraries more so than ever before. Use of the Poudre River Public Libraries continues to grow with significant increases in the number of items check-outs and attendance. I look forward to enriching the Library's relationship with our customers in 2011 and to building on the strengths of the library staff members who continue to provide excellent library service to the community.
Many well known people have been quoted about the importance of libraries in their lives. Author Toni Morrison had this to say: "Access to knowledge is superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries stand virtually alone in accomplishing this mission," and Barbara Kingsolver: "I'm of a fearsome mind to throw my arms around every living librarian who crosses my path, on behalf of the souls they never knew they saved." Comedian Paula Poundstone: "It's funny that we think of libraries as quiet demure places where we are shushed by dusty, bun-balancing, bespectacled women. The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy and community. Librarians have stood up to the Patriot Act, sat down with noisy toddlers and reached out to illiterate adults. Libraries can never be shushed," and rock star Keith Richards: "When you are growing up, there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully -- the church which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a good equalizer."
Now it's your chance to tell your story about how libraries have changed your life. Whether you're someone just discovering the many possibilities your library holds or were lucky enough to have grown up with the library near by, we want to hear about it! The Library District is having an "I Love My Library" essay contest for library-lovers of all ages. Five winners will be picked, one from each category according to age - young child, youth, teen, adult, and senior. The winners will be awarded a prize, and an offer to participate in a special library event! Essays should be no more than 500 words and children ages 6 and under may draw a picture instead. Submissions should be sent to Main Library, Attn: Library Lovers at 301 Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524 no later than February 28. Be sure to add your name, address, phone number and age. For more information contact the Library District at 221-6380.
Poudre River Public Library is seeking to place an issue on the April 2011 municipal ballot seeking voter approval to expand Main Library located in Library Park. An existing city ordinance limits the percentage of building and parking within the park area, including the footprint of the library's foot floor. The Library District is seeking citizen permission to expand by 6,000 square feet by filling in the areas underneath the second floor overhangs. The additional space will allow the library to add meeting room space, enlarge the children's area, provide areas for group and individual study and to create more room for comfortable seating, use of laptops and browsing the collection.
The expansion is part of the Library District's Master Facilities Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2009. The improvements will be paid for with a combination of existing library funds including capital project monies, unreserved funds and remaining capital expansion fee monies collected by the City on behalf of the library. More than 70 volunteers are circulating petitions as part of this citizen's initiative to obtain the necessary 2,517 signatures of Fort Collins residents who are also registered voters. The deadline to submit valid signatures to the City Clerk is January 18, 2011.
Community resident Sam Fox and Library Trustee Robin Gard are the citizen volunteers who have organized the petition drive. For more information about the ballot initiative and to learn how you can volunteer to help, check out the campaign's website at ExpandOurLibrary.org.
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Poudre River Public Library District
(970) 221-6740
Including the collection of
Front Range Community College, Larimer Campus