FALL COMPUTER CLASSES

Are you afraid of getting caught in the World Wide Web? If you want to become comfortable with computers, brush up on computer knowledge, or want to learn advanced computer techniques then sign up for the fall computer classes that are being offered through the Library District. There will be numerous classes that range in topic and skill level. These wonderfully helpful classes are free and will take place from September to December at Harmony Library.

Registration is required for all classes and to register call (970) 221-6380 or (970) 204-8206. You can also register in person at the Information Desk at Main, Harmony, or Council Tree Libraries. The free classes are open to the public but sign up soon before all the seats fill up!

The classes will be about the vital computer topics of Computer Comfort, Windows Basics, Internet Searching, Gmail, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Publisher. If any of these class topics interest you visit www.PoudreLibraries.org/classes or call for more information. With the help of these library offered classes, become friends with that harmless little computer mouse.

RICH RESOURCES ON THE LIBRARY WEBSITE

Check out the NEW Research and Information page of our website. The newly designed page includes the following resources: An Online Resources Center that groups together online databases, eResources, and web links that range from art to weather. From this center you can access very helpful databases like JSTOR, an archive of significant professional journals, and EBSCO, an academic research database, which are perfect for students and anyone who needs to do research.

The Genealogy and Family History Center offers historical information about the names and places of Fort Collins as well as your own familial name. Find databases and books about Genealogical information and find out where your family name came from.

The new Reading Room link is brimming with great book suggestions and lists that include books by awards won and the New York Times Bestsellers list. There is even a link to a digital library where you can download an entire book to listen to. This "room" is one great place to find out which book you should read next.

The Web Link of the Month and Reference Book of the Month links offer ideas and books every month that you might find useful. Check out these new pages and links as your first stop for great information that you might not know you needed!

YOUR DOWNLOADABLE LIBRARY - FREE E-MEDIA AT YOUR LIBRARY

Many library users agree that nothing can compare to the feel of a book in your hands, the crinkle as you turn the pages, or the way it falls open flat when you set it down, showing how many times you have read it. However, we live in a world of constant change where the introduction of new technologies is the norm and convenient service is expected. As use of hand held devices and e-book readers for reading, viewing and listening increases, the Poudre River Public Library District is increasing its collection of downloadable media to meet a growing demand. In April the Library District introduced its “Downloadable Library”, featuring videos, e-books and music in addition to the extensive digital audio book collection of over 2000 titles provided by NetLibrary.

The Library has purchased a collection of e-media from OverDrive, a distributor of digital content. Library card holders will have 24/7 access to this new downloadable collection that features hundreds of popular film, book and music titles. OverDrive downloads are supported through PC, Mac, Sony Reader, Nook, BlackBerry, Android, and iPod. This collection of e-media is accessible remotely from the comfort of your home or office.

A second electronic resource recently added is the foreign language tool, Language Learning by Byki Online (short for Before You Know It and pronounced bye-key). Byki is a rapid learning system employing spaced interval repetition for learning a foreign language. The Byki learning method takes users through a series of simple steps to memorize words and phrases in a new language, including their meanings and proper pronunciation, in the shortest possible time.

Language Learning by Byki Online offers exercises in listening, reading, writing and speech recognition to help English speakers learn over 80 languages including: Spanish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese & more. Likewise, this resource helps speakers of Spanish, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese & Japanese learn English. Byki Online also provides personal progress tracking, proficiency tests, picture /word associations, grammar videos and more.

The library will always be here to offer the tangible comfort of books and materials, but the tech savvy will now have access to a growing collection of e-media and electronic information to use on a variety of devices. The Poudre River Public Library District is excited about the possibilities that technology provides in making our many resources available to the public in new ways.

For more information go to http://poudrelibraries.org main page and look for the "Downloadable Library" link under Quick Links.

"I LOVE MY LIBRARY" CONTEST WINNERS

Books are freedom. Books offer an escape from the everyday and limits of reality, and allow the reader to escape into a different world or time. Just by visiting a library you're given a choice between hundreds of places and people to visit. You can go to Middle Earth in the morning, Hogwarts in the afternoon, sit with Martin Luther King, Jr. for lunch, brush up on your business skills, and maybe even fall in love with a vampire along the way. Everyone is faced with a different adventure, whether seeing through the eyes of someone on the page, or creating their own story by joining one of the many groups and events offered through the Poudre River Public Library District. There's a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be discovered through reading, and we all have a piece of literature we hold dear to us. Every story changes you. Every book teaches you.

Whether you're someone just discovering the many possibilities your local library holds, or were lucky enough to have grown up with it right at your fingertips, we always love to hear about it! The Poudre River Public Library District had an "I Love My Library" essay contest for library-lovers of all ages during February- Love Your Library Month. The winners of this years contest won a book bag filled with goodies. Thanks to everyone who shared their love of libraries with us! Read the winning entries. (PDF format/436K)

COUNCIL TREE LIBRARY GOES PLATINUM!
New Library Gains Highest National LEED Certification

The Poudre River Public Library District announced that it has been awarded LEED® Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

According to Kelly Karmel, LEED consultant, the Council Tree Library is the first LEED commercial interior library in the U.S. to receive platinum status and the second library in the nation to receive platinum, in all LEED programs.

"The Library District and the City of Fort Collins worked together to build a new library with a very high standard of environmental responsibility. The City's commitment to achieving a minimum of LEED Gold on the project, and Bayer Properties’ impressive achievement of LEED Silver for the building as a whole, allowed us to go the final distance to achieving Platinum status," commented Holly Carroll, Library District Executive Director.

"This achievement is the result of a true team effort," added Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry. He continued, "This project and the LEED designation are truly representative of the City of Fort Collins' commitment to sustainability. The building is both environmentally and fiscally responsible, and most importantly, we now have a wonderful new library for the community to enjoy."

Council Tree Library achieved LEED Platinum certification for excellence in energy, lighting, water and material efficiency as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, patrons and the larger community.

Working with the City of Fort Collins, Bayer Properties, Heath Construction, Aller Lingle Massey Architects and studiotrope design collective, the Library District worked to earn the credits needed for the platinum award.

Council Tree was awarded 43 points, one over the minimum required for Platinum. The project achieved 7 points in Sustainable Sites, 2 in Water Efficiency, 10 in Energy & Atmosphere, 6 in Materials & Resources, 13 in Indoor Environmental Quality, and 5 for Innovation & Design. A sample of the green design and construction features include:

• 26% Lighting energy savings
• 55% Water Savings
• 92% Construction Waste Recycled
• 85% Certified Sustainable Wood Products
• 21% Overall Recycled Content in Materials
• 97% Energy Star Equipment
• The Library is located in a LEED Silver Certified Core and Shell building in Front Range Village.
• Natural light is used throughout the Library, adding to human comfort and reducing electric lighting costs
• Indoor air quality is protected with high rates of outside air ventilation, high efficiency air filters, low-emitting interior finishes and a comprehensive green cleaning plan that won an innovation credit.
• Furniture, shelving and custom casework are made of recycled content materials, often up to 100% post consumer.
• The green features were integrated into a design that is colorful, full of natural light and views to the outside and responsive to the needs of Library patrons.

The Council Tree Library is located on the second floor of a retail building in the Front Range Village shipping complex at 2733 Council Tree Avenue in Fort Collins. The collection of 65,000 materials at Council Tree Library emphasizes high interest, high demand adult materials and high demand and classic children’s materials. The new library represents the culmination of many years of city planning as well as the fulfillment of a commitment made to voters when they supported the creation of a new Poudre River Public Library District in the fall of 2006. The City of Fort Collins used library impact fees collected over the last decade to fund project design and construction, as well as the library’s opening day collection of materials. The Library District now owns Council Tree Library and pays for its operation, maintenance and staffing using funds from the mill levy which established the District.

Along with the above LEED information, the library is also designed with a "Play and Learn" space custom designed by Burgeon Group in the children’s area. Borrowing a theme from the adjacent retail environment, all of the various zones within the library are connected to the primary "avenue" through the library's core. This funnel shaped space supports the flow of traffic and behaves as the primary organizational device while framing the views of the Rocky Mountains to the west, and conceived as a river with floating lily pads suspended above and river rock bed on the carpet pattern at your feet. It includes "Jump stations" - mobile information kiosks for customer service, and custom designed end panels by studiotrope collective. The Library includes a living room concept on the east side with a stone fireplace to invite quiet reading and writing and a family room concept on the west side intended as a noisy space for families. The entry is set up as a transition of the retail environment outside to one of inspiration inside showcasing the custom designed art installation entitled "Shared Knowledge" that flows and spirals up the stairway. The art created by Barbara Baer made up of letters and symbols from all over the world.

More information on the Council Tree Case Study (PDF format/25MB)

3 NEW LIBRARY BOOKDROP LOCATIONS!

As a service to members of the Library District that are further away from the Fort Collins city limits, the Poudre River Public Library District has constructed three more drive-up/bike-up bookdrop locations for your convenience.

The dropboxes keep your returned library materials safe and secure while waiting for pickup and will encourage an easier timely return. The first location is north of Fort Collins on Hwy 1 at the Chapel of the Annunciation, 290 E. CR 56. The bookdrop is located on the southwest corner of the parking lot. The second location is in the south-eastern part of the Library District in the parking lot of Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, 7649 REA Parkway, off of Hwy 392 and Fairgrounds Ave. The third new box is in the Timnath town square at 4100 Main Street, Timnath. Look for the square silver boxes with the library logo on it.

Additional Bookdrop Locations:

Albertsons 1636 N. College Avenue

Cache La Poudre Elementary/Junior High School
3511 W. County Road 54G Laporte

First National Bank (drive-up)
155 E. Boardwalk Drive

Fort Collins Senior Center (drive-up)
1200 Raintree Drive

King Soopers at Rigden Farms
2602 Timberline Road

SUBSCRIBE TO LIBRARY E-MAILING LISTS

The Library District sends out weekly e-mail updates every Wednesday about current events and happenings for kids, teens and adults offered through the Poudre River Public Library District. If you are interested in receiving these updates please subscribe today!

ANNIE WALK CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY

"Annie" was a stray collie mix who was adopted by railroad workers in 1934. She spent her life as an unofficial ambassador to Fort Collins, greeting passengers at the train depot and bringing a bright, welcoming presence during the bleak years of the 1930's and 1940's. According to Phil Walker's Visions Along the Poudre Valley, everyone loved her. Newcomers were often amazed to see local people get off the train and run to greet the little dog before greeting their families. Today she is a cherished local legend and the bronze statue commemorating her memory will welcome visitors to the Main Library. Local artist Dawn Weimer created the 29" bronze statue which portrays a dog with a paw raised in greeting. Annie's gravesite, located on Mason Street, near the intersection of Laporte Avenue, is a historical landmark.

Each year in August the Friends of the Library celebrate Annie the Railroad Dog's birthday with the Annual Annie Walk in Library Park. The fun-filled morning starts with a 1.5 mile dog walk. Dogs and their owners will begin at Annie's statue in front of the Library, and walk to her former home at the historic railroad station on Mason Street. After the walk, Library Park hosts a dog carnival. Proceeds from the event are used to purchase children's books and materials.

Check out the book Annie, the railroad dog : "a true story" by Arlene Ahlbrandt and learn more about Annie.