Kirsten Piroth Art Exhibit

 

An exhibit of Joseph Cornell-style boxes created by Albany resident Kirsten Piroth is currently on view in the Albany Library display cases.  The exhibit will run through the end of May.

“Individuality” - the first box Piroth ever made - is included in the exhibit.

Enjoy the Heat While it Lasts!

It was downright balmy in Albany today, and the forecast says the weekend will be summery too.  What a great excuse to put off the spring cleaning (again) and get outdoors! The library can help you find a great destination, whether you’re looking for a lake to swim in, a campground to book, or a getaway to someplace beyond the heat wave.

For local recreation ideas, I recommend any books by Tom Stienstra or Ann Marie Brown.  Or browse through our past issues of Sunset for getaway suggestions or recipes for delicious outdoor dining.  Or–if you hate the heat–come to the library anyway: We’ve got air conditioning!

Free2 at the Library

This column appeared in the Journal on April 25, 2008. Past columns can be read at juliewinkelstein.com
“Indeed, the question is not whether libraries are relevant today. But whether they can keep pace with the increased demand for their services and materials. With your help, they can.” From WeAreFree2.org

Several weeks ago I attended a presentation on the about-to-be-unveiled Bay Area Library and Information System (BALIS), Silicon Valley Library System and Peninsula Library System marketing campaign for public libraries. Representatives from libraries around the Bay Area met together to hear from marketing specialists on such ideas as branding, key messages, logos, elevator pitches and color combinations. During the presentation, we were shown familiar and not-so-familiar logos and asked to identify them and the accompanying slogan. It was fascinating to see how many we could identify and recite. The one I remembered was the slogan for Apple, “Think different” – because I always wonder whether or not it’s ungrammatical.

Older Adults, it’s Your Library Too!

Did you know May is Older Americans Month? This year’s theme is Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities. At the Albany Library, we strive to do this for our older patrons year-round.  We host many programs of interest to older adults, including a brown bag discussion group, poetry workshops, book discussions, Internet classes and tutoring, and other special events throughout the year. Bring your grandchildren to our storytimes, sing-alongs, and summer events.  Whether you are a Baby Boomer or beyond, we welcome you at the library!

FREE2Vote

It’s Easy Being Green

Check out the new collection of green books at the Library. City of Albany Sustainability Committee member Miya Kitahara and Reference Librarian Richard Russo selected titles on environmental topics which were then purchased using funds from the Friends of the Albany Library. Books on display now include: Plan B 3.0 by Lester R. Brown and How Green is Your City by Warren Karlenzig. For more information, go to the website at www.greenalbany.org

Checking out a book or DVD or CD from the Library is always a good recycling idea!

 

Listening to Audiobooks

This column appeared in the Journal on March 28, 2008. Past columns can be read at juliewinkelstein.com

“‘You don’t mind my asking, but what color was this balloon when it was a balloon?

‘Red.’

‘I just wondered. Red, my favorite color.’”

From A.A. Milne’s “Eeyore Has a Birthday”

 

An extended listserv conversation about the narrators of audio books caught my eye recently. For many years I commuted to Fremont from Albany and books on tape made a huge difference in my irritation level as I encountered the usual slow or even stopped traffic on the freeway. Listening to a gripping story, read by an accomplished narrator, can make a trip that seems interminable into a trip that is over too soon. My co-workers and I had numerous conversations about our preferred readers and we were faithful to them – frequently listening to a book simply because of the narrator.

A Week Without TV

I talked my family into participating in TV Turnoff Week. (Only two more nights to go, Honey!) We found it fairly easy to do, given that TV viewing is a daily habit for some family members. How did we manage to fill the time? Reading was a big pasttime, we joined in the game board night at this very library, and we even ventured out on a sunset sailboat ride one night. (Check out OCSC if you’re interested.) Last night we tried out the new restaurant in the 4th Street area, Cafe M: Two thumbs up! I may have to give up my Desperate Housewives tomorrow night, but it’s been well worth it to enjoy an unplugged life for a change of pace.

Customer Service in Public Libraries

This column appeared in the Journal on March 21, 2008. Past columns can be read at juliewinkelstein.com

“Customer service workshops can range from the perennially popular dealing with difficult patrons to conducting effective reference interviews.” From Rachel Singer Gordon’s “The Accidental Library Manager”    

 

Being a public librarian is about public service. Those of us who work directly with the public spend a great deal of our time interacting with people. We answer questions (can you help me download a photograph from my email?); we give opinions (could you recommend a book for my ill wife who loves to read?) and we help locate things (this book is supposed to be on the shelf, but I can’t find it).

Turn Off, Tune In, Turn On

Starting tomorrow, the Albany Library joins people across the country in celebrating Turnoff Week. One week a year, families are encouraged to leave the TV off, step away from the computer, put away the Blackberry, and turn our attention to the unplugged world. We’ll be offering a family game night on Tuesday, April 22, to help Albany families enjoy the technology-free week. Children and teens can enter contests in which they write an essay or draw a picture to illustrate this year’s theme, “Power Down, Dream Big.” Will your family be participating? Why or why not?