Puppet Show Delights Audience

The Albany Library Puppet Festival had its first show: Aztec Pinocchio. Maldo creates a little boy with a butterfly for a heart and the show flutters to a fantastic finish with a beautiful moral about self-sacrifice and love.

The magical, colorful creatures had plenty of slapstick fun, smacking each other over the head or falling behind stage. Kids screamed and laughed so we knew it was a good show! Caterpillar Puppets‘ Joey Leon engaged the audience very nicely, inviting us to shout out Spanish words. We all left with a tiny mariposa in our hearts.

More puppet shows to follow: 2/18 - The Frog Prince (Fratello Marionettes;) 3/17 -Spin a Shadow, Tell a Tale (Daniel Barash, Shadow Puppet Workshop;) 4/14 - Mei Lin and the Magic Paintbrush (The Puppet Company;) and 5/5 - Coyote Sings(Magical Moonshine.)

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Hold Everything!

As if drawn toward an irresistible magnet, large numbers of books, CD’s and DVD’s are pulled toward the Albany Library each day. The dynamo at work is the Holds Process.

In September 2011, Albany Library handled 6240 holds. The Magnet puts a lot in motion–from the purchase of new material to retrieval from other Alameda County libraries and our partners at Link+. By sharing our collections, the Library’s entire stock is utilized more efficiently and–for Albany–the shelves stay fresh and full. The volume is so great, it takes constant shelving and organization. See the stellar work of a library volunteer below:

Self-service Holds Shelf on a quiet day

We do not want to reverse the Magnet or curb enthusiasm for the Shared Collection. However, space constraints in the branch require some creative maneuvers, Library staff members try to keep room on the shelves by sending excess copies back to other branches.

But we don’t want to send everything back. You, too, may have your sights set on a copy of Fringe! Sometimes we have to move collections around the branch or shift material to other shelves–redrawing the mental map of the library. If you are unable to find CD Books, for instance, just look to the left of the Reference Desk. This move does not downgrade CD Books, it just reflects our need to shelve more DVD’s and our desire to make CD Books more “browsable.” (Last month, AV Circulation was 18,831 or 53% of the whole.)

Holds help generate traffic to and from the library. Circulation rang in at 35,340–up 6.6 % from 2010. Dweebs will be pleased to break that down to 213 items per hour.

The Albany Library’s “Gate Count” for September was 23,993 which comes to an average of 145 per open hour. (The under-15 crowd may skew that number, as they zig-zag in and out the door with high frequency.)

The quality of one’s individual experience at the library is the most important thing. High traffic, super circ, and overflowing holds shelves may overwhelm the system at times. The reference and circulation staff are here to help at any point in the process. We are well-aware that Requesting Library Material is part of a larger Quest for meaning and satisfaction–or just a plain-old need for “something from the library.“

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The Secret Lives of Friends of the Library!

September’s display case exhibit gave us a glimpse into the secret lives of our Friends of the Library. For a couple weeks last month, it took a little “aqueous humor,” or “aquatic humor” to get through the days–after water poured into their storage rooms, but they kept at it and the results were spectacular. 

If you want to join this illustrious group, come on come on Wednesday, October 5, at 7:15 pm to the annual Membership meeting. Following a short business meeting, the “food writers,” Robin Donovan and Juliana Gallin will talk about The Lazy Gourmet and give a brief cooking demonstration! There will be door prizes and cake. (Meeting in the Edith Stone Room.)

PS. If you see the newly legible tiles on the Marin side of the Library, thank a Friend.

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Library takes a Stroll!

Library staff and Friends of the Library came together under the canopy once again for the 2011 Solano Stroll. Books were sold, games were played and prizes awarded to anyone who “took a spin” on the library wheel.

Our Mini-Mandala featured questions of great complexity like, “Can you practice your trumpet in the Library?” or “Can you read in the Library?” Kids had great fun winning the prizes though a few junior geniuses found our questions too EASY!!! (“The noive,” to quote the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.)

The Friends’ treasurer, Alan Riffer, reports that the Stroll booksale netted $815 – a record! The library gained wonderful publicity, as well. The Stroll always includes new residents and out-of-towners who don’t know about the Treasure Chest just down the street at 1247 Marin!

Caryl O’Keefe did a great job planning and preparing for the event. Thanks to everyone who did a shift in the library booth and to all the hands behind the scenes who made it happen!

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The Last Show of Summer: Tony Borders, Ventriloquist

The last show of summer! The Friends of the Albany Library brought us a wonderful line-up of special shows in 2011. Join the Friends as a volunteer or contribute your used books to the Book Sales. See our final act, Tony Borders, a ventriloquist and puppeteer. Tony used animal books from our collection to create a magical show.

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No favorites, but…

Some people are so special!  We appreciate all the business at the library–our gate count is consistently higher than it’s ever been. Though each day brings surprising encounters, some interactions are remarkable and deserve mention.

Last week, a patron was using the self-checkout machine and doing just fine, but turned to the checkout desk when an item was not scanning properly. A staff person checked the patron’s card to make sure it was up-to-date and saw that the patron was 98 years old. The two had a nice conversation about using the library. Our staff member was so happy to serve the nonagenarians in our midst. (When they let us help!!)

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Heart-less!

Teaching artist, Lisa Norman

Sigh…. We are soon to be without our hearts, because, well, they weren’t “ours” to begin with! Third graders at Marin School just up the street from the library were generous enough to lend all this feeling and color and beauty to us for a time. Isn’t life full of such times? Exhibits–like school years or summer camps or theatrical productions–don’t last forever.

Public art is great because it remakes a room and invites us to look places we may not have noticed. This display had us looking up toward the ceiling where all the light pours in. We just need to keep that upward feeling. Thanks to teaching artist, Lisa Norman, for thinking up this project and carting the hearts to us in her art-mobile! Thanks to the teachers and staff at Albany Schools for ALL the art they shared. We’re looking forward to more incredible displays on the shelves and walls of the library.

Teaching artist, Lisa Norman

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Creative Albany: Arts Day photo gallery

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Kids Read at the Library

Garfield fans!

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Mental Fitness and Memory

Hope Klein Levy, a lifelong learning specialist, took a large audience down memory lane — jogging all the way! She encouraged stimulation and relaxation to create an environment where a person feels well and thinks clearly. She also discussed memory loss and symptoms that may indicate a need for testing, treatment or care. “Mental Fitness and Memory” was one of Alameda County Library’s programs for older adults.

Mental Fitness audience

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