In the coming months, library patrons will likely experience extended wait times for new e-books. Readers can thank Macmillan Publishersa Big Five publishing house with imprints including Picador, Henry Holt and Farrar, Straus, and Girouxfor the delay: As of November 1, the company only allows library systems to purchase one electronic copy of a book during the first eight weeks following publication.

The publishers new policy has generated widespread outrage among librarians and book lovers alike. Macmillan, however, argues that the moratorium is necessary to ensure the publishing industrys survival in lieu of digital lendings increasing popularity.

CEO John Sargent announced the change in a July memo sent to Macmillan authors, illustrators and agents. According to the note, loaned library copies make up 45 percent (and counting) of the companys total e-book reads across the United States.

It seems that given a choice between a purchase of an [e-book] for $12.99 or a frictionless lend for free, wrote Sargent, the American [e-book] reader is starting to lean heavily toward free.

Sargent tells NPRs Lynn Neary that the publishing industry operates similarly to the movie business. Films generate the biggest box-office returns during their opening weekend, while most book sales take place in the first few weeks after publication.

In the past, library loans had less of an impact on publishers sales due to friction, or complications, associated with borrowing books: Patrons had to visit the library in person, return loans on time and pay pesky late fees.

E-books have simplified the borrowing process significantly. As Sargent explained in an October 29 letter to concerned librarians, In todays digital world there is no such friction in the market. As the development of apps and extensions continues, and as libraries extend their reach statewide as well as nationally, it is becoming ever easier to borrow rather than buy.

The Macmillan executive added, This causes a problem across the publishing ecosystem (authors, illustrators, agents, publishers, libraries, retailers, and readers). We are trying to find a solution.

On October 30, a group of library advocates associated with the American Library Association (ALA) stopped by Macmillans offices to deliver a petition urging the publisher not to move forward with the embargo. Organizers collected some 160,000 signatures, but as they note on the online petition portal, Sargent did not listen.

According to ALA testimony presented in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary last month, e-book publishers engage in a host of anti-competitive conduct practices. Amazon Publishing, for example, refuses to sell digital titles to libraries, meaning readers have to purchase from Amazon directly. And when publishers do sell copies of e-books to libraries, the prices are often inflated. (Anthony Doerrs All the Light We Cannot See, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, costs consumers $12.99, but a library purchasing a two-year license for a single electronic copy pays $51.99.)

In an essay written for the San Francisco Chronicle, City Librarian Michael Lambert says the embargo impacts libraries central mission of ensuring access to information and content for all. He adds that the policy places individuals with visual impairments at a disadvantage, as these readers rely on easily formatted e-books to keep up with the latest titles. Large-print paper copies of new books often take months to come out. People with dyslexia and other learning disorders also rely on e-books to make reading easier.

Macmillans policy is poised to disproportionately impact larger library systems. A small rural library may be able to manage with just one copy of an e-book, but cities or counties with hundreds of thousands of patrons will have to place would-be borrowers on lengthy waiting lists.

Former ALA president Sari Feldman tells NPRs Neary she doesnt think the policy will increase retail or digital sales for Macmillan, as many people who borrow e-books have a limited income and will simply opt to read more accessible options. Given the fact that libraries purchase a significant number of e-books, the publishing house could also lose digital sales during the key weeks immediately post-publication.

Moving forward, Feldman says, the ALA may pursue legislative action against the restrictions.

In his open letter, Sargent said the decision is designed to help authors, booksellers and other players in the publishing world.

We are not trying to hurt libraries; we are trying to balance the needs of the system in a new and complex world, he wrote. We believe windowing for eight weeks is the best way to do that. I am the first to admit we may be wrong. But we need to try to address this issue.

See the article here:
Why New Restrictions on Library E-Book Access Are Generating Controversy - Smithsonian.com

The David O. McKay Library has more than books that tell stories. It also holds the stories of the people who work there, including Ina Rodinos.

Rodino, BYU-Idahos online learning librarian, works with the online curriculum designers and makes sure online students have access to the resources they need. This includes being constantly available for students who are looking for online research help.

My hours are more open than most librarian hours, so I can meet with students when they have time, Rodino said. We have chat thats available 24/6 so that students can always get help when they need it.

Rodino admitted that communicating with students online can be challenging, but that its her favorite part of her job.

I wish more students would ask to talk to a librarian because that is the best part of our day, she said. I think any librarian would say that because thats what we enjoy. We want students to come talk to us so we can help them. Thats why were here.

Rodino knows students often use things like YouTube and Google to find answers for their research questions but said the library has many free resources someone searching on Google would have to pay for.

If you break your arm, youre not going to go YouTube how to fix it, Rodino said. Youre going to go to a professional whos been trained on that, and thats what librarians are. Were information professionals.

Rodino started her library career while a student at BYU. Her friend who worked at the campus library saw her resume on the student board and offered her a job.

Her first job as a shelver involved carrying thick, heavy periodicals from the fourth floor of the library down to the basement.

My arms were pretty sore after a few days, she said. But it was a good experience and I loved shelving with the people that I worked with.

After graduating and serving a mission, Rodino returned and found work at the Madison Library District in Rexburg. She decided she needed a full-time job, so later applied to BYU-I.

While working as a Library Assistant at the McKay Library, she earned a masters degree in library science online from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

At the public library, I worked with the public for several hours a day and had a lot of good interactions there, she said. Then, when I came here I wasnt working with the public as much. I was behind the scenes, and that took a little bit of an adjustment.

Rodino laughed at the suggestion that anyone could consider her job dull, and went on to debunk other misconceptions about librarians.

Ive always loved libraries and reading, which is what you think of when you look at a librarian, but I dont get to read books as a librarian, Rodino said. Thats not what we do.

She also said library work is expanding to include different fields.

You have a lot of librarians now who are working with marketing, public outreach, graphic design and different degrees that you wouldnt think would help you get a job in a library, she said. Computer science and web design skills are in high demand in libraries, as well.

Rodino and her husband are both book lovers and have their own extensive library at home.

We even have some in boxes because weve run out of shelf space, she said with a laugh. Our food storage closet is filled with books, not food storage.

Students looking for research help can find Rodino and the other librarians in their offices in the David O. McKay Library or through the online library.

See the article here:
Meet the online librarian - BYU-I Scroll

Public libraries are providing more copies of e-books, or digital books, to users than ever before, but a policy change from one of the largest publishing companies in the United States is disrupting how New Orleanians and others across the country access new titles online.

Macmillan Publishers announced that beginning Nov. 1, library systems are only allowed to purchase one copy of new Macmillan e-books during the first eight weeks of publication.(The embargo only applies to Macmillan online text editions, not audiobooks accessed online.)

A wave of library systems nationwide have pushed back against the policy, arguing that it impedes access to new material for library users and will lead to long wait lists for new popular titles.

The New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) has joined several major public library systems in boycotting purchasing new e-book releases from Macmillan, hoping to put pressure on the company to do away with the policy. The NOPL system spends tens of thousands of dollars on e-books a year at rates around two to three times what an individual would pay for an e-book, Styons said.

We really just felt kind of just stymied, said Jessica Styons, the acting director of NOPL. So, rather than just wait for other publishers to decide, Oh, maybe this is working, we should do this,' we want to send a message: We are consumers. We are a big part of your business.

Under the new policy, the first copy would cost libraries half of what it does now (around $30 as compared to $60), and the library system would have access to it forever, but only one person would be able to rent the copy at a time.

New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) scofflaws, some good news in the New Year: Your checked-out book, CD or DVD will be auto-renewed on its due

That means that all 15 of the public libraries in New Orleans would share a sole e-book during the first two months after its released. In states where libraries purchase all their e-books together, that could mean only a single copy would be allowed for the whole state at first.

After eight weeks, libraries will no longer have the option to pay for that perpetual copy but may lease copies at full price, meaning the library wont have access to the copy after it is lent 52 times or after two years, whichever comes first.

Libraries in the NOPL system will still continue to purchase new audiobooks and print materials from Macmillan, as well as titles released before the embargo.

Macmillan CEO John Sargent said in a letter to librarians on Oct. 30 that the company was not trying to negatively impact libraries but was attempting to find a way to address the effect of the tremendous growth in e-book lending on the publishing industry as a whole. He argued that traditionally borrowing books from a library took more effort and that having to drive back and forth from the library and pay late fines made some people prefer to buy from stores rather than rent from libraries. But e-books have removed those hindrances.

It is becoming ever easier to borrow rather than buy, Sargent wrote. We are not trying to hurt libraries; we are trying to balance the needs of the system in a new and complex world. We believe windowing for eight weeks is the best way to do that. I am the first to admit we may be wrong. But we need to try to address this issue. We look forward to talking with many of you in the weeks and months ahead as we all begin to understand the effects of our new policy.

Margaret Wilkerson Sextons second book about multiple generations of a New Orleans family hits stores Nov. 5

In the letter, Sargent also said the company has had a policy where it will offer e-books at free or reduced prices if a library can provide a means test. Its program Open eBooks gives free titles for children from low-income communities without checkouts or holds, according to its website.

But Styons noted that, by many metrics, book sales are on the rise although authors continue to earn less. She also added that the library is able to accommodate more readers through e-books, and that the policy will hinder access for these readers. For example, the ability to change font sizes helps readers who have difficulties with vision or those with learning disabilities, and the ability to rent digitally helps those who may not have access to transportation.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell has also signed a statement by the Urban Libraries Council calling for "equitable access to e-books" and calling out publishing companies for embargoes like Macmillan's and for charging libraries "unreasonably high prices" for digital books.

This is about equity, access and intellectual freedom, Styons said, and we want to make sure that New Orleans citizens are able to get those things.

See the original post here:
This battle between libraries and a top publisher will impact how New Orleanians rent e-books - The Advocate

Libraries are generally kid-friendly zones, but leaving young children unattended is considered inappropriate.

Author and former Brooklyn Public Library artist-in-residence Christine Sloan Stoddard told Insider that the library staff doesn't appreciate when guardians allow their kids to run amok through the shelves.

"Librarians and other staff are not babysitters. If left to play and wander, little ones may disturb other patrons and cause damage to library property," said Stoddard.

In general, kids should always be supervised in a library, even when they're hanging out in sections that are designed for them.

You should avoid visiting the library when you're sick.

Shannon Serpette, former library clerk and board member at the Henry Public Library in Illinois, told Insider that a sniffling and sneezing patron is a librarian's worst nightmare.

"One thing I really hated to see was people walking into the library who were super sick. Yes, I know it's nice to have something to read when you're feeling ill but if you have a fever and you're shivering and coughing, please do everyone a favor and stay at home," said Serpette.

By wandering around the library and handling library materials while sick, you're potentially spreading your illness to other patrons and library staff. There's also the possibility that your coughing and sneezing might be disruptive to other readers.

Save yourself the trouble of a trip to the library and download an e-book or audiobook from your library's online catalog instead.

Don't randomly re-shelve books, even if you're trying to be helpful.

Even though it seems polite to place books on shelves instead of leaving them lying around, you could be causing a headache for staff members.

"You might think you're being helpful by returning your book to the shelf, but it's only helpful if you actually put it back where it belongs," said Stoddard.

Stoddard explained that libraries rely on a precise cataloging system to allow patrons and staff to locate a single book out of the thousands on the shelves, so if a book is improperly placed, it can be nearly impossible to find it again.

If you aren't completely certain you're returning a book to its correct home, simply place it on a dedicated re-shelving cart, pass it to a library staff member, or just leave it on a library table.

The staff is there to help you, but that obligation begins and ends with the times posted on the library door.

Just as you wouldn't appreciate being forced to extend your workday for the sake of one customer, don't expect library staff to work around your schedule.

"People sometimes enter the library a minute before closing and act like it's okay to spend 20 minutes looking at books on the shelves, or knock on the door before the library is scheduled to open," said Serpette.

Don't use the library computers to browse inappropriate sites.

When using library computers or a library WiFi connection, you'll want to keep your internet browsing rated G and avoid NSFW websites.

"A huge no-no is using the library computers to look up inappropriate adult websites. That should go without saying, but there are patrons at the library who actually do this. It's horribly uncomfortable for the staff," Serpette said.

You may also avoid browsing sites that prominently feature violence or explicit language since it's easy to forget to close a tab and inadvertently expose a younger or more sensitive patron to explicit material.

It's not appropriate to take care of personal grooming at the library.

Stoddard told Insider that it's not appropriate to groom yourself at the library and even if they don't say anything, fellow patrons and staff members notice.

"Do not clip your fingernails at library desks and tables, and do not apply makeup. Unless it's a quick swipe of lip balm, you may get whatever you're applying on a book, electronic, the table, or the floor," she said.

You should also avoid using toothpicks or brushing your hair in the library, as these activities may leave food or strands on books, floors, keyboards, or other surfaces.

Don't stick around library events just to indulge in the free food.

There's nothing wrong with grabbing a few snacks during catered library events like art receptions and author readings, but it's considered poor form to take so much food that there is none left for anyone else.

That said, if you are a patron who is experiencing food insecurity, Stoddard said you may want to just speak to library staff, who are often willing to share extra food with you.

"If you're just in it for the food because you're truly hungry, stick around until the very end of the reception and there may be leftovers. Staff will often invite patrons to take leftovers with them because they don't want to waste food," she told Insider. "If they don't, just ask politely and discreetly if you can take food with you."

Don't allow your phone to beep or vibrate loudly put it on silent.

Taking a phone call in the middle of the reading room is frowned upon, but you shouldalso be aware that the intermittent chirps of incoming text messages can be just as obnoxious as a loud conversation or ring tone so switching your cell phone to silent is a must.

In addition, ensure that any vibrations coming from your phone are felt and not heard by stashing it inside of a bag or on top of your coat, not on a hard surface.

Read more:
The 9 things you should never do in a library, according to former employees - Business Insider

SundayNov10,2019at4:36PM

RYE Handwriting formations are as distinctly different as fingerprints and reveal certain characteristics and basic personality traits of the writer. Discover what your handwriting reveals by attending the Friends of the Rye Library Speaker Series program on graphology, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

Graphology is the "scientific method of analyzing the formation in one's handwriting." It is used in a variety of ways, from employee recruitment to historical profiling and forensic analysis. Amelia McKenney, a certified graphologist, will explain the science and psychology of graphology and walk participants through steps allowing them to do a basic analysis of their own handwriting.

McKenney is certified through the International Graphology Society, the American Handwriting Analysis Society and owned and operated the company Graphic Insight, which performed handwriting analysis to assist employers and human resource departments.

The event is free and open to the public. For information, call Gwen Putnam-Bailey at (603) 964 8401.

See more here:
Rye library event: What does your handwriting say about you? - Seacoastonline.com

The purpose of the Library of Congresss Veterans History Project is to get every veterans story from the humorous and the heroic to the harrowing.

For years, the Library has collected the stories of the men and women who served from World War I to the nations most recent conflicts. Its personal for project director Karen Lloyd.

Not only is she the child and spouse of a veteran, shes a veteran herself.

I would suspect that you have veterans in your communities and you have no idea of their service, she said. And that's why it's so important that we seek them out and then listen really listen so that they'll tell you their story. And you'd be amazed what you hear from them and, and sometimes it just gives you goosebumps and sometimes you just laugh out loud.

After she accepted the job in 2016, she sat down and shared her story with the project. She wasnt prepared and thought it would only take a few minutes. She spoke and recalled her experiences for more than two hours.

The project is dependent on volunteers who go out and record veterans stories and share them with the library. This past year alone, Lloyd said the Library of Congress received 3,400 veterans accounts of their experiences. Approximately 3,200 came from volunteers.

One volunteer made it his purpose to go to every state and collect a story from Gold Star families to make sure that their loved ones stories werent lost. Lloyd said the project is also trying to focus on Gold Star families, as well as the perspective of the spouse, child or parent of a veteran.

She sees Colorado as a target rich environment, with an estimated 400,000 veterans here. The project only has about 2,300 interviews from the Centennial State.

Link:
The Library Of Congress Wants To Hear Every Veteran's Story. That Includes Those In Colorado - Colorado Public Radio

By next year, the Duane G. Meyer library website will be totally transformed and upgraded. Dean of Library Services Thomas Peters recently announced the library is migrating from online service MOBIUS Consortium to four new computer systems.

The MOBIUS Consortium is an online program that links libraries throughout the Midwest and allows them to share resources. Though it was started in Missouri, it now stretches into Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas and Texas.

Peters said the migration was brought on by the software MOBIUS requires. Missouri State University has used the online catalog for 17 years, and the current version of the software used at MSU is not the one used by MOBIUS.

Peters said students have used MOBIUS less and less in recent years, and costs to maintain the service have increased. The migration will use less money in the long run and give the university more control over providing information to those who need it.

Our out of pocket expenses will go down and we will have more control over the systems, Peters said. One of the challenges is that we dont have all the information people need, so we need to rely on other libraries. MOBIUS was excellent for that, so we are working on other agreements so that our students, faculty and staff can get the stuff they need to do their work.

The main system MSU will use is a new online catalog named FOLIO. Peters said it is an open-source software developed by many major universities, such as Yale and the University of Chicago.

MSU is one of the first universities in the world to implement FOLIO, calling the project to install the software FIRST FOLIO at Missouri State.

The second service will be the EBSCO Discovery Service, a search engine that allows users to access and print online content quickly and easily.

The third will be OpenAthens, which helps users sign-on and manage both their identity and access to resources. It will also replace a proxy server used by the library to gather online resources and improve network performance.

Finally, E-Resource Management is a software that aims to manage, assess and improve the retrieval of online content and services. This will also help control costs to the library.

The new services are planned to be implemented by summer 2020. The library website already has updates on the project under the FIRST FOLIO tab on the homepage.

Original post:
Library leaves the MOBIUS program | News - Standard Online

Nov 06, 2019 Kate Hill Achievers, Cazenovia Republican, Library News, News

On Oct. 10, New Woodstock Free Library Director Norm Parry received the prestigious Central New York Library Resources Council (CLRC) Library of the Year award at the CLRCs annual conference and membership meeting. (Submitted)

Staff Writer

This fall, The New Woodstock Free Library was named the winner of the prestigious Central New York Library Resources Council (CLRC) Library of the Year award.

The CLRC is one of nine New York State library councils dedicated to helping libraries, museums and archives with resource sharing, professional development and more.

According to the CLRC, the distinction of Library of the Year is awarded [annually] to the library that exemplifies excellence across a variety of markers.

The award category is open to any academic, public, school, or special libraryin Herkimer, Oneida, Onondaga and Madison County.

Nominations for both the Library of the Year award and the Library Staff All-Star award are solicited each year from library patrons and staff. A panel of judges, who work and reside outside of the CLRC service area, selects the winners.

The 2019 award-winners were honored at CLRCs annual conference and membership meeting on Oct. 10 at the Rome MVCC campus.

We are delighted to receive this honor on behalf of our library community of volunteers, staff, trustees and supporters who provide outstanding service to the public every day, said New Woodstock Free Library Director Norm Parry. A quarter century ago the library adopted the slogan The Growing Place. Since then we have expanded our library facility, kept our technology up to date and provided personalized service to our patrons.This acknowledgement of our library is [a] strong endorsement of our efforts to provide a library where everyone can grow and fulfill their dreams.

For more than 75 years, the library has enriched the community through its exhibits, events and programming.

New Woodstock is a full service, customer-focused modern library serving a diverse rural demographic, so that residents dont have to give up big city culture for the charm of country life, Parry said in a press release.

The library has curated nearly 200 distinct exhibits, including shows by the Cazenovia Watercolor Society, agriculture themed displays, annual student art shows, and programs addressing social and public information topics.

This past year, the library received a $35,000 grant to replace its ceilings. It also continued its virtual gallery art digitization project involving works by local artists; presented seven major art and information exhibits; and supported an English as a second language tutoring program.

Recently, the library partnered with the neighboring town of Georgetown to launch an initiative aimed at delivering library resources to underserved and un-served rural populations.

The project enables Georgetown residents to borrow books from their town hall, and to access the internet on a dedicated computer inside the building.

Recognizing that many rural communities in New York State are un-served or underserved by a public library, New Woodstock undertook a demonstration project to see if partnerships between towns and libraries could provide more convenient, closer to home library services and help close the digital divide between rural and non-rural communities, Parry said.

This unique partnership was particularly impressive to the CLRC judges, who, according to a press release, view the initiative as a model for improving rural access to libraries across the state.

The project was funded by a literacy grant from the Mid York Library System.

Parry anticipates that the CLRC award will facilitate the librarys efforts to secure additional grants in the future.

Certainly this honor will reflect favorably on thelibrarys ability to deliver on our partnerships with other agencies and support our fundamental mission of being good stewards of the public interest, with sustainable funding initiatives and grant program opportunities, he said. Granting agencies want to be sure the organizations they support are ready and able to carry out innovative activities and maintain the organizations infrastructure. This award will provide additional evidence that we are potentially strong candidates for the kind of assistance that benefits the whole community.

The New Woodstock Free Library is located at 2106 Main St. (Route 13), New Woodstock. To learn more, call 315-662-3134 or visit newwoodstocklibrary.org.

For more information on the CLRC Library Awards nomination process, visitclrc.org/awards/.

Read the original post:
New Woodstock named Library of the Year - Eagle News Online

CLEVELAND, Nov. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Public library patrons can join millions of readers worldwide in a riveting tale of survival during Big Library Read, the world's largest digital book club. From November 418, booklovers can borrow Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones' powerful debut novel, I'm Not Dying With You Tonight, from their public library as an ebook or audiobook with no waitlists or holds. Readers may join by visiting their local public library's website or downloading the Libby app, borrowing with a valid library card and discussing online at https://discuss.biglibraryread.com/. Hundreds of schools around the world are also participating students can read the digital book through their school's website or Sora classroom reading app.

Big Library Read is available in over 22,000 libraries and schools worldwide, including over 90 percent of public libraries in North America. The program, which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year, is facilitated by Rakuten OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for popular ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. I'm Not Dying with You Tonight was chosen as the 20th selection of Big Library Read by a popular vote of readers, librarians, teachers and students worldwide.

"Libraries played an important role in both of our lives," said authors Segal and Jones. "To us, the library represented the opportunity both to lose ourselves in new stories and to check out and revisit a beloved book a million times. For that reason, we are thrilled that I'm Not Dying With You Tonight has been selected for the Big Library Read."

I'm Not Dying with You Tonightfollows two girls with two very different backgrounds who must rely on each other to get through the violent race riot that has enveloped their city. When both girls attend the Friday night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. They aren't friends and hardly understand the other's point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they're going to survive the night.

I'm Not Dying with You Tonightwas published by Sourcebooks and can be read on all major computers and devices without waitlists or holds through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone, iPad, Android and Chromebook as well as "send to Kindle" in Libby [US libraries only]. For students of participating schools, Sora is available through the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and on Chromebooks supporting the Google Play Store as well as via web browsers at https://soraapp.com. With both apps, the title automatically expires at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.

To join the discussion, learn about past Big Library Read titles and download Libby, visit biglibraryread.com.

About Rakuten OverDrive OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Named one of PCMag's Best Free Software of 2019 and one of TIME's Best Apps of 2018, the award-winning Libby is the "one-tap reading app" for libraries. We are dedicated to "a world enlightened by reading" by delivering the industry's largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 43,000 libraries and schools in 76 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. http://www.overdrive.com

Contact:David BurleighDirector of Brand & Communicationsdburleigh@overdrive.com

Link:
Libraries and Schools Worldwide Join Largest Global Digital Book Club with Compelling Tale of Survival - News-Herald.com

A new free little library in Okotoks is sticking out in the community.

Jakki Smolcic and her family builta library modeled after the old-fashioned English red telephone boxes.

While the Smolcic's have been enjoying the product of their labour, it was a ton of work putting the library together.

"It was a huge undertaking. The specifications, and how to get it all together took tons of work," Smolcic said. "It has so much paint on it. Sherwin-Williams kept stocking this safety red paint for us because coat after coat after coat we had to keep painting."

The little free libraries have been popping up around the Foothills for a while, and Smolcic was excited as soon as she saw the idea.

"I love reading, and I love books. As soon as I heard the idea of these little libraries and people being able to share, take a book or donate a book, I thought it was just a fabulous idea," she said. "I was very excited to get one of my own, and be able to go out to the salvage centre and go through and pick out a whole bunch of books that I've readthat I want to share with other people."

The goal was to have the phone box library ready in time for Enchanted Okotoks in early November. Once people saw it it began making the rounds on social media, and prompted a huge discussion and appreciation among community-members.

"I've talked to a few people who were checking out the library, and they visit and talk, and chat about how we've been in town, things like that. It's nice, you get a little bit more of a conversation with people," Smolcic said.

"People will drive by, and slow down and look at it, and if they see us out in the yard they'll chat and ask us questions."

The library can be found on Poplar Avenue.

Questions, comments, and news tips can be sent to [emailprotected]

See original here:
New Little Library Big Hit In The Community - HighRiverOnline.com