Berkeley resident Jean Durham returns a 74-years-overdue book at the Berkeley Public Library.

Berkeley resident Jean Durham returns a 74-years-overdue book at the Berkeley Public Library.

Photo: Courtesy: Berkeley Public Library

Berkeley resident Jean Durham returns a 74-years-overdue book at the Berkeley Public Library.

Berkeley resident Jean Durham returns a 74-years-overdue book at the Berkeley Public Library.

74-years-overdue book returned to Berkeley Library

Its never too late.

At least thats what lifelong Berkeley resident Jean Durham thought when she returned a book to the Berkeley Public Library recently after 74 years.

As first reported by Berkeleyside, Durham was cleaning out her study when she discovered a copy of Sir Walter Scotts Lady of the Lake that her mother had checked out in 1945. The due date was Sept. 10 of that year.

[It was] behind a bunch of other books in my home as I was cleaning out my study. My mother must have checked it out in early 1945, Durham told Berkeleyside. My mother did buy some books but mostly she came to the Berkeley Public Library. We were always surrounded by books.

Durham told the library she wasnt worried about getting a fine and simply wanted to get the book back to the library as soon as possible. The Berkeley Public Library eliminated fines in July 2018 for the late return of teen and adult books, DVDs, CDs and magazines.

Our circulation has increased [since we eliminated fines], said Amy Reeder, Communications for the Berkeley Public Library. People thought people wouldnt bring back books, but that absolutely hasnt happened and in fact, when theyre 74 years old they bring them back!

The book is currently at the Central branch of the Berkeley Public Library. Reeder said the book is in great shape, but shes unsure whether theyll put it back into circulation.

Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com.

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74-years-overdue book returned to Berkeley Library - SF Gate

Cilla Carpenter clutched a hardbound volume close to her chest Tuesday morning at the downtown Spokane library.

Within its pages were the names of the Agees, kin of Carpenters on her mothers side dating back to her great-grandmother.

When I found this book, it was a big deal, said Carpenter, one of about a half-dozen volunteers with the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society working to purge hundreds of books from the librarys system. I heard of this book and I said, What if the Agees are in it? And they were.

That book Turff & Twig: The French Lands, an accounting of settlements in the Richmond, Virginia, area in the 1700s is one of thousands of volumes from the genealogical societys collection slated to be phased out of the librarys inventory. Theyre shelved on the first floor of the downtown library near where volunteers meet with visitors to map out family trees.

Turff & Twig will find a place in Carpenters personal library, but nearly all the other books will be shipped to libraries in Western Washington and Salt Lake City before the end of the year.

The purge of genealogical books is being done in anticipation of a remodel of the library systems anchor branch on Main Avenue that will shutter the 25-year-old building for two years, beginning in March.

The society, which has been meeting at the downtown library since it opened in 1994, didnt receive word theyd have to get rid of books until early summer, said Dolly Webb, president of the societys board of directors.

The notification came well after voters overwhelmingly approved a $77 million bond measure in November to renovate the library system, including the complete overhaul of the Shadle and downtown branches at an anticipated cost of about $43 million.

To my recollection, nothing was mentioned about reducing the size of our collection, Webb said. That didnt come up. So it was, I think, a shock.

The ballot resolution approved by voters does not include specifics about the downtown library, only that it will undergo a modernization along with the South Hill and Indian Trail branches.

The library already has scheduled closure of its Shadle branch for renovations beginning Dec. 22, with a satellite location set to open in NorthTown Mall while crews complete an expansion expected to nearly double the size of the building.

Plans for the downtown library include a space for history research in a building that also houses the collection of the Ned M. Barnes Northwest Room, a trove of primary documents and books focused on the regions past.

The system will also eliminate some items from the collection in that room, said Amanda Donovan, director of marketing and communications for Spokane libraries.

The goal is to have genealogy and history together in the same climate-controlled space when the remodeled library opens in 2022, with a focus specifically on the Inland Northwest.

They are part of a new, focused Northwest Room experience, she said.

The genealogy volumes arent checked out like other library materials, Donovan said, which can make it tricky to judge their popularity. But the branchs closed-shelf genealogy collection, which is only accessible on request, was only accessed six times over the past two years, according to internal library data.

A 2016 plan uses public data to drive decisions for the future, and the public showed a preference for amenities other than genealogy research space, Donovan said.

An enhanced childrens area was the most requested thing, she said. It wasnt an enhanced genealogy area.

In anticipation of the closure, Eastern Washington Genealogical Society members are removing books from the shelves, crossing out bar codes and packing most of them up for transport to Salt Lake City, where theyll join the collection at the Family History Library. That facility, founded in 1894, touts itself as the largest depository of genealogical reference materials in the world and is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Another 700 books were accepted by the Langley Archive & Research Center, a historic library open by appointment on Whidbey Island.

The society reached out to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and local universities to see if they wanted to house the collection, Webb said. None expressed interest.

The society, which has in the past helped trace the lineage of African slaves sold by Georgetown University and aided reporters trying to piece together mysteries about historical artifacts, was originally concerned the books would have to be sold or disposed of, said Juanita McBride, the groups volunteer librarian. Some even joked the books would be thrown in the massive holes dug outside the library where the city is installing an underground stormwater tank.

I have been involved in the purchase of a lot of the materials here, McBride said. But Im also reasonable enough to understand that, you know, progress is progress. Whether you like it or not, theres some things that you have to learn to deal with.

Webb said when she started conducting genealogical research 15 years ago, it was mostly done with books. Clients now can access most of that same information through online databases in the comfort of their own home, which has caused attendance at workshops and other society events to dwindle.

We have found that, in our organization, people like to sit in their jammies and research, instead of getting dressed and coming down here, said Webb.

Volunteers are prioritizing local genealogical books, marking them on the shelves with handwritten signs identifying the volumes as keepers. Those books being marked for donation are volumes like the one Carpenter selected, detailing families and settlements on the East Coast and in the Midwest and New England.

The loss of those resources means local folks will likely have to access online resources to trace their own lineage west, rather than having books on hand to help that process, McBride said.

We have probate, wills, death records, cemetery records, some birth records, histories of counties, she said. You get information on migration routes when you get into the history of the counties and the states.

The genealogy societys roughly 125 members will continue to meet in the downtown library and assist visitors on Tuesdays until the branch closes for renovation. While its closed, theyll hold their business meetings at a local architectural firm that has agreed to host them, and the group plans to hold free workshops at other system branches.

Purging the books is a difficult process, but members say theyve come to terms with it as a sign of the times and with the knowledge the books would be available to others trying to piece together their family trees.

Were book people, Webb said. Libraries are books, to us.

Excerpt from:
Thousands of genealogy books being phased out at downtown Spokane library ahead of renovations - The Spokesman-Review

DOCTOR NAMED BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR: Access Health Care Physicians chief medical director, Manjusri Vennamaneni, MD, recently was recognized as Businesswoman of the Year by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented to Dr. Vennamaneni at its Banyan Ball at Armature Works in Tampa. She was chosen for the award for her accomplishments during her years practicing in Hernando County. She initiated the first Accountable Care Organization in the county, was recognized by Optimum Health Care with a 5-star rating (highest rating) as chief quality director, and helped to develop the first Third Party Administrator in Hernando County. Dr. Vennamaneni practices at the main Access office at 5350 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

DOCTOR ASQUITH JOINS ACCESS: Access Health Care Physicians welcomes Johanna Gilbreath Asquith, MD, to its medical staff. Dr. Asquith specializes in infectious diseases and practices at 14690 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Call the office at (352) 799-4206.

CHAMBER MEETINGS, EVENTS: The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will host the following:

Technology Committee presents Cyber Security Workshop, 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 29, at Pasco-Hernando State College Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court, Rao Musunuru, MD, Conference Center, Room B-105, Spring Hill.

Advancing Your Mission Nonprofit Workshop, 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 7, at the Chamber office, 15588 Aviation Loop Drive, Brooksville. This free training workshop is open to all businesses, offering tips, tools and information to impact the community and produce results. The topic is Technologies that Make Work Life Easier. There will be a tech swap opportunity. Contact the Chamber to register.

For information or to RSVP for a meeting, call the Chamber at (352) 796-0697 or visit hernandochamber.com.

RIBBON CUTTING: The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon cutting for Norvell Photography at noon Oct. 30, at the Chamber office, 15588 Aviation Loop Drive, Brooksville. Call John Constantino, (781) 664-0333.

SMALL-BUSINESS SEMINARS: Pasco Hernando SCORE is presenting a series of free small-business seminars:

How to Really Start Your Own Business, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Regency Park Branch Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey.

Developing a Nonprofit Board, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 29, Spring Hill Branch/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

E Marketing Concepts, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, SMARTstart West Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 4532 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. Also Nov. 19 at the SMARTstart East Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 15029 14th St., Dade City.

How to Apply for a Nonprofit Grant, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, at Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson.

How to Apply for a Business Loan, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20, at Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City.

Basic QuickBooks, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at SMARTstart West Pasco Entrepreneur Center, 4532 U.S. 19, New Port Richey.

To register or for more information, visit pascohernando.score.org and click on the local workshops tab, or call the SCORE office at (727) 842-4638.

Nature Coast Business Professionals: 7:30 a.m. Fridays, IHOP restaurant, 3660 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. Guests are welcome. Those attending may order from the menu. Call Dana Cutlip, (352) 293-4317.

Brooksville B2B (Business to Business) Networking, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Country Kitchen, 20133 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Free for Chamber members, $5 for non-members. To register, visit hernandochamber.com or call (352) 796-0697.

BNI Winning Edge: 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill. The cost is $10 and includes breakfast. Call Dan Brown, (262) 676-2776.

Keep It Local Spring Hill/Brooksville Chapter: 7:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Great Life Church, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Call Melanie Grossi, (352) 263-7749.

Keep It Local Hernando Business Professionals Chapter: 11:15 a.m., second, third and fourth Wednesday of each month, Beef O Bradys, 14387 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Call Lauren Jolly, (352) 610-3435.

BNI Leaders by Design: 7:15 to 9:30 a.m. Thursdays, Temple Beth David, 13158 Antelope St., Spring Hill. No cost for first-time visitors. Call Chris Dyer, (352) 849-5353.

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Businesswoman of Year and other Hernando business news - Tampa Bay Times

Charanjeet Singh Minhas is a Delaware resident and founder and CEO of TekstromInc.in Wilmington. He is also the chairman of Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition.

Everyone knows that education is important, but in some parts of the world it is difficult, if not impossible, to come by.

Not many know of two Dover-Camden area Delawareans Sanjay Kumar and Mahendra Kumar whose lifemission is to change that through a non-profit they started in 2005 aptly named Be Educated!

Like me, the two men (who are not related) were born and educated in India and are in the software industry. I met them nearly 20 years ago when we all lived in Dovers Woodmill Apartments. I contacted them recently to find out the origin of their educational mission.

More community stories from Charanjeet Singh Minhas:

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Religious dialogue: Meeting Delaware Muslims dispelled my misconceptions

I was visiting my hometown Lucknow in 2004 where I met Raj Kumar, recalled Sanjay. He came along with the vehicle I had hired for my holidays as its driver. He ranted during every single ride about how miserably middle and high school students in rural India do in exams."

Why? One day, Sanjayfinallyasked him.

Because the poor and underprivileged in villages cant afford guides (test prep and study materials), Raj said.

Mahendras inspiration was rooted in unfair favoritism and politics. Hewitnessed blatant and pervasive corruption in the schools. For example, he said, a politicians son unable to spell his own name was acclaimed over and above other students for academic excellence.

To counter this malaise, Sanjay and Mahendra evolved a simple and economical solution. They opened libraries stocked with study guides in the homes of unpaid, impassioned volunteers in the neediest villages. Each of these $800 libraries was allocated $500 for books and $300 for such necessities as a signboards, cupboards and administration.

The first one was opened in April 2005 in Raj Kumars home in Gurubhasganj. The founders were also its sponsors.

By 2007, Be Educated! had opened five libraries in India. Word quickly spread.

Charanjeet Singh Minhas is a Delaware resident and founder andCEO of Tekstrom, Inc., in Wilmington.(Photo: Submitted by Charanjeet Singh Minhas)

Someone in Nepal was very eager to start one there, Raj Kumar reported. That became the sixth library and the first outside India. That same year, another opened in Pakistan.

Today, the nonprofit has more than 80 operational libraries in the three countries. Five libraries each are named after Martin Luther King Jr. and Malala Yousafzai

How did you choose which villager's house to open the library in? I asked.

We chose those host volunteers who were poor but passionate over the affluent who wanted it as a status symbol, Mahendra said.

Added Sanjay: We do Power of One fundraisers in Dover. We solicit $1,000 sponsors (the cost has gone up) to open a library in whatever name the sponsor wants. However, the sponsor cant choose the location. This way we have libraries in Muslim Pakistan sponsored by Hindu Indians and vice-versa. Regardless of how little and humble our endeavor is, we will stay at it to turn the arch rivals into good neighbors.

The programs success fueled its expansion.

We started two more projects over the last couple of years, Mahendra said. In 2016, we started Home for Angels in Mumbai.

Straight from the villages to Mumbai? I wondered aloud.

Mahendra explained that Kashyap Sanghvi, who lives in Newark, had come from Mumbai. He told themof a couple there who were providing food, shelter, education and everything else to 18 orphans living with them in their two-bedroom apartment even though they had two children of their own.

What? was my reaction

Sanjay picked up the story.

Exactly! Many of these orphans were children of parents who had died from HIV; some were born HIV positive. This couple, Father Thomas Reji and his wife, took them in because no one else wanted them. They lay discarded on the streets. For help with their education, Kashyap approached us.

In response the two Delaware men organized a Home for Angels fundraiser in Dover.

We were clear: only a library isnt the answer in this case, Sanjay said. These kids need space, tutors, desktops, tables and chairs, and, of course, stationery.

To increase space, the program rented another apartment in the neighborhood and installed video cameras in it. First, only one tutor was hired. A second was added as the number of children gradually grew. They are 32 now, divided into three groups according to age.

The tutors help two groups with afterschool work every day, Mahendra said. The oldest group gets coaching outside, around the corner.

He acknowledges that raising money for this work is challenging. However, you are blown away by the magnanimity of the individuals and families. Our tax-exempt status helps," Sanjay said.The first fundraiser of $10,000 helped us with renting, decorating and initial goodies."

We have angels in Delaware as well, Mahendra said. He recounted how a Dover couple, after learning that there were no beds for the children, immediately wrote a check to cover the entire cost of 16 bunk beds for the 32 orphans.

These two mens latest endeavor is directed at helping Indian girls with their educations.

Future Girlz is our third project, started in 2017, Mahendra said. In this, we open libraries in towns and cities exclusively for girls. Also, in these libraries, learning is measured because we employ tutors to teach and test.

Why tutor-led libraries with a focus on girls?

One, they are the neediest, Sanjay explained. Two, they love to learn. Third, an educated girl means an educated family, a better world.

He said the first girls library opened in Rajkot in the western state of Gujarat inside an existing womens center. As with all of their projects, growth has come quickly. There are now six libraries for Girlz,including two in Nepal.

If you would like to learn more about any of these programs, contact Mahendra Kumar 302-883-1456, or visit their website: http://www.beeducated.org.

Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/10/18/meet-the-delaware-pair-building-libraries-in-their-native-india-opinion/4010638002/

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Meet the Delaware pair building libraries in their native India (opinion) - The News Journal

Janet Begley, Special to TCPALM Published 4:49 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019

An automated library vending machine, the first in Florida, will be installed in Indian River Countys Intergenerational Center early next near.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM INDIAN RIVER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM)

VERO BEACH Its bigger than an ATM, but what it dispenses could be just as valuable.

The Indian River CountyLibrary System early next year will get a "24-Hour Library," a vending machine that will dispense books and other materials.

The high-tech gadget to be installed at the county Intergenerational Center on Oslo Road in South County should be open for business in early 2020, officials said.

The librarian-less "library," which will cost $166,770, would bethe first automated library vending machine in Florida, according to Library Services Director Tracey Wehking.

More:Indian River County property values increase by 7%

While the units are relatively new in the United States, there already are thousands of them in use in China, according to manufacturer.

The library system has been looking for a way to expand services in the South County area, Wehking said.The countys Master Facilities Plan for Libraries recommended a full-service library be built in the Oslo Road area due to increased population and increased travel times to the Main Library, especially during the winter season.

But a new bricks-and-mortar could cost $8 million, plus the additional cost to staff the library, so Wehking and Assistant County Administrator Mike Zito started investigating other ways to deliver services in South County. They discovered the EnvisionWare, a Duluth, Georgia-based company whose mission is to create "innovative, self-service and efficiency solutions that enhance library services and empower patrons."

The County Commission this week OK'd purchasingthe state-of-the-art system.

The 13-by-5-foot unit is big enough to store about 340 items, just a small sliver of books and materials found in a traditional library. But unlike an ATM or even a Redbox movie-vendingmachine at the grocery store, the 24-hour library it has the ability to service six to eight patrons simultaneously by having multiple displays. It is Wi-Fi enabled to allow downloading of eBooks, and patrons can use it for their own internet like they do at full-service libraries.

The vending library is accessed through a patron's library card. Users will have their cards scanned, peruse the collection inside, pick something out and walk away with a book. Users will be able to return the item at the same location.

More: Mandatory garbage service considered in Indian River County

Officials say they believe the machine will be used extensively by residents to pick-up books they have on hold with the library system. It will also provide access to Hoopla, a web-and-mobile library-media streaming platform for audio books, comics, eBooks, movies, music and other digital material.

The machine has numerous security cameras, and will be loaded and unloaded daily by library staff.

It will take about 12-weeks to manufacture the 24-hour, handicap-accessiblevending machine.Installation and training must take place before the machine goes into service at the Intergenerational Center.

The 24-hour Library will blend seamlessly into the Intergenerational Centers aesthetic," said Wehking. This is a unique opportunity to expand service while keeping costs low.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/growth/2019/10/16/indian-river-county-have-floridas-first-automated-library-vending-machine/3995311002/

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An automated library vending machine? Indian River County will have Florida's first in 2020 - TCPalm

Clallam County commissioners will review a proposed capital budget at a meeting that will begin at 9 a.m. Monday.

The work session will be in the commissioners board room (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The discussion on the capital budget will commence in a continued work session at 1 p.m.

More than $5.2 million in capital spending is being proposed for 2020, according to an executive summary.

An additional $1.5 million in capital requests would be deferred under the current proposal.

Other agenda items for the work session include:

A contract amendment with Salish Behavioral Health Organization for criminal justice account substance use disorder treatment and treatment recovery support services.

An agreement with the state Military Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide reimbursement to the Sheriffs Office Emergency Management Unit.

A review of Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board draft historic preservation grant application guidelines, application and project ranking criteria.

A call for hearing on a conservation futures fund ordinance.

Discussion and approval of a North Olympic Healthcare Network letter of support.

A discussion on a state Committee on Geographic Names proposal to name Misty Mountains, a geographic feature near Sequim.

An introduction of Streamkeepers Coordinator Noelle Nordstrom.

A memorandum of intent with Olympic National Park for an Olympic Discovery Tail-Spruce Railroad Trail segment along Lake Crescent.

A right-of-way purchase for the Dry Creek Road reconstruction project.

A call for hearing on the proposed six-year Transportation Improvement Program.

A monthly budget performance review.

Commissioners will conduct their regular business meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Action items include:

A proclamation recognizing Oct. 20-26 as Pro Bono Law Week.

An agreement with the state Department of Veterans Affairs for the county veterans officer position.

A land purchase and temporary construction easement from Interfor US, Inc. for the Dry Creek Road reconstruction project.

An agreement with Green Solutions, LLC for the update of the comprehensive solid waste management plan, including a contamination reduction outreach plan.

A bid opening for behavioral health proposals.

Notice of a Nov. 5 public hearing on proposed changes to county policy for employee benefits.

A public hearing for consideration of amendments to county policy for Board of County Commissioners operating guidelines.

Port of Port Angeles

Port of Port Angeles commissioners will consider a settlement agreement with Shell Oil for remediation of a site on the Tumwater Truck Route when they meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Commissioners will meet at 338 W. First St.

The agreement concerns the site at 220 Tumwater Truck Route, where Shell Oil had operated a bulk fuel facility from 1928 to 1975.

The port acquired the site in 1983. Gasoline and diesel had leaked into the soil and must be cleaned up.

At a workshop before the regular meeting, commissioners will hear updates on the proposed 2020 budget, a settlement with Orion Insurance Company and a Forks Timber Museum grant.

Commissioners also will consider accepting the 2019 airport master plan update and approving an agreement with Century West.

They will consider appointing a treasurer and an auditor.

Port Angeles city

The Port Angeles City Council will review the proposed 2020 budget in a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The work session will be in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

No action on the budget will be taken, according to a city announcement.

Other agenda items for the special meeting include a collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union.

North Olympic Library System

The North Olympic Library System Board of Trustees will conduct a first public hearing on the proposed 2020 operating budget at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The meeting will be at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

Input from the public is welcomed and also can be shared by contacting Library Director Margaret Jakubcin at 360-417-8500 ext. 7714 or [emailprotected]

The agenda packet for the meeting will be available at http://www.nols.org on Monday, library officials said.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will discuss the superintendents contract and a gender inclusive policy when they meet at 6 p.m. Monday.

The board will meet at 503 N. Sequim Ave.

The gender inclusive policy says in part: the board recognizes the importance of an inclusive approach toward transgender and gender-expansive students with regard to key terms, communication and the use of names and pronouns, official student records, confidential health and education information, communication, restroom and locker room use and accessibility, sports and physical education, dress codes, and other school activities, in order to provide these students with an equal opportunity for learning and achievement.

The board also will consider policies on high school graduation requirements and equivalency credit for career and technical education courses.

It will hear reports on finance, enrollment and assessment results.

Marine Resources Committee

The Clallam County Marine Resources Committee meeting for Monday has been canceled because of a Saturday retreat, according to the MRC website.

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EYE ON CLALLAM: County budget to be reviewed - Peninsula Daily News

More than one hundred years after the end of the First World War, the stories of 12 Merritt men who soldiered in the conflict have been captured in the pages of the Royal BC Museums latest book, Once Well Beloved, which is now available.

Starting with the stories of a carpenter, a coal miner and a drifter, all of whom volunteered for the war, Michael Sasges, a retired journalist and former director of the Nicola Valley Museum, paints a detailed picture of the soldier and, through them, the men, women and children of the Nicola Valley.

Once Well Beloved is a well reported historical document about the great impact of World War I on a small Canadian community, Jeff Fleischer writes in Foreword Reviews.

The work of B.C. history and biography is a vivid snapshot Merritt, where a granite cenotaph erected in memory of 44 men who died soldiering in the First World War still stands.

Through the stories of 12 of these 44 soldiers, readers also learn about the dramatic social and historical changes that occurred in the Nicola Valley, which had been suddenly and dramatically settled just a decade before by the will of railway executives and the arrival of British colliers.

The 144-page book, illustrated with black and white photographs from libraries, archives, museums and private collections, retails for $17.95. It is available through local bookshops, at the Royal Museum Shop and online at rbcm.ca/books.

Once Well Beloved is also available in braille, thanks to the National Network for Equitable Library Services Braille Publication Project. To download the electronic braille file, go online here.

The Royal BC Museums publishing department and Sasges are celebrating the launch of the book with two events: on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Kamloops Library, downtown at Victoria Street and Fifth Avenue, and on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria.

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Merritt's First World War soldiers subject of new book - Kamloops This Week

The humble library dates back as far as 2600 BC when archives of clay tablets written in cuneiformthe earliest form of writingwere assembled in temples to preserve the knowledge they contained. As civilizations and cultures have grown, so have our librariescultural and learning centres available to everyone for the preservation of history and the betterment of mankind.

A modern ode to knowledge.

Thankfully, their significance and value has rarely been underestimated and as such the world is now blessed with some truly mighty libraries that house not only books, but every type of information storage from newspapers and magazines to music, films, maps, manuscripts and much more. As often as not, the buildings themselves are testaments to our history and majesty equally worthy of exploration and admiration, from vast ancient vaults to towering modernist masterpieces.

Which is why holiday rental search engine Holidu has curated a list of ten European classics worthy of a spot on any visitors bucket list.

Wirtschaftsuniversitt Bibliothek hard to say but beautiful to look at.

Vienna, Austria

While a university library for economics may not leap out as a holiday hotspot, this one is well worth your time. Figuratively overshadowed by Viennas beautiful and more famous Baroque national library, this modernist masterpiece is every bit as storied and extraordinary.

A short walk from the Danube on the university campus, youd be hard pressed to see how this extraordinary six-story edifice of angles, modernism, glass and curves could date back to the librarys inception in 1898. But a 2005 arson attack brought a fresh renovation from the studio of Zaha Hadid Architects. The result is a sensory experience - huge and looming on the outside thanks to its spectacular glass overhang, inside is a futuristic mass of sinuous curving walkways and plays on natural and artificial light.

Catalog: 745,797 books, 59,006 e-books, 1,014 newspapers, 18,116 e-journals, 119 databases

Opening hours: all week from 8am-8pm

With its glass roof and botanical garden, Warsaw's university library is much more than a temple to ... [+] books.

Warsaw, Poland

The Polish capitals university library was founded in 1816 but is another building that emerged from the flames - this time of the damage suffered during World War II - as a beautiful and unique architectural wonder.

Designed by architects Marek Budzyski and Zbigniew Badowski, the new library opened in December 1999 having been blessed six months previously by Pope John Paul II. Its long curving patinated copper facade on Dobra Street features huge blocks of classical texts in scripts including Old Polish and Classical Greek. Its most captivating feature has to be its rooftop botanical garden, one of the largest in Europe, designed by landscape architect Irena Bajerska. Open to everyone it covers four areas offering wonderful views over the Vistula River.

Catalog: 350,000 volumes

Opening hours: all week from 9am-9pm

A black cube on the outside, a snaking curvy white space within.

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish capitals Royal Library is affectionately referred to as the Black Diamond and it certainly commands attention, teetering harborside overlooking the Strait of resund. A neo-modern black granite cube hewn through with a vast angular glass atrium, it commands its place as one of Copenhagens most important buildings.

Internally its seven floors blend modern arena space with more traditional library reading rooms, connected by walkways and escalators like arteries keeping the building alive. Keep an eye on the events schedule too, where concerts and plays are performed to crowds of up to 600 on the terrace.

Catalog: 200,000 volumes

Opening hours: all week from 9am-7pm

The Central Library Oodi may only be a year old but is already staking its place among the world's ... [+] best.

Helsinki, Finland

A calling card for Finish architecture, the extravagant and eccentric Oodi is one of the worlds newest libraries, inaugurated at the end of 2018 and perfectly located for an easy visit near the city centre. Created by local firm ALA Architects, it was designed functionally and aesthetically as the perfect public space.

Organized into three distinct and stylized floors, the ground floor is an active space, the top floor a peaceful space and an enclosed middle floor targeted to more specific functions and services. Outside, its wave-like organic shape is clad entirely in spruce to soften and blend with its surroundings in Tl Bay and make it energy efficient.

Catalog: 100,000 books (in 17 languages), newspapers, films and video games

Opening hours: midweek 8am-10pm / weekend 10am-8pm

The heart of Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart.

Stuttgart, Germany

Standing at 40 meters tall (around 130 feet), Stuttgarts public library simple uniform white monolith towers over Mailnder Platz. Studded with glass blocks, it stands an unpretentious gray white in the day but at night comes to life, glowing an iridescent blue making it a spectacular after dark attraction.

Its Korean architect Euo Young Yi wanted its closed, plain exterior to mask another world within. Step inside and you enter a huge hallway reaching upwards 14 meters (45 feet) to an overhead window that floods the space with light. Called the heart, this huge open space is designed to offset the everyday hustle and bustle. Its embrace of everything international is symbolized by the simple inscription of the word library on each of its four walls in English, German, Korean and Arabic.

Catalog: 500,000 volumes

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm

The Neo-Gothic John Rylands library has more than a hint of the Harry Potter about it.

Manchester, UK

Described by many of its visitors as like something from Harry Potter, the extraordinary John Rylands Library in Manchester is a classic example of Neo-Gothic architecture. Founded in 1889 by Enriqueta Ryland in memory of her late husband, it took ten years to build before opening to the public in 1900.

Architect Basil Champneys design can only be described as sumptuous. His high vaulted ceiling Reading Room is a haven of calm embellished with extraordinary detail from the huge stained glass windows to a series of portraits and sculptures detailing the intellectual and artistic history of mankind. Reading alcoves are lit by oriel windows, perfect spots to peruse the extensive book catalog.

Catalog: 1.4 million items

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm / Monday to Sunday 12-5pm

The Admont Abbey library extravagant.

Admont, Austria

In the heart of Austria sits the largest monastery library in the world, sometimes described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. And not without good reason. Architect Josef Huebers 1776 concept was the Enlightenment, and his ingenious vaulted dome design complete with 48 windows was all about achieving brightness, which was equated with knowledge.

That light is made the most of in the outrageous Baroque styling. Every inch is covered, from elaborate gold leaf to spectacular frescoes showing the different stages of human knowledge up to the divine revelation detailed in the central dome. The four spectacular bronze statues in the main hall represent death, the resurrection, hell and paradise.

Catalog: 200,000 volumes

Opening hours: all week from 10am-5pm

The Kloster Wiblingen also extravagant.

Ulm, Germany

Wiblingen Abbey was once a Benedictine monastery dating back to 1093 and sits on the confluence of the Danube and Iller rivers. Today it houses several departments of the medical faculty of the University of Ulm and is home to a breathtaking library thats one of the best examples of Rococo Art anywhere in the world.

Set in the monasterys north wing, the 72-meter (236 foot) long library is richly decorated in frescoes, statues and exquisitely detailed and colorful marble columns. When youre there, make sure to visit the abbey church as well, which is every bit as breathtaking.

Catalog: 9,000

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5pm

The Biblioteca Marciana, surely one of the most satisfying structures in Italian architectural ... [+] history.'

Venice, Italy

No trip to the canal city would be complete without a visit to the Biblioteca Marciana, one of the largest and most prestigious libraries in the world. Occupying a vast site in St Marks Square since its completion in 1588 (more than 200 years after its initial proposal), it holds one of the most important collections of Greek, Latin and Oriental manuscripts in the world.

Designed by Jacopo Sansovino, its a key example of Venetian Renaissance architecture and was described by Frederick Hartt as surely one of the most satisfying structures in Italian architectural history. Once youve explored its treasures, make sure to grab a coffee in the square outside and take the time to admire it in all its glory.

Catalog: 622,804 volumes, 2,887 incunabula, 13,113 manuscripts, 24,069 sixteenth- century manuscripts

Opening hours: during the week 8:20am - 7pm / weekend 8:20am - 1:30pm

The Sainte-Genevieve houses a huge arched reading room.

Paris, France

Frances capital isnt exactly short of amazing buildings, even after the tragic fire that hit Notre Dame last year, but the beautiful Sainte-Genevive Library in the fifth arrondissement is worth making time for.

Completed in 1850 by architect Henri Labrouste, its exterior while attractive isnt really an ode to the delights within. Of particular interest is that the building doesnt conform to any one architectural style, defining it as, of free interpretation. The main facade is in the Neo-Renaissance style, fronting a long oblong reading room thats deceptively simple looking inside two vast naves supported by elaborate wrought iron columns lit from on high by a series of arched windows. Engraved on its walls are the names of its most famous authors.

Catalog: 1.5 million volumes, 85,000 manuscripts, 15,000 periodicals, 87 databases

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 2pm-6pm

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Ten Of The World's Most Beautiful Modern And Old School Libraries - Forbes

In October 2019 we received multiple inquiries from readers about the accuracy of reports claiming that a drag queen who performed at a public library in Houston, Texas, was a registered sex offender who had been convicted of sexually assaulting an eight year-old boy.

Back in March 2019, The New American website posted an article with the headline Drag Queen Who Read to Kids at Houston Library is Convicted Pedophile, which reported that A drag queen who read stories to children at a Houston public library last year is a convicted pedophile considered to be at risk of repeating his offense a fact uncovered by parents opposed to Drag Queen Storytime, not by library officials, law enforcement, or the supposed watchdog news media.

Houston television station KHOU had reported at the time that:

A registered child sex offender has been reading to children at Houston Public Library as part of its Drag Queen Storytime. A group called Mass Resistance, which has been trying to put an end to the program, contacted KHOU about the child sex offender A media spokesperson for the library confirmed one of the programs drag queens, Tatiana Mala Nina, is Alberto [sic] Garza, a 32-year-old child sex offender. In 2008, he was convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy.

It wasnt clear why the nearly seven-month-old story re-emerged on social media in early October 2019. But the revelation of Garzas sexual assault conviction has been used periodically as a rhetorical weapon by various online commentators who are opposed to Drag Queen Storytime, an initiative in which drag performers read books to children, usually in libraries.

The initiative has become popular in libraries in the United States and beyond in recent years, but its spread has also brought fierce opposition and protests, largely from Christian and/or conservative parents and activist groups.

Both KHOU and The New American were accurate in their descriptions of the basic facts of the March 2019 controversy involving Albert Garza, the 32-year-old drag queen who performs using the name Tatiana Mala Nia. (In an August 2017 interview, Garza described herself as a transgender female. On the basis of that self-identification, the most recent we found, this article will refer to her accordingly.)

Background

The following outline of the facts contains descriptions of sexual assault against a child which some readers might find disturbing.

In September 2009, a jury in the 232nd Criminal Court in Harris County, Texas, found Albert Alfonso Garza guilty of aggravated sexual assault namely that in June 2006, Garza performed oral sex on an eight-year-old boy. Under Texas law, the offense was a first-degree felony and carried a punishment of between five years and life imprisonment.

Judge Mary Lou Keel imposed a suspended 10-year sentence including five years of probation, meaning Garza avoided a prison term. Garzas probation was scheduled to end in September 2014, but for reasons that were not immediately clear at time of this publication, it was continued for an additional two years and finally ended in June 2016.

Garza appealed the conviction, arguing that prosecutors should not have been allowed to include as evidence testimony given by the boy asserting that Garza had also perpetrated two similar sexual assaults on him earlier in the summer of 2006. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Texas later summarized that testimony as follows:

Without providing any specific dates, the complainant testified that he was sexually assaulted sometime in the summer of 2006, when his family was visiting appellants family for a weekend of barbecuing and swimming. The complainant was in appellants [Garzas] bedroom when he asked appellant for permission to play a video game. Appellant consented, but only on the condition that the complainant first remove his clothes. After taking off his pants, the complainant testified that appellant performed oral sex on him for about five seconds. The complainant testified that appellant then exposed himself and asked that the complainant perform oral sex on him as well. The complainant complied for two or three seconds before ultimately feeling uncomfortable and leaving the room.

In December 2010, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals rejected Garzas appeal and upheld the trial courts judgement. As of October 2019, Garza was listed as a lifetime sex offender, with a risk level of moderate, on the Texas Sex Offender Registry.

Garza has performed as Tatiana Mala Nia (Bad Girl Tatiana) since 2012 at the latest. In September 2017, she was one of the performers in the inaugural Drag Queen Storytime program at the Freed-Montrose public library in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. She took part in the same event at the same library on at least two subsequent occasions, in June and September of 2018.

In March 2019, the pro-family activist group Mass Resistance revealed the fact that Garza had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2009. As a result of the backlash that followed, Drag Queen Storytimes organizers ended their involvement in the event, writing that What started as a fun community event shared between us, a couple of drag queens and kings, and a few families has become a national controversy. People are being threatened. People are being hurt. We believe in what were doing, but we dont believe in putting our friends, our families, or our children in danger.

Opponents of the event had begun demonstrating outside the library in 2018, and in January 2019 a right-wing radio personality was found to be carrying a concealed handgun when he was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after he refused to leave the library. Shortly afterwards, the event was moved from the Freed-Montrose public library to Kindred, a nearby church.

The events organizers stated that Garza was able to take part in Drag Queen Storytime because they only began performing background checks in October 2018, shortly after Garzas final appearance at the event. Houston Public Library does its own background checking on all volunteers, but according to KTRK-TV, Garza slipped through the cracks because she gave her name as Nicky Salazar and did not provide a date of birth or Social Security number. On March 15, 2019, Houston Public Library (HPL) apologized for the oversight in a press release:

We were made aware today that one participant for Drag Queen storytime who read at the September 29, 2018, Drag Queen Storytime has a criminal background that should have prevented him from participating in the program. We assure you that this participant will not be involved in any future HPL programs.

In our review of our process and of this participant, we discovered that we failed to complete a background check as required by our own guidelines. We deeply regret this oversight and the concern this may cause our customers. We realize this is a serious matter.

Every program sponsored by HPL is supervised by HPL staff, and all children are accompanied by a parent and/or guardian. No participant is ever alone with children, and we have not received any complaints about any inappropriate behavior by participants at storytimes.

We are taking the appropriate action to ensure that the status of every participant in every program throughout our system is verified. We will continue to review our process to ensure that this cannot happen again.

Once again, we apologize for our failure to adhere to our own process in this matter and to the hundreds of parents and caregivers who have enjoyed this program with their children.

More here:
Did a Convicted Sex Offender Read to Children at a Houston Public Library? - Snopes.com

The purpose of the Salem Public Library is to serve and meet the needs of the community. For more than 20 years, the library has had a program called Books on the Run. In this program, the library works with enrichment services to deliver books to Salem citizens who are homebound due to health problems or age. Library staff puts together a collection of books that suit ones desires, and then enrichment services delivers them. Within city limits, readers can receive deliveries once every two weeks. If interested, stop in the library to pick up an application.

Other events

October is Teentober at the library. To celebrate, the library is holding a teen photography contest. In the past, the contest has had good participation from teens and good responses from the community. Over the summer, the contest had over 40 entries. Teens can enter their photos beginning Oct. 1. The deadline is Oct. 18. Winning photos will be printed in The Salem News.

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 9, the library will celebrate the premier of the new Disney movie, Frozen 2, with an Olaf Frozen Fun Party. Kids in kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome to enjoy stories, games, crafts and snacks. The event will be held in the north basement.

Book Talk is the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. If that isnt the time for you, join the Thursday Night Book Club. They gather on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the north basement.

The Dent County Astronomers are coming 6-7 p.m. Dec. 5. They will be set up in the library parking lot and north basement to observe the moon and many of its features. Come check out the sky with the telescopes. The astronomers are great with people of all ages and backgrounds, so bring the whole family.

There is something fun to do at the library every day. Puzzles and coloring sheets are laid out each day for something relaxing to do. On a rainy or snowy day, you can visit the library to get involved in the Rainy STEM Fun. During this time, toys that get to kids to think like engineers are available to play with all day, including building blocks, legos, and more.

Salem Public Library is located at 403 N. Jackson in Salem. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, they open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.; Saturdays you can visit from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 729-4331.

The rest is here:
Upcoming fall events at the library - The Salem News