East Central Regional Library

News Bits Archives, April-June 2008

• Project Coordinators Needed -- ECRL is looking for 2 project coordinators to lead innovative grant-funded projects. 1-year part-time positions. See our jobs page 02 July 2008
  

• New Branch Librarian at Chisago Lakes Area Library --
  

  East Central Regional Library welcomes Carla Lydon as the new Chisago Lakes Branch Librarian.  Carla received her Masters of Library and Information Science Degree from the University of South Carolina, where her emphasis was in public library youth services. She has worked in several public libraries and most recently was a media specialist in North Charleston SC.  27 June 2008

• Summer Bookmobile -- the Summer Bookmobile schedule is available on the ECRL website for June through August. 05 June 2008
  

• New ECRL Systems Administrator --
  

  East Central Regional Library welcomes our new Systems Administrator, Andy Nordin. Andy was formerly the Technology Manager at Clinton-Macomb Library in Michigan and is experienced with all facets of library technologies. He is responsible for the library automation system, Internet service, and networking for the 14 ECRL branch libraries.    05 June 2008

• Look What’s Cookin’ at Your ECRL this summer! -- Things will really be cookin’ this summer at each of the East Central Regional Library branches.  So, kids, get in the mix and sign up for the 2008 Look What’s Cookin’ at Your Library summer reading program.  Summer is fun and relaxing for students, however, research has shown that students often suffer from a loss of the reading skills they worked so hard to gain during the school year.  The library summer reading program is just the solution to that problem….and it’s fun!
  
  To kick-off the summer reading program, Magician Matt Dunn, will be visiting all 14 branches of the East Central Regional Library system.  Make sure to check the schedule below for the date and time of the program nearest you.  Some require tickets and the program may not be at the library, so be sure to call ahead.  The program will include 35 minutes of out of this world magic and fun!
  
  Check with your local ECRL branch for details on program guidelines, incentives, contests and special programs available throughout the summer.  Each library adds a unique touch to its own summer program.  There will be tons of ways to stir up excitement at your local ECRL branch all summer long.  So, stop and join the Look What’s Cookin’ at Your Library summer reading program.
  

  ECRL presents Magician, Matt Dunn Tuesday, June 3 10:00  McGregor 1:00    Aitkin Wednesday, June 4 10:00 Sandstone 1:00   Pine City 3:30   Rush City Thursday, June 5 10:00 Mille Lacs Lake 1:00   Milaca 3:30   Cambridge Monday, June 9 10:00  Mora 1:00    Princeton 3:30    Chisago Lakes Thursday, June 12 11:00  Hinckley 1:00    North Branch 3:30    Wyoming

  28 May  2008

• Happy Anniversary, Shari -- Today marks Administrative Assistant Shari Wilcox's 35th anniversary of employment with East Central Regional Library. Shari has seen the region's branch libraries grow by 50% and the total transformation of manual processes to computers, both in the office and on the public service floor. She's worked with 5 directors. She says the best part of her job is "the people." Staff and Board honored Shari's service with a brunch prior to the May 12th  Board meeting. 21 May 2008
  
  ECRL Board Vice President Tonja Brown congratulates Shari

• McGregor -- the Friends of the McGregor Library and the McGregor Area Library Board are sponsoring a style show and luncheon during All School Reunion Week. More on McGregor website   19 May 2008

• Paws to Read -- at Chisago Lakes on June 7th. More on Chisago Lakes website 19 May 2008
  

• Grants approved -- East Central Regional Library was recently awarded two federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants from the Minnesota Department of Education. Grant funds will enable teen programming and technology training for "Digital Immigrants" in all 14 ECRL branches.   Full press release on Isanti County News site.   16 May 2008

• Banner ends its journey -- The Sesquicentennial banner that visited the 14 ECRL branch libraries was presented to Governor Tim Pawlenty on Sunday at ceremonies marking the beginning of Statehood Week. Governor Pawlenty in turn gave the banner to Nina Archabal, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Historical Society for archiving. ECRL Assistant Director Nick Dimassis, accompanied by daughters Emma and Alice, represented ECRL. Read more on East Central Libraries.  14 May 2008
  

• Virtual Job Fair May 12 thru 16 – Looking for your next career? Here's the place! Read company bios, review a wide variety of job postings, search for jobs in a specific field/industry, Apply with one click, 24/7 access. www.cmjtsjobfair.com  12 May 2008

• Aitkin Community Read - Aitkin Friends of the Library are sponsoring a community reading event to celebrate Minnesota's 150th birthday. They have selected Rolvaag's Giants in the Earth. More on the Aitkin Library website 12 May 2008

• 23 Things on a Stick – Congratulations to Branch Librarians Katherine Morrow, Wendy Prokosch, Maria Gruener, Robin Suhsen and Penny Olson for completing all 23 Things on a Stick by the goal date of April 16th and winning a flash-drive prize. The program is sponsored by our multiple region counterpart, CMLE. What is 23 Things? Read more on East Central Libraries.  30 April 2008
  

• Spring Cleaning at the Cambridge Library: Daisy troop #13369 spent some time cleaning up the front of the Cambridge Public Library on Monday, April 28.  Troop leader, Joannie Hart, asked if the girls could come and spruce up the library.  So they girls donned their latex gloves and started picking up everything from cigarette butts to empty water bottles to empty drink cups.  Thanks girls for your hard work and helping make the library a cleaner place to visit. 29 April 2008
  
  
  
• Paws to Read at Chisago Lakes Branch Library: Saturday, May 3, 2008 11:00 am - 12 Noon. Come join us for our second Paws to Read program for kids.  Certified volunteers will help put young readers (preschool-grade 6) at ease, so they can cuddle up with a dog and practice reading aloud.  Sign up starts at 10:30 am.  Get here early to ensure your time slot!  The kids who came to the April session had a blast! 14 April 2008

• Storytime at Hinckley: Spring storytime resumes with a series of 5 storytimes with Adrienne Degerstrom. A great introduction to the library and early literacy - don't miss it. More on the Hinckley page.  14 April 2008
  

• Banner at McGregor: The Minnesota Sesquicentennial banner flew high and proud above the library on a beautiful day in McGregor. The banner is touring all the branches in the East Central region at the end of its state-wide tour. You can still catch it at the following locations and write your memoirs in the journal: April 10-Chisago Lakes; April 15-North Branch; April 16-Rush City; April 19-Mora; April 29-Milaca; May 3-Mille Lacs Lake Community Library, Isle; May 6-Princeton; May 8-Cambridge.
  
  

• Genealogy Classes: Bob Gray's classes on how to use the Ancestry research database have been wildly successful in branches where Ancestry is available. Check it out at Aitkin, Cambridge, Chisago Lakes, Milaca, Mora, Pine City, or Sandstone.
  Bob teaches a class in Cambridge:
  

• Burning Books: A display at the Cambridge Library highlights the Cambridge Community-wide reading program and depicts World War II book burnings. More on East Central Libraries. 01 April 2008
  

• Celebrate Libraries in April: National Library Week is April 13th to 19th. School Library Media Month is  observed for the entire month.

• Friends of the North Branch Library's Annual Spring Book Sale: Saturday, April 12, is the day to find good books at your North Branch Library.  The sale will be held during library open hours from 10 am - 2 pm.  Come for the pleasure of finding good books of all kinds and support the North Branch Friends of the Library projects.  All the proceeds go to the needs of our library.
   
  Plus, why not be part of our recycle program.  You may donate your gently used books and purchase someone else's.  We welcome donations, except for textbooks, encyclopedias, Reader's Digest condensed books, National Geographic, magazines and nonfiction materials older than 5 years old.  For a complete list of guidelines for donated materials, please call the library at 651-674-8443.  For questions concerning the book sale, call Daylene at 651-674-7975.   01 April 2008