Career Database
Many Americans are facing unemployment or under-employment. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that in August 2009 the unemployment rate rose by 9.7 percent, increasing the number of unemployed people to a staggering 14.9 million. Many people have lost their jobs and are now searching for another way to support themselves and their families. Others, who may have been out of the work force for years, now need to return to it in a vastly different technological world. The whole job process can be very intimidating. Luckily, Oliver Wolcott Library now has a wonderful resource free to library patrons to help with the whole job search process and much more! OWL’s new Career Library online database offers a comprehensive information resource for career and college research. Users can explore their interests in occupations and educational prospects. If you were wondering how you would tackle a resume or prep for necessary exams in the highly competitive job market, look no further. The Career Library provides resources to practice tests and skills; build resumes; and plan for technical, military or professional jobs. The program is organized for ease and is broken down into various centers, including: Exploration Center (search for occupations, colleges), Planning Center (building a resume, career/college planning), Resource Center (search cool and unusual jobs, Connecticut job websites such as CT Job Central) and lastly, an Activity Center (practice for GED, SAT, ACT). To access, simply visit the Oliver Wolcott Library or log in from home by visiting our website www.owlibrary.org, click on the Online Research tab and then access the tool by using your OWL library card to log in. OWL has all the resources you need to get back to work and help you with the entire process, whether you’re accessing the new Career Database, browsing our catalog of helpful books on resume writing, or using our “Book a Librarian” service that provides one-on-one technology assistance. Stop by the Library today or visit our website to explore your career opportunities!
OWL LAUNCHES TEEN SUMMER READING PROGRAM
With funding from the Litchfield Education Foundation, the Oliver Wolcott Library launched their first Teen Summer Reading Program. The program features both a reading challenge component as well as events scheduled every Wednesday evening in the month of July. The current culture is all about personalizing and Lisa Shaia, Children’s Librarian at OWL, said that they want to honor that approach. “Today’s teens are used to customizing. They want to set their own goals and choose their own events. Our program does all that. Teens can pick and choose. They can participate in everything or just do some parts”.
By using a three-question survey, teens can determine what should be their reading goal. Whether they think reading is “totally cool” or they tend to read only after listening to music and playing video games, the teen reading component welcomes all and encourages participation. “We recognize that not all teens are going to be avid readers. Some are and we obviously love seeing that! But there are also kids who read less frequently or who fall in-between. The beauty of this program is that it welcomes all teens to engage in reading whether they set a goal of 400 minutes for the summer or 500 pages”.
The event component of the program continues with customizing and has a new and different program each Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. for the month of July. Ann Marie White, Library Director, noted that, “the most important goal for us this summer is to make teens feel that the Library is their place. We want them to feel comfortable here. The more you are around books and people talking ideas, the more you will begin to engage your own mind. That’s our mission: engage minds.” To reach this goal, Shaia selected four events that would challenge, enlighten, and entertain teens in an environment free from the pressure of exams, tests, and peer pressure. “Our events bring five outstanding professionals in their field to OWL to focus on various areas of creativity including creative writing, photography, poetry, and cartooning.”
Husband and wife team Jim and Nikko McGoldrick will kick off the series on July 1st with their workshop on Creative Writing. “They say that we all have a story to tell, and we believe teens have a lot more than one story in them! As students progress in school, they have fewer and fewer opportunities to delve into the world of their imaginations and to exercise those storytelling skills we’re all born with. This program will give teens that opportunity.” The McGoldricks have published more than twenty-seven books under various pseudonyms.
Jim Kelleher, a published poet with an M.F.A. in Poetry, will be leading the Poetry Workshop, the third event in the series, on July 15. “People who read use their brains” said Jim, “Their brains build muscles (ideas and vocabulary) and then these readers get better grades in school, earn more money at work, and usually (but not always) figure out who they are and what is best for them. People who just sit and watch videos are receiving information; it is fun but always passive. You can let someone think for you, and let them entertain you with their ideas, or you can become independent and think for yourself.”
Additional events include a cartooning workshop on July 8, a photography workshop on July 22, and a reception open to everyone for teens to showcase the work they’ve created during the summer scheduled for August 5. Teens can continue to register for the reading component through July 13. For more details and to register for all or some of the program, visit the Oliver Wolcott Library on 160 South Street or go to their website at www.owlibrary.org and select Programs/Children & Teen Programs.
OWL Blog Explodes With Hits!
The Oliver Wolcott Library’s innovative blog is now averaging 188 visits per day or approximately 1,300 visits each week! The blog originally started in February of 2007 with the idea to create a new, inventive way to communicate with patrons and help them to establish a personal connection with the Librarians at OWL. It was to give a behind the scenes look into the Library. Topics and subjects range greatly and depend on the writers, but it always relates back to OWL’s collection and services. Currently, there are five blog writers: Ann Marie White, Audra MacLaren, Jesse Lee Harmon, Lisa Shaia and Sarai Druan. Each of the writers brings new and exciting ideas to the blog as well as highlighting the Library’s treasures. The blog is both personal as well as informative; you might learn, for instance, how to plant a garden by the moon phases, while other entries may describe interests, hobbies, favorites and even childhood memories. What is both surprising and pleasing is the amount of people who do read the blog. Director Ann Marie White says: “When I’m out and about in the community it’s great to hear people come up to me and say they are reading the blog and enjoying it very much. I feel that we are truly adding value to what we do and helping people to get excited about our collection.” If you aren’t reading the blog yet, find out what your friends and neighbors are talking about. New blogs are posted every Friday on the Library’s website, or subscribe to the Library’s e-newsletter where the link the newest blog is posted each Saturday morning on the left-hand side of the e-newsletter. Log on to www.owlibrary.org to check out the latest blogs, or browse through the blog archives to catch some of the ones you may have missed. To subscribe to the newsletter, log into the website, enter your e-mail address into the “Join e-list” box. You will learn a lot about your Librarians, and you may even learn something new, but most importantly you can get an inside look at the wonderful items that inhabit the shelves at OWL.
Oliver Wolcott Library is Awarded 3 Grants!
Oliver Wolcott Library receives three grants to support its youth services programs. Because of a grant from Litchfield Education Foundation, Oliver Wolcott Library will launch a Teen Summer Reading program. Children’s Librarian Lisa Shaia stresses the importance of such a program, stating: “there were no programs tailored to their age group to encourage their literary experiences throughout the summer months. With the Litchfield Education Foundation’s support, the Library can now offer the first Summer Reading Program to teens in 7-12 grades.” The theme of the program, Express Yourself, will pair reading with creative activities like photography, music and writing and will culminate in a reception. Litchfield Education Foundation’s mission is to promote excellence and innovation in public education throughout the entire community.
A second grant, from the Connecticut Community Foundation, will make two performances for pre-school aged children possible. Children ages 2-6 will dance, sing, laugh and listen to stories in a story-song performance, and a program of interactive music and movement designed to facilitate language development, reading readiness and literacy! These programs are a vital part of children’s growth and literacy skills. The mission of the Connecticut Community Foundation is to engage the community to address its needs by connecting charitable resources to sustainable programs in human services, education, the environment, health care and the arts.
The third grant that Oliver Wolcott Library received is from Civic Family Services. With this grant, OWL can now replenish their collection of children’s audio books on cassette with new ones on CD! Shaia notes that “read-alongs are essential to a preschooler’s kindergarten readiness and love of reading that will encourage them to keep coming back to the Library.” The rest of the money will go towards high-quality educational software for the children’s computers. The older software will be replaced by new games that encourage children’s development in many areas! These new additions are all possible because of Civic Family Services, a non-profit organization that is based in Bantam, CT.
It is through wonderful organizations like these that provide grants to non-profit organizations that make so much possible at the Library. With these grants, the Oliver Wolcott Library will be able to offer a wonderful Teen Summer Reading Program as well as two programs for pre-school children, and to extend their collection of children’s books with CD’s and education software.
Owl’s Award-Winning Website!
Oliver Wolcott Library is proud to announce that it has won the Best Website Award for a small/medium size library from the Connecticut Library Association! The website was designed by Doug Gatanis of Gigantic, Inc. of NYC. After interviewing a number of website designers, OWL felt that Doug understood what they wanted, communicated well, and they liked his prior projects. The upkeep of the website is done in-house by the staff. The primary website master is Norm Collins, Technology Coordinator. Audra MacLaren, Adult Services Librarian, also assists with some pages, and Caroline King, Library Assistant, takes care of the Events Calendar. The website was redesigned on March 2008. During the 2008 calendar year, 34,249 visits to the Library’s website were logged using Google analytics. Compared to the 18,650 visits in 2007 there was an increase of 84%. Patrons use the website for news, information, research and account information. The website is an extension of the Oliver Wolcott Library and provides a wealth of information quickly with just a couple clicks. Additionally, the Library sees the website as a “living document,” adding features or removing those that they feel are not presented well or are not used.
Oliver Wolcott Library is proud to have won the Connecticut Library Associations Award for Best Website and will continue to add and improve the website as needed in order to serve patrons to the best of their ability.
Oliver Wolcott Library sees surge in usage
In these troubled economic times, use of the Oliver Wolcott Library has soared and the library has seen record-breaking increases. In the past four months, circulation jumped by 32% and visits increased by almost 10%. Every day, an average of 250 people walk through the library’s doors with higher usage of every service offered – from computer usage, program attendance, meeting room reservations, book-a-librarian services, and the website, as well as books, DVDs and music CDs.
“People are realizing the need to cut-back and curb their spending, and are finding that many of Oliver Wolcott Library’s services are just the way to save money without compromising their educational, cultural and career needs. We’ve been seeing dramatic increases in usage for the last 5 years but now our usage is climbing with double-digit increases month after month” says director Ann Marie White. This increase in library visits is happening not only during the week but on weekends, too. Since opening on Sundays this past September, White says that she has seen many new faces and heard nothing but positive feedback. “The majority of people using the library on Sundays are people who had previously been unable to come to the library because of work or other personal obligations. They now have access to all of OWL’s services and they are very thankful. We have repeatedly heard many heartfelt words of gratitude from our new Sunday patrons, and visits to OWL on Sundays have continued to rise.”
It is clear that people need the library now more than ever. Children’s programming, for example has seen an incredible increase of 250% during the last four months. White states, “Our popular children’s story times and after-school programs are even busier as more parents are reaching out for educational enjoyable programs that have the benefit of being both high quality and free. Many parents who have previously paid for their children’s classes are now finding the library a wonderful alternative.”
But all age groups are coming to the library in increasing numbers. Teens, adults, seniors and children are coming to borrow from OWL’s impressive selection of bestselling and classic books, DVD’s, music CD’s, magazines and audiobooks. It’s a great way to have fun without paying for a movie ticket or DVD rental. The library’s book clubs and adult programs, including discussions with various authors, are additional ways that adults can reach out to find educational and cultural experiences without a hefty price tag. “In the last four months, OWL witnessed a 32% increase in circulation of materials. We only expect this trend to rise.” Board President F. Robert Petricone noted, “In 2008, OWL lent 110,760 items. In dollar terms, we provided an equivalent of $2 million worth of materials. That’s what people would have paid if they had to buy them on their own.”
White also noted a marked increase in meeting room usage. “Since November, we’ve been seeing a 50% increase in use of our meeting room by community organizations. In addition to being free to not-for-profit organizations and available to businesses for a reasonable fee, our meeting room is wireless and holds more than 75 people comfortably, and we’ve made the process for reserving the room as easy as possible with our form available online at our website www.owlibrary.org. We also have an LCD projector that individuals, organizations and businesses can rent for a reasonable fee. This is especially helpful for individuals who need to make a business presentation but cannot afford the expense of buying an LCD projector themselves.”
OWL continues to be a great place for research and work. “People recognize that the library offers all the tools they need in a quiet yet stimulating environment to work, prepare for a job interview, or learn tips on how to develop new business opportunities.” White notes that she is always looking for additional ways the Library can assist the community with job searching and economic opportunities and has planned two new events for this spring. The first event is a workshop on how to start a home-based business and will be held on May 19th at 7:00 p.m. This event is co-sponsored with the Litchfield Planning and Zoning, SCORE and the Litchfield Economic Development Commission. The second program will teach participants how to utilize QuickBooks for their own bookkeeping and is scheduled for May 13th at 6:30 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the First National Bank of Litchfield and the Library.
Even though usage has gone up dramatically, OWL has been able to make significant cost reductions over the past three years. Electrical usage has gone down by 24% and oil costs are down 30%. Petricone added that the library is determined to make further savings in energy usage in 2009-2010.
Another way that they have kept costs down by continuously improving their efficiency.
OWL’s efficiency is 32% better than the statewide average, as measured by annual circulation per full-time employee, the standard metric for evaluating library efficiency.
Everyone, including the Library, is being affected by the economy. Recently, the Library’s budget proposal was reduced in a round of cuts proposed by the Litchfield Board of Selectmen. Petricone says, “We’re disappointed and troubled by the situation primarily because we are managing significant increases in our usage with these difficult economic times. We hope in the final analysis the town will budget its share of funds to support the taxpayers’ skyrocketing use of the library. We have some documentation here about the library’s performance and the demand for library services, which we presented to the Board of Selectman and can provide to anyone else who is interested.”
The town of Litchfield funds about half of the library’s operating budget and the Library relies on private fundraising for the remaining operating expenses.
Grant Funded “Story Time To-Go Kits” at
Oliver Wolcott Library
Thanks to a grant from the Litchfield Education Foundation, Oliver Wolcott Library now offers ten unique “Story Time To-Go Kits!” The kits can be used for bedtime storytime, slumber party activities and weekend trips. They’re perfect for families on-the-go, weekend visits with grandchildren, or simply a fun time. Each of the kits has a different theme and contains a variety of exciting materials, including a hardcover book, a music CD, DVD, a puppet, and/or an educational game. Children’s Librarian, Lisa Shaia, specifically selected all of the material inside each kit for its appeal to children and educational value. They are an excellent educational tool for families to use together, while offering a variety of activities and themes that promote learning and reading. Most kits are for children from 12 months to 8 years of age but each kit also has recommended age levels so you know which one will be best suited for your child. The kit comes in a handy, easy-to-transport container and can be checked out of the Library for a period of 1 week.
Know what’s happening in Washington and how to respond with Congressional Quarterly Weekly now available at the Oliver Wolcott Library
With the changing economic climate, more than ever citizens need to know what is happening in Washington, what their representatives are doing or not doing, and how to react. To respond to this need, the Oliver Wolcott Library has now added Congressional Quarterly Weekly to its collection. Congressional Quarterly Weekly (CQ Weekly) offers easy access to information on upcoming and current bills, how individual representatives are voting on current and past bills, detailed analysis of everything “Washington” including Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House.
Features of CQ Weekly include: Vantage Point a quick-read analysis of emerging trends in government, commerce and politics, In Focus an in-depth coverage of public policy developments across the governmental spectrum, from Congress to the White House to the Supreme Court, Cover Story a weekly news reporting on major issues unfolding on Capital Hill, Columns an insider’s insight on public-policy implications of national issues, and the Weekly Report a detailed report on bills, amendments and votes. You can access CQ Weekly Online from home with your OWL library card, or come into the Library to use it on our computers if you don’t have a card with us.
Oliver Wolcott Library to Open Doors on Sundays
You asked. We listened! The Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield is happy to announce we will be opening on Sundays starting September 28, 2008. The opening is in response to many patron requests for expanded weekend hours. OWL has witnessed a dramatic increase in usage for more than five years and now averages 240 visits each day, with Saturday usage increased by 10% in the past year alone. This July was one of the busiest months ever recoreded in OWL history, with an average of 294 people visiting each day. Other libraries that are open on Sundays report it as being their busiest time of the week. Extended weekend hours will be especially beneficial to students, working families and weekenders.
You will see much of the same, excellent staff here on weekends. Some of our full-time staff find working the weekends fits their lifestyle better than typical Monday-Friday schedule. OWL has also hired additional part-time staff to work on the weekends. These staff members have been specifically selected to handle student reference and research questions. This new service is being funded by a partnership between the Town of Litchfield and the Library.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy Sundays at OWL. Use our quiet room, read a book, use our public computers or bring your laptop to access our wireless network, write a paper, research that homework assignment, find a good film, have a meeting– there’s so much to do at the Oliver Wolcott Library. Now you can enjoy all the OWL has to offer every day of the week, including Sundays starting September 28th. Please come!
OWL Gives a “Hoot” For Going Green
Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield has made some significant changes to help reduce their carbon footprint. Director of the library, Ann Marie White, has always been an earth advocator but was inspired by reading Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia clothing. More than two years ago, Ann Marie set a goal for OWL to reduce its footprint on the planet while still offering great service to their patrons. The Board and Staff quickly stepped-up to the initiative. Ann Marie says their success has been a team effort. By re-imagining underused space, OWL effectively expanded the library by 10% without increasing their footprint or staff, and while reducing energy costs. With this renovation, they created a sitting area to highlight their new adult book collection, upgraded their technology area, and added seating. The result has been an increase in circulation by 7% over the prior year. OWL implemented energy savings initiatives that reduced electrical energy usage by 17% and oil usage by 12% in two years. The newly renovated area near the circulation desk has the most energy efficient lights that are on the market today (T.5 fluorescent lights). All other existing lights in the library were also changed to energy efficient bulbs. A new computer software program, called Syam, allows all the computers to shut down automatically at night to save on energy.
Oliver Wolcott Library installed programmable thermostats and storm windows to the east side of the house area, as well as upgrading the boiler system. The programmable thermostats are self-timed and work by dropping back the temperature automatically in the house area and community room when the library is closed.
Most people might not think that libraries would use a lot of paper—but in actuality, they do; forms attached to books going to other libraries, request slips, copies and print-outs etc. OWL adopted an aggressive recycling program setting up recycling cans throughout the staff and public areas. They coordinated with the maintenance staff to gain their support for the project. Now, they recycle an average of 8 cubic feet of material each week, which totals over 22,000 pounds each year!
For almost a decade, OWL has purchased eco-friendly products including natural air fresheners, hand soaps, and recycled paper products. Not only is this helpful to the environment but it minimizes staff and public exposure to chemicals and fragrances that are of growing concern for many in our community. Additionally, the landscaping is maintained without the use of chemicals, pesticides or herbicides.
Whenever possible, OWL goes “green.” One of the more surprising opportunities was the new area rugs installed in the new book area and behind the circulation desk during the renovation. Ray Anderson, founder of the company Interface that manufactured the Library’s rugs, was inspired by the book, The Ecology of Commerce, by Paul Hawkin. He dedicated his working life to make Interface “the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: People, process, product, place and profits—by 2020—and in doing so, to become restorative through the power of influence.” The rug is also economically satisfying; if one square of the rug gets dirty or needs to be replaced, the one square can be easily removed without having to replace the entire rug.
The library looks forward to upgrading the Children’s room in winter of 2008-2009 with energy efficient lighting and to continue to look for ways to reduce its footprint while offering excellence in library services.
