Thursday, April 08, 2010

Sherry Morrow to visit Library


To round out Library Week on Saturday, April 17 from 1pm to 3pm, Hartshorne Library will be holding a book signing for a local author. Her name is Sherry Morrow. She has written a book entitled "Woman of the Mountains". To read more about her visit her website at http://www.womanofthemountains.com/. She will be available for questions and will have her book for sale. Come and support a local author.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

National Library Week - Fine Free Week @ Hartshorne Library


In today’s economy, what’s the one place you can go to get help with a resume, learn new job skills, connect to the Internet or just curl up with your favorite book – all for free? You can do all of that and more @ your library. Celebrate National Library Week, April 11-17. Hartshorne Public Library is celebrating National Library Week by offering amnesty on any overdue materials returned during that week. This is our way of saying thanks to the community for your patronage. Fines will also be waived for overdue materials deposited in the book return during this week.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Hartshorne Library offers Downloadable Audio Books


Hartshorne Library is now offering downloadable audio books through Ingram Digital. These "books" can be downloaded onto a computer, then uploaded to your iPod, MP3 players or other audio devices.

My iLibrary digital audio features a user-friendly interface that is both PC and MAC compatible. All titles are downloadable and playable via iPodand iPhone, in addition to hundreds of other MP3 players. The downloadable materials cover a wide range of fictional and non-fictional topics, and run on easy-to-use free software available from Ingram Digital MyLibrary website. In order to borrow and use a specific format of digital media, you must download and instal the proper software.
For more information you can visit us at www.oklibrary.net/library.htm.
If you need additional assistance or have other questions you can call this toll free number 866.820.1624 or email Ingram Digital at milaudiosupport@ingramdigital.com.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Looking for Materials plus Readers' Advisory


We have several ways to find materials not only in the Hartshorne library, but all virtually worldwide. Besides our catalog, which not only searches the Hartshorne library, but all the libraries in our system, there is also World Cat. This is a way that you can search in many libraries throughout the world to find the book that you want. You may search on your own or ask the staff to aid in your search. We then can request the book for you. The cost of an interlibrary/inter-branch loan is $1.50, this is to help with postage cost. We have found many items that are out of print and obscure.

Hartshorne library has a few readers’ advisory sources. First there is Novelist, for adults and Novelist K-8 for children. Both of these are excellent guides to fiction books. Within the database they have an “Author Read-Alikes” section. You can find other authors that write similar, to your favorite author. If you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to ask staff for help.

Another source that has been, until now, has until now, only available in big bulky reference books, is the Wilson’s Core Collection database. This database lets you search for books that are highly recommended. You can search Fiction as well as non-fiction, children and Young Adults. You can search by title, author, even keyword. It is very user friendly, but again, for assistance the staff is always available. All this and more can be found on www.oklibrary.net/hartshorne.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Our Friendly Library

Our library can be summed up in one word, and that word is “Welcoming”. We try to accommodate everybody’s library needs. We have books, of course, computers, of course, but we offer so much more.
We are right in the middle of tax season and we have some Federal forms. The state forms were not sent to the libraries any longer, but they are available online. Although we are not a tax service we can help you find a form you need. Any form, state or federal can be found online. They can be printed out for a nominal fee of 10 cents a page. You are also able to come in and file your taxes online if you so wish.
We have recently implemented our PC reservation and also have print management. Although you may think this is a nuisance at first, it is put in place to do away with unwanted print jobs. It also now allows you to print to our color printer for 25 cents a page. I’m not saying it is without its issues but I am confident these will be worked out over time.
Our fax is another service that is used extensively. It cost nothing to receive a fax unless you receive more than 10 pages.
If you are an early bird please visit us in the morning, we now open at 8 o’clock. This is a good time to enjoy peace and quiet. If it is to use the computer, check out books, read the newspaper or just come in and have a cup of coffee and visit you are always welcome and we are glad to see you.
If you have ever been in our library after school you will really see how "weloming" we can be. This library is full of Kids. Our town has very few things to interest our teens. They are attacted to the library for the programs, of course, but also the computers and books. The library has also become a social center, that if it doesn't get too out of hand, is a good thing. We try to be a safe and friendly place. I really think that we have gone a long way in achieving this goal.
In conclusion I think that I have shown that EVERYONE is welcome in our library and we will go to great lengths to meet their needs.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Books and Movies

Some popular movies that are out now are based on books. Here are a few that are available at the Hartshorne Library. Whether you have seen the movie or not we have always heard that the book is better than the movie, come and check these book out to decide for yourself.

The first is “The Blind Side” by Michael Lewis. This is a biography about a young man that is born into poverty to a mother who is addicted to crack. He is one of thirteen children, does not know what his name is or his birthday, let alone how to read or write. His life changes when an evangelical family finds him on the streets. Through their love they help him to overcome these obstacles and become one of the most highly paid football players in history. It is an inspirational story that must be read to fully appreciate the journey of this man.

Nicholas Sparks, author of “The notebook”, “A Walk to remember”, “Nights of Rodanthe” to name just a few, has yet another book that has been made into a movie. The title is “Dear John”. The book is about John, angry rebel, who has dropped out of school and sees the army as an answer to what to do with his life. After enlisting he meets a Savannah, and in a very short time falls in love. It looks like both have found the love of their life until 9/11 happens. John decides to re-enlist and Savannah, because of the long separation falls in love and marries another man. On returning home John must comes to terms with the fact that his true love is married---and must face the hardest decision of his life.


Greg Heffley is thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.








Another book is Alice in Wonderland. This classic book by Lewis Carroll is being made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton.
Bored on a hot afternoon, Alice follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit-hole without giving a thought about how she might get out. And so she tumbles into Wonderland: where animals answer back, a baby turns into a pig, time stands still at a disorderly tea party, croquet is played with hedgehogs and flamingos, and the Mock Turtle and Gryphon dance the Lobster Quadrille. In a land in which nothing is as it seems and cakes, potions and mushrooms can make her shrink to ten inches or grow to the size of a house, will Alice be able to find her way home again?



The last book is “The Lightening Thief”. This is a Young Adult (and aren’t we all young adults) book. This is a first in “The Olympian” series by Rick Riordan. This books a fantasy along the line of Harry Potter. A young boy finds out that his father is Poseidon, God of the Sea. With his compadres, a satyr and a demigod daughter of Athena, they set out on a quest to reach the gates of the underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.


These are just a few books of which movies have been made. Who knows you may even read a book that has yet to receive that honor.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New services

Recently Hartshorne Library has implemeted "PC Reservation". This is a computer managment system. It requires the patron to log in using their library card. It also has built in time limits that frees the staff for more important tasks. We have had it for about a month and besides the first week we are very pleased with the response from the public. We encourage any comments.
We also have a new scanner, printer and fax combination machine. The staff is extremely pleased with this despite a few gliches in the fax capabilities.
The Library System is looking into providing downloadable audio books. This will allow you to "borrow" an audio to download onto an ipod or any other Mp3 device. We are now in the process of selecting the titles to offer. We hope for a very positive response to this. Again, we encourage any comments.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving is upon us again. We at Hartshorne Library have so much to be thankful for. First and foremost we are thankful to our patrons. Without them we would not be able to have a library that is inviting and welcoming. The fact that people of all ages feel comfortable and safe coming in here is a credit to their tolerance and understanding. I feel that we have a place that equally serves the old and young with the same amount of respect.
We are thankful for the city that is always there when we need assitance. They feel a responsibility to this library to keep it beautiful as well as functional.
We are thankful to the system we belong to for being supportive. We live in a very changing world and they try very hard to keep up with things, while still trying to uphold the Library's ideals.
Finally, I am thankful to my co-workers and my colleagues. Without their support and imput I would be lost.
As you can see we have a lot to be thankful for. We hope that everyone and their families enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

New Library Hours

Hartshorne Library will be opening at 8am Tuesday through Friday. We are participating in a pilot project to study the usage of different hours of business. Hartshorne is exploring early hour usage, while McAlester Public Library will be opening on Sundays 1:30-5:00. We will be conducting this project until June. At the conclusion we will study the feasibility of the new hours.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Greg Rodgers visits Library


Choctaw storyteller, Greg Rodgers, visited the Library Saturday Oct, 24. We were pleased with the good turn-out. Several of the students from nearby Jones Academy was in attendence. Greg spoke about how he gathered his stories and how he got started. Telling how he apprenticed under Tim Tingle, another Choctaw storyteller. He then told a couple of scary stories, very apropos for this time of year. The kids were very attentive and at the end of the presentation they had a few stories to share with him. We were very honored to have him and we are considering inviting him back for the Summer Reading Program next year.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

FOHL Annual meeting


The Annual FOHL meeting was held on Sept. 27. Virgina Barlow called the meeting to order and reported on the projects the FOHL did in the last year. Shirley McBee gave a treasurer's report. Election of Officers were held, with the motion made to keep the existing officers. There was discussion concerning money to be given to the Library's Chidren's Summer Reading Program as well as money given to Chamber of Commerce for Christmas bags for the children.
The meeting was very well attended in large part because of our very special guest speaker, Barbara Smitherman. She is the author of "Engaging the Sons of Darkness". A fictinal book that is set in the Jack Fork Mountains. This is her first book. She related that she wrote it is 36 days. She lives in McAlester with her husband, Doug and is currently working on her second book. The FOHL as well as the Hartshorne Library would like to thank Barbara for coming and sharing her story.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

New Addresses for website(s)


We now have a new website address. It is www.oklibrary.net/hartshorne. It is a part of the Southeastern Library System website, www.oklibrary.net. We are still adding to it so check back for additionl information. Also our catalog address has changed to catalog.oklibrary.net. I hope that everyone enjoys the change and if you have any questions contact me at tucker@oklibrary.net

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tae Kwan Do Exhibition

Saturday as our last Teen Program the McAlester Tae Kwan Do came to exhibit their talents. We had a great turn out for the program and all that attended enjoyed themselves. Several boards were broken by all the students. The black belts spent time showing us how they could even brake cement blocks. (don's try this at home)LOL Thanks to the class for takeing time to entertain our community. Click to see a video of one of the exercises.

To see other videos on You Tube. Just enter Tae Kwan Do Mcalester.
Master Harp (McAlester TKD 6th Dan Sabum Nim) Breaking Concrete Block With Side Kick
Master Harp (McAlester TKD 6th Dan Sabum Nim) - Flying Side Kick And Board Break Over Chairs

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Kirsten the Queen of Theatre visits Hartshorne Library



On the 16th Kirsten the Queen of Theatre put on two programs, one for the children and one for the Kids. We had a great turnout and the kids had lots of fun. The idea was to get the kids to act out scenes from their life and get them to be creative.
Our next program is the 23rd at 10:30am.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Trip to NYC

At the end of May I, along with four other librarians went on a trip to New York City to attend the BookExpo of America. The conference gave us a chance to meet many famous authors as well as a few celebrities, such as Kathy Lee Gifford. We stood in many lines to get autographs and pictures of our favorite authors. Some of the more well know ones were David Baldacci, R. L. Stine, Lisa Scottolini, Heather Graham, James Patterson, Ridley Pearson, Nicholas Sparks and the list goes on and on. We were also honored to see and get an autograph from Chesley Sullenberger “Sulley” the pilot who heroically landed a plane in the Hudson River. The whole experience was awesome and sureal.
We did do a little site seeing. We visited Time Square, the Statue of Liberty as well as Ellis Island. We opted out of going to the top of the Empire state building, but we did go inside. We went to Rockefeller Center and several other tourist attractions. We went on a couple of tours that took us across the Hudson river into Brooklyn and then we toured Manhattan and was able to get off in China Town, Central Park and of course Ground Zero where we got an awesome picture. All in all I am very grateful Iwas able to go, but I was glad to be back home.

Monday, May 04, 2009

ODL Class to be held at Hartshorne Pubic Library

5/13/2009 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Management Skills, Advanced
Each class must have a minimum of 5 with no more than 25
Sponsor: Oklahoma Department of Libraries
Location: Hartshorne Public Library
720 Pennsylvania Ave - Hartshorne OK
Contact: Cathy Van Hoy 405-522-3321

Friday, March 20, 2009

Twitter Page

Hartshorne Library now is on twitter. Go to www.twitter.com/hartlib. Follow us and see what is going on in the library.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Book Sale Big Success

We are proud to announce the Friends of the Hartshorne Library was able bring in over a thousand dollars at the Book Sale held Febrary 27th and 28th. We appreciate the community for all ther support. The money will be used for children's programing and other items that cannot be purchased throught the library system. I would like to everyone who helped in making it possible. I would like to especially thank Virginia Barlow and Jim Kurilko for all the hard work they have and are continuing to do. There are still many books left. THANK YOU1111