Montana librarians hit the electronic books

Montana librarians have a challenge issued formally by the Montana State Library and informally by our computer users- learn about Web 2.0. Sometimes, it's difficult enough to learn about the basics of the Internet. So what is Web 2.0? As emerging technologies continue to allow faster, more robust networks- designers are creating more advanced tools to allow people to connect and do new things. This blog is Web 2.0, along with other sites like MySpace, Facebook, Flickr and so many others. Check out http://mslonline.pbwiki.com/ to participate in the Montana State Library challenge. You won't be able to register but the links are open to anyone interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 has more information and good definitions of how the Internet is evolving.

he's on his way...

We, at the Flathead County Library, would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. If you've been naughty with fines on your account, we will be open until 5:00 pm this evening so you can rectify the situation. We'll be closed Christmas Day and open regular hours the rest of the week.

Books to Film

It's a big year for "books to films." Recently the Flathead has been host to Into the Wild, based on the novel by Jon Krakaer; Gone Baby Gone, by the excellent Dennis Lehane; 3:10 to Yuma, based on a short story by Elmore Leonard; and is currently showing No Country for Old Men, based on the dark, dark Cormac McCarthy novel.

Into the Wild is excellent! Sean Penn handles the camera and the subject matter with precision and love and the film has just received 4 Screen Actors Guild nominations. Emile Hirsch does an incredible job as Christopher McCandless who gives away his entire $24,000 savings before escaping to the Alaskan Wilderness in search of himself. By the end of the shooting Hirsch had lost 30 pounds getting into character. A beautiful film.... And, as an added bonus the Eddie Vedder score is great! All three--the book, the DVD, and the CD--are available for holds or checkout at your local library branch.

If you haven't read Dennis LeHane's series of mysteries with Angie Gennaro and Patrick Kenzie, you really must. While serving up a fast-paced and oftentimes violent story, LeHane gives a great social commentary on race and class issues in his native Boston. The film version of Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck's impressive directorial debut, follows Kenzie and Gennaro on a search for a missing 4-year old girl. The moral dilemna posed by the end of the film will have you discussing it for days.

More on books into films in another post...

Digital Camera Classes

Is Santa bringing you a digital camera for Christmas? Did he bring you one last year and the pictures are still not on the computer?

Come to our digital camera classes on Jan. 7th & 8th at 6:00 pm in the meeting room of the Main Library in Kalispell. We will go over helpful tips and necessary knowledge. This will be a hands-on class, please bring your camera with you. If you don't have one yet but want to learn more about them- this class is for you, as well!

Put it on your calendar and tell a friend. Any questions can be posted here or contact me directly at 758.5814. This is the same class offered on two consecutive nights, plan to attend either one.

Montana Traffic Jam

I went hunting for a few days of last week down by Dillon for the extended elk season and got into what we call a traffic jam. It was one of many classic moments that made me ever so glad to call this state home. The pickup in the middle of the cattle inched his way through and no animals were injured, harmed or harassed in the making of this photograph.

Magazines at FCL!

Flathead County Libraries now offer over 70 magazine titles with new subscriptions this winter including Spin, Nation, Foreign Affairs, Men’s Health, Ready Made, Martha Stewart Living and more!

Two years worth of back issues check out for 28 days and cardholders are also able to place holds on issues through the
Montana Shared Catalog and have them delivered to the location of their choice - just like books!

Stop in to your favorite location to browse, hangout, and/or checkout!
Call the Info Desk at 758-5815 for more details.

Ten Ways Adults Can Support Teen Reading

Are you a parent, friend, or mentor of a teen? I recently saw this short and excellent guide to helping teens read for pleasure, available at ilovelibraries.org.

My personal favorite is #5: Everybody Wants to Be Free. Teens need to be able to choose their own books! Consider bringing your teens into the library and letting them browse our wide selection of young adult materials. We also have teen book lists available to for teens to take, keep, and pass along.

As the Teen Services Librarian for Flathead County Libraries, I am always available for book recommendations and just general chatting about books. Give me a call at 758-5713 if you'd like to talk more about teen reading.

And read on!

The Fire Next Time

Thursday evening, the Library will screen The Fire Next Time, a film that "follows a deeply divided group of citizens [living in and around Flathead County] caught in a web of conflicts intesified by rapid growth and the power of talk radio." On hand will be filmmaker Patrice O'Neil who screens this film around the country helping communities come together by talking about tolerance. "I think in 'The Fire Next Time' you see what happens when people stop listening to each other... and how quickly we can become enemies."

Partially in response to the type of behavior portrayed in the film, Flathead on the Move's Turning Strangers into Neighbors project worked with a large group of community leaders to come up with the Principles for Civil Dialogue. This document took many painstaking hours of people listening and contructively criticizing to finally reach consensus on how we should conduct ourselves at public meetings, in our places of work, and out in the community. The Principles of Civil Dialogue are:

·We provide a safe environment where individual perspectives are respected, heard, and acknowledged.

·We are responsible for respectful and courteous dialogue and participation.

·We respect diverse opinions as a means to find solutions based on common ground.

·We encourage and value broad community participation.

·We encourage creative approaches to engage public participation.

·We value informed decision-making and take personal responsibility to educate and be educated.

·We believe that respectful public dialogue fosters healthy community relationships, understanding, and problem-solving.

·We acknowledge, consider and respect the natural tensions created by collaboration, change, and transition.

·We follow the rules & guidelines established for each meeting.

Evel, Montana loves you

The heat is on

Now that the heat is turned up bit and the snowpacked and icy roads are gone, it's a great day to come on down to the library and take a browse through the shelves. If you want to use the wireless Internet, we saved a seat for you.

After all, it is Monday morning and that means it's a great day to be alive.
(There will be free program calendars to the first 1,001 people to say they read this blog posting.)