New Book Reviews

Congratulations to our volunteer book reviewer, Joan Smith, of Whitefish. She recently published a book of her reviews entitled Books Worth a Look!. We have added some new reviews to our web site http://www.flatheadcountylibrary.org/reviews.htm. If you have never accessed this portion of our web site, click on Adults and then on Book Reviews and you can easily view a number of reviews.

Having a baby soon?

One of the most overwhelming aspects of pregnancy has got to be the decisions to be made about baby gear. What do I need to buy? When should I buy it? Do I need a baby bathtub? What's the best kind of car seat? Enter Heather Maclean and Hollie Schultz, authors of The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide. This book is a veritable encyclopedia of baby gear. Rather than recommend specific brands, the authors explain the differences between types of baby contraptions (activity gyms vs. activity centers, for example). Extremely helpful for first time parents made dizzy by all the options out there for strollers, infant carriers, slings, and swings.

Things are buggy around here!

The 2008 Summer Reading Program is off to a great start! So far, over 600 kids have signed up to keep track of their reading to earn some prizes. If they read any extra hours, they can be part of Readers to the Rescue, which is helping the Flathead County Animal Shelter this year.

We have discovered facts about butterflies, ladybugs, ants, beetles and spiders. During the next few weeks you can visit us and learn about bees, worms, and even bugs that you can eat!!!

One of the most interesting things that we have in our branches are the space age ant colonies. NASA engineers figured out how send ants into space safely and we have an example of the kind of colony they used. Come and see how these fascinating creatures have built their tunnels in the special gel. It's pretty awesome!

The Whitefish Branch is 10 years old!

Please join us in saying "Happy 10-year Birthday!" to the Whitefish Branch Library building. Well over 10 years ago, a group of community-minded citizens came together with a vision to create a first class library space for the town of Whitefish. Today we laud their efforts that have resulted in the beautiful building that serves today as the centerpiece of the community. The Flathead County Library staff also deserve a big round of applause for making the Whitefish Branch a welcoming and vibrant environment for all who pass through its doors. We are grateful to the incredible core of volunteers who are dedicated to helping us to serve our public well. We especially appreciate the gracious efforts of our branch librarian, Joey Kositzky, who for over 20 years has seen the library through struggles and good times. Kudos to all!

A Taste of Life in a Public Library

Ever wonder what life in a public library is REALLY like? Try reading Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks, Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert. Borchert works in a public library in southern California and offers a fresh perspective on the sometimes funny, sometimes poignant life that is the public library. With many anecdotes Borchert shows that a library is not just a collection of materials but it is the people who come to use all of its resources and the staff who work so hard behind the scenes to make it possible.

We're BUSY!

Our libraries were busy places yesterday. At the Main Library in Kalispell, 1,008 people walked through our doors between 10 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. At our Whitefish Branch, 437 people visited between noon and 8 p.m., and 209 ventured into the Columbia Falls Branch. (Bigfork and Marion are closed on Monday.) Mondays typically bring the most customers to those facilities that are open, and with the beginning of the summer season and not-so-nice weather yesterday, we broke an attendance record at the Main Library. WOW! over 1,000 people in one day.

As I've said before, we consider our libraries the living rooms of our communities. To continue the metaphor, all the relatives and friends were visiting yesterday, and the living rooms were packed. Keep in mind the positive effect that the presence of a library has on the community--economically, socially, and recreationally--we're the happenin' place!