We have experienced a record-setting string of Wi-Fi usage here in the Main library in Kalispell. Approximately 25 people per day have taken advantage of free wireless access this week, simply by bringing in their laptops and connecting. Public libraries as a whole are pleased to offer this service- so check us out, whether on vacation or saving gas money by staying home!

Summer Reading

If you are like me, summertime brings lots and lots of company, hiking, rodeos, kayaking, dinner parties and picnics, swimming, road trips and, did I mention, lots and lots of company. All of this squeezed into a week that includes work (if you are lucky like me, the work is stimulating and fun!), laundry, gardening, and cleaning the house. So when do you find time to read?

After four days of a 30-people family reunion, I took a Sunday all to myself. It was heaven! And for the first time in forever, I read an entire book. Beautiful Boy: a father's journey through his son's addiction is humorous, heavy, and a darned good read. Susan Cheever says, "This story of parental love is a masterpiece of description and feeling. Sheff portrays addiction and its confusion in a way that is immediate, informative, and heartbreaking. His quest for healing is a riveting suspense story that will enlighten and compel anyone who has ever dealt with addiction, and anyone who has ever raised a child."

So if you find yourself with time to read, check out David Sheff's Beautiful Boy. You don't have to read it all in one day like I did, but I bet you'll find it hard to put down.

And the winner is....

Hard to believe but we just passed the halfway point of our summer reading program. Many children have been to all of our libraries and have been busy investigating bugs. We have seen beetles, butterflies, ladybugs and many other types of insects and arachnids. If you haven't had a chance to come in and hear a bug story or work on a bug project, it's not too late!

The winners of our first grand prize drawing were Chuni Goodson, Matthew Kahn, Libby Goldhirsch, and Ella Cady. Lots of kids have been keeping track of their reading hours on a reading log and getting prizes. We just got some new prizes like these, which we think kids will like.

Kids can still register to keep track of their reading or listening to stories. We will have another grand prize drawing on August 25. Also don't forget that extra hours will go to helping the animals at the Flathead County Animal Shelter. So join us and Catch the Reading Bug @ your library!

Being The Best

Have you ever thought about what makes your experience in a library special? We all have expectations. Some people expect to be able to walk into a library to grab a book or movie like you would run into the grocery store to get a gallon of milk. Others like the technology aspect of using a library which could mean using a computer to look at a digital photo of a friend’s trip to Rome, playing an online game, looking up information to conduct genealogy research. Of course, the library might be the only place a person can send or receive email. Some of the youngest library users like to come and hear stories and maybe do a craft project.

A recent article that I read was talking about how make an experience for a library user the best possible. The author states that “people want a unique experience in which they are recognized and treated with a personal touch.”
He goes on to say “libraries need to keep their services basic and to the point, so that librarians can spend more time creating relationships with [library users]”, which will be “more meaningful in the long run than lots of databases and technology options.”

What are your expectations when you enter any Flathead County Library System branch? It’s something to think about as we move farther into the 21st century and see how libraries will change to provide the best experience possible for you, our library users.

Did you know...

that we had bugs for lunch today in the Children's Area? On the menu were spiders, ants, ladybugs,and even worms in some dirt! Who knew these critters could be so tasty?

Celtic Dancing In Kalispell

You might have thought the Children's Department in Kalispell was a lovely Scottish glade or an Irish meadow today. We were all treated to authentic music and dance performed by the Miles City Caledonian Society Dancers. These energetic and talented dancers have been on tour throughout Montana during the past few weeks. In between dances the dancers told us about the origins of the different tartan kilts they were wearing, the significance of each dance movement, and some Celtic customs. A few kids got to try playing the bagpipes and found out how hard it can be! One of my favorite parts of this event was listening to Amazing Grace being played on the bagpipes...it soothes the soul.