The Chief Librarians reporT Library News Highlights January 25, 2012

1. VeneTia Demson reCeiVes The i LoVe my Librarian awarD

Venetia Demson is the first librarian in the Washington region to be given the Carnegie Corporation of New York and New York Times I Love My Librarian award. Venetia is one of 10 librarians in the country to be named this year. Each honoree was recognized at a ceremony and reception in New York City hosted by The New York Times. As head of DCPLs Adaptive Services Division, Venetia is dedicated to providing all levels of library services to the deaf, visually impaired and physically handicapped communities. The explosion in technology for these library users has been met with how-to classes that facilitate electronic communication for book discussions, the ongoing exchange of ideas and information, and the creation of informal friendships among people who had often been isolated before. Venetias nominator describes her work as, What a library should bea safe haven for all and a portal to the resources we all need to enrich our lives. Congratulations, Venetia!

2. DCpLs oLDesT neighborhooD Library Turns 100!

Takoma Park Librarys Centennial Celebration began with an event attended by 100 people who listened to informal remarks by Mayor Vincent Gray and Councilwoman Muriel Bowser, and me. Poet and local resident E. Ethelbert Miller spoke and read his poems. Teens were invited to participate in an essay contest on how they would run the library if they were in charge. Attendees were also invited to draw an image of the Library. Selected images will be printed as note cards, with proceeds going to the Friends group.

Document #9 Board of Library Trustees Meeting January 25, 2012

A month-long series of special events were held in honor of the 100th birthday. Highlights follow: A monthly adult book group discussion was launched, with selections taken from the 100 Years, 100 Books booklist, which was developed by the DCPL staff. The booklist includes a wide variety of genres for all ages. Authors of childrens books read their work in two story hours attended by 41 and 93 listeners, respectively. Poetry on Cedar Street, a new quarterly series that will feature E. Ethelbert Miller and mark the return of poetry programs to Takoma Park Library.

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CounCiLmember Tommy weLLs anD The feDeraTion of frienDs

A new partnership between Councilmember Tommy Wells and the Federation of FriendsTommys Traveling Book Clubwas launched in December. Watha T. Daniel/ Shaw Library hosted this inaugural event for an audience of 75 people. Councilmember Wells chose Triumph of the City, by Edward Glaeser. Joining him in leading the discussion was Harriet Tregoning, Director of the DC Office of Planning. The premise of the book is that cities are civilizations greatest invention, and that urban living makes people greener, healthier, and happier than do other environments. The discussion engaged all who were there, as affordable housing, Capital Bikeshare, education, gentrification, mixed-use neighborhood development, and tall buildings were explored. Tommys Traveling Book Club will take place quarterly. Freegal, a contracted download music service, is now available to all who have a DCPL library card. Library cardholders have access to more than 2 million songs that can be downloaded to their MP3 players. Freegal includes Sony Musics vast music collection and more than 10,000 independent labels. Three music tracks can be downloaded every week from the Librarys website. This music remains in the borrowers song list forever.
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wanT musiC? free? make The Library your musiC sourCe!

5. speCiaL CoLLeCTions hosTs DC hisToriC sTuDies ConferenCe

The 38th Annual DC Historic Studies Conference was hosted recently at MLK Library by DCPLs Special Collections Division. This years theme was DC and the Civil War, and featured sessions such as Lincolns Citadel: The Civil War in Washington, DC and Towards a Digital History of Civil War Washington. The conference drew 200+ registrants, who attended opening and plenary sessions and then chose among 12 breakout programs that were offered over four days. The definition of libraries as community gathering places is enhanced by programs of specific interest to different groups of people. DCPL has encouraged a wide variety of programming developed in partnership with the Library. At the start of a new year, a few new ones merit mention: A monthly series of story times will be led for children with autism. These programs, known as sensory story times, employ special techniques and resources to engage children who are rarely able to attend a traditional story program. Staff from Early Stages, a division of DC Public Schools that works to identify children for intervention before they enter school, will assist. They will be held on Saturdays. Writopia has begun to meet each month at Tenley-Friendship Library. This foundation, which began in New York City and is now in Los Angeles and the District of Columbia, invites 8-18-year-olds to learn about, write, and publish their creative writing. A licensed teacher or established writer supervises the sessions. Attendance has been at about 25, but explodes to 50 or more when open reading is featured. P.I. Advocates International, Inc., has partnered with the Bellevue Library to teach a Health Literacy/Computer Literacy Workshop targeted to seniors. Attendees learn basic computer skills, web navigation, and how to find reliable online health information, using government sanctioned medical websites that are easy to find and read. Upon completion of the workshop, certificates are issued from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

6. parTnerships generaTe speCiaLTy programs @ The Library

7. anaCosTia Library parTners wiTh humans anD Canines

In honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, the Anacostia Library partnered with PAL (People Animals Love), WHUT, and Stanton Elementary School to host PAWS to Read. Five PAL volunteers brought in specially trained dogs to sit and listen as the children read to them. It was evident that the nonjudgmental audience increased the childrens comfort with reading aloud. This event took place during a 6-week Martha Speaks Book Club, done in partnership with Howard University Television and an afterschool group of students from Stanton Elementary School. PAWS to Read attracted 20 children, 5 dogs, and 8 adults.
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8. programs To sooThe The boDy anD sTimuLaTe The minD

Many DCPL Libraries planned early winter programs designed to help customers reduce stress or stretch their minds. Here are highlights: The C.R. Gibbs African History and Culture Lecture Series continues to draw mostly high school and college students and local historians to Woodridge Library. Recent topics were New World aComing: African American Teens and the Civil Rights Movement and Nubia: Black Guardian of the Nile. Monthly book discussion groups have loyal members at many Libraries. Selected books include Doris Lessings The Golden Notebook and Dantes Inferno. A meditation workshop was well-attended at MLK Library, and learning how to meditate has become a definite attraction at Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library. A three-hour reflexology workshop was another big draw at Watha T. Daniel/Shaw during the holiday season.

What can be learned about American workers in a wide variety of settings across the U.S. a decade into the 21st century? The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress joined hands for a pilot project about this with DCPLs Rebecca Renard, Teen Programming Coordinator, and Kelly Navies, Collections Librarian and Oral Historian, and with a small group of students at DCs School Without Walls. Teens were trained intensively in how to conduct oral history interviews, and interviewed people in depth. At least 15 oral histories were obtained through the semester, and will be uploaded on the America Works website: http://www.loc.gov:8081/folklife/americaworks. The Library of Congress will evaluate the pilot to determine whether to take the program nationwide.

9. DCpL, DCps, anD The Library of Congress work on work

10. Teens sharpen programming foCus aT norTheasT Library

The Teen Advisory Group at Northeast Library, though small, offers great ideas for programs, and the neighborhood teens are hearing about them and coming in for the fun. The showing of Despicable Me brought in younger kids, too, and all were welcome. The Teen Advisory Group also worked on National Gaming Daywhat would be offered and how the games would be run.

11. sTaff Day Charges The baTTeries

Staff Day early in December brought all staff together to learn from each other and from others brought to MLK Library for seminars in their special areas of expertise. The day began with a cheer and step performance by youngsters from the Friendship Southeast Academy Public Charter School that got the adrenaline going throughout the Great Hall! Breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon, featuring topics of interest for professional and personal development, were as varied as how to help patrons get the most from the Librarys e-resources to reducing stress through meditation. Warren Brown, founder of CakeLove was the afternoons keynote speaker. He described the hard work of starting and building a business, and about the respect he has for his customers and their views of his productssubtle lessons for all who interact with the public and want to provide the best service. Thanks to the hard-working staff members who volunteered to serve on the Staff Day Steering CommitteeMonisa Waters and Gregg Grisa, co-chairs, and Kenneth Despertt, Tracy Myers, and Maria Perry.