Library

One of the things I always forget about moving to a new place is the time it takes to get used to the noises of the new building. The Graham Building, built in 1938 and remodeled in 1960 (so say the plaques in the hallways), has a LOT of noises to get used to. I’m not saying the noises lead me to believe the building is haunted, but I will tell you I’ve been inspired to read some scary stories. 

I enjoyed “Maplecroft” by Cherie Priest (available to download). This book’s main character is Lizzie Borden. (Yes, *that* Lizzie Borden.) Something is terribly wrong in her town and it’s possessing her neighbors. She has an elaborately secure lab she uses to figure out the entity’s origins and develop weapons to fight the monsters that show up in her town. She must destroy them. Even if they wear familiar faces. 

My daughter and I are currently enjoying “Ghost Squad” by Claribel Ortega. We knew this book was for us when we read the back: “Be prepared. Respect the dead. Always have a cat.” So far, it’s a nice mix of tender, loving family ghosts and thrilling, not-so-loving ones. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout, but they’re pretty easy for this non-Spanish-speaker to translate so far. 

“Bad Girls Don’t Die” by Katie Alender made me nostalgic for R. L. Stine’s “Fear Street” series from my pre-teen years. Alexis is beginning to suspect that her house is haunted, which is just one more piece of misery to add to her teenage existence. Alexis’s sister, Kasey, has a new obsession with dolls that is beyond creepy, making Alexis wonder if Kasey is being possessed. Now Alexis has to find out who the spirit is and how to defeat it. 

Our staff is busy prepping for Summer Reading. Registration begins after Memorial Day with events and reading challenges throughout June and July. 

Our digital library has long been accessible through two mobile apps – Overdrive and Libby. Now, the Powers That Be (way above our pay grades) have decided to phase out their Overdrive app. I’m both disappointed to lose something I’m used to and excited to learn something new. 

I don’t feel like I’ve gotten over the awkwardness of using a new app yet, but I’m getting more comfortable with Libby’s interface. I still yearn for Overdrive’s dry efficiency, but I’m learning to accept (not quite “like”) Libby’s trendy art and colors.  

Libby is more visual than Overdrive and relies heavily on icons to get you where you need to go. When you open the app, you’re on your “shelf” which is represented in the bottom navigation bar as a stack of two books. Your history, or “Timeline,” is to the right of your shelf and represented by an analog clock face. 

You can find your next read by using the “Search” feature (the magnifying glass) or by going to the online library collection through the icon that looks like a building. Both of these icons are on the left side of the navigation bar. 

The center icon with the three vertical lines is your menu. Libby will have notifications here (like when a hold is ready), information about the library and library card(s) you’re using, and options for help and support. Here, too, is the “Settings” menu where you can “Customize Navigation.” I made Libby label the icons because I kept forgetting whether the stack of books is my shelf or the library and would get lost. This small change has helped me immensely! 

Once you’ve checked out your book, the navigation within is familiar ground. Again, the icons look different, but the functionality is the same. 

As always, if you need help with this, let us know. We would love to help you learn how to use Libby!

Happy National Library Week! This week, we get to celebrate all things Library and we encourage you to do the same. Whether you love our collection, online resources, or our quirky personalities, take a minute this week to let us know. Here are three ways:

By far, the best way to celebrate this week is to visit and use your library! Mayes County has five amazing public libraries in Pryor, Chouteau, Langley, Locust Grove, and Salina. Make it a point to visit in person or on their website or facebook page. (Don’t forget your Pryor Library has temporarily moved to the Graham Building at 6 N. Adair)  

On Tuesday, National Library Workers Day, please acknowledge your favorite library worker for the hard work they do. Whether your favorite worker is in one of our public libraries or in a school library, they’re doing a great job and would love to hear from you (or your kids). Library workers, like everyone, have been under a tremendous amount of stress and upheaval throughout the pandemic. I can’t speak for the challenges my colleagues in other libraries are facing, but I know the Pryor Library staff is grappling with pandemic changes, new construction, and a recent relocation that has upended their workflow and routines. A nice word from the community we love and strive to serve would do wonders for morale. 

Lastly, on Thursday (or any day you feel inspired to do so), take action for libraries by letting others know how you feel about libraries and the services they provide. Speaking to our funding sources (mayors, city counselors, superintendents, other citizens) goes a long way to helping us maintain our funding and continue to provide amazing services to our communities. If you have a fond memory of the library or a story about how the library helped you, let people know!

I got to go into the main library building the other day. Things are changing fast! The area that used to house my office, a communal workspace, and the kitchen has been cleared of walls, ceilings, and flooring. I expected the empty space to feel cavernous, but I’m truly amazed we fit all of that in there. 

When the remodel of this space is complete, it will transform into a more functional communal workspace, a staff break room, and a passthrough leading to the hallway for our new kitchen and two new offices. 

Crews have also taken down the walls separating the main library building from our additions and replaced them with temporary coverings. This will let them work on the additions more efficiently. It will also add to the drama effect when the temporary walls come down and BAM! new parts of the building appear! (which is my expectation, not a construction objective) 

The foundation for the art gallery room on the front of the building is now in process. This area of construction will lag a little behind everything else because the gallery was added to the project after the main additions were approved. It should catch up pretty quickly, but supply chain issues have been a complication. 

The ceiling demo has begun as well. Our ceilings are being taken out in order to install the required sprinkler system. This will also clean up a lot of old cabling that has been put in the ceiling and forgotten about. 

In the temporary library news, we’re still getting settled. Your library staff has been through an exceptional number of changes these last two years, so we’re tired and a little scattered, but we’re on the upswing. 

If you haven’t yet, be sure to come check us out at the Graham Community Building (6 N. Adair). Our entrance is through the double doors off the alley.