News
The Library will be closed for Veterans Day
Read On! Good Searching
One of the things we talked about at our Staff Training Day a few weeks ago was the importance of good search terms. Whether you’re using one of our online resources like EBSCO or you’re feeling lucky with a Google search, this advice applies to everyone searching for information online.
My example for the staff was searching for information on the American Civil War. First, we searched with just the terms “Civil War.” In EBSCO, our online resource for articles from peer-reviewed journals, magazines, and newspapers, this search gets results about a lot of civil wars. Not all of them are the one we actually want. When we add “American” to our “Civil War” search, we get a lot closer.
In a simple Google search, “Civil War” might get more information about the American Civil War, especially if you allow Google to know your location. Searching “Civil War” will also return a lot of information on the Marvel Universe’s Civil War. While entertaining, those results are not helpful for this search. When we add “American” to our “Civil War” search on Google, we are on a far better track!
When using the Library’s online resources, there are several simple ways to limit your search results and ensure you’re getting the information you want. (These search limits are almost always on the left-hand side of your search results.)
Google results are a little trickier to limit and to ensure you’re getting correct information. Using the “Advanced Search” in the “Settings” section is a good place to start. Once you start exploring your results, if it’s a site you’re not familiar with, check the site’s “About” section. If you can’t find one, or if the “About” section doesn’t sound right, you might look for another result. If you need help with any of your search results, we’re happy to help.
Read On! General Update (and puppies)
Your Library and your Library Director are busy right now! We just had our first staff training day, we’re wrapping up the information gathering portion of our strategic planning, I’m preparing for a trip to Chicago to be part of a study on library bandwidth, and my family is fostering two adorable puppies from the shelter.
Our staff training day on October 8th (when we are normally closed) was a lovely success if I do say so myself. We got a refresher course on ebooks, wifi, Google Drive, and our online resources. We also got to eat delicious snacks, feast on Remy’s, and play some fun team building games. I am so happy and lucky to work with such wonderful people.
Now that we have most of the information we need for our strategic planning, I will take this information to the Library Board of Trustees and we’ll get busy setting goals and writing a plan to achieve those goals. It has been fun to collect the information and see what library services our community use and what they value most. I am hopeful to have our strategic plan written by the end of November and to start implementing it at the beginning of 2019.
My trip to Chicago later this month will be an exciting one. Your Pryor Library will participate in a study conducted by 
Simmons College and Internet2 to determine how measuring internet speeds and capabilities can help libraries ensure they are serving the internet needs of their communities well. Only 10 – 12 libraries have been invited to participate at this stage of the study. I’m excited to be one of them!
I had forgotten how much work having a puppy is! And we have two of them! They are adorable fluff-balls, so if you’re looking to adopt a puppy (or an older dog, for that matter), call Rockin’ G. They’ll hook you up with the four-legged love of your life.
Read On! Anniversary
On Friday, I celebrated my third anniversary as the director of the Thomas J. Harrison Pryor Public Library. When I applied for the position, I told my husband, “It’ll be good practice.” Having worked at my previous library for over ten years, I knew I needed practice at professional interviewing before I started submitting my resume to larger libraries in Kansas City and St. Louis. I never expected to fall in love with Pryor or its library.
When I came for my interview three years ago, I was impressed with the library’s personable staff; I was pleased to see a budding comic book collection that held one of my favorite series; I was encouraged the Pryor Library was already on a path I believe libraries should follow.
During the interview, the Library Board was welcoming and kind. Their passion for the library and their dedication to its success was evident from the first question to the last. It was literally the most fun I’ve ever had in an interview.
After the interview, I called my husband to tell him all about it. He asked, “Are we moving to Pryor?” I surprised both of us when I replied, “Maybe.”
When I got the job offer, Phil and I gave it serious thought. We made pro/con lists. We researched schools. We looked at daycares. There were truly very few reasons not to take the position. I’m so glad I did.
In three years, I have yet to regret that decision. Even when I was commuting back and forth from Joplin, I wanted to come to work every day. I wanted to be part of this library and part of this community. It seems that the feeling was mutual – we have been welcomed with open arms.
At my first Christmas Parade as I watched the Library Board help wrangle my children I thought, “We have found our village.” Thank you, Pryor, for making this an amazing three years.