Keeping up with the Jones
Submitted by Library Director, Larry Ostrowski on May 9, 2013
I remember at some point in the nineteen seventies one of my
parent’s neighbors had a backyard gas grill installed. I believe within about two years it seemed
everyone in the neighborhood had a backyard gas grill. And prior to the explosion of backyard gas
grills I have only the vaguest of memories of neighbors doing any kind of
outdoor grilling.
First annual Family Safety Day/Bike-a-Thon?
Submitted by Director Larry Ostrowski on April 14, 2013
This May 11th we are looking to possibly add
another event into our annual cycle of events and programs which the library
and the Friends of the Library participate in. The Huron Valley Optimist Club has for a
number of years conducted a Family Safety Day program in the spring at Lakeland
High School. The focus has been on bike
safety along with child protection and fire safety. This year the Optimists agreed to move their
activities to Hawley Park, located beside the library, and the library, with
the Friends of the Library offering additional children’s activities focusing
on biking.
Getting out on your bike after a long winter like this past
one is one of the ways to state that spring is finally here. We are hoping that in the future a family
safety and bike-a-thon program will become an annual library program marking
the beginning of spring.
The Year In Review
submitted by Library Director Larry Ostrowski on March 7, 2013
At a couple of libraries I worked at prior to arriving in White Lake around this time of the year we would be placing in our pamphlet racks or stacking on our Circulation or Reference Desks an annual report document for the previous year. While certainly not making any library user's must-read list the annual report did help put the past year in perspective and help recall the many programs and activities that make the library the "heart of the community.”
For the White Lake Township Library, the year 2012 will always be remember as the year we got "Geeked.”Joining in with a large number of other public libraries in the Detroit metro area the library began a pretty much year-long PR effort to find out "What do you Geek?” The walls in the adult computer area featured dozens of photos of patrons, staff, Friends of the Library, Library Board members and others proudly proclaiming what the "Geeked.” Two, five by three poster boards in the computer area provided written comments by library users stating what they "Geeked.”White Lake Residents "geeked” everything from Batman to Quickbooks to Irish dancing to Justin Bieber and everything in between. The black "What do you Geek?” T-shirts were popular with the staff and the Friends of the Library group sold a number of them to patrons.
The major event in early 2012 was the Friend's annual mini-golf event held on the first Sunday in March. The event raised funds for the purchase of various furnishings for the Children's area.Attendance at the event rose again for the fourth year in a row and at one point in the afternoon over eighty people was on the course playing. Hosts of programs build around the Great Michigan Read selection, Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle were well attended as was a program for upper elementary children on the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. The Friends of the Library and staff participated in the White Lake Community Egg Hunt at the Fisk Farm with crafts and activities. The library also took on the role of solicitor and collector of items for the White Lake Township Time Capsule to be buried in 2013.
The Summer Reading program was again a major success as was the annual Concert in the Park which featured the musical trio Cats and the Fiddler. 2012 was the first year that patrons could register online to attend programs and events. Behind the scenes in the summer the library upgraded Its internet service to a faster fiber-optic platform. The library also completed the re-carpeting project begun in 2011, with the carpeting of the staff areas. A silent auction of used furnishings replaced in 2011 was also conducted.
The fall saw the library and Friends again involved in the annual Fisk Farm Festival as well as the annual White Lake Community Tree Lighting. The library conducted a very successful first time Local Author Fair.The November general election saw Rich McGlew, Jennifer Schulz, Glenn Rossow and Joe Fennell re-elected to the library board and Liz Smith and Pam Collins joining them to fill the six board positions.
Statistically, 2012 was a banner year for the library. In all the major categories used to measure library service the library surpassed the figures of 2011. More people visited the library than ever before (90,821), checking out more items (217,308), asking more questions (23,342), and logging more sessions on the public internet computers (29,263) than ever before. While other libraries in the area have seen their numbers flatten out or decline, the numbers for the White Lake Township Library continue to rise.
The White Lake Township Library Board, Staff and Friends look forward to developing a strategic plan in 2013 to continue to offer quality services and programs to the citizens of White Lake for years to come.
Fines- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Submitted by Library Director Larry Ostrowski on January 22, 2013
Beginning February 1st the library will be charging a dollar a day fine for overdue NEW DVDs and instituting a limit of five new DVDs that a patron may have checked out at any one time. In my four plus years as director here this is the first time that we gotten on the revenue-generating/patron-restrictive highway regarding our materials here at the library. For me it's been a point of pride to share that our policies have been focused around the concept of not restricting the number of items a borrower may want to check out and at the same time charging a low enough fine that should they not return the items in timely manner they won't have to take out a loan to regain their borrowing privileges. And for the most part the vast majority of borrowers return items on time and those that do return items late pay the $.10 a day fine.
However, nothing stays the same forever and in the case of our NEW DVD collection the growing sophistication of our borrowers with the latest technology has created a situation where some patrons are reserving literally all NEW DVDs and, combined with our low fine structure keeping those items out long past the one week loan period.The goal of the library is to have the items borrowers want to get them to them in a timely manner and in this case we are falling short in the timely manner. The policy changes beginning on February 1st will hopefully speed up the turnaround time that any individual keeps out a NEW DVD as well as the number of NEW DVDs any one person can have checked out.
As I stated earlier,I've been very proud of the fact that we have not gone the money-making, material restricting route with our policies but I do believe in this case we can better serve all the patrons in White Lake with a policy that strongly encourages timely borrowing of our NEW DVD items.
Thanks for Voting!
Submitted by Library Director, Larry Ostrowski on November 21, 2012
One storyline from the fallout of the recent presidential
election was the sense that voters voted for the candidate that was going to
give them the most "gifts.” In that
context, I am happy to report that voters voting for the White Lake Township
Library in a recent nationwide Lego promotion secured for our library a
wonderful "gift.”
Earlier this year, LEGO DUPLO and the Association for
Library Services To Children (ALSC) joined hands to celebrate and support local
libraries in the Read! Build! Play! project. Library patrons across the nation were asked to "vote” for their library
to be one of 200 libraries to receive a special LEGO toolkit. Amazingly the White Lake Township Library got
more votes than other libraries around the country, many of whom serve
communities 2,3,4 times our size. And as
political candidates know, it’s all a matter of getting out the vote, and in
this case White Lake out-voted much bigger communities.
The special LEGO DUPLO Read! Build! Play! Toolkit is chock
full of cutting edge, early literacy programming that combines preschool books
with a versatile collection of DUPLO bricks. We will have the items out on display in our Children’s department
shortly.
Our monthly LEGO club attendees also will greatly benefit
from the added bricks for their unique theme-based creations.
Thanks again for voting for the White Lake Township Library.
Death of Genre
Submitted by Library Director, Larry Ostrowski on October 12, 2012
In our little library world one of the constant in-house topics of discussion among staff who are on the front lines recommending and selecting books for the library's collection is what, if any, "genre” sticker to attach to the spine of a fiction book.Nothing makes a librarian on a service desk (like myself) happier than when a patron approaches the desk and expresses an interest in reading Mysteries or Christian Fiction and you can tell them books in that genre have an identifiable sticker on the spine. While a "good” librarian who provides reader's advisory can usually recommend a handful of titles in just about every genre, the reality is that we all have our own areas of reading interest and being able to alert patrons to titles in the collection in the genre of their interest is a big help.
I share this little insight only because one of the "founding fathers” of genre fiction is slowly going the way of the dinosaur. Long before Fantasy broke out from under the category of Science Fiction and Suspense splintered off from Mystery, the choices for librarians in the realm of sticker selection for a title were Science Fiction, Mysteries, Romance, and Westerns, or none for the general fiction collection. Sadly the Western reader has more or less ridden off into the sunset and while titles are still being published that are classed in that genre, compared to other genres, the Western has pretty much sunk to the bottom of readership. Some book stores have eliminated it completely as a subject category and file the titles in with the general fiction collection. Unless another Zane Gray or Louis L'Amour surfaces to revive interest in this uniquely American genre I'm afraid the Western sticker sheet is going to be collecting dust in our back workroom.
The Death of the Book Cover
Submitted by Library Director, Larry Ostrowski on August 30, 2012
The idiomatic phrase, "never judge a book by its cover,” and other similar variations have found their way into conversation for close to 100 years. But, for better or worse, I think the life that that particular statement may be coming to an end as we move further and further along in the digital highway.
Beginning around the turn of twentieth century and continuing to the present, publishers have hired graphic artists to take the book jacket and transformed it into a billboard shouting "READ ME!! READ ME!!” It's been the printed words calling card. Recently visiting an historical library whose collection was made up of mostly publications printed before 1900, it really struck me how visually unmoved I was toward opening any particular title. While not judging the book by its cover, the lack of anything to draw me into opening it made it easy to be distracted into moving on to something of more visual appeal.
Working in bookstore in the nineties I couldn't help but notice that the long-haired, muscle-model Fabio appeared on an endless number of romance novels. I don't know if his portrait matched the hero's in the book but I do know that his bare-chested appearance on a book cover guaranteed sales. I know for myself and many others the cover illustration has been part of our reading experience. The image we had of Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown or Conan the Barbarian was already fixed in our minds before we read the first page.
Looking at list of titles of books I've read over the will jog my memory banks to some degree to the experience of reading any particular title. But seeing the cover of Stephen King's Cujo, or Frederick Forsyth's Odessa File, or Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, and I'm transported for a short time back the place and time I read those titles and feelings and images come to mind of things long past. The book cover and the book itself are linked together in my mind.
Summer Reading Highlights
Submitted by Library Director, Larry Ostrowski on July 19, 2012
As many of you know, June, July and August are quite often the busiest time of the year at a public library. This is of course, because of the various programs and activities that revolve around the concept of a summer reading club or program. Initially for children, libraries now also conduct programs and events for teens and adults and the idea of a club has pretty much disappeared.
Believe it or not there is a history of summer reading programs that dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. The idea back then was for the library to produce a list of best books for children to read that summer and those children that read all the books on the list got a certificate. Another component of summer reading back then was the idea that during the summer librarians would go out to playgrounds and other areas where children gathered and tell stories and share books with them.
Over the years the programs at various libraries have claimed to prevent "summer slide” (reading ability loss) and decrease juvenile delinquency. On the flip side, the programs have been criticized for creating "too much” competition within children to win contests and prizes for reading which they should be doing for the sheer joy of it.
The idea of prizes and rewards as a component of summer reading has often been a hotly debated subject in library circles, and while some offer only certificates and reading record sheets the vast majority offer some kind of toy, pencil, gift certificate or coupon for reading X number of books. Believe it or not, one library I worked at in the early eighties children read books in order to earn minutes on a computer to play games like Tic-Tac-Toe.
Today most public libraries develop their summer reading programs and activities around a theme developed by a group of children's librarians and specialists in each state.This allows smaller libraries to have access to professional produced reading records, posters, etc. at a greatly reduced cost.
All in all it's a great time to be working at a public library!
Return of Oprah’s Book Club
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on June 10, 2012
Condensed below are portions of the press release we folks in the library world got concerning the return, after two years, of book titles selected and promoted by Oprah Winfrey. The titles will be promoted on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, where she hosts a weekly show called "Oprah's Next Chapter” that airs on Sunday nights. She is expected to make a number of selections each year.
Her first pick, she has chosen "Wild,” by Cheryl Strayed, a nonfiction retelling of the author's epic hike of the Pacific Crest Trail that was published in March by Knopf.
"I love this book,” Ms. Winfrey writes in the July issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, which will highlight the new book club on its cover and feature an interview with Ms. Strayed. "I want to shout it from the mountaintop. I want to shout it from the Web. In fact, I love this book so much and want to talk about it so much, I knew I had to reinvent my book club.”
While calling the new version Oprah's Book Club 2.0, Ms. Winfrey will resuscitate many of the familiar markers of its first incarnation, including the sticker on the jacket of print books that proudly designates the title as sanctioned by Ms. Winfrey.
But in a nod to the millions of readers who have abandoned print books for e-books, Ms. Winfrey has updated the club with digital and social-media elements. The e-book versions of the selected book, for instance, will include margin notes from Ms. Winfrey highlighting her favorite passages.
Before she stopped selecting books altogether in 2010, Ms. Winfrey had picked 65 books since 1996, a mix of contemporary and classic works. For many years, a book's selection as an Oprah-sanctioned title translated into instantly skyrocketing sales of more than a million copies, extraordinary numbers for any title.
Her greatest influence remained in plucking new books from the pile, often lifting a little-known author like Jacquelyn Mitchard or Anita Shreve to household-name status. When Ms. Winfrey halted her daytime talk show last year, book publicists mourned the loss of what was easily the most desirable platform to promote an author.
Oprah titles have pretty much always been ones I could easily recommend to folks wanting a good insightful and rewarding book to read and I believe I can say without qualification that the library world is pleased and excited to see her again recommending titles.
Turning the Page
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on May 3, 2012
Turning the page
For many of us in the public library world the month of May is page turning time. The winter/spring programs are coming to a close as well as activities and events that revolve around the school year calendar.
Here at the White Lake Township Library it's been a great first four months of 2012, with our Friends 4th Annual Mini-Golf event being a rousing success, and the library hosting a very well-attended and received group of programs focusing around the Great Michigan Read selection, the Arc of Justice by Kevin Boyle. In addition the library helped hundreds of patrons this spring in joining the ebook revolution with assistance and programs on the various devices and practices necessary to download titles. The library was also a key participant at the annual Easter Eggstravanga held at the Fisk Farm for over 500 children plus adults.
During the last week of April we put the finishing touches to the renovations and upgrades to the facility started last August with some minor recarpeting, lighting upgrades and replacement of various tables and chairs.
Be on the lookout for our Summer newsletter highlighting our Summer Reading Program for Children. In addition there will be a variety of programs and activities for adults and teens, including a Reading Program for those age groups to participate in.
Calling it quits
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on March 22, 2012
After 244 years, Encyclopedia Britannica is going out of print.
For those of us who consider ourselves "library-lifers” we grew up viewing the Encyclopedia Britannica as the gold standard of encyclopedias. In the pre-digital days it was always near or at the top of every librarian's must have list of reference resources. Compared to World Book, Collier's, Americana, etc., I always thought of the Britannica as the New York Yankees of encyclopedias. In the post-World War II golden age of the ‘50s and ‘60s having a set in your home was a middle class status symbol displaying your cultural refinement. The Cleavers of "Leave it to Beaver” had a set on display in the family den. The depth of their articles and the quality of writing, often by recognized experts in their particular field, made it seem worth the higher price compared to other encyclopedic sets. I can remember public and private school librarians always excited about receiving our older edition when a new one arrived at the public library because the quality more than made up for the lack of currency. In the age of Wikipedia and the Internet it is hard to believe that there was once a time when reference sources weren't constantly being updated and revised.
Moving forward Britannica will live online in cyber space, serving the school curriculum needs of educational providers.
The days however of flipping through a volume and coming across some topic you hadn't ever thought much about and basically "discovering” it are at an end.
Library Blog
My two minutes on eReaders
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on Febuary 6, 2012
My 2 minutes on eReaders
Try as I might I can't keep from being a bit conflicted over the current evolution of eReaders and their impact on public libraries.
On the one hand I can see the advantages of being able to carry around and have access to a building full of books 24/7. And with each newer version there are more options like adjustable font size, highlighting and other customizable features. The reality of being able to offer more "copies” of a title that take up zero shelf space in my building also gets my vote. And finally there is, of course, the "cool factor” of being part of the digital revolution generation that is growing up in a paperless environment.
On the other hand in this conflict, I like being able to answer the question, "Do you have this title?” and not have to worry that it's a title by a publisher who does not permit electronic access to their titles. Also by physically handing them a book I do not have to ask them what reading device they own, as well as what version, and do they have access to a computer to download the title, and because of limitations, how many electronic titles do they currently have "checked out.” And when I hand that printed book to them I don't need to assist them in navigating through various buttons and touch screens to "read” their book.
Currently I would be more of advocate for ebooks in this debate regarding eReaders verses print were it not for the issue availability. Its seems like everyone who has a friend or family member they know who is a library user bought them a Kindle or Nook for Christmas as gift and now they are coming to the library wanting to read the new and popular titles they usually read in print on their new gift.Sadly, they are not only finding them "checked-out” electronically, but that they actually will get to read new or popular titles more quickly if they placed a hold on a print copy. The whole question of libraries "owning” electronic copies of a title is still up in the air and publishers are very unhappy with the current way libraries acquire electronic copies of their titles and major changes are sure to come. One person summed it up by saying, "It's like buying a new car for a trip only to realize that there are no roads to your destination, so you have to go by horseback.Eventually a road will be built but it just isn't there quite yet.
Last Year for Michigan tax credit
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on December 15, 2011
Hardly a day goes by at the library without someone stopping by the library to donate good condition books, DVDs and CDs. Occasionally we also have individuals making monetary contributions to the library.Aside from being delighted to receive the items or monies, we make it a point to mention to the donor the fact that we are more than willing to provide a receipt acknowledging their donation should they choose to claim a tax credit on their federal and state tax forms. Beginning January 1 of 2012, however, that tax credit can only be claimed on an individual's federal tax form. The State of Michigan will no longer offer tax credits for your donations to public libraries and other charitable institutions.I know for many of you this change will not impact on your giving or donation of materials to the library but should you be considering end-of-year monetary contributions for 2011 tax returns please note that those donations need to be postmarked by December 31st or dropped off at the library by close of business on December 30th.
As the year comes to a close I would once again like to thank the many of you who have contributed to and supported our various activities and programs over the past twelve months. The Mini Golf Event, the Eggstravaganza, the Summer Reading Celebration, the Great Pumpkin Hunt and the Community Tree Lighting along with the many other weekly activities and programs are only possible as a result of your support that goes beyond tax dollars. In 2012 we envision again offering these as well as other programs in our efforts to make White Lake Township Library a community jewel.
Back in Business!
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on September 27, 2011
This past August will go down as one of the strangest times in my forty years of working in public libraries. Never in all those years of continuous library work had I ever been at one that was closed for more than a few days. When we renovated or expanded a facility within the larger library systems we still had another location open to provide service for our borrowers. Other libraries were moved into a strip-mall storefront or operated out of the library's meeting room during the remodeling projects.
During the sharing time at the August Highland Business Association meeting it was so odd to state that "the library is closed” for the first time in my life. It got a good laugh but it seemed strange to be saying it.
Indeed the strangest part of the month was the absence of you borrowers and users of the library. I missed our daily interactions. My internal bio-clock kept going off at 10 o'clock every morning saying the library is open for business, yet you weren't there. Something didn't seem right when returning from lunch on a Monday and not seeing any cars parked around the library. Not hearing the occasional sounds and footsteps of children in the building was strangely un-nerving. So much of the background noise of "life” in the library was missing.
It's great to be back in business and I personally appreciate the number of positive comments I've received from those of you who have "returned” to the library after a brief exodus to our surrounding library communities. Please feel free to contact me anytime and "Thanks” for bringing back life into the library.
August News!
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on August 29, 2011
Our End of Summer Reading Party for children who had reached their goal was an event with multiple activities and was only possible though the sponsorship of Oakland County Parks, Huron Valley Optimists and Meijer of White Lake.
participation.
Moving the book stack ranges exposed untrodden carpet and it was visually alarming what ten years of foot traffic can do to a carpet. Re-carpeting with carpet squares will allow us to address wear and fade issues without replacing the entire carpet.
Thanks again for your patience during this time and hope to be open and serving you shortly.
Larry Ostrowski
July News
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on July 1, 2011
These next four weeks of July are annually the busiest time
of the year: programs and activities at
the library as well as the borrowing of materials. With the library closing in August for
painting, re-carpetining, and repositioning of the collection, the weeks ahead
should even busier than in 2010. Children and teens participating in the summer reading program are going
great guns and the end of summer reading party will again have multiple mobile
recreational units from Oakland County Parks and Recreation. An added perk for participation in our summer
program this year is a chance to win one of two bicycles, courtesy of Township
Supervisor Greg Baroni and his wife, Marilyn.
For the first time in my three summers here, we have a
family program tie-in to White Lake’s signature event of the year, Quake on the
Lake. "Racer Bob” Dabrowski will be at
the library on Wednesday evening, July 13th with his hydroplane boat
to share his experiences in this exciting sport. Be sure to bring your camera
for photos of the kids in the driver’s seat! It’s also a great way to find out
what goes on during the Quake weekend and the other activities besides the boat
racing. This year for instance, the
Quake will be featuring a family-friendly concert for children by Verve Pipe on
Saturday afternoon, July 16th.
My personal interest in the American Civil War is being
accommodated as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the beginning
of the conflict with a summer concert in the park featuring the 5thMichigan Regiment Band on Monday night, July 18th. The musicians play a variety of popular tunes
from the 1860s in period uniforms and using replica instruments.
During these weeks leading up to our closure please feel
free to contact us by phone, email, or in person regarding returning materials,
placing holds, picking up materials on hold, or other library questions. We
look forward to reopening in September with an improved library!
Good News!
submitted by Larry Ostrowski on June 6, 2011
During these days of government budget tightening so much of what has been reported about libraries in general has been less than positive. In our Detroit metro area one city public library (Romulus) closed and has since reopened but only as a shell of its former self in terms hours and services available. Another city library (Garden City) is closing June 24th, and another city library (Troy) that was scheduled to close on April 30th, got a reprieve to stay open until a special election is held on August 2nd to determine its fate.
Lost in the reporting on the state budget and the various cutbacks and reductions for 2012, was the fact that the folks in Lansing did seem to “get it” regarding how libraries have worked together for years to share and pool resources and save the taxpayer money. After an initial proposal from the governor to cut state aid to libraries by 40%, the legislators voted to continue to provide state aid to libraries at basically the same level as they did in the 2011 budget. For White Lake residents this means we will still be able to provide access to online electronic databases that cover a wide variety of subjects. More importantly, this means that the delivery system which brings materials to White Lake residents from libraries in the greater Detroit area will continue to operate in 2012. Given the size of our library and its collection, it is crucial that we have the ability to secure materials from other libraries to meet White Lake resident’s needs.
On another totally unrelated topic, I hope many of you have received our summer newsletter informing you of our “Library” home improvements that will be occurring during the month of August. I’ve received a number of positive comments from residents happy that we are keeping the facility fresh and attractive but a number have also wondered about the length of the time we will be closed. In a “money is no expense scenario” we would have movers come in, box up the entire collection, dis-assemble all the shelving and have everything stored in a semi-trailer or two. The painters and carpet workers could do their tasks in three or four days and then the movers would re-assemble the shelving and unbox the materials. In an effort to spent our monies wisely we have worked out a plan with the various parties involved to do a kind-of “musical chairs” with materials and shelving moving out one area for carpeting and repainting and different shelving and materials moved back into the finished area. All told there are seven elements to the project that, when completed, has the children and young adult collections relocated to the lower level and the adult non-fiction collection and public computers moved to the first floor. Located outside my office are drawings showing our current layout and drawings of the library upon re-opening in September. Should you have any questions or concerns about the project please feel free to stop in or contact me at 248-698-4942, or by email at lostrowki@whitelakelibrary.org.
State Budget for Library Collaboration at Risk
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on April 19, 2011.
During the most recent battle in our U.S. Congress to pass a federal budget and keep the government running, I'm guessing that many of you, like me, were upset that they were focusing all this time and energy arguing and debating over programs that cost taxpayers $.25 a year and not addressing programs costing dollars a day to the taxpayer. If nothing else you had to come away from all the talk impressed by the importance politicians placed on programs of so minor financial impact to the taxpayer.
Sitting in my office at the library, I can't help but wish, in a twisted way, that state aid to libraries here in Michigan could capture the importance in politician's minds as financially insignificant programs do in Washington. Totally under the radar in the budget discussions in Lansing is the proposal to cut state aid to libraries 40% after just cutting it 40% two years ago. State aid to libraries very much mirrors those programs in Washington costing the taxpayer $.25 a year. And bang for the governmental buck the taxpayer benefits, as state aid to libraries has promoted consolidation and collaboration between libraries around the state. At a time when everyone is now talking about the importance of multi-governmental cooperation, libraries in Michigan have been doing it for decades.
Every day we receive a hundred plus items from libraries around Detroit and the state via a delivery system that exists because of state aid. We can offer access to a number of electronic databases with information not available via any Google search because of state aid contracts for statewide sharing between libraries. Both of these services are seriously at risk of disappearing over next two years, if proposed cuts are implemented. The reality will, quite literally, be returning libraries back to 70s.
Painfully, I can remember working in a library like our one here in White Lake where it seemed every third or fourth title a patron wanted was not in our library and the best advice I could offer was for them to get in their car and make a 20, 40, or 60 mile round trip to a library that had the item. Similarly, we had only the basic reference resources so that any kind of seriously in-depth question could only be answered it the patron visited a much larger public or university library. It's hard to see driving 20, 40, or 60 miles to secure an item with gas at $4.00 a gallon is a savings to the taxpayer versus supporting a delivery system that costs the taxpayer collectively $.25 a year.
I could, of course, go on a further rant about how individuals are addressing their own budget shortfalls by accessing libraries to their need for a wide variety of materials and resources they can no longer afford.
Stay tuned for further developments.
New stimulus grant computers at your Library!
submitted by Larry Ostrowski on March 24, 2011
For many months we have been talking about our Federal stimulus grant and the imminent arrival of new computers and printers for use in the library. On February 22nd that finally became a reality. For many of our “regular” library computer users it has meant an end to constantly being frustrated by the obsolete operating systems we had on our computers and printers that frequently crashed or froze up.
With the addition of more computers with internet access we have also been able to increase the time allowed on a workstation to a total of two and one-half hours per day. This has been especially helpful for people who use our computers to find employment. In fact, these new computers mean more access to the Internet for you and your family and provide a foundation for economic growth and job creation.
While we have had a number of positive comments about the additional computers, we have had some patrons express surprise at seeing triple the number of terminals outside our quiet study room in the lower level of the Library. In this time of tight government budgets, I believe it's important for everyone to know that these new computers are courtesy of a successful federal broadband stimulus grant. The grant was submitted by Michigan State University to improve internet access throughout the state and in select public libraries. The Friends of the White Lake Township Library also contributed the additional funds that were needed to show local support for the grant. Were it not for the grant we would still be limping along with our obsolete units and replacing only the ones that can no longer be updated and/or repaired. Check out the new computers on your next visit to the Library!
A BIG Mini-Golf Thank you!
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on March 9, 2011
A big THANKS to all those who sponsored, contributed, or attended our 3RD Annual Mini-Golf Event, on Sunday, March 6th. We had a steady stream of golfers on the course from noon until the last foursome finished up at 4:15. The course continues to grow in challenges and hole number one located on the Motor City Party Bus provided unique design issues to overcome. Pictures on our Facebook page can attest to the fun and enjoyment players had on the course.
Besides our tee and green sponsors a number of local businesses as well as individuals contributed items for a Silent Auction on the day of the event. With over 50 items to bid on, we've put the items on display in our Reading area and extended the time to bid on the items to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th. Due stop in as there are great deals to be had on a number of unique items.
Due to the generous support of our event we will be ordering LeapFrog early learning materials to place in our collection in the very near future. LeapFrog materials can really make reading come alive and support a child's first efforts at becoming literate. Thanks again for assisting our efforts to encourage the love of reading in the children of White Lake.
3rd Annual Mini-Golf Event promises Excitement
Submitted by Larry Ostrowski on February 17, 2011
It won't be business as usual at the library on the weekend of March 5th and 6th. For the better part of 48 hours the library will be an eighteen hole mini-golf course for the enjoyment of teens and families and in conjunction with the Friends of the Library's efforts to provide materials in support of early learning in White Lake. The library will close at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5th and will open for golfing at 6 p.m. for middle school students. On Sunday golfing for families is from noon to 4 p.m., with the course closing and re-opening at 5 p.m. for area church Youth Groups and Home Schooling students.
This annual event has enabled the library to secure Early Learning Literacy Computer Stations these past two years and this year's efforts are directed toward purchasing LeapFrog early learning materials. Once again a number of local businesses and organizations have come forward to support the event by sponsoring greens and tees as well as providing items for a Silent Auction during the event.
On Sunday afternoon the Motor City Party Bus will be the site of the first hole on the course and new for this year will be two motorized windmills to challenge golfers. Members of the Friends of the Library and me are hoping many of you will partake of this unique library experience which allows us to further serve the children of White Lake.
Getting the Word Out
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on November 17, 2010
Coming to White Lake in May of 2008, I strangely faced a challenge I had never had before regarding promoting and sharing the library's message: no local daily newspaper. The smallest community I worked in had 11,000 residents and a newspaper which was printed five days a week. Practically anything we did in the way of programs or activities made the paper. In the larger communities there was a bit more competition with other libraries for print space but if we were doing something of value and interest we could usually get coverage.
I've gotten very positive comments from patrons when they receive our newsletter that comes out every four months but it focuses primarily upon upcoming events. Reporting on past events as well as the library's involvement in activities in White Lake or with neighboring libraries just hasn't been possible. We have mentioned and reported on them on our library's web page as well as our Face book and Twitter pages but one has to be online specifically looking for the White Lake Township Library to hear or read about these things.
Recently an online source for local news called Patch.com has debuted which I hope can fulfill the void of not having a local print publication. I read the Oakland Press and the Detroit Free Press daily always scanning for any White Lakes news as well as the weekly Spinal Column, but being a relative newbie here it's rare to see anything in print about White Lake that isn't hard news. So far I've been pleasantly surprised with the articles Brooke Meier, the editor and her staff has written about people and events in White Lake. Brooke interviewed some of the teens who attended our Harry Potter After Hours gathering on Friday, November 12th, and it was great to not only read and hear some White Lake teens share their interest in the books and movies, but to know that folks who might not be visitors to our web site would discover some of the things we're doing. We, at the library will be doing all we can to promote this source for local White Lake news and events and you will also spread the word and share ideas and information about all things White Lake.
Really giving thanks
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on October 7, 2010
While Thanksgiving is still six weeks away, I've already been in a giving thanks mood for quite some time. Hardly a day goes by without news of a public library in the metro area reducing hours of operation, furloughing or cutting staff, decreasing the amount of money to acquire new materials, or eliminating programming budgets for children and adults. The list of cost saving actions area libraries are preparing to take filled six pages. I know I would have contributed several cutbacks to the list if not for the overwhelming community support and passage of our millage in August.
Thanks to the voters in White Lake we will be able to maintain our current hours of operation; sustain the budget for new books, CDs and DVDs; and keep offering programs and classes for adults, teens and children. I'm especially thankful for being able to assure our Teen Librarian, Julie Saunders, that she'll be able to continue developing the teen program and collection. Also during the next year the staff and library board will be evaluating the library's design and layout to determine the most effective and efficient use of our physical library space.
Over the next two months the library and the Friends of the White Lake Township Library will be involved in three White Lake community events:
- October 9th - 1st Annual Great Pumpkin Hunt at Indian Springs Metro Park
- October 17th - Fall Harvest Fest at the Community Garden next to Cavalry Lutheran on M-59
- December 1st - White Lake Community Tree Lighting at the Village Lakes Shopping Center
Due to the support for our library millage we will still be a vital and active presence in the life of the White Lake community. Thanks again!!
Thank you for the support! Library Millage passes, 63% yes to 37% no
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on August 4, 2010
On the behalf of the White Lake Township Library Board of Trustees and the staff at the library, I would like to express my heart felt thanks to the White Lake community for their overwhelming support of the millage request (Yes- 63%, No- 37%) to sustain the current level of library operations. At the time the decision was made in early 2010 to seek a millage increase in the face of declining tax revenue, I had grave concerns that there would not be support for the current level of library services until the community had to live for a year(s) with the pain of cuts in materials, services and staff cuts.
Since arriving in mid-2008, I've also had many residents remark about the value and the importance they place regarding the Library in White Lake, but I had no evidence if that support translated into millage support. Seeing the turnout and the results of the August vote truly makes me proud to be a resident of White Lake. Rest assured that the board, the staff and I will continue to strive to make the Library a real community treasure for current and future generations.
Larry Ostrowski, Director, White Lake Township Library
The Future of the White Lake Township Library ?????
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on July 16, 2010
On June 26th I attended the grand opening of the new Novi Public Library. The new library has been built on vacant land that was located next to the old Novi library. The old Novi library has been demolished and the site is currently being turned into a parking lot for patrons at the new facility. Arriving late in the afternoon, I lucked out into getting the complete, behind-the-scenes tour, courtesy of Director Julie Farkas. It was hard not to ooh and awe over all the many features of the building, the furnishings and the latest technological capabilities. (Got to catch the end of the U.S. vs. Ghana World Cup Soccer game at one of the many ceiling mounted large televisions located in the lounge seating areas on both floors of the building.) Since unofficially opening the previous Monday, the number of patrons visiting the building each day was nearly double the door count from the old facility and the pride with which a number of the patrons I talked to was inspiring.
Driving back home to White Lake it was rather hard for me to reconcile how one community could be opening the doors to a new, state-of-the-art facility, while the situation in White Lake and many of the surrounding libraries is one if worrying about just keeping the doors open. It's hard to believe that just last summer our state representative, Eileen Kowall presented the library with a State Proclamation recognizing the quality of library service we had finally achieved. Moving forward and without the income from the proposed millage, the library will not meet minimum state standards for a library serving a community of our size.
I final somewhat disturbing observation I had about libraries came when I accompanied a group of teens from our area on a mission trip to the town of Monessen, Pennsylvania near the West Virginia border south of Pittsburgh. During some free-time from our work emptying, cleaning, painting and repairing apartments in a federal housing project, I made a point of visiting the public library in the town. The library was built in 1959 for a community of 20,000, and which now numbers 8,000. The library had a photo history of the library on the end panels of the shelving and it was so sad to see visually a key element of the community gradually drift into obsolescence. I expected to see a building in need of great repair and I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't prepared for a library with a VHS collection that dwarfs it's DVD one, a computer lab with monster-sized monitors and a new book shelf with mostly romance paperbacks and titles like the DaVinci Code (copyright 2003). I fear some libraries, because of the current economic situation in the Detroit area may be heading down this path. I'm putting my money on the residents of White Lake not to be one of those communities whose Library is going that way.
My thoughts about the August 3, 2010 Library Millage request
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on May 2, 2010
Have you ever had the experience of paying a hefty car repair bill and being told your vehicle checks out fine only to have, a short time later, another costly item surface that needs repair? That's kind of how I feel about the funding situation for the White Lake Township Library since moving to White Lake in May of 2008.
Few people, including the members of the Library Board and myself, had any idea of the economic changes that would begin in the summer of 2008. The resulting decrease in tax revenue was unexpected and is significant. Currently I'm sitting in my office looking at charts, graphs and projections for library revenue that in 2008, I would have assumed I was holding upside down. Sadly, I'm not.
I wish I could say “I got us into this mess, and I'll get us out of it.” But I can't. The Library Board, the Friends, the staff and myself have been as pro-active as we can: applying for grants, fundraising via the establishment of a Mini-Golf Tournament, increasing the frequency of book sales, and partnering with local organizations and governmental units to share program costs. Behind the scenes, we were one of the first libraries or governmental units in Oakland County to freeze salaries in mid-2008. Staff members who receive health benefits have had to increase their contributions 2 years in a row. We have limited the substitute staff to cover vacant service desks due to vacation or illness. Book and materials budgets have been reduced.
These efforts will not be enough to ensure having the needed funds to provide basic, quality library service. Andrew Carnegie, benefactor of American libraries, knew this long ago when he offered to build and furnish a wonderful, state of the art library building ONLY if the community committed public funds for the staffing and maintenance of the building and the development of the collection.
This August the residents of White Lake will be presented with the choice of deciding how vital a role the public library will play in the educational, technological, and life-long learning experiences it provides for the current and future citizens of White Lake by voting for a millage that will offset the now known reductions that will be realized in future years' funding for the library.
During this time leading up to the August primary election, PLEASE call, email, or stop in the library if you have any questions regarding why a millage has been placed on the ballot. Providing information is what we do.
Thank you for supporting the 2nd Annual Mini Golf Fundraiser
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on March 17, 2010
Attendance at this year’s event was again a success and up 30% over 2009! In fact we had one 7year-old boy who had coerced his mom to bring him to the library at 10:45 a.m. so he could be the first one to tee off! Personally, it was so heart-warming and uplifting to see mom, dad and the kids all together at one time in the library enjoying an activity. And while they weren’t reading, most folks were easily distracted into perusing the shelves and examining materials as they waited to tee off.
Saturday night’s “Teens Only” time was also a success and we will be exploring how we might increase the number of schools participating and perhaps also including church youth groups. A number of parents of teen attending commented how great it was to have fun, safe event for their teenagers to gather and socialize.
In addition to our wonderful sponsors (noted on our home page) a number of businesses and individuals contributed items and services for a Silent Auction. As we received a number of truly great items for auction, we’ve placed them in the Adult Reading area and will accept bids until the end of March.
Once again, THANKS from the Friends, Library Board, the staff and myself for making this event such a success!!
Larry O
March Mini-Golf Madness - Friends of the Library Funraiser!
Posted by: Larry Ostrowski on February 13, 2010
The White Lake Township Library will be the place to be for families on the afternoon of Sunday, March 7th, as the Friends of Library conduct the 2nd Annual Mini-Golf Event. Besides the eighteen holes of golf, there will be refreshments, and a greatly increased number of Silent Auction items from local businesses for individuals to bid.
The library will be closing at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 6th, so that the library “greens keepers” can construct the course on the two floors of the library. At 6 p.m. the course will be open to middle school students and at 8 p.m. the course will be turned over to high school students.
The goal of last year's event was to purchase two Early Learning Literacy Computer Stations for pre-school and early elementary children. We succeeded in raising enough funds to purchase one station, so our goal again is to raise funds to purchase a second unit. Hopefully we can exceed that goal so that we can address the funding cuts to the purchase of children's books as well as programs for this year's Summer Reading program. Participation in the Summer Reading program has increased from 800 to over 1000 children in just the past two years. Sadly, we had to cut the children's book budget by 20% and programming budget by 50%. We are hoping that support for our golfing event will allow us to acknowledge and reward the children of White Lake for their efforts to develop a lifelong love of reading. Any support or contribution you can make to assist in making this event a success would be greatly appreciated.
See you on the links March 7th!!!
Despite Record Usage - Budget Reductions necessary for 2010
posted by Larry Ostrowski on 12/9/09
Due to reduced funding from property tax revenues and state aid, it is necessary to make some painful reductions in hours and services. Beginning January 1, 2010, our hours of operation on Monday through Thursday will be one hour shorter, opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. In addition, the budget for books and magazines has been reduced by 18.5% and the monies for programs by 50%. Behind the scenes, other budget tightening measures have been taken, such as filling a vacant full-time position with two part-time positions as well as freezing staff salaries for the second year in a row. The irony in taking such actions is that we have every reason to believe even more people will be visiting the library, requesting more materials and services in 2010. During these troubling and challenging times ahead the Library Board, staff and myself hope we can count on your understanding and support as we head into decidedly uncharted waters.
White Lake Township Library Receives Library of Michigan Cetification for Meeting 'Essential Level' of Quality Services
Posted by: Denise Stefanick on November 2, 2009
Representative Eileen Kowall, recently presented White Lake Township Library Director Larry Ostrowski, a certificate of completion for meeting the Essential Level requirements of the Quality Services Audit Checklist (QSAC). To earn certification, the
"We are proud that the White Lake Township Library has done such good work in providing services deemed ‘essential’ by the Library of Michigan," said White Lake Township Library board president Jennifer Schulz. "By focusing efforts on these key areas, our library has shown a strong commitment to customer service."
QSAC has defined "essential services" – the basics of all library service – as relatively low-cost standards that every library can and should achieve. They are helpful guidelines to libraries just starting out, while providing important review for more established institutions. Essential standards are described as "those which should be achieved first because of their fundamental importance."
"Two years in the making, QSAC represents the work of more than 100 library directors, trustees and staff members who together created measures of quality for our state’s public libraries," said State Librarian Nancy Robertson. "The staff of the White Lake Township Library is to be commended for achieving a vital milestone in library service."
QSAC was made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through LSTA funding. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities, supports the White Lake Township Library.
For more information about the Quality Services Audit Checklist, visit http://www.michigan.gov/qsac.
Welcome to our new website!
Posted by Denise Stefanick on October 30, 2009
Our redesigned website has a new look and feel, and is easy to browse and navigate. In addition to standard links to the catalog, programs, services, collections and electronic resources there are links to new information formats such as an event calendar, photo album, library blog, and dynamic new teen pages called the Teen Pac.
