Friends Newsletter, June 2012

June 2012 Friends’ Matters By Janet L. Flowers, FOCPL Co-Chair

Inside this issue:

The Friends have been honored by a very generous bequest left through the estate of Sandra Peterson, a former President of the Friends Group. Ms. Peterson’s $10,000 gift, gratefully received by the Board, has been deposited into our agency account with the Triangle Community Foundation.

Adult Programs Children’s News Teens’ News Sandra Peterson died December 19, 2011, at Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, at the age of 69. She earned degrees in English Education and Computer Science, and taught high-school English before going to work for IBM. She married Dennis Peterson in Illinois, and they moved often from state to state as he worked for IBM. In 1969 they adopted a baby, Eric, whom she adored and cherished, Meet the Board Upcoming Events Book Sale Recap EBooks FOCPL honors staff with breakfast By Erin Hils Shepherd, FOCPL Co-Chair Friends and Orange County Public Library

(OCPL)

staff gathered for a breakfast the morning of Tuesday, April 10, 2012, to celebrate National Library Workers Day.

http://www.aconews.com/opinion/ article_e1291758-7e60-11e1-bb9d- 001a4bcf887a.html) The breakfast, organized by the Friends Board, and with generous contributions from Friends members, was held to recognize the hard work and dedication of all OCPL workers.

Prior to the breakfast, a letter to the editor written by Friends Co-Chairs Janet L. Flowers and Erin Shepherd ran in the April 4, 2012, edition of The News of Orange. The letter, titled, “Thank a library worker today,” emphasized the value of the people who work at the library and encouraged library patrons to thank the staff on their next visit.

(The article can be viewed online at:

Volume 2, Issue 2 FOCPL receives Peterson bequest only to lose him in his youth. Wherever she lived Sandra was active in her church and local non-profits. In 1994 she moved to Hillsborough and continued an active civic life. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, Kiwanis Club, and the Republican Party. Her religious life was centered on her church, Faith Alliance. Before falling ill she was an inveterate traveler and contributor to many programs at her church.

The Board extends its sympathy to Sandy’s family and friends. Thanks to her devotion and vision, this gift opens new opportunities for our support of the Orange County Public Library.

Market. Attached to each bag was a slip of paper with a quote by a former New York Public Library President, which said: “The most important asset of any library goes home at night—the library staff.” For the breakfast, the Friends decorated the main meeting room in the library with festive bouquets of flowers atop spring-green table cloths. A buffet of quiches, eggs, scones, biscuits, breakfast meats, fruit, muffins, doughnuts, juice, and even a torte, filled everyone’s plates. Cup A Joe provided piping hot coffee and conversation was aplenty.

Flowers and Shepherd thanked the library staff on behalf of the entire Friends group for their tireless service to the public and to the Friends organization, too.

“Today’s gathering is but a small way to acknowledge your dedication and service,” said Shepherd at the breakfast. “It’s not an easy task to work with a diverse public with myriad needs. You all do it very well, though, and that does In a further show of appreciation, each staff member received a gift bag filled with various chocolates, a handmade candle, and gift cards to Weaver Street Friends who prepared the Staff Appreciation Breakfast See “Staff breakfast,” page 5 Adult Programming Friends’ Matters A Publication of the Friends of the Orange County Public Library Volume 2, Issue 2 June 2012 FOCPL Newsletter Committee Janet L. Flowers, Chair Bridget Booher, Editor Chris Holaday Sara Levinson Lisa Wolfe, Design Teens’ News By Mary Lewis Haywood, Young Adult Librarian Local artist Rachel Galper has led monthly workshops here in the library during the spring months. Teens have created beautiful mandalas, studied and drawn inspiration from select 20th century masters, and learned about the art of self-portraiture.

We also have some exciting events planned just for families to participate In April, the library hosted the Orange County Schools art show. Both floors were decorated by whimsical artwork by local students.

Children’s Services By Louise Bendall, Children’s Services Fun and free programs will continue during the “Summer Stars” Summer Reading program for teens. The library will host a 4-day “Altered books” workshop Monday-Thursday, July 25-28, from 3:30 to 5 pm each day, where teens will turn used books into unique works of mixed media artwork; a charcoal drawings workshop July 16 from 3 to 5 pm led by Beth McGuire of the Ackland Art Museum; and a creative writing seminar, led by local author Natania Barron from 3:30 to 5 pm July 23. Teens are also invited to submit their best photos beginning Monday, June 25, for a “Patrons Pick Photography Contest” running from Monday, July 9, until Friday, July 20.

This summer, OCPL Children’s Services invites kids one- to eleven years old to “Dream Big—Read!” (There are summer reading programs for teens and adults too!) Registration begins June 1 and continues throughout the summer. Once registered, kids receive a form for keeping track of the books they read all summer.

They can receive prizes for reading, or have their efforts go to “Book Bucks.” Children who opt to receive a “Book Buck” in lieu of a prize can select a book to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and Orange Congregation in Mission Samaritan Relief program. Children participating in this program will have Families should be involved in the Friends of the Orange County Library because it helps the library get new books and shelves and other library supplies. Families should help the library because it’s fun to read the books there. If people can’t afford to buy books, then they can borrow them from the library and it doesn’t cost them money. Books are good for learning and for having fun. Books can even help you make good food. Libraries are important!

I like going to the library because I really like to read. Graphic novels are my favorite type of book.

Jennifer Wright, age 10

Hillsborough resident and library patron By Jessica Arnold, Adult Programming Coordinator Summer reading is almost here! June and July are always big months at the library—everyone is looking for ways to beat the heat and while away the slow hours of the summer. “Read your ____ Dreams @ the Library” is the adult Summer Reading theme this year. We are inviting everyone to fill in the blank with the word that suits them best. Some come to the library to read their travelling dreams; others read their intergalactic, romantic, or adventurous dreams. We will have displays and events in June and July that tie into this theme, including a “Read Your Celebrity Dreams” program, cosponsored by the Friends and featuring Hillsborough’s own “Almost Andy,” Art Fettig, on Saturday, June 23, at 2 pm. In July, you can come to the library to read your gourmet dreams—and experience them as well! Jussara Silva of Yugala Baked Goods will lead a cooking class at the library on Monday, July 2, at 6 pm.

in together. Have a family picture (or get one by yourself) taken at your dream vacation destination, wherever it may be! Using greenscreen technology, we can place you anywhere in the world… or even out of it. Come by anytime between 4 and 5:30 pm on Saturday, June 16, to have your photo taken. On Thursday, July 26, we will kick off Family Karaoke Night at 6 pm All ages are welcome, and families and friends are encouraged to rock out together on what should be a great evening for participants and audience alike. We will also continue our 2 pm Family Movie Matinees in June and July, showing The Secret World of Arrietty (rated G) on June 9 and Big Miracle (rated PG) on July 14. We’ve planned these summer showings specifically to join in celebrating Hillsborough’s Family Fun Days.

We hope to see you at our events this summer. Keep reading your dreams (whatever they may be) at your library!

their name and “Book Buck” posted on a special scroll in the library.

Also, “Dream Big—Read” summer reading participants are invited to attend ageappropriate programs and performances on a first-come, first-served basis. There are story times, Lego programs, art programs, live animal programs, magic shows, a puppet show, a theater performance, and a musical performance.

Stop by the children’s services desk or call 919-245-2532 for more information on “Dream Big—Read!”

Dear Current/Former/Future Friends:

Please provide us with your current email address to help us save on postage. We prefer whenever possible to send membership renewal reminders, program announcements, and the newsletter via email. Your cooperation will save the organization money that we can use for our primary goal of helping the Library. We strive to keep our email messages to Friends to a minimum.

And we never share your address with other organizations or individuals.

Send your current email address to focpl2012@gmail.com if you have NOT been receiving email from FOCPL. Thank you for your help.

FOCPL Board Erin Hils Shepherd Co-Chair, FOCPL FOCPL 2012 Board I am a long-time patron of the Orange County Public Library and a stayat-home mom who lives in Efland. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Friends Board and work on the Ongoing Book Sale and Programs Committee. Being involved with the Friends is gratifying because the work we do and the money we raise directly support our vibrant and wonderful library. I particularly enjoy working the Ongoing Book Sale since we have a great group of volunteers and it’s one of the top three fundraisers for the Friends. When not involved with the Friends, I enjoy reading, keeping chickens, upcycling furniture, gardening, and crafting.

Sandy Gerstner Treasurer I started as a bookkeeper at a box company my senior year of high school. After graduation, I moved into the position full time. I was married in 1970 to Pat and have been married for 42 years. As we moved around the country, first with him in the Air Force and then with his job, I did bookkeeping jobs wherever I could. My twin boys were born in 1970 and I worked parttime jobs until they were old enough to be on their own.. When we moved to Raleigh in 2004, I was looking for something to do that did not require me to be at work 40 hours a week. In May 2009, the Friends was looking for someone to take over the Treasurer position and I volunteered.

Janet L. Flowers—Co-Chair Erin Hils Shepherd—Co-Chair Bill Barrows—Ongoing Book Sale Robin Bedingfield-Brown— Membership Sandy Gerstner—Treasurer Lori Graham, Secretary Chris Holaday—Book Sale Kate Tozzolina—Book Sale Penny Van De Water—Ongoing Book Sale Lucinda Munger—Director, Orange County Public Library–ex officio Andrea Tullos—Assistant Director, Orange County Public Library — ex officio Most members also serve on at least one committee.

Janet L. Flowers Co-Chair, FOCPL This is my third year serving as co-chair of FOCPL. In addition to chairing meetings, the co-chair organizes and facilitates the work of the organization and its committees. I am currently chairing the Newsletter Committee and co-chairing the Program Committee.

(We’re always looking for new members— let me know if you are interested in joining us.)

As treasurer, I make sure all monies collected are deposited to the appropriate account.

Every month, I balance the checkbooks and present a financial report to the Board and Friends (online). I also make sure that our 990 form (required of all N.C. nonprofits), yearly contribution reports, and sales tax reports are filed at the appropriate time. I thoroughly enjoy what I do; it keeps my mind active and new things are always coming up that I must research to keep things straight. I am proud and honored to serve the FOCPL as treasurer.

Lori Graham Secretary I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where I met my husband Brett. We moved to Durham in 2000, and now call Hillsborough home. I work full-time for the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency as a Management & Program Analyst in the Office of Research and Development. I have a B.S.

in Organizational Leadership from Penn State. We have four sons between us, all grown, and a sweet shepherd mix named Copely. In my capacity as secretary for the Friends, I bring my joy of reading and books, organizational skills, leadership abilities, and eagerness to serve the needs of the citizens of Orange County.

I began volunteering with FOCPL in 2009 as the Membership Chair. My interest was piqued in 2008 after I retired from 38 years as a librarian at UNC. At first I volunteered with the library shelving books but then I became interested in supporting the library in a more professional way and found it through the Friends. I firmly believe that public libraries are essential institutions for a free society and should be defended and enhanced by those who share this belief. I have appreciated the opportunity to advocate for and support our fine library. I also have really enjoyed getting to know the members of the Friends and the members of the library staff as we share many values. FOCPL is a vital and dynamic organization with many exciting opportunities for service and for fun. We would love to have YOU join us when we solicit nominees in the fall.

Robin Bedingfield-Brown Chair, Membership Committee Books have always been central to my life.

Growing up in a military family and then having my own career, I moved often and always sought out the local libraries in new towns, knowing they would be warm and friendly places, with shelf after shelf of familiar and new friends. Arriving in Hillsborough 10 years ago, we were thrilled to find such an active and vibrant library.

Now the new building is bustling with activity, full of children and families, and offering something for everyone. Hillsborough is a wonderful town, and our library is an integral part of that. Serving on the Friends’ Board allows me to share in the important work of

supporting our library and its dedicated staff:

As Membership Committee Chair, I meet new people and hear their stories. To me, being a Friend means doing your part to build community, and that’s what we’re all about.

Bill Barrows Member, Ongoing Book Sale Committee I grew up in Connecticut and moved to N.C.

in 1970. My wife, Karen, and I have three children and one granddaughter. I started the library at Family Health International in 1975 and managed it until 2006. I enjoy working outside and also volunteer at OCPL and OCIM. I am the person who boxes the books that are received for our biannual book sales.

I enjoy reading but I really appreciate associating with librarians. They are good people.

Penny Van De Water Member, Ongoing Book Sale Committee I worked both for publishers (Simon and Schuster in New York) and public libraries (Ramsey, N.J.). I performed all phases of library work including many technical services tasks. We moved to Hillsborough in May of 2010. I volunteer in the Technical Services Department at the Orange County Main Library. We have three daughters, two of whom live here.

Happily, all of our grandchildren live here.

Kate Tozzolina Book Sale Coordinator By the time I was invited to join the 2012 Board of the Friends, I had already enjoyed the Book Sale experience in the role of a volunteer. As a new member of the Board, then, I eagerly took on the position of one of the coordinators of the sale. Although I immediately encountered a book sale coordinator learning curve, I quickly found that there was nothing to fear. From the very beginning, I was never without the help, support, and encouragement that poured in from many quarters—from my fellow coordinator, Chris Holaday, from Janet Flowers, Andrea Tullos, Robin Bedingfield- Brown, and from 25 volunteers. The sale’s success was, as I’d expected it to be, a product of the cooperation and camaraderie among the Friends. My other favorite Board event was the Library Staff Appreciation Brunch. Although I wasn’t a member of that committee, I enjoyed the event so much that See “FOCPL Board,” page 6 Did You Know? By Chris Holaday, Friends Newsletter Committee Upcoming Programs We all remember learning the Dewey Decimal System back in elementary school but do you know who Dewey was? Sure, a librarian, you say, but do you know anything else? Melvil Dewey was born in 1851 in rural New York. He attended Amherst College in Massachusetts and it was there, while working on his master’s degree, that he came up with his famous library classification system. He patented it in 1876. Know what the barcode on the back of every book is called? It’s the International Standard Book Number, or ISBN, and it is unique to every edition of every book produced by participating publishers, worldwide.

The idea for the ISBN came about in the 1960s, when W. H. Smith (the largest book retailer in Great Britain) announced plans to move to a computerized warehouse. Wanting an easy-to-use numbering system to keep track of the books the company sold, they turned to Gordon Foster, a professor of statistics at Trinity College in Dublin. He created a nine-digit Standard Book Numbering code in 1966.

This code was initially intended only for use in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland but it proved so successful that other countries wanted to participate.

Another digit was added to the code and the ISBN and was launched in 1970. Today it is used by publishers in nearly 150 countries.

Dewey went on to serve as chief librarian at Columbia University and was director of the New York State Library. His numbering system wasn’t his only innovation; Dewey also invented the hanging vertical file, introduced at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Another interesting fact about Dewey: he loved winter sports and he helped arrange the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York. Unfortunately he died at the age of 80 the year before the games took place but his son, Godfrey, continued his work and served as president of the Lake Placid Organizing Committee.

Book Sale By Chris Holaday, Friends Newsletter Committee Once again, thanks to a terrific turnout from both volunteers and book shoppers, the book sale was a success!

collecting money to providing refreshment for their fellow volunteers. Assistant Library Director Andrea Tullos also played a big role by arranging for tables and the removal of books after the sale.

The Friends’ Spring 2012 Book Sale raised $1810.65 to help the Friends support the projects of our library. Another $615 was raised through the sale of memberships.

All in all, everyone did a splendid job and everything went smoothly. Thanks so much to everyone who helped. Even if you came and bought only one book, you still contributed to the cause. The Board members, led by sale coordinators Kate Tozzolina and Chris Holaday, all contributed their time. Special acknowledgements go to Janet Flowers, for her support and advice, and Robin Bedingfield- Brown, who did an outstanding job signing up new and returning members.

We also had 25 Friends working at the sale.

They did everything from moving heavy boxes to keeping the tables organized to Around the World in 80+ Languages By Josh Walker, Library Assistant OCPL has acquired a new database for learning foreign languages. As of March, Transparent Language Online has been active for library card holders to access and utilize for free. Transparent was added to replace the former language database Mango Languages that OCPL previously offered.

but you can explore the history and culture of a foreign language, too.

To use this database, all you need is your library card. From our website, click on Online Resources and find the Languages and Literature section. There, you’ll find the button to access Transparent. Once you load Transparent, click on the purple button to sign up with a barcode or username.

Registration will then follow.

Transparent offers over 80 languages patrons can learn through an “effective, fun, and engaging environment for language learners of all proficiencies.” The learning process is linear and progresses at each individual’s pace.

I’ve used it myself to evaluate how much Spanish I retained from high school and college. I also tested myself by learning Mandarin Chinese. What I found interesting is that, not only can you learn the language, On June 23, at 2:00 pm, the Friends are cosponsoring with the Library a talk by Art Fettig. Art will be talking about and signing his new book, You’re Andy Griffith, Aren’t You? at the Main Library.

Art’s stories about his experiences as “Almost Andy” are a treat. His keen sense of humor and uncanny resemblance to Andy Griffith make his performances memorable.

Joy Sparrow, author of Sparrows Nest of Letters, will present a program about her book on September 8 at 2 pm in the Orange County Main Library. The book invites us to “Share the feelings, thoughts and actions of George Attmore Sparrow and his father, Major Thomas Sparrow, as they live through one of the darkest periods in American history. George’s journey from a teenage Confederate soldier to a country preacher and Major Sparrow’s vivid account of the battle of Fort Hatteras as he barely escapes death and becomes a prisoner of war are told in their own words through letters and a diary. Experience the hardships they suffered, the after effects of the Civil War, their happy moments and their unyielding hope and faith in God” And it’s not too early to start planning for the Fall Sale! Why not donate some of those books that are starting to gather dust so some other reader can enjoy them? The Friends will sell them to raise funds for the library and you’ll have room on your shelf to buy new books!

Next Book Sale Mark your calendars now for the Fall FOCPL book sale October 5-7, 2012.

See you there!

My name is Sophia. I am 7. The library is helpful for me because it’s a quiet place to do work, and I can use it to look up nonfiction books for school. I use the library for books like how to write a letter. I also use the library just to find books like chapter books. The librarians are nice because they order books. I ask them if they have a book, and sometimes they order it for me.

I like the library because they help me find books that I sometimes don’t know about. One book that I really like is “Claire and the Bakery Thief,” but I haven’t finished it yet.

If you have a smartphone, you can download the app as well. You’ll need to have already set up an account from Transparent to “Go Mobile,” as they call it. Transparent has a link on their navigation bar that will take you set-by-step through adding this feature onto your phone.

Sophia Wright, age 7 Hillsborough resident and library patron not go unnoticed.” “We hope that this event will become an annual tradition,” said Flowers.

Above left: Library staff member Kevin Delaney greets Friend A.J. Mayhew. Above right: Library Staff smiling after the delicious breakfast EBooks: Good, Bad or Indifferent? By Janet L. Flowers, FOCPL Co-Chair On May 5, the Friends sponsored a lively program on eBooks. The first speaker, Dani Brecher, adult services intern at Orange County Main Library, traced the emergence of eBooks to the 1960s, through the online digitization initiative Project Gutenberg, which makes available free of charge thousands of books that are in the public domain. . She noted the increasing popularity of e-readers, with the biggest splash being that of the Kindle introduced in 2007.

through a middleman named OverDrive (http://ocnc.lib.overdrive.com/).

Currently there are approximately 300 eBooks available, and more will be added after the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

There will be a training program on downloading eBooks at the Library on July 23, at 6:00 p.m.

Chad Haefele, Emerging Technologies Librarian at UNC, had the unenviable task of describing the problems and pitfalls related to acquiring eBooks for public libraries. He began this discussion by introducing the term “friction.” Friction is what publishers hope the public will have as they try to borrow eBooks from libraries. In other words, publishers are concerned that, if eBook borrowing is too easy, it will cut into their sales of eBooks.

(In the past, they had also expressed similar concerns regarding the distribution of print books through library lending, ) Dani noted that there are differences in the way the e-readers are designed with some using “e-ink” and others using an LCD panel with a bright back light.

Advantages of eBooks include:  Ability to load multiple books on one portable device  Lightweight  Better for environment  Chad noted that buying eBooks is legally different from buying printed books. The first difference is that eBooks are licensed, not owned. The second is that there are a number of limitations upon their use. He quickly pointed out that Amazon allows libraries to loan eBooks through a verbal agreement. Amazon is not willing to put this into writing but experts do not expect them to get into a legal dispute with libraries.

Interactive; for example, can embed videos or links to Internet  Can change font size  Accessible and instantaneous; do not have to go to store or library  Easy on eyes She reported that the library now has 20 Kindles (compliments of the Friends) that they loan to patrons. These Kindles contain approximately 200 books— including many NY Times bestsellers–can be checked out for three weeks. The service is very popular,and helps eliminate the long waiting lists for indemand print books. Between publishers’ policies and DRM (digital rights management), libraries face several obstacles in providing eBook services to their patrons, Chad said. DRM is a technological device that prevents one from using an eBook on a device that has not been authorized. This prevents a patron from copying or transferring the content.

As of February, patrons can also download select eBooks from the Library Staff breakfast from p. 1 The Friends Board would like to thank all the members that contributed to the success of the breakfast and once again thank the OCPL staff for all that they do to make the library a jewel of the community!

The staff were delighted by the recognition and the Friends received much positive feedback on the event.

Given the constraints, libraries need a middleman to handle the relationships with the publishers. There are two main ones right now: OverDrive and 3M.

Chad then showed slides with publishers (and illustrative titles) that make acquisition of eBooks problematic for libraries. These big six publishers publish many of the titles acquired by public libraries.

The first, Penguin, decided in February 2012 not to sell eBooks to libraries anymore. They are allowing the old titles that libraries licensed to be available but there can be no downloading. The Help is a good example of a title that could be affected. If a library did not acquire The Help in eBook format before February of this year, they will not be able to provide it for their patrons.

Next, Harper Collins has a policy of only 26 loans before the eBook disappears.

Once that happens, the Library must acquire the title again. An example of a popular print book by Harper Collins is Freakonomics. The publisher’s argument is that print books do not last forever.

The library response is that they typically last longer than 26 circulations.

Random House has a new pricing policy (as of March 2012) that affects the library’s ability to acquire their titles. The average eBook now costs 35% more than the price that a patron would pay to acquire a copy. And some of the titles are 300% more. Examples of popular Random House titles include John Grisham’s Calico Joe, Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James, and A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

See “EBooks,” page 6 EBooks from p. 5 I admit I used to spend a lot of time in the Chapel Hill Public Library. But as my girls grew older and we spent more time in the car driving to lessons and extracurricular activities as part of our home schooling, I found the need to spend more time at home in Hillsborough. We started visiting the Orange County Public Library when it was still part of the Whitted Human Services Building on Tryon Street. The library was small and dark, particularly the juvenile nonfiction section, but to me it was like a well-kept secret — this small treasure trove of books we found.

Today, we spend most — if not all — of our library time in Hillsborough at the county library’s new, larger location on West Margaret Lane in downtown. The new library — with nearly the whole bottom floor devoted to resources for children — is filled with light and constantly growing in patrons and services. It’s not such a well-kept secret anymore.

On any given day, my children and I can find ourselves running into people we know, whether it be at one of the many offerings for children and adults or among the bookshelves. We sometimes now have to make requests to put a book on hold — more evidence that the library is a popular location. But we don’t mind.

We love our library and our librarians, who are always so willing to help us and to listen to what we’d like to see more of. When I need a book for the book club I lead for my younger daughter, I know I can always find lots of help at the Hachette, Simon and Schuster, and McMillan make it impossible for libraries to loan their eBooks because they simply will not sell them to libraries. Examples of their books include Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, and Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly.

Chad shared this URL with the audience:

bit.ly/noebooks. This website gives contact information for those who wish to complain to these publishers. Chad further noted that there are other technical difficulties. One is that, because of the way the eBooks must be acquired, they are not in the public catalog.

So, the patron must look in two places—one for print and one for eBooks. He also explained that the right of first sale does not apply to eBooks because they are, in effect, leased not owned. He displayed a screen with 16 steps to downloading or checking out an audio book. The amount of technical difficulty one can encounter can be daunting.

The audience was fully engaged with questions throughout. One question, at the end, was, of course, about the future of hardback books. Both Chad and Dani thought they would continue to exist but play a smaller role. Dani noted that the Library would still be buying the hard editions for those publishers that are not making their eBooks available.

This review of the rapidly changing eBooks landscape caused several to pledge to check out a Kindle to see what all the fuss is about.

Both Chad and Dani stressed that, even though there are difficulties with providing this new service, librarians are committed to acquiring the resources that are in demand, regardless of format.

FOCPL Board from p. 3 I’ve already decided to pre-volunteer to be on the committee for the next one.

Chris Holaday Book Sale Coordinator A native of Texas, I came here to attend UNC and liked the area so much I decided to Visit our Web site at: www.co.orange.nc.us/library/friends.asp or pick up a membership brochure at the Library Become a Friend of the Orange County Public Library and you will make an important contribution to one of our county’s most vital educational and cultural assets. In return, you’ll also get:  The satisfaction of working with other like -annual book sales.  Email updates regarding library events, issues and news from our secure Friends listserv. Dues: Individual-$15; Family-$25; Donor-$50; Sustaining-$100 FOCLP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible. Questions? Contact us at: FOCPL2012@gmail.com children’s desk. When my daughters searched earlier this year for books on agriculture in the United States for a project in their geography co-op, the librarians noted that more farming books were needed and let us know there will be more to choose from when we study agriculture again. The growing resources make our home schooling easier.

It’s not difficult to be a Friend to the library — and the benefits are huge.

My girls delight often in finding the brick we purchased with other friends through the Friends of the Orange County Public Library pavers fundraiser. We enjoy the news we receive through e-mail about library programs — although we were sad recently to hear about the dissolution of the Hyconeechee Regional Library system. (That system has allowed us to borrow books from other participating libraries in Caswell and Person counties without having to visit the actual libraries.) And we had the good fortune recently to be able to participate in an appreciation breakfast for our librarians. Did you know Ms. Mary in the children’s section used to work in human resources? We do now!

We are honored to be a Friend — to support and to give back to the library and staff that do so much for us.

Catherine Wright Hillsborough resident and Friends member stay. I am currently the head copywriter at Sports Endeavors in Hillsborough as well as the author of several non-fiction books, most of which are on baseball history. I have been a lover of books and reading for as long as I can remember. As a member of the Friends, I help organize the book sale. I enjoying watching people discover new books to read while also helping them save money—while at the same time raising funds to support our library. I also serve on the board of the Burwell School Historic Site.

Look for pictures of Board members in the next issue of Friends’ Matters.

-minded book and library lovers.  Early access to the bi  Ongoing or occasional volunteer opportunitie