Capistrano in McPherson
This will be the twentieth summer reading program which I have experienced as director of the McPherson Public Library. There have been many changes over the years – both in terms of the library and the programs we offer as well as with the children themselves – but one thing remains the same and appears to be timeless: after school is out for the year, the kids and families pour through the doors of the library.

It is not unlike the swallows returning to Mission San Juan Capistrano each year, though swallows have not been noted for their love of books and storytellers. Watching the service desks at the library mobbed by families and children, excited to sign up for our summer reading program and read books, is something of which I shall never tire.

The Right Stuff
If you are interested in discovering some new fiction this summer or learning more about the authors you enjoy reading, as well as authors who write similar books, then you should take a look at NoveList, our featured database of the month. Simply visit our web site at www.macpl.org and select the Search Databases option from the menu. NoveList is so fun to explore that you will likely find yourself spending more time with it than you planned.

Google has its place in any type of research, but when you want high-quality, accurate information our Search Databases page has the right stuff.

Weighing In
For some time I have noticed that magazines appear to be thinner than in the past. Is this true or just a matter of perception? In an effort to determine the facts I walked over to our current periodicals section and assembled a small stack of current issues of various magazines. Then I pulled back issues for the same month but from the year 2008.

After weighing both stacks on our postal scale, I can report that the stack of current issues weighs 20.6% less than the stack of their counterparts from two years ago. This comes as no surprise. While there certainly are exceptions, magazine advertising and subscription revenues continue to slide. And production and distribution costs are not abating. These are dark times for most magazines and newspapers.

High Fidelity
Most of you are aware that the library maintains a collection of classical, jazz, contemporary instrumental, world, and other music on CD. If you are interested in discovering some of the new titles being added to that collection, it is easy to do. Simply visit our web site at www.macpl.org and click on the Collection Central button on the home page. Then select the Music on CD option from the black “Check Out the Latest” box.

Our new music page not only displays the covers of the latest arrivals, but allows you to click on any cover to see more information from our catalog or to place the CD on reserve if it is checked out.

Its going to be another great summer at the McPherson Public Library! We hope to see you and your family soon.