March 2, 2010

Library Provides First-Class Ticket to See the World

The McPherson Public Library has acquired Global Road Warrior, a world-class database providing a wide variety of information on 175 nations and territories.  It includes over 6,500 color photos.  
Topics include society and culture, travel essentials, business culture, communications and more.

Created by an international team of researchers, cartographers
and writers, the database is continually updated. Global Road Warrior is a valuable resource for business people engaged in international trade, students researching country reports, patrons planning
international travel, and anyone interested in exploring exotic locales.   

In addition to standard information such as government, geography, and climate, patrons can also learn about sports, gift giving, food and recipes, holidays and festivals, superstitions and folklore, and much more.  They can view and download images of the country’s coins and bills, as well as thousands of colorful photographs and maps.

“Global Road Warrior is the latest addition to our suite of databases, ” said Library Director Steve Read.  “It is part of our ongoing commitment to provide quality online content for our patrons.  Plus, it’s so fun to explore!”

To discover Global Road Warrior – or the library’s large selection of other databases --  visit the library web site at www.macpl.org and select the Search Databases option from the menu.  For questions or additional information, contact the library at 245-2570.  

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March 2, 2010

Library Now Taking Applications for Summer VolunTeen Program

The McPherson Public Library is now taking applications for the summer VolunTeen program.  All interested 12-17 year olds who would like to volunteer their services and are dependable, responsible and enthusiastic are encouraged to apply.  The VolunTeen program will continue from June 1st through July 23rd and will involve a time commitment of approximately six weekday hours each week.

Applications and a description of the program may be picked up at the McPherson Public Library.  Completed applications must be returned to the library by Friday, March 26th.  For further information, please contact Jennie Hall or Mandy Martin at 245-2570.

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February 23, 2010

City Archives Return to Public Library
By Sean Wardwell, The McPherson Sentinel

McPherson, Kan. — Irreplaceable pieces of McPherson’s history are once again back in the hands of the library, when many of the city’s archives were moved from the vault at city hall.

“This is an archive that’s owned by the library. In 1993, we moved it over to city hall, because I was afraid of fire,” said McPherson Public Library Director Steve Read. “Now that we have the McPherson Room, with its fireproof cases,  it’s returning to the library. These documents here are the equivalent to McPherson of what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are to the United States.”
The documents include the original town company minute book, town company certificate number one, the town’s original land indenture book, among many others.

The McPherson City Commission brought the documents over from city hall and took an opportunity to examine the documents, along with several other  pieces of McPherson’s history, such as photographs, papers form the General McPherson monument, a vintage map of Kansas and several issues of the McPherson Republican from the late 1800s.
The library’s McPherson Room was designed to house the town’s history, and is open to those wishing to explore its history. Read said he library is always looking acquire more for its collection.

“This is one of the areas we wanted to address when we constructed the new building,” Read said. “We have maps, atlases, and all the McPherson newspapers back to the first issue in 1872. We have city directories, telephone books and archive files.”

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February 17, 2010

Public Library Patrons Can Now go Paperless

Thanks to a new service of the McPherson Public Library, patrons now have the option of receiving notices of overdue library materials via email.  Those signing up for the new service also will receive automatic reminder notices three days before items they have checked out are due, as well as the library’s monthly e-newsletter.

In an effort to encourage as many patrons as possible to sign up for the e-delivery service, the library is offering a coupon good for a $1 credit on any fine or fee to all patrons who register.  “Those people who participated in our test marketing are very enthusiastic about this new service,” said Jennie Hall, Head of Adult Services.

The library currently sends out an average of over 300 overdue notices each month.  The new e-delivery service has the potential to significantly reduce postage, supply, and staff costs associated with overdue mailings.

“The facet of e-delivery which excites us the most is it’s ability to instantly transfer necessary information about their accounts and library services to our patrons, “ said Library Director Steve Read.  “It’s good for our patrons, it’s good for the library, and it’s good for the environment.”

To sign up the e-delivery service, patrons should email their name, library card number, and email address to mplservice@macpl.org, or visit the library.   

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February 11, 2010

Public Library Starts Book Discussion Group on Facebook

Busy schedules and inclement weather often prevent people from joining book discussion groups, but now, thanks to a new online book discussion group started by the McPherson Public Library, book lovers can discuss books any time of the day or night from the comfort of their own home or office.

The new McPherson Public Library Readers Group on Facebook is a forum for discussing a variety of books.  The library posts a couple of book titles for discussion each month, as well as questions for readers to think about and discuss.   Participants may read as many or as few books as they chose, and in no required order.  Discussions on the books will be ongoing throughout the year.

The Facebook group was the idea of Jennie Hall, Head of Adult Services, and Chandra McClure, Library Assistant.  “It’s a very low maintenance group -- there are no deadlines,” said McLure  “You can choose to read the book or not or comment or not.”

The group has proven to be popular, with some 75 people already counted as members and the number increasing.  To access the group, login to Facebook and search for the McPherson Public Library Readers Group.

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January 19, 2010

New Map Database Available at Public Library

Patrons of the McPherson Public Library now have access to the world’s most useful online map database.  AtoZMapsOnline, with its collection of more than 146,000 maps, is the only product that combines such a large database of state, country, scientific, and antique maps in one easy-to-access place.

A sampling of the maps contained in AtoZMapsOnline includes outline,
political, physical, thematic, climate change, environment, historic, hurricane, earthquake, volcano, fire, animal and plant species distribution, current events, geology, topographic, and weather.

“This one is another winner,” said library director Steve Read.  “We’re very happy to add it to our suite of premier databases.” 

To access AtoZMapsOnline visit the library or visit the library web site at www.macpl.org, then select the Search Databases menu option.  Persons using the database from outside the library must have a McPherson Public Library borrower’s card to login. 

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