Sign O' the Times

3:12 on a Tuesday afternoon and we currently have seven patrons using laptops or netbooks here in the library. On the wired computer stations-- six patrons. It seems that wired, desktop computers may soon be the wave of the past. Indeed, there are some indications that wired anything might be a thing of the past in the not so distant future.

My kids don't remember a time when phones weren't wireless. They were shocked the first time they came to my office and saw a phone that was limited in how far it could go by the wires sticking out of it. Well, not actually shocked. But certainly surprised. Will their kids be surprised to find tvs and lights and other electrical devices that actually have to be plugged in? My money is on yes.

For good or ill, we do live in interesting times.

Self-Check is Here!

The new self-check unit is installed and open for business! Just scan your library card, then scan your books and other materials one and a time, and voila, you are done. The unit will tell you your account status and print out a receipt for all of your check-outs. It's simple and fun!

Self-Check Coming!

The library has ordered a self-checkout station, and it should be installed before the start of the Summer Reading Programs. This station will allow you to check out materials by simply scanning your card, then scanning the items you wish to check out. The process is very similar to the machines they now have at many grocery, department and home improvement stores.

Waukesha, New Berlin and many other libraries around the state and the country are using these stations, and all report that their customers find them easy to use and very convenient. The new checkout station will be just to the east of the circulation desk, where one of the catalog access computer stations is right now.

Holds, ILL and video game items will still need to be picked up at the circulation desk, but the rest of our materials should be able to be checked out at the new station once it is up and running.

Books on DS

A strange, yet intriguing, concept. Hopefully they do a little more than just transfer the text to the screen-- the interactive capabilities of the DS is really a large part of its charm. With the stylus and touchpad technology, it would be possible to allow the reader to be a bit more "active" in the story.

Thinking about it, the "ideal" book to put on a DS or other handheld would seem to be the Choose Your Own Adventure books. I loved those books as a kid, but the DS format would allow more seemless adventuring and also potentially some great graphics and mini-games to further immerse the reader.

Still, intriguing. We do check out DS games at the library, so I think we'll have to purchase a few of these when they come out to see how well they work and how much demand there is for them.

We're on Facebook

The Library has three places to visit us on Facebook. There's the main Library page, plus both our Adult Services and our Teen Territory departments have joined the web 2.o revolution. Not tons of content as of yet, but we're working on it. Join our legions of fans! Okay, okay, join our dozens of friends.

Plus, I have a profile there now, too.

If you're a Facebook fanatic (or even casual user), check us out, write something on our walls, let us know what you think. Photos and other stuff to come.

We Got Bear!

As a lifelong Packers' fan, I am generally resistant to all things bear related; but Mukwonago is the "Place of the Bear Clan" and the village has adopted the bear as its unofficial mascot, so it seems right that the Mukwonago Community Library should have a bear. And now we do!

Thanks to the generosity of Mike and Sue Graczyk, and the talents and kindness of Bob Younger and Lee Wegner of Younger’s Woodery, the library has a new resident in our lobby. Bob and Lee have created a fantastic sculpture for the lobby, an adult black bear reading a book atop a pile of other books. It is too cool. Mike and Sue donated the money for the bear, and Bob and Lee also donated most of their time in creating the sculpture.

Additional pictures of the bear can be found at the Younger's Woodery website, but to really appreciate the bear you need to see it in person. Bring the kids and check out our new library mascot. We hope to work with Bob and Lee in the future to add a few bear cubs to the lobby to keep Mama (Papa?) Bear company.

A huge thank you to Mike and Sue Graczyk for donating the funds for the bear, and to Bob Younger and Lee Wegner for their amazing work and their kindness in putting so much extra effort and time into creating the bear.