We have moved!

Everything changes. Especially when computers are involved.

One the one hand, we are sad to leave the Blogger platform, which has been good to us and provided exactly what we needed at the time.

On the other hand, we are super excited about our new website, where we have moved this blog, and the opportunities it offers to let us promote more things on our website and at our libraries.

You can find posts from the blog on our front page, or you can bookmark our new site -- www.myjcpl.org/blogs -- which has the latest posts from all of the library's blogs, and links to our individual blogs.

We hope to see you there, and we hope you'll drop us a line and let us know how you like the new arrangement.

Illustrated poetry and haiku of Pat Kopanda now at the DeMotte Library

Art comes in many forms, and for local resident, Pat Kopanda, inspiration comes in the form of words combined with illustrations in poetry, haiku and couplets. During the months of November and December, the illustrated writings of Pat Kopanda will be on display on the art wall of the DeMotte Library.

Pat lives in DeMotte and writes poetry and stories, illustrating her own works. This mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is a member of the Prairie Writers Guild in Rensselaer, and has just recently begun illustrating her own haiku and couplets, and would like to share her works with our community.

If you have an art or photography collection that you would like to share by displaying it in the library, please contact the DeMotte Library at 987-2221.

30 Days Hath September, and 30 Reasons to Visit Your Library!

September is Library CardSign Up Month, and we encourage you to visit your favorite branch of the Jasper County Public Library today.

In tough economic times, your library card gives you free access to books and computers, homework help, assistance with resumes and job searches, accurate financial information, adult education information, CDs, DVDs, and much more.

Since there are 30 days in September, we have given you 30 reasons to visit your library!

30 Reasons to Visit Your Local Branch of JCPL!!
1. Research job opportunities
2. Pick up voter registration information
3. Find out how to navigate the Internet
4. Find out the answer to a legal question or issue
5. Check out a magazine
6. Get new ideas for decorating your house.
7. Use the library’s resources to start a small business
8. Research the purchase of a new car
9. Learn about the history of your town
10. Decide which computer to buy using a consumer guide.
11. Check your stock portfolio
12. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip
13. See an art exhibit
14. Volunteer!
15. Find a new recipe
16. Make photocopies
17. Take a computer class
18. Get to know your librarians, the ultimate search engine
19. Update your Facebook page and/or Twitter account
20. Scan a document
21. Trace your family tree
22. Prepare your resume
23. Teach yourself some home improvement skills
24. Learn how to use a database
25. Connect with people in the community
26. Plan a trip
27. Renew your driver’s license online
28. Attend a movie!
29. Check out the latest fashion trends
30. Check out an e-book

Transparent Language Now Available at JCPL!

As part of our mission to inform, enrich, and empower our diverse community, we are always on the lookout for useful formats to add to our collection for your use.

One of the newest formats we have added is Transparent Language, an interactive language instruction program that focuses on vocabulary and on using words and phrases in an immersive, whole-language learning experience.

Transparent Language, which comes in a flash drive, combines visual and audio elements as tools for learning. Virtual flashcards provide a means for learning by seeing and hearing words. Some of the software even includes videos to enhance learning. Transparent Language is the next generation of language learning media and has become quite popular with JCPL patrons.

If your “bucket list” includes learning a language, give Transparent Language a try!

At this time, our adult collection includes:
• English
• French
• Chinese
• Italian
• Spanish

Our children’s version features:
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Hebrew

—all of which help them identify letters and sound combinations and everyday vocabulary.

Check it out!

One World, Many Stories, Coming To JCPL This Summer

I think we can all agree that this winter has been a long time going. The calendar said “spring,” but Mother Nature said otherwise.

At the Jasper County Public Library we are fast forwarding to “summer.” It’s May, and Summer Reading will soon be underway! Children and teens will enjoy “One World, Many Stories,” while adults will pursue “Novel Destinations” without booking a flight or buying a train ticket! It doesn’t get any better than that! Summer Reading is a great way for kids, ages preschool to teen, to keep their reading and listening skills sharp during the summer months and be better prepared for the next school year. Vocabularies increase, socializing skills are sharpened, and comprehension levels increase, while kids read for fun and prizes!


What could be simpler or more rewarding? During the month of May, we will be visiting schools and information will be available in the library to explain when the program will begin and how to get registered. And it doesn’t stop with just reading! Be sure to check out our line-up of Summer Reading Program presenters too. Each week, for the duration of the program, special presenters will entertain you and encourage you to keep reading! You won’t want to miss a thing!

Adults have the opportunity to read for prizes too! We won’t leave you out of the fun! Visit our website, www.myjcpl.org for program details and if you are on Facebook, look for our page and become our fan! We will keep you posted on all the fun as we strive to inform, enrich and empower our diverse community.

Article contributed by JCPL Director, Patty Stringfellow

E-Books...Free Access Through JCPL!

It seems that no matter where I go these days people are talking about e-books! It stands to reason that we are talking about e-books at the library. After all, books and reading and books and listening are a big part of what we do. However, these days conversations about e-books happen everywhere I go; at community meetings, on Facebook, at school events, around the dinner table at home. It is nearly becoming a daily occurrence. Even Andy Rooney did a segment on 60 Minutes about e-books recently! E-books are a hot topic!

According to a recent Northwest Indiana Times news article, 66% of libraries nationwide provide free access to e-books. We are one of those libraries. Since 2002, we have provided access to NetLibrary, where you can choose from thousands of downloadable digital audio books or browse instructional e-books online. You will find fiction classics and thousands of titles on a variety of topics.

At Bartleby.com you can read hundreds of free public domain e-books from the most critically acclaimed authors in history. This collection includes classic fiction, nonfiction and poetry, as well as several reference volumes including the Cambridge History of English and American Literature.

At Gutenberg.org you can download over 30,000 free e-books to read on your PC, iPhone, Kindle, Sony Reader or other portable device. We provide access to all of this e-content via our library website www.myjcpl.org. As a staff, we are constantly reading about and discussing our options for e-content so that we may provide the best possible collection that our resources will allow. Please let us know how we are doing and continue to bring us your questions! We love to talk about e-books!

In 2010 alone, e-books were used nearly 900 times, and patron interest is growing by leaps and bounds as evidenced by the numerous questions we get each day and an increase in monthly downloads.

*Article contributed by JCPL Director, Patty Stringfellow

Issues Today: Nuclear Power

With all the talk about Japan's recent troubles with nuclear power, it's only natural to want some perspective on this critical issue. Salem Press, one of our electronic information providers, has put together some free resources to shine a light on nuclear power, and on its troubled and promising history as a power source. You can reach these special topics for a limited time at Salem Press's Issues Today page. You can also browse through our extensive collection of electronic Research Resources that we offer all year long, 24-7, for your information needs.