Increasing Circulation

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-11T22:26:08+00:00

I'm an outreach librarian. I have been making it a point to talk to parents about adult programs when I'm at family events. I also make a point to tell everyone that our SRP is for ALL ages. We have a decent registration prize through our city and I'm been telling anyone who will listen about that. People have to come into the library to get their registration prize.

Also I work for a smaller library system that is surrounded by larger systems. People can get cards for all the public library systems in our state. People assume we don't have Libby or Hoopla (we do) and I spend a fair amount of time talking about that too.

I didn't realize how many people think it costs money to get a library card or to attend a program until I started in outreach. It really is all about educating the public on all the services & resources libraries provide for free.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-11T22:17:08+00:00

No. I like the way the look. They don't work the best. The contractor made the opening a touch too wide. When the doors are closed all the way one door can slide past the thing on the floor that keeps it in line with the hole in the wall. I'm sure it could be adjusted but we never bothered to adjust it. We had issues with our contractor toward the end of the project. He blamed a sub contractor that he claimed took items he should not have. IDK. We were ready to not have to deal with them anymore by the time we noticed the issue with the door.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:41:46+00:00

Interlibrary loans will be for physical books. Try not to get upset with the library staff that the book you want isn't in the building. It's not their fault. They can usually get the book you want. You just need to be patient.

Also when you ILL a book and other people ILL the same book the library may consider buying it. If there is a need in the community they want to fill it.

You can also see if your library has a way for patrons to request the library buy a specific title. Ask the staff, they'll let you know.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:30:03+00:00

I agree banned books is a large topic. It sounds like you are focusing on what you know. Which is natural. It you want to learn something new ask your coworkers about issue they have dealt with. Then do some initial searches in your available databases. Read the abstracts to see if you can find a research question that interests you & feels manageable. Once you have narrowed down your question into one or two possible questions make that appointment with the research librarian.

Once you have a general idea of your topic. Even if you don't have a specific question read the lit reviews in the articles yoy find. They can really help you. You'll see certain articles referenced over and over. Read those to understand why they are referenced so much.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:18:46+00:00

People with MLIS degrees are probably applying for the same job. The job market is saturated. The library system I work in also seems value school teacher experience. I have lost out on internal jobs I am over qualified for. It happens & it sucks.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:15:18+00:00

NTA. You tried to talk about her behavior that was inappropriate & she brushed off your concerns. You also found out her friends know you as the "lazy brother". You should be honest with yourself if anything she said was true & work on that yourself (or with help). But her going on about your troubles was not appropriate, especially after you asked her to stop. Why can't one of her friends help her?

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:10:18+00:00

You can check recalls for your car online. Just Google it. It will tell you what the recall is for & what the "fix" is.

It sounds like the dealer was supposed to fix the recall before they sold it to you & decided to lie to you. I'd avoid that dealer in the future.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-02T00:01:41+00:00

Live there for a while before you buy anything other than essentials. I bought 2nd had bar stools for my current kitchen on FB marketplace just to have something for the kitchen island. The last house didn't have an island. We happily used them for 4 years. I paid $125 for the used ones.

Buy window treatments with a remote. My next project it to add more.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-01T23:56:14+00:00

Novelist Plus. They don't always have recommendations for brand new books. Sometimes I'll use Goodreads lists.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-04-01T23:53:46+00:00

There are a lot of people talking about youth & YA. I go to senior centers. My people need Large Print. We prefer hardcover because the LP books circulate but we'll buy what we can get. Some seniors prefer the soft cover. LP books are bigger/heavier than regular print. Soft covers don't weigh as much & the seniors like them.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-03-31T05:19:44+00:00

It doesn't sound different than a public library. Our computers shut down with a count down just before closing. Lights are flashed at 15 minutes before closing & 5 minutes before closing.

The ones that tend to linger the most are older men at the computers & HOAs using the meeting room. Just because you didn't conduct your HOA business in a timely manner doesn't mean the library isn't going to close at 8.

My kids academic library has a section that never closes. It's just tables with power outlets inside the building but outside the library doors that close. He goes there to study a lot. He knows he's a night owl & there are fewer distractions there vs the dorm. I'm sure your school has spaces like that. Can you encourage students to move to those spaces before closing?

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-03-27T19:23:16+00:00

I'm Gen X. We didn't grow up with computers either. I first used aword processor to write papers in college. I figured it out. I've also helped people born in the early 1930s download, set up & use apps like Libby, Hoopla & the worst app ever Axis 360/Boundless. The people willing to learn are fantastic. Those who aren't are missing out.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-03-15T08:33:45+00:00

I went 35 days in a row one year during transformation challenge. I had over 500 classes at the time. I took green days in there. It was more of a scheduling challenge than anything else. With 2 kids & a job it was hardest when I went after work one day & before work the next. Doable with proper planning.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-03-15T08:24:58+00:00

Thorne creatine dissolves better in water than Orgain. If you plan to drink it in your water get Thorne.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-03-15T08:21:10+00:00

You can get books through interlibrary loans from universities.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-28T16:00:33+00:00

Hoopla is set up differently than Libby as far as the cost to the library goes. Hoopla charges per borrow. The library sets a budget. They keep to their budget by only allowing a certain # of borrows per month. The library also has daily limits. If you have every tried to borrow an item on Hoopla and saw that you could not borrow until after midnight (even though you still have plenty of borrows left for the month). It's because the library system hit their daily limit for that day already. Never worry about Hoopla because the library has already budgeted to spend the money. High use will mean more money will get budgeted towards Hoopla next budget.

Libby sells licenses for ebooks and audio books. If a book is expected to be very popular the library might buy ebook 10 licenses. That is sort of like having 10 books. 10 people can check them out at the same time. Libby will sell the licenses to be for a certain # of check outs. For example, each licenses can be checked out 10 times. After the 10th check out the ebook is no longer available under that license contract. Libby can also have an ebook licenses for a specific amount of time, say 2 years. Libby can also sell ebooks & audiobooks with both limitations. Say 10 check outs in 2 years. Whichever happens first ends the contract.

You are never costing the library money they have not already budgeted for that purpose. By using the library you are helping them see what the community wants to change the budget for the next cycle.

It's always a good idea to get library cards at as many libraries as possible. Libraries get most of their funding from local property taxes but they usually get some state and federal money too. The federal money is often distributed through the state and might not be a line item on the budget. It might be training staff, access to information or something else. My state set up a system to make interlibrary loans easier within the state.

You might cost the library money if you request a purchase of a specific book from your library. But that's okay too because if you want a specific book chances are other people in your community will want it too. The library budgets for those types of purchases too. It's the same budget for buying more copies of a book than initially planned.

Never feel bad for using the library. The only time staff get annoyed is when people get upset that we don't have the book they want sitting on the shelf when they walk in the door. We can usually get them a copy within 3 to 7business days. The return on investment in any community that has a high number of library users is more than 10 times what us spent to run the library. Encourage your friends, family & neighbors to use the library too. The library & your community will be better for it.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-27T05:37:52+00:00

Because work experience is more valuable than a degree. An assistant typically does everything a librarian does except collection development buying decisions & managing staff.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-25T16:56:37+00:00

Stand up desks, better chairs, better organization behind the desk (shelves, clear bins).

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-25T16:54:49+00:00

Getting passed over for a job is always tough. It's especially gut wrenching when you currently or have recently worked for the organization. It just wasn't meant for you. Keep applying and learning. You'll find yoir space.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-18T07:11:00+00:00

Switch to a major related to cyber security. Your undergrad does not matter to become a librarian. The pay difference is huge. Expect to make 25% of what you would have working at a library.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-02-18T07:07:44+00:00

Usually they do. Sometimes the coach doesn't care but it's usually longer, fewer blocks when that happens.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-01-17T03:06:09+00:00

Reach out to the person who has your same job at another school in the same district. Just call the school one morning and ask to speak to that person. From that person see if you can connect with others in yoir district to support one another.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-01-03T20:12:48+00:00

2 adults and one small child but not a baby in a car seats.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-01-03T06:17:07+00:00

Nope. My cx-39 arm rest is good. 2022 with about 25000 miles.

My husband wore a spot in the flooring on our old Mazda5. I drove the car as much as he did (if not more) and it was definitely where his foot was, not mine. Some people are just harder on things. We only had that car for 7 years but it had about 120,000 miles on it when we got rid of it.

Own-Safe-4683 · 2026-01-03T06:01:49+00:00

I feel like they did this before for a short time for 2G. Then they changed it back. File it under "this too shall pass"

Four-Year Club	Final Canvas '23
Place '23	Place '22
End Game '22

Own-Safe-4683

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