Category: Newsletter

In a recent ALA (American Library Association) survey, libraries reported upswings in patron use of the following services:

36% increase in use of technology classes

58% increase in use of electronic resources/books

60% increase in use of computers

74% increase in use of WiFi 

 A 2013 report by the Pew Research Center on the library habits of young adults concluded that “Americans ages 16-29 are heavy technology users, including in using computers and the Internet at libraries. At the same time, most still read and borrow printed books, and value a mix of traditional and technological library services.”

This study discovered that people under 30 years old are as likely as adults that are older to visit a library, borrow books in print and browse the library shelves at comparable rates. When library patrons were asked what was “very important” for libraries to offer, the responses were as follows:

80% – Librarians to help people find information they need

76% – Research resources such as free databases

75% – Free access to computers and the Internet

75% – Books for people to borrow

72% – Quiet study spaces

72% – Programs and classes for children and teens

71% – Job and career resources

Public libraries remain valuable resources for people of all ages in communities everywhere. Libraries are so valued by the patrons that they can hardly meet the growing need for a variety of customary and innovative services.

Paraphrased from the article, Think We No Longer Need Libraries? Think Again., by Karen Cator, CEO at Digital Promise and former Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. (www.linkedin.com)

Abbeville Memorial Library

Annual Statistical Data Comparison for 2011-2014:

   2011       2012      2013        2014       2011/2014

Over the past four years, Abbeville Memorial Library has shown an increase in almost all areas represented on the chart above. Library attendance has increased 41% since 2011. We also have more people using our computers and WiFi than ever before.

Although the number of printed books being read by adults has decreased over the past few years, the number of ebooks being read has increased greatly. By including ebooks in our library’s collection, our total number of items in circulation has grown rather than decreased.  The main goal is to keep people reading whether it is with an electronic device or a printed book.

Abbeville Memorial Library offers many more programs for people of all ages and interests to enjoy.  We have an indoor walking/exercise class that meets two mornings each week and will be adding two more of those classes in the evenings beginning in March.  We are preparing for our National Library Week programs and activities that will take place in April.  This year, our Summer Reading Program will take place each Wednesday in June at 10:00 at the Boys and Girls Club. (We have outgrown the library meeting room!)  Mark your calendars!

SEE YOU AT THE LIBRARY!

Debbie McLain, Library Director

Happy Holidays from Abbeville Memorial Library!

Debbie McLain, Library Director — Annie Mobley, Librarian’s Assistant — Paul McNamara, Library Aide

The Library has lots of ideas for making your holiday season happy and bright with books and DVD’s!  Check out a few holiday suggestions below.

Using the Library
Library cards are free of charge.  Your card allows you to check out books, ebooks, DVDs, and magazines, and login to one of the library computers.     To be eligible for a library card, you must live, work, or attend school in Henry County, Alabama.

If you are under 18, you will need a parent or guardian to come in and apply for you.  Library cards expire one year after the last time your information is updated. Please let us know if any of your contact information changes.

If you are not eligible for a library card, you may still use the library computers with a temporary login number we will provide for you.

Books

Books can be checked out for two weeks. If you have books out and will not be able to bring them back on time, stop by or give us a call and we can renew them for you! Books can only be renewed twice. Please let us know before the book is late-once it has a fine, we cannot renew it over the phone. Fines for late books are $0.10 per day, per book.

Adults: up to 10 books at a time.

Juveniles (under 18): up to 8 books

Current Policy does not allow juvenile patrons to check out books from the Adult Fiction section.

DVDs

DVDs can be checked out for ONE week (by adult patrons only). They cannot be renewed.

Fines for late DVDs are $1.00 per day, per DVD.

You may check out up to 4 DVDs per household.

We do not currently have Blu-rays or Cassettes available to be checked out.
Computers

ALL PATRONS MUST BRING PHOTO IDENTIFICATION TO USE LIBRARY COMPUTERS.

If you only wish to use the wi-fi on your own device, you do not need a photo I.D.

Adults: 1 hour/day

Juveniles: 30 min/day (must have form signed by parent or legal guardian)

Time limits can be extended if needed for work, school, or job-seeking purposes. Just let us know before your timer runs out.

Library computers automatically print black and white pages. If you need color prints, please let us know beforehand.
Copies and Faxes                                Notary  Notary is available for $1.00.

Black and white copies: $0.25/page

Color copies: $1.00/page

Faxes: $1.00/page (cover sheets are free)

The back side of a piece of paper counts as a separate page.
Ebooks can be accessed through our website:  www.abbevillelibrary.org .History Room

We do not currently allow patrons to enter our History Room. However, if you know what you are looking for, we will be happy to bring it out for you. You will need to leave your Driver’s license at the front desk to use history room materials.

History Room materials cannot be checked out.

Our new microfilm scanner allows microfilms to be scanned and printed ($0.25/page) or saved to a flash drive.
Ancestry.com Library Edition – can only be used from computers here at the library.