Get Creative about your library!

The At My Library Creative Essay Contest seeks original, creative essays about users' unique experiences at libraries and why American libraries are important. The grand prize winner will receive $350, and a People's Choice Award winner will receive $100. In addition, the top 10 finalists will have their essay published on the homepage of atyourlibrary.org.

The essays must be about library users' experience(s) at libraries and include the name of the library or libraries (or their Web sites) where the experience(s) took place.

Go to www.atyourlibrary.org/essay-contest for complete details and instructions. Deadline to submit is December 7, 2009. And be sure to vote for the People's Choice Award, which ends December 14, 2009.

So if you've had a good experience--or just want to say why libraries are important, start planning your contribution now! And it's not limited to print essays--you can make a video or photo slide show.

And if you sign up for the atyourlibrary.org newsletter in the next two months, you will be entered in a raffle for two Apple iPod Nanos. Valid email address is all that's required.

The only requirement of the essay is that it describes your personal experience at the library and that it includes the name of the library. So get creative and share the joy of libraries.

Kelly

Celebrating 50 years!

Russell County Public Library will celebrate 50 years of serving Russell County on October 22, 2009. So mark your calendar, because there will be a party at both libraries! What's a birthday party without cake!?

We will emphasize history as we work our way through a year of celebrations, but we will also have some fun, like decade parties, so don't miss your chance to party like it's 1999!

What's happening this month? Some lucky readers will get edible 'reader's treats' this month when they check out a book. The deadline to enter the contest to design a new library logo is October 13. The TAB Haunted Circus will be Halloween evening. The list goes on...So stop by and visit us in Honaker and Lebanon, and the new library station in Cleveland.

October 22
Honaker Community Library
10 am - Noon Reception

Lebanon Library
2 - 4 pm Open House
4 - 6 pm Reception

Server Upgrades

In case you missed it, the Lebanon library's technology got a face lift! I, with the help of a handy technician, have been working on installing a brand new server that will not only speed things up, but will ensure Internet up-time and constant access to files and documents. The old server will be moved to the Honaker branch, and will be installed soon. Please bear with us as we strive to make the technology at both libraries top-notch and easily accessible for everyone. We have experienced some downtime and may continue to have a few pockets of Internet outages in the coming days.

Thanks for your cooperation as we work on making things better for you here at the Russell County Public Library!

Katie's Goodbye to the Blog

I'm sad to say that after two years here at the Lebanon Library, I've resigned my position. I'm moving to the big city!!! - Washington, D.C., more specifically. Of course I'm excited for this move, and I'm looking foward to the many opportunities I'm sure are out there, but it was very difficult to hand in my resignation letter. It was difficult to even write it. For fear of stealing from Taylor Swift, I will say that there were quite a few teardrops on my computer keyboard.
I am grateful for all of the support and the opportunities provided to me here at the library. I'm especially grateful for the regular story-timers who brightened my Tuesdays and Wednesdays! I have learned so much in my time here, and I will carry those lessons with me to my next job and beyond. Reader, in case you missed it, that was your cue to shake your head at the overall sentimentality of this post. :)
Over the past two years, I have come to regard my RCPL coworkers and many library patrons as friends. I am sad to leave behind this wonderful group of people! So, in saying my goodbyes, I wish all of the staff and patrons the best of luck in the future, and I hope that all of our paths will cross again!

Katie

Library Magnifier

Thanks to a generous donor, the Russell County Public Library now has a Merlin video magnifier. This is a device that enlarges and enhances images for those who have impaired vision. It can magnify any image, such as printed text or photos, and display either black and white or color images. It is available for use in the library during regular operational hours.

Keeping Your Computer Clean

They may just be machines, but computers can get sick and lethargic just like us! If you've noticed that your home or work computer takes a lot longer to do simple things such as opening a program or a web browser window, you may want to follow these steps to try and remedy your slowness problem.

1. Free up disk space.
If you are running a Windows operating system, you will be able to clean up unnecessary files with a program (that's already installed) called the Disk Cleanup Tool. This program helps you to identify files that can be deleted safely from your computer. The types of files that you can delete with the Disk Cleanup Tool are: -Temporary internet files; -Downloaded program files; -Files in the Recycle Bin; -Windows temporary files; -Optional Windows components that you don't use; Installed programs that you don't use. FYI: Temporary internet files take up the most space on your computer because the browser saves a copy of each page your browser accesses for faster loading time later (called "caching").

2. Speed up access to data.
A computer phenomenon called "disk fragmenting" is a process that breaks up files needed to operate a computer program, storing them in varying places on the computer's hard drive. Each time the program is run, the computer has to take the time to find each and every scattered file so that it will operate correctly. Windows contains a useful tool called the "Disk Defragmenter" that consolidates related files and folders on your computer. You should run the Disk Defragmenter utility monthly to keep your computer operating at its optimal speed. If you don't think that you'll remember to run it every month, do so when the following occur: -Your computer's free hard drive space totals 15% or less; -You install new programs or a new version of Windows.

3. Protect your computer from spyware.
If you have never heard of spyware and you use a computer regularly, you can be sure that you've encountered it in some way. Spyware consists of programs and code developed specifically for the purpose of collecting personal information without letting you know and without asking your permission. Not only does spyware present security concerns, it can slow your computer down significantly. There are programs developed with the sole purpose of tracking and getting rid of spyware; some you pay for, and some are completey free. One free program offered by Microsoft is Windows Defender, which is installed as a part of Windows Vista. If you are running Windows XP, you will need to download Windows Defender from the Microsoft website by clicking here.

For help with learning how to find these utitilities on your computer, please visit the following website for step-by-step instructions: http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/maintenance/speed.aspx

Local History and Genealogy Research

Russell County Public Library Reminder: The library has several family genealogy records available in the local history room for researchers, as well as numerous books and files about the history of Russell County and surrounding counties. The library also houses Russell County marriage records from 1849 to 1911. There is a photo archive with old photos from all areas of the county, that patrons can browse at any time. The library also subscribes to Ancestry.com (available in the library only) and Heritage Quest (available from your home computer if you have a library card).