The lives and times of the Berthoud Library

Just a quick post – Meet the Author!

Berthoud Community Library District — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:42:02 +0000

Hello readers,

I just wanted to write a quick post letting you all know that there is going to be a special Meet the Author program Saturday January 28, 2012 1pm-3pm at Loveland Barnes & Nobles (Centerra Shopping Center)

If you like Christian and Inspirational Fiction, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet author Amanda Cabot and learn more about her latest book, “Summer of Promise”. Best selling author Kathleen Morgan says, “‘Summer of Promise’ is an engrossing story of love and adventure on the Wyoming frontier that is sure to capture your heart! Get ready for a charming tale of like on am Army post woven into an engaging, fast-paced, heartwarming read!”

The Thursday Spiel – Apologies for the lack of posts of late

Berthoud Community Library District — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:51:49 +0000

Alright guys,

It has been a horridly long time since we have posted here on our blog and the time has come for us to put our proverbial foot down and say, “No more!” The goal is to post once a week every Thursday in the hopes that it will allow you to be up to date on the goings on in our library and around the community. We hope you enjoy and please feel free to request topics, and hopefully we’ll get a video post or two up pretty soon as well. Enjoy!

For the remainder of January – bravo to the new year and happy belated Chinese New year as well by the way – we will be finishing off the month with our regular Monday Movie Matinee at 5:30. Please feel free to bring your kids along with din din (light movie refreshments, i.e. POPCORN will be served) and enjoy a free movie on the library,at the library, with the library! Woo!

We also have a new program to present to you on the 3rd Monday of every month, instead of Movie Mondays we will be hosting a special program called “Paws to Read”. This wonderful program allows children to sign up for fifteen minute slots and read to special puppies who have come to listen to them. It’s a great way to encourage shy readers to start branching out and reading to audiences, it is a wonderful way to help struggling readers move forward as they spend time with a fluffy friend and, personally, I can’t think of a better way to end my evening than to sit next to a warm, soft, fuzzy animal and read a good book. Maybe a cup of tea would be nice. And some popcorn…but I digress. (Please note that children must sign up for this program in a specific time slot. You may call the library for more details.)

Coming up in February, we will be hosting two special programs in honor of Black History Month. Join us on the 13th and 20th. More info to come.

Per usual the library still hosts our weekly Friday Family Story times in the morning (ages 1-5, no registration required) at 10:30, but we also have two new story time programs every Tuesday and Wednesday, also at 10:30. The Tuesday program is for our “Busy B’s” – a lap-sit story time that is designed for caregivers to interact with babies and toddlers. You must register for this program. The Wednesday program is our “Sweet P’s” program that is focused on early literary skills for preschool aged children. Our wonderful Youth Services Librarian, Christy, will interact with your child using books, songs, finger plays, activities and crafts that help support the skills essential for building a strong reading foundation. Again, you must register for this program.

That’s all for now folks, stay tuned for more Thursday Spiels, have a wonderful and pleasant weekend!

Berthoud Community Library

(970) 532 2757

www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Trailer

Berthoud Community Library District — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:10:09 +0000

Books and Talk Radio

Berthoud Community Library District — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:16:09 +0000

I love talk radio. NPR, AM political shows, WLS AM (Chicago) to keep up with goings-on at home, and my favorite: The Ian Punnett show on Coast to Coast AM that airs on Saturday nights locally on AM 600. Ian was a friend of mine in college and he has an incredibly nimble intellect. The commonality here is that I especially enjoy author interviews and hearing about new books. Sometimes I buy the books for the library’s collection, thinking that other people will enjoy reading them as well.

It finally occurred to me that although I’m choosing these books for the library, I’m not telling the community what prompted the choice. SO, I will be starting to put lists of these books in the library’s catalog. For instance, I recently purchased a book called When gadgets betray us: the dark side of our infatuation with new technologies, by Rob Vamosi that I heard about on “The Ian Punnett Show”. Go to the library catalog and you will now find a “Resource List” titled Coast to Coast AM. Next I will start a list based on the NPR show “The Splendid Table”; in the book order I’m placing today is one that I heard about on Sunday (Splendid Table) titled Homemade cheese: recipes for 50 cheeses from artisan cheesemakers, by Janet Hurst. Other cheesemaking books are popular here in Berthoud and this will be a nice addition to our collection.

Let me know if you hear about good books on the radio and I can start a list based on that show as well, Director.bpl@gmail.com.

Sara, Library Director

Board of Trustee Vacancy

Berthoud Community Library District — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:19:09 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Name: Sara Wright

Title: Director

Phone: 970-532-2757

Email: director.bpl@gmail.com

Berthoud, CO, January 1, 2011 – The Berthoud Community Library District (BCLD) is

accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees. The seven-member Board

governs the Library District, oversees the finances and establishes policies. Applicants must

reside within the Library District. The term for this position is four years, January 2012 –

December 2015.

Applications for the board and a description of the position are available at the Berthoud

Community Library and online at www.berthoudpubliclibrary.org. Applications should

be returned to Berthoud Community Library District, 236 Welch Avenue, Berthoud, CO

80513, Attn: Sara Wright. Please see the application for more information. The due date for

applications is October 6, 2011 OR until filled.

The mission of the Berthoud Community Library District is to provide access to popular

and informational books, other materials, and services that inform, educate, and culturally

enrich the people of the Berthoud Community. For more information about how the Berthoud

Community Library District touches lives in the community of Berthoud every day, please visit

www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org.

Ever finish a book and then wonder, “what now?”

Berthoud Community Library District — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:50:15 +0000

We definitely have some options for you if you’ve ever found yourself in that uncomfortable position of having just finished a book and not knowing what to read next! If you just aren’t interested in stopping by your local library or calling the librarian and asking for a reading suggestion then check out this awesome website: http://bookseer.com/

Simply type in the book and the author and Book Seer will list suggestions from both Amazon.com and LibraryThing; what a great way to expand your reading horizons!

We hope you’ll enjoy this fun online tool as much as we do and, as always, if you ever have any questions, please feel to contact us via email at berthoudcommunitylibrary@gmail.com, via phone at (970) 532 2757 or you can comment on our webpage!

Save Jeffco Libraries – Save Jeffco Libraries to Hold Community Meetings on Jeffco Library District Formation

Berthoud Community Library District — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:13:12 +0000

(GOLDEN, Colo. – June 17, 2011) Save Jeffco Libraries is hosting six community meetings to inform Jefferson County residents about the significant budgetary issues facing Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) and the group’s efforts to form an independent library district.

“Over the past several years, the Jefferson County Commissioners have diverted $6 million in property taxes from JCPL’s dedicated mill levy to other County departments,” said former Library Board chair and Save Jeffco Libraries founder Tom Atkins. “Diversion of these funds has resulted in staff layoffs and Monday closures.”

“If JCPL remains a part of Jeffco government, things will only worsen. The 2012 Library budget will be $2 million short, and it is obvious when you look at the numbers that Jeffco residents will likely see some of our libraries close. As an independent library district, five-year projections look much better. Funding will be tight, but they will be able to keep the doors open.”

Discussions will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. in the meeting room at the following JCPL locations:

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 – Arvada Library, 7525 W. 57th Ave., Arvada
Thursday, July 7, 2011 – Golden Library, 1019 10^th St., Golden
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 – Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St., Arvada
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 – Evergreen Library, 5000 Hwy. 73 (at Buffalo Park Rd.), Evergreen
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 – Belmar Library, 555 S. Alison Pkwy., Lakewood
Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2011 – Columbine Library, 7706 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton

For more information, visit Savejeffcolibraries.org, or call 303.726.9003. County residents can support the formation of an independent library district by signing the Statement of Support atSavejeffcolibraries.org and writing the Jefferson County Commissioners at Commish@jeffco.us and the Library Board at board@jeffcolibrary.org.

About Save Jeffco Libraries
Save Jeffco Libraries is a grassroots initiative formed by Jefferson County Public Library patrons, including many former Library Trustees, who are concerned about the Library’s funding and independence and believe creation of a district is the only way to preserve and protect its future. Save Jeffco Libraries is not affiliated with Jefferson County Public Library, its Board of Trustees, Jefferson County Library Foundation, or Friends of the Library.

Library Districts for Denver and Jeffco

Berthoud Community Library District — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:16:41 +0000

The Denver Post had a nice column Sunday by freelance columnist Tom Noel on Denver’s need for an independent library district. Everything he says can be applied to Jeffco except that we already have a “dedicated” mill levy for the library.

Read his column here: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_18242599

Unfortunately, the Jeffco County Commissioners have treated the library’s “dedicated” mill levy as a fungible source of revenue. Over the past six years, they’ve diverted six million dollars of our library property tax levy for other purposes. So for 2012 JCPL is facing a two million dollar deficit. That’s way too much money to save by service reductions alone. In fact, the library has already shaved $800,000 out of their 2012 budget through efficiencies and staff reductions or they’d be in an even deeper hole.

If we are to avoid drastic cuts like closing libraries, we have to get JCPL designated as an independent library district.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

1. Send an email to the Commissioners telling them to create the district now!

Tell them you support a library district. They can schedule it for an election or they can just do the right thing, save everybody the expense, and create it by resolution.

Click here to open the email: Commish@jeffco.us

Suggested language:

Dear Commissioners Griffin, Rosier, and Odom:

I support the conversion of JCPL into a library district and I support the citizens’ petition submitted to you in January for that purpose. Your attempt to find a legal loophole to avoid responsibility disrespects the voters. I urge you to avoid the unnecessary expense and adversity of an election and to create the library district by resolution now.

Sincerely,

2. The Library Board of Trustees, which unanimously recommended a library district in 2008, is now dragging its feet in an effort to avoid controversy with the Commissioners. But is it worth closing a library to avoid that conflict?

Click here to open an email to the JCPL Library Board of Trustees. Tell the library board you support the library district and you want them to support it too.

Suggested language:

Dear Trustees Anna, Carney, Douglass, Elliott, Heinekamp, Hildreth, and Rockwell:

I support the conversion of JCPL into a library district and I support the citizens’ petition submitted to the Commissioners in January for that purpose. I believe the district is the only long-term solution that truly protects JCPL’s revenue and insulates it from the political environment. I urge you to join the thousands of Jeffco taxpayers who have already expressed support for the district.

We depend on you to protect the Library’s policies, funding, and independence.

Sincerely,

Remember: If we’re going to protect this vital institution from political meddling and protect our tax money from the sticky fingers of the County Commissioners,

it’s up to us!

Tom Atkins

Update from Save Jeffco Libraries

Berthoud Community Library District — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:09:19 +0000

Be sure to look for Save Jeffco Libraries at the Library Foundation’s Whale of a Book Sale this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We will have a covered table on the sidewalk outside the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall entrance. We will be there with the approval of the Library Foundation, but we are not affilliated with the Jefferson County Public Library, its Board of Trustees, the Library Foundation, or the Friends of the Library.

Please stop by and invite your friends to stop by. We’ll have handout materials, signup sheets so you can add your name to our growing list of supporters, and we’ll be accepting donations.

Remember: it’s up to us!

*UPDATE* 06/06/2011

Save Jeffco Libraries had a WHALE of a weekend at the Library Foundation’s “Whale of a Book Sale” at the Jeffco Fairgrounds. SJL had a prominent and professional booth between the parking lot and the entrance to the exhibit hall.

We gathered the names of nearly 1,500 supporters who want to send the Jefferson County Commissioners a message:

“I want to create a library district because

I want to preserve and protect the Library’s future by ensuring it has stable and reliable funding.
I believe the Library’s funding should respect voters’ wishes expressed by election in 1986.
I believe the Library should be governed without undue political influence so it can focus on its mission of providing the best possible library service to the patrons of Jefferson County.“

The whole experience of asking for people’s support was incredibly rewarding. It is amazing and encouraging to us that nearly everyone quickly “got it”. They understood the benefits of converting JCPL into an independent library district; They understood the risks to the library of the County “shifting” property tax revenues from the library’s dedicated levy to other County purposes; and they understood the importance of respecting voters’ wishes, both for the library’s tax levy and for responding to our voters’ petition for creation of a library district.

We experienced so many people who immediately volunteered that what the Commissioners have done is wrong and should be stopped. Many asked why we haven’t sued the Commissioners over funding issues. We explained our belief that a better solution is to let the voters solve the problem by creating a library district, but that we are incredulous at having to sue to get the Commissioners to comply with the Library Law.

Our booth was staffed by dedicated hard-working volunteers for the entire 20 hours the book sale was open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Alice and I would like to thank all our volunteers:Wanda Blackburn, Elliot Brown, Pat and Don Clair, Carol Coppock, Keith Grebe, Carol Hickam, Clarence Kissler, Elaine Olson, Dodie Ownes, Jackie Powers, Kay Stafford, Paulette Whitcomb, Nancy Whitsel, and John Zacrep. We’d also like to thank Table Mountains Conservation Fund for the loan of the booth.

The book sale was a wonderful event put on by the hard-working volunteers of the Jefferson County Library Foundation and the Friends of the Jefferson County Library. We thank them for permission to set up our Save Jeffco Libraries table on the Fairgrounds property outside the exhibit hall.

You are VITAL in spreading the word throughout Jefferson County. PLEASE ask your friends to visit www.savejeffcolibraries.org and sign the Statement of Support.

Remember, it’s up to us!

Tom and Alice Atkins

District for Denver? Update from Save Jeffco Libraries

Berthoud Community Library District — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:01:56 +0000

Please note that this is not written by Berthoud Community Library Staff…we are posting on behalf of Jeffco libraries as they embark on their new venture of becoming a district. Please visit http://www.savejeffcolibraries.org for additional information

District for Denver?

MAY27

Posted by Tom

As you probably know (my blog of April 22), the Denver Public Library is having its own funding problems and is looking at becoming an independent library district.

Our situation here in Jefferson County is a bit different than Denver’s in that we already have a dedicated library property tax mill levy, so no new taxes are required. Well, let me rephrase that – the law and the 1986 Jeffco election ballot where we approved that tax both say that our tax levy is dedicated for the library only, but the Jeffco Commissioners have been using it as a source of funding for other County uses.

So as taxpayers and voters, in January we submitted a petition in accordance with the library law requesting the conversion of JCPL to a library district, funded by the same library mill levy we voted on twenty five years ago. Except as a district, the tax levy truly would be dedicated and removed from tampering by the Commissioners.

This week (May 26), the president of the board of trustees for the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation, Michael King, wrote a “My Turn” column in the Denver Post, advocating for district status in Denver. We very much agree with him that “Dedicated funding must be secured for our library”. That goes for Jeffco as well as Denver.

The Denver Friends Foundation took their turn. We need to take our turn. Please send an email to the County Commissioners and to the JCPL Library Board, telling them you support a library district to secure the financial stability and independence of the Library in Jeffco.

Remember, it’s up to us!

Tom Atkins

Click here to open an email to the Jeffco Commissioners. Tell them you support a library district. They can schedule it for an election or they can just do the right thing, save everybody the expense, and create it by resolution.

Suggested language:

Dear Commissioners Griffin, Rozier, and Odom:

I support the conversion of JCPL into a library district and I support the citizens’ petition submitted to you in January for that purpose. I urge you to avoid the unnecessary expense and adversity of an election and to create the library district by resolution now.

Sincerely,

Click here to open an email to the JCPL Library Board of Trustees. Tell the library board you support the library district and you want them to support the district.

Suggested language:

Dear Trustees Anna, Carney, Douglass, Elliott, Heinekamp, Hildreth, and Rockwell:

Please keep up the good work in protecting the Library’s policies, funding, and independence.

Sincerely,

Here’s the column from today’s Post:

My Turn – The Denver Post, May 26 2011

By Michael King

Re: “Library funding needs context,” May 19 editorial.

A strong library system is strategically imperative for any great city’s economic and community development. The Denver Public Library changes lives: creating jobs through small business development; bridging the “digital divide” by empowering our workforce for the rigorous demands of today’s knowledge-based economy; enabling patrons to harness sophisticated technologies; and building communities across the city — all while investing in our future through child and adult literacy programs.

Several years of deep budget cuts have weakened our award-winning library, and the latest city shortfall will impose unacceptable cuts on the library system. The library could be forced to choose between closing up to 12 branches or slashing hours across the system until our already part-time branches are only open one or two days a week, reducing them to being libraries in name only.

Dedicated funding must be secured for our library. There are more than 50 library districts in Colorado. Contrary to The Denver Post’s editorial, library advocates have been diligently working with the city’s Structural Financial Task Force, the mayoral candidates and the City Council to be part of the overall solution to the budget deficit. With another $100 million in cuts looming, a library district mill levy of $56 a year on a $200,000 home would raise $38 million, making a significant down payment on the budget deficit and alleviating otherwise draconian cuts to other vital city services, such as safety and fire.

Our great city deserves better than part-time libraries, police and fire departments. Please join us for upcoming Library’s Community Budget meetings (denverlibrary.org/budget) to learn more.

Michael King is president of the board of trustees for the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.