Tickets Still Available for Chicago Trip

Tickets for the bus trip to Chicago on November 21st are going fast. As of October 26, only a dozen or so tickets remained. If you wish to join us for a day in the Windy City, you need to act fast. Tickets may be purchased at the FPL administration office, located on the second floor of the library. The money must be turned in to the tour company by November 6, so tickets need to be purchased in advance of that date. To get more details or to link to the flyer for the event, see the posting of October 2, below.

Farewell Open House for Jo Anne Mondowney Scheduled

As promised, an open house to say goodbye to former FPL director Jo Anne Mondowney has been scheduled for Sunday, November 8. The event is scheduled from 4-6 p.m., in the FPL main branch Reading Room, with a special program set to begin at 5 p.m. As noted in a previous post, Jo Anne has been selected for a similar position with the Detroit Public Library. Be sure to take this opportunity to congratulate Jo Anne on her new appointment and to thank her for her many contributions to the Flint and its library.

Fall Book Sale: October 27-31

The finishing touches are being put on the Friends’ fall 2009 book sale, set to begin later this month. The sale, a semiannual event, will begin with a Friends’ only night, from 6 to 8:30 on Tuesday, October 27th. Don’t worry if you aren’t a member – memberships begin at only $10, annually, and applications will be available at the door on the night of the event as well as at the library administration office prior to the event.

The sale will be open to the general public on both Wednesday and Thursday night, again from 6 to 8:30. On Friday, October 29th, the sale shifts to daytime (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Friday is also two-for-one day, with most hardcover books priced at 2 for $1, while  paperbacks will be marked down to 2 for 50 cents. The always popular bag sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday (October 31), when $4 will get you as many books as you can stuff into a paper grocery sack.  Come support your library and stock up on your winter reading materials.

Volunteers are still needed to work during the sale, as well as to help set up during the week preceding the event (beginning October 19). If you would like to volunteer, call the library’s administration office during normal business hours.

Join the Friends of the FPL for a Day in Chicago

The Friends of the FPL have announced the details of a charter bus trip to Chicago, Saturday, November 21, 2009. This is a great opportunity to help raise money for the library, while enjoying a day of fun in the Windy City. The bus is scheduled to leave the Flint Library main branch, at 7 a.m., returning around midnight. Several drop-off points will be available, including museums, Shedd’s Aquarium, the Art Institute, Navy Pier, and, of course, the Miracle Mile. Tickets are only $50, and are available at the library Administration office, or by calling (810) 348-4558. The deadline to purchase tickets is November 6, but the supply is limited. Don’t miss out, call today!

Click the link below to see a printable flyer.

Friends Chicago flyer

Lending Machines – Bringing Books to the People

Machine displayed at recent ALA conference

Libraries are contiually looking for ways to increase circulation. One method some libraries have found is the use of vending machines. The machines, like the one pictured here, are capable of dispensing books, as well as videos, DVDs, and other forms of media. Originating in Europe, vending machines for books, appropriately called lending machines, began appearing in the U.S. less than five years ago. The machines seem best suited for spots where access to a full-service library is inconvenient or nonexistent. In Contra Costa County, California, for example, the long daily commute into San Fransisco makes a trip to the library nearly impossible. In response, the machines have been placed at several stops along the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System, providing commuters ready access to reading materials previously unavailable. One machine, placed in a busy transit hub, reported nearly 500 circulations during its first two weeks in service, with 30 percent of its contents checked out at any given time. However, the high initial cost – machines start at nearly $20,000 – may limit many libraries from jumping on the bandwagon, and so far, there is no indication of when one of the machines may appear in our area.

Friends of FPL Say Farewell to a Friend

It was with mixed emotions that I read the recent press release detailing the upcoming appointment of FPL’s Director, Jo Anne Mondowney, as the new director of the Detroit Public Library. I’m positive I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Although I’m sure this is a wonderful oppurtunity for Jo Anne, the selfish side of me was screaming, “No! She belongs to us!”

This is my first term on the Board of the Friends of the Flint Public Library. As such, I am a relative novice to the inner workings of the library’s administration. Jo Anne is the only director of a major urban library that I have ever met. Maybe all library directors are just like her, but I doubt it. Maybe they all have her combination of experience, skill, and passion, but I doubt that, too. More likely, it was exactly that combination that separated her from the other finalists for the position atop the DPL, the largest public library system in Michigan.

Kay Schwartz, currently FPL’s Manager of Automation and Technology, will serve as interim director. A nationwide search for Mrs. Mondowney’s replacement is underway. Meanwhile, a community event, celebrating Jo Anne’s numerous contributions to Flint and its library, is being planned for later this fall. Stay tuned for updates.

So, on behalf of the Board and all of the Friends of the FPL, I wish to say thank you, Jo Anne, and good luck in your new position. We will surely miss you.

Finish to Crim Day Includes the Blues

Looking for a good way to wind down after the Crim festival of races this Saturday (August 22nd)? We have just what you need. Join us on the lawn of the main library, 1026 E. Kearsley, for an evening of Blues. Maurice Davis, The Blues Creators Band, Napoleon Demps, and Lou Wilson are scheduled to perform, beginning at 6 p.m. Come early and stake out your spot. Friends of the Library will be on hand, providing bottled water for a nominal fee. The concert is free to the public, so come on down, support the library, and join in the fun.

Storytellers Festival July 17th and 18th

Don’t miss the annual Michigan Storytellers Festival, this Friday and Saturday at the Main Library. Workshops and performances are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on both days. Storyteller Onuwami Jean Moss, master storyteller Ivory Williams, and former storyteller of the year finalist Yvonne Healy will be here, each one leading workshops and performing on stage. For more information, follow this link.

Ice Cream Social and Band Concert: July 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Gather your lawn chairs and blankets, and come join us on the lawn of the Main Library (1026 E. Kearsley). Entertainment will be provided by the Genesee Valley Concert Band and the ice cream is free! What a great way to enjoy a summer evening.

July Book Drop-Off Delayed One Week

The July, 2009, book drop-off has been rescheduled due to the fourth of July holiday. The Friends of the FPL book drop-off, normally scheduled for the first Saturday of each month, will instead occur on the second Saturday, July 11th. The book drop-off will return to its normal day in August. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Continued thanks to those of you who donate your gently used books to our cause. The success of our two book sales each year depends upon your continuing support.