Recently, a patron told a staff member that she had converted to Judaism a few years ago and was surprised, but pleased, that we had several books on Judaism in our collection. She found them very useful in her study of her new faith.

Ereader Help Turns Frustration Into Joy

In the Reference Department we very often answer questions for people about how to download books from Molib2go to their e-readers. One evening a gentleman come in, very frustrated about how to use his e-reader saying he and his wife had spent 2 hours the night before trying to figure out the process. He happened to have a Pandigital, which is the device Cheryl has, so in about 15 minutes she was able to explain the process of downloading, opening and reading ebooks as well as putting a shortcut on the device desktop for quick access. She doesn't think she had ever seen anyone so happy as he shook her hand several times, thanking her repeatedly, and saying he worked at O'Reilly's if she ever needed anything. He was practically dancing as he walked out. Each day there are little moments when you know you have helped someone as they thank you for the information they want or a direction to find what they need, but that night Cheryl felt such an overwhelming feeling of happiness knowing she had truly made his day.

Resources for everyone

A patron came in looking for books about a significant and unique life-change she is going through.  Not only did we have nonfiction books on her topic, we had fiction books (with further resources listed in the back)!  She seemed relieved, appreciative, and touched that we had resources for her.

Teen programs are a bright spot for teen

One of my regular teens is going through a rough time right now.  He let me know the other day that getting out of the house to attend Teen programming is helping him get through this rough spot.

Doesn't Know What She'd Do Without Library

A woman called this morning for information on the distance and directions to a Missouri town. Time and directions were needed to get to a treatment facility. The woman said she does not have internet access and calls us for needed information. She said "There are times when I wouldn't know what to do without the library."

The Library's free internet and wifi is vital to students

After the tornado on May 22, 2011 Joplin Schools received a huge donation enabling them to buy a laptop for every high school student.  These laptops are used instead of traditional textbooks--each class has a set of e-textbooks and other online resources for the students to use.  While they are in school, the students use the schools' wifi to access their assignments and textbooks, but once they are off school grounds, they are on their own to find a suitable internet connection.  Many students have internet access at home, but many do not.  The school has some strategies in place for these students, but it seems like it is much easier to do well in school if students have internet access outside of school.

Yesterday, I spoke with two high school boys who come to the Library almost every day after school about how they use our wifi.  Both boys said they don't have internet at home and don't drive yet, so their only source for free wifi is the Library.  Of course, they both use our wifi to play games and use facebook and other social networks, but they also use our wifi to do their homework and access their textbooks.  They told me that if it weren't for the Library's wifi, they would have a harder time completing their school work. 

Teen nonfiction awakens inner reader

A few weeks ago a recent high school graduate came to the Teen Department looking for true books about things that she is currently dealing with or has dealt with.  (Pretty weighty things like drug abuse, foster care, self harm, child abuse, etc.)  I recommended Hannah by Hannah Westberg and a few other titles.  Today, she came back.  When I asked her how she liked the books, she told me she loved the books so much that she read Hannah 3 times in a row.  She said, "I haven't been into books since the 6th grade, but my mom had to keep telling me to get my head out of these books.  Now, I need more!"

Storytime is a Highlight!

This morning one of our library patrons, who brings her twin 3 year-old grandsons to Storytime enthused, "You always do such a great Storytime! Coming here is the highlight of our week!"

  

Thanks to Chelsey Gatewood, JPL Children's Assistant, for sharing this story!

Book Suggestion Helps in Unexpected Way

As the Children's Librarian I get the opportunity to help library users find great books all the time, but I do not always get the opportunity to hear how they liked the book. This is one of those great stories!

I helped a mother find some stories to read to her daughter’s first grade class.   I gave her five or six picture books because she said that she could dress up as one of the characters from the story and I wanted to give her several options.  The week after she read to her daughter’s classroom, she came back in and said that she had used Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland for her “guest reader spot” and her son, who is four, even helped out by playing one of the characters in the book. 

She went on to say that the reading went great and the children in her daughter’s class loved the book, but even better than that, she had been able to use one of the other books that I had given her—Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, in which a girl mouse is made fun of because of her unique name—to help her son feel better about his name.  She said he had been having an issue with the length of his name because it is only three letters and he felt that it was too short.  After reading the trouble that Chrysanthemum had in the story, she said he felt tremendously better about his own name. 

And as an added bonus, another mother from the same class was supposed to be the guest reader the next time and was asking for advice on finding a good story, so the mother I helped recommended she visit the Library and ask us for help.  I'm not sure if she actually came in, but I definitely appreciate her promoting the Library's services! 

Welcome to Joplin Public Library Makes a Difference!!

Welcome to a new blog about Joplin Public Library! We all know that public libraries make a huge difference in the lives of people and that libraries enrich the communities that they serve. Sometimes though, it is important that we put faces to the changes and impact we have on people. This blog is to do just that. When one of our staff hears or observes how we have made a difference in someone's life, we've asked them to write about it so we can share it with others. Library staffers will not use patrons' real names in order to protect their privacy, but the the stories they tell will be true. If you have a story about how JPL has enriched or changed your life, write about it and send it to jpl@joplinpubliclibrary.org. We'd love to hear about it! Check back from time to time to see our stories.