The Only Thing Constant is Change

The next few months will be very busy ones at the main library and our branch library out north. First of all, Library North will be moving to a new location on Stonebridge in the next couple of months. As soon as we get Library North situated, we will begin the remodeling of the main library. I anticipate that once we have the changes completed, many of you who left downtown will return. Already, we are experiencing a much friendlier, patron-centered atmosphere. 

If you have not met the new Library North manager, Karen White, please stop by and do so. She is very excited to be with us here in Jackson and is already pouring her knowledge and experience into serving patrons at Library North. 

 

 

It’s National Library Week!

This week, the Jackson-Madison County Library joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the value of libraries, librarians and library workers.

Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources. Often the heart of their communities, campuses or schools, libraries are deeply committed to the places where their patrons live, work and study.  Libraries are trusted places where everyone in the community can gather to reconnect and re-engage with each other to enrich and shape the community and address local issues.

Librarians work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large to discover what their communities needs are and meet them.  Whether through offering e-books and technology classes, materials for English-language learners, programs for job seekers or those to support early literacy, librarians listen to the community they serve, and they respond.

The Jackson-Madison County Library serves residents of Jackson and Madison County in two locations and provides books, ebooks, audio books, DVDs, test proctoring, computer classes, preschool story times, summer reading programs, copy service, fax service, genealogical and local history resources, and public access computers.

Service to the community is the focus of the library. Libraries have grown and evolved in how they provide for the needs of every member of their community.”

The Jackson-Madison County Library is celebrating National Library Week by doing the following:

• We will be waiving fines for all overdue materials returned during this week.
• Zoe Pride will begin teaching computer classes at the library twice weekly beginning April 16.
• We will welcome our new Library North manager, Karen White, on April 16.
• We will be giving away two gift cards to two lucky winners at the end of the week: $25 to Books-a-Million and $25 to Amazon.com.  You may register when you visit the library during National Library Week.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

For more information, visit the Jackson-Madison County Library at 433 East Lafayette St or our branch at 3189 N. Highland, Units F&G, call 731-425-8600 or see the library’s Web site at www.jmcl.tn.org.

Here we go!

The Library is finally back to local management. I have patiently been waiting for this day since I came on January 8. Our first official day was last Friday, March 1.  The changes we have proposed to the layout of the library, the remodeling, will not be accomplished until after the beginning of our new fiscal year in July. However, we are already working on other aspects of the library that were also seen as vital to serve the community as we should.

More staff members have been dedicated to the circulation and tech area to assist you with your research, reading, and technological needs. We’ve talked about how we want to “knock-your-socks-off” with our new customer service mind-set. Hopefully, if you’ve been in the library this week, you can already feel the difference.

We have already implemented our plan of patron-driven acquisitions. This just means that if you ask about a particular title that the library does not own, we will either get it for you through Interlibrary Loan, or we will purchase it on our next order if at all possible.

We are beefing up our social media presence. The Library’s blog is being updated.  A few weeks ago, we added the Director’s blog (which you are reading now), another Twitter account (in addition to Library North’s), and Pinterest boards. Help us spread the word. We want to reach as many people in Madison County as possible.

As they say in the Hill-Boren ad, “We’re here to help, and we know how!” Come see us.

The Plan

I’ve officially been on the job over a month now and have spent much time in observation and conversation. We now have a plan to move forward. The plan includes major rearrangement of the contents of the library. Some of the highlights of the plan are this:

• Moving all circulating materials to the main floor so patrons will not have to climb the stairs or use the elevator to select fictional or audio materials.
• Move all sitting tables out of the line of patron traffic through the library.
• Re-establishing a reference department on the second floor with a reference librarian present.
• Moving the computer lab to the second floor, adding 5 computers, and having dedicated laptop desks. This area would have dedicated staff.
• Updating the children’s area with new computers and children’s activity pieces.
• Enlarging (just a bit) and securing the children’s area by adding a railing to define the area.
• Adding a security system for inside and outside with several cameras.
• Increasing security guards’ hours.
• More copies of bestsellers available for patrons.
• Patron-driven acquisitions. This means that if you want something, ask for it! That’s what we will buy.
• Last but not least, providing customer service that will “knock your socks off!”

Excitement is in the air!

Pinterest

We now have boards on Pinterest providing links to useful and interesting library related sites. Check them out here. You will find links to sites offering free ebooks, genealogy sites, and reference sites along with more! Enjoy!

Survey

Would you please take a few moments to fill out our survey? You can access it by clicking on the word “survey.”  We also have paper copies of the survey at the circulation desk at the Main Library Branch and the North Branch.

It is very important that we know your thoughts and feelings as we plan for the future.

Thank you!

Relationships

Since coming to Jackson, my time has been spent getting to know the people of the area: library staff, library patrons, elected officials, and leaders of other organizations. I am delighted with what I am discovering! Many people care about the library, and many opportunities exists for the library to serve the community in an even greater manner. I am so excited about the possibilities! Very soon,  we will start distributing surveys asking for your input as we move forward. Please take a few moments at that time to complete the survey and let me know what you think. Meeting your informational and literacy needs is of utmost importance to me.

Hello!

I am the new director at the Jackson Madison County Library. My plans are to be on site sometime between January 8 and January 15. Please come by after the 15th and introduce yourself to me. If you have any comments or suggestions you would like to share, I am ready to listen. I look forward to serving you!

Director Jackson-Madison County Library