Three SEPLSO libraries to launch pilot programs

McAlester, Coalgate and Hartshorne will launch pilot programs experimenting with new library hours. McAlester will be open 1:30-5:00 on Sunday. Coalgate will be opening an hour earlier at 9:00am Monday through Friday. Hartshorne will also be opening at an earlier hour at 8:00am making them open 2 hours earlier Tuesday thru Friday. At the end of the program the results will be evaluated.

In-Service Day Big Success

Tom Massey

Carol Burgess accepting the Acorn Award

Tom Massey, an inspriational speaker, made a big hit at SEPLSO’s In-Service Day. The subject was customer service. He spoke of many ways we can improve our outlook on serving the public. He talked about how important teamwork was, and self confidence. Also important is empathy for other people.
In the afternoon we did exercises that showed us how important trust and teamwork was. All in all, it was a very interesting day.
In the afternoon Wayne Hanway gave out the Service Awards. There were many 10 year awards given out. Nancy Hamlin, who was not present because of illness received the 25yr service Award.
When appropriate a special award is given. This year the much coveted Acorn Award was given to Carol Burgess for dedication to customer service, especially towards teens. We congratulate her on all her hard work in making Arkoma a welcoming and safe place for everyone.

In-Service Day

All SEPLSO Libraries will be closed Thursday Oct. 15 for In-Service Day. This is a meeting held on an annual basis to educate all personnel on library services. This year we are focusing on Customer Service. We feel that customer service is as important as any service that we offer. We are experiencing some trying times. Because of this we are seeing more patrons than ever and customer servce is more important than ever. After Thursday all libraries will go back to their regular schedule.

Book Club

After a bit of a break The Southeastern Library System would like to invite you to join their Book Club.  It is called the “Oklahoma Readers”.  It’s located at www.booksprouts.com/.  You click on “join a club” tab and type “Oklahoma readers” in the search box. Click “join club” and fill the form out.  You then can participate in the book discussions. Hope to see you there.  We are now taking nominations for two seperate books. Please check it out!!

New Websites

We have recently consolidated 13 of our 15 our branches with our main Southeastern Library System’s website. McAlester, and Poteau are maintaining their own websites, but the links listed are listed with the branch links. The individual libraries can be accessed by www.oklibrary.net/library name.  These pages are a work in process so keep checking back for additional information.  We are striving to add more, updated content as well as being more user friendly. McAlester and Poteau can sill be reached the same way.  We hope that you find it more appealing and will visit us often.

Access my Library

AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library. I found this website and I created an account. You just put in you zip code and get full text of a selection of millions of magazine articles. Try it out and see what you think. The URL is www.accesslibrary.com. Just found it this morning so I would be interested in feedback on this.

Tae Kwan Do Exhibition @Hartshorne Library

Saturday as our last Teen Program the McAlester Tae Kwan Do came to exhibit their talents. We had a great turn out for the program and all that attended enjoyed themselves. Several boards were broken by all the students. The black belts spent time showing us how they could even brake cement blocks. (don’s try this at home)LOL Thanks to the class for takeing time to entertain our community. Click to see a video of one of the exercises.

Librarians Loose in NYC

At the end of May Lesley, Nancy, Linda, Elaine and I went on a trip to New York City to attend the BookExpo of America.  The conference gave us a chance to meet many famous authors as well as a few celebrities, such as Kathy Lee Gifford.  We stood in many lines to get autographs and pictures of our favorite authors. Some of the more well know ones were David Baldacci, R. L. Stine, Lisa Scottolini, Heather Graham, James Patterson, Ridley Pearson, Nicholas Sparks and the list goes on and on.  We were also honored to see and get an autograph from Chesley Sullenberger “Sulley” the pilot who heroically landed a plane in the Hudson River.  The whole experience was awesome and sureal.
We did do a little site seeing. We visited Time Square, the Statue of Liberty as well as Ellis Island.  We opted out of going to the top of the Empire state building, but we did go inside. We went to Rockefeller Center and several other tourist attractions.  We went on a couple of tours that took us across the Hudson river into Brooklyn and then we toured Manhattan and was able to get off in China Town, Central Park and of course Ground Zero where we got an awesome picture.  All in all I think I speak for everybody that we are very grateful we were able to go.  I also think I speak for everyone that we are glad to be back.

Staff Meeting

Heavener Public Library

May’s staff meeting was held in Heavener at their new Library building.  Jana and Jane did an excellent job in hosting with a delicious meal.  The city has done an excellent job on the building.  Heavener as well as SEPLSO should be very proud of the facility. The Library is large and airy and  Jana has her work cut out for her in furnishing it, but I’m sure that  will be a fun job. On a personal note I love the display of the things from the past. Guests included Mike Kennerson, City Manager, Wayne Cash, SEPLSO Board member, Lura Duncan, former Wister Librarian, and Elizabeth Neff, former Buckley Librarian.

Twitter

You can now follow Southeastern library system of Oklahoma on twitter. You can find us at www.twitter.com/seplso. Some of our libraries have their own twitter page. Wister Public Library’s page is www.twitter.com/wisterlibrary, Hartshorne Public Library is at www.twitter.com/hartlib . Talihina Public Library is www.twitter.com/talihinalibrary as well as Buckley (Poteau) Public Library at www.twitter.com/BPLib. You can also follow Oklahoma libraries and www.twitter.com/oklibs.
Hope to see you there.