Archive for 2008
The Central Library Disposal Surplus Property Criteria and Selection Committee was appointed by Mayor Cieslewicz to request and analyze development proposals for a new Central Library. The Committee and the Library Board will hold a public meeting on Thursday, January 8th at the Central Library at 6:00 pm. At this hearing, the two developers that have responded to the Committee’s Request for Proposals, T. Wall Properties and Fiore Companies/Irgens Development Partners, will present their very different plans for a new Central Library, and will be available to answer questions about their proposals. If you can’t attend, please share your comments, suggestions, or questions with the Committee. Questions - and the developers’ answers - will be posted on the library’s web site after the meeting. The meeting will also be taped by City Channel and available on their web site.
More information about both proposals, and the need for a new Central Library, are on the library web site.
December 30th, 2008
Barb D.
From 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, December 31st until approximately 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 1st, LINKcat will be down for maintenance. This maintenance is required to keep the library’s catalog system operating at an optimal level. We apologize for the inconvenience, and wish you a happy holiday season.
December 30th, 2008
Alicia
With the addition of MP3 audiobooks, the WPLC Digital Download Center (OverDrive) has implemented five new features to make using the website a better experience:
Wish List While browsing the Digital Download Center collection, you can now add titles of interest to a ‘Wish List’. These titles will remain in the ‘Wish List’ until you remove them, and are available anytime you log in to your account.
Edit Email Address on Current Hold If you change your email address during the waiting time for a title, you will have the option to update it in your Digital Library account. You can edit your email address in My Account/ /My Holds/.
Displaying ‘Also Recommended Titles’ When you are viewing a title details page, you will see a new section labeled ‘If you like this title, then you might also like.’ The titles chosen for display are those that have authors, publishers, keywords, or imprints in common with the title you are viewing.
Search by awards, and display of awards on title details pages The Advanced search page now includes the option to search the collection by more than 60 awards. Additionally, if a title has received an award, this is displayed on the title details page. The award is shown as a hyperlink; users can simply click this link to view a list of titles that have received the same award. Some notable awards include Newbery Medal, PEN/Faulkner Award, Audie Awards, Best Books for Young Adults, Edgar Allan Poe Award, and Nebula Award.
Full Text Searching The quick search now supports full text searching of the record. This increases response times and allows you to search more fields for the record than before. Additional fields include publisher, creator, subject, and publisher-supplied keywords. With full text searching, you can search on multiple terms, and the search results will be ranked by relevance.
Check out the changes at http://http://dbooks.wplc.info.
December 30th, 2008
Tana
All Madison Public Library locations are closed for the New Years holiday on Wednesday, December 31, Thursday, January 1, and Sunday, January 4. You can still use the library when we’re closed: place holds in LINKcat, return items to our bookdrops, or use our 24/7 online reference service, AskAway.
December 26th, 2008
Alicia
Madison Public Library invites interested citizens to help shape the future of the South Madison Branch Library. A listening session - the first in a series of community meetings - will be held at the South Madison Branch Library, 2222 S. Park Street on Thursday, January 15, 6-8 p.m. This meeting was rescheduled (from December 9) due to snow. Stop in any time during the two-hour session to voice your views or ask questions.
Community input will be crucial in determining the best possible design for the new South Madison Library. The architectural design team, Engberg Anderson Design Partnership of Madison, will use input about the library’s services, amenities and ambiance to guide the development of design options. Future meetings will provide an opportunity for residents to offer feedback on the various options.
The South Madison Branch will expand from 3,200 square feet to 12,000 square feet and will inhabit the first floor of a two-story building owned by the Urban League of Greater Madison. The Urban League will be headquartered on the second floor. The building will serve as an anchor for the Villager Mall redevelopment. The South Madison Branch Library serves a diverse population and has experienced an increase in use over the last year. Visits to the library are up 13% over last year, and checkouts are up 7.4%.
For additional information contact Margie Navarre Saaf: (608) 824-1785 or navarre @ scls.lib.wi.us.
December 23rd, 2008
Tana
All Madison Public Library locations are closed for Christmas on Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, and Sunday, December 28. You can still use the library when we’re closed: place holds in LINKcat, return items to our bookdrops, or use our 24/7 online reference service, AskAway.
December 18th, 2008
Alicia
If you are in a book discussion group, you probably already know about our Book Discussion Kit service. The kits combine multiple copies of the same book with book discussion questions and author information in one handy bag. Now you can receive email updates when we add new kits. As usual, if you’re interested in requesting a kit, please call 266-6300. We hope you’ll enjoy the new titles and have some good discussions as a result. View a complete list of all Book Discussion Kits or sign up at our New Titles page.
December 16th, 2008
Tana
Have you been waiting to receive your library copy of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski? Did you love the book so much that you can’t wait to find something else that is similar to read? Our LINKcat Catalog describes the book as a tale reminiscent of “Hamlet” that also celebrates the alliance between humans and dogs. The novel follows speech-disabled Wisconsin youth Edgar, who bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove that his sinister uncle is responsible for his father’s death.
We have compiled a list of related books that explore the same geographical area, cover similar topics or that have parallel plots. While You’re Waiting for Edgar Sawtelle will connect you with books that satisfy your need for adventure, dogs, Wisconsin, heartbreak, healing and more.
December 15th, 2008
Molly
The ProQuest databases (ProQuest Newspaper Articles and HeritageQuest) will be unavailable during an 8-hour maintenance window, between 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13 and 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 14. We regret any inconvenience this causes.
December 13th, 2008
Tana
And they’re easy to wrap! At the Books Are Great Gifts website, you can watch your favorite authors speak about giving books as gifts and find reviews and recommendations from top review sources like the New York Times Book Review and National Public Radio. There are also many holiday book suggestions to help you match the perfect book to everyone on your gift list, whether they enjoy adventure, romance, mystery, cooking, or travel–the possibilities are endless!
Find great deals on books at the library - ongoing book sales are always available at the Friends’ Book Store at the Central Library, and several branches have ongoing sale shelves as well.
December 12th, 2008
Molly
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