Thank you, Lynn Lockwood, Director,
and Auburn Public Library!
I'm grateful to Lynn who took the time out of a busy day to grant me an interview and site visit for this ILS 225 assignment. I appreciate her insight, enthusiasm, and wisdom. I also benefited from the annual report that she provided me with. It complemented the information gained from the interview and found on the library's web site. I also wish to extend my thanks to the library's webmaster for creating such a comprehensive site that is easy to maneuver around. I found a plethora of information that assisted me in preparing for the site visit as well as gaining a better understanding of the library's programs and policies. And finally, thank you to all the library staff who allowed me entry into areas to take photographs.
And finally, Lynn, thank you for doing what you do. Communities need actively engaged and energetic leaders like you. It was a pleasure.
Also, I would be remiss if I did not include the following sources:
Auburn Public Library.(2012). Annual Report, 2011-2012. Auburn, ME.
Auburn Public Library. (2012). www.auburnpubliclibrary.org
Maine State Library. (2012). How to use and access LearningExpress Library. Retrieved from http://maine.gov/msl/commons/learnxp/index/shtml
Taylor, S. (2012, September 28). Twin cities unveil digital library branch. Sun Journal.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Reflection on site visit to Auburn Public Library
When I contacted Lynn Lockwood, APL's Director, regarding my visiting the library, she was warm and welcoming and I knew I had made the right choice. Why did I select this library to begin with? I'm not entirely sure. I have driven by this beautiful building many times and as a fan of historical architecture, was always intrigued by its exterior. That may have something to do with it, but whatever the reason, I made the right choice.
When I emailed Lynn to confirm the date of my visit, she emailed me back and included a piece of an article (source unnamed) that had been sent to her. This, said Lynn, succinctly sums up APL's philosophy. To summarize, the brief paragraph asserts that before the internet, libraries were defined by their books. Now with the introduction and utilization of technology, the focus has shifted away from books and on to people who use the technology. This causes a ripple effect within a community as its members evolve into information seekers whose needs must be met.
I see APL as meeting this need. Driving by this library one sees an old, yet beautifully maintained, building. A library with solid roots and a foundation within its community. But rather than reaching a point of satisfaction and completion where one might say, "Well, we've done what we can and that's that," instead this library is as restless as the ghosts some say reside within. It seems to say, what next? What else can we do to meet the needs of our patrons? What other grants can we explore? What other space can we make the most of?
This is a vibrant library in a supportive community. It encourages all generations in its programming and collections and meets their unique needs with the most appropriate and latest technology. If I visited this library in one year, five years, ten years, I have no doubt that it would have kept up with the technological innovations that will have been introduced by then.
I can't prove whether ghosts live among the stacks, but what I can attest to is that the spirit of community is alive and well within the Auburn Public Library.
When I contacted Lynn Lockwood, APL's Director, regarding my visiting the library, she was warm and welcoming and I knew I had made the right choice. Why did I select this library to begin with? I'm not entirely sure. I have driven by this beautiful building many times and as a fan of historical architecture, was always intrigued by its exterior. That may have something to do with it, but whatever the reason, I made the right choice.
When I emailed Lynn to confirm the date of my visit, she emailed me back and included a piece of an article (source unnamed) that had been sent to her. This, said Lynn, succinctly sums up APL's philosophy. To summarize, the brief paragraph asserts that before the internet, libraries were defined by their books. Now with the introduction and utilization of technology, the focus has shifted away from books and on to people who use the technology. This causes a ripple effect within a community as its members evolve into information seekers whose needs must be met.
I see APL as meeting this need. Driving by this library one sees an old, yet beautifully maintained, building. A library with solid roots and a foundation within its community. But rather than reaching a point of satisfaction and completion where one might say, "Well, we've done what we can and that's that," instead this library is as restless as the ghosts some say reside within. It seems to say, what next? What else can we do to meet the needs of our patrons? What other grants can we explore? What other space can we make the most of?
This is a vibrant library in a supportive community. It encourages all generations in its programming and collections and meets their unique needs with the most appropriate and latest technology. If I visited this library in one year, five years, ten years, I have no doubt that it would have kept up with the technological innovations that will have been introduced by then.
I can't prove whether ghosts live among the stacks, but what I can attest to is that the spirit of community is alive and well within the Auburn Public Library.
Part 4 of my site visit to Auburn Public Library - Community Connections
In my interview with Lynn, APL's Director, she mentioned that the library is linked to to an intiative called the LearningExpress Library. According to the Maine State Library's website (http://www.maine.gov/msl/commons/learnxp/index.shtml), "Learning Express Library is an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and eBooks related to job search and workplace skills improvement" as well as resources related to educational enhancement ranging from improvement of basic reading, writing, and math skills, to preparing for secondary or graduate school admission. A person choosing to use this resource will get immediate results including a score and an analysis of that score.
LearningExpress Library is funded by the Maine State Library's Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant, and is an excellent example of an innovative, technology-based collaboration aimed at community members who can benefit from its services.
From APL's website, you can also find the Maine InfoNet Download site where you can access a huge variety of eBooks. If you don't have an e-reader, APL currently has three that they lend to patrons.
And finally, Lynn also announced one recent collaboration as of this past September - that of www.LibraryLA.org. No, not Los Angeles! LA as in Lewiston-Auburn. According to a September 28, 2012 article by Scott Taylor in the Sun Journal entitled "Twin Cities unveil digital library branch," the site "combines the most popular Internet services available at the two libraries in one place" (that is, Auburn Public Library and Lewiston Public Library). These cities have a history of collaborative ventures, so this comes as no surprise.
Some of the services to access and explore from the site include Maine InfoNet (mentioned above), MARVEL (Maine's Virtual Library), Heritage Quest (for genealogical purposes), Tumblebooks (ebooks for children), and Freegalmusic ("a free and legal music downloading site").
In Parts 1 through 4, we've taken a look at some of what you can find at and connected to the Auburn Public Library. The next post will reflect on those discoveries.
In my interview with Lynn, APL's Director, she mentioned that the library is linked to to an intiative called the LearningExpress Library. According to the Maine State Library's website (http://www.maine.gov/msl/commons/learnxp/index.shtml), "Learning Express Library is an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and eBooks related to job search and workplace skills improvement" as well as resources related to educational enhancement ranging from improvement of basic reading, writing, and math skills, to preparing for secondary or graduate school admission. A person choosing to use this resource will get immediate results including a score and an analysis of that score.
LearningExpress Library is funded by the Maine State Library's Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant, and is an excellent example of an innovative, technology-based collaboration aimed at community members who can benefit from its services.
From APL's website, you can also find the Maine InfoNet Download site where you can access a huge variety of eBooks. If you don't have an e-reader, APL currently has three that they lend to patrons.
And finally, Lynn also announced one recent collaboration as of this past September - that of www.LibraryLA.org. No, not Los Angeles! LA as in Lewiston-Auburn. According to a September 28, 2012 article by Scott Taylor in the Sun Journal entitled "Twin Cities unveil digital library branch," the site "combines the most popular Internet services available at the two libraries in one place" (that is, Auburn Public Library and Lewiston Public Library). These cities have a history of collaborative ventures, so this comes as no surprise.
Some of the services to access and explore from the site include Maine InfoNet (mentioned above), MARVEL (Maine's Virtual Library), Heritage Quest (for genealogical purposes), Tumblebooks (ebooks for children), and Freegalmusic ("a free and legal music downloading site").
In Parts 1 through 4, we've taken a look at some of what you can find at and connected to the Auburn Public Library. The next post will reflect on those discoveries.
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