Library Elf remains free for all (our cardholders, anyway)!

Library Elf, the online service that helps you keep track of your library material, will remain free for Randolph County Public Library users.

Library Elf recently moved from a business model for individual users that provided all services for free to one that provides a basic level for free, and a premium level for a yearly subscription. The library, however, has signed up for an institutional subscription, so our patrons will continue to receive all services -- including the premium level -- for free.

Elf provides email and RSS notification of due dates, overdues, and holds. It enables library patrons to keep track of activity on multiple library cards (the whole family's, for example) and among multiple libraries (when, say, you have a card at the Asheboro library and the Greensboro library as well).

It's a third party service independent of the library (so read their terms of service and privacy policies), but many patrons find it very helpful.

Our 15 minutes (or column-inches?) of fame....

(The story also appears on the front page of today's print edition.)

Libraries in tough times: we make it into the Wall St. Journal!

A article in the Wall Street Journal about increased use of libraries during the economic crisis includes us! Noting our worn carpet, the article includes comments by Library Director Suzanne Tate about our busy Internet computers, as well as a picture snapped by MIS Specialist Ian Fletcher. We just want to know how they found out about the carpet!

Analysis of some recent statistics shows that door counts at the Asheboro library from July to Dember increased by 24 percent compared to the same period last year (in September and October, the increases were closer to 50 percent compared to those months in 2007). The number of books checked out in December jumped 20 percent compared to December 2007, and the number of holds placed on material shot up by more than 50 percent.

Clearly, the library business is booming!

New NC cabinet sec'y: keep up investment in libraries

Governor Bev Perdue's new cabinet includes two people with ties to Randolph County: Keith Crisco, of course, Asheboro Elastics founder and CEO who has just resigned his Asheboro City Council seat to become Secretary of Commerce; and Linda Carlisle of Greensboro, who graduated from Randleman High School, as Secretary of Cultural Resources.

Cultural Resources, of course, is the home of the State Library of North Carolina, and administers the state's Aid to Public Libraries fund. Here's what Carlisle had to say about libraries, according to the News & Record:

"'I think even in today’s environment, there are creative ways that we can look to expand on the offerings we have,' Carlisle said. In particular, she said, the state needed to keep up investments in libraries, which fall under her department’s supervision.

“'Everything you read and hear tells you libraries become a greater resource during economic downturn times,' Carlisle said. 'Our funding for our libraries is abysmal at times.'”

Sounds like we have an advocate in Raleigh!

Libraries on the radio

Public radio's The Diane Rehm Show broadcast an hour-long segment this morning on the value of libraries in tough economic times; listen here.

Angel Doll actor, producer dies

Veteran actor Pat Hingle has died at his home in Carolina Beach. Hingle, who had almost 200 movie and television roles during his 50-plus year career, acted in and was instrumental to the production of the The Angel Doll, the film version of the book by Jerry Bledsoe.