Topeka Metro is partnering with the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Brown v. Board of Education and the Topeka Zoo to highlight summer activities that can be accessed by taking the Metro.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to connect kids to Topeka,” said Susan Duffy, Metro General Manager. “There are lots of great places to go and do in Topeka. This summer we want kids to get out of the house and experience Topeka.”

Check out our can’t-miss summer activities at the library so you can plan when to hitch a ride on the Metro. While you are on board the bus, browse through a basket of books provided by the Friends of the Library.

A route map is posted and schedules are available at the library’s information desk and at www.topekametro.org. Or call Topeka Metro Customer Service at 785-783-7000 for help with trip planning.

• Beginning Monday, February 4, and running through Saturday, February 9, Topeka Metro will offer FREE rides on the fixed route buses to passengers that present their TSCPL library card when boarding the bus.

“We see this as a great opportunity for folks that enjoy and use our local library to try the bus at no cost,” said Susan Duffy, Topeka Metro General Manager. “It’s so easy…just show your library card.”

For more information, call Topeka Metro Customer Service at 783-7000 or go to www.topekametro.org. Additional information about “The Big Read” at www.tscpl.org/bigread.

Designed for Kansans of all ages, the festival celebrates the best of literature and offers a variety of activities including meet-the-author sessions, panel discussions, book signings and sales, and a special area with projects for children.  The festival also offers a vendor section of authors, publishers, bookstores, food items, and other goods.

Started in 2011 by Kansas First Lady Mary Brownback, the first festival had more than 30 participating authors its inaugural year. The book festival organization also awards grants to public and school libraries across the state to supplement their books, reading programs and technology. The first grants, totaling $13,000, were awarded to 16 libraries across the state in March 2012.

For more information about the Kansas Book Festival, visit the website: http://kansasbookfestival.com or e-mail ksbookfestival@gmail.com.

This summer, I will                                               visit the library’s…

1. Appraise my antiques  (745 in Dewey)      Collectibles Neighborhood
2. Bake bread (641)                                       Cooking Neighborhood
3. Exercise regularly (613)                             Health Information Neighborhood
4. Update my resume (650)                           Jobs & Careers Neighborhood
5. Go on a diet (613)                                      Health Information Neighborhood
6. Bike across Kansas (917)                          Travel Neighborhood
7. Improve my finances (332)                        Business & Investment Center
8. Redecorate my living room (747)              Home Neighborhood
9. Plant a vegetable garden (635)                  Lawn & Garden Neighborhood
10. Teach my dog to sit (636)                           Pets Neighborhood
11. Plan a bridal shower (392)                          Wedding Neighborhood
12. Plan a trip to Mexico (917)                         Travel Neighborhood
13. Learn conversational Spanish (460)           Languages & Spanish
14. Be more Zen (294)                                      Religion
15. Learn to knit (746)                                       Crafts

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Ask a librarian for assistance. They may be able to purchase it for the collection or find it for you via InterLibrary Loan.

Review books on these topics and more as part of the summer reading challenge. Are you up for the challenge? You could win a Kindle Fire. Every adult to read and record 8 books before July 28 wins a Jersey Mike’s sub combo, and a chance to win weekly prizes and the grand prize, a Kindle Fire. Sign up for Summer Reading here.

While sales of ereaders and tablets skyrocket, libraries are having trouble getting ebooks to fill up these popular devices. Some of the largest publishing companies are creating barriers to delivering library customers the books they want in the format they want them.

The library encouraged readers to send a message to publishers about the limits they are imposing on supplying ebooks to libraries. A petition was set up on www.ebooksforlibraries.com. Readers – from as far away as Australia and Spain – responded to help surpass the goal.

“Our customers are buying ereaders, and want to read library books with them. Those large publishers aren’t giving our readers that choice. Our goal is to give them that choice,” said David King, Director of Digital Services. “We want those publishers to hear from you that you want to read books on your terms – not theirs.”

The petition, signatures and comments will be printed out and mailed it to these publishers in hope of change. Their business practices of the past year include adding restrictions and price increases, or simply not selling ebooks to libraries at all:

• Penguin recently ended ebook sales to public libraries.
• HarperCollins has a 26-checkout limit on each ebook. Then, the library has to buy it again.
• Random House allows unrestricted access to ebooks, but recently raised prices.
•  Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette don’t sell ebooks to libraries at all.

This means that library customers can get a print copy of a book from a library, but can’t get that same book in an ebook format. But that’s not what library customers want; they want books, in all formats.

“Libraries and librarians put books in the hands of readers millions of times in just one year. We have relationships with readers and are a trusted source for finding great stories and information,” says Gina Millsap, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library CEO. “Libraries buy lots of books and serve as the outlet for readers to discover a new genre or author, and then make purchases of the books they want to own.”

According to the American Library Association there are more than 169 million library cardholders nationwide, comprising of 57.1 percent of the population. In 2009 public libraries total collection expenditures amounted to $1.3 billion, of which 12 percent was spent for electronic material, such as ebooks.

Library Renewal is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to support libraries in e-content research and distribution cosponsoring this initiative. Millsap, as well as David Lee King, TSCPL’s Digital Branch director, serves on its board.

Gina J. Millsap

Millsap is the Chief Executive Officer of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka, Kan. She is nationally known for presenting on cutting edge issues, including 21st century librarianship, process improvement, the use of market segmentation to grow and develop library services and the changes necessary for libraries to thrive in the 21st century.

Millsap has been a continuous member of ALA since 1995 serving as the 2009-2010 president of the Library Leadership &Management Association (LLAMA). She has served on several committees within LLAMA. She also served on ALA’s Advocacy Coordinating Group, 2007-08 and as chair of the Elizabeth J. Futas Catalyst for Change Award Jury, 2002.

She served as president of the Iowa Library Association (2002) and has held leadership positions in the Kansas Library Association (Secretary 2007-2008), the Missouri Library Association (Secretary 1985-1986), the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, the Ames (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce, and the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau. From 2004-2009, she participated in the American Bulgarian Library Exchange. She has been a Rotarian for 15 years and a United Way volunteer in both Ames and Topeka. Current community leadership includes serving on the United Way On-Grade Achievement Council and as the co-chair of Heartland Visioning, a community-wide strategic planning process for Topeka and Shawnee County.

Millsap’s honors include Library Journal Mover and Shaker (2007); Zonta Club, Topeka Chapter, honoree for International Women’s Day (2007); and the State of Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award (2000).

She has a B.A. in library science from the University of Missouri (1976), and an M.A. in library science also from the University of Missouri (1977).

“ALA will be relevant to all generations of librarians by making value to its members its top priority,” Millsap said. “The bottom line is – to create a 21st century library we need 21st century librarians.”

Stripling currently serves as the director of School Library Services for the New York City Department of Education; however, in January 2012 she will assume the position of assistant professor of practice at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.

Stripling has been a member of ALA since 1977, serving as a member-at-large of ALA Council from 1992-1996 and 1998-present.  She also served on the ALA Executive Board (2001-2005).  She chaired the American Libraries Advisory Committee (1995-1996) and served as a member of the ALA Policy Monitoring Committee, 2010-present, Intellectual Freedom Committee (2006-present), Conference Committee (2002-2005), Committee on Education (1998-2002), Nominating Committee (1999-2000).

She is past president (1996-1997) of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and has held numerous committee positions within AASL.  She also served as a member and chair of the ALA-APA Certification Committee (2002-2007).  Other ALAactivities include work as co-chair of ALA President Molly Raphael’s initiative, Empowering Voices, 2010-present, and trustee of the Merritt Fund (2011-present).

Stripling was presented with the Retta Patrick Award by the Arkansas Library Association in 1989 and the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media named her Arkansas School Library Media Specialist of the Year in 1990.

Stripling received a B.A. in speech and drama from Stanford University (1968), an M.A. in Communication and Theatre from the University of Colorado (1974), an M.Ed. in Instructional Resources from the University of Arkansas (1991), an Ed.S. in Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas (2003), and a Doctorate of Professional Studies, Information Management from Syracuse University (2011).

“I am honored to be nominated to lead the American Library Association at this exciting time, when we are coming together as a library community to champion equitable access to information, intellectual freedom, lifelong learning and community engagement.   Individually, we all have a passion for serving our communities through our libraries.  Collectively, through ALA, we can translate that passion into a national voice.  We can transform our libraries and empower all of our community members to discover their own opportunities to thrive.”

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 61,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Trustees focused on preserving collections, programs and services. The total budget for FY2012 will be $20,411,232 which includes operations, employee benefits, the debt service on the building, and the fund balance necessary to cover expenses in early FY2013. Increases in expenses include fixed costs such as employee health insurance and retirement. It also restores the library’s acquisition budget to the minimum level needed to meet standards set for state library system accreditation. It is an estimated .65 mil increase over FY2011, and the first board approved increase in tax dollars in the last three years. This means a homeowner with a $100,000 house will pay an additional $7.50 per year.

The return on the increase will be significant. Library customers will see more new books, movies and eBooks, more programs, and improved WIFI for mobile devices. Library members will also receive regular updates on programs and events. Check out of materials will be quicker and easier with the addition of more self-check machines, located conveniently throughout the library.

Over the past three years to address revenue shortfalls, the library has reduced staff by 6 percent, cut the book and materials budget by 55 percent and reduced funding for programs like story time by 80 percent. The library also sought funding from other sources including Friends of the Library and The Library Foundation, as well as user fees and discontinued the free mailing of books and other materials.

Every attempt has been made to mitigate the effect of budget reductions on library customers, but that is no longer possible. Library customers have experienced reduced selection of books and longer wait times for popular titles. Their inability to find what they need to read, for research and for school assignments, has resulted in a 6 percent decline in circulation after several years of increasing usage.

“The library’s mission says it all: Your place. Stories you want. Information you need. Connections you seek,” explained Board Chairman Dan Guenther. “3000 people a day use their library or bookmobile, reading to learn, improve their lives and be part of the community. People who are trying to stretch their own budgets are relying on their library more than ever.”

Every 5.6 seconds, a library customer finds what he or she needs and takes it home. The library has 95,000 registered members throughout Topeka and Shawnee County. 635 books, films and other items check out every hour of the 78 hours a week the library is open. This summer, more than 5,500 children are improving their reading skills and getting ready for school by participating in the library’s summer reading program.

The 2012 budget is scheduled to be published in the Topeka Capital-Journal July 27.