Tuesday, December 8, 2015

December-January 2015 Blog Post Roundup

Minecraft.edu NOW AVAILABLE on Youth computers!

Potato Chip Manufacturing in Southeast Michigan

Family Story Times, Winter 2016

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN – A Very Special Holiday Event at the Wayne Public Library! 

Valentine’s Day Cards Kids Craft

Wayne Public Library’s Annual Mini Golf!

New Career Building Resource

The Fascinating Growth of Technology

The Fascinating Growth of Technology by Adrianne M. Schinkai

I recently returned to my position at the Wayne Public Library after a three week hiatus. I ended up in the hospital for an emergency gallbladder removal. Throughout my recovery (as I couldn’t do much else), I observed many different types of technology in our world today at work and I honestly marveled at how far we have come in such a short amount of time. Not only has technology caught up with us, but in some ways it is surpassing us and developing at an insanely rapid pace to a point that some of the world’s population cannot keep up.

Here’s a perfect example. A hundred years ago, if a doctor told a patient, “I am going to put you to sleep and remove an organ from your body that I believe is useless,” the patient would have ran for the hills. This wasn’t the case with me nearly a month ago. I was told that my gallbladder was full of stones, which was causing tremendous pain, and by removing this infected organ, I would be able to recover with a better standard of health. While I did have the jitters as the doctors were preparing to put me under for the procedure, I was confident that all would go well and I would wake up with a better bill of health. Three weeks later, this has been the case. I am back to work, healed, and pain free.

From diagnosing my gallbladder, to performing the surgery, to the instruments used during the surgery, to the medications used during recovery, all of this has developed more in the last hundred years than ever before. And this is just in the field of medicine.

What about some of the gadgets we use on a daily basis? A hundred years ago, computers didn’t even exist. When they were first invented, they took up the space of an entire building. Now we carry them in our pocket on a daily basis in the form of a cell phone. There is more developed technology on a typical smartphone today than what was available to the astronauts of the Apollo missions. More technology exists in our hands than the Voyager 1 satellite, which now floats in interstellar space.

We now have machines in our homes that clean and dry our dishes and clothes for us. We can view events from the other side of the globe live on our television screens, even though we are thousands upon thousands of miles away. Paper messaging is nearly obsolete as messages, texts, and literature are sent and viewed via email and tablet reading devices. We have even broken the barrier of sound.

And yet, there are few of us that are astounded by these facts! Am I getting old as I’m fascinated by what I see develop around me while my daughter wonders what the big deal is? Perhaps. But the fact remains that there are still a number of us who do not realize what this means.

What does it mean exactly? It means that we, as a people, have a responsibility to be vigilant with that technology and use it properly. For those who don’t know how to, there are ways to learn at little to no cost to the user. Books are written every few months about programs and applications and how to get the most out of them. Classes and programs are available at local libraries for patrons to bone up on their skills with using computers and the internet. There are even simple tutorials online showing viewers how to take care of certain tasks, from beginners crochet to repairing household fixtures.

In short, we have come to a point where technology even teaches you how to use technology in today’s world. And to have done so in such a short span of time is an amazing thing!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Potato Chip Manufacturing in Southeast Michigan

Author and well-known expert on Southeast Michigan history Karen Dybis discusses how Detroit went from a snack capitol with over forty producers of salty treats including New Era, Everkrisp and Vita-Boy to a city with a single renowned producer, Better Made. Learn how Better Made came to be, and how competition drove the history of this Detroit icon. Program begins at 6:30pm on Wednesday, December 9th.


To register for this free program, please call the Adult Reference Desk:  734-721-7832, ex. 630.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Wayne Public Library & the Wayne Historical Society.

Minecraft.edu NOW AVAILABLE on Youth computers!



Do you love Minecraft?  Do you love the library?  Would you love to play Minecraft AT the library??  Good news!  The Wayne Public Library now has Minecraft.edu available on our Youth computers!  Use your library card to log into our computers and have some fun.  Just remember that nothing you do in single player will be saved on our computers - but there's good news!  We have our own server up and running, which will remember everything you've build.  Come in, get creative, have some fun, and let the librarians know what you think!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Wayne Public Library’s Annual Mini Golf!


Will you be looking to get the kids out of the house for a while during mid-winter break? That’s exactly why the Friends of the Wayne Public Library have moved their mini golf fund raiser to a new date, February 20. Usual library services will be unavailable that day, because the entire library will be converted into a complete 18-hole mini golf course! Food and drinks will be made available. Keep an eye on all Wayne library news outlets as information becomes available regarding prizes, registration, and ticket prices.

WHERE: Wayne Public Library
WHEN: Saturday, February 20, All Day!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN – A Very Special Holiday Event at the Wayne Public Library!

Tuesday, December 15th, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

We will set a wintery mood with reading, music, and a fun time having a warm snowball fight!  Then we will build our own Frosty right here in the library!  Sharing cocoa and cookies will also be part of our evening together.  Children of all ages are welcome!  This is a family event, so moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas are welcome too.  You can wear your scarves and mittens if you like, but you will not need them to build this snowman!




Registration begins November 24th at the Youth Desk, or call 734-721-7832, ext. 623.  Mark your busy calendars!

Valentine’s Day Cards Kids Craft



Enjoy snacks and a Valentine’s Day story. Make Valentine’s Day cards for the special people in your life (Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, brothers and sisters).  Registration begins Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the Children’s reference desk, or by phone (734) 721-7832, ex 623.

Family Story Times, Winter 2016

Enjoy stories songs, finger plays, movement and an easy craft at our winter story time.  Registration begins Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the Children’s reference desk, or by phone (734) 721-7832, ex 623.



January  13  Winter/ Snow is FUN
January  20  My Family
January  27  Dogs and Cats and other pets
February  3  Princess or Prince?
February 10 Valentine’s Day
February 17 Weather/Clouds

February 24 Fairy Tales

New Career Building Resource


Check out the latest resource featured on the library’s website!  Learn How To Become’s Career Resource Toolkit has a wealth of information and advice for job seekers.  Their guides include insight and advice from several experts and extensive research on different career paths. Peruse their site for a look at the education and training needed to begin – or advance – your career. Click here to check it out!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

SCORE Small Business Q&A with Jim Muir

Wayne Public Library will be hosting a small business “question and answer” session on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00 PM with SCORE mentor Jim Muir.  Mr. Muir is the chapter chair of SCORE Detroit, and can offer business advice based on a lifetime of experience.  Anyone who is interested in starting or growing a business is welcome to attend with any questions or concerns they would like addressed by an expert. The meeting is free to attend, and has been developed in accordance with Wayne Public Library’s Business Resource Center.  Your library considers fostering the growth of local businesses part of its mission to partner with the community. If you have any questions, please contact our adult librarian, Carola.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Growing Into Literacy By Adrianne M. Schinkai

          Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of the Common Core Standards when it comes to public education in America. I think it takes away the enjoyment of education for the child, it’s far too static, and the child does not get enough chances to use their imagination and creativity when it comes to learning. We, as in our generation and the generations before us, learned through doing and discovery. This young generation is learning from seeing, not observing. And it scares and infuriates me.
            The truth is when you take away a child’s chance to be creative and use their own mind to solve a problem, you basically tell them to solve the problem for someone else, instead of themselves. Thus, learning becomes a job and not an adventure. It already takes a fun, colorful event and turns it to a dull gray hue when you think about it. Who wants to learn like that? Let a child be artistic! Let them explore with their hands and eyes. Let them make mistakes first while they try to solve the problem. Then, and only then, should we say, “Okay, now that you see what didn’t work, do you want to know how it does work?” Then you show them the solution. It creates a much more efficient way for the child to think critically of his or her experiences.
            Here’s an example. Not all children look forward to field trips. Some may not be into art and/or history, but if you take one to a museum, or an aquarium, or a planetarium, there is always going to be something that will catch their eyes and leave them asking questions. They get a chance to discover something that they had not known before and they do it all themselves. There is curiosity in our children and teens and our mission, as parents and educators, is to tap it. From there, we can do miraculous things with how they learn and what they want to learn. This sets up the growing foundations of their literacy in information.
            Now when I say literacy, I don’t just mean being able to read. What I mean is taking in information from one’s surroundings, being able to evaluate it, and using it for its proper purposes. Therefore, literacy can take on multiple forms. In our educational system today, the most important types of literacy, in my humble opinion, are reading literacy, computer literacy, and information literacy. If a student of any age is able to take in information, evaluate that information in a critical sense, and use that information accordingly to communicate their own opinions and knowledge to other parties, there should be no limit to how much they can learn and discover as a student (or any person who wants to grow academically).
            Let’s break this down a little bit…
            First, a young student should strive to be reading literate. While there are many other ways to gain information, such as listening to a radio broadcast or holding a verbal conversation, being able to read, to comprehend a written language, is one of the more key things to enhancing a child’s learning experience. I am always happy to see parents come into the library and ask about story time and reading programs for children who aren’t even a year old. By showing their child at such a young age that books and reading are an essential part of our lives, they will grow up with the desire to explore on their own and find out just what lies in these books and documents we, as parents and educators, have come to value so much.
            Second, with our age of technology, computer literacy is a must. Most times, it is how we communicate, explore, and discover most of the information we seek. As a librarian, I use an online catalog to look up items for our patrons. Card catalogs are a thing of the past. The last cards were actually printed by OCLC just last week, bringing an end to an era of library science. But I digress. If there are questions I have to answer, I turn to Google a number of times to find a quick explanation. I write reports and print them on Microsoft Word. I know how to navigate the World Wide Web in order to find whatever I seek. As we, as a people, dive further into an age of technological advances and dependency, we need to be able to train our children how to work these hard, tangible sciences ourselves. If not, then how will they be able to keep up with the world around them successfully? Sit with your child while they are online. Explore and discover with them. Don’t think of it as a way to supervise them (although in some cases, it may be a good idea). Try to use it as a way to bond and learn together.
            Thirdly, if a child is going to pursue academia, high school and beyond, they need to become information literate. Just because all information on the World Wide Web is readily available does not mean that it is true, and there for complete public use. The same goes for use of information in books, magazines, etc. When a student becomes information literate, they are able to perform a number of tasks. They are able to say, “I found this information. I know what this information means. When I used this information, I am going to say that the source of this information is here, it is not my original information, but it does support what I have to say.” If you’re wondering why this sounds familiar, it is because this is the basic concept we learned in school about how to choose resources when citing our papers. Many students are learning these concepts at younger ages now that the theft of information and plagiarism has become such a wide-spread topic. It is no longer the idea of copying off someone else’s work. It is now the issue of stealing work that isn’t yours and passing it off as your own. In many colleges and universities, this has been the cause for failure of classes, or in some cases, expulsion. Every child should take the time to learn the concepts of information literacy and learn how to create their own work before they try to build off of someone else’s creation. Work with them on their reports and projects. If either of you have questions, don’t be afraid to contact teachers or librarians. They make their careers out of answering questions like this. They want to help you discover and develop your skills.

            The bottom line is this. Those who were lazy and bored didn’t make history. It was those who had curiosity and interest who went on to discover wonderful things when it came to science, learning, and the human race. This is something that we need to remember when it comes to education in the United States. We need to remember, above all things, that we need to be literate. We need to be able to read. We need to be able to navigate technology. We also need to be able to navigate information. Above all else, we need to work together to expand our horizons beyond what we think our government’s standards should be. At least, that’s my $0.02 on it. 

Friday, October 2, 2015

Family Story Times




Join us Wednesday Evenings 6:30-7:15 for stories, songs, finger plays, movement and an easy craft at our fall story time.  Registration is currently open.  You can register in person at the Children’s reference desk, or by calling the Youth Reference Desk at (734) 721-7832, ex. 623.

The themes for our story times will be:


October     14: Fall is here.
October     21: Where did all the birds go?
October     28: Halloween (Please wear your costume)
November   4: Bears
November 11: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Craft

Saturday, November 21, 2015, 2:00 – 3:00 pm




Enjoy snacks and a Thanksgiving story. 
Make Thanksgiving Napkin Rings and a centerpiece for your table.  



Registration begins Tuesday November 10, 2015.  You can register in person at the Children’s Reference desk, or by phone (734) 721-7832, ex. 623.

A Note from Library Co-Director, Steve McGladdery: Non-Traditional Library Collections

Have you ever needed a particular tool for a home repair job, but didn’t want to purchase it or pay some outrageous rental fee? Have you ever wanted to use an unusual or novelty cake pan for a special occasion, but didn’t want it cluttering up your kitchen afterward?  Have you ever just wanted to play around with a musical instrument before committing to buying one?  If you answered yes to any of these, then you should know that public libraries across America are coming to your rescue.
Non-traditional library collections are becoming one of the next interesting trends in public library service.  In addition to books, music, movies, and other circulating media, libraries have begun offering unique items to enrich the experience of the everyday library user.  Right now there are public libraries where patrons can check out power tools, gardening equipment, musical instruments, kitchen tools and appliances, toys, and even small plots of a community garden.  There is a library in Iowa with a circulating collection of over 150 novelty cake pans, and another in Indiana where patrons can borrow works of art to hang on their walls for special occasions.
Arguably the most interesting non-traditional collection, or at the very least the most attention-grabbing, would be the unique libraries that offer patrons the opportunity to check out people.  Puzzled? So was I at first.  Here’s how it works.  The library has a circulating “collection” of volunteers from various unique walks of life – a police officer, a politician, a Muslim, a homosexual, a senior citizen, representatives of various minority groups, etc. After checking out their person, the library patron will then have the opportunity to sit down with them for a set period of time, and ask any questions they want, so long as they avoid slurs, inappropriate behavior and strong language.  Now obviously these “human books” aren’t stereotypes, so the experience of that volunteering senior citizen can’t be generalized to all seniors, but the patron is still learning about the life experience of that particular senior and that’s still something.
The best part of non-traditional collections is that you’re only really limited by your own imagination and the laws in your area.  And the only thing better than talking about non-traditional collections is getting involved with them! Is there a unique or unexpected collection you would like to see developed at your Wayne Public Library? If you do, let us know! Comment on our Facebook account!  Send us a letter! Give my office a call! (734-721-7832, ask for Steve) Better yet, stop by in person! Have a browse through our books, music, DVD’s, etc., then stop by and visit with our reference librarians and let them know what you think.

Wayne Public Library’s partnership with Unique Management Services, Inc.

Beginning August 1, billed delinquent library accounts are no longer handled by the Wayne Police Department.  The Wayne Public Library board of trustees has approved an agreement with Unique Management Services, Inc., an overdue fines/fees collection agency that specializes in libraries.  If a library account has overdue fees and does not respond to initial notices, the account information will be sent to this agency for collection.  The process begins with several gently worded letters and phone calls.  If the account in question has not been settled after 120 days from the beginning of the collections process and the account fees are $50 or greater, at that point the fees will appear on the credit report of whomever owns the account.  This is a standard means of collecting long overdue fines and fees.  Unique Management Services, Inc. is a well-known and trustworthy company used by several libraries in southeast Michigan.  

PC Partners

Have you had an opportunity to take advantage of our PC Partners program? Makia, a student from our neighbor Dorsey Schools, is providing free one-on-one computer tutoring in the library. Sessions are 45 minutes long and are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:00pm until 7:00pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00pm until 4:00pm, and Saturdays from 12:00pm until 4:00pm. You can come back for more instruction as needed. You can sign up by visiting the Adult Reference Desk, or by calling us at (734)721-7832, extension 630.

Friends of the Wayne Public Library Annual Book Sale

It’s that time of year again!  The Friends of the Wayne Public Library will be holding their annual book sale starting Wednesday, September 30, and running until the 3rd of October.  The front doors will open at 10 AM on Wednesday for the book sale only, and run until 8 PM. The library will open at its usual time.  The sale will then be 12-5 on Thursday-Saturday.  It has been a good year for collecting used books, so expect a huge selection.  In addition to boxes and boxes of adult fiction and nonfiction, there will also be plenty of books for kids and teens.  So feel free to drop by September 30-October 3 and stock up on some used books.  All proceeds go to support the Friends of the Wayne Public Library.

The History of Mulholland’s Dry Goods

The Friends of the Wayne Public Library will be hosting Matthew Mullholland on Wednesday, October 21.  Mr. Mulholland will be discussing his family’s old store, “Mulholland’s Dry Goods,” and how it relates to the development of historic downtown Wayne.

WHERE: Wayne Public Library

WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 6:30 PM

Gerald Wykes Presents: A Weed Goes to War

Gerald Wykes, an historian and interpreter currently residing in Monroe, discusses how Michigan milkweed was integral to aviators and sailors in late WWII.  Against the backdrop of this truly unique period in history, Mr. Wykes will discuss how crucial this Michigan weed had helped save the lives of U.S. servicemen.  This event is presented by the Friends of the Wayne Public Library.

WHERE: Wayne Public Library

WHEN: Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 PM

Thursday, August 20, 2015

August and September 2015 Blog Post Roundup

Click any of the links below to read more about what's happening at the Wayne Public Library!

Friends of the Wayne Public Library Beer Tasting Fundraiser

Friends of the Wayne Public Library Annual Book Sale

Fall Story Times

Thanksgiving Craft

Love Our Library from The Junior Library Guild

SCORE Small Business Mentors at the Library

The Library Network brings more eBooks and eAudiobooks to Michigan libraries

Wayne Public Library’s new partnership with Unique Management Services, Inc.

PC Partners

Engaging a Young Adult during Summer Months

Odilo eBooks FAQ

Friends of the Wayne Public Library Annual Book Sale

It’s that time of year again!  The Friends of the Wayne Public Library will be holding their annual book sale starting Wednesday, September 30, and running until the 3rd of October.  The front doors will open at 10 AM on Wednesday for the book sale only, and run until 8 PM . The library will open at its usual time.  The sale will then be 12-5 on Thursday-Saturday.  It has been a good year for collecting used books, so expect a huge selection.  In addition to boxes and boxes of adult fiction and nonfiction, there will also be plenty of books for kids and teens.  So feel free to drop by September 30-October 3 and stock up on some used books.  All proceeds go to support the Friends of the Wayne Public Library.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Odilo eBooks FAQ

OdiloTK Digital Library - Easy & Engaging

Patron FAQs
8-10-15
Powered by ODILO and accessed with your library card/account, Wayne Public Library offers free, 24/7, one-click lending for eBooks. Browse titles to enjoy on any device, whether via the Nubereader browser app, the ODILO app for tablets and mobile devices or downloaded directly to your PC or MAC.

Q:  What is Nubereader?

A: Nubereader is ODILO's powerful HTML5 cloud-based app that allows you to enjoy digital reading like never before, with capabilities such as notes taking, highlighting, notes sharing, device synchronization, in addition to many other features.

Q: What devices can I read from?

A: You can enjoy digital content from a variety of devices including Chromebook, PC and Mac® computers, iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch, Android™, as well as many other eBook readers such as Sony® Reader, Barnes & Noble NOOK™, Kobo eReader, and Amazon® Kindle eReaders.

Q: Is there a mobile reading app?

A: There are several mobile reading apps including Android, iOS and Windows 8.X.  EPUB and PDF eBooks can be also be enjoyed using the Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) software. ODILO's browser app allows you to read from any device.

Q: Do I need an Adobe ID to register the Odilo reading app?

A: No Adobe ID is required. Simply fill in your state and choose your library (The Library Network if you are using the app) from a drop-down menu, then enter your library card barcode and PIN.

Q: How can I read from a Kindle?

A: Reading from Android powered Kindles is available using the ODILO App or Nubereader. The ODILO Cloud Reader also works for Kindle e-ink devices with a browser and Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection.

Q: Can I make the eBook more like a large print book?

A: Yes. You can control several aspects of your reading experience, including font size, brightness, spacing, making notes, and adding bookmarks.

Q: How many titles can I check out at a time?

A: You may check out six titles at a time.

Q: How long do I have each title for?

A: You will retain each title for 14 days.

Q: How do I return my materials?

A: At the end of the lending period, titles automatically ‘expire’ and return to the library collection.

Q: Can I renew a title I already have checked out?

A: No. But if there is not a hold on the title, you can check it right back out again.

Q: Can I choose my own lending period?

A:  No, currently the only lending period is 14 days.

Q: Can I return eBooks early?

A: Yes, but the titles are automatically checked in when the lending period expires so you don't need to manually return the materials.

Q: How will I know that my hold on an eBook is ready?

A: If you place a hold on an eBook, you will be emailed when it is ready for pickup. You have 72 hours from the time the email is sent to check-out the title before your hold is cancelled.

Q: Are there any late fees on eBooks?

A: Never!


Q: Can I read the same book from multiple devices?
A: Yes. The ODILOTK digital library automatically syncs to up to six of your devices that have the ODILOApp. For example, you can check-out and start reading an eBook on your iPad, and continue later on your PC. You can then pick up right where you have left off again on your Android device or phone.

Q: Can I print pages from the eBooks or print my bookmarks?

A: No, at this time there is no option to print content from e Books.

Q: Can I customize my reading experience and change my reading options?

A: Yes, you can change your font size, line spacing, background color, font style, add bookmarks, make notes, highlight text and more.

Q: Can I search for Odilo eBooks in my library’s online catalog?

A: Yes, you can search your library’s online catalog for Odilo eBooks at http://tlnl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/wayn/ or at https://tln.odilo.us/opac/#index

Q: Do I need to create a user name and password?


A: No.  When using the app, the screen prompts you to log in with a user name and password, however, your user name is your library card number and your password is your library PIN.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Friends of the Wayne Public Library Beer Tasting Fundraiser

The Friends of the Library are proud to present an evening of beer tasting and snacks, featuring craft beers from Liberty Street Brewing in Plymouth, MI.  Various types of beer will be made available for tasting while Liberty Street's brewing expert provides a discussion of the craft brewing process, as well as how the different types of beer are produced.  Guests of this event will be enjoying “Steamy Windows,” a crisp, fruity beer similar to a pale ale; “Red Glare,” a popular and well-balanced amber ale; and “Starkweather Stout,” a rich and chocolaty dark beer.  After the presentation there will be a Q & A session, as well as an opportunity for you to enjoy more of your favorite Liberty Street beers. This event will be held Friday, August 21, 6 PM at the Wayne Public Library.  Tickets are $15, and are available at the library for purchase as well as through the Friends of the Wayne Public Library.