Hamilton Public Library news
By Hilary Virgil
(Hamilton, NY – May 2014) Did you know “geek” is the new hip? Libraries across the country are jumping on the band wagon using “geek” as a verb meaning to love, enjoy, celebrate, have a passion for, to express an interest in, to possess a large amount of knowledge about or to promote.
As part of this national Geek the Library Campaign, we’re emphasizing that public libraries inspire and empower. Everyone is welcome here. Almost anything can be explored. Public libraries play an important role for individuals and for communities. Everyone has something they are passionate about – something they ‘geek.’
Whatever you geek, the public library supports your interests through our resources, programs and opportunities to come together and share with each other.
You may have noticed some Geek the Library materials throughout our building, including displays featuring the interests of our staff members and library materials that reflect those interests. Help us get the conversation going throughout the community; let’s have fun learning something new about our friends, neighbors or friendly business owners down the street by sharing our personal interests and exploring ways the library can help support them.
Over the next few months, keep your eyes open for our Geek the Library campaign materials within the library and around town, and discover ways to continue to share your interests as part of this conversation throughout the community.
We hope you’ll stop by the library and sign our posters sharing what you geek. Or email your name, photo and a description of what you geek to Hamilton@midyork.org for an opportunity to be featured in a poster, display or on our Facebook page, just write Geek the Library in the subject line. We’re looking forward to learning more about what your personal interests are and discussing how the library can help support them as we continue to work together to strengthen ties throughout the community.
We’re also pleased to announce that the Mid York Library System is now offering Zinio, a downloadable, digital magazine service, as a new resource available online to library cardholders. Readers can now access digital versions of 51 popular magazine titles at no additional cost through the Library System’s Zinio subscription. Now you can download everything from The Economist, Wired and Good Housekeeping, to Martha Stewart Living, Runner’s World and National Geographic onto your personal Internet-enabled device (smart phone, iPad; laptop, etc.).
There is no limit for the loan period, so no need to return these digital items. Patrons can continue to read and refer back to their downloaded magazines anywhere at any time! You can access Zinio by clicking the “Digital Magazines” link under the “Library Resources” section of our website.
Matt Davis, our digital services coordinator, plans to host a workshop on Zinio early this fall. In the meantime, he would be happy to help individual readers explore Zinio and set up their personal accounts for this service. Matt is generally available to offer technical support from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Call ahead (315.280.8171) or email him at mdavis@midyork.org to confirm his availability if you are making a special trip to the library for help.
Hilary Virgil is director of the Hamilton Public Library. The library is usually open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call the library at (315) 824-3060, during these hours for assistance. The book drop on Broad Street is always open for your convenience. For more information about library resources, programs and policies, as well as access to online services, visit midyorklib.org/hamilton/ and ‘like’ us on Facebook at facebook.com/HPL.books. From the website, you can also sign up for our listserv and Wowbrary notices to receive emails about general library news and newly added materials in our collections.