"Open Your World" with the Omaha Public Library

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Is 2010 the year for change?  It is for the Omaha Public Library!

Have you seen the new campaign for the Omaha Public Library?  I heard about it watching the news earlier this week and finally saw the commercial this weekend.

I do not use Facebook much but decided to visit the Library’s Facebook page to see how the campaign is being received.  Someone left a comment mentioning that they saw the commercial while watching the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics—well done!  I’m not sure how many people are aware that you can borrow movies, audio books, e-books, MP3 format and so much more, but hopefully they are aware now.

Omaha Public Library’s new logoDo you use the Library?  My relationship with the Omaha Public Library has been inconsistent over the last seven years.  I can go months relying on the library as my primary book resource only to be followed by a dry spell that can last up to a year.  Last fall, I decided to embrace this wonderful resource and take ownership of my experience.  I visit the Millard library about once a week and have ten books on my hold request as of today.

I manage my library account like my husband manages our Netflix account.  If we are watching television and a movie trailer peaks his interest, he pauses the TV, walks into the office, and adds the movie to the queue.  I can access my library account from my smart phone, which allows me the freedom to add books to my list at anytime.  Just last week I added a book to my account while having lunch with a friend in New York City.  The book was waiting for me when I got home—talk about service.

Plan ahead when using the library!  Did you know you can add a book to your hold list months before a book is released?  This feature isn’t available for every author, but you might be surprised to find that over 80 people have reserved a copy of Jodi Picoult’s new book, House Rules, which will be released in March!

Libraries are improving across the country.  Lately, I have been hearing wonderful things about libraries across the country.  One of my friends, living in northern California, had told me that her library system will buy books for you for just fifty cents.  You don’t need to justify the request, simply ask the library to purchase the book.  A few weeks ago, I saw that this feature was available in Omaha.

Many libraries have a ‘book club in a box’ program where you can check out twelve copies of one book for your book club as a bundle.  After doing a little research, I haven’t been able to find out if this program is available in Omaha; if it isn’t available today,  I’m sure we will have it soon.  It seems to be the hip new trend.

I’m looking forward to watching our library grow this year, and I’m sure they will be introducing new programs from children events to resources for all of us to use.

Library Loot:  Check out the titles I picked up this week!  I will not be able to read all of these books in the 21 day window, but it felt like Christmas morning when I saw a few new releases waiting for me. Have you read any of these titles? Do you recommend I read one title over another?

Library Loot - Which would you read?

If your library scheduled author involvement would you be tempted to participate?  My local book club meets with authors every other month with discuss a book.  This month we are meeting with Cathy Buchanan to discuss The Day the Falls Stood Still.  With the beauty of technology, we will be talking with Cathy using video Skype.  I can’t tell you how excited I am to see her in my living room; it will be like having the author in the room with us.

I would love to see the library host book discussions with authors.  Meeting with the author enhances the reading experience.  It’s rewarding as a reader to discuss the book with the author.  I hope this feature will be added to the library experience in the near future.

If you could meet any author, who would you want to meet?
What are you reading this week?

Happy Reading, Mari