Arkansas Libraries, Overdrive, E-Book Checkout

Central Arkansas Library System takes a second to none. They have some of the top Librarians and staff in our Public Libraries. Librarians in our Schools and Elementary Schools who are phenomenal in attaining Library Materials and Services.

The CALS Library system provides books, e-book d o w n l o a d s, periodicals, government documents, PC's, laptops, and fishing poles, that kids can check out!

The CALS Library system offers differently themed Libraries. One library is the Dee Brown Library. Dee Brown is an author who inspired my life at a young age..

The Central Arkansas Library System, and their staff go to great lengths to encourage learning, and library participation.

They purchased Wii for the Library to interest young people in reading and library science.

CALS Libraries, have weekly and summer Reading for the youngsters as well. The Little Rock Library system has Mystery Nights which offer forums for discussion (shhh) in rooms designed to keep it in those walls. Study Rooms.

It is a bonus to have such resources.

In our hometown, there are places and service providers that have a spark of something special. These are people who work to serve others. It is evidenced by the positive changes in all of the people they have reached.

I hope to build up her neighborhood, and globe by shining a little light on the positives, and hopefully build patronage, and/or encourage funding and memberships.

One public Library System to shine the light on is CALS.

In the U.S., particularly in Arkansas, the Libraries are funded by millage (the amount of value per $1,000 of property) taxes. It is hard to grasp, but it is only pennies per home or land owner, per year.

Often when it comes time to vote on funding the Library and other public services, it sounds like a tax increase, when in reality, it is just a vote to continue the millage portion to go to the service.

Once every 10 years or so, a Library system will ask for an increase, but it is only pocket change..

To earn a degree as a Librarian, ones educational requirement is "research". By the time they have earned their Masters, they can locate the Fountain of Youth if they were of a mind to.

.A Librarian is one of the most precious resources in any town. Librarians are 'book people' so they may not warm up quickly, but they are public servants at heart and they can help you find what you need.

• Things like having your felony record expunged
• registering to vote ,
• fighting to keep the easement off of your property ,
• on-line tax sites.
• build a chicken house
• The GRE Test
• L earn the U.S. Constitution,
• local historical facts, databases for you to find Journal's and other Publications.
• Learn to Read ...
• They can help you get started on your Family Genealogy
• Provide or access materials to help you with your work.

Librarians are keepers of the Public Notices!

When the Newspaper was alive, the Public Notices were articles mostly ignored by the majority of concerned citizens. A lot of rules and lawmaking has taken place without the input of citizens who really do care.

Due to overwhelming ignorance of how these important pronouncements affect their lives, they often point the finger at "the government" or that committee or whoever, when it was a lack of participation by the public. If you want to change that, go see your librarian. Most libraries and public agencies will copy, email. and forward Public Notices requesting Public Comments and telling about Public Meetings.

This investment in our communities makes our cities more valuable and offers a haven for those in need of information. Every single person at one time needs the resources of a Library System or Librarian.

A person can learn about Anything and Everything through a Library.

All Libraries are connected through Inter-Library Loan. Through the University in your Town, you may access journals and other Public Documents that are not as easy to access outside of a University system without paying hefty fees.

Do Not Hug your Librarian, but Become a Friend of your Local Library and get involved. Donate books to their annual/semi-annual Book Sales, and "don't dog-ear the pages"

The Internet is the Information super Highway . Like a regular highway, if you don't have fuel, or if you cannot afford to own or rent a vehicle, you are stuck on the side of the road hitchhiking and hoping for the best.

I love the Internet, and I have been on the world wide web (www ) since 1992, I am glad that we no longer have to use, D.O.S.(Data Operating Systems, not windows). When Microsoft Windows opened up the viability of everyday people being able to connect with information and communications on the internet. This type of human interaction and expansion of world travel via 0101010' s has never been seen before.

WYSIWYG is the best thing that ever happened to interface use in computers. WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get ). There are many people that don't know what that means.I was taught it means you can click an icon, or a button, try an application and then "Ctrl Z" or "Undo". No harm, no foul. When you take your little pointer, or stylus or mouse and click on an icon (little picture of something), it usually is what the picture indicates.

It may take some time to connect the picture and meaning, but if you ask your Librarian, they will find the resources to help you understand. If you are in a good Library system, they probably offer Free or Reduced Computer, Internet and Software Use Lessons.

In today's world, not understanding how to get on-line and use the computer is a handicap. If you are too old, and they didn't teach this in school, your only hope is that a grandchild or other kind young person will give you some time and instruction. It is unlikely they would be willing or able to spend enough time to get you proficient. How valuable is being mobile and in touch with the world around you?

If you have an elderly person you love , find out from your local library if they offer Free Computer Lessons. ..don't be shocked if in a few weeks, your great granny is asking to "Friend You" on Fb...and she may already have more friends than you! By potentially reconnecting with long lost friends and lovers, you may give her a second round at life...

No matter what happens in this electronic world, I will always love books. With writing and making a career as a writer, while working a job that will pay the bills, I still makes time to read. I like to fall asleep with a book over my face.

As a child having a library card and library access to books was the only thing that saved me. I could then imagine myself as anyone, go away to any geographical place, and travel in time, and in space, by opening a book and engaging..

The Internet has opened a world of friends and travels I would have never met, had it not been for social networking. I hate to admit it, but Zinga Vampire and Mafia Wars propelled me into a new world. I originally joined Vampire Wars to watch out for my underage grandchildren. It soon became an addiction, and I had to build up my teams to win! I started making new Facebook friends with people from all over the world.

Through all of this, I have happened across some wonderful people, who introduced me to other nice people, and before you know it, I had aFacebook family of internet friends. All of this happened because I had public access to a computer in my local library.

I was unemployed in 2006, and spent a lot of time in the little library, looking for work.

The Librarians were empathetic to my need of support, and allowed me extra time on the internet. I did reconnect with friends and employers. The tips and hints given from library staff, I ended up with a job working for the Government.

The sweet librarians, showed me sites where a person could take practice tests and all kinds of things, that if I had not been told, I wouldn't have gotten such a position.

Today, along with playing games, I spend many hours doing photography, and writing.

Peace and Write On!

I was stuck in a small town, and finally got a job, with no means to get there. I didn't say anything to the librarians, but one librarian drove to my new job, and brought a pre-paid gas card. She did not have to do that, but she saved me.