Drake Public Library

Seeking Excellence

JeNel Barth

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Services at Drake Public Library

Drake Public Library is taking steps toward restarting services for the public after being closed during the COVID 19 pandemic. We are approaching the process of reopening the library in stages to keep in line with guidelines set forth to protect our staff and patrons during this time. 

The next stage toward reopening Drake Public Library will start by offering Curb Side Pickup for requested materials beginning Tuesday, May 19.

Patrons can begin putting materials on hold by logging into their account through the Follett Destiny Circulation System found on the library’s website at https://www.drakepubliclibrary.org, over the phone at 856-6676 or by emailing the library at drakepubliclibrary@gmail.com. 

So, how do you log into Drake Public Library’s online card catalog system (Follett)?

Go to https://www.drakepubliclibrary.org 

  1. Click on Follett Destiny

Log In

  1. Select your site (Drake Public Library), and click Log In.
  2. Enter your User Name (Your last name plus the first three letters of your first name, all lowercase, one word) and Password (Your Library Card Number, no letters).
  3. Click Log In. Your site page appears.

How Do You Place an Item on Hold?

  1. Click on Catalog (top of page)
  2. Type in an author’s name, a book/movie title and click on the appropriate category (key word, title, author, subject, series)
  3. Options will come up. You should scroll down the right side of your screen. “1 of 1 available” means that this item is available to check out. “0 of 1” means that it isn’t available yet but you can still put it on hold. Call if you have questions about this.
  4. Click on the availability status
  5. Click available under status (either “available” or a date)
  6. Choose “Add Hold” (on the right side of your screen)
  7. Choose “Save”
  8. We will be checking the system for online holds every morning and will contact you as soon as your turn comes up for the item placed on hold.
  9. Items will be due two weeks from the pick up date scheduled.
  10. Items with several holds on them will need to be picked up within one week of contact.

You will be contacted by a DPL Librarian to set up a time for you to pick up your materials and you will be given further directions during this conversation.

 

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An Update on Reopening

Drake Public Library is working on our reopening plan in response to Governor Reynolds’ release of public libraries’ required closure.  Staff is diligently working on procedures and policies to ensure their safety as well as the safety of the public.

Additional services will be publicized as we are able to implement these plans within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, please call (leave a message so that we can call you back), email or message us through our Facebook page with your questions.   

Our priority will be continue to be providing services in the safest way possible.

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Using the Libby App for Bridges

The library building is closed to the public. But you can still keep reading through online resources. We are very lucky to have access to the State Library of Iowa’s resource for online Ebook, Audio, Live Stream Video and Magazine Consortium through Bridges. The Friends of the Drake Public Library sponsors our participation with the Bridges online resource. You can still go directly to Bridges through our website.  But the Libby App is the newest way to access Bridges.  Here are some easy to follow directions. 

The free Libby app is the easiest way to get started with digital books, audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. Libby is available for Android, iOS, Windows 10, some Chromebooks, and in your browser at libbyapp.com.

Notes:

  • If you have a device that’s not compatible with Libby, you can use the OverDrive app to borrow and enjoy digital titles instead.
  • If you belong to a school, you may be able to use our new Sora app to borrow ebooks and audiobooks instead.

STEP 1

Install the Libby app from your device’s app store.

Or, visit libbyapp.com in your Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge browser.

STEP 2

In Libby, follow the prompts to find your library (Drake Public Library) and sign in with a valid library card number. When prompted for a username, it will be your library card number (just numbers, no P). Your password or PIN will be your last name with the first letter capitalized. 

STEP 3

Browse your library’s collection and borrow a title.

STEP 4

Borrowed titles appear under Shelf > Loans and download to the app automatically when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you’re offline.

From your Loans, you can:

  • Tap Read With…to choose where you’d like to read the book (Kindle or Libby), then finish sending to Kindle (U.S. libraries only) or start reading in Libby.
  • Tap Open Audiobook or Open Magazine to start reading or listening to that title.
  • Tap Manage Loan to see options like Renew and Return.

If you need more help with Libby, please visit Libby Help or contact Drake Public Library staff at 856-6676 (Leave a message. We will call you back), email us at drakepubliclibrary@gmail.com or through a our Facebook page messenger.

Happy reading!

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Drake Public Library Closed Temporarily

Greetings from the staff at Drake Public Library. In response to Governor Reynolds’ State of Emergency Mandates, the library will be closed to the public until further notice.  This is what that means:

Staff will be reporting in for the time being but no patrons will be allowed in the building.

We will be checking our voicemail system, facebook messages and emails.

We will be checking the bookdrop for returns BUT prefer that patrons keep their current checkouts until this crisis is over.

We will not be accepting book/magazine donations.

ALL FINES WILL BE FORGIVEN for late materials during the shut down. We will be happy to extend due dates when we get your request.

We encourage our patrons to utilize our online resources listed below:

*drakepubliclibrary.org 

     Follett, our online card catalog to check your own account. You will need your login name (last name plus first three letters of your first name) and password          (your individual patron number found on your library card or by contacting us)

     Bridges, our Ebook, Audiobook and Video Streaming service that also includes online magazines.  You log in with your patron number and your last name               with the first letter capitalized.

     BrainFuse Job Now & Vet Now that includes online learning, resume and interviewing coaching with added assistance to Veterans. 

Gale Resources is found at www.galepages.com/iadrake and our password is drakepl. This is a wonderful resource for full text documents for research purposes, especially helpful to students doing research papers and looking for articles that can be cited appropriately. We will be posting other online resources that are free to the public as we find them. 

We will try to answer as many of your questions that we can and help you through taking advantage of these resources. We will also be updating you on any changes in our situation as well as tutorials on utilizing some of these online resources.  You can contact us at 641-856-6676, through Facebook at Drake Public Library and Drake Public Library Kids and through the Contact Us link on our website. The Library Email link in red will connect you to our primary email. 

We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time and we wish you all well. 

 

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Book Review of This Must Be My Brother

Tom Johnson is a member of the library’s Board of Trustees and an enthusiastic reader!  Please enjoy this review of “This Must Be My Brother” that he recently donated to our collection. This title is housed in our Iowa Section under IOWA 979.704 THI. 

Hello, this is Tom Johnson and I want to review a book called “This Must Be My Brother” by LeAnn Thieman and Carol Dey. This is an amazing story of two women from Iowa City who were volunteers to help in the adoption of orphans from the Vietnam War as our troops left in 1975. They went over to bring back six orphans to Iowa and one was going to be LeAnn’s new son which they ended up bringing back 200 babies. I recommend this book as an emotional story as these orphans were cared for before the country fell into communist hands. This is in the Iowa section of the library.

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Using Bridges on Mac Computers

For your information:

Due to upcoming macOS changes, and to simplify the user experience, OverDrive will soon end support for OverDrive for Mac.

Effective September 4, 2019, OverDrive for Mac will no longer be available for download and Mac users will no longer see the option to download audiobook titles at your OverDrive website. Instead, Mac users can enjoy audiobooks using OverDrive Listen from the Bridges website, or try Libby on their smart phone or tablet.

Any users with audiobooks already downloaded to OverDrive for Mac will retain access to their downloads for the remainder of the lending period, provided they have not yet updated to macOS 10.15 (Catalina).

Though we anticipate minimal user impact, OverDrive Help will be updated to assist with user support.

Bridges is the ebook, audio, streaming service that the State Library of Iowa offers all Iowa Libraries. It is a very popular service provided to you, our library patrons, at no charge. The Friends of the Drake Public Library pay for this service. Thank you FDPL!  

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Federal Funding Allows Bridges Offerings to Expand

A few months ago there was a discussion on the Library Talk conversation board about the need for more materials on personal issues on Bridges, with the hope that these might be always available for patrons in need. Well, the Bridges team listened and approached State Librarian Michael Scott with a proposal to allocate a portion of the State Library’s federal funding to make it happen. Michael accepted the proposal, and a small collection of simultaneous use eBooks and audiobooks covering several topics including mental health, addiction, abuse, and more has recently been added to Bridges. While there aren’t many titles available with the simultaneous use license, it’s a starting point that could be expanded upon in the future.

The funds have also been used to enhance the collection of graphic novels and comics. Marvel has recently partnered with OverDrive to offer 600 titles to public libraries worldwide, and the funding has made it possible to add all the Marvel titles as well as others from DC, Dark Horse & Archie. It’s exciting for us to see  this part of the Bridges collection expand!

In addition, the supplementary money has also gone to some new titles on librarianship for the library staff.  Finally, we’re excited to announce that the magazine pilot will be extended to a second year AND the State Library of Iowa has funneled a little extra money into holds list reduction and license renewals. This is wonderful for those of you who have been able to enjoy the magazine listings through Bridges!

All this would not have been possible without the State Library of Iowa’s allocation from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is a great reminder of the impact of this funding- not only on the State Library- but on Iowans who love accessing eBooks and audiobooks from their local library. Remember, if you need assistance with Bridges/Overdrive, give us a call and set a time to sit down with a librarian and your device to get started. 

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Welcome Ragbrai!

On Wednesday, July 24th, thousands of Ragbrai riders will be visiting Centerville and if 2016 has taught us anything, many of them will be visiting Drake Public Library! Last time through, we met well over 600 riders. The library will see at least that many visitors throughout the day this year. We are so excited! 

Parking will be very limited and all drivers should use extreme caution on Drake Avenue and Maple, as they are both thoroughfares to and from the square, camping and showering facilities for the riders.

There will be no children’s programming available that day and we’d like to remind our local patrons that Ragbrai riders will be given priority on the public computer bays and there will be time limits set for use of the computers. While we welcome patrons wanting to “check things out”, this might not be the best day for meetings, research or longer more focused visits.

Please take this opportunity to be gracious hosts to our guests by greeting them and familiarizing yourself with where things are. The best directions are given by our hometown citizens!  Drake Public Library will have air conditioning, a water fountain to refill water bottles, free wifi, public computers, area maps and comfortable seating. 

Enjoy this Iowa tradition by helping out riders, volunteering and participating in the festivities on the square. Welcome Ragbrai!

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Drake Public Library Receives State Accreditation from State Library of Iowa

The State Library of Iowa has announced that Drake Public Library has met the conditions for state accreditation as outlined in “In Service to Iowa: Public Library Standards Sixth Edition.”

Achieving accreditation requires a significant, ongoing local commitment to high quality library services. Drake Public Library has been recognized for its efforts in all areas of library operations including governance and funding, staffing, library collection, services, public relations, access, and facilities. The accreditation is valid through June 30, 2022.

“The director, JeNel Allen Barth, the board of trustees of Drake Public Library and the city of Centerville are to be commended for this achievement and their commitment to excellence in public library services for their community,” said State Librarian Michael Scott.

Of Iowa’s 543 public libraries, 377 – including Drake Public Library– are accredited. Iowa’s accredited public libraries are recognized for being responsive to their communities and for exhibiting excellence in their provision of library services. More than two-thirds of all Iowans have active public library cards. Iowa libraries play key roles in workforce and economic development, lifelong learning and e-government activities. Iowans use their libraries to find jobs, do homework, locate a good book to read, research medical conditions, access government information, and more.

Accredited libraries receive a higher rate of compensation through the State Library’s Enrich Iowa program. They also receive a Certificate of Accreditation signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, State Librarian Michael Scott, and Iowa Commission of Libraries Chairperson Sarah Latcham.

For more information on the State Library’s accreditation program, and to view the Public Library Standards, go to www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/a-b/accr-and-standards.

About Drake Public Library

“The Drake Public Library strives to be a welcoming center for lifelong learning. We celebrate the freedom to read, discover and converse in a comfortable, inviting environment. We are proud to be your library!”  drakepubliclibrary.org

About the State Library of Iowa

The State Library of Iowa actively champions libraries. Our two roles are improving library services in Iowa and delivering specialized information services to state government and to Iowans. www.StateLibraryofIowa.org

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Drake Public Library Programs

We’re back in the swing of things at Drake Public Library and we thought we’d highlight some of our programs for kids!  

Little Listeners is a family story time for babies, toddlers and their parent or guardian. They meet every Wednesday with Kristin at 10:30 am. It encourages participation, listening, movement, creativity and language. This group warms our hearts each week as they develop friendships between the children as well as between the families. 

The Children’s Library is a fun place to be after school.  Kristin leads fun activities on Monday and Thursday: crafts, games, Wii tournaments, movies, you name it!  Feel free to stop in on other days too. Staff is available after school to hang out, look for books, play games or help with homework. We also have public computers that kids can use for gaming, social media and homework. 

Are you a young artist? Do you enjoy creating and learning about art? If so, we would like to invite you to the Drake Public Library Art Club.   

The club will meet  Tuesday afternoons, running from 3:30 until 5:00 in our second floor Maker Space.  Students from Kindergarten through Middle School are encouraged to participate.  Katie will be leading this group in creating amazing works of art inspired by famous artists and illustrators! Learn about a new artist each week! 

This is the perfect opportunity for students who want a creative outlet in a supportive environment to make connections with others who share their artistic interests.  Please join  us Tuesday, November 13 in the Maker Space after school for our first session of the Drake Public Library Art Club!

All students, grades Kindergarten through 8th grade are welcome to participate in our after school children’s activities. We have a school bus stop in front of our building. Just check in with the Centerville Bus Barn to see if you can ride the bus here from school. (High Schoolers, stop by and talk to JeNel about helping out or check out our Young Adult section!)  

Come by the Drake Public Library today and see what we have to offer!