Dream Big: Read

People are asking about our plans for the 2012 edition of our annual Summer Reading Club. Here's the scoop:

Dream Big: Read @ the Library This Summer

Whatever your age or interest, you can dream big and win big at the library this summer. We'll have clubs for children, teens, and adults, each with special reading goals and prizes. The various prize packages include baskets of goodies, coupons from local businesses, or a book of your own choosing. From Midsummer Night's Dream to Field of Dreams to Freud's Interpretation of Dreams, you can earn the prize of your dreams.

Registration begins on June 1st, at the Aspen Drive and Cook Park Libraries and the Bookmobile. Sign up. Start dreaming!

The fine print:
7th graders through adults: Participate by reading books, listening to audiobooks, watching DVDs and listening to music CDs. Books and audiobooks are worth two points each. DVDs and music CDs are 1 point each. Keep track of your points in the reading log you receive at registration. Once you reach 10 points, come in to claim your prize. All participants will be entered into drawings for fabulous gift baskets with sports, spa and other fun items.

Students in grades 3 through 6: Read or listen to 10 books (books over 200 pages count double) or count minutes of reading - up to 800 - to earn a book of your choosing and coupons to area businesses.

Students in grades pre-K through 2: Read or listen to 20 books or count minutes read - up to 600 - to earn a book of your choice and coupons to area businesses.

Start reading on June 1st and return your completed log to any of our locations between June 21st and August 1st to claim your prizes and reach your reading dreams.

Interlibrary Loan

When you want to borrow a book or an AV item that's not owned by the Cook Memorial Public Library District, or any of our LINKin partner libraries, try our Interlibrary Loan service. Not sure how to place a request? See a demonstration.

Borrowing from LINKin Partner Libraries

Sometimes you search our online catalog and discover that Cook Memorial's copies of an item you want to borrow are checked out. Or, maybe we don't own the item. In either case, you can click the   button on the right side of the screen to check whether the item is available from one of our LINKin partner libraries. If it is, you can request it online. Read more about LINKin borrowing. See a demonstration.

Automated Sorter at Aspen Drive

A new and advanced Automated Material Handling System, simply referred to as a Sorter, is being installed at our Aspen Drive Library this week. This system immediately checks in items returned by patrons and sorts them into different bins depending on format. What impact will this technology have on you? In addition to freeing up staff so that they can provide the best service possible, the Sorter provides increased overall efficiency:

• Accuracy of check in – The sorter is 100 percent accurate. When an item is returned through the Sorter’s slot, the item is automatically checked in, so there is no chance that an item you have returned will still show up as “checked out” in your account.
• Option of printing a receipt – For those patrons who have trouble keeping track of the items they return, or have had the experience of an item remaining on their account when they have returned it, this option offers great peace of mind.
• Patrons can immediately check out items with limits -- Many patrons simply want to return their DVDs or Hot Picks, quickly select other DVDs or Hot Picks, use our self check out, and go. Since items are immediately checked in upon return, checking new materials out right away will no longer be a problem.
• Efficiency of items returned to the shelves – Sorting materials into bins will increase the speed of returning items to the shelves.

Visit the Aspen Drive Library after the end of next week to see the Sorter in operation.