Monica Smith and I are taking part in the Ford Institute Leadership Program. We have met twice, and will meet with the group monthly for the next few months. We are working with a great group of people who are interested in serving the community. This class will culminate in a group project that will bring benefit to our extended community, from Boring to Government Camp.

During September, we focused on digital information and how to promote these services to our patrons. Kathy and Monica have developed classes in using our catalog and databases, but the most popular classes have been on how to use electronic devices, such as Kindles and iPads, to access and download our digital material. We use a third party vendor, Overdrive, to manage our digital collection. There are many different formats, devices, the usage rights vary, our patrons often feel overwhelmed with it all. We are offering classes and hands-on training to make the use of digital materials less confusing for patrons.

On September 12, the library staff met to develop our procedures for checking out laptops for use within the library. The Friends of Sandy Library purchased 12 laptops for us with the electronic equipment purchased for our community room. We use those laptops for classes, and they double our number of internet stations. They can be used at designated places in the library where they can be anchored in place.

The Sandy Women’s club offered a Silver Tea to the public in our meeting room on September 22. It was a lovely celebration in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the group. The Women’s Club was instrumental in the formation of the library in 1934, and in our acquisition of the current building in 1989. They had many scrap books and pictures of the earlier days of the club and of the library. See the pictures below.