Sutton Public Library

Sutton Public Library

Now this small town has an extraordinary library. Airy, beautiful, rich in books and friendly people.

Beautiful art
Love the fireplace, and those lamps!

It's like a church for books.
Even the door stops are art pieces.

Palmer Public Library

Palmer Public Library August 3, 2012 Another great community library packed with books and nooks.
I loved this tent for the kids
Wonderful art piece
Donating chairs! A very cool idea.
Oooh and more fundraising swag.

Visiting Wasilla Public Library

A cozy, packed, interesting, wonderful library. Lots of natural light, and just packed with books. My kind of library. Out behind the library was a farmers market where I was able to find a couple of wonderful art pieces. I loved this hand painted chair
And ended up buying this blue bag.

Tuzzy Consortium Library in Barrow AK

GORGEOUS public library way up north.  Be sure to check out all of my photos of this library via this Flickr Album.

Glass art piece depicting the year.

Art and the main desk

Lots of light and books to read.

Shorter shelving units are on wheels to make it possible to have large events.

Children’s Voices, 1925-1965: Portraits from the Jesse Lee Home, Seward

The first session I was able to attend was on the Jesse Lee Home in Seward. A local historian (Jackie Pels) was telling stories from her book (Family After All: Alaska's Jesse Lee Home). She collected oral narratives, slides, pictures, documents, and stories to tell the tales of the children and adults who populated the orphanage. It was fascinating, touching, and a great session. Now I need to go buy her books...

Program abstract: Children’s Voices, 1925-1965: Portraits from the Jesse Lee Home, Seward "The story of Alaska’s boarding schools and orphanages is only beginning to be told,” Alaska bibliographer Bruce Merrell wrote in 2008. In this presentation from Family After All: Alaska’s Jesse Lee Home, the stories are firsthand, accompanied by photographs that First Alaskans called amazing, a rich visual context. The Qutekcak Native Tribe of Seward called the collection a
testament to the survival and persistence of today’s Alaska Native elders. Pels will talk about the project and the book."

AKLA

First, I gotta say this was an AMAZING conference. If you don't like what's going on at the national level this is the conference to attend. The topics were interesting, varied, and on trend. They had assembled a fascinating array of presentations/workshops/meetings/functions. Just take a look at their program!

I presented findings from my sabbatical in three separate sessions:

Preconference: Academic Librarians Mini Retreat: Who’s Doing What? What’s Working and What’s Not? (full day session)

Presented and moderated by Jenny Semenza: While on sabbatical in the western states (including Alaska,) in her quest to find the innovative, the informative and the interesting; she met with librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Listen to her findings and then join your colleagues to share ideas and discuss current issues of importance to academic libraries and librarians. Topics to be covered include: signage, automated storage, buildings & space usage, information literacy, distance services and some of the biggest challenges academic libraries are facing.

Public Services Western Style: Ideas to Steal (1 hr session)

Jenny Semenza visited libraries in the western states from Arizona and New Mexico north to Alaska in her quest for the innovative, the informative and the interesting. Come find out what she discovered to be the best, most valuable, and innovative. While the purpose of her sabbatical was focused on Public Services (instruction, reference, and distance services), she garnered many insights into space planning, development/funding, collection development and more. Although she is an academic librarian, her research took place in both academic and public libraries.

How Do We Measure Up? Notes from a Wandering Librarian (1 hr session)

During Jenny Semenza’s sabbatical she met with reference, instruction, and distance service librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Come find out how we differ, how we’re the same and the shocking statistical reality of those 30 minute+ reference questions. Additionally, ideas for improvement or enhancement in all areas of public services will be shared.

The librarians were interactive, interested and interesting, kind, friendly and they made it a pleasure to be there.

Alaska Library Association Annual Conference

I will be speaking at the AkLA conference in March of 2010. For more information on the conference see: http://www.akla.org/anchorage2010/index.html

Preconference: Academic Librarians Mini Retreat: Who’s Doing What? What’s Working and What’s Not?

The retreat will begin with a presentation by Semenza. While on sabbatical in the western states (including Alaska,) in her quest to find the innovative, the informative and the interesting; she met with librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Listen to her findings and then join your colleagues to share ideas and discuss current issues of importance to academic libraries and librarians. Topics to be covered include: signage, automated storage, buildings & space usage, information literacy, distance services and some of the biggest challenges academic libraries are facing.

Public Services Western Style: Ideas to Steal

Semenza visited libraries in the western states from Arizona and New Mexico north to Alaska in her quest for the innovative, the informative and the interesting. Come find out what she discovered to be the best, most valuable, and innovative. While the purpose of her sabbatical was focused on Public Services (instruction, reference, and distance services), she garnered many insights into space planning, development/funding, collection development and more. Although she is an academic librarian, her research took place in both academic and public libraries.

How Do We Measure Up? Notes from a Wandering Librarian

During Semenza’s sabbatical she met with reference, instruction, and distance service librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Come find out how we differ, how we’re the same and the shocking statistical reality of those 30 minute+ reference questions. Additionally, ideas for improvement or enhancement in all areas of public services will be shared.

Art in the Library - Univ. of Alaska, Anchorage

pendulum3
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Foucault's Pendulum "Still Proving the Earth Rotates" and hung in a prominent spot in this fabulous library.

Art in the Library - Univ of Alaska, Fairbanks

art1
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Paper. Several years ago there was an exhibit of paper sculptures in the library. They decided to purchase this fabulous raven.

Art in the Library - Univ. of Alaska - Fairbanks

art2
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

A collection of prints by Fred Machetanz hang gallery style in the library. They are wonderful!

Art in the Library - Univ of Alaska, Anchorage

art1
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Anchorage had lots of great photographs in the library. This is one of my favorites.

University of Alaska - Anchorage

popular donated vids
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

So many things to blog about, it was hard to choose just one. In the end, I chose this one cause I think all of us can use this. They had complaints about not having videos to watch for entertainment purposes, so they asked for donations. This collection is all based on donations from individuals. Complaints about why this is here and that is not is addressed by telling the complainer, that all the videos are donated and they are welcome to donate something to improve the collection...

Okay I can't help it. Take a look at the chairs in the foreground. See how they are curved towards the back. These chairs allow a student to either sit upright or lean (tip) back. I thought they were great! I believe Fairbanks uses similar chairs in their library too.

-- Jenny

For more photos from the Anchorage library see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605565401010/

University of Alaska - Fairbanks

art3
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Lots of serious library stuff was discussed, of course. But what I thought I'd share with you is an anecdote related to me by my tour guide librarian. I know we're all looking for art to place in our libraries. This picture is of a very heavy metal sculpture that magically appeared in place one day. Perhaps some student couldn't figure out how to get it home. Who knows. All they know is an anonymous artist and donor somehow made it happen with no one knowing about it. -- Jenny

For more photos of the library see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605548013800/