THE COLLECTIONAs of the end of 1998, the Katonah Village Library owned:
The total Adult and Childrens circulation for 1998 was
110,086. Children's The Children's Department of the Katonah Village Library provides a wide variety of programs for children from infants to upper elementary school age. Story hours are regularly scheduled for lap-sitting babies; Toddler Twos; and for Threes, Fours & Fives. Older children may participate in the Library Club, craft programs and reading programs. Not to be forgotten is the huge Summer Reading Game for readers and pre-readers which has a different theme every year. The 1999 reading theme was "Celebrate! Read!". Special events such as live animal programs, author visits, storytellers and puppet shows are scheduled throughout the year. Besides maintaining a Parent's Collection, the Children's Department sponsors a twice monthly New Mothers Discussion Group for mothers and their babies (birth to 12 months). Pregnant mothers-to-be are also welcome. Guest speakers provide food for thought, the babies supply comic relief. Each session ends with time for questions and sharing personal experiences and "what-works-for me" information. The Children's Room has an IBM PC and a growing collection of educational software, including many games on CD-ROM and a number of multi-media reference works. An easy writing program and the color printer help young students and their parents produce beautiful work for school projects. The Children's Room is home to an astounding collection of dolls in native costumes from all over the world, which were collected by Katonah women in their travels in decades past. Three lighted display cases show off these lovely dolls. While you're in the Children's Room, please say hello to Tina the Turtle. Tina, a Florida River Cooter, was abandoned on the Library's doorstep in the fall of 1991. Following a "Name the Turtle" contest, Tina took up residence on the Children's Room windowsill. Tina has grown to several times her original size, and has outgrown more than one tank! All of Tina's expenses are covered by contributions from her friends. Call the Library at 232-3508 and ask for the Children's Room for more information on programs and services. Young Adult The Young Adult department of the Katonah Village Library features an excellent collection of books and audio books aimed to interest the middle school students. The Young Adult fiction collection is designed to bridge the gap between children's books and adult books. YA books are long on exciting plot elements and short on boring descriptive writing. Young Adult non-fiction is interfiled with adult non-fiction, but is marked with a YA label on each book's spine to alert middle schoolers to books aimed at their interests and abilities. (Psst, adults: sometimes a Young Adult book will perfectly fill your need for an overview of your subject.) Many programs and activities are in the works . The Young Adult Summer Reading Game features some very cool prizes for participating readers.Call the Library at 232-3508 and ask for the Young Adult Librarian for information on upcoming stuff. Reference The Katonah Village Library's Reference collection is a treasure house of facts and figures. Besides the most recent encyclopedias, the Reference area contains many standard works that are used every day: The Encyclopedia of Associations, The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Who's Who (and Who Was Who). There are lots of scientific handbooks, political and governmental resources, Federal Census materials, historical, geographical, and critical materials; literary, financial, and multicultural information sources. Service to the public is the mission of the Library, and the Reference staff is eager to help you find the facts you need. The Reference Department offers Internet Reference service. The Reference Desk staff will attempt to reply to questions within 24 hours. The address is katref@westchesterlibraries.org if you want to give it a try. Special Collections The Katonah Village Library has several subject specialties. Partly due to the long association between the Katonah Museum of Art and the Library, there is a fine collection of books of the visual arts. Special fund monies are grown and nurtured so the Library can purchase art books which might otherwise be unaffordable. The Library also has a good collection of plays. Even if a play is not listed in the online catalog by author or title, it can frequently be found through a search of Play Index. The Library also houses a growing collection of titles on play production, donated by the Katonah Community Theater members. If you are interested in fishing, you will want to see the Library's assortment of books and videos on freshwater fishing and fly-tying. TheLibrary is known for having a fine collection of current travel books covering the entire world. An endowed fund in memory of former Reference Librarian Helen Olson, who died in February 1998, will provide for the ongoing purchase of large pictorial works on both domestic and international destinations. SERVICESThe Katonah Village Library has computers available to the public for report writing, follow-up letters after the interview, friendly correspondence, and the writing of the Great American Novel. The computer capabilities are always changing, so call 232-3508 to find out what is available today! Internet Access and Training The Katonah Village Library, like all of the public libraries in the Westchester Library System, provides free access to the Internet. Currently the Library has three terminals that may be used for "surfing", for serious fact-checking, and everything in between. The library also has Wireless Internet Access. In order to connect, your computer must have a WiFi-compatible network card installed (802.11b or 802.11g). Anyone may sign up for a half hour session on any of the Internet-connected terminals in the adult computer center. The Library's policies concerning Internet use are posted near the terminal. Patrons with Mouse Fear or who need a helping hand to learn basic Internet skills are invited to participate in the "Internet for the Absolute Beginner" sessions scheduled every Tuesday morning at 11 am and every Thursday afternoon at 3 pm. If these times are not good for you, call the Library and you will be accommodated. A laundry list of Library services For your use and enjoyment: For community needs: For the needs of the many: For your convenience: Exhibits of Local Artists' Works Since the space was already associated with the exhibition of art, the Library opened up two community rooms for the display of works by local artists. Local artists are invited to apply to the Library's Board of Trustees for a four week exhibit time. A sampling of the artists' work will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The rooms are reserved many months in advance of the exhibit, so don't delay in making your move. A modest charge for the cleaning and maintenance of the room(s) is paid by the artist. Room Rental Non-profit organizations may use the rooms during Library hours with the proviso that patrons who want to see the current art exhibit will have the right to enter the rooms. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQ: How do I get a Library card? Q: How long can I keep this (book, cassette, video,
magazine, pamphlet, CD, etc.)? Q: Can I return this (library item) when the library
is closed? Q: Can I return this (library item) to another
Library? Q: My book's overdue: should I put it in the book drop
or wait until I can go in to return it in person? Q: May I renew this? Q: What school districts are in the Katonah area? Q: How do I get more information on your programs? Q: Does the Library have a book sale? Q: Can I donate books to the book sale? Q: What can I do to help? Q: Where did you get that clock? |
