http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/ en-us Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:58:26 -0700 http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=708 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Every month, the White Mountain Library in Rock Springs hosts LAN Parties. People bring their own computers, game consoles, monitors, games, snacks, and caffeine. LAN stands for Local Area Network, and this means the computers and game consoles are connected to each other over a network. A LAN Party brings people together for extended periods of time for competitive gaming. Participants are encouraged to play a wide variety of games and people can form their own tournaments. Each LAN Party is different, and the gamers never get bored. However, the libraries want to try something new.

The differences between the mini-LANs and the monthly LAN Parties are the mini-LANs will have library-provided computers, only one game will be played, and gamers will compete with everyone at each other library. No equipment is required, and gamers only need to bring themselves. There is no age limit for the mini-LANs, but teens from the ages of 15-18 are encouraged to attend.

The game for the mini-LANs will be Star Craft, a futuristic real time strategy game. It was originally released in 1998, and it has quickly become the standard for competitive gaming. For some countries, Star Craft is a sport just like football is to the USA. South Korea, for example, hosts tournaments where professional gamers compete to make a living. While our mini-LANs won't be awarding cash prizes to our players, they can experience the social and competitive atmosphere of LAN Parties.

To add to the social aspect of the mini-LANs, webcams will be placed at each location. Players will be able to see their competitors at the other locations via live video on the projection screen. If someone destroys the base of another player at another building, players can see the reactions of their opponents.

Having a multi-location LAN Party would not be possible without the library's fiber optic network. The bandwidth required to host several games, three video feeds, and other Internet traffic is more than DSL can provide. In fact, the fiber optic network could host hundreds of LAN games simultaneously.
Monthly LAN Parties will still continue as normal. The next regularly scheduled LAN Party is March 19 at 2pm at the White Mountain Library. If the multi-location event proves to be a great success, our monthly LANs may evolve into monthly multi-LANs.

More information about gaming in the Sweetwater County Library System can be found at http://gaming.sweetwaterlibraries.com or call David Halter at 307-362-2665 x5400. Information on other events, services, and library hours can be found at http://sweetwaterlibraries.com. ]]> David Halter 307-362-2665 x5400 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=707 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700
To focus the public's attention on reading, the Love of Reading Committee is asking residents to D.E.A.L., Drop Everything and Listen, Tuesday, March 2nd at 10:10 a.m. on 1490 AM and 104.9 KUGR to hear Kerry Beck read, "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. Classrooms across the country will be tuned in to hear this charming and motivational story.

The Love of Reading Committee is also including newborns in "Read Across America", believing it is never too soon to introduce children to books. Each baby born at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County the week of March 1st will receive a book and the trademark red and white "cat" hat.

Libraries and schools in Sweetwater County will celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with a variety of activities. The three main libraries in Sweetwater County have planned programs which include drawings for new books and Cat in the Hat hats, along with visits from Cat in the Hat himself.

White Mountain Library is planning their annual "Seussapalooza" on Tuesday, March 2nd from 3:45-5:00 pm. Vicki Riley, Head of Youth Services, said the children can expect door prizes, a birthday party, games, treats, and a special visitor (meow), along with drawings for new books and a Seuss hat.

The Sweetwater County Library will celebrate "Read Across America" Wednesday, March 3rd at 6:00 pm with a "Green Eggs and Ham" reader's theater, book drawings, and a hat giveaway. Maxine Davies, head of Youth Services, said the program will also feature a PowerPoint reading of the Seuss book, "Sneetches Are Sneetches", a 'Star on and Star Off' machine from the Sneetches book, and treats.

The Rock Springs Library "Seuss Celebration" will take place Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:30 pm. Anne Parady, Head of Youth Services, said the celebration will include a read aloud with special guest visitor (Cat in the Hat), games and refreshments. She said each child will win a new book by playing Book Bingo. Other games include a fishing booth and bean bag toss with prizes and an activity center. Refreshments will be served.

The six rural branch libraries in Bairoil, Farson, Granger, Reliance, Superior, and Wamsutter along with McKinnon School, will also have drawings for new books and red and white Cat in the Hat hats during the week. There is no registration required for "Read Across America" programs.

The Love of Reading Committee in Sweetwater County has been involved in the "Read Across America" campaign for twelve years. The goals are to raise the profile of reading and literacy in the County, especially among children, and to have fun. The committee coordinates the community-wide event with Sweetwater BOCES, The Board of Cooperative Services. The BOCES grant funds the purchase of new books and Seuss hats to give away, along with publicity to promote reading and programs.

Geisel's first book using the pen name Dr. Seuss was, "To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street", published in 1937. Geisel intended to keep his real name for more serious work. Seuss was his middle name and he decided to put Dr. in front of it because his father had always wanted him to be a doctor. Winner of a special Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and three Academy Awards, Geisel authored and illustrated 44 children's books. Even though Geisel died on September 24, 1991, his memory lives on as Dr. Seuss in children's books which have delighted millions.

For more information about "Read Across America", call the Youth Services Librarians in each library of visit the library system web page www.sweetwaterlibraries.com. Love of Reading Committee members are Anne Parady, Vicki Reilly, Maxine Davies, Leslie Davies, Connie Hollin, and Dr. Bernadine Craft.

For more information about the nationwide celebration, a complete biography of Theodor Geisel and more, visit the National Education Association's web site http://www.nea.org/readacross
]]> Anne Parady 352-6667 x2310 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=704 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 To further celebrate "LoVe Your Library" and the anniversary of its opening, the White Mountain Library is raffling off two book baskets; one for children and one for adults. To enter the raffle simply pop into the White Mountain Library and enter to win! The drawing will take place on February 28th; you do not have to be present to win.
The integration of the Sweetwater County Library System with all nine libraries in Sweetwater County and other libraries in the state makes using the libraries convenient. The public can return books to any branch library in Sweetwater County, borrow a book from any other library in Wyoming through Inter Library Loan, use WYLD CAT to locate books around the state and reserve them, and access the library web page to use licensed databases for information about: health, car repair, antiques, legal forms and more. The URL is http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.

]]> Janice Grover-Roosa 307-362-2665 ext. 3120 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=705 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 The most wonderful thing about the basic computer class offered by the library is that the instructor assumes you know absolutely nothing about computers. The first session of the class begins with an exercise entitled 'You Are Not Going to Break This Computer so Relax'. After this liberating exercise is completed students will learn basics such as: basic computer components, basic key board functions, and turning the computer on and off. Each class will build upon skills learned in the prior week's session. The following is a complete list of subjects that will be covered over the 8 week course: computer basics, keyboarding basics, mouse basics, printing and saving, internet basics, e-mail registration, e-mail basics, and internet fun.
If you are interested in taking the computer course offered by the library but aren't available at the times specified above, don't despair; classes are offered quarterly and the times and days are rotated in order to meet the needs of various schedules. Residents of Sweetwater County should watch for a similar course being offered this spring at the Green River Library. The computer classes offered at the libraries are sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.
]]> Janice Grover-Roosa 307-362-2665 ext. 3120 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=706 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 The February Slam is definitely one to catch as new poets are planning to attend and new presentation styles are set to be unveiled! Veteran slammers Joshua Vensor and Micah Parrish have been spending many a late night writing and re-working a group poem they've composed together and the anticipation of what they've come up with has Slam regulars on the edge of their seats. Group poems are not common at the Rock Springs Slams so this is sure to be an explosive performance, if they are ready that is.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Slam format, the set up is as follows: the Slam is divided into three rounds, all poets read in the first round, the top poets from the first round move up to the second round, and the top poets from the second round move to the third and final round. Judges are picked randomly from the audience. Each poet is scored on a scale of 1-10. The highest and lowest score a poet receives in each round are dropped and the 3 middle scores are added together giving the poet his or her score for that round. This format makes for an extreme night of poetry; hooting, and hollering are always a must and the environment is friendly, encouraging and at times…truly intense! Remember, judges are picked randomly from the audience and exist mainly to encourage participation and keep things from becoming boring! The job of the poet is to move the judges with their work, the purpose of the judge is to give the poet a score not based on audience approval, and the responsibility placed on the audience is, of course, to sway the judges! As you can see there is nothing docile about the Slam.
The Slams are made up of many poets, all from different walks of life, and all with varying levels of experience, but no matter who is performing the show is always stimulating and thought provoking. Josh Graham, a Rock Springs resident, had this to say about last months Poetry Slam: "I went to the Slam expecting mediocrity but was shocked by the level of quality and skill; I couldn't get away from how good the poetry was"! If you are nervous about competing in the actual Poetry Slam but are interested in reading your poetry out loud, you have a couple of fantastic options available. If time permits, there is always an open mic session offered after the Slam which allows new poetry performers to read their work aloud without the hype typically present in a Slam round. In addition to the Slam open mic, the Sweetwater County Library in Green River hosts monthly Poetry Jams. Poetry Jams provide an open mic for anyone wishing to showcase their talent and performance skills. The next Jam is scheduled for March 19th at 7pm at the Sweetwater County Library. Performers are encouraged to arrive a little early to help set up. The Poetry Slams and Poetry Jams are sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.






]]> Janice Grover-Roosa 307-362-2665 ext. 3120 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=703 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Jon Harwood 352-6667 x2410 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=702 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Americans have observed black history during the month of February since 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard graduate and child of former slaves, was disturbed to find history books largely ignored the black American contribution to the nation. The second week in February was initially chosen for "Negro History Week" because two men who were influential on the African American population were born that week, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The week was quickly expanded to encompass the whole month and celebrate other notable achievements including, the 15th Amendment giving blacks the right to vote and the first black U.S. Senator Hiram R. Revels coming into office in 1870, the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) founded in 1909, and the murder of Malcolm X in 1965.
Books available for checkout include works on artist Jean-Michel Basquiat a New York graffiti artist and painter whose work has commanded sales prices of $14.6 million in recent years. Books explaining the meaning behind and illustrating examples of Haitian Voodoo flags showcase religious art that mixes African, European and American symbols. A collection of work by artist Paul Collins, an American artist who traveled throughout West Africa painting the locals, can be found in "Black Portrait of an African Journey". Finally, "Souls Grown Deep", a collection of work by African American artists living in the Southern United States.

Literary works including "I know why the caged bird sings" a book on CD by Maya Angelou and the compilation "Soul Looks Back in Wonder" with contributions by authors Maya Angelou and Margaret Walker. A collection of works by Black poets, and "Neo-African literature: a history of black writing" are also available for the public to check out.

DVD's and videos for check out include "Basquiat" staring Jeffrey Wright, Benicio Del Toro, David Bowie, Gary Oldman, and Dennis Hopper. Several documentaries including "Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance", "Betye & Alison Saar: Conjure Women of the Arts", and "Jacob Lawrence: The Glory of Expression".

The public is invited to check out the display of books, videos and DVD's on African American artists on display at the Rock Springs Library and visit the permanent art collection owned by the Sweetwater County School District No. One displayed at the Community Fine Arts Center. Hours at the RSL are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon to 5 p.m. Hours at the CFAC are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday noon to 5 p.m.
]]> Jennifer Messer 362-6212 x6120 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=701 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700
"I believe in the substance of libraries and I am so happy to be equipped with the tools I need to be a contributing force of this substance. Open access to information and information literacy are two elements of libraries and librarianship which I value among all else. It is my goal as a librarian to promote free and open access to information which means that I want every patron who walks through the doors of a public library to know that their search for knowledge and information, no matter how small, is valid and relevant."

"I want patrons to search the shelves in public libraries and see a democratic collection, one that represents not only the popular voice, but the marginalized voices as well. Information literacy is also crucial to library patrons in an era where quantity sometime outweighs quality. It is my duty to help patrons access the tools and resources they need in order to find the literature and information they need. Libraries are more than a place; they are a presence in our communities. I am so happy to be working in a community where libraries are so clearly valued."

Grover-Roosa has worked for the Sweetwater County Library System since September 2005. She is a member of library organizations including Wyoming Library Association (WLA), MPLA, Mountain Plains Library Association and a member of the WYLD marketing committee of the Wyoming State Library. Grover-Roosa graduated from Emporia with a 3.97 GPA. She was elected student ambassador to the Dean for her Emporia cohort by her class mates. Emporia maintains many outreach cohorts across the country and she was a member of Utah Cohort 5. Grover-Roosa adds that Emporia has the oldest MLS program this side of the Mississippi River.

She added that she "loves" to develop library programming and hopes she can discover and cultivate programs the community responds to such as the Poetry Slams. She "really loves" teaching the computer classes and hopes to develop that program to be more substantial. She is excited to develop several collaborative relationships with numerous entities throughout Sweetwater County.
]]> Vicki Roth - 875-3615, ext. 8 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=699 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700
The database is broken down into the original NoveList and NoveList K-8. When searching for books with NoveList K-8, only books that are suitable for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are included. NoveList allows readers to search for any book regardless of its target age.

Read-alikes are a popular feature of NoveList. It is very similar to "you might also like" when you're shopping online. Advisors for the database have chosen other books you may be interested in based on the type of books you read. For example, a fan of Janet Evanovich who writes the series about the wise-cracking female bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, can go to NoveList from our web site, www.sweetwaterlibraris.com and click on "Databases". Select the letter "N" for NoveList to find other books similar to Evanovich's. When you locate an Evanovich novel, click on the cover and you'll find other "Fatally Funny", mysteries that "take the reader into laugh-out-loud territory." There is also a link to the WYLDCAT at the bottom of the page to see if the book is available in your library.

Not only is NoveList a great resource for readers, it's also a great resource for teachers. This database can help teachers find books that would fit within their curriculum. Articles on using literature in the classroom and techniques for teachers to implement are also included. These articles are also broken up by books genres.

Another great tool available to teachers, librarians and individuals through NoveList is book discussion guides. These guides give a summary of the book as well as possible discussion questions. Chris Van Burgh, outreach librarian for the Wyoming State Library says, "With the popularity of book discussions, NoveList offers some great features for people who want to run their own discussions". The State Library's access point to get to the statewide databases is http://gowyld.net/dbases. Check It Out! At the end of February the State Library will announce a slew of new resources that will be available to the public. Stay tuned for those details.
]]> Vicki Roth - 875-3615, ext. 8 http://www.ajaxray.com http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com/news/newsdetail.php?nID=700 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Pride & Prejudice is a classic tale of love and misunderstanding unfolding in class-conscious England near the close of the 18th century. The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennett as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, education and marriage in her aristocratic society.
Head Librarian Carla Hardy invites the public to take advantage of the free Monday night movies in a comfortable setting. In March, the movie theme is Irish and April wraps up the winter/spring film series with "The Librarian" made for TV original movies. The movie audience will experience Audio-Visual projection with theater quality sound on the big screen which was installed September, 2008. Programs are sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System, http://www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.
]]> Vicki Roth - 875-3615, ext. 8 http://www.ajaxray.com