From Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever After

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Katie Auman in Library Blog, Library Programs, Library Services

There is perhaps no beginning to a story filled with more magical possibilities than “once upon a time.” It’s an invitation to storm the castle, swim with mermaids, defeat dark forces, and fly with the winds.

It whispers, “Come along with me. An adventure awaits.”

We must defeat the ogres and rescue the villagers. We must slay the dragon and capture its hoard. We must follow the fairies and escape the labyrinth.

The term “fairy tale” was coined in the late 1600s by French Baroness d’Aulnoy in the title of her book “Les Contes des Fées” (From Fairy Tales), published in 1697. It’s said that Madame d’Aulnoy was such a fan of these stories that she threw her own fairy tale cosplay parties for friends and hosted many fairy tale writers at her home.

Fairy tales, sometimes called “wonder tales” or “magic tales” (since not all of the stories involve fairies), are universally beloved for their characters and themes. Among the talking animals and wicked step sisters exist rich stories of good triumphing over evil, of leaving home and growing up, of pursuing hopes and dreams, of conquering fear.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge shimmers with the worlds of fairy tales and fantasy.

It’s A Summer to Imagine!

Mark your calendar for the start of summer reading! The free, all-ages magical adventure begins May 20 and continues through August 16. Enjoy new reading milestones, prizes, and themed activities for the entire family. Programs and activities will inspire you to imagine the possibilities: what you can do, build, become, and create.

Tips for Reading Happily Ever After

Access Daily access to quality reading materials is one of the biggest indicators of reading and academic success. Surround your child with books from the library!

Choice Personal choice is directly connected to motivation. When children choose their own books, it allows them to explore, imagine, and build a love of reading.

Time Twenty minutes a day of independent reading is all it takes to expand vocabulary, improve reading fluency, and turn reading into a lifelong habit.

It’s a Summer to Imagine during this year’s Summer Reading Challenge! Signup begins May 20.

What You Need to Know About the 2020 Census

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Katie Auman in Library Blog, Library Services

10 questions, 10 minutes.

That’s all it takes to complete the 2020 Census either online, by phone, or via paper questionnaire.

The U.S. Constitution requires a count every 10 years of every person living in the United States. The census results determine how the federal government allocates more than $800 billion each year for services that communities rely on, like Head Start, food assistance, and the Library Services and Technology Act.

It is estimated that 13.1 billion dollars (which translates to $2,300 per person) are allocated to Colorado annually based on decennial census statistics.

Census data also determine representation in Congress and the Electoral College, as well as in state and local governments.

Your response matters.

Historically, certain groups of people have been disproportionately under-counted in the census, including young children, people of color and indigenous people, and people experiencing homelessness.

Health clinics. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of our community. If the census misses people, under-counted communities won’t get fair funding for critical programs, and officials won’t have the reliable information they need to make decisions.

Poudre Libraries have computers available to anyone needing to use one to complete the 2020 Census online.

How Will the 2020 Census Work?

Beginning on March 12, 2020, the Census Bureau will mail every household in the United States an invitation to respond to the census, including a new option to respond online.

• In areas without reliable mail delivery or traditional mailing addresses, Census Bureau staff will visit households in person instead.
• The Census Bureau will use other methods to count people in group living situations, such as college dorms and military bases, and people experiencing homelessness.
• The libraries are available to anyone needing to use a computer to complete the 2020 Census online.

April 1 is known as “Census Day,” although households can respond before or after that date. Households will receive several mailings from the Census Bureau in March and April with reminders to participate. Beginning in May 2020, Census Bureau staff will visit households that have not yet responded to collect their responses in person.

What questions will be asked?

• Name
• Phone number
• Age
• Sex
• Hispanic Origin
• Race
• Relationship to householder
• Household tenure (own/rent)
• Number of persons in the household
• Does a person usually stay or live somewhere else?

Census responses are confidential. U.S. law strictly prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing personal census responses with anyone—including law enforcement, courts, or any other government agency. The form does not ask for your Social Security number, citizenship status, or other personal identifiers. Name and address are asked only to ensure that each person in the U.S. is counted only once where they live.

Your responses to the 2020 Census help shape the future of the community.

How Can You Respond to the 2020 Census?

Households can respond to the census online, by phone, or on a paper questionnaire.

The online and phone questionnaire will be available in 13 languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

About the online form

• Optimized to allow people to respond on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
• Is secure, and responses will be encrypted.

Starting March 12, households can respond online at my2020census.gov — including from a smartphone or tablet. You will input the unique code from the Census mailing, or else your street address. The online questionnaire must be completed in one session; draft responses cannot be saved.

There is no time limit to complete the form. However, for security purposes, if there is no activity for 15 minutes, you will be logged out and need to start again.

A confirmation page will be displayed after submission; there will not be an email or text message confirmation.

The Census Bureau will send paper questionnaires to households that have not responded after several reminders, and will follow up in person if needed.

Have questions or need help responding to the census? The Census Bureau will have a toll-free phone hotline in 13 languages. Call the Census Bureau Customer Service Center at 800-923-8282 or 301-763-INFO (4636).

Kids and Families Connect at the Library

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Katie Auman in Library Blog, Library Programs, Library Services

Spending quality time with our kids is critical to their growth and development—and it fosters strong bonds and relationships. But, our fast-paced lives can make finding opportunities for quality family time a challenge.

We’re working and commuting longer hours. Schedules are packed. Budgets are tight. And planning even small outings takes time and energy. Fortunately, your libraries offer fun activities and amazing learning adventures for families of all types to do together.

“Libraries are in a unique position to help strengthen family connections,” says David Slivken, executive director, Poudre River Public Library District. “Libraries are also spaces that offers opportunities for families to connect with other families and build community.”

A family takes part in the Open Up to Outside program called Bird Beak Buffet.

Early Literacy

The Library District has a significant responsibility to children and families in our community to support early literacy skills and ensure young children are ready to learn when they enter school. We recognize that parents and caregivers are a child’s first and primary teacher, so we build partnerships with families to assist their literacy efforts.

The District offers age and developmentally-appropriate materials, quality literacy experiences, bilingual resources, and support for families in the shape of interactive storytimes, an extensive and diverse children’s collection, literacy programs like Animal Afternoon, and even the annual Summer Reading Challenge.

Librarians can also help parents and caregivers who feel uncomfortable reading to their children by modeling read-aloud techniques, helping them develop their own literacy, and encouraging them to enjoy their own reading.

Storytimes are active and engaging for all ages.

Play Time

Library time is active, not passive. So it comes as no surprise that Library programs encourage children and parents to play, discover, and explore together. Playing is one of the primary ways young children learn, think, imagine, express themselves, and develop fine and gross motor skills.

Play can become an even more powerful tool for families when its combined with STREAM activities exploring science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math. Programs like LEGO Build Club, Discovery Zone, and STEM Club are great examples of playful family activities.

Old Town Library’s storytime room features oversized puzzle pieces that are great fun to play on.

Family Learning

Family members and caregivers play a vital role in helping children develop a joy for learning. By spending time learning as a family, children can see that learning is a process, and something that people do all their lives.

As a community partner in children’s education – beyond just support for early literacy – the Library encompasses the whole life spectrum of learning. Families can take advantage of rich digital and hands-on resources and programs for knowledge, innovation, and enjoyment.

Often, family learning at the Library incorporates individuals teaching and learning from one another. Do-it-together activities like makerspace programs or 3D model and design classes allow kids to learn new skills and also demonstrate their expertise to adults.

Do-it-together activities at the libraries include arts and crafts, coding and technology, science, and much more.

Other great family learning opportunities include the Curiosity Pass Program, which offers free admission to museums, art galleries, and other cultural attractions, and the Gadgets & Things Collection, with items like telescopes, bird watching kits, and more.

“We hope to encourage and inspire families to be engaged in their children’s learning throughout their childhood and teen years,” says Slivken, “and to provide opportunities for parents to spend quality time with their children in constructive and meaningful ways.”

Start Up to Succeed, not to Fail. The Library Can Help!

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Katie Auman in Business, Library Blog, Library Programs, Library Services

It’s exciting when the eureka moment happens. The instance when a brilliant idea surfaces and you think, “I have something here. This could be big.”

But taking that idea to action is complicated. It’s not enough to have a brilliant idea or to be passionate about your goal. It takes planning, research, and a supportive business ecosystem to start a new venture or launch a new product.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone.

Kacey Flemming found the Library District’s vast business services early in the research phase of her startup, Common Good Tech. By working with the Library’s Business Librarian, Kacey was able to determine the viability of her startup idea.

“The research gave us confidence in this niche market to move forward,” Kacey says. She founded Common Good Tech with her father, an engineer and tinkerer, and together they are inventing convenient home and backyard products for pet lovers and hobbyists.

Kacey Flemming founded Common Good Tech in 2019.

Poudre River Public Libraries have just about everything a 21st century entrepreneur might need: work space, Internet access, reference materials and research databases, and professional guidance through dedicated business librarians and strategic partners like the Larimer County Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Here are just a few ways that startups and entrepreneurs can benefit from working with the Library and our Business Librarians.

Do Your Homework

You have your idea, but is there a market for what you’re producing or offering?

Market research is critical to determining whether to move forward with your current startup vision or whether it needs to be refined. The Library’s many free databases and eResources are a wealth of information about your industry, target audience, regulations, competitors, and other business-critical data.

Some of the most popular digital resources for market analysis include

• Census Business Builder
• Encyclopedias of American / Emerging / Global Industries
• First Research
• Market Share Reporter
• Reference USA
• Statista

“I’m so grateful for the help we received with market research,” Kacey says. “Librarians spent hours researching the market and providing reports and other community resources. It was info that otherwise would have been only available to me behind paywalls.”

Focus on Your Niche

If you’re working within a particular niche or emerging industry, market analysis is going to be useful in determining the size of the market and the existing competition.

“We were able to find reports and statistics about the size of the backyard chicken market, which is our focus right now,” says Kacey. “We were also directed to industry research on similar industries like pre-fab greenhouses which is an area of interest to us in the future.”

Write the Business Plan

Librarians can point you to the many books and eBooks available to help you write your business plan. Much of the market research done previously will be helpful in writing the business plan.

You can also access the Business Plans Handbook Collection eResource which includes actual business plans compiled by, and aimed at, entrepreneurs seeking funding for small businesses. Sample plans are taken from businesses in the manufacturing, retail and service industries which serve as examples of how to approach, structure and compose business plans.

Set it Up Right

Business Librarians can point you in the direction of information to help start your business. While they are not legal or financial experts, librarians are experts at finding the right library and community resources to help you with the legal elements of establishing a business, ownership structures, tax planning, and researching potential partners and investors.

One eResource that’s available is Legal Information Reference Center, which contains full-text publications and thousands of legal forms. The full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation’s oldest and most-respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.

You’ll find information about forming an LLC or a corporation, a legal guide and forms for starting and running a business, and much more.

Work with Pros and Mentors

You don’t want to work in a vacuum when starting a new business. Surround yourself with the right people, mentors, and experts to jump start your business and ensure better success.

Poudre River Public Library District is closely partnered with the Larimer Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Our Business Librarian and Nonprofit Resources Librarian both serve as consultants with the SBDC and work closely with SBDC team members to support business development.

Surround yourself with the right people, mentors, and experts to jump start your business and ensure better success.

Kacey worked with both organizations to form Common Good Tech and continues to get guidance from experts in areas like business accounting and patent applications. She also took part in CSU’s Venture Validator course hosted by the Institute of Entrepreneurship, a four-week program that provides early-stage startup assistance and mentorship to CSU students.

“I wish I would have found these community resources sooner,” Kacey says. “But, I’m happy to have resources now to learn from, people to connect with, and a community of support.”

Are you considering a startup?

Get in touch with our Business Librarian Matthew West to discuss your startup idea and what you need to make it a success. Request a one-on-one appointment and explore resources online through the Library’s Business Center webpage.

Getting Ahead: Secrets to a Great Job Interview

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Katie Auman in Job and Career, Library Blog, Library Services

Guest Blog by Christian Knoll

What are the secrets to being great in a job interview? What do you need to succeed, and how do you show the hiring manager that you are the best fit for the job?

The interview process can be difficult. But, if you know how to prepare and effectively answer your interviewer’s questions, you may just land your dream job!

Jim Brokish, an interview coach, former hiring manager, and retired Hewlett-Packard employee, shared his knowledge on the interview process and gave his best tips for conquering your next interview. Want more tips or have a specific question about interviewing? Check out the Library’s online calendar of events for Brokish’s next Secrets to a Great Job Interview workshop.

Q: What are some of the best practices to do before an interview?

Brokish: I believe the success of any interview is determined before it ever happens. It is the preparation that you do to get ready to meet with the hiring manager that really determines how an interview will go. There are the basics, of course: dress well, be punctual on your arrival, and do research on both the company and the position you applied for. However, a big part of success is pulling together specific examples from your past that show that you have the skills that are exactly what the hiring manager is looking for. Pulling together these examples can be difficult, but successfully doing so goes a long way in convincing the hiring manager that you are their ideal candidate.

Jim Brokish leads the Secrets to a Great Interview workshop at the Library where he shares his knowledge on the interview process and offers tips for conquering your next interview.

Q: From your experience, what are the best ways to draw these examples, and how do you effectively convey these examples to the hiring manager?

A: Think of stories from your past work or volunteer experiences and tell them in a P.A.R format. “P.A.R.” stands for problem, action, and result. Many people, myself included, use this format to tell their examples in a compelling way. Hiring managers are bound to ask you about your previous work, and this is a quick and easy way to outline them. I urge people to have a small arsenal of these P.A.R. stories ready for the interviewer. Any time you answer a question with “let me give you an example,” you are doing it right.

Q: Can you give me an example on how you outline a P.A.R. story?

A: Of course! Let me give you a hypothetical leadership example:
Let’s pretend I’m a captain of a basketball team, and the team is not doing so well. We lost our first few games, and some of the players have been hassling each other making our overall performance worse than when we started. I have identified the problem; now what action do I take?

I call a team meeting without the coach and work with the team to implement some new team-building exercises to practice both on and off the court.

What are the results? Players start to work as teammates rather than individuals. Thanks to this, we manage to come back from a rough start to the season and place third in the league’s championship. At the end of the year, the coach gives me the leadership award for my work.

Think of stories from your past work or volunteer experiences and tell them in a P.A.R format: problem, action, and result.

Q: Getting a job interview can be very exciting but is often a nerve-racking experience for many people. Do you have any advice to combat nervousness?

A: It is natural to be nervous for a job interview. However, excessive nervousness can make any hiring manager start to question if you are a good match for the position. I think it is important to recognize a couple things here. Remember that the hiring manager is nervous, too. They have just as much pressure in choosing the right individual as you do in needing a job. Second, if you have prepared and practiced ahead of time, you already have responses to 80% of the questions. With solid preparation, you can relax knowing it’s going to be a pretty great interview.

Q: Many people work positions they consider unrelated to the job they want to do. How do you explain these positions to hiring managers in your ideal field?

A: It’s a normal thing for a person to work one job, but their ideal job is in another line of work. If you’re creative in the way you look at your current job and view it in a broad sense, you will see that many of the skills and results are transferable. If you don’t find all the needed skills that transfer, you can still build skills through volunteer work or apprenticeships.

It is important to show interest in the position after the interview is over. What about the position excites you? Make sure to get that across loud and clear!

Q: Any advice before the interview ends? Or after the interview?

A: It is important to show interest in the position after the interview is over. Most hiring managers end the interview by asking if you have any questions for them. Have some prepared questions and ask them! By asking the hiring manager questions, it shows them that you have done your research and that you are also genuinely interested in the company and the position. In addition, hiring managers love excited candidates! I have interviewed a lot of people who end the interview with a boring ‘thank you for your time.’ What about the position excites you? Make sure to get that across loud and clear!

Want more job search and interview tips or have a specific question about interviewing? Check out the Library’s online calendar of events for Brokish’s next Secrets to a Great Job Interview workshop and visit our Job and Career Center webpage.

About the Blogger

Christian Knoll is a media specialist with a passion for creative storytelling. He possesses a multitude of interests including photography, videography, graphic design, and writing. His work has been featured on several online platforms, namely Colorado State University’s SOURCE news outlet.

Christian currently volunteers with the Poudre River Public Library District as a digital media specialist. His goals aim to inform the public about many programs and amenities the Library District offers. When he is not working, he spends his time traveling, hiking, or talking with close friends over a freshly brewed cup of coffee. To see more of his work, visit his online portfolio.