The Third Place

     Is the library your 'third place?'
     Your third place is where you go to spend time...someplace in addition to your home and your workplace.  For some people this might be Starbucks or other local business.  For some it might be the library.
     Ideally, a 'third place' should be free or inexpensive, accessible, close by, involve regulars, be welcoming and comfortable; food and drink are not essential but are nice.  You can find old and new friends in your third place.
     Libraries have been doing this; libraries can be a community center engaging you with others in a public place.
    We'd love to see you in our third place!

Library Elf

                 Would you like to receive email reminders of books that are due? Sign up for a Library Elf account.

                 Visit www.LibraryElf.com and sign up for a Library Elf account. (Choose FL-New River Public Library Cooperative as your library.) You will then be asked for your library card number and PIN (obtain your PIN from the library.)

                 You can choose a schedule ofreminders and Library Elf will email reminders to you. Parents can register children’s cards so you can keep track of everything checked out.

                 Library Elf is private. You control access to your account. This service is free to library users in Baker, Bradford and Union Counties.

                Ask your library for a card that has detailed instructions for Library Elf. It’s simple and free.

Public Libraries and E-Government

   Public libraries provide an essential link between government and citizens.  As government information services and resources become digital—in many cases, digital only—public libraries serve as critical community gateways to electronic government, also known as E-government which can be defined as:   the use of technology,
predominantly the Internet, as a means to deliver government services to citizens, businesses, and other entities.

   Libraries provide technology access by offering free access to computers, high speed internet access and wi-fi.

   Libraries also help with digital literacy by offering computer and internet use instruction.

   Public library staff have the expertise that can help people understand government and government services. 

   Staff also help people find and use government information, websites and services, as well as helping people complete forms, such as emergency benefits, unemployment and other online forms.

   With these services are challenges too.  Computers, high speed access, and wi-fi cost money.  Time limits must be placed on computer use by the public to allow everyone a turn.

   Staff is needed to assist users who have no computer experience and that staff must be trained and paid. 

  In spite of challenges, libraries are working to meet their community’s
e-government needs.  Working with funding agencies, other social service agencies and the public, libraries will be even more successful in providing
e-government services.

How does your child hear and talk?

   Every child is unique and has an individual rate of development. The following represents, on average, the age by which most children will accomplish the listed skills.

Birth to 3 months

Hearing and Understanding:

· Startles to loud sounds.

· Quiets or smiles when spoken to.

· Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying.

· Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound.

Talking:

· Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing).

· Cries differently for different needs.

· Smiles when sees you.

4 to 6 months

Hearing and Understanding:

· Moves eyes in direction of sounds.

· Responds to changes in tone of your voice.

· Notices toys that make sounds.

· Pays attention to music.

Talking:

· Babbling sounds more speech-like, with many different sounds, including p, b, and m.

· Vocalizes excitement and displeasure.

· Makers gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you.

7 months to 1 year

Hearing and Understanding:

· Enjoys games like peekaboo and patty-cake.

· Turns and looks in direction of sounds.

· Listens when spoken to.

· Recognizes words for common items, like “cup,” “shoe,” and “juice.”

· Begins to respond to requests (“Come here,” and “Want More?”)

Talking:

· Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds, such as “tata upup bibibibi.”

· Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep
attention.

· Imitates different speech sounds.

· Has 1 or 2 words (bye-bye, dada, mama) although they may not be clear.

  Children typically don’t master all items in a category until they reach the upper age in each range.

  Information provided by the American Speech-Language-Hearing
Association.

Do you want to learn computer skills?

Basic computer classes for adult users start on October 5 at Union Co. Public Library.

Basic classes are designed for adult users with little or no computer experience.   Daytime basic classes run from 10-12noon on each Tuesday in October.

Basic classes on Tuesday evenings run from 5:45-7:45pm.  See the full schedule here. 

Basic excel is offered on October 26.  Users for the excel class should have some computer knowledge.

You can register online here.