Author: webAdmin

Today’s libraries are so much more than shelves of books. They are dynamic community hubs that offer a wide range of services beyond traditional reading materials. From public-use computers, high-speed internet, and free Wi-Fi to Interlibrary Loan programs, meeting rooms, and collaborative spaces, libraries provide resources that bring people together.

With the addition of convenience-focused services designed to further help members save time, money, and effort, libraries continue to be an essential part of modern life.

Here at the Dauphin County Library System, or The Library, we offer a number of convenience-focused services that you may not have tried yet– services like Bookadvisor (ourpersonalized book recommendation program), Teacher Material Request (a service that supports educators by gathering materials for use in classrooms),  or Curbside Pickup (available at 6 of our locations).

Have you ever wanted to print something that someone sent to you on your phone, but you didn’t have a way to do so at home? The Dauphin County Library System’s “Print From Anywhere” wireless printing service may provide you a solution. Here at The Library you can print directly from your laptops, tablets, and smartphones. To learn how, click here.

Or have you ever had a question or research need at a time when you were unable to visit a library? Try Ask a Librarian, The Library’s remote reference service designed to respond to questions via email. Just complete our Ask-a-Librarian form (or email your question to askalibrarian@dcls.org), and an Information Services professional will assist you (usually within 24 hours). No in-person visit required. You can find a link to our Ask-a-Librarian form on our Services webpage.

To learn more about these or any of The Library’s other services, please visit https://www.dcls.org/services/.

Whether or not you are a member or visitor of the Dauphin County Library System, if it’s been a while since you’ve checked out what services your library (or library’s website) has to offer, now is the perfect time to explore. You may be amazed at the variety of untapped resources and opportunities waiting for you!

By: Dwana Pinchock

Luke Blum is our Account Executive at iHeart Media. We’ve been working with him for almost two years.

It’s been great to be involved with the Dauphin County Library System. It’s something that that means a lot to me. The Library is always there, trying to help folks out. It’s a center of culture. When I think of libraries, I think of culture and a gathering place. Your library can reflect your town or city and it’s full of people that care and want to help others. It’s not like those people get huge bucks to be there. They’re there because they are passionate about it and that’s something I’ve always really appreciated.

It’s really cool to be able to help spread the word about some of these events that Dauphin County Library System is having. [The Marketing team] said they didn’t want The Library to be the best kept secret anymore, and that was something that really resonated with me, so we hit the pavement pretty hard and started spreading the word. The first thing that we did as a big project was the renaming of the George & Hettie Love Memorial Library. That was really cool. We did some ads, and we did an interview on one of our shows on WHP-580. I think that did very well.  

We’ve also expanded to do some podcast ads advertising different programs like Children’s Book Week.

This is something that I’m passionate about because libraries bring people together. Libraries tend to be a place where somebody who doesn’t know where else to go or who doesn’t have another place to belong can find their place and find things that they’re interested in.

I really like East Shore Library. A lot of the libraries that I’ve been to tend to be in these cool buildings. Large buildings with unique architecture. I think that the East Shore Library is one of those for sure.

I can still picture what the library looks like in the town where I grew up — Westminster, Maryland. They had garden boxes everywhere and it was a place that I looked forward to going to a lot when I was younger.

As I grew older, I learned there’s this whole other aspect to the library: Research. That was something they taught us about when I was in high school, but I didn’t really appreciate it until I got to college and was attending Millersville University. We had a very big library there. It was a place where we spent a lot of time, and it became a place for getting work done. I would go there, almost like I would go to an office, to do research for school and for projects. I’d use databases, which many libraries offer for free. I don’t think most people realize how incredible that service is.

Now we’re in a digital age. And not enough people know that you can do more than check out books. You can check out DVDs. You can check out CDs. You can check out games. You can check out seeds, all sorts of stuff.

I think that as I got older, I started to realize that the library is a place for culture, entertainment, music, art, literature, and joy.

The Winter Reading Challenge is right around the corner! No, literally, it starts on Monday!

This year, at the Dauphin County Library, we’ll be doing an Olympics-themed challenge! In this point-based challenge, participants will log reading and reviews to earn “medals” (Beanstack badges) and a prize at the end!

Registration

All registrations will be through Beanstack, which carries us through this year’s Winter Reading Challenge. To register, all you have to do is go to dcls.org/wrc to find the Beanstack link. You can also register on the Beanstack Tracker app. Don’t have the app but would like it? Search for Beanstack Tracker in the App Store or Google Play Store to download. You can also use the Beanstack link on any desktop computer!

How to Participate

To earn points for this year’s challenge, you can log your minutes or books, as well as reviews, in the Beanstack app.  1 book = 5 points, 10 minutes of reading = 1 point, and 1 review = 5 points. Log your reading online using the username and password you chose. You’ve completed the challenge once you hit 100 points! 20 books or 10 books + 10 reviews = 100 points! Beanstack will notify you when you have prizes or have completed the challenge.

Remember – ALL READING COUNTS!

Prizes

Members can pick up their prize starting on February 1. Adults (and teens, if they prefer) will get the annual mug with hot cocoa or tea! Pre K and Kids (and teens if they want it) will be getting bubbles featuring our Winter Reading Challenge art!

Please note that there is no registration prize for the Winter Reading Challenge this year.

The Winter Reading Challenge is a great way to get you and your little ones reading this winter! Consider joining us in all the fun this season! Visit https://dcls.beanstack.org/reader365 to register!