See what's happening at East Central Regional Library

February
2017

Volume 7, Issue 2

E-Connect

Master degrees reflect commitment to East Central Regional Library communities

For many librarians, the work involved in providing great library service is never ending. They strive to improve literacy in their communities. They do what they can to broaden horizons to the outside world.

East Central Regional Library's Kirsten Vaughan and Carolyn Avaire are examples of the ambitious librarian, and their hard work in recently achieving their respective master's degrees shows their dedication. Kirsten is the branch librarian at Chisago Lakes Area Library in Chisago City. Carolyn serves in the same capacity at Mille Lacs Lake Community Library in Isle.


Kirsten Vaughan

Kirsten began her journey toward earning a Master of Science in Information and Library Science (MSLS degree) while working full-time in 2014. Accredited by the American Library Association, the program is offered only online at Clarion University and is the first of its kind in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

She specialized in children's services, taking courses such as children's and teen literature and integrated technology in libraries. She researched various leaders and leadership styles for another class. To become an effective leader, Kirsten learned, "you need a balance, a vision and the ability to set aside egos and work with others and play to people's talents."

The MSLS program also had Kirsten embark on an internship at Hardwood Creek Library in Forest Lake. She logged 140 hours and wrote a 19-page paper on the experience, which taught her how to incorporate STEM programming (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) into library curriculum. Ask her about Doodle Bots and Scratch sometime.

"You're teaching with the idea of applying skills in the real world," she explained. Kirsten graduated from Clarion's MSLS program in December 2016.


	Carolyn Avaire

Up in Mille Lacs, Carolyn felt she needed a masters degree to keep competitive in the library industry, yet the bigger picture is how it ultimately paid dividends in what she's been able to offer to patrons.

"The best way to advocate for libraries is to invest in the profession," she said. "I have a burning desire to know (learn)."

Carolyn was about to become the new branch librarian at Hinckley Public Library when she earned her Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS degree) from Philadelphia-based Drexel University in March 2015. As with Clarion, Drexel's College of Computing Informatics is one of the few accredited by the American Library Association.

Carolyn took courses in managing library collections, Web design and storytelling. "I loved it," she said. "There are so many ways to tell a story and engage your audience. We had to take video of ourselves telling a folk tale."

One interesting class for Carolyn dealt with the history of the book, in which she wrote a research paper on the Little Golden Books. The class provided a bigger overview of books and how they and libraries came into being. "The class affirmed there will always be books. They aren't going away," she said.

She said the online route in earning her masters was a good experience because of the various projects and diverse group of people she met. She bonded with fellow students and teachers nationwide and found value in learning how to communicate electronically.

While Carolyn finds great reward with her master's degree, she also gives credit to all the work experiences before her library career and the undergraduate degree she received from St. Cloud State University. "They all have come into play," she said.

Mille Lacs Lake Community Library and Chisago Lakes Area Library are two of the 14 branches that belong to the East Central Regional Library system. For more information about all of our branch libraries, services, programming and more, visit ecrlib.org.

New Kids and Teen websites provide

age-friendly digital library experiences

East Central Regional Library has expanded its services with new digital experiences just for kids and teens. The main digital collection, which can be accessed by the ECRL collection in the OverDrive app, or by visiting http:/ecrl.overdrive.com, now offers a way to provide safe and easy browsing for kids and teens.

The Kids collection filters the digital site to only show Children's content, and the Teen collection filters the digital s ite to only show Young Adult content. This filtering gets kids and teens to the titles they want faster! These appealing and user-friendly collections contain eBooks and eAudi obooks, including popular titles such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Kids and teens need a safe environment to browse the library. Just as children and teens have their own sections of the physical branch libraries, now they, too, have their own section of the ECRL Digital Library.

This new service, powered by OverDrive, is free for users with an ECRL library card and password. Digital titles are available anytime, anywhere and expire automatically, with no late fees.

Staff Recommendations:

Forever Words: The Unknown Poems by Johnny Cash

Most of us know Johnny Cash as an American icon and country music star, but who knew he also was a prolific writer who rarely threw things away? Discovered by John Carter Cash, this modest book contains previously unpublished poems and songs written by his father, including some reproductions in his own handwriting. Paul Muldoon, 2003 Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry, edited and introduces the work which is easy to read and gives an intimate look into the many-faceted life of "The Man in Black."

--Donna Larson is Branch Librarian of Rush City Public Library

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

This memoir is a funny, quick read that makes for a perfect audiobook listen. Narrated by the author, this audiobook proves that Anna Kendrick is one of the most relatable celebrities out there with her down-to-earth stories about how she broke into star business.

--Kirsten Vaughan is Branch Librarian of Chisago Lakes Area Library

Upcoming Legacy Programming

(Events funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund)

Check out the following events, and don't forget about all the other activities going on throughout ECRL. Simply check the Events Calendar on our website, ECRL Facebook page or follow us on Twitter@ecrlib.

Author Series continues at Chisago Lakes


	*Joel Karsten*

Chisago Lakes Area Library

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 6:30 pm, Joel Karsten

Tuesday, March 14, 6:30 pm, Erin Hart & Paddy
O'Brien

T he Chisago Author Series continues with Joel Karsten and his story behind Straw Bale Gardens Complete . The Series concludes with Erin Hart discussing The Book of Killowen , the fourth in an acclaimed suspense series, and Paddy O'Brien sharing his many adventures in The Road from Castlebarnagh: Growing Up in Irish Music, a Memoir .

Karsten appearance in Mora

Joel Karsten also will discuss Straw Bale Gardens Complete on Sunday, March 19, 3 pm, at Mora Public Library.

Folk dance with Norah Rendell and the Lost Forty

Saturday, March 4, 1:00 pm

Pine County Historical Society, Askov, MN

Music and dance enthusiasts will want to check out Norah Rendell and the Lost Forty, a trio known for its traditional Irish sounds. Inspired by Celtic traditions from Newfoundland to Minnesota, t he group features Live Ireland's "Best Irish Vocalist of 2011 and 2012," Canadian singer and flutist Norah Rendell, with multi-instrumentalists Brian Miller and Randy Gosa.

Stride's Duluth: A Brian Freeman Author Tour


*Brian Freeman*

Feb. 16, 6:30 pm, Mora Public Library

Feb. 18, 10:30 am, Hinckley Public Library

Feb. 21, 6:30 pm, North Branch Area Library

Feb. 23, 6:30 pm, Aitkin Public Library

Feb. 25, 10:30 am, Princeton Area Library

Feb. 27, 6:30 pm, Cambridge Public Library

Join Minnesota author Brian Freeman for his Stride's Duluth slideshow presentation, profiling real-life places in the Northland that have been featured in his thrillers. You'll never look at Duluth the same way again.

Libraries closed for President's Day

ECRL headquarters and the following branches will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, to observe President's Day:

-Aitkin Public Library

-Cambridge Public Library

-Chisago Lakes Area Library

-Mora Public Library

-North Branch Area Library

-Princeton Area Library

Closed on Tuesday, Feb. 21:

-Hinckley Public Library

-McGregor Public Library

-Milaca Community Library

-Mille Lacs Lake Community Library (Isle)

-Pine City Public Library

-Rush City Public Library

-Sandstone Public Library

-Wyoming Area Library

New ECRL

Overdrive Titles

(Search for these titles

in the Overdrive catalog )

Adult eBook Titles

* Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

* Dangerous Games by Danielle Steel

* Moonglow by Michael Chabon

* Hidden Figures by

Margo Lee Shetterly

* Fired Up by Mary Connealy

* Humans, Bow Down by James Patterson

* Texas Tall by Janet Dailey

* Wait for Dark by Kay Hooper

* Bone Box by Faye Kellerman

* Alaska Skies by Debbie Macomber

Adult eAudio Titles

*Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

*The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card

*Denial by Deborah E. Lipstadt

*Kill Shot by Vince Flynn

*Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

*The Blood Gospel by James Rollins

*Golden Prey by John Sandford

*Dangerous Minds by Janet Evanovich

*Perfect Little World by Kevin Wilson

* Broken Glass by
V.C. Andrews

February CDs

(Search for titles

i n the ECRL catalog)

TOP 40

*Remnants by Leann Rimes

*Prisoner by Ryan Adams

*Windy City by Alison Krauss

*Freedom Highway by Rhiannon Giddens

*Little Fictions by Elbow

COUNTRY

*Sing It Now by Reba McEntire

*Brett Young by Brett Young

*The Breaker by

Little Big Town

* Best of Old Crow Medicine Show by Old Crow Medicine Show

Forthcoming

Adult Fiction Books

(Search for these items

in the ECRL catalog)

*Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

*Dangerous Minds by Janet Evanovich

*Ominous by Lisa Jackson

*Beautiful Tempest by Johanna Lindsey

*Two Nights by Kathy Reichs

* Dr. Death by James Patterson

* The Broken Road by Richard Paul Evans

*The Duchess by Danielle Steel

*Beloved Hope by Tracie Peterson

*The Homestead by Linda Byler

New Adult

Non-Fiction Books

(Search for any of these titles in the ECRL catalog)

*Always a Bridesmaid (for Hire) by Jen Glantz

*The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen

*Amazing Stories of the Space Age by Rod Pyle

*The Daily Show (The Book) by Chris Smith

*George Lucas by Brian Jay Jones

*American Dreamer by Tommy Hilfiger

*If Our Bodies Could Talk by James Hamblin

*Relentless Spirit by Missy Franklin

*At the End of the World by Lawrence Millman

*You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden

Forthcoming

Books on CD

(Search for any of these

i n the ECRL catalog)

* After the End by James Patterson

* The American Spirit by David McCullough

* Beartown by Fredrik Backman

* The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion

* Burntown by Jennifer McMahon

* Celebration by Fern Michaels

* Cooking for Picasso by Camille Aubray

* Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton

*Echo of Danger by Marta Perry

*Old School by Bill O'Reilly

Welcome & Farewell

(Recent staff changes reported to the ECRL Board)

Welcome to staff members new to positions:

Margaret Keillor, Substitute Branch Assistant, Pine County.

For employment opportunities at East Central Regional Library, v isit our Jobs page.

ECRL's Mission

To strengthen communities by connecting people with resources, spaces, and educational experiences that enrich and empower their lives.

*East Central Regional Library is funded by the counties of Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine. ECRL also receives state and federal funds.