Exciting Events for Fall 2016!

Source:USDA

After a fantastic Summer of reading that saw more people than ever participate in GDL's Summer Reading Challenge, it's now time to look to Fall and the fantastic programs planned for our community. As always, the Grand Blanc-McFarlen branch and the GDL Business Center will be bustling with activity and I want to highlight some of the upcoming FREE opportunities.

Genesee/ Shiawassee/Thumb MichiganWorks! Career Counseling

Join us for another counseling / career services workshop with our local Michigan Works office right here in the Grand Blanc library.  Be sure to bring your resume and look your best as Michigan Works is actively seeking to fill open positions in our area. Also bring your resume and interviewing questions, as staff will be on hand to help you through the application and interview process and explain what is most important to potential employers. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Date: Thursday, September 29, 2016

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Arrive at 2 PM)

Registration available here via Genesee District Library calendar.

 

Fall Legal Series

 The Genesee County Bar Association's Speaker's Bureau has made available three practicing attorneys for our series coming in October and November. Focusing on Estate Planning & Trusts, Starting a Small Business, and Social Security, each session will include plentiful time for Q&A with the attorney after and during the presentation. These lawyers are here to help you navigate these complex issues, so please take advantage of this opportunity to gain insights from legal experts. each session will last approximately 1 hour. Register for each session by clicking on the topic(s) of your choice below.

Topic: Estate Planning & Trusts

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2016

Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Attorney: Sherri Frame, JD, LLM
Location: Grand Blanc-McFarlen Branch (515 Perry Rd.)

Topic: Starting a Small Business
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016
Time: 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM
Attorney: James Trembley, JD
Location: Grand Blanc-McFarlen Branch

Topic: Social Security
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Attorney: Brian Barkey, JD
Location: Grand Blanc-McFarlen Branch

Genealogy 101 Classes

I will again be offering Genealogy 101 this Fall here at the Grand Blanc branch, once each in October and November. This is an introductory class and every resource discussed is freely available. This class is a lot of fun and whether you're new to genealogy or been working your lineage for years, you'll enjoy this discussion-based workshop exploring genealogical resources. To register for either class (they are the same) click on the desired date below. Wifi will be available should you wish to explore the resources during the session, but bringing a PC or tablet is not required.

Genealogy 101:

Session A: Thursday, October 6, 2016: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Session B: Saturday, November 5, 2016: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

We hope to see you this Fall and, as always, please call us with questions about these or any other programs at Genesee District Library branches!

Recent Library Updates

Paint, plus a new digital scanner!

Main Reading Room

We continue to improve the Grand Blanc branch as Summer progresses, the latest changes being the newly painted reading room and the installation of a new Library Document Scanner (LDS). 

Words of inspiration will be added to the blue stripe along the wall, in large while letters in fun fonts, which will create a more welcoming, cozy place to read and study. 

New Scanner near PC Lab

 For the last 2 years or so the Grand Blanc branch had a portable digital scanner which was complicated and not easily understood by library staff or the community. It worked, but it wasn't ideal. When we decided what improvements would be made using the generous gift by Dr. and Mrs. Claffey, an easy to use, self-serve scanner was on the list to modernize our services. It is already saving time and money for our patrons. In the middle of typing this post I helped a patron send her scanned document via email and saved her the cost of faxing!

So what can this scanner do? After scanning your document, you have the choice of emailing it to yourself or others or saving it to a USB/Flash drive (you can see the USB drive between the screen and scanner above). Previously you had to scan one page at a time, which was time-consuming, but this new machine has a top-feeder which allows you to scan many pages at once at the touch of a button. 

Documents or photos can be saved as PDF, JPEG, or TIF files, and the color and quality can also be adjusted. In addition, the scanner also acts as a back-up printer if the main Xerox machine is in use. Copies at this machine are also 10 cents. 

The last benefit is the ability to convert a document into Microsoft Word (.doc) format. We see many people who have a printed copy of their resume, but don't have a corresponding electronic copy. Previously this meant they have to retype the resume from scratch if they wanted to make changes, but  this this scanner will make that unnecessary. Stop by to check it out!

Printer and scanning bed for LDS machine

Children's Room Completed!

The Children's Room and Our Next Steps

 

We're very pleased that the Children's Room addition to McFarlen Library has been completed, and is already being enjoyed by local families! If you've not visited lately, please stop by and check it out!

 

New Early Literacy Stations (Upper L) and new shelf caps (R)

The addition contains "Easy Readers" and new games and activities

Another view of building addition

Now that the Children's Room is completed, our focus has shifted to both the Teen Room and sitting area near the newspapers and magazines. Just this week library staff came together and reviewed furniture options for each of these spaces. Also in progress is a vast collection of modern signage which will appear in all areas of the library. It will help people new to our building efficiently locate exactly what they need. As always, stay tuned for future updates!

 



Construction Update #7

Children's Room Progress!

 

On Monday and Tuesday of this week the carpeting was installed in our children's room! The funding for this carpet was generously donated by the Grand Blanc Community Fund, part of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. We are tremendously grateful for this gift!

 

Almost done! 3/23/15



With the carpet laid, the design team can move forward with the interior remodel of both the children and teen spaces. The children's shelving units you see above will be lowered for ease of access and provide an unobstructed view across the room. We are also gaining children's computer stations and additional seating space for our growing community. Keep checking back for more updates!

 

Carpet installed!



Construction Update #6

Construction Continues...slowly

It's been quite a while since we last updated you on the progress of our renovation. There have been some issues that have arisen which have slowed us down, mainly in the Children's area, which are preventing the carpet from being laid. Because some shelving from the Children's room will be used in the new Teen space, the Teen renovations have also been paused. 

Hopefully the carpet will be laid soon and the renovations will be completed by the end of March. We appreciate your continued patience as we expand and improve your library!

Construction Update #5

Interior Renovation Continues

 

It's been a while since we last posted about the ongoing renovations here at the library. If you've been in lately, you're well aware that we're not finished yet, but there has been considerable progress. Check out the photos below!

 

 

You'll notice our new, larger computer lab which consists of new chairs, tables, and wider monitors. With the tall book cases gone the hall is not only more spacious, but much brighter! We are also adding 4 computers which will arrive soon. The counter along the wall in the second photo will house the printer and new, user-friendly, scanning station.

 

 

Old Computer Lab





The old computer lab has already been cleared and will become space for our teen fiction collection. The closet has also been emptied and will become the staging area used by our shelvers to sort items before they are shelved.

 

New Sitting Area



Years ago the area above was a sitting area and since the teen material will be moved, this again will be used to house our newspapers and other magazines. Staff and patrons enjoy the large picture window we have looking toward Perry Road and now it can be enjoyed more fully while you read.

 

 

Main Reading Room



The main reading room has also seen some changes which we think you'll enjoy. First, our large paperback collection has been moved to regular upright shelving, so you'll no longer need to spin the racks to locate a specific book. The collection remains in order by genre. With all of these standing spinning racks gone, we were able to increase the seating in this room by 10 or more by using the two tables which had been in the hall.

 

The fiction book shelves were also altered and you'll notice that there are more of them. The reference collection, as well as the paperbacks were moved to this area. The study booths from the hall can also be found in this room and will be electrified soon to provide outlets for laptops and other devices.

 

The new children's addition is also progressing nicely, but with the false wall between us and the new area, a photo isn't possible at this time. The construction part of the children's addition will continue for several weeks, after which the interior crew will take over.

 

Stay warm!



Construction Update #4 - Interior Work Begins

Interior Renovations Begin!

While the exterior work continues, the big change this week at the library is the start of our planned interior improvements. During the next couple weeks you'll notice additional noise as the crew reconfigures shelving and shifts material around the building. Our priority is to provide uninterrupted service during this time of transition, so the library will remain fully open.

 

Here's a summary of what you'll notice this week:

 

1. All public computers will be moved into the hall leading toward the business center, taking the place of our audio book collection. Audio books have been relocated to the START of the non-fiction section. The audio books will remain here going forward. We will also receive an additional 4 computers to reduce the time you wait for a terminal during peak hours for a total of 21 in the branch.

 

Workers assembling the new computer desks



2. The reference collection and paperbacks in rotating racks that currently occupy a large area in the large reading room will be moved to upright shelving alongside the fiction. You'll notice that the shelving in the hall was removed; this will be repurposed in the reading room to hold the paperbacks and reference collection. The existing fiction shelving will also be shortened to create additional floor space. With the rotating paperback racks and short reference shelves removed, this will create better flow in the room. The low shelves in the foreground and the spinning wood racks on the right of the below picture will be removed.

 

Constructing shelves for reference and paperbacks



3. Our large collection of movies and television series will be moved to the reading room. Every DVD will now be placed on a shelf which will make locating exactly what you're looking for that much easier. The current location of our DVD collection, in front of the large picture window, will become a sitting area to browse our print magazine collection.

 

DVDs and magazines will swap locations



4. The Children's Room now contains a temporary wall to shield patrons from the work going on to connect the new children's addition and the existing building. So, this room is a little tight for the time being, but be assured it will be much larger once the construction is complete!

 

Temporary wall in Children's Room



5. The community room storage addition has been roofed, and you can get a sneak peak of the interior below. The community room itself is packed with materials, including the new chairs which will accompany the new computer lab.

 

New chairs and construction equipment

Inside the new storage area! Still being completed.



 

Check back soon for additional updates! We're very excited!

 

 

 



Construction Update #3

Work is progressing nicely on our north community room addition.

6 November 2014

 

Laying brick on 5 November

 

Completed interior wall along ramp

 

The scaffolding is jacked high today!

Laying brick on 5 November

 



Construction Update #2

29 October 2014

The work continues after yesterday's rain.   

Foundation Built

Foundation Sealed

Floor Filled and Foundation Buried

Children's Room addition facing Perry Rd.

Pardon Our Mess...

Fall is Construction Season

October 20 Update

If you've been to the library in the past few days you know that the construction has begun for our two new building additions, both made possible by Dr. & Mrs. Claffey! One addition will expand Community Room, the other will create new space for our lively Children's Room. The business blog will document the changes and post photos as the construction progresses. This expansion project is going to greatly benefit the library and our community. During this period, which will continue into January, the circle drive on the West side of the building won't be accessible, but the large lot in the back won't be affected.

In addition to the building expansion, the interior of McFarlen Library will also be transformed in the coming months. Our teens will gain a dedicated room and existing library space will be organized to maximize existing square footage. Look for these changes to begin sometime in November. 

20 October 2014 - Preparing for the foundation, Community Room expansion

20 October, view of the Community Room exterior wall

Outlining the Children's Room addition, facing Perry Rd.

Another view of the Children's Room extension