New Library Database

The Pohnpei Public received a grant from Aus Aid Small Scheme Grant for technology upgrade. The grant purchased the Destiny Library Manager and 4 computers with 4 back-up batteries. The Library Destiny Manager is set up as a web browser database (destiny.) that is connected via our Wi-Fi router.  Therefore, all patrons can access it when they are connected to our wireless network at the PPL.  Moreover, all our computers can access the database through our ADSL internet connection. 

This project has provided the students and patrons with technologically advanced skills to better prepare them for the modern world.  Instead of browsing through the card catalogue, the database has made searching more economical and efficient. Users can simply type in their search terms into the title, author or subject and it will immediately display a list of the resources and their locations. Patrons can go directly from the database to the web browser and log into the internet to search for library-related materials that are not available in the PPL database. 
Furthermore, the Destiny Manager has increased staff efficiency with regards to cataloguing all incoming books.

PPL is constantly receiving donated books, so there is much need to input the information so that books can immediately be shelved for the patrons.   Destiny allows the user to download book-related material quickly from Marc Record, a book database with all cataloguing information, and input it directly into the Library Destiny Manager.  Moreover, we are able to complete the cataloguing from not only the one computer, but from all computers that are connected to the Wi-Fi.  Therefore, more people, including volunteers, have acquired the cataloguing skills and increased the number of books available to the public. 

The Library Destiny Manager had not only been beneficial for our patrons but also for the PPL staff and volunteers.  
 With regards to book check-out, interlibrary loan, and patron information, Destiny Manager is a user-friendly system that has revolutionized the Circulation Desk at PPL.  Library staff can easily locate patrons, print reports on overdue items, and calculate fines for the patrons.  More importantly, we can now create statistical reports on collections to determine books that may need to be sorted from our collection or books that are popular among our patrons.

Dream Big Carnival @ the Library - June 2nd!

The Pohnpei Public Library is kicking off its summer programs with a fun-filled carnival on June 2, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm! Tickets are just 25 cents each (each game takes 1-4 tickets). We hope to see you all there!

Volunteers Needed!

The Pohnpei Public Library has many fun and educational programs planned as a part of this year's Summer Library Program! We are looking for volunteers serve as guest readers, help students log reading hours for prizes, and assist with other activities. We are also looking for people to teach a salsa class, lead a workshop on writing romance novels, lead a workshop on writing memoirs, and teach a relaxation techniques class. If any of these activities sound like something you might be interested in, please contact the Pohnpei Public Library let us know the date and activity you would like to help with.

IMPORTANT DATES

 

Mon., June 11, 2012, 3:30pm

Volunteer Training

Mon., June 11 - August 1, 2012

Summer Library Program

As always, we thank you for your continued support, which makes programs like this possible!

Ponytails in May!

This May we are reading books by Robert Munsch. We've been enjoying Munsch's unique sense of humor in Thomas's Snowsuit, I Love You Forever, Get Out of Bed, and Stephanie's Ponytail. After reading about Stephanie, who wore a ponytail to be unique until everyone at school copied her, we also copied Stephanie and created some of her ponytails . . . with finger paint!

Finger painting is always a fun activity and last Thursday was no exception. Check out our finger-paint masterpieces.

 "A nice ponytail coming out the back of her head"

" A ponytail right above her ear"

"A ponytail coming out the top of her head like a tree"

"A ponytail above her nose"

IREI Micronesian Puzzlebook Launch Event - May 19th, 2012!

With funding from the Australian Embassy of Pohnpei, the Island Research & Education Initiative (IREI) has produced Maps of Micronesia puzzlebooks for the children of Pohnpei. Each amazing hardcover book contains seven beautifully illustrated jigsaw puzzle maps, covering all of the island groups in the Federated States of Micronesia and are designed to help Micronesian children learn about the islands that make up their nation, develop spatial associations, and understand how maps can be practically utilized.

On May 19th, 2012, from 9am to 12pm, Pohnpei Public Library will be hosting the launch event for these books. EVERYONE is invited! EVERY family with children in attendance will receive a FREE puzzlebook! Don't miss this!! Come get your very own Maps of Micronesia Book of Puzzles!

Library Week 2012

This year Pohnpei Public Library celebrated its 24th Anniversary with a “Library Week,” from April 9 to 13. The theme for this year’s celebration was “DREAM BIG.”

Two Schools visited the Library to participate in the events on Thursday and Friday. 4^th graders from Lukop and Sapwalap Elementary Schools had the opportunity to come to the library for a tour and story.  Fourth graders heard stories from guest readers Tania Sufficool and Laurie Eastup.

On Friday evening, the library held a special celebration to commemorate the anniversary and to recognize essay and art contest winners. The program began with an invocation from Senator Ishmael Lebehn.  He also went on and welcomed everyone to the ceremony. This year we were fortunate to have two keynote speakers. The first Keynote was Dr. Rufino Mauricio, he talked about the theme and asked the students to share their ideas about their big dreams. One of the students responded by saying that she dreams that there will be world peace. The second speaker was Professor Susan Moses and she shared a story with the audience entitled “The Little Red Hen." Moses also talked to the students about how important it is to read in order to achieve our dreams. 

The program ended with the presentations of awards to the students who were selected as winners for the art and essay contest.

Art winners were Milan Preston Porter, CCA, Kindergarten; Rhea Mae Buensalido, CCA, 1^st grade;  Vernica David, Ohmine School, 2^nd grade; James Olmos, Kolonia School, 3^rd grade; Morena David, ESDM, 4^th grade; Sheffy Ezekias, CCA, 5^th grade; Jance Henry, Palikir School, 6^th grade; John John, ESDM, 7^th grade; Destiny Etse, SDA, 8^th grade; Nate Anson, NMHS, 9^th grade; RoxeAnne Fredrick, NMHS, 11^th grade; and Brittney Itimai, 12^th grade, SDA.

Essay winners were Jenna Helieisar, PCS, 2^nd grade; Roseleen Iohp, Kolonia School, 4^th grade; Sidney Nanpei, Ohmine School, 5^th grade; Hersiann Ligohr, Nett School, 6^th grade; Natalia Lohn, Ohmine School, 7^th grade; Sonsha Padock, CCA, 8^th grade; Avriel M. Merencillo, CCA, 9^th grade; Ellisa Marie Hadley, CCA, 10^th grade; Siorine Pahmer, MHS, 11^th grade; and Kevin Jr. Kiyoshi Ihara, CCA, 12^th grade.

Pohnpei Public Library wants to express its gratitude to the following individuals, businesses and organizations for their contributions and support that made this Library Week successful.

Businesses include Ace Hardware, Ace Office Supplies, Amcres, Blue Nile, China Star Restaurant, Dollar-Up Enterprises, Happy Mart, Micro PC.fm, Palm Terrace, Panuelo Enterprises, Pitt Stop, Pohnpei Clean Living, Pohnpei Computer Consulting, Scooby’s and XIX Store.

Organization and Individual Volunteers and Contributors include Dr. Rufino Mauricio, Ms. Susan Moses, Carol Hayes, Cori Jo Jahnsen, Janelle Santos, Kenneth Girrard, Laurie Eastup, Lori Wohlgemuth, Tania Sufficool, Janet Panuelo and the College of Micronesia-Pohnpei Campus.

Friends of the Pohnpei Public Library would also like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their contributions to the Adopt-a-Magazine Program and to the Library's wish lists on Amazon.com: Aaron Nighswander, Alex Zuccarelli, Alison Stenger, Emanuele Taibi, Ira Shiflett, Amy Prahar, Marstella Jack, Michael Benjamin, Lynn & Terry Hoot, Yvonne Neth, Lara Studzinski, John P. Ranahan, Jean Ranahan, Adam Thompson, Anthony & Cheri Zuccarelli, Diane Isherwood, Janet Isherwood, Elaine Isherwood, Richard MacNeace, Chris Hilbert, Dreamworlds Beyond Time, and Eugene Joseph.

First Oral History Hour Tuesday April 17th, 2012!

On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at 3:30 pm the Library will be hosting its first Oral History Hour. This new program, developed in partnership with FSM archaeologist Adam Thompson and the Pohnpei Office of Historic Preservation, will feature traditional tales from Pohnpei's mythical past told by guest story-tellers. Geared toward a young audience, our hope is that the Oral History Hour program will help educate young Micronesians about their culture and history, instill a sense of pride, and motivate further exploration of the traditional culture and the art of story-telling.

2012 Adopt-a-Magazine Program Concludes with Great Success!

The first season of Pohnpei Public Library's Adopt-a-Magazine Program was hugely successful, thanks to our generous patrons! Thirty-four magazine subscriptions were adopted!! Issues from some of the earliest adoptions have already arrived, but the rest will be appearing over the next couple of months. By summer, our magazine rack will be packed! Below is a list of magazines that have been ordered for 2012.

Magazines for Kids
Ranger Rick
Ladybug
Highlights
Muse
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Little Kids

Magazines for Adults
Time
Newsweek
Discover
Popular Science
Popular Mechanics
Scientific American
The Smithsonian
National Geographic
Nat Geo Traveler
Budget Travel
The New Yorker
Rolling Stone
Sports Illustrated
Surfer
Scuba Diving
Seafaring Magazine
Outside
National Wildlife
Conservation
Natural History
Bon Appetit
Dwell
American Photo
Parenting
Reader's Digest
Harper's Bazaar
Vanity Fair
Esquire

"Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a library card!"

These words were said over and over on Saturday, as 64 GEAR UP students were part of the first of five groups to complete an orientation that earned them a library card.

Students received a tour of the library and participated in a scavenger hunt as well as an activity that was aimed at helping students find books to read at the proper reading level. After students completed both activities they were given a library card free of charge.

The library is one of GEAR UP's partners and as such has pledged to give a set amount of goods and/or time each year of the GEAR UP program.
By the end of April it is the hoped that all GEAR UP students will have completed the orientation and will be visiting the library and using their cards on their own time.

March 2012 is all about Dr. Seuss!

Would you read them in a box? Would you read them with a fox? During the month of March, story hour is all about Dr. Seuss! March 2nd was Dr. Seuss's birthday and all over the world people celebrated by taking time out from school to read his books. He has made reading fun for so many children over the years.

Pohnpei Public Library decided to honor Dr. Seuss by reading a few of his books this month. It was a daunting task to make our selections, as Dr. Seuss wrote 44 books, but we narrowed it down to ten for the month. Join us every Thursday at 3:30 to find out which ones we chose.

You can visit Seussville for more information about Dr. Seuss and activities you can do with your family.

International Organization of Migration (IOM) Teaches Children About Distaster Preparedness

Today at Story Hour, Yolanda from IOM made her second guest appearance. We sang our disaster preparedness song, read a comic book about what would happen if a tsunami hit Pohnpei and how people should respond, had a question and answer session, and painted some tsunami pictures as a craft activity. It was a great, educational day!

Our Catalogue

Pohnpei Public Library is currently using the Destiny Library Manager. Our OPAC is available at the Circulation Desk for patrons to search for our collection. It's not available online yet but can be viewed on our computers connected to the ADSL line and our wifi.