I had to share this blog post from Family Matters With Amber by guest blogger Frank Zubek: Affordable Entertainment for Families. Frank writes about all of the great FREE things the library offers, including movies, books, audio books, computers, Internet access, programs, story hours, author visits, etc. etc. etc.

I'm already a big user and proponent of libraries, but Frank's post reminded me of the many reasons I have grown to love these incredible assets to our communities.

Read Frank's post Affordable Entertainment for Families.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Neat graphic I just came across shows metropolitan statistical area and library distribution across the U.S.:

Browse more Geography infographics.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Pittsburgh and Milwaukee have more riding on tonight's game than just the pride of their hometown teams.

From The Associated Press:

MILWAUKEE — The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Milwaukee Public Library are now getting in on the Super Bowl bets.
If the Green Bay Packers win on Sunday, the Carnegie staff will send an assortment of Pennsylvania cheeses and pierogies and Sarris chocolates along with a promise that the life-size cut-out of Andrew Carnegie or the state of library benefactor Julius Bernd will wear a Packers jersey.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers win, the Milwaukee library staff will send an assortment of Wisconsin cheeses, chocolates from Kehr’s Candies and a promise that the Benjamin Franklin statue at Central Library will wear a Steelers jersey.
The libraries are required to share a photo as proof the wager is satisfied.

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Gale, "a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses," is holding a contest to locate librarian superheroes, and the company wants to hear your nominations for a librarian who has been super for you and other patrons.

Are you or someone you know a librarian superhero? Gale wants to hear about it! Four librarians will be selected from your submissions and turned into cartoon superheros! Winners will be featured on a metal lunch box and unveiled at ALA in New Orleans!

How cool would it be to appear on a lunch box?!?!

You have until Feb. 28 to nominate your superhero librarian. Like the Facebook Page to nominate your librarian superhero. Be sure to let them know the who, where and why. Full rules are posted here.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Staff Writer Nick Carrabine wrote an article for Saturday's News-Herald about Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings, which rank libraries based on circulation, staffing, materials, reference service and funding levels per population. Perhaps unsurprisingly, five libraries from our area received recognition. Find out which of our libraries ranked highly here. (Hint: One of them has a levy on the May 4 ballot.)

Congratulations to the libraries for their outstanding work!


--Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com