BIG Book Sale

The Friends of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library fall book-sale returns to the Sudan Shrine Center at the corner of Broad Street and East Front Street beginning Friday, October 16th.
Sale hours are Friday and Saturday, October 16th and 17th from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, October 18th from 2 PM to 5 PM.
The selection of materials, which includes hard cover and paperback books for adults and children, records and videos, fills more than twenty tables.
The library accepts donations of books and other materials in good to excellent condition during our hours of operation. At our discretion, donated items may be added to the library collection, offered to the Friends of the Library or discarded. Unused gifts cannot be returned to the donor. We are unable to accept textbooks, magazines, condensed books, or items that are soiled, torn, moldy or damp.
Proceeds from previous book-sales have funded children’s and adult programs including the annual Dickens program and the summer reading program. The Friends have also purchased books and equipment including encyclopedias, computers, preservation supplies and an electronic keyboard.
Membership applications for the Friends of the Library are available at the library’s main desk.

Civil War Movie Series

The library is sponsoring a series of Civil War themed movies this fall prior to hosting the national traveling exhibit "Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation."
All movies begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoons in the library auditorium. Admission is free.
The schedule includes:


September 20 – Ride with the Devil explores the lives of four Southern guerilla fighters on the Missouri-Kansas border.

October 4 – Shenandoah This classic film stars Jimmy Stewart as a Virginia farmer who tries to remain neutral and not get involved in the conflict. He is forced to take action when his youngest son is taken prisoner by the Union army. 138 minutes

October 18 - The Great Locomotive Chase A Union spy leads a group of raiders into Southern territory to steal a train in an attempt to destroy the railroad system. 105 minutes

November 1 – Glory Critics and historians have high praise for this movie that tells the story of the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an all black unit comprised of Northern freemen and escaped slaves. 122 minutes

Using Online Library Research Tools Just Got Easier

Students, community members, and library users who once thought Google was the only easy answer to all their online research needs will now find it easier to make use of the library’s online research tools.

As part of a pilot program, the Craven-Pamlico-Cartert Regional Library (including the New Bern-Craven County Public Library) has partnered with NC LIVE, a collaborative for North Carolina’s nearly 200 libraries, to make searching online library databases easier by allowing users to login with only their library card number. This service will start AUGUST 7.

In the past, users were required to visit the library to acquire the NC LIVE password. Now, library customers can login using information they likely already have in their wallets or on their keychains.

CPC Regional Library has always offered free access to online research databases provided by NC LIVE. Long touted the sources for reliable information, online library databases give access to information not available freely on the Web. But the ease of using Internet search engines, such as Google, has caused many library customers to settle for an easier option. Library staff at the CPC Regional Library hope the switch to an easier system will encourage more library patrons to use the service.

Library Director, Jackie Beach, wants people to take advantage of the many online resources the library has to offer. “The online databases we provide through NC LIVE range in topics from career planning, literature, and genealogy, to health and medical resources, to business and investing. Our customers can even access e-books, online videos, magazines, and newspapers by using online library resources. The information in these databases is not out there on the Web for free, but our library customers have free access through our library’s website. Whether you’re starting your own business or you’re doing a homework assignment for class, NC LIVE library databases have something valuable to offer.”

To access NC LIVE online research tools, go to the library’s website (http://newbern.cpclib.org), or visit www.nclive.org and choose Craven-Pamlico-Carteret Regional, then enter your library card number. These resources can be used whether you are in the library or at home with an Internet connection.

Online Catalog Working Again!

Around lunch time today (June 25), the online catalog started working again.

The catalog had been out of service since mid-February due to problems with the Regional Server.

All functions, including reserves, appear to be operational. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Summer Reading Programs Begin

The Summer Reading Programs have begun and will continue through July.
Master the Art of Reading, the Adult Program, began June 15 and will run through July 31.
Express Yourself @ Your Library, the Young Adult program, also began June 15 and will run through July 20, when Time Logs will need to be turned in.
Be Creative @ Your Library, the Children's Summer Reading Program, begins registration on June 22, with the program running June 29 through July 31.
For more information information see the library's website at http://newbern.cpclib.org/nbccpl/srp2009.htm.

The 2nd New Bern Literary Symposium will be held Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May16, 2009 in Historic Downtown New Bern.
Workshops include "Writing Your Memoir" "Developing Your Characters" and "How to Publish Your Book Now!"


Friday, May 15 - Noon - "The Whys and Hows of Research" by Ila Gray White followed by a Library Tour led by John B. Green III - Conference Room

Saturday, May 16 - 10-11:30 AM PANEL DISCUSSION

What We Wrote, Why We Wrote It, and How We Became Authors with authors: P.T. Deutermann, P.M. Terrell, and Mirian Herin - Library Auditorium

Copies of the authors books will be available for purchase

Registration forms and a complete schedule are available at the library, Next Chapter Book Store or online at http://www.cravenarts.org/

Server Update, April 2009

The CPC Regional Library System suffered a major technological setback on February 14, when the main automation server crashed. All of the information that is necessary for the automated circulation system to function properly is stored on this server and the crash made this information inaccessible to the staff and public. This information includes borrowers information, circulation records and on-line public access catalog functions,i.e., searching, remote access, reserves.

CPC administrative staff had recently received a proposal for the replacement of the 10-year-old server in the amount of $65,000--an amount that is daunting, to say the least, in light of the current economic crunch we all find ourselves in. Unlike other governmental agencies, libraries do not have large contingency funds. With the help of the automation vendor working with the regional technology coordinator, the check-in/check-out function has been restored. Unfortunately at this time, the server does not have the capacity to handle the more complex functions such as the on-line catalog and the reserve book function. Consultation with other sources for a "band-aid" fix are on-going. The budget requests for fiscal year 2009-2010 include monies for the replacement of the server. Please be assured that the library staff and administration want this problem resolved as much as our users do. In the meantime, staff can help you locate materials on staff computers, and you can rediscover the joys of browsing--you might just find that best seller you've been wanting waiting for you on the new book shelf!

We thank you for your patience and understanding and, of course, donations will be accepted and appreciated!

Jackie Beach, Director

CPC Regional Library

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale will be held at the Sudan Shrine Center beginning at 9 AM on Friday, April 17, 2009. Sale hours are 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 and 2 PM to 5 PM on Sunday, April 19.
The Sudan Shrine Center is located at the corner of Broad Street and East Front Street.
Hardcover and paperback books for children and adults will be available as well as books on cassette tape. Proceeds from the sale benefit the library.

AUTHORS READ

Book Lovers of all ages are invited to AUTHORS READ at 2:30 PM on Saturday, April 4th in the Library Auditorium. The event is sponsored by the Library and the New Bern Literary Symposium.

Six authors from Eastern North Carolina will give a 10-15 minute reading of their most recent books. Authors will answer questions and sell autographed copies of their work. Listeners will enjoy selections that include: poetry, mystery and suspense novels, biography and motivational titles.

Participating authors are: Phil Bowie, Richard Folsom, Tom H. Forbes, S.I. Horvath, Nancy King, and Diane Wolfe.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Call 638-7800 for more information.
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Welcome to the blog of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library. We hope to use this site to inform you of upcoming events, programs, and library news. Stay tuned for updates!