Tag Archives: Did you know?

Did you know we have computers on site to help you search our collections?

Posted on December 5, 2017 | Leave a comment

Our librarians are always happy to help you find any materials in our library system, but did you know that we also have computers on site to help you search and browse our catalog?

Chatham Community Library has nine computers placed strategically throughout the stacks to help you find the materials you’re looking for, and to suggest titles you may not have considered.

Our catalog computers can tell you not only whether our libraries carry a title, they can tell you which branch carries the title, and whether it is currently available to check out.

To find out whether our library system has the title you want, simply type the title into the search field labeled “Quick library search” and hit “Enter” on the keyboard.

The catalog will display all the materials that match that description, be they physical materials or downloadable titles. If you see the item you’re looking for in the search results, click the “Where is it?” button to see which branch has it, whether the item is available, and the item’s call number.

As always, ask a friendly librarian if you need assistance!

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Did you know the Friends of the Library have managed the Library Book Sale for TWENTY YEARS?

Posted on September 13, 2017 | Leave a comment

WOW! Did you know this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Friends of the Library book sale? This dedicated group of volunteers puts together two fantastic book sales each year, with proceeds benefiting library resources and services. The next book sale is slated for October 5th through 7th. Kudos to the Friends, and thanks for all you do!

Stop by our lobby display to see more photos of the Friends book sales over the years.

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Did you know Chatham Community Library offers monthly Drop-In Computer Assistance?

Posted on June 6, 2017 | Leave a comment

There is usually a librarian at our reference desk at the ready to answer your questions, but did you know that once a month reference librarians at Chatham Community Library are also available to help you with laptops, e-readers, and other tablet devices?

If you need a refresher on how to borrow and return eBooks via OverDrive, or help setting up email on your laptop or tablet, visit us on the second Wednesday of every month between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.  (No appointment necessary.)  A reference librarian will meet with you in our computer lab for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.  Whatever your question, we’ll do our best to answer it and resolve your issue. If we can’t do it in the time allotted, we can set up a follow-up appointment for you.

Check our online calendar of events to find our next drop-in session. See you there?

 

 

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Did you know our website has an online resources page?

Posted on April 4, 2017 | Leave a comment

Nowadays most people understand that the modern library offers much more than books to answer their questions; libraries now often offer access to online resources that would be too expensive for most patrons to subscribe to themselves. But did you know that the Chatham County Library System has gathered our most popular online resources onto one easy-to-read webpage?

Chatham County Public Libraries have over a hundred online resources available for patrons, but a webpage listing them all would be practically unreadable. Instead, we’ve created a webpage listing the categories our patrons use the most (“Business & Investing”, “Computer Skills”, “eBooks”, “Genealogy”, “Health”, “Journal Articles”, “Language Learning”,“Reader Tools”, and “Video”), and we’ve identified our most popular online resources in those categories.

For example, if you want to learn a second (or third) language, you’ll find Pronunciator under the “Language Learning” banner on our Online Resources page. If you want to borrow any virtual materials, “Ebook, E-Audiobooks & Magazines” lists four different resources (eBooks on NC LIVE, e-iNC Library, OneClickDigital, and Zinio) to cover the multiple formats offered by different resources. If you are up for a deep dive, our Online Resources page also provides a link to NC LIVE’s homepage (nclive.org), which offers over one hundred online resources.

To access the Online Resources page on the Chatham County Public Libraries website, point your browser to www.chathamlibraries.org, then look for “Online Resources” in the menu on the left side of the page. Have your library card at the ready; you will probably need it to access some of the resources.

As always, click the “Ask a Librarian” widget if you need help!

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Did you know you can schedule one-on-one appointments with our reference librarians?

Posted on February 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

pinYou’ve probably seen our reference librarians at the reference desk, ready to help patrons who walk up or call with questions. But did you know that you can schedule one-on-one appointments with our reference librarians for up to thirty minutes?

There are many reasons to book some uninterrupted time with a reference librarian. Maybe you just got a tablet for Christmas and want to learn to borrow eBooks or eAudiobooks from the library. Maybe you would like to better understand how to research a topic using the library’s databases. Or perhaps you’d like to learn more about one of the library’s many online resources such as Pronunciator or NoveList Plus.

Whatever the question, give us a call at 919-545-8086 or email us. Let us know when you can visit and what you want to discuss. If it is something we think we can help with, we’ll set up a time to meet.

Remember that you can also chat with a reference librarian online from any page of our website!  Just look for the orange “Ask a Librarian” tab in the lower right corner of the page.

Talk to you soon!

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Did you know your child or grandchild can read their favorite book to Scout?

Posted on December 6, 2016 | Leave a comment

therapy-dog-scout

Did you know that once every other week, a friendly dachshund named Scout visits Chatham Community Library? It’s a fact.

Scout, a licensed therapy dog, is the library’s ambassador for the “All Ears” Reading Program. Scout arrives at the library every other Wednesday at 4:00 PM, ready to hear some stories. Each child (eligible ages are six to twelve years old) gets fifteen minutes of exclusive time with Scout to read him their favorite book. Scout’s handler is on hand if children have questions about their book (or about Scout).

Scout loves it, and so do the kids. In the first year of the “All Ears” Program (2013), over one hundred kids read to Scout, and 24 of them came back to do it again. Studies indicate that kids who might be disinclined to read are encouraged by “All Ears” service dogs’ calm, nonjudgmental companionship at the library. This can encourage reading outside the library, which can in turn raise their reading level and increase their test scores, confidence and self-esteem.

If you’d like for your child or grandchild to read to Scout, just call Children’s Services here at Chatham Community Library (919-545-8085) to register and schedule an appointment. Scout will see and hear you soon!

 

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Did you know we can borrow materials from other libraries for you?

Posted on October 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

ill

Did you know that, if we don’t have something you’re looking for at one of our branches, we can access a network of libraries across the country to find it for you?

It’s true! As you may know, we can transfer items from one Chatham County branch to another for patrons’ convenience, but we can also ask libraries outside of our system for material via Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

It’s important to note that ILLs differ from regular hold requests in the following ways:

  • We ask for three dollars (on receipt of the item) to cover postage to return the item to the lending library.
  • ILLs typically arrive around ten days from the date they are requested, but they can arrive far later (or sooner) than that.  If you need an item right away (say, for a book club), ILL may not be the right option for you.
  • You will need to present your own library card to check out an interlibrary loan.
  • We can’t use the ILL system to borrow items that were published within the last six months.
  • The lending library sets the borrowing period, which can range from a couple of weeks to a few months.  If you need to request a renewal, please do so at least three days before the item is due. That gives the lending library time to process (and to grant or deny) the renewal.
  • There is no grace period for ILL due dates. They are due on the day indicated on the material’s attached slip, and late fees (25 cents per day) begin immediately.
  • We ask that you return ILLs in person at the front desk to avoid damage to other libraries’ materials.

If you are interested in pursuing an ILL at one of our branches, stop by our reference desk and we’ll get you started.

See you soon!

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Did you know you can check out back issues of magazines?

Posted on August 2, 2016 | Leave a comment

You may know that the Chatham Community Library has the latest issues of many popular magazines, but did you know that we also keep back issues? And did you know that most of those back issues are available to check out?

The most current issue of most magazines we keep (with some exceptions, like Consumer Reports) are displayed in binders on the rack behind the “second fireplace” on the north side of the library. What some folks don’t know is that the display shelves tilt up to reveal back issues of those same magazines going back as far as a year.

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We want everyone to have an equal crack at the most current issues of the library’s magazines, so they don’t leave the building. However, when issues are no longer current they move to the “secret panel” and are available for checkout (again, with the exception of Consumer Reports, which we guard like platinum nuggets — ask for these at the reference desk).

Come have a sit in our comfy chairs to peruse the latest editions of National Geographic or Good Housekeeping, and take as many as twenty-five back issues home to read in the comfort of your own living room!

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Did you know we have a community puzzle?

Posted on November 24, 2015 | Leave a comment

IMG_4009Did you know that the library has a community puzzle for patrons to work on?

It’s a nice way to relax or just while away a few minutes as you wait for your loved ones in the library.  Look for the puzzle in the Young Adult section, on a table near the windows.  (Please note that the puzzle is intended for our adult and young adult patrons, not for children.)

We have a group of three dedicated puzzlers who work on the puzzle for 30 minutes to an hour at a time.  Others just stop for a few minutes as they’re passing by.  When a puzzle is completed, it stays on the table for three days so that everyone who worked on it can see the finished product.  If a puzzle is particularly impressive, we may keep it and use it again, but most of our completed puzzles are donated to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The community puzzle was started in 2012 by a donation from a library staff member, and all of our puzzles have since been donated by patrons.  If you have a puzzle you’d like to donate, please contact Susan (545-8084), or simply bring the puzzle to the front desk.

We also have a chess board next to the fireplace closest to the reference desk.  Stop by for a game the next time you’re in the library!

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Did you know you can chat with us online?

Posted on October 7, 2015 | Leave a comment

chat_tabDid you know that our reference librarians are available to answer your questions online?

Need help finding an item in the catalog or an article in a database?  Have a question about interlibrary loan?  Running into problems with eBooks?  We can help with these questions and more!

Just look for the orange “Ask a Librarian!” tab in the lower right corner of any page of our website (www.chathamlibraries.org).  The chat service is available during normal library hours.  After hours, the service is staffed by other knowledgeable librarians from around the state.  When you click on the chat tab during library hours, you’ll see this:

chat_-_Chatham

 

 

(After hours, the screen will display “Ask NCknows.”)  Simply type your question in the box at the bottom, then press Enter on your keyboard to send your message.  You’ll soon receive a response from a friendly librarian.  Give it a try today!

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