Dear Miss Bun...

Q. What's this library thing called the Dewey Decimal System? I must have been asleep in library class when they talked about this.

A. Miss Bun offers her condolences on your selective narcolepsy but would like to say that you are not alone in this search to uncover the mysteries of the DDS (that's library speak for Dewey Decimal System).

Miss Bun finds that most people are involuntarily force fed the intricacies of this system of classifying books (so that we may easily retrieve them when we want them) way before they have the mental faculties (or dire need) to absorb the information. Thus they go through life with a feeling that something is, indeed, missing in their bag of library skills.

Not to worry! Miss Bun has a delightful website she would like to gently direct you to in the hopes of alleviating your plight. It was developed by 5th & 6th graders at the Nettleton Intermediate Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas and is a wonderful, interactive place to explore Dewey. (Miss Bun is most impressed with the "Dewey and the Alien" story.) Who said learning about libraries has to be boring?

Here's the link: "Do We" Really Know Dewey

Dear Miss Bun ...

Q: Is it ok to return Annville Library's stuff at another county library?

A: (Another excellent question!)
The short answer is : "Why yes, it is perfectly ok for you to return items from any of the six county libraries to any of the six county libraries!" The items will be checked in at the library they were returned at and sent by daily delivery to the library they belong to.

The long answer is: that all six county libraries (Annville, Lebanon, Matthews, Myerstown, Palmyra, & Richland) are members of the Lebanon County Library System. System members share certain resources such as the online circulation system which enables a nifty service like this to exist. (Another reason why Miss Bun thanks her lucky stars on a regular basis for computer technology!)

Dear Miss Bun...

Q: What is a "Friends of the Library" group?

A: Dear Library Patron,
I'm so glad you asked! A Friends group is a gaggle of folks voluntarily working together to assist the library (usually) in the following ways:

• Promoting the library and its use to the community
• Organizing community cultural activities in the library
• Giving practical help to the library staff
• Arranging fund raising activities to support the library & its goals
  

A Friends Group is a separate organization with its own officers, budget, and membership. It might be helpful to think of them as a library boosters club. (Just like high school Band Boosters!)

We here at the Annville Free Library feel we are very fortunate to have a lively and active Friends Group which has been busy putting on some great raffles to raise money for a new sign in the front yard.

Their next meeting is Saturday, March 21st @ 10 am at the library. I'm sure they would love to see your smiling, eager face in attendance. What a great way to get involved in your community! If you have questions you can always call Abbey Beidler (she's their President!) @ 867-2924.


Note: Miss Bun will be happy to entertain (and perhaps even answer) all your information needs. Ask away!