New Library Director Appointed

Effective January 30, 2007, Cari Rupkalvis has been appointed as the new director of Tarpon Springs Library. Ms. Rupkalvis has served in the acting capacity as library director since June of 2006. She has a master's degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been with the Tarpon Springs Library since May of 1997 and most recently served as head of adult services.

Time's 50 Coolest Websites

Time.com has published its top 50 picks for this year's cool websites for entertainment, shopping, news, travel, staying connected, and wasting time. Also check out its related list of 25 Sites We Can't Live Without.

New Resource for Genealogical & Historical Research

Earlier this month, the Middle Ages met the Information Age when the 11th-century Domesday Book was made available online. The Domesday Book is a record of people and lands ruled by William the Conquerer using information gathered from a survey of England conducted in the year 1085. It is the oldest record held by Britain's National Archives and one of its most valuable documents.

Click here to learn about, search, and download images from the online Domesday Book.

iBorrow is Here

After hours? Don’t have time to stop by the library? No problem! You can now scan the shelves of dozens of Florida libraries without ever leaving the chair in front of your computer. Just logon to a new online service called “iBorrow” and check out the books or other materials you need. Your order will be delivered to your local library in a few days for pick-up.

By logging on to www.iborrow.org, you can search the collections of 45 different participating libraries across the state of Florida to request materials that are not available from the local library catalog.

iBorrow replaces Alleycat resource sharing and is a service of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium. Funding is made possible by federal Library and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, as administered by the State Library of Florida.

New U.S. Poet Laureate Announced

The Library of Congress has announced that Donald Hall has been named the next Poet Laureate of the United States. This distinguished author of 15 poetry books will assume his new post in the fall. Read more about it here.

Great Kits for Children

Thanks to a grant from Target, the Youth Services Department has obtained new reading kits consisting of books with corresponding soft toys. Cataloger Diana Angeliades, pictured at right, has enjoyed the challenge of preparing the kits for circulation.

Examples of the mixed materials kits are:

• Babar Goes to School
• Green Eggs and Ham
• Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
  

Dragon Sighted at Tarpon Springs Library

A dragon recently collided with the lighthouse in the Youth Services Department. No injuries were reported, and the dragon has decided to make this his new home.

Actually, our new large (but friendly) dragon, aptly named Crash, was a gift from a patron to a library staff member who collects dragons. We invite everyone to visit Crash and see the other colorful new additions to Youth Services.

Free Credit Reports

Starting this month, Florida residents are now able to obtain free credit reports online from AnnualCreditReport.com

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, consumers can request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to do so.

Please note that AnnualCreditReport.com is the only service authorized by the Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reporting companies for this purpose. Other services may charge fees, so be careful out there in cyberspace.

The library reference staff can help you with further information and computer assistance in obtaining your credit report.

Artistic Treasure

We are fortunate to have renowned painter Christopher Still as a resident of Tarpon Springs. A reproduction of his mural Changing Tides has been hanging behind the circulation desk for many years. It has recently been removed and replaced with the original work.

Click here to view Changing Tides on Christopher Still’s website. But to truly enjoy the rich colors and intricate details of this painting, you should come to the library to view the original. To enhance your experience, we have also displayed a key to the painting that explains the significance of its images. You will not be disappointed.