Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Completing Her Five-Year Mission

In the original Star Trek television series (1966-1969), the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise was engaged in a five-year mission "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." Here at Mooresville Public Library, we are now completing our own five-year mission, in which "strange new worlds" have been explored.  To modify the Star Trek mission statement, we've gone where no cat has gone before.  Well, sort of.

Cauli Le Chat, MPL Feline Roving Reporter

On December 19, 2010, Cauli Le Chat became the official MPL feline roving reporter.  She started a blog, Cat's Eye View @ MPL, promoting the library, its programs and events, collections, displays, and special services.  She explored Mooresville, Indiana and discussed topics of local or regional interest.  She also addressed lots of other subjects--whatever happened to strike her fancy.  She posted 1,297 articles to her blog in five years, and her readership has reached 317,156 (as of today).  Hers was the library's most popular blog, exceeded in social media impact only by the MPL YouTube Channel (with currently almost three-quarters of a million video viewings).  Her primary blog's popularity produced a spin-off:  another blog designed especially for children, Catch It @ MPL (Cauli 4 Kids) (2011-2014).

Cauli Le Chat wearing her press hat

Patrons sometimes asked if they could see Cauli when visiting the library. However, Cauli did not live inside the library; rather, she lived just down the street and would hang around outside the library, usually in the Kinder Garden or by the staff door, where she could get treats.  For inside or offsite reporting, Cauli often relied upon her trusted minions (who worked or volunteered inside), or upon her alter ego, "Flat" Cauli.  Actually, there were several "Flat" Caulis, and each had a slightly different personality from the living, breathing original feline.

MPL Kinder Garden Outdoor Program Area

Cauli's family moved away in December, 2013, but then returned across town in June, 2014, when she officially resumed her roving reporter duties.  In March, 2015, she retired, no longer able to hang-out at the library.  She continued to post articles to her blog, however. With the fifth anniversary of her blog approaching in December, she has decided to wind things up.  She isn't getting any younger, and neither are her minions, so she thinks it's time to go out on a high note, so to speak.  "I don't want my minions dribbling like slobberdogs while typing my brilliant observations," she reflected.  "Bad for my image."

Many libraries around the world have resident felines who act as "spokescritters" serving patrons and promoting services and collections.  Although MPL had resident animals prior to 2010, none actively used social media (or other media, for that matter) to engage the public.  Cauli was indeed our social media pioneer, and we're pleased with the results.

Perhaps at some future time MPL will obtain a resident "spokescritter" like many other libraries, several of which were linked at the bottom of Cauli's blogs.  But none will write about the world in quite the same way as Cauli.  Hers was a unique feline perspective, and we will miss her musings and witticisms.

Monday, November 23, 2015

2016 Indiana Literary Map

Looking for Indiana authors to read? The Indiana Center for the Book has created a Literary Map of 200 Hoosier writers for the state’s bicentennial. It’s a great resource for book clubs or teachers.


Click (Above) to See Map

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Testing, 1-2-3

A couple of weeks ago, we tested connectivity to the library's new outdoor LED sign. There's a white layer protecting the screen during construction, which partially obscures image resolution.  The graphics will look much clearer and sharper once the white cover is removed.

Click the images to enlarge.




















Outdoor LED Sign is Almost Ready

The library's outdoor LED sign is almost ready!  Here are some construction photos (from September, 2015).  Click the images to enlarge.












Thursday, September 10, 2015

Sign of the Times

Construction of the library's new outdoor LED sign is underway.  Soon you will be able to keep abreast of library programs, events, and information.  The new sign will have much higher resolution and detail than our old one, which met with an unfortunate accident last December.

Click the photos below to enlarge.

August 2015:  Preparing the Foundation 

 Early September 2015:  Sign Frame and Bricks Ready to Go

 Early September 2015:  Sign Frame


 September 14, 2015:  Sign is Up!


  September 14, 2015:  Fine-Tuning the Sign Fixtures


 September 14, 2015:  Bricklaying Soon!


September 14, 2015:  Ready for Electrical Work

September 15, 2015:  Electrical Work Underway

September 15, 2015:  Lots of Wires to Connect

September 15, 2015:  Connecting Those Wires

 
September 15, 2015:  Still Connecting

September 15, 2015:  "Red & Black, Power Lack;
Green & White, Power Right."  Something Like That


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

MERLIN Magnifier Gets You Up Close and Personal

Click Image to Enlarge

Mooresville Public Library offers a MERLIN magnifying reader machine for patrons who need to enlarge what they are looking at. The magnifier enlarges anything that is placed on the scanning platform--print materials or other physical objects--and projects the larger image onto the screen. The picture below gives a clearer illustration:


MERLIN is available thanks to a generous donation from the Mooresville (Indiana) Lions Club in March, 2005. The magnifier is a wonderful tool for anyone researching difficult-to-read documents, fine print, or obscure details.

If you are interested in using MERLIN, please visit the MPL Adult Information Desk.  MERLIN sits directly across from this desk, adjacent to the adult reference shelves.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

President Reagan's Visit to Mooresville, Indiana (June 19, 1985)

Long-time residents may well remember June 19, 1985, when President Ronald Reagan visited Mooresville, Indiana.  The Mooresville Chamber of Commerce published a commemorative book about the event, which we have digitized and you may read online.  Just click the following link below:

  • President Reagan’s Visit (June 19, 1985): A Commemorative Remembrance (1985).  Mooresville, IN:  Chamber of Commerce, Mooresville, Indiana.

The book is also available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.


1985 photos courtesy of timvp.com/mville.html