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BookShelf...notes from the Van Alstyne Public Library
By Juanita Hazelton
Jul 8, 2008

The Van Alstyne Public Library has received a shipment of six new Dell computers to replace outdated patron and circulation computers.  Five of the computers were paid for by the Book Festival Technology Grant sponsored by AT &T.  One of the computers was funded by the city budget.  Each year the library sets aside funding to purchase two computers to upgrade our library network. 

In spite of that, we still have several computers that are eight years old. Thanks to the Book Festival Grant, this year we are excited to be able to purchase enough workstations to upgrade most of our network.  The Grant also will fund five new flat screen monitors, enabling the library to phase out old CRT monitors. 

The Book Festival takes place in Austin every fall.  A project begun by First Lady Laura Bush when her husband was Texas Governor, the Festival was created in 1995 to “conduct an annual book festival to celebrate words, reading, and published works.”  Texas libraries apply each year for grants from the funds raised by the Book Festival. The first seven festivals, held between 1996 and 2002, raised over $1.43 million for Texas public libraries.  The 2007 awards totaled over $200,000, bringing the amount distributed to Texas libraries to over $2 million in the past 12 years.

In recent years, AT&T has been a major underwriter of the Festival, providing a Book Festival Technology Grant.  Van Alstyne Library was fortunate to be one of the libraries chosen for the Technology Grant this year, as well as becoming a recipient of the Book Grant which will fund books for the young adults of our community.

The 2008 Book Festival is scheduled at the State Capitol on November 1-2.  It will be a celebration of authors and books that you won’t want to miss.  Plan now to attend the Festival, listen to your favorite authors, buy their books and have them autographed, and enjoy a literary extravaganza.  In the process, you will be helping fund books and technology for libraries all over Texas – including Van Alstyne!

With the heat beginning to inch toward that 3 digit marker, most folks just want to stay inside.  With that in mind, Teen Council is presenting a 4-installment “Teen Movie Night” that will begin July 11, Friday, here at the library from 5:00 -7:00 pm.  Complimentary popcorn will be served and teens age 13-18 are welcome.  As we are showing PG-13 movies, we ask that anyone under 13 have their parents sign a permission slip before they can attend. 

Our first movie is a thriller starring Will Smith who is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City… and maybe the world.  Join us this Friday for free popcorn and a great movie!