Geocaches in Libraries and creating a Letterbox Maker Space program

I was doing some reading about geocaching, and found that there are some libraries that have allowed cachers to place a cache within the stacks (best place is probably the reference stacks). Laura Goodwin describes her experience (in the comments section of the post) of finding a cache at a library, where the coordinates for the cache took her to the front door of her library and then she figured out the name of the cache, given in Dewey decimal "code," would reveal the actual location of the cached item.

Geocachers searching for the cache hunt through the stacks then sign the log once they find the book, which could be hollowed out to contain additional items. I see a letterbox hybrid (scroll down on the linked page for the description) as being especially cool and could even be part of a maker space (individual) program where participants make a stamp to add to the letterbox log. (Letterboxing is itself an activity that is similar to geocaching, but rather than use GPS technology to mark the location of the letterbox, orienteering skills as well as problem solving of hints and clues are required.) The book wouldn't even have to be cataloged! 

A Maker Space Letterbox Activity could be:

• find the letterbox cache, 
• "check out" the book which would really involve getting the maker space tools
•  carve the stamp, then ink and add your personalized stamp to the letterbox's logbook
• return the tools and letterbox cache/book to the library
• go home with your new stamp and perhaps take up letterboxing

Issues with this activity

• carving tools are sharp and could cut the person if they don't use them correctly
• ongoing cost of the stamp material for carving
• messiness of the inks (which is why it would all be contained in the makerspace!)

Here's an awesome letterbox found in a pill bottle. A healthcare blog posted it as a thematically related activity they suggest for nurses!

FreeSpirited1 has created a list of geocaches located in libraries on geocaching.com. (You don't have to be a member of the site to see the list, but in order to see the full descriptions of each cache, you'll need a free membership.)

October is also Family History Month

I was just assigned to work to a new branch and my new branch said, "let's treat her as if she'll be here forever." Which means that I'll be learning lots and I'll be assigned more responsibilities. One of which is to create displays and showcase the collection around unique themes. I did a little research on ALA's programming librarian site and looked at a event's calendar that my co-worker recommended. (reminder to get the site again) Within a day I settled on a Family History theme for our main books display to coincide with the genealogy program that will be offered next week.

I pulled out of the collection genealogy books, scrapbooking books (to encourage the creation of family heritage gifts and mementos), some fictional books on family histories (and skeletons in the family closet), some non-fictional family histories and immigration stories, and just for fun, some scrapbooking murder mysteries, because scrapbooking would drive me to murder. I forgot to make notes on my search process, but at the end I'll include the full list of titles I found with the thought that I can re-construct my search statement from the subject headings and keywords found in their bibliographic records.

For the banner that I created (which is shown above) I consulted two design books (Creative Newsletters and Annual Reports by Rockport Publishers and Creative Edge Brochures by Gail Finke) for ideas such as using quotes about family and layout of pictures in the background to add layers and depth. As I was using the software at work, which unfortunately did not include a photo editing program, I found a free online photo editor.

The selection of materials wasn't as strong as I'd have liked, but I only had a few hours (stolen between assisting people at the info desk) to figure this all out. I'll get better as I gain more experience. I also would like to put together a window display to accompany the materials. About.com had some great ideas to celebrate family history with kids or to get started with collecting family histories and so the window will a tape recorder and a list of family interview questions, scrapbooks and old family pictures, a map with pins on where the family has lived and family trees.

List of Books and DVDs (not all of them used):

• Long-distance genealogy Crawford-Oppenheimer, Christine, 1950- 
• Genealogy online
• A land of immigrants
• Island of hope : the story of Ellis Island and the journey to America
• The making of African America : the four great migrations
• We are Americans : voices of the immigrant experience Hoobler, Dorothy. Hoobler, Thomas Vietnamese in America Coleman, Lori. 
• Ritmo al éxito : cómo un inmigrante hizo su propio sueño americano
• The windmill movie Olch, Alexander.
• The memory book
• Outstanding scrapbook pages. Making memory books by hand : 22 projects to make, keep, and share
• Bookworks : books, memory and photo albums, journals, and diaries made by hand
• Memory gifts : preserving your treasured past in special ways Browning, Marie. 
• Making memory boxes : box projects to make, give, and keep Mauriello, Barbara. 
• Objects of our affection : uncovering my family's past, one chair, pistol, and pickle fork at a time
• How to do everything genealogy
• Morgan, George G., 1952- Genealogy online for dummies
• Helm, Matthew L. Helm, April Leigh. Genealogy for the first time : research your family history
• Best, Laura. The complete idiot's guide to online genealogy
• McClure, Rhonda. The source : a guidebook to American genealogy
• Szucs, Loretto Dennis. Luebking, Sandra Hargreaves. Genealogy online
• Crowe, Elizabeth Powell. Getting started in genealogy online
• Dollarhide, William. The researcher's guide to American genealogy
• Greenwood, Val D. The complete idiot's guide to genealogy
• Rose, Christine. Ingalls, Kay German. The everything guide to online genealogy
• Powell, Kimberly. Family tree
• Delinsky, Barbara The family tree
• McPhail, David, 1940- Family tree : a novel
• Delinsky, Barbara Design your family tree
• Leavitt, Amie Jane. Aunt Dimity and the family tree
• Atherton, Nancy. The family tree resource book for genealogists
• Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo, 1956- Nevius, Erin. The genealogy handbook : the complete guide to tracing your family tree
• Galford, Ellen. Ancestry.com (Firm) The genealogy of Greek mythology : an illustrated family tree of Greek myth from the first gods to the founders of Rome
• James, Vanessa. Black roots : a beginner's guide to tracing the African American family tree
• Burroughs, Tony, 1948- Kinfolks : falling off the family tree : the search for my Melungeon ancestors
• Alther, Lisa. Daughter of deceit
• Sprinkle, Patricia Houck. Uncovering your ancestry through family photographs
• Taylor, Maureen Alice. Family history 101 : a beginner's guide to finding your ancestors
• Melnyk, Marcia Yannizze, 1951- Green
• Roberts, Laura Peyton René has two last names = René tiene dos apellidos
• Colato Laínez, René Graullera Ramírez, Fabiola, ill Walking with cavemen
• Sachs, Andrew. Hedgecoe, Mark. Green, Nick. Oxley, Peter. Dale, Richard. Journey of man
• The Sookie Stackhouse companion
• Harris, Charlaine. America's Black founders : revolutionary heroes and early leaders : with 21 activities Sanders, Nancy I.
• American Heart Association healthy family meals : 150 recipes everyone will love American Heart Association Looking for Miza : the true story of the mountain gorilla family who rescued one of their own
• Hatkoff, Juliana Greste, Peter ill. Family first : your step-by-step plan for creating a phenomenal family
• McGraw, Phillip C., 1950- Three weeks with my brother
• Sparks, Nicholas. Sparks, Micah. The working mother's guide to life : strategies, secrets, and solutions
• Mason, Linda, 1954- Ninety-three in my family
• Perl, Erica S. Lester, Mike, ill. Gilead
• Robinson, Marilynne. 365 unplugged family fun activities : a year's worth of ideas for TV-free, video-free, and computer game-free entertainment
• Bennett, Steven J., 1951- Bennett, Ruth (Ruth Loetterle) Producing a quality family history
• Hatcher, Patricia Law. Organizing your family history search : efficient & effective ways to gather and protect your genealogical research
• Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo, 1956- The sweet hell inside : a family history
• Ball, Edward, 1959- The Jesus family tomb : the discovery, the investigation, and the evidence that could change history
• Jacobovici, Simcha Pellegrino, Charles R. Bringing your family history to life through social history / Katherine Scott Sturdevant.
• Sturdevant, Katherine Scott. In search of our ancestors : 101 inspiring stories of serendipity and connection in rediscovering our family history
• Smolenyak, Megan. The sleuth book for genealogists : strategies for more successful family history research
• Croom, Emily Anne, 1943- Ancestral trails : the complete guide to British genealogy and family history
• Herber, Mark D. Society of Genealogists (Great Britain) The genetic strand : exploring a family history through DNA
• Ball, Edward, 1959- The secret family of Pancho Villa : an oral history = La familia secreta de Pancho Villa : una historia oral
• Osorio, Rubén. Sul Ross State University. Center for Big Bend Studies. All the presidents' children : triump and tragedy in the lives of America's first families
• Wead, Doug. Spies and lies : famous and infamous spies
• Mitchell, Susan K. The flight of the Romanovs : a family saga
• Perry, John Curtis. Pleshakov, Konstantin. The ties that bind a memoir of race, memory, and redemption
• Berry, Bertice. Chilton, Karen. The girl who disappeared twice
• Kane, Andrea. I, Claudius. Vol. 5. Episode 13
• Graves, Robert, 1895- Pullman, Jack. Wise, Herbert. Jacobi, Derek. Phillips, Siân, 1934- Fireflies in the garden
• Lee, Dennis. Weber, Marco. Coifman, Vanessa. Chew, Sukee. Rose, Philip. Grandma Maxine remembers : a Native American family story
• Morris, Ann, 1930- Linenthal, Peter, ill. I, Claudius. Vol. 4. Episodes 10 - 12
• Graves, Robert, 1895- Pullman, Jack. Wise, Herbert. Jacobi, Derek. Phillips, Siân, 1934- Tanya's reunion
• Flournoy, Valerie, 1952- Pinkney, Jerry, ill. Grandma Lai Goon remembers : a Chinese-American family story
• Morris, Ann, 1930- Linenthal, Peter, ill. Little blog on the prairie
• Bell, Cathleen Davitt. The Tale of Halcyon Crane [a novel]
• Webb, Wendy. Blackstone Audio, Inc. Sound of noise
• Nilsson, Johannes Stjärne. Simonsson, Ola. Birmant, Jim. Péchard, Guy. Audeguis, Christophe. Jewels
• Rochelle, Belinda. Van Wright, Cornelius, ill. Hu, Ying-Hwa,
• Ancestor hunt : finding your family online Shepherdson, Nancy, 1955-
• The new policeman Thompson, Kate, 1956- 
• Out of Patience Meehl, Brian,
• I, Claudius. (roman family saga)[dvd]
• Scrapbooking traditions Gibbons, Leeza. 
• Better scrapbooking Vanessa-Ann. 
• Scrapbooking for dummies Wines-Reed, Jeanne. Wines, Joan. 
• Scrapbooking for beginners Memory Lane Videos (Firm) 
• A year of scrapbooking Janask, Debbie Swinney, Anna 
• Digital scrapbooking for dummies Wines-Reed, Jeanne. 
• 515 scrapbooking ideas / Vanessa Ann. Vanessa-Ann Collection (Firm) 
• Scrapbooking for the first time Carter, Rebecca. 
• The complete guide to scrapbooking Haglund, Jill. 
• Scrapbooking : keep your special memories Hufford, Deborah. 
• Fun ideas for cardmaking and scrapbooking Memory Lane Videos (Firm) 
• Scrapbooking your vacations : 200 page designs Ure, Susan. 
• Teach yourself visually scrapbooking Ludens, Rebecca Schmidt, Jennifer. 
• Scribbles, stickers & glue : a kids' guide to scrapbooking Larsen, Nikki. 
• Totally teen scrapbook pages : scrapbooking the almost grown-up years. Memory Makers Books. 
• Scrapbooking : 100 techniques with 25 projects plus a swipefile of motifts and mottoes Beaman, Sarah. 
• Tragic magic Childs, Laura. 
• Motif for murder Childs, Laura. 
• Frill kill Childs, Laura. 
• Death swatch Childs, Laura. 
• Fiber & brimstone Childs, Laura. Skeleton letters Childs, Laura 
• The organized & inspired scrapbooker : expert advice, projects, quizzes, inspiring scrapbook spaces Smedley, Wendy. Garvey, Aby. 
• Scrapbook of secrets Bryan, Mollie Cox, 1963-
• Ready, scrap, shoot Campbell-Slan, Joanna. 
• Cut, crop & die : a Kiki Lowenstein scrap-n-craft mystery Campbell-Slan, Joanna. 
• The scrapbooker's idea book Ross, Kathy (Katharine Reynolds), 1948- Bosch, Nicole In Den
• Family tree magazine. 
• The trip back home Wong, Janet S. Jia, Bo, 1962- ill.
• Are we there yet, Daddy? Walters, Virginia. Schindler, S. D., ill. 
• Sharing digital photos : the future of memories Howard, Dane M., 1971- 
• The official guide to ancestry.com Morgan, George G., 1952- 
• The silence in the mountains Rosenberg, Liz. Soentpiet, Chris K. ill. 
• The keeping quilt Polacco, Patricia. 
• To the far blue mountains L'Amour, Louis, 1908-1988. 
• How I became an American Gündisch, Karin, 1948- 
• A picnic in October Bunting, Eve, 1928- Carpenter, Nancy, ill. 
• The memory coat Woodruff, Elvira. Dooling, Michael, ill. 
• Hannah's journal : the story of an immigrant girl Moss, Marissa. 
• Behind the mountains : [the diary of Celiane Espérance] Danticat, Edwidge, 1969-
• Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. [dvd]
• Small beauties : the journey of Darcy Heart O'Hara Woodruff, Elvira. Rex, Adam. ill.
• In America [dvd]
• American tapestry : the story of the Black, White, and multiracial ancestors of Michelle Obama Swarns, Rachel L. 
• Hemingway adventure Great railway journeys Palin, Michael.[dvd]
• Ellis Island Jango-Cohen, Judith.
• Ellis Island interviews : in their own words Coan, Peter M. 
• Coming to America : the story of immigration Maestro, Betsy.
• Bound for America; the story of the European immigrants Meltzer, Milton, 1915- 

Steve Blow for Senior Social Hour at the NMLS

first, I just want to say, "Wow!"

Backstory
This is my first week at work at the new job. I had a "touching base" chat with my supervisor who shared with me the needs of the Central branch in anticipation of the possibility of me being permanently assigned here. One of those needs was the adult programmer whose duties include programming for senior social hour. I'll admit, I was a little scared at the prospect, but then I was requested to shadow the upcoming program with speaker Steve Blow of the Dallas Morning News. My supervisor even suggested I stay for the duration, which to me is an incredible investment in a new person to allow them to observe a program instead of returning to the reference desk for more reference desk training.

And I am so glad I did stay. One of my fears about returning to my hometown is I didn't know if I'd fit in because I thought I'd changed so much. But as I'm meeting people, finding new places (like the Generator Coffee House) and seeing places I grew up in changed (I think for the better), I'm starting to think I may fit in here after all.

And that brings me to our speaker...
After his talk, Mr. Blow hung around to chat with the audience and I got to swap a few words with him. He mentioned being glad that he could connect with the audience based on the shared experience of his stories and asked if I got anything out of it. I told him he totally brought me back with his reference to the two key pieces of literature in his household- the King James Bible ("because we wanted to read Jesus' words in his original old English") and the Reader's Digest.

I was delighted to be reminded about this aspect of Texas culture (which was so mundane as to be literally forgettable), and especially to learn that it wasn't just my household. But Mr. Blow used that connection of everybody reading the RD to segue to his talk and to capture his audience with his little "digests" of characters he'd met along his career path.

In case you get the chance to hear him speak, I won't ruin Mr. Blow's talk about chasing happiness, forgiveness being a gift to yourself or how kindness brings its rewards by detailing his sketches. But I do want to reflect on the "institutional knowledge" the Senior group has by virtue of their years. Mr. Blow woke them  (and me) up to it when he said, "I'm sure 100% of you know this ad jingle, 'Winston tastes good...'"

and the Seniors responded in a snap, "like a cigarette should."

Just being reminded of Texas culture through the speaker, being brought back to the kindness, the civility and respect Texans have, and being shown the jewel the Senior group is and how the library serves them through the monthly Social Hour... well, it was really fantastic.

For more information on what's going on at Garland's library, see the Events and Programming Page.