Join the Neighborhood at Brentwood Block Party; Morningstar Available Online; Chromebooks Coming Soon to Library Station
Say the name “Brentwood Branch Library,” and it seems like half the Springfield population chimes in with a childhood memory of going to the cozy, neighborhood branch.
It’s been there since 1971, and if you’ve lived in the Springfield area awhile, chances are Brentwood was “your” library. Today it’s one of the busiest in the 10-branch system.
If you haven’t been back in a while, consider dropping by the Brentwood Block Party at 2 p.m. on Aug. 26 for some reminiscing and neighborhood fun. The whole family is invited for music, refreshments, games, poetry readings, storytelling and craft demonstrations in the community room.
One likely topic of conversation will be Brentwood’s proposed “renewal” project. We want to preserve the neighborhood feel while adding more of the spaces and conveniences that library users love: a drive-up service window; more parking; a quiet area for computer users; more exciting, defined areas for children and for teens; better entrances and exits and a reliable, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning system.
The design and renovation project is estimated to cost about $2 million, and is expected to be funded through private gifts and a capital campaign conducted by the Springfield-Greene County Library Foundation. Library officials hope to announce the project’s architectural/engineering firm soon.
_ _ _
If you’re a frequent user of Morningstar, a subscription-only investment research resource, you may know that the company will stop its monthly print publication in September. But you can get the latest investment news online through the Library’s new subscription.
Just go to thelibrary.org/business, and click on “Databases.” This independent, international investment research firm provides data on more than 380,000 investment offerings including stocks, mutual funds and similar vehicles. There are robust help guides and tutorials available, and Morningstar provides free monthly training webinars.
_ _ _
Library Station visitors soon won’t have to wait as long for Internet access – it’s getting six Chromebook laptops for in-library checkout. The Library Center and Brentwood Branch Library recently got 10 each for in-library checkout.
The Chromebooks came from a $7,485 Technology Mini-Grant from the Missouri State Library and a Library match of $2,495. If the pilot project proves successful, the Library could add Chromebooks to more branches.
Find this article at http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=2007&lid=47&view=print