Who said the library was a musty old place?

Cutting edge technology and a host of new-fashioned offerings make the Sparta Public Library a vital, relevant place, By Heather Ann Schaefer SPARTA — Since 1971, Sparta Public Library has welcomed township residents through its front entrance - a double set of white doors separated by the brick colonial building’s protective vestibule. Pulling open that first door, a visitor might step aside for a young mother with children on their way out after a program that featured a local author, a business owner shuffling photocopies made from a reference book, or a retired couple going to lunch after reading the daily newspapers. Before stepping into the vestibule, that same resident might hold the door for two more people behind her — an earbud-wearing student with a backpack, and a smiling, white haired lady carrying a bundle of library books jammed into a handmade tote bag. As thE visitor follows them, the student might head left, over to a long row of public computers. The lady may step right, to chat with the staff of the library’s circulation department, and to unload her books under the Check Out sign. Straight ahead is a flat-screen monitor displaying a rotating array of library and community announcements. Here, those who come through the white doors can read about programs and services — how to get a library card; book clubs; knitting groups; children’s story times, things one would expect in a library. But distinctly modern library concepts are also displayed, using words like download, ebooks, Mango, Freegal, Rosetta Stone — words that signal Sparta Library’s commitment to a new kind of literacy for the 21st century. A technology based one. Sparta’s library was founded in 1841 and its budget that year might pay to fill a car’s gas tank today, but that’s about it. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the library’s current location on Woodport Road, and Library Director Carol Boutilier is celebrating the cutting edge services she and her staff are able to make available to Sparta in 2011. Boutilier, who joined Sparta Library in 1992 — pre-internet and when VHS was still the only movie-night option — is constantly looking for, and succeeding in finding ways to make sure the community has access to new and changing forms of information technology. It’s all downloadable The shift in popularity to digital resources has impacted the way libraries collect books and music. Boutilier has been a leader in embracing those changes. Ebook readers In December 2007, Sparta’s was the first library in New Jersey to circulate an Amazon Kindle. As of today, the library lends two Kindles, a Barnes & Noble Nook and a Sony Reader, from its collection. Music Freegal.com - for free music downloads - is one of the newest features available with a Sparta Library card. With Freegal, the library’s Web site provides free access to hundreds of thousands of songs from the Sony Music catalog. Ebooks and Audiobooks Access to borrow thousands of titles for download onto a personal computer, mp3 player, ereader or mobile device is provided by northern New Jersey libraries, through a digital content provider called Overdrive. By clicking Download on the library’s Web site, Sparta patrons can look for the Overdrive Advantage link to access exclusive electronic book copies. Technology The library’s collection of devices for loan continues to expand and change along with the tech market. Boutilier believes people need to be conversant with changing information and communication formats. Patrons can borrow from a collection of three iPads, an iPod Touch, a Netbook, a MyFi personal wireless hot spot device, four laptops loaded with Rosetta Stone language learning software, a Flip Camera and several video game consoles including, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DSI and PS3. “We want people to have a chance to understand new devices as they become available. To try them out and ask questions,” said Dave Costa, the Sparta Library Systems Administrator. Every Thursday morning, through “Tech Talk With Dave,” Costa makes himself available at the library for anyone who may have questions about their own computers or about new technology. Literacy For Boutilier the role of the Sparta Library has been to bring information to the community in whatever forms available. “New electronic devices reflect the way people are learning and communicating. You have to know about them in order to understand what’s happening around the world.”

I see our technology based services as a way to help people stay literate in the 21st century.” Sparta Library Director Carol Boutilier

Party with the library
Sparta Public Library 40th Anniversary Open House Celebration
Sunday, April 10
3 to 5 p.m.
22 Woodport Road, Sparta

Access is the key to knowledge
http://www.spartalibrary.com
Museum Passes
Boutilier’s commitment to access isn’t limited to tech devices and file downloads. She has contacted numerous museums in the New York area and arranged museum passes that Sparta Library patrons can reserve online through the library Web site.
Online Education
A library has always been a place for learning. Sparta Library’s Web site provides resources for students through Tutor.com and Mango Language Learning Center.
Employment Guide
The Job&Career Accelerator link on the library’s Web site helps people prepare for and search for employment.