Tuesday, April 6, was National Library Workers Day. The staff of the Garden City Public Library is sharing their stories about what working at the Library means to them. This is Computer Support Librarian Joe Agolia‘s story.
“Although like most librarians in my age group, I was attracted to the work by a love of books, I have spent most of my 40+ years in libraries working with computers. Applying technology to library tasks has been endlessly diverting, but my best memories are those in which I made someone else’s day better.
“I think my favorite may still be the man who was looking for research on waking a patient from a coma, specifically his wife. In those days – the late ‘80s, I think – the best tool we had was DIALOG, a text-based, command-driven database that we accessed with a dial-up modem. I handed him a ream of citations on a dot-matrix print-out, we interloaned some articles, and I wished him luck.
“Several months later, the man returned to the Library with his wife, frail but smiling and ambulatory, by his side. Of course, there is no way to know if the journal research made the difference, and today we can get at the information much more easily. Nevertheless, that is what library technology means to me – not the wow factor, but finding new ways to help people. When we harness technology for the patron who wants to find a job, stream a song, or download an eBook, the real cool factor is the look of joy or relief on a patron’s face when we can supply the solution to a problem.”
Tuesday, April 6, was National Library Workers Day. The staff of the Garden City Public Library is sharing their stories about what working at the Library means to them.
This is Library Clerk Mary’s story:
“As a middle schooler, I made weekly trips with my best friend to the Lincoln Center Arts Library. There we discovered all the treasures a vibrant library has to offer. While raising my own ‘bookworm’ children, we frequented all the libraries on the South Shore. The fun we had exploring these places instilled a lifelong connection to the library.
“Currently, I serve as a clerk and gallery curator at the Garden City Public Library. Working with our wonderful Circulation staff is a rewarding experience. To this day, I continue to uncover more library treasure!”
Tuesday, April 6, was National Library Workers Day.
The staff of the Garden City Public Library is sharing their stories about what working at the Library means to them.
This is Children’s Librarian Barbara‘s story.
” I was doing a community-outreach program for parents at one of the elementary schools in Garden City to promote Library programs and databases. As I entered the auditorium, parents were smiling and saying hello. Some stood up to greet me, and some even hugged me. It made me feel that I was a valued member of the community and that I made a difference.”
L-R: Library Board Chairman Randy Colahan, Library Director Marianne Malagon, Library Board Trustees Lola Nouryan & Germaine Greco, Assistant Library Director Ralph Guiteau, and Library Board Vice Chairman Peter D’Antonio. Fellow Library Board Trustee Charles Murphy did not attend the meeting.
The Board of Trustees of the Garden City Public Library, Chair J. Randolph Colahan, Vice-Chair Peter D’Antonio, and Trustees Charles Murphy, Lola Nouryan, and Germaine Greco are pleased to announce that Ralph Guiteau has accepted the position of Assistant Library Director of the Garden City Public Library effective September 13, 2021.
Mr. Guiteau brings 14 years of experience in public libraries, working at the Syosset Library where he has headed the Media Department while also providing Adult Reference and Readers’ Services and hands-on computer and ebook training.
“The entire Library Board interviewed Mr. Guiteau in early August. He is highly intelligent and well spoken, with a great understanding of the services a contemporary library can provide for its patrons,” Mr. Colahan said.
Due to budgetary reasons, the position is a hybrid position. Mr. Guiteau will function as both an Assistant Library Director and Senior Librarian, working with Library Director Marianne Malagon, as well as the various Department Heads. “With the workload requirements of the Director, it became obvious to the Library Board that we needed to provide her with additional high level support. We welcome Mr. Guiteau to the Garden City Library and look forward to working with him,” Mr. Colahan added.
Library Director Marianne Malagon welcomes new Assistant Library Director Ralph Guiteau.During his tenure in Syosset, Mr. Guiteau created and implemented the “Library of Things” lending program, co-created a pop culture convention and successful spin offs, led book and film discussions, organized retro game nights and many other successful programs and events.
Mr. Guiteau is also a former President of the Nassau County Library Association’s Media Services Division. He and Ms. Malagon worked together at the Syosset Public Library for more than a decade.
“I look forward to working alongside my colleague again, especially during these exciting times at the Garden City Library. Mr. Guiteau will bring a fresh perspective, and experience with contemporary Library services, programming and events, which patrons can look forward to in the months ahead,” Ms. Malagon said.
L-R: Village Board Trustee & Liaison to the Library Colleen Foley, Library Board Chairman Randy Colahan, Library Director Marianne Malagon, Library Board Trustees Lola Nouryan & Germaine Greco and Library Board Vice Chairman Peter D’Antonio with new Asst. Library Director Ralph Guiteau (2nd from R). Library Bd. Trustee Charles Murphy did not attend.
Tuesday, April 6, was National Library Workers Day.
The staff of the Garden City Public Library is sharing their stories about what working at the Library means to them.
This is Library Clerk Ronnie‘s story.
“I’ve always found it rewarding having contact with patrons whether it’s sharing advice, jokes, or just helping them in any way I can. Having a degree of control and freedom in my job has been great. Also, the little perks like having access to any book I’m interested in at my fingertips is a bonus. I have a better understanding of how a library works internally and am very grateful to be part of this staff.”
Tweens & Teens Dept. staff who helped put on the award-winning ‘Locked-in-the-Library Halloween Party,’ stand proudly with the certificate for Excellence in Programming from the Young Adult Services Div. of the Nassau County Library Assn. L-R: Library Page Rebecca Curran, Library Page Bridget Anderson, Library Aide Kristen Sweeney, and YA Librarian Laura Giunta.
The Garden City Public Library Tweens and Teens Department is proud to announce that Young Adult Librarian Laura Giunta is the winner of the 2018 Excellence in Programming Award from the Young Adult Services Division (YASD) of the Nassau County Library Association (NCLA) for the Library’s third annual “Locked-in-the-Library Halloween Party.” The award is given each year to a young-adult librarian for creating, organizing, and hosting the most innovative and creative teen program at a library in Nassau County. Ms. Giunta first organized the event at the Library in 2016, and the program has continued to grow in popularity and success over these last three years. The party is for tweens and teens in Grades 6-12 and was one of the largest events for tweens and teens at the Library this year.
This year’s “Locked-in-the-Library Halloween Party” was held on Friday, October 26, after hours from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A record of 36 tweens and teens attended (compared to 23 in 2016 and 24 in 2017). Additionally, 17 tweens and teens volunteered before the event to help with set-up and decorations, with many of the decorations made by teen volunteers both this year and last year.
The theme of the party this year was Ghostbusters, which was requested by the tweens and teens at last year’s party. During the program, party goers ate pizza, snacks, and candy before participating in activities, including a Ghostbusters-themed scavenger hunt throughout the first floor of the Library and making glitter and glow-in-the-dark slime in reference to Slimer from the Ghostbusters movie. Afterwards, the tweens and teens watched the 1984 classic Ghostbusters while enjoying movie snacks and Halloween candy. As a party favor, attendees took home Ghostbusters pinback buttons, which were made by tween-and-teen volunteers during the month of October using the department’s button maker.
The Tweens and Teens Department would like to thank the Friends of the Garden City Public Library for funding this event and for funding programs for tweens and teens in the Library throughout the year. The Tweens and Teens Department hopes to continue providing excellent programs for Garden City tweens and teens to enjoy and is excited to start planning for the fourth annual “Locked-in-the-Library Halloween Party” next year.
