Site of the Month: Bucyrus (OH) Public Library

www.bucyrus.lib.oh.us

The Bucyrus Public Library's site, while a bit ragged around the edges, has a charm few professionally designed sites can equal. Featuring photos of the staff interacting with library users, the site shows visitors that the library takes its role in the community very seriously—even when some of the photos are a bit goofy. Children's Librarian Barbara Scott, along with Brenda Crider, the library's public-relations specialist and Web site manager, and other enthusiastic staff members used a digital camera to snap a fair share of the photos. But most of the pictures of the summer reading program, proudly explains Scott, were taken by her 10-year-old daughter, Sara.

A place to go and see: One look at the children's service pages and its easy to see that Scott (barbarascott@hotmail.com), who also edits Ohio's statewide summer reading program manual, loves what she does and wants everyone to know. "I want the kids and parents in the community to have a place to go and see the photos after the program is over," she says. Scott regularly posts descriptions of her programs on library discussion groups, and encourages librarians to come and see the photos.

Dogs and parties: In July, the library's home page featured a photo of its canine mascot, Booker M. Wordsworth, meeting the public at the Crawford County Fair. Booker is seen posing with kids and even getting his nose tweaked by a baby. (The dog also rides in the library's annual Bratwurst Festival parades, carrying a giant mock-up of a library card.) Site visitors can also read about the library's Junie B. Jones party, Captain Underpants party, and Hank the Cowdog party.

Tools on the home page: In addition to the photographs, another virtue of the library's home page is the way it offers one-click access to its subscription databases, such as EBSCOhost. Since many libraries hide their databases under a bushel, it's refreshing to see one that makes sure the public sees them.