The Oshkosh Public Library has two big projects spread out in the library and thanks to some willing volunteers, those projects are getting done.

Ten years ago, Tony Newton took the time to map the Antelope Valley and Oshkosh Cemeteries.  He also did extensive work on the Kowanda and Catholic Cemetery records.  His maps and information are now in the library and we are trying to match them to the cemetery record books that we have.  It has been a difficult project but with the help of some other history buffs like me, we are almost done.  If you are interested, come to the library and I will try to explain the maps we have pinned on the walls.

We hope to be done with the cemetery project within the next month.  Some of the people who have helped us include George Zoucha, Doug Paulsen, Ardeen McCord, Jeanne Seibert, Tony Newton and Steven Carlton.  If it wasn’t for them and people like Mike Piva who can remember “who was related to who”, this important project would not get done.

Within the boxes and files of cemetery records, we found hundreds of old obituaries.  We also had a collection of old obits here in the library so our volunteers have been putting all of them together in alphabetical order, in big notebooks so genealogists can easily find the person they are searching for.  Why keep old obituaries in the library?  Because there is more family history in one obituary than there is in some of the online genealogy databases available here at the library.  An old obituary is a great place to begin a genealogy search because they list parents, siblings, dates, and places that aren’t always listed on government records.

The antique obituaries make for some interesting reading because of the word choices back then:  “The Doves of Heaven swept down…”, “Death knocked on her door last evening…”, “The Grim Reaper visited the home of…”, are phrases that we are glad we don’t see in newspapers anymore!

We had a great turn-out for author Andy Pollock’s presentation.  It was fun to visit with everyone about the Blizzard of ’49 and we are already planning a Blizzard confab here at the library.  People want to share their memories before this year’s snowstorms begin!

PASS THE WORD:  If you have LOCAL photos of the blizzard of ’49, please bring them to the library so I can quickly scan them and give them right back to you.  It will be nice to project them onto a big screen while people talk about each photo.

The library is in need of more TV series on DVD.  Do you happen to have DVDs that you watched and now they are gathering dust on a shelf?  There are a lot of people who don’t have television service but they do have a DVD player so they come to the public library and check-out DVDs of all types.  We are always in need of more DVDs and appreciate the generosity of all those who share with us.

I hope to have some important news to share with you later in October.  Until then, keep reading!

August News Article

  After many requests to be open in the morning, the Oshkosh Public Library will now be open on Tuesdays from 10 am and until 6 pm.  The rest of the week, we will be open from 1 – 5:30 pm.

We will continue to be closed on the weekends. 

  The state of Nebraska used to have a set number of hours that libraries had to be open each week, dependent on the population they served.  Now, the Nebraska Library Commission encourages each small town library  to be open hours requested by their patrons, dependent on funds available.  For the last several years, the library has been open 25 hours per week which seems to meet our patrons’ needs.  The only request we have had is to be open one morning per week, especially in the summer when afternoons are so hot.  The library was open until 7pm two evenings per week but did not have enough visitors during the evening to warrant being open so we are moving those hours to the morning.

  Other recent changes to the library include a larger collection of DVD’s, a new  section for Reese’s Book Club books,  a new area for the large print books, and a roomier, less crowded atmosphere. 

   We are always open for suggestions to improve the library and add new services and programs.  Please stop in anytime to visit your town library!  More changes and announcements coming in September!

July News Article

It’s good to be back at the Oshkosh Public Library!  I have enjoyed every day and every person, and it is so nice to meet all the new people who use our library.

I worked at this great library from 1986-1996 and I’m not surprised to learn that a lot of things have changed in my 23 year absence.  The Oshkosh Public Library is still a very busy place, but for a huge variety of reasons now. 

In the past few weeks, people have come in the library to use one of our FIVE public computers. Why buy a computer and pay a monthly Internet fee if you just need to check your email or print something?  With three desktop computers and two laptops available, there is always at least one available for you. (We have headphones if needed. Especially for Grandparents FaceTiming their grandkids!)

We have people coming in daily to use our black and white or color copy machines or the fax machine. (We have great prices!) The Oshkosh Public Library also has a large collection of office supplies that you can use, like the extra large paper cutter and long reach stapler.

I would say that during the summer, our DVDs and Audio Books are checked out more than anything else in the library.  We have a large collection and really appreciate all the donations we get from people who watch a movie once or listen to a book in their car one time, then donate them to us.  Thank you!

I was happy to see that the Cake Pan collection, started by Ruby Chryst over twenty years ago, has been expanded and people still come in to check out a cake pan.  We have shapes for kids’ parties and plain circles and squares for wedding cakes or “just because”.

The library now has a large collection of Large Print books, set aside in their own area.  They are also being used daily.  We are also lucky to be one of the few libraries left with a magazine collection.  We do not keep back issues so all magazines over one month old, are free to take.  Current magazines can all be checked out.

I am rearranging and updating a few things in the library but nothing that will scare off our patrons or “members” (as I just found out library users are now called).  I do have plans for the future so stop in and ask me about that!

Again, it’s good to be back and I hope you will come see what’s new at the Oshkosh Public Library!

• Elaine Lake, Director