Exeter Public Library Notice

The Exeter Public Library is no longer able to take used batteries.  The grant funds that were used to recycle the batteries has run out and the library can no longer take the used batteries.

Local UNL Graduates

LINCOLN, NE (12/21/2015)-- More than 1,400 degrees were awarded during commencement exercises Dec. 18 and 19 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Tammy Beck, associate dean of graduate programs and external engagement, and associate professor of management in the College of Business Administration, delivered the address at the Dec. 18 graduate and professional degrees ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena. M. Ishaq Nadiri, Jay Gould Professor of Economics at New York University, delivered the address at the undergraduate commencement Dec. 19 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. He also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Deryl Hamann, of counsel at Omaha law firm Baird Holm and chairman and director of Spectrum Financial Services, addressed the law graduates Dec. 18 at Hamann Auditorium in Ross McCollum Hall.
The graduates are from 33 states plus the District of Columbia and 20 countries. For the complete list of Dec. 18-19 graduates, go to http://go.unl.edu/dgqx.
Exeter: Landon Robert Rhodes, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, bachelor of science in mechanized systems management.
Burress:  Tyler Thomas Manning, College of Engineering, bachelor of science in agricultural engineering.

Merry Christmas

Exeter-Milligan Junior-Senior High Christmas Concert

The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Choir performed first at Thursday evenings Junior-Senior High Christmas Concert.

The Exeter-Milligan Junior High and High School students presented their Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 17 in the Exeter Gymnasium.

Under the direction of Mrs. Angie Murphy the Junior High choir opened the concert with “Rocking’ On A Christmas Eve” before singing “Somewhere in My Memory.”

The Junior High Women’s Ensemble did an excellent job performing “All I Want for Christmas is You.”  The girls chose the song and practiced on their own.

The Jazz band performed a medley called “Mistletoe Magic” before the Senior High Women’s Ensemble sang “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Anitphonal Deck the Halls,” accompanied by pianist Caitlin Murphy.

The ensemble was joined by Friends of Vocal to sing “Silver Bells.”

The Junior-Senior High Band were the final number at the concert performing “Christmas Pops Medley,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” and finished with the audience participation on “Christmas Sing Along.”

 The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Women’s Ensemble from the left Cammie Harrison, Jaiden Papik, Georgia Meyer, Jacy Schlueter, Caitlin Murphy, Daisy Kanode, Anna Sluka and Kayla Geiger.

 The Exeter-Milligan Jazz Band performed at the Christmas Concert.

 Ashley Benorden sings a solo during "Do You Want to Build A Snowman?"

 Playing clarinet in the Exeter-Milligan band are from the left Ashley Benorden, Kaityln Vavra and Hannah Beethe.

The Exeter-Milligan Junior-Senior High band.

Exeter-Milligan Volleyball Trophy

More hardware for the Exeter-Milligan trophy cases.  The Volleyball trophy for the State Champion team is just waiting for engraving.

Exeter Public Library

Both photos– Exeter Public Library Director Jessica Votipka welcomes patrons at the downtown library.

Exeter has boasted a public library since 1910, starting with a gathering of 1,000 volumes which in 1915 was housed in the Yates Tailor Shop downtown.

These days, the Exeter Public Library is ensconced in a building built in 1974 to house both the library and the city offices.

Libraries, especially the one in Exeter, are no longer quiet stacks with a spinster librarian shushing patrons.  Exeter’s cheerful room includes lots of technology, fun activities for kids and a variety of options for adults as well.

Recently, through grants and donations, Exeter was able to revitalize the reading spaces of the library to bring them up to date.  The library board decided to go a step further and purchased furniture with built-in usb ports for charging electronics along with some updated computer equipment.

Libraries in this age are eager to keep up with the trends to stay relevant. Exeter Public Library Director Jessica Votipka explained, “Libraries across the board are offering a much greater variety of services – not just reading materials and movies. Off the top of my head, I can think of some Nebraska libraries that loan out cake pans, board games, video games – you’d be surprised. I’ve even heard of a library out-of-state that loans out power tools!”

While Votipka and her Library Board aren’t quite headed down the power tool aisle yet, they are keep tabs on what’s new in the service area.  Votipka belongs to several trade organizations including the American Library Association (ALA), the Nebraska Library Association (NLA), and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL). “These groups offer wonderful resources for libraries big and small to keep up with the latest trends. I recently attended the NLA conference in Lincoln, which had some great sessions.”

Library Board Chair Becky Erdkamp agrees with the direction that Votipka is taking.  “We have to go beyond just books and videos.  Jessica is able to provide research and genealogy services.  There are a lot more services at the library than what first comes to mind.”

Maintaining accredited status also is a way for the library and the board to tap into a wonderful resource.  The Nebraska Library Commission offers educational opportunities for both the board and the librarian, “There is a lot more involved in librarianship and library governance than people think,” Votipka explained.  

Keeping the community involved can be a challenge in a small town. Votipka expressed her thoughts on this challenge, “A library is often a reflection of its community. We don’t want to gather moss, so to speak; we want – and need -- to continue to innovate and grow.”

Erdkamp added, “We are looking for ways we can stay relevant.  The way people are using the library is changing.  E-readers have changed libraries a lot and we are looking into those services.”

Exeter Public Library has embraced growing by investing in an AWE Early Learning Station that is just for the kids to use. Funded by grants and donations the computer has a child-friendly keyboard and learning games that are very attractive to kids.

To keep the young adult group interested, Votipka is investigating an idea she learned about at the NLA/NSLA conference involving QR codes on books which are linked to an online book trailer.   Votipka plans to continue her story hours similar to the “Fancy Nancy” and cowboy themes that were popular this year.  She hopes to implement a “One Book, One Exeter” program soon.

Erdkamp praised Votipka’s innovation, “Jessica is really good about sensing trends and has taken advantage of training opportunities whenever she can.”

Although the majority of the Exeter Public Library service is currently in books and movies Votipka is seeing more trends in what she referred to as the “maker movement.”  She explained, “basically, library maker spaces provide creative tools and other components that patrons might not have otherwise had access to. We do a bit of this already. I get folks coming in to do origami, duct tape crafts, bulletin board decorations, and similar things. We are having a new public event sometime in December called “Random Acts of Craftiness”, which will showcase our local “makers” and give visitors the opportunity to learn more about their crafts.

The library has added a Cricut machine to their technology wish list to help embrace the craft movement.  A Cricut machine allows a user to cut paper out in different shapes in all different sizes.

With the new lounge furniture in place the library is a great place to gather.  Once the cold weather sets in Votipka will set up a public puzzle for community members to stop by and work with.  Votipka is always happy to help patrons found a book that may not be in the new or best-seller racks, “We have a large collection that is certainly worth exploring,” she explained.

Votipka emphasized that one of the most important public services the library has to offer is the freedom of information, “One of the reasons our country is so awesome is that we have the rights to express ourselves and gather information, and libraries are essential to this. To take away the basic right of freedom of information – a core value of libraries -- is to throw out the foundation of our nation.”

When asked about the future plans for the Exeter Public Library Votipka mentioned that they always have the community in mind.  They are looking at giving Storybook Park a makeover which has been well supported in the community but right now progress will depend on what happens with the building next door which the village now owns. “We don’t want to do a lot of revamping until that gets taken care of.”

The library received funds from the Exeter Community Foundation for a new circulation desk that is scheduled for shipment in January.  The board, along, with Votipka, are planning an open house to show off the new look of the library once everything is in place. Votipka is pleased with the results so far, “All of the furniture has really freshened up our look, and now people have a comfortable place to read the newspaper or just hang out.”

Fun facts about Exeter Public Library:

Current building constructed in 1974 (with Village Office next door)

11,953 books, 195 audio units, 376 videos, 12 subscriptions (including local newspapers and a variety of magazines), and 20 puppets in the library’s collection.

283 registered borrowers

Circulation over 3,500

Hours are MWF 8 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – noon.

Past library directors: Nina Bartu, Lana Kimble, Henrietta Harre

Current library board members: Becky Erdkamp, Sharon Dyer, Pat Mathiesen, Lynette R. Trauger, Rachel Vossler