New RR librarian excited about technological changes

By Ken Johnston
Editor

There is a new face at the Rainy River Public Library, well new to some and familiar to others.
Sheila McIntosh (nee McKenzie) recently moved back to the Rainy River area, having left after she graduated from Rainy River High School in 1981.
Living in a remote community, McIntosh was not pleased with the high school there, noting that on some days there were at least 50% of the students absent. So she moved back so her daughter could attend Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program (S.C.A.P.) in Stratton.
After being a stay at home mom for many years she decided to take the job as Librarian and C.E.O. at the Rainy River Library. She began her duties on November 27th and admits it was all new to her. “I am still getting the hang of it... I am in learning mode,” said McIntosh last week.
Picking up where the previous librarian left off, she has been busy getting the new automation system fully implemented. “As people have come in we have been issuing them new library cards, equipped with a barcode that is scanned when signing out books or other items from the library.
McIntosh said the system is really good for the library. “We are now connected with all of Ontario (via computer).” She has been utilizing the catalogue information from other libraries’ sites to beef up the catalogue here.
She has been taking training to get as much as she can from the new automated system, which Emo and Fort Frances are also using.
She said that in the not too distant future people will be able to look at Rainy River Library’s catalogue on line and reserve a book without being physically at the library.
While she said the job was a bit scary at first she has found it to be very exciting so far. In addition to the duties at the library she has found it interesting to meet and remeet residents. “I look at a face and am not sure if I know them. But many of them know me and remember my dad (Howard McKenzie).”
She is working Tues. to Fri. from 12:30-5:30 p.m. She also has three students helping her out. Carrie Scheurmann, Alyssa Jodoin and Deidre Wilson.
They have been holding regular story times and over Easter the library participated at the Easter Egg Hunt, reading books to kids.
McIntosh said plans are in the works for a summer reading program called “Laugh Out Loud.”
She would like to encourage people to come in and check out the library, noting that residents of Rainy River, Lake of the Woods Twp, Morley and Dawson do not have to pay to use the library. People from outside those communities have to pay $25 every two years.
The library has books, talking books and videos to sign out and is also a public access site for the internet.
Every season they get new books by popular authors, so there is always something new to experience at the library.