Hello Everyone!

My name is Charlie Ashby. I am the new I/T Assistant at the Bossier Parish Library system. I have been working in the BPL system for 2 years. I started off working Night and Weekends, then moved to Full time at circulation, and now I am working with our I/T Specialist, Jaketha Farmer. I look forward to serving the City of Bossier to the best of my abilities.

I live in a small town called Blanchard. I have been living there my entire life. I graduated from Northwood High School in 2005. I continued my education, attending Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) focusing on Secondary Education and then on to Southern University in Shreveport. My focus at SUSLA was Computer Networking. I took part in the Cisco Program or the CCNA classes. I finished this past semester, spring 2008.

I am currently serving as the Youth Pastor at the Blanchard Church of the Nazarene. I have attended BNC my entire life. I am also going to Bible College at Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, CO. I am attending the classes online. Each class is 6 weeks long. I plan to one day be ordained as a Nazarene Pastor. I serve on the local church board and I am one of two Associate Pastors at BNC. I am also a huge LSU and New Orleans Saints fan.

If you have any questions about computers or life in general, then please stop by. I’m sure I can help you with something. I look forward to seeing you around!

Charlie Ashby
I/T Assistant

"Spring into Technology" 2008

BOSSIER PARISH LIBRARIES will host its first Spring into Technology March 24-28. During the week, I will roll out BPL's new and improved library website (http://www.bossierlibrary.org). Along with new products, services, and several special events.

1. New downloaded audio books or eAudiobooks serviced by NetLibrary, Recorded Books & OCLC.

2. New downloaded movies called MyLibraryDV, which offered downloadable Hollywood movies, Internet TV shows and a few regular TV shows, such as, Antiques Roadshow. This product is serviced by Recorded Books.

3. Surveys 4 Patron Computer Classes - THIS WEEK ONLY!!! - Stop by one of our branches and fill out a survey. The results will be used to establish a Summer/Fall 2008 listing of free computer classes for the Summer/Fall 2008. Classes are open to all active BPL library card holders.

4. Teens/YA Internet Safety Programs - For more details, contact Beverly Miles, East80 Library Manager, at (318) 949-2665 or Connie Ammons, Benton Library Manager, at (318) 965-2751.

5. Genealogy Photo Fair - If you have an copy of an old photo that highlights the history of Bossier Parish, bring it to the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center and we will reproduced it for you. Oh! And they would love to make an extra copy to add to their genealogy collection. Contact the History Center at (318) 746-7717 for more details.

6. "Old Technology" Display sponsored by the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center - A display showcases "old technology". Contact the History Center at (318) 746-7717 for more details.

7. "The Future is Now" Program sponsored by the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center. Contact the History Center at (318) 746-7717 for more details.

OTHER S.I.T. EVENTS:

1. Fines-free week - This is the time to return all those "past due" BPL library materials without being charged late fees. Contact Margie Carney, Circulation Manager at Bossier Central Library at (318) 746-1693.

2. Teens/YA Poetry Contest - In celebration of National Poetry Month - see the YA blog for more details (http://bpl-ya.blogspot.com).

3. Children Bookmark Contest - see the kids blog for more info
(http://bpl-kids.blogspot.com).

All week long we will be giving away freebies from pencils to books. We hope to see you March 24 through 28 at Spring into Technology 2008.