Nebraskans Have Free Access to 15 Databases
There are now 15 databases available online at Nebraska Access. These can be accessed for free with your Nebraska Drivers License number or with a password that you can obtain from your local library. With these databases you can create a family history, establish a small business, learn about medical conditions, get homework help, find a good book or movie, plan for retirement, or research thousands of other topics, This is a wonderful resource for dependable current information.Â
Digitized School Yearbooks
Recently I was made aware of an opportunity to get the yearbooks in our library digitized for free. My first thought was that it must be a scam, but the more I looked into it, I realized it is a legitimate program. The yearbooks are digitized by Oklahoma Correctional Industries (OCI). OCI will send us the shipping labels and schedule a pickup through Fed Ex. Then, after the annuals have been scanned, they will be returned to our library in the same condition that they were sent in about 5-6 weeks along with a set of DVD’s containing the digital images of each yearbook. The Garfield County Library and the Ainsworth library have both had this done, and they are very pleased with the results. Did I mention, it’s all totally free?
Here’s where we need your help. We would like to get as complete of a set of yearbooks as possible. I have contacted the school to see what years they have. We are still missing some years, so we are asking if anyone with these missing years would be willing to lend us their copy. If you have a copy, please contact me by phone 308-527-4241 or email sargentlibrary@gmail.com .
Here are the years that we need: Â 1914 (or older), 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954
Sargent Newspaper Archive Search Help
There have been quite a few people having trouble accessing the Sargent Newspaper Archives. The most likely reason is because they are using a Chrome internet browser.  When using Chrome, the search results show up, but when the pdf link is clicked, it loads up blank. This is caused by a glitch in the Chrome pdf viewer plugin. There is nothing wrong with your computer. The simplest solution is to use a different browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer. If you must use Chrome, then you will need to save the pdf to your hard drive or change the pdf viewer plugin. Hopefully this will help you have a better search experience. For more help, go to the Helpful Hints Page.
Summer Reading Has Begun
The Newspaper Database is Here
The Sargent newspaper archive has arrived. Â It has been added to all 6 of our computers, and provides some interesting reading.
The oldest newspapers probably were not in the best condition when they were microfilmed, and they are hard to read.  Most of the words won’t show up in search results, but they are interesting to browse through.
I searched The Sargent Echo, from July 23, 1897. The interesting news of the day was:
“Jacob Groff, the man who was judged insane, and waiting to be taken to Norfolk, escaped from the jail last night by removing the bars from the window. “  In the editorial that followed, they were not very happy with the competence of the Custer County Sheriff.
You could get a package of coffee for 15 cents, 30#s of dried grapes for $1, and 40#s of oatmeal for $1, and 11 bars of good soap for only 25 cents.
A new drug was advertised called Vatuma. It was an antiseptic germicide that destroyed all microbes and germs of every kind, name and nature. People could use it as a permanent cure for whatever ailed them.  Then of course there was Dr Kilmer’s Swamp Root to be taken for back pain.
Come over to the library and search & browse for a while.
Teacher Appreciation Day
May 5th is Teacher Appreciation Day. We have some great, dedicated teachers in Sargent. Let’s show them that they are appreciated. This site has an idea for the best appreciation gift. Â Â www.graceelizabeths.com
Pioneer Girl
This is one of the newest books at the library. This is the first book that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote. It was intended for an adult audience, but never published until now. Life for the Ingalls family was not easy. Much of her story will be familiar if you have read her children’s books. However, you will also read wild tales of pioneer life like their neighbor who came home drunk, drug his wife around the room, by her long hair, with one hand and carried a flaming lamp bottom side up with the other hand. Later you read about the Bender family who ran a roadhouse and would murder visitors with an ax when they came to stay. Come check it out and learn about how real pioneers lived.
Library Board Meeting
We will be having a library board meeting on April 6, at 9:00 a.m. Â All are welcome to attend.Â
New Books
Here are the newest books for you to come and check out. Notice that 3 of the books have “rain” in their titles. This wasn’t intentional, but we could sure use some rain. 🙂