Newsletter
December 2008
Friends of the Library Dues
This is the announcement you’ve all been waiting for…It’s time to pay your 2009 Friends dues. You may recall that we have switched our annual dues period to January 1st-December 31st to help make it easier for all to remember. Please use the attached form to pay your dues by either mailing it in or returning it to the front desk. Some of you have recently sent in payment. If so, you are good for the 2009 season. If anyone has a question about their dues status, please call Maureen Bindl at 742-5297 to check it out. Thank You!
Reader Magnifier!
A reader magnifier is now available for use at the library. The open pages of a book can be magnified so that text and pictures are readily accessible to everyone. This user friendly machine has been made available to the public by the local Lion’s Club. A big note of thanks is due to the club for this valuable addition to the library’s resources!
The Big Read: Books For Our Time—2009 Book Discussion Series
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, developed in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. For this year’s Book Discussion series, a special ½ hour audio presentation will be followed by group discussion. Well known national celebrities such as Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Colin Powell, and Garrison Keillor will be heard during these programs.
All discussions take place at the Portage Library in the Bidwell Room on the third Mondays of the month starting at 7:00 p.m.
Dates and selections are as follows:
January 19 MY ANTONIA by Willa Cather: presented by Hans Jensen.
February 16 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee: presented by Sue Bradley.
March 16 GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck: presented by Jane Considine.
April 20 FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury: presented by Marvin Jensen.
Please read the assigned book before each session. Books are available through the Library and must be ordered in advance through interloan. Please stop by or call the library at 742-4959. All sessions are free and open to the public. The Friends of the Library are providing support for this adult program series.
Special Holiday Hours—
Closed Dec. 24 and 25
Open December 31 9-5 only
Closed New Year’s day
AWEsome—Recognition is also due Krista’s Kitchen and an SCLS LSTA Grant for making possible the acquisition of a new computer for the Children’s Area. This Early Literacy Station is designed to inspire every child to become a lifelong learner. Thirty-four interactive learning games are provided for the preschooler and beginning reader.
Book Donations—
Dorothy Russell donated THE GHOST MOUNTAIN BOYS by James Campbell and 5 books on decorating to the library non-fiction collection .
Youth Services News
The start of the new school year has brought children of all ages to the library to participate in Youth Service programs. Babies, birth to 23 months, were served by the “Baby & Me!” story time on Friday mornings; preschoolers, ages 2-5, enjoyed preschool story time on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. School-aged children, grades 4-6, participated in the Book Bunch discussion group, and teens flocked to Club Otaku. It’s been a fun and busy time in the children’s and teen areas, and we look forward to new and exciting ventures!
Speaking of new, on October 30, we hosted our first ever Teen Halloween party, for ages 12 -18. Over 2 dozen teens showed up in costume & watched the classic, “Young Frankenstein.” Prizes for outstanding costumes were provided by Jeanne Mundt and Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Homes. Refreshments were provided by Friends of the Library. Thanks to Morgan Foster, Nancy Maples & Jeanne Mundt for judging the costume contest.
Check out our website for photographs of all youth events and programs.
Thank you:
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Portage Fire Department for donating bags used for carting home craft projects from the Preschool Pumpkin Party
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Jeanne Caswell for creating craft ideas & Claire Blau for helping serve refreshments for the Preschool Pumpkin Party & Turkey Time Party
- Kay Jenkins, Nola Larson, Nancy Schaper, Connie Shlimovitz & Halloween cookies used at the Pumpkin Party & the Teen Halloween Party
- Pat Atkinson for donating “Bosephus Bear” to the children’s area! Bo, as he is affectionately called, keeps an eye out for young readers who can ‘bearly’ contain their excitement for books! Look for him climbing the posts in the Children’s room with periodic costume changes.
- Krista Bleich and her staff at Krista’s Kitchen Bakery & Café for making it possible for us to bring children’s performer David Landau to Portage, and to obtain a movie license. With the license we are able to show movies as part of our programming. On Wednesday, November 26 we will be using our license for a “Brown Bag Movie Bash,” a lunch and movie special event for children ages 6-12.
- Portage Women’s Civic League for your donation that was used to purchase a train table for the children’s play area. This addition helps highlight Portage’s history as an important railroad hub for Wisconsin. It has been an overwhelming success with children and their families.
- Friends of the Library for your continued support of children’s programming! Due Ellie Voigt for the beautifully decorated to your generosity we are able to purchase craft supplies, additional refreshments, & materials for decorating the story room & children’s play areas.
- decorated to your generosity we are able to purchase craft supplies, additional refreshments, & materials for decorating the story room & children’s play areas.
- To patrons who have donated books to the youth services dept. to be used in our collections or as prizes.
Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!
Saturday Story Time, December 6 @ 10:30, was an extra-special session as we participated in the Portage Chamber of Commerce “Cookie Walk.” Children, ages 2-6, and their families, were invited to this special ‘cookie’ story time where part of the fun was decorating [and eating!] holiday cookies!
What’s coming UP?
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Preschool Story Time will conclude on Wednesday, December 10 with a “Crazy for Color” program. Story Time for 2-5 year olds will begin again the week of January 20, 2009. Registration will begin on January 5.
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Club Otaku, for teens 12 & up, continues to meet the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month from 6-8 p.m. December meetings will be the 4th & 18th; January 15, 2009 will kick off the new year of Club Otaku.
The last Baby & Me! Story Time of the year will be Friday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. This program is for babies up to age 23 months & their favorite adult! Registration is recommended. Baby & Me! will take a break until March, and then will meet every Friday in March at 10:00 a.m.
Book Bunch discussion group for students in grades 4-6 will meet Friday, December 12, 4-5 p.m. The group chose, The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, as their last book of the year. January 9, 2009 the group will discuss Gary Paulsen’s hilarious, Lawn Boy. Students should pre-register.
Finally, don’t miss our 2nd Annual Family Holiday Sing-a-long on Monday, December 8 @ 7:00 p.m. Music will be provided by Portage’s own, “Late 4 Dinner” singing sensation, and special guest readers will be none other than Santa and Mrs. Claus! Refreshments will be served.
Don’t forget to check out the Portage Public Library web page at:
www.scls.lib.wi.us/por
Support the Friends of the Library!
LearningExpress Library Database
Portage Public Library now has LearningExpress Library which is an interactive online learning site of practice tests and tutorials designed to help library users pass their academic and licensing test. It’ll score the tests, and give complete answer explanations, and results. Just click on Online Resources, then Education, and finally LearningExpress Library.
Wireless Internet
Wireless Internet is now available at Portage Public Library. This is a free service at the library which allows to bring your laptop computer that has a wireless card, and surf the web using our high speed Internet connection. Library staff will not be available for support.