Reedsburg Public Library ~~~~ 370 Vine Street Reedsburg WI |
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Your Library: The Inside Story (April 11)
Next week (April 14-20) is National Library Week. During the week we will be holding a food drive for the local pantry. For each food item brought into the library, we will waive fifty cents in overdue library fines. This is an opportunity to clear up your fines and help the local Food Pantry. Also you may just drop off food items if you don’t have fines.
In recognition of National Library Week (April 14-20), the Friends of the Reedsburg Public Library will present "Books for Babies" kits to new mothers at the Reedsburg Area Medical Center. The early literacy kit includes a sippy cup, board book, literacy information and more. The program is designed to promote childhood literacy, parent-child bonding and infant cognitive development.
To learn more about what's happening at your library or learn about joining the Friends of the Library, information can be found at www.reedsburglibrary.org
The popular Culvers Coloring Contest is going on this month. All month long your child can pick up an entry sheet and then draw a picture that represents a favorite book. Return the entry form to the library where you will receive a coupon for a free Culver’s cone. Grand prizes will be given away at the end of the month.
There’s a new way to find the newest items available through the library! Now on LINKcat is the “New This Week” list showing all materials added to the library catalog in the last seven days. The list will change daily as new items are added. The old “Don’t Miss Lists” will also still be available. To access the lists go to LINKcat (www.linkcat.info) and click the links in the blue bar.
Our new daytime book discussion group “Tea and Titles” will be meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 10AM. There are still copies of the “Book Thief” available for checkout. Set in Germany during World War II, the novel’s heroine is Liesel, a child whose foster parents quietly, dangerously resist the Nazis while hiding a Jewish man in their basement. The story is stunningly beautiful in its rendering, and gut-wrenchingly powerful in its emotional punches. You may find the book in the young adult section, but it is one of the most beautiful stories you’ll have the privilege to read at any age.
Remember that Monday is Patriots Day. Celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine, it is also a public school observance day in Wisconsin. It’s a day to commemorate the battle of Lexington and Concord. Our library collection includes many books and DVDs about famous patriots and the events over time, including today’s patriots who are lead on Sundays by star quarterback Tom Brady.Your Library: The Inside Story (April 4)
You don’t have to be a die-hard fan to appreciate the start of the baseball season. Opening Day is a sign that spring has finally sprung, as we hear these immortal words for the first time this year: “Play Ball!” We have a variety of books and videos on playing baseball, the lives of legendary players and memorable games, and even some beautiful picture books. Our DVD collection includes many historic games with complete broadcasts of some the most memorable moments of baseball, from walk-off World Series wins to mind-numbing comebacks.
Well, it’s the time of year for you to plan your springtime projects. We can help you think about planting your garden, grilling, organizing your closets or help you find some fresh cleaning ideas. If you’ve been doing your spring cleaning already and discovered books, cds and DVDs that you no longer use, we will accept them to either add to our collection or to put in the book sale. The Friends of the Library use the proceeds from the book sale to purchase new items for our collection and sponsor programs. We will be having a large sale this spring on the weekend of April 26th.
Oil tycoons battled for money, power and prestige in the long-running drama “Dallas”, which first aired thirty-five years ago on April 2, 1978. The series revolved around the wealthy and feuding Ewings and Barnes families. We have all 357 episodes on DVD including its spin-off series Knots Landing. Did you know that J.R. was the only character to have appeared in every episode of Dallas?
Forty-five years ago on April 4th, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot in Memphis, Tennessee. 1968 was a year of turbulence and pivotal moments that still affect the American landscape today. There was the fury and violence of the Democratic Convention in Chicago as it propelled us toward a tipping point in politics; Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968. This time period was tragic and galvanizing, truly as revolutionary as it felt. Oral history readers might enjoy “The 1960s: a Decade of Change” by the students of D.C. Everett High School in Western Wisconsin. Tom Brokaw authored “Boom: Voices of the Sixties”, which profiles the time when Ike was in the White House until Man was on the moon. His book is based on the History Channel’s show “1968”. Both items are available here at the library.
Your Library: The Inside Story (March 28)
The Library will be closed at noon on Friday, March 29 and closed all day on Sunday, March 31. We are open our regular hours on Saturday, March 30. Our book return, located on the Locust Street side of the building, will be open, and LINKcat is always available to renew or reserve books and other items.
We are celebrating the birthdays of three authors at the library this week:
Bob Woodward, assistant managing editor of the Washington Post, celebrated his 70th birthday on March 26. He was an investigative reporter for The Washington Post and helped uncover the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation, in the seventies. Woodward has written sixteen books, twelve of which have been number one bestsellers. That is more than any other contemporary American writer. Copies of his books are all available at the library.
Have you heard of the children’s series with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, featuring characters that parents turned to when their children’s behavior was out of control? Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was famous for her “Won’t Pick Up the Toys Cure” and “Answer- Backers Cure”. Author Betty MacDonald was born 105 years ago on March 26, 1908. She was born as Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard in Boulder, Colorado, and she died in 1958 at Carmel Valley, California. In 2007, Betty MacDonald's daughter, Anne MacDonald Canham, published a new book, “Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle”, based in part on stories created by her mother, plus her own creative tales. The book is attributed to both mother and daughter. The Mrs Piggle-Wiggle books are great read-aloud books with your children.
Former Vice President Al Gore was born sixty-five years ago on March 31, 1948. Winner of the popular vote in 2000, now known as a prominent environmental activist, he was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Gore is the author of many books including “Earth in the Balance” and “An Inconvenient Truth”, based on his academy award-winning documentary. We have many of his books including his new book “The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change”.
Your Library: The Inside Story (March 21)
Eighty-five years ago on March 20th, children’s public television pioneer Fred Rogers was born. The Presbyterian minister hosted the famous PBS show “Mister Rogers Neighborhood”. The long-running children’s program is where puppets and human characters interacted in the neighborhood of make-believe. Rogers voiced many of the puppets and educated young viewers on a variety of important subjects. Almost 1,000 episodes were produced over the history of the show. Each episode began the same way, with Mister Rogers coming home and singing his theme song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and changing into sneakers and a zippered cardigan sweater. We have many of Fred Rogers’ books, episodes of the show and even a CD of songs from the neighborhood. Also in our DVD collection is the award-winning documentary “Mister Rogers and Me”.
Fifty years ago on March 21, Alcatraz Prison closed after twenty-nine years of operation. It’s the site of the first lighthouse and United States Fort built on the west coast. Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay about 1.5 miles offshore from San Francisco, California. We have a few books about the history of the famous rock including “Alcatraz: The Last Day” by photographer Leigh Wiener and “Alcatraz: The Official Guide” by Paul McHugh. Also, in our audio book collection you’ll find “Doing Time: Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour” as told by former inmates and correctional officers.
Teenagers across the United States mourned fifty-five years ago on March 24, 1958, as Elvis Presley was inducted into the army. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1960 with the rank of sergeant. His missing years are told in Andreas Schroer’s book “Private Presley”, and in fellow soldier Rex Mansfield’s “Sergeant Presley”, which are both available in our collection.
Twenty-one Friends of the Reedsburg Library met on Tuesday evening, March 12. The group enjoyed wonderful homemade appetizers and desserts while the business meeting was conducted. The group thanked Chris Schrank for her donation of many beautiful designer pumpkins last fall for the pumpkin sale and Joyce Fangmeier was honored for her ongoing volunteer duties for the Friends and the library. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00pm. Anyone is welcome to join the Friends of the Library.
Remember that the library will close Friday, March 29 at Noon and will be closed on Sunday, March 31. We are open Saturday, March 30 from 9 AM-4PM.
Your Library: The Inside Story (March 14)
Kevin and Patsy Alderson will be here for a book signing and presentation of their new book “Letters Home to Sarah” on Thursday, March 14 at 7 PM. At a household auction, the Aldersons discovered the Civil War letters of Guy Taylor, a farmer who served in the thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. They painstakingly transcribed the letters and researched Taylor’s story in Wisconsin and at historical sites of the Civil War. Their story is a moving collection that captures the range of emotions and experiences of the American Civil War. Please join us for this free program.
“Top O’ the Morning!” Although not an official U.S. Holiday, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with parties, parades, and general goodwill for all things Irish. The day commemorates St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Many Americans celebrate their Irish lineage on St. Patrick’s Day and March has been picked as Irish-American Heritage Month. In recognition, our website will feature a list of Irish fiction titles. Also, we have the book “Everything Irish”, a lively one-volume encyclopedia that has over 900 entries about everything Irish, from ancient myths to pivotal historic events, from heroes and terrorists, to poets and politicians. There are black and white photos throughout this wonderful book.
Do you remember Spahn, Aaron and Matthews. or when "Bushville" won the World Series? The happy days of Milwaukee during the 1950s are brought to life again in a library display that honors the 60th anniversary of the Braves arrival. On March 18, 1953. the National League owners voted to allow the Boston Braves to move to Milwaukee. Visit the Library and take this opportunity to revisit the days of the Milwaukee Braves.
Join us on Saturday, March16 at 10AM for Coupon Clipping 101 and discover how other people can have a cart full of groceries and only pay $1.00 for the whole lot. Where do they find these deals? Learn from a woman who saved $40,000 last year on her monthly bills! Back again by popular demand is Dannelle Gay, who lives in Sun Prairie and has done this without becoming extreme, and by shopping the same stores you and I shop at. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, this seminar will help you know where to find coupons, how to stack them for the most savings and how to keep organized. This is a free program and registration is not required to participate.
Your Library: The Inside Story (March 7)
You’re in a hurry, you’re in a line here at the library, and the person right in front of you is checking out what seems like the library’s entire collection of Dr. Seuss books, “Friends” DVD’s and Stephen King paperbacks. You feel your blood pressure rise as that little voice inside your head whispers, “You’re going to be late!” At the far end of the line, you see the library staff quickly scanning out books, but the line seems ominously long. The unconscious tapping of your foot is interrupted by an exasperated mumble up ahead, “Where is my card? It was just here!” With no time to wait, you decide to take matters into your own hands. You walk over to one of the library’s self-check-out machines. In mere moments, you scan your card, scan your books, and print a date due receipt. You can’t help but break into a little smile as you take your receipt and make your way to the exit. Maybe you won’t be late after all! We hope you have discovered our self-check machines, which were first introduced here five years ago. The self-check is a great service that we are excited to offer. We’ll still be glad to check out your items, but come in and give our self-check a try.
(We’ll be there to help if you need it).
Have you ever wondered about how eBay works? How people register and buy and sell items? MATC instructor Glenn Rehberg will be at the library on Thursday, March 7, from 6-9pm to lead a FREE eBay workshop. No eBay experience is necessary, and there will be laptops available for attendees to use. Participants may also bring their own laptops. Please register at the circulation desk.
Wonder what the Friends of the Reedsburg Public Library is all about? Mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 12th at 6 PM for the Friends spring meeting. Everyone is welcome to join. There will be some wonderful appetizers (bring your favorite if you like) and desserts. After the meeting there will be a special presentation on using online tools for finding good books to read. There are many great readers advisory sites and most of them are very simple to use. It’s hard to believe but in 2011, there were almost 350,000 books published (according to Bowker) and that number doesn’t include the over 211,000 titles that were self-published!
Kevin and Patsy Alderson will be at the library for a book signing and presentation of their new book “Letters Home to Sarah” on Thursday, March 14 at 7 PM. At a household auction, the Aldersons discovered the Civil War letters of Guy Taylor, a farmer who served in the thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. They painstakingly transcribed the letters and researched Taylor’s story in Wisconsin and at historical sites of the Civil War. Their story is a moving collection that captures the range of emotions and experiences of the American Civil War.
Your Library: The Inside Story (Feb 28)
Have you ever wondered about how eBay works? How people register and buy and sell items? MATC instructor Glenn Rehberg will be at the library on Thursday, March 7, from 6-9pm to lead a FREE eBay workshop. No eBay experience is necessary, and there will be laptops available for attendees to use. Participants may also bring their own laptops. Please register at the circulation desk.
Best known as Thurston Howell III on the 1960s hit sitcom “Gilligan’s Island”, Jim Backus would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday, February 25. (He died on July 3, 1989.) The radio, television, and film actor was famous for his roles as “Mr. Magoo” and as Hubert Updike III on “I Made Joan”. He also played James Dean’s father in “Rebel Without a Cause”. We have all these movies and shows available on DVD. We also have books on his “Gilligan’s Island” years. Jim and his wife were the authors of many books, including the best seller, “Forgive us our Digressions”, which includes great thoughts for anyone going through an illness or difficult period in their life.
One of the most important moments in television history happened thirty years ago on February 28, 1983. The most watched television episode ever was the final farewell for the 4077th M*A*S*H. As the characters on M*A*S*H said their tear-filled goodbyes, 106 million Americans watched. This was more people than watched the Super Bowl that year. You can relive that moment today, as we have the final show, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”. This motion picture length finale wraps up nicely the futures of the characters, as the war ends and they go home. We have many books on the series, including the fiction book that the original motion picture was based on and later the television series.
Modern PCs don’t have floppy drives. So how can you hope to extract your photos, WordPerfect documents, and any other old data that might be lingering on those disks? We have a 3.5 inch external floppy disk drive for checkout. Just plug the drive into a USB port and you should be good to go.
Your Library: The Inside Story (Feb 21)
This weekend is the 40th anniversary of the American Birkbeiner Race, the largest and most prestigious cross country ski marathon in North America. This year a record 10,000 skiers will be at the starting lines of the Birkebeiner, Kortelopet and Hakon races. The ski marathon is patterned after the area’s long Norwegian heritage. Lise Lunge-Larsen’s book “The Race of the Birkebeiners” is a finely detailed illustrated book that recounts how the two Birkebiners saved an infant by skiing across the mountains in the dead of winter. One of the best accounts of what the race means today is found in Walter Rhein’s “Beyond Birkie Fever”.
Winter is the classic season for slow cooking, but today slow cooking has become a year-round tradition that incorporates the hottest new trends. We have many cookbooks for you to experiment with hearty, mouth-watering, easy, one-pot recipes. Soups, stews, casseroles, and main dishes are all slow-cooking favorites, but the possibilities don’t end there. Check one out and try a new savory recipe.
LINKcat, the online catalog for the South Central Library System, recently added a feature that allows patrons to narrow searches to materials that are currently available in a library. Once you are on a search results page, you will see “available on shelf” listed on the left side under the options to refine your search. Choose “Anywhere” to see all available materials, or click on a library name to see materials available at a particular location.
Getting a little tired of snow? Need a little lighter look at life? You need to think about spring. It is just around the corner. So start planning your flower and vegetable garden. We have lots of gardening books to help you plan what should go where in the garden. Think spring!
Have you ever wondered about how eBay works? How people register and buy and sell items? MATC instructor Glenn Rehberg will be at the library on Thursday, March 7, from 6-9pm to lead a FREE eBay workshop. No eBay experience is necessary, and there will be laptops available for attendees to use. Please register at the circulation desk.
There is still time this month to stop by the library and experience the magic of railroading. Our lobby display case is for the train enthusiast, as we have a collection of train engines on display. Thanks to Richard Pannier for sharing a part of his collection this month.
Your Library: The Inside Story (Feb 14)
Reedsburg Public Library
Here’s a question. You probably already know that using the library saves you money. Would you like to know how much? There’s a tool on our website that helps you to calculate how much money the Reedsburg Public Library saves you, based on how much you use our services. It’s called the Library Value Calculator. Today the average paperback costs around $8, and hardcover books come in at a whopping average of $27. It’s true that e-books are a bit cheaper, but the average e-book is still $10-$15. Watch movies? Even if you pay as little as a dollar for a movie from one of those boxes, one movie a week is $4 a month, and if you’ve got kids you probably watch more than one a week! Even the average magazine is over $5 these days. Use the calculator to see what you could be saving at the library and then come in and see what we have to offer. Public libraries are a great deal. And the more you use them, the better the deal gets. February is Library Lovers Month; use your library to show your love.
Get ready for a new way to enjoy eBooks and more from the library. The Overdrive digital site is getting a facelift in the coming weeks. You can see a preview video on our web page. Some of the key features include: One-Step Checkout- once you’ve logged in with your library card number, it just takes one click to borrow a title. New website- a new design optimizes the experience for mobile and desktop use. New tools- powerful tools enable you to find your next book fast with filtered search, personalized title recommendations and more. With the new site, users of Overdrive can borrow titles with just one click.
Happy Jell-O Week - celebrated annually, the second full week of February. Who didn’t grow up on Jell-O gelatin? For more than one hundred years, it has reigned as “America’s most famous dessert” and is part of America’s history and culture. We have some classic recipes in our cookbook collection including “I Could Go for Something Jell-O” and Carolyn Wyman’s book “Jell-O”, which is a biographical sweet story of the wiggly jiggly treat’s success. After all, there’s always room for Jell-O this week.
Your Library: The Inside Story (Feb 7 )
Reedsburg Public Library
Please make note that the library will be closing early on Thursday, February 7 at 4 PM for staff training. Regular library hours will resume on Friday morning at 8:30 AM. While the library is closed, items may be returned through our book return, located on the east wall of the library building on Locust Street. LINKcat, our online catalog, is available 24/7 to place holds and manage your account.
We are still participating in the 2013 Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge. The Challenge is open to all Wisconsin third through tenth graders and will run through February 27. Score 500 points by reading and earn a free ticket to a Bucks home game at the Bradley Center! The Milwaukee Bucks remind you “the more you read, the more you win!” Pick up your Reading Package materials at the library.
The American Library Association announced their annual book awards. The Caldecott Medal for excellence in illustration went to “This Is Not My Hat” by Jon Klassen. The Newbery Medal, for author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, went to “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate. Both books are in our children’s collection.
Please remember if the Reedsburg School District cancels classes due to weather conditions, the Reedsburg Public Library cancels all programs for children and adults on that date also. We may still be open but be sure to check before coming out in the hazardous weather.
February is “Library Lover’s Month”! In honor of this special month, the Friends of the Library now offer Flexi-Lights in their Gift Gallery. The lights feature a movable neck with a high intensity white LED light, perfect for reading your favorite book in the dark. This marvelous invention is housed in an elegant aluminum case in red or blue color, with a handy pocket clip and a powerful magnetic base. Batteries are included.
Families are welcome to visit the library this Saturday, February 9, at 10am for “Second Saturday @ your library”. A homemade valentine workshop will be taking place! All supplies will be provided and children may make a variety of valentines to share with friends and family. Kreb the R.E.A.D. dog will also be on hand from 10-11am to listen to children read.
Happy 75th birthday on February 12th to Judy Blume, author of many novels for children and young adults, which have sales exceeding 80 million and been translated into 31 languages.
Your Library: The Inside Story (Feb 1 )
This month is Library Lover's Month - a celebration of libraries of all types. It’s a time for everyone to recognize the important role libraries play in the cultural and economic success of local communities and the nation as a whole. Whether you depend on the library for bestselling books, children's storytimes, entertaining programs, gallery exhibits, or access to computers and the Internet, residents are encouraged to visit the library and show how much you love your library this month. We hope to see you Saturday, as it is National “Take Your Child to the Library” Day. We will have parent and children activities scheduled all day.
This weekend is the biggest, grandest, most-watched single event in American sports. The 47th annual Super Bowl is back in New Orleans. Did you know this will be the 10th Super Bowl held there since 1970, a tie for the most Super Bowls by any single city? The Superdome ranks first among venues, with seven. Our lobby display case takes a look back at some of the past ten super bowls, including turf from the Superdome and a replica Super Bowl XXXI ring. But to get you through the pre-game, watch one of the DVDs we have in the series “America’s Game”. Each episode is a 60-minute documentary featuring key members of the winning team giving behind-the- scenes accounts from their championship season. Classic NFL Films action, combined with news clips and photos, highlights from team radio broadcasts, footage from inside team meeting rooms, sideline audio and other exclusive features, “America s Game” provides an epic and intimate portrait of 40 distinct championship teams, in one groundbreaking series.
A hero to all, Rosa Parks was born one hundred years ago on February 4, 1913. She was an accomplished seamstress, and on a fateful day in Montgomery, she refused to give up her seat to a white man during a ride home from work. This simple act sparked the Civil Rights Movement. We have many books on the Civil Rights Movement, including the children’s book “The Bus Ride That Changed History” by Pamela Edwards. This book tells the remarkable story, but is also interspersed with modern-day cartoon characters guiding readers through the events and posing questions via dialogue-balloon conversations. History was made because of one woman’s bravery.
Please make note that the library will be closing early on Thursday, February 7 at 4 PM for staff training. This inservice is part of an effort to better serve library customers through staff training and development. Regular library hours will resume on Friday morning at 8:30 AM. While the library is closed, items may be returned through our book return, located on the east wall of the library building on Locust Street. LINKcat, our online catalog, is available 24/7 to place holds and manage your account
Your Library: The Inside Story (Jan 24)
Join us this weekend for our winter Book Sale. As usual, we have adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction in hardcover and paperback. But this time you will also find a large selection of magazines. The sale is being held for three big days: Friday, January 25 through Sunday, January 27, during library hours. Funds raised will benefit the library’s collections. Book donations are accepted any time during the year. Friends of the Library members can get in a day early, with preview night on Thursday, January 24 from 6-7 PM. Friends memberships are renewable every January, unless you are a lifetime member.
This is a great time to join the Friends of the Library. As a member you are eligible to attend our Book Sale Preview Night four times a year, which will give you an opportunity to buy items from the sale before the general public is given access. For a $5 individual contribution, you will help the Friends group strengthen the library’s collections, expand programs and enhance services for your library. During 2012 the Friends continued their support of a variety of educational and cultural adult and children’s programs, including the ongoing family program, Second Saturdays @ your library. The Friends also supplied prizes for the Adult Reading Program, and continue to support the coffee cart. We hope you can join us as an individual, family or lifetime member. Complete Friends of the Library Membership information can be picked up at the library.
Remember “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” from beautiful downtown Burbank? It first aired forty-five years ago on January 22. The show starred unknowns Goldie Hawn, Richard Dawson and others, moving from gag to gag, with heads popping out of the bushes or doors in the big wall. We have some of the shows on DVD to remember the “new” phrases like “Sock it to me”.
Last week one of baseball’s all-time greats died. Stan the Man Musial spent 22 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals leading them to three World Series titles. The legend ranked at or is near the top of baseball’s all-time lists in almost early batting category. He won seven National League batting titles and three MVPs. We have his 1964 autobiography as well as the photo book “Stan Musial, baseball’s perfect knight”. After all of this time, those of you fortunate enough to have see him play or to have listened to those broadcasts on summer nights, can still picture him, like we picture no other. Baseball has only one “perfect warrior”, one “perfect knight”. He is the one and only “Stan the Man”.
Have you found some old slides in a drawer and want to convert them to digital format? Did you know we have a Photo/Film/Slide Scanner for checkout? This scanner is used to convert photos, film and slides to digital pictures. (Images may be saved to your PC via cable or to an SD card.) This is one of several items in our AV equipment collection that we loan out. Our equipment collection includes an Overhead Projector, Opaque Projector, Slide Projector, Tape Recorder, Portable CD players, Sony Digital Video Camera, Flip Mino Video camera, MP3 Players, DVD Converter, LCD Projector, and a Magnifier.