Summer Library Programs and our 100th Birthday, Coming Soon!

Join the Fun and Dig Into Reading with us this summer! This year's Summer Library Programs begin June 19th and feature activities, reading lists, prize drawings, creative excursions, scavenger hunts, wreck-it journals, found objects and many special guests who'll be talking about caves, dinosaurs, fossils, gardening and much much more. For kids and adults alike, a world of fun and learning await! 

Additional program schedules will be posted soon, watch this space.

Meet A Fireman at Your Library!

Fireman Sam and All About Summer Fire Safety!

Kids and their families are invited to join us at the library on Saturday, May 4th at 10:00 AM for a "Summer Fire Safety" program. One of Boscobel's very own firemen will stop by the library with some fire-fighting gear and tell everyone a story about how to stay safe around fire while having fun this summer. Learn about the work that firemen do, what it's like to ride on the big red firetruck and what you can do to be a fire smart kid this summer.  If you like Fireman Sam, the Big Red Firetruck and other books about the brave men and women who come running to help us day or night, then this programs for you! All children and families welcome. Boscobel Extravaganza Bounce House will be set up right next door too and the big red fire whistle on top of our building will go off at noon!

Summer Library Program, "Dig Into Reading!" begins June 19th. Activities, adventures, reading prizes, special guests and more will be offered for children and adults of all ages. Special programs include the library's 100th Anniversary Celebration, July 1st through 5th. From literacy opportunities in the past to envisioning the future of information in the present, the Boscobel Library has faithfully served the reading, entertainment and educational needs of our community and the surrounding areas for more than a century. Stop by the library to enjoy stories from the past and test drive some of the latest technology rich services leading us into the future. Watch this column for additional information about all that we'll be offering @ Your Library this summer. 

Needed:  Legos and Tins, Oh My !

Your library is currently seeking the following donations to support the Summer Library Program: small to medium sized clean tins (no plastic please)  with hinged lids to be used for  craft projects. Altoids mint tins, old kids watercolor sets,  and the like are just right and very much appreciated. Reduce, reuse, recycle here!

LEGOS help to teach kids important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts, including counting, sorting, geometry and construction. In 2013 your library is participating in a federal LSTA grant program to teach STEM skills to very young children. We're planning  summer and fall activities for both children and parents. The library has currently purchased several LEGO DUPLO (ages 1-5) sets for this grant; however, older children have noticed and now want us to get regular "big kids" LEGOS for them to use. One enterprising 3rd grader even presented a list of signatures from classmates who want to see LEGOS in our library! As parents know, LEGOs get expensive, so we're turning to our community for help with this request: if your kids are grown or you otherwise have unused or extra LEGOS gathering dust, please consider donating them to our library. The library will be able to make plenty good use of them putting smiles on kids' faces while building their brainpower.

For additional information about these or other library services and programs, please contact the library by calling 608-375-5723, email libraryboscobel@gmail.com or stop by to chat with one of our friendly librarians.

Celebrate National Library Week and Poem in Your Pocket Day!

Celebrate National Library Week and Poem in Your Pocket Day!

April 14th through 20th is National Library Week, when US libraries nationwide celebrate the unique "freedom to read" that public libraries represent. By encouraging and supporting literacy and providing open access to all kinds of information, both traditional and digital, public libraries enable people of all ages to develop skills, gain knowledge, pursue interests and engage their world. From engineering to poetry, Internet to encyclopedias, DVD movies to Civil War newspapers, free access to  information gets people thinking, supports democracy and fuels the kind of dreams that can make the world a better place. If knowledge is power, your library card is the fuel!. Stop by today to learn more and get started on your next adventure. 

  April is also National Poetry month and this week we'll be celebrating "Poem in Your Pocket" day on April 18th. Patrons who bring in a poem this week can have up to $5.00 in fines waived. Kids who bring a poem  in their pocket get to pick a free gift from our surprise basket.  Stop by with the kids to check out our poetry bookshelf and try out the "Poetry Beats Studio" computer station: anyone can create a poem then make a sound recording of it complete with background music to share online and an illustrated poster to take home! "Poetry Beats Studio" is sponsored by Carolyn Kennedy, go to http://dep.disney.go.com/poems/ for more information.

Here's a pocket poem we wrote at the library for people to cut out and carry with them or bring in for fine forgiveness:

"We think that we shall never see, 

  a sight so lovely as our library. 

With kids and readers gathered 'round, 

hear us make a joyful sound. 
Check out some books, test drive a Nook,
The future's here, just take a look!"

Our Library's now on Soundcloud, listen to a spoken word version of the poem.!

Summer Library Program, "Dig Into Reading!" begins June 19th. Activities, adventures, reading prizes, special guests and more will be offered for children and adults of all ages. Special programs include the library's 100th Anniversary Celebration, July 1st through 5th. From literacy opportunities in the past to envisioning the future of information in the present, the Boscobel Library has faithfully served the reading, entertainment and educational needs of our community and the surrounding areas for more than a century. Stop by the library to enjoy stories from the past and test drive some of the latest technology rich services leading us into the future. Watch this column for additional information about all that we'll be offering @ Your Library this summer. 

Library Booksale Donations, Legos and Craft Tins Wanted!

Our library is seeking  donations of clean, gently used books, movies and audio CDs for our annual July booksale. Our booksale is the library's biggest fundraiser of the year and provides us with funds for special programs and collection items we might otherwise not be able to afford. Whether it's just a couple of books or a boxful, your library can make good use of your old books while at the same time providing great deals on good reads to everyone in our community.

 Donations may be dropped off inside the rear entry of the library during regular hours Please let the staff know when you drop something off.  If you have a large number of items to donate, please call first so that we can make room. An important note: Although we value and appreciate every donation, unfortunately we can't make use of old encyclopedias or of some common magazines (Time, Good Housekeeping) if they're more than a year old. If you have these items or if you're uncertain about a donation, please give us a call and we'll be happy to help you. 

This year we are also seeking Summer Library Program donations: small to medium sized clean tins (no plastic please)  with lids to be used for  craft projects. Altoids mint tins, old kids watercolor sets,  and the like are just right and very much appreciated. Reduce, reuse, recycle here!

LEGOS help to teach kids important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts, including counting, sorting, geometry and construction. In 2013 your library is participating in a federal LSTA grant program to teach STEM skills to very young children. We're planning  summer and fall activities for both children and parents. The library has currently purchased several LEGO DUPLO (ages 1-5) sets for this grant; however, older children have noticed and now want us to get regular "big kids" LEGOS for them to use. One enterprising 3rd grader even presented a list of signatures from classmates who want to see LEGOS in our library! As parents know, LEGO sets can be quite expensive, so we're turning to our community for help with this request: if your kids are grown or you otherwise have unused or extra LEGOS gathering dust, please consider donating them to our library. The library will be able to make plenty good use of them putting smiles on kids' faces while building their brainpower.

Saturday Hours Have Changed!

Eighty percent of library users surveyed during the months of February and March told us they'd rather have the library open on Saturday mornings, than in the afternoon. They spoke, we listened! New Boscobel Library Hours: Saturday, 10am -1pm.  (old hours were from 1 - 4 pm)

Spring Has Sprung, @Your Library

Saturday Hours Have Changed!

Eighty percent of library users surveyed during the months of February and March told us they'd rather have the library open on Saturday mornings, than in the afternoon. They spoke, we listened! New Boscobel Library Hours: Saturday, 10am -1pm.  (old hours were from 1 - 4 pm)

Summer Library Program, "Dig Into Reading!" begins June 19th. Activities, adventures, reading prizes, special guests and more will be offered for children and adults of all ages. Special programs include the library's 100th Anniversary Celebration, July 1st through 5th. From literacy opportunities in the past to envisioning the future of information in the present, the Boscobel Library has faithfully served the reading, entertainment and educational needs of our community and the surrounding areas for more than a century. Stop by the library to enjoy stories from the past and test drive some of the latest technology rich services leading us into the future. Watch this column for additional information about all that we'll be offering @ Your Library this summer. 

Library Booksale Donations Wanted

Our library is seeking  donations of clean, gently used books, movies and audio CDs for our annual July booksale. Our booksale is the library's biggest fundraiser of the year and provides us with funds for special programs and collection items we might otherwise not be able to afford. Whether it's just a couple of books or a boxful, your library can make good use of your old books while at the same time providing great deals on good reads to everyone in our community.  This year we are also seeking small to medium sized clean tins (no plastic please)  with lids to be used for summer library craft projects. Altoids mint tins, old kids watercolor sets, small toolboxes and the like are just right and very much appreciated. Reduce, reuse, recycle here!

 Donations may be dropped off in the rear entry of the library during regular hours (please don't leave boxes outside where they can get wet). Please let the staff know when you drop something off.  If you have a large number of items to donate, please call first so that we can make room. An important note: Although we value and appreciate every donation, unfortunately we can't make use of old encyclopedias or of some common magazines (Time, Good Housekeeping) if they're more than a year old. If you have these items or if you're uncertain about a donation, please give us a call and we'll be happy to help you. 

April 4th Movie Night

Join us for on the first Thursday in April at 6:30 PM in the downstairs clubroom of the library building for a free movie. This month's feature (licensing restrictions prevent us from naming the movie, but we can describe it) tells the story of a man compelled to speak to the world with a stammer. 

Not just any man, but the future King of England, Albert, thrust into the unexpected role by the abdication of his brother Edward who, rather than lead his country as the maelstrom of WWII approached,  chose to "marry the woman I love", American divorcee Wallace Simpson. 

 A "richly enjoyable, instantly absorbing true-life drama about the unexpected friendship that develops between introverted stammerer King George VI of England and his exuberant Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue, a partnership brokered by George's shrewd wife in her pre-Queen-Mum incarnations as the Duchess of York. These characters are performed with pure theatrical gusto by Colin Firth as the miserably afflicted monarch, Geoffrey Rush as the twinkly eyed Australian actor become speech coach and Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen who has to learn to like Logue by overcoming her own snobbery". In the wider sphere, Hitler takes power, war comes closer, Mrs. Simpson wreaks havoc, and the dreaded day approaches when Bertie, as George VI, will have to speak to the world and declare war." The final scene of the movie where, encouraged by Logue, Bertie steps up to the microphone and addresses his nation, works brilliantly and is deeply moving. A first rate historical drama; despite an R rating for brief scenes that include profane language, the movie is excellent for anyone interested in history, speech or how determination and friendship can win over fear.

Celebrate National Poetry Month in April!

 We'll be celebrating "Poem in Your Pocket" day on April 18th! Patrons who bring in a poem that day can have up to $5.00 in fines waived. Kids who bring a poem  in their pocket get to pick a free gift from our surprise basket. 

Here's a pocket poem people can printout to bring with them for fine forgiveness- just add two lines of your own to the end of the poem and bring it with you during the week of April 18th. 

"We think that we shall never see, 

 a sight so lovely as our library. 

With kids and readers gathered 'round, 

hear us make a joyful sound!

Check out some books, 

Test drive a Nook, 

the future's here, just take a look!"

56th Annual Helen Mears Youth Art Exhibit , March 2013

Boscobel and Wauzeka middle school  student artists who participated in the 56th Annual Helen Mears Art Exhibition sponsored by the GFWC Boscobel Woman's Club are pictured during the awards reception at the Boscobel Public Library last Friday.  From L to R: Allycia Lejman, "Stitches" (1st place drawing), Olivia Grassel, "The Flower" , Wyatt Faust "Pokie"(2nd place, sculpture), Aaron Matthews, "Cat Drone", Zack Wilson "Help Me" (honorable mention), Mercedes Roe, "Fearless" (3rd place, drawing). Not pictured: Nick Lund, "Still Life Acrobat" (2nd place drawing), Hayden Loomis, "The J" (1st place sculpture), Nellie Groom, "Secret Fun House" (3rd place, sculpture), Isaac Byrne "Impression"and Connor Stenner, "Sunset City", (honorable mention).   The Mears exhibit will be open to the public through the  March 30th. Take a moment to stop by the library and enjoy the diverse talents our our local teens. 

Movie Night, Retirement Resources & Spring Storytime!

Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning -- http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/nearretirement.html#.ULOTbqUTs18 -- This U.S. Department of Labor web site offers a comprehensive guide to retirement planning that includes interactive worksheets as well as information about Social Security, investing, and budgeting in retirement.

Spring Storytime for infants through Pre-K begins Wednesday, February 6th 
at 10 AM in the library's children's room and continues each week through the end of March. Join us for a story, group activity and interactive playtime. Storytime is designed to encourage young children to explore word and alphabet sounds, enjoy books, socialize and develop listening and learning skills that will help them get ready for school. Children who are read to early and often do better in school and develop early learning skills and vocabularies that give them a leg up on schoolwork and foster a lifelong love of learning.  

Movie Night at Your Library, February 7th, 6:30 PM  Mao's Last Dancer
For everyone interested in dance, theater or cultural exchange, this heart-lifting movie is based on the true story of Chinese ballet dancer Li Cunxin. 

In a village of China, the eleven year-old Cunxin is selected by the Communist Party to study ballet at the Madame Mao's Dance Academy in Beijing. Not naturally gifted, his success is built upon relentless hard work, inspired by his family's poverty and a dedicated teacher who is later stripped of his position for exhibiting "anti-revolutionary" ideas.  Years later 20-something Cunxin travels to Houston in a cultural exchange program, invited by the Houston Ballet's artistic director Ben Stevenson. 

After Houston's lead dancer suffers an injury just prior to opening night, Stevenson takes a chance on Cunxin who performs flawlessly and is promoted to become Houston's principal dancer. Meanwhile he secretly dates and falls in love with the dancer Elizabeth Mackey. When China's government refuses to extend Cunxin's stay in America and demands he return home, he marries Liz and defects to the US.  He is detained at the Chinese Embassy in Houston in one of the most dramatic scenes of the movie. 

Eventually released after the intervention of US President George H.W. Bush, Cunxin is forbidden to return to China and is cut off completely from his family, who are punished by Chinese authorities. His marriage with Liz ends and even as his career soars, he mourns for his missing parents. After five long years, an unexpected opportunity awaits- will joy or grief triumph? 

Movies, Travel and Story Hour, Coming Soon!

Movie Night@ Your Library Thursday, January 17th at 6:30 PM

Just in time to kick off our New Year, library movie night continues on Thursday, January 17th at 6:30 PM with a recently released, uproariously funny comedy about a group of British retirees who head to  India to try and beat the high cost of living. Our public movie license prevents us from naming the movie, but we can describe it: The cast includes some of the best actors in Britian. Evelyn (Judi Dench), Muriel (Maggie Smith), Douglas (Bill Nighy), and Graham (Tom Wilkinson), are planning retirement in a less expensive country. After "thorough research on the Internet," the group chooses what looks to be a grand, peaceful hotel retreat. It turns out that the bloom is off this place--it's shabby, antiquated, and as chaotic as the city in India, Jaipur, where it is set. Who can adapt to this very different retirement experience, and who founders? That question lies at the heart of the plot. The cast is uniformly superb, as the retirees bond and bicker and fall out and then try to encourage one another. And Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) shines as Sonny, the barely-holding-it-together hotel manager. Patel and Tena Desae, who plays Sunaina, his girlfriend, are charming yet face adaptation struggles of their own, in a modern-day India still tied strongly to its traditions but rapidly charging into the future. The movie is an uplifting journey, allowing the viewer to feel what the retirees are discovering on the screen. When Evelyn sighs, "Nothing here has worked out quite as I expected," Muriel crisply replies, "Most things don't. But sometimes what happens instead is the good stuff." 

For additional information about this movie and our movie series, please call the library, 375-5723  Movie nights will continue in on the first Thursday of each month  thru April and feature family, documentary and popular movies. Join us for an enjoyable movie, snack and discussion in the comfort of the library's downstairs clubroom. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge to attend the show. These programs are presented as part of you library's ongoing "Your library. Your community. Friends for life" outreach. 

A Japanese New Year: Travel to Japan January 24th at 6:00 PM

Join us on Thursday, January 24th at 6:00 PM for an evening abroad with Boscobel exchange student Joelle Bohringer, as she shares stories, souvenir and pictures from her month long visit last summer to Tokoyo, Japan. Learn about Japanese customs, culture, celebrations and foods, and what it's to live as an exchange student in a foreign country. Joelle's program will feature a slideshow, souvenirs, question and answer session and the opportunity to sample some tasty Japanese treats. Don't miss this opportunity to share the adventure of  travelling to the other side of the world! 

 Spring Storytime

Spring storytime for preschool age children begins February 6th, at 10 AM. All children, families and caregivers are invited to bring the little ones for a half hour programs featuring reading, activities and take home crafts designed to engage children with reading and prepare them for school. Please contact children's librarian Gina Schmitz at the library for more information. 

Our Hearts Going Out to Connecticut

In our Boscobel Library and in libraries around the country,  many special moments, stories and smiles are shared every day with children of all ages and their families. The news  of last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, horrified and deeply saddened us. The loss of 26 precious, innocent first graders and their brave teachers is unimaginable and deeply troubling.

 As a way to reach out from our community to theirs, to show our care, offer condolences and honor the memories of their  "beautiful little kids", our library is inviting people to stop by and sign a personal "caring heart" card. Each person's card will be placed in the front windows of our library through the Christmas season. Afterwards, all of the cards and messages the library collects will be mailed together  to the  Newtown community to let them know that Boscobel  stands with them in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.  Stop by the library today to sign a heart and share your message of care. 

Libraries Hatching Incubator Projects- a look ahead to 2013 @ BoscoLibrary

"One of the most unexpected roles the Central Library hopes to take on is that of a makerspace, also referred to as a hackerspace. These are essentially community open labs where patrons can stop in and work on just about any kind of technological, artisan or craft project imaginable. Plans are in the works to partner with Sector67, a makerspace on Winnebago Street, to bring the hacker concept to the library in a portable manner on a regular basis. Area quiltmakers, animators, welders, printmakers, brewmasters and other experts will bring in their wares and introduce them to interested patrons through workshops, day classes or lectures. The library doesn't have to invest in permanent equipment, and those whose interest is sufficiently piqued can go back out into the community and seek more of what they learned.

"It's not just a place to go to get stuff, but a place where they can come and contribute," says Mickells. "To offer their talents for the entire community, that's where the transition is happening with the library. It's not that we're just being providers; we're providing opportunities for others in the community to provide the content that we can share throughout the city."

Renovated downtown Madison branch will showcase the future of libraries - Isthmus | The Daily Page

This Week: Holiday Movie and Open House!

Holiday Open House, Friday Dec. 7th, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Come one, come all for the Boscobel Public Library's  Holiday Open House, from 10 am - 5 pm Friday, December 7th. Join us as we say thanks to our community for another wonderful year and preview the great library events and services we're planning for 2013. Try out a  Playaway pocket audiobook or Nook e-book reader and learn about getting free Overdrive and Leap e-book downloads at the library. Bring the kids to explore our many, many new childrens' books, AWE learning stations and our just arrived Easy Reader books collection for kids who are new to reading or who need extra help to unlock the magic of words and stories.

 Enter your name in our Open House random prize drawing for a chance to win a new book or movie!. Take a library tour and don't forget to ask our friendly staff about  the dozens of no-cost, web-based library services now available from any Internet connected computer. These resources include A to Z  World Travel Planner, Cypress Resume Builder, Mango Foreign Language Classrooms, full-access Consumer Reports and Automotive Repair Reference Centers, Learning Express Career Library, Searchasaurus homework helper for kids, History and Genealogy Research portals and so much more- a universe of practical and trustworthy information resources at your fingertips.

2013 is the library's 100th Anniversary as an official institution of the City of Boscobel. Learn more about how we'll be celebrating our birthday with events and contests that demonstrate how far you little library has come from our humble beginnings as a reading room in Doc Randall's old office above the Parker-Hildebrand Store. Started in 1906 by Womens' Club volunteers with donated books and shelving, the library was adopted by the city in 1913. In 1925- after a generous bequest by Boscobel businessman George Hildebrand to construct a fitting library and city hall-- our library moved into the spectacular Claude and Stark designed Carnegie style building it currently occupies. After 87 years, you may notice that we're again beginning to get a bit crowded for space; join us to help  envision the future of our library and discuss some of the exciting possibilities for the continued growth our wonderful facility.

  Holiday Movie Night, Thursday Dec. 6th, 6:30 PM

Just in time to kick off the holidays, join us for family movie night at the library on Thursday, Dec 6th. Our featured film  will be Tim Allen's hilarious smash hit where he inherits and "grows into" the role of Santa Claus (licensing restrictions prevent us from mentioning the actual name of the movie). Bring the kids for an relaxing evening of laughs and fun. Reindeer chow served! . Movie nights will continue on the first Thursday of each month  thru April and feature family, documentary and popular movies. Join us for an enjoyable movie, snack and discussion in the comfort of the library's downstairs clubroom. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge to attend the show. These programs are presented as part of you library's ongoing "Your library. Your community. Friends for life" outreach.  

New Travel and Resume Databases Available

This week we're happy to introduce two new online databases for library patrons, Cypress Resume and A to Z World Travel  All you need is your library card to log in to take advantage of these services. Stop by the library for a quick tour of these new offerings. Boscobel Library staff will be glad to show you how to navigate the world of information and entertainment available at your fingertips from our library.

Cypress Resume automates creating a professional quality resume so that you can relax and focus on other aspects of your career. Just plug in your information, choose your resume style and Cypress creates a ready to print document that highlights your skills and meets business standards across all industries- from skilled labor to top tier management, Cypress takes the work out of making you look good.

Longing to get away from it all? With A to Z World Travel  you can plan your next trip or simply explore the cities of the world in detail. A to Z works like your own personal travel agent to offer up to date information about travel destinations around the world. Read up on your favorite place's history, culture, language, monetary system, transportation, attractions, healthcare, restaurants and hidden spots "off the beaten path". A to Z also offers live travel advisory, news feeds and event listings to ensure you make the most of your vacation, whether from the comfort of your armchair or onboard a big jet airliner.

A few interesting things from this morning's webcrawl

Just in time for this week's election: TED speaker Clay Shirky on how the Internet will one day transform government and citizen participation:

 

Don't neglect to vote!! Need help finding your polling place, have a question about eligibility, need to register? Go here http://gab.wi.gov/voters for information or stop by your library.

Clay's talk above led me to NeverSeconds, an astonishing blog by a Scottish schoolgirl who chronicled what her school served for lunch by posting a daily photo of the meal online. Lots of chicken nuggets! Her idea was to promote healthier & more appealing school lunches. Ultimately initially supportive school administrators decided it was time to pull the plug on the project and forbade her from taking pictures of her food, a huge outcry online resulted:

"Influential citizen journalist overcomes censorship thanks to online support.
No, this is not a headline from a repressive region, but a description of nine-year-old blogger in Scotland named Martha Payne, who has been allowed to continue a blog in which she photographs and rates her school dinners, after the local council reversed a decision saying that she would no longer be able to take pictures in the dining hall."
 Source: Editors Weblog

When someone commented that Martha should be glad to have anything at all to eat for lunch as children in many places had nothing, the blog took up the cause of Mary's Meals, which organizes school feeding programs for children in some of the poorest countries around the globe. With Martha's help, 115,000 pounds ($184,374.) and huge public awareness was raised for Mary' Meals so that their work continues to grow. See their thanks to Martha here: http://www.marysmeals.org.uk/thank-you-martha/

Worth noting:  In one very important respect, Mary's Meals differs from other global feeding programs. Rather than distributing factory-made meal "product" created by multinational agricultural corporations (which have an undisclosed, profit-driven interest in obtaining genetic patents on and thereby controlling distribution of valuble native food crop seeds that millions of people depend upon- read about mustard seed in India and crop modifications ), Mary's Meals , "Wherever possible...purchases locally produced food for use in the meals we serve in schools. This supports the local economy, it respects local culture and food preferences, and it avoids incurring extra transport costs." Source:  Marys Meals Online 

 Instead of introducing competition for local farmers and upending seed saving traditions, Mary's Meals becomes their customer.

Finally, a thought provoking article about how technology is changing the way students learn.  “What you have to understand as a parent is that what happens in the home with media consumption can affect academic achievement....There is a widespread belief among teachers that students’ constant use of digital technology is hampering their attention spans and ability to persevere in the face of challenging tasks, according to two surveys of teachers being released on Thursday. "
Food for thought and a good reason to unplug and get outdoors with the family- that's where we're headed now! Stay tuned for upcoming news and events @ Your Library.