Family Movie Night at the Grand Rapids Library!

Thursday, November 29, 6:00 pm

Join us for another installment in our Family Movie Night Series!  Bring dinner or a snack or a fluffy pillow for the floor, and join us for Arthur Christmas on the big screen in the community room.
          Santa's youngest son Arthur embarks on a magical adventure to deliver the final gift to a child to save Christmas.

Museum Passes Available

We still have a few Museum passes available that are good through November 30 at the Duluth Depot, Great Lakes Aquarium, MN Discovery Center, Judy Garland & Children's Museum and more! Stop in to pick up several if you can use them before next Saturday!
Storyland tickets
We just received tickets available for the Storyland exhibit at the Dutluth Children's Museum valid December 1, 2012 - January 20, 2013. Check the Children's Museum's web site for hours and other current exhibits and programs

Listen to MN History this weekend

Minnesota History opportunity
If you are interested in learning more about Minnesota History, tune in to This American Life on the radio this weekend.

Here is a message from Ben Leonard, Director of the Nicollet County Historical Society and a recent speaker on the U.S. Dakota War of 1862:
• "I’d like to tell you about an amazing opportunity for the Historical Society and upcoming event. The Treaty Site History Center and NCHS Director Ben Leonard are featured in an upcoming episode of the National Public Radio show “This American Life.” The episode will air over Thanksgiving weekend. Mankato native and Gustavus graduate John Biewen, now at Duke University, has created the hour-long radio documentary on the Dakota Nation, War of 1862, and the consequences that are still felt today.

• If you can’t listen to the show on your local NPR affiliate, please download the podcast on Itunes, or here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/. It’s free if you download the week of November 25th."
In northern Minnesota, MPR broadcasts This American Life on Saturday at 1 pm and Sunday at 10 pm at 107.3 FM in Grand Rapids, 91.3 FM in Bemidji, and 92.5 FM in Virginia.

Mesabi Iron Range: History and People

Monday, November 19, 7:00 pm.
Hibbing author, Pat McGauley, is a historian, former teacher and taconite miner. He has a deep love for the colorful history of the Mesabi. McGauley has done extensive research for a series of novels that capture romance and drama while blending real and fictional events that shaped the region's landscape. He shares highlights of the Mesabi's evolution, the people that immigrated and the economic impact iron has had on northern Minnesota

Civil War Discussion Series

Civil War Discussion Part 5: War & Freedom--Emancipation


Thursday, November 15 @ 7:00 p.m

Jon Maturi, Discussion Leader & John Hayes, Guest

The discussion series "Making Sense of the Civil War," concludes with a conversation about emancipation-the uncompensated, immediate release of four million slaves. John Hayes, American history scholar and historical interpreter joins Jon Maturi in leading the discussion. He brings knowledge of the "history before the history" that influenced the war and its outcomes. He lends a deeper perspective about slavery and servitude and a viewpoint from southern states.
Recommended reading is America's War anthology, part 5. Civil War discussions will continue at the library through 2015 commemorating significant period events.

"Making Sense of the Civil War" is a 5 part discussion series funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Visit from a Confederate Soldier

Making Sense of the Civil War - Re-enacting a Southern Soldier -
         **Special Event for Families!**

Thursday, November 15 @ 6:00 p.m.

John Hayes, Civil War Re-enactor

John Hayes grew up in the state of Virginia, trapping, hunting and exploring in places like Bull Run-battlefields of the Civil War. His father and friends told stories of ancestors who had experienced the war first hand. As an adult he became a scholar of 18th and 19th Century history of the American continent. In this program, he dons period clothing and shares artifacts and stories to explain what caused the war, tactics used to fight and a soldier's life. Children and adults are invited to experience history from John's perspective.
 

Support your library: GiveMN.org

A Letter from the  Library Foundation:

Dear Friend,


As you know, the Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation is making a difference every day by helping the Grand Rapids Area Library maintain and grow its collection and provide children with story times, special computers, and activities. In addition, the Foundation works to secure grants and donations for the Riverfront Energy Center. Your generous support means the world to patrons of all ages and interests who use the library’s meeting spaces and computers, attend programs and children’s activities, get help finding information, and simply enjoy a quiet place to read.
Join us on November 15, Minnesota’s Give to the Max Day, and help us win a $1000 Golden Ticket. By partnering with GiveMN, an online giving website for Minnesota nonprofits, the Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation will have 25 chances to maximize your gift on Give to the Max Day and could help us win an extra $1000 for our work in the community.

At the end of Give to the Max Day, one donation from across Minnesota will be randomly selected for a $10,000 Supersized Golden Ticket! Help us increase our odds by making your gift, day or night, on November 15 by visiting www.GiveMN.org and searching for Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation.
Be one of the first 20 donors of $20 or more and there will be a $20 match made to your gift. Together we hope to raise more than $7500 on Give to the Max Day and we’re counting on your help!

Sincerely,

Kathy McCarty

President

Fleece to Felt at the Library

Make a felted butterfly

Tuesday, November 6   3:30
Wow! The Duluth Art Institute is bringing fiber art to the Northland. Learn how to transform fluffy, colorful sheep’s wool into a fun, felted butterfly. All it takes is a little soapy water and a lot of imagination. It’s a very interactive and accessible art project for all ages. This is a family event, so participants must be accompanied by an adult.  Space is limited to 20 kids, so sign up early!  327-8823

Cake Decorating for Kids!

Monday, November 5,  11:30 am
      Come and decorate a pumpkin cake! There is no school today, so why not come to the library? Curtis and Michelle will be here to help you decorate a pumpkin cake that you can take home! This class is open to kids ages 7-14. Space is very limited, so register early! 327-8823

International Games Day at the Grand Rapids Library

Fun for the whole family!
Your choice of many board games, or Wii video games.

Bhutan: A View from the Top of the World

Thursday, November 1, 7:00 pm

Professional photographer Cal Rice recetly tavelled to Bhutan where he spent 2 weeks documenting monumental cultural changes thaking place.  Through Cal's amazing photos  experience the beatury of a distant and mysterious land and its people.  Take a fascinating look at this Himalyan country as it transitions swiftly from a 17th century to a 21st century society. 

Bhutan wikipedia entry

Solar Sunflower

One completed solar sunflower!

The plan is to construct three sunflowers just north of the Library.  When all three are connected, they will generate electricity for the Library and serve as one of the educational componants of the Riverfront Energy Center.  The Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation is raising money for all of the educational componants, including solar and wind energy generation, and a dashboard showing energy consumption and savings.

Create a Storybook Theater at the Library

Kids Create! A Storybook Theater
Saturday, October 27    11:00 am


Come and create a book that becomes a stage, tells your story, and holds your puppets! Join the artists from the Creativity Tank as they teach us how to make our own Storybook Theater, while focusing on the art of author/illustrator Eric Rohmann. All ages are welcome, children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Please pre-register at the Children's Desk by calling (218) 327-8823

Family Movie Night at the Grand Rapids Library

Thursday, October 25,  6 pm

  The Pirates - A Band of Misfits 

Join us in the community room to watch this hilarious movie on the big screen.  Bring dinner, a snack, a pillow for the floor, or just yourself for fun evening of movie watching.

Friends of the Library Week!

Come and celebrate with the Friends of the Grand Rapids Area Library

 Wednesday afternoon October 24 from 2:30-4:30

Cake in the lobby

Watch for specials in the Friends of the Library Bookstore!

        October 21-27 is Friends of the Library Week, so I will take this opportunity to say “Thank You” to our Friends group. The Friends of the Grand Rapids Area Library was established in 1979 as a not for profit organization and has raised thousands of dollars for the library to date. Currently many community members contribute annually to the Friends and many of these contributors actively volunteer their time to assist the group.

       Fundraising efforts include the used bookstore in the lobby of the library and the sale of canvas book bags. The money raised by the Friends group enables our library to move from good to great -- providing the resources for additional programming, much needed equipment, and support for children’s summer reading. Our library would be much poorer without the Friends. The Friends also contributed to the Smart Play Spot recently installed in the Library, and to the Early Literacy Station full of educational games.

       The work of the Friends highlights the fact that our library is the cornerstone of the community, providing opportunities for all to engage in the joy of life-long learning and connect with the thoughts and ideas of others from ages past to the present; The Friends understand the critical importance of well funded libraries and advocate to ensure that our library gets the resources it needs to provide a wide variety of services to all ages including access to print and electronic materials, along with expert assistance in research and children’s services.

Support the Friends

     The Friends also maintain Bright Red Book Shelves at two locations for Project Read. If you have gently used books for toddlers or preschoolers, drop them off at the Library for placement on the bookshelves. Please stop by the library to learn more about the Friends' activities and find out how to become a member of the Friends.

Man Booker Prize

The 2012 Man Booker Prize winner was announced on October 16. This prize is given for the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. This year's winner is Hilary Mantel for "Bring up the Bodies." To request a copy click on this link to visit the Arrowhead Library System catalog.

National Book Award Finalists

The National Book Award Finalists have been named in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature. Visit the National Book Award site to view the finalists. Winners will be announced Wednesday, November 14.

Living More with Less: Author Ellen Sandbeck at the Grand Rapids Library

Author Ellen Sandbeck promotes a return to a simpler way of life - a life with more joy and fewer household products. She shares thoughts and excepts from her book, Green Barbarians demonstrating how, by relying less on modern conveniences, people can live happier, safer, more ecologically and economically responsible lives. Check out her blog on green living Thursday, October 18 7:00 pm

Minnesota History on Display at the Grand Rapids Library

We have an exhibit through the month of October about the Dakota – U.S. Conflict of 1862. Thanks to the Nicollet County Historical Society, we have a 12 panel display that chronicle the history of the conflict that took place in southern Minnesota during 1862. We also have books on display. Come to learn more about this often neglected chapter of Minnesota’s early history. Discussions of the Civil War will continue in November, and books are also available for background reading.

New YA books!

Check out some of these YA books we just received!

*Between the Lines* written by Jodi Picoult and daughter Samantha van Leer
*A Confusion of Princes* written by Garth Nix
*At Yellow Lake* written by Jane McLoughlin
*Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan* vols. 3-10