Summer Reading Program Update

Children's Library staff report that over 500 kids are participating in the Be Creative at Your Library Summer reading program. In fact, so many kids have enrolled that Darla and Tracy are posting sign-up stars on both sides of the Starry Night bulletin board!

Book Review Blog

Hi, this is Tandy and I use to work at the Grand Rapids Area Library. I'm now a "new" mom and I'm enjoying ever minute with my baby girl who is growing up way to fast! I wanted to share my blog that I recently set up for book reviews. You'll probably find me reviewing a movie and/or music artist as well.

Click the Book End to read the first book review.

More Books for iPods!

The number of downloadable books in our catalog available for iPods just increased significantly. For all of you who have iPods and really like to listen to books, you now have a great selection! There are well over 2500 titles in the collection.
Go to the Grand Rapids lLibrary’s website at www.grandrapids.lib.mn.us and look for the button: Online Resources on the left side of the page, then click on Audio Books You can read the instructions, search for books, download the required software, download the book and you are on your way! The audio book catalog includes icons showing whether it can be played on a PC, Mac, iPod, iPhone or burned to CD.

Summer Reading Program: Book Camp

Summer Adult Reading Program

BINGO - just for fun Summer reading for adults!

Please stop by the reference desk and pick-up a Summer reading BINGO card. Score a BINGO by reading five books from the various genres listed. When your BINGO card is complete, come to the reference desk and claim your prize!

Name the dragon contest

Help us name the newest addition to our Young Adult section and win fabulous prizes! It's easy - just stop by the Teen Universe and fill out an entry form. The winner will be announced June 29th. The grand prize is a gift certificate for Brewed Awakenings Gelato!

"Be Creative At Your Library" Masks!

Reading Kits

We have 4 reading kits available for checkout. A kit consists of 5 copies of a book. Titles that we have purchased so far: "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak, "Here, There Be Dragons" by James A. Owen, and "The Darkangel" by Meredith Pierce, and "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz. Most of the titles are considered Young Adult, but "The Book Thief" has been popular with adult reading groups. Stop in and ask about the reading kits! Thank you Library Foundation for the funds to purchase the kits.

CCC Camps

Stop in the library to see the large 8-panel display about Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Minnesota. You'll learn where the camps were located, what projects "the boys" worked on, and even see a sample food menu! If the display leaves you hungry for more about the CCC, come to a program on Thursday May 21. Bill Jamerson presents a multimedia presentation that includes story telling, reading excerpts from his novel and playing original songs with his guitar. A short video presentation will take place in the library at 6:00pm with the rest of the program in the KAXE Rotary Tent starting at 6:30pm.

Photos from China show at the Library

Mary Shideler will repeat her slide show of photos from China on Thursday April 30 at 7:00 pm. Mary travelled around the country and brought back many photos of the ancient and the modern aspects of this fascinating country. A list of books and other materials in the Library about China is on our website at: http://www.grandrapids.lib.mn.us/reading.htm

Another fun event this week is the storytime for kids and dads at 10:30 on Saturday morning, May 2nd. Come for a story on Saturday morning!

Library Events this week

It's National Poetry Month!

Tuesday April 21 12:00-1:30
Celebrate the life and honor the spirit of Bill Holm, Minnesota poet and essayist. Readings and discussion of his work and life.
Copies of several of his works are available for check out, including Coming Home Crazy, and Boxelder Bug Variations
Tuesday 5:30 Poetry reading at Brewed Awakenings Coffee House
Join ICC students and contributors to Spring Thaw in reading poetry. Bring your own poetry to read, or just come to listen and celebrate the art of the poem.

Thursday, April 23 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Afghanistan and Pakistan is the topic of this month's Great Decisions discussion. A short video with background information will be shown, and participants will form small groups to discuss issues. Several copies of the background reading guides are available for check out or reading in the library.

Friday, April 24th 9:00-11:00 am
Blogging for Community Leadership. Griff Wigley, former online editor for Utne Reader, will lead a workshop about "Leadership Blogging" for community members interested in learning how to use blogs to promote their organizations, businesses and ideas to a larger audience.
Wigley, based in Northfield Minnesota, is a seminar leader and a weblog coach, helping business, non-profit, government and civic leaders learn the art of strategic leadership blogging and podcasting. He co-founded Northfield Citizens Online and the Northfield.org community portal (1995-2006), and launched their citizen journalism/civic blogosphere project in 2004. For more information about Griff: http://wigleyandassociates.com/about/ The training is open to anyone.
Cosponsored by Northern Community Internet and the Grand Rapids Area Non-Profit Network.
Call KAXE at 326-1234 to register

Dads and Kids Storytime

Dads, grandads, uncles, and best buddies are invited to bring their little ones to the Library for a Saturday morning storytime on March 28 at 10:30. Stories, rhymes and songs will be followed by a snack and a craft. Come and join the fun!

Shmoop

Check out www.shmoop.com - a new educational website for high school students interested in learning more about literature, poetry, and US history. Presented in a web 2.0 format -incorporating video, audio, and photographs - shmoop offers in-depth content created by graduate students. Both students and teachers will benefit from shmoop's clearly cited sources and breadth of detail.

Teen Book Club

Teens: Join us on Friday, April 17th 3:30-4:30pm as we discuss "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz. Pick up a copy of the book at the Reference Desk.

Aprons, Aprons, Aprons!

Emm's Aprons will be the theme of a style show and display of aprons on Thursday March 26 at 1:00. Elizabeth MacLeod will narrate a show of part of her collection of 200 aprons.

Come and learn about:

• Apron history and stories aprons tell about American history
• Different kinds and styles of aprons and when they were worn and for what reasons
• How aprons were, and are, constructed
• Aprons from other parts of the world

A display of apron memorabilia, sewing techniques, anecdotes and apron facts will open at 12:30 and be followed by a style show at 1:00 pm featuring nearly 100 aprons. Local women will model aprons for the show.

This week at the Grand Rapids Library:

Thursday, March 19 at 12:00 Global Food Policy Discussion
Global prices for food staples have risen dramatically, resulting in protests and unrest around the world. What factors are driving prices up, and can they be tamed? What will the political fallout be for governments that fail to act, and what role can global institutions play?
This week is the second in the “Great Decisions” series of discussions of global issues. Copies of the background briefing book for this series are available for checkout at the library, and one copy is available at the reference desk for use in the library.

Friday, March 20th at 3:30 Teen book Club
There is no book selection for this month. Just come and talk about a book you’ve read recently

Friday, March 20, 7:30 pm - Another Evening of Stargazing: The Vernal Equinox!
Where: At Itasca Community College Engineering Center
What: Explore the spring night sky with Aaron Wenger
Who: Ages 9 to adult
How to register: Call the Children's desk at 218-327-8823
Participants will look at planet movement, the solar system and constellations. Bring your binoculars or even a telescope. There is no fee for this event, but preregistration is required.

This week at the Grand Rapids Library

Thursday, February 5, 6:30 pm "Foreign Policy Challenges Faced by President Obama" at the Blandin Foundation
Tom Hanson, former Foreign Service Officer and a volunteer consultant with Minnesota International Center's Great Decisions program, will talk about the upcoming foreign policy issue.
This event kicks off the Great Decisions Discussion Series beginning February 18 with "Energy and the Global Economy" at noon at the Grand Rapids Library

Saturday, February 7, 10:00 am "Ready, Set, Goal" workshop by Karen Christenson
In the Library Community Room
This 3-hour workshop is designed for women who wish to uncover their life dreams. It will help to answer the question: "How do I see myself and my life's purpose?"
Preregister at http://www.getlearning.com/ or call 327-5730. $8.00 charge

Icicles

This Week at the Library

Wednesday, January 28th 7 pm Men’s Book Group meeting
Aaron Brown, author of “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” will be the guest of the Men’s Book Group at the library. Feel free to join them in a discussion of Aaron’s book.

Thursday, January 29, at 1:00 Mary Shideler: Travels in China
Mary will be talking and showing slides about her recent trip to China and Hong Kong. Mary was fascinated by the juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern side by side, and will share her observations of this unique country and its culture.

Friday, January 30, at 12:30 EllyAnne Geisel, curator of The Apron Chronicles
Geisel, curator of this traveling exhibit opening Feb 1 at Iron World, will talk about the process of the collecting 200 vintage aprons and the stories that go with them. Along with photographer Kristina Loggia, Geisel put together an exhibit that recalls a woman who’d worn an apron and what she represented to a family; an event when an apron was worn; recipes; values and traditions from gentler, less complicated times; the bond between parent and child; and modern perspective.
For more events connected to the exhibit see Iron World’s Web Site at www.ironworld.com/events/apron/ or pick up a flyer at the library.

Try it! It's Easy to check out your books!

Volunteers Katie and Georgia (age 8) demonstrate how to use the new Express Check Out machine at the library.