Library Statistics & Author Events

Mar. 1, 2010

At this time of year I am deep into statistics, preparing an annual report of last year’s activities (kind of like tax preparation, except there is no refund). The library was open 301 days in 2009 and we had a good year. Our meeting room gets heavy use from community organizations. We have hosted more than 135 meetings in addition to library activities last year alone. Children’s Storytime and summer reading programs get high attendance and the adult reading program, Hot Reads for Cold Nights, gets good readership, too. Internet computer use is up (with the addition of two more computers). Books remain in high demand as do movies. We have a nice collection of large-print books and new to the library are children’s book/audio kits. Demand is not letting up, despite a decrease in budget ($15,000) and loss of staff.

We bid a fond farewell to Pat Rathke, who has worked at the library almost 2 years now.

She will be joining forces with the 2010 Census. Our loss is their gain.

If anyone with a love for books or libraries is interested in helping us out, we would welcome volunteers.

The library received an Author in Community grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center. Minnesota children’s author/illustrator, Nancy Carlson has been asked to visit Morris March 4^th. She will be at the Morris Area Elementary School all morning and then you can find her at the PRCA Art Gallery after 3pm or the Library from 6:30 – 8 pm, where she will give a drawing demonstration. Copies of her books are available at John’s Total Entertainment.

Eric Bergeson (Down on the Farm Column in paper) will be at the library Wednesday, March 10 from 4 – 6 pm. His most recent book is, Back on the Farm, but he has also written Pirates on the Prairies, about a Minnesota Basketball team. Be sure to stop by.

The Friends of the Morris Public help to make these author events special and support us in so many other ways. We love our Friends group!

Recent Large Print Books received

• Along Came Trouble, by Sherryl Woods
• Betrayal, by Carla Neggers
• Cat Pay the Devil, by Shirley R Murphey
• Handle with Care, by Jodi Picoult
• Knit the Season, Kate Jacobs
• Seeing Things, Patti Hill
• Shortest Distance Between Two Women, by Kris Radish
• Too Much Happiness, by Alice Monroe
• When Love Awaits, by Johanna Lindsey
• The World According to Bertie,by  Alexander McCall Smith

Happy St Patrick’s Day – May the luck o’ the Irish be with you.

Melissa Yauk

Director, Morris Public Library

Feb. Tech Talk - NoveList, Nancy Carlson & Robert Parker

Feb. 1, 2010

Bookends – February, 2010

Hot Reads for Cold Nights continues through February 28th. Over 150 have signed up so far for a chance to win a coffee mug. Hot Reads… is an annual adult reading program to chase away those winter blues. Adults are encouraged to track what they read for a chance to win a book bag. Coffee mugs will be given away in weekly drawings. Don’t know what to read? We can help you find just the right book to suit your reading pleasure.

Technology Talks occur in the library on the third Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m.February 20th will feature the library database, NoveList. This resource can help you find a good book to read and can be used to find your next book club read. You will learn how to search the database, find books similar to a favorite author, and how to access this resource from home. Remember to come to the library early Saturday morning, on the 20th.

The library was awarded an Author in Community award from the Minnesota Humanities Center. Minnesota children’s author/illustrator, Nancy Carlson has been asked to visit Morris March 4th. She will make presentations to students at the Morris Area Elementary School in the morning, talk about her drawing technique at the PRCA in the afternoon, and have a final presentation for families at the public library that evening. Mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Please note the library will be closed Monday, February 15th for President’s Day.

On Monday, January 18th the literary world suffered a loss with the death of Robert B. Parker. Parker, a crime novelist wrote more than 50 books of which 37 feature Boston private eye, Spenser (remember the TV program “Spenser For Hire,” starring Robert Urich? – this series was based on his character). Parker was recognized by the Mystery Writers of America with two Edgar Awards and a Grand Master Edgar in 2002 for lifetime achievement. His death was most unexpected as he had breakfast with his wife and died later that morning at his desk. He was 77. A public ceremony for him will be held in Boston, MA in mid-February.

Another loss of a literary figure, Erich Segal died January 17th in London of a heart attack at age 72. He is best known for his book. Love Story, which was also made into a movie in 1970, starring Ryan O’Neal & Ali MacGraw. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

And the triple loss of J.D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye author) this past week is yet another blow.

A sampling of books by Robert Parker
• Night Passage, 1997
• Hush Money, 1999
• Widow’s Walk, 2002
• Stone Cold, 2003
• Melancholy Baby, 2004
• Double Play, 2004
• Bad Business, 2004
• School Days, 2005
• Cold Service, 2005
• Blue Screen, 2006
• High Profile, 2007
• Night & Day, 2009

Love your library; this is ‘love to read month’, and happy Valentine’s Day,

Melissa Yauk
Director, Morris Public Library

Tech Talk - Digital Camera & Hot Reads for Cold Nights

Jan. 5, 2010

Bookends –January, 2010

A new year, a new beginning…. We at the library are hoping to ring in more new technology for the library. The internet stations need to be upgraded. We hope to add a media projector to the meeting room, and more digital content will be purchased in the form of online resources and databases. These upgrades would not be possible without funding from the Viking Library Systems, the Friends of the Morris Public Library, grants which we will seek out, and community sponsorship and support.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights begins January 11th and continues through February 28th. This is an annual adult reading program to chase away those winter blues. Adults are encouraged to track what they read for drawings and prizes throughout this timeframe. There will be coffee mugs and book bags to give away in weekly drawings, so pick out a book today to start your list. Don’t know what to read? We can help you find just the right book to suit your reading pleasure. Be open to the possibility of the magic of books.

Technology Talks occur in the library on the third Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
January 16th will feature Philip Drown giving a program on the basics of digital cameras. Philip is a local business consultant who specializes in project management, professional writing, multi-media production, and graphic art design. If you just received a camera for Christmas or want to learn more about the one you already have, stop by the library early Saturday morning, on the 16th.

TREC (Tutoring, Reading, and Enabling Children) Storytime continues at the library Thursday mornings beginning January 21st from 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. University students plan and coordinate these events under the direction of Pam Solvie, and in conjunction with Sharon Ehlers, children’s librarian. These sessions engage the imagination of preschool children and result in a lively reading experience. Come and join the fun each Thursday morning!

The Poetry Workshop group continues to meet. They met January 7th where four poems written by Athena Kildegaard were presented. The poems were written for the PRCA and are available for purchase there. The Friends of the Morris Public Library had them framed and they will be on display in the library: Geese, Rapture, Swallow’s Proof, and Translation.

Winter Reads of Note:
• Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy. Classic love triangle.
• Atonement, by Ian McEwan – 2002 – coming of age story.
• Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett, 2001 – suspenseful terrorist activity involving opera – music is the operative word.
• Cold Mountain, by Charles Frasier – 1997. Historical fiction of the Civil War.
• Coldest War: America and the Korean War, by David Halberstam – 2007. Voted best 2007 history book by Booklist editors.
• East of the Mountains, by David Gutterson – 1999. A doctor is diagnosed with cancer. This is the story of his journey to come to terms with his illness.
• Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson – 2004 – a pastor’s musings of his life in a small town, for his son.
• Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman – 1996. A children’s fantasy adventure, turned into a movie.
• Shipping News, by Annie Proulx – 1993. Icelandic love story, also turned into a movie.

“Should old acquaintance be forgot?” 
Happy New Year!

Melissa Yauk
Director, Morris Public Library

eBook Readers

Jan. 1, 2010

Let it Snow…  Let it snow… Let it snow!

Technology Talks will continue at the library at 9 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month. December 19th will feature e-book readers. If you are curious about what they look like and how they are used, join us. We will be able to compare and contrast a Kindle and a Sony e-Reader. If anyone has the new Barnes and Noble reader, bring it along. We will also talk about downloadable books from Net Library, which are available from the VLS website.

Through a grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center, Becky Hennen and I are arranging a visit by children’s author and illustrator, Nancy Carlson. She will be in town, Thursday, March 4th and will speak at the Morris Elementary School, the library and the PRCA. Stay tuned for details and mark your calendars.

The library will close early Thursday and all day Friday, December 24th and 25th for Christmas. Normal hours will resume Saturday, December 26th. The library will also close early New Year’s Eve Day and all day Friday, January 1st.

Happy Holidays from the library staff: Mary Ann, Roxane, Sharon, Tammy, Pat, Lisa, and me.

New books for Christmas:
• Christmas Blizzard, by Garrison Keillor
• Christmas List, by Richard Paul Evans
• Christmas Promise, by Ann Perry
• Creed Country Christmas, by Linda Miller
• Home in Time for Christmas, by Heather Graham
• Knit the Season, by Kate Jacobs
• Lakeshore Christmas, by Susan Wiggs
• Last Christmas, by Kate Brian
• Perfect Christmas, by Debbie Macomber
• Quilters Holiday, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Sound of Sleigh Bells, by Cindy Woodsmall
• Wish for Christmas, by Thomas Kinkade
• Wishin’ & Hopin’, by Wally Lamb

Bookends - Technology Days

Nov. 4, 2009

Bookends - November, 2009

Can it be November already? One would never guess from the weather we have been having.

Please make a note of the three days in November the library will be closed: the 11th, 26th and 27th; for Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the day after Thanksgiving. The library is open Saturday,November 28th.

A dedicated group of people attended last month’s poetry workshops. These sessions will continue, so if you didn’t get a chance to join the group in October, there are more opportunities to become involved. Future meeting dates will be posted on the library calendar. Athena Kildegaard continues to facilitate these sessions.

The William Kent Krueger author event went well with many enthusiastic fans (some 40) attending. Krueger is a very entertaining presenter and was well received. He will be at the Douglas County Library in Alexandria November 12th at 7 pm with two other Minnesota mystery/crime writers, known collectively as the Crime Wave.
 
Technology days will begin at the library monthly beginning Saturday, November 21st at 9 am. (Peter Bremer has been offering a computer basics class for several months now.) This will be an opportunity for staff to share various new technologies and databases available to users. Our first session will be an overview of the library’s webpage: how to look-up books, track items in your account, renew or reserve books, and access online databases. Feel free to stop in early at the library November 21st to learn more. This session can be offered multiple times if there is the interest.

Would anyone be interested forming a reader’s advisory group where a number of books are discussed (by genre, new titles, series, authors, children’s titles, book club books of note, etc,). These types of sessions are popular with librarians and I thought maybe we could form our own group discussions within the community. Let me know if this is for you! We could meet over the lunch hour, in the evenings or Saturdays. Tell me what works for you.

New ‘Look & Find’ books for younger readers (large format):
• Bolt (Disney movie)
• Enchanted
• Fairies
• High School Musical
• Ice Age
• Little Einsteins
• Space Chimps
• Thomas and Friends
• Up (Pixar movie)
• Villains

Poetry workshops / Wm Kent Krueger event

Oct. 1, 2009

Poetry workshops will be offered at the Morris Public Library, Thursday, October 1st & October 8th at 6:30 pm. Athena Kildegaard will teach the classes entitled, Seeing is Believing: writing poetry with lively images. The Friends of the Morris Public Library is sponsoring these workshops which are free to the public. No previous writing experience necessary. All are welcome to attend.

Minnesota author, William Kent Krueger will be visiting Morris for a book signing and discussion, Thursday, October 29th at 6:30. This event will be held at the library and is supported by the Minnesota Book Awards through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education State Library Services and the Minnesota Library Foundation. The Minnesota Book Awards is a project of the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Office of the Saint Paul Mayor. It is also sponsored by the Friends of the Morris Public Library. For more information on the Minnesota Book Awards, visit www.thefriends.org.

Storytime continues with the TREC (Tutoring, Reading, Enabling Children) Program, from the University. UMM student Lynn Bixler has been doing a terrific job coordinating the readers. The students are enthusiastic and encourage the children’s participation. Storytime is Thursday mornings at 10:30.

New Poetry Books (Minnesota Book Award books):
• Almost Home, the Poetry of Ray Nargis, 2008
• Breaking the Glass, poems by LouAnn Shepard Muhm, 2008
• Clear All the Rest of the Way, by Warren Woessner, 2008
• Growing Down: Poems for an Alzheimer’s Patient, Anne Simpson, 2008
• Honey, by Richard Carr, 2008
• Humming the Blues, by Cass Dalglish, 2008
• Mister Martini, poems by Richard Carr, 2008
• Seeing it Now: haiku and tanka by Marjorie Buettner, 2008
• Tenderness of Bees, poems by Vicki Graham, 2008
• World Within, Poems by Ellen Murphy, 2008

Canvas Bags / Listening Center / Dr Eide Memorial

Sep. 1, 2009

Bookends - September, 2009

The end of summer is here, but isn’t the fair a great way to end the summer? We learned a lot from being at the fair this year and hope to return next year (with bigger and better ideas). Thank you to everyone who stopped by. Books and canvas bags were given away to 30 people. Many thanks to those of you who also filled out a survey! It is always good to get feedback and learn more about user’s interests and perceptions.

The canvas book bags were well received at the fair and thanks to the Friend’s group, there are many more available for purchase. Stop by today and purchase your very own bag for $6.00. They are a sturdy white canvas with blue straps and an outside pocket, sure to last for many years.

New at the library is a children’s listening center which consists of an audio cassette/CD player, earphones, and books to follow along; all on a bright yellow table in the back of the children’s area. The Friends were instrumental in acquiring this collection for us. More book/CDs will be purchased from donations from Corrine Stein memorials. Many of these titles will be available to check-out, but there will always be a few set aside to listen to while in the library.

Memorial funds have also been received to honor Dr. Eide from the Stevens Community Medical Center and individuals. Some 40 books on healthcare and medical issues will be displayed separately.

Just in time for the start of the school year: new leaf identification books, a series on the presidents of the United States and a series on the states.

A sampling of children’s books with CD:
• Ant Plays Bear
• Chester’s Way
• Diary of a Fly
• Gilberto
• Houndsley and Catina
• If the Dinosaurs Came Back
• Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken
• Paper John
• Vera’s First Day at School

We have noticed an increase for library cards lately – welcome back UMM students.

The library will be closed Monday, September 7th for Labor Day.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

County Fair / Graphic Novels

Aug. 1, 2009

Bookends - August, 2009

With August approaching, the county fair is not far behind. The library will join in the fun this year with a booth in the commercial exhibit area. It will be an opportunity for us to reach out to people who don’t usually visit the library and to greet regular users in a new and fun way. Registration forms for a library card will be on hand and a drawing for prizes will be awarded daily. Be sure to stop by for some fun give-a-ways and take a brief survey.

Prairie Pioneer Days was great fun, the book sale was most successful and brought in over $2000 for the Friends of the Library. A framed copy of the Morris grain elevator, painted by Victor Perlbachs is proudly displayed in the library, and Monica Ferris was well received as a Minnesota author of mystery books. We are working on getting more authors to visit Morris (and the Friends of the Library have been good about helping out with these expenses). Word has gotten out that William Kent Krueger will be here this fall (no, he was not here for Prairie Pioneer Days). Save the date, he will be here Thursday evening, October 29th.

A new collection of Graphic Novels is being created in the library (suggested by the Friends group for teens) and a special bookcase was purchased. Some titles follow, below. Tuesday, August 11th marks the 70th anniversary of the Marvel Comics and John’s Total Entertainment is celebrating the occasion with a variety of promotions at the store. Be there for some exciting give-aways.

Did you know that back issues of Bookends can be found on our website? So, if you missed a column, or want to refer back to an older one, you will find it under the Director’s column on the ‘About the Library’ tab.

Graphic Novels for Young Adults (and more to follow)
• All-Star Superman, by Morrison
• Atomic Robo
• Cairo, by G Willow Wilson
• Incognegro, a graphic mystery by Mat Johnson
• Insiders Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, by Schmidt
• Marvel- Astonishing X-Men
• Marvel – Runaways
• Sand Chronicles series, by Hinako Ashihara
• Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
• Seed of Destruction, by Nignola

See you at the fair!

Fiction / Prairie Pioneer Day / Medical titles added

Jul. 1, 2009

Welcome summer – love those hot days! Our children’s summer reading program is going strong. If your kids have not yet signed up, please help them do so today for fun activities and weekly drawings of fun prizes.

Several people have commented about a seemingly lack of books in the fiction area. As the director, I need to make sure there are sufficient materials purchased in all areas. New books come in every week, and much of it is fiction, but the bestsellers do not stay in the library. There is generally a long list of requests for these titles, so don’t expect to see them on the bookshelf.  A change has also been made in the way books are displayed on the front bookshelves. Instead of two years, only the current year of new books are displayed. Going forward, we will post a list of books ordered, along with the bestsellers, so that you can see what is available and place your requests. Suggestions for book title purchases are always welcome.

Prairie Pioneer Days events at the library, July 11 & 12:
• Book Sale Friday and Saturday, 10 – 5
• Unveiling of framed picture of  the Morris Grain Elevator, by Victor Perlbachs, Saturday, 11:00
• Book Signing by Monica Ferris, Saturday, 1:30

Hot tip for cool summers – stop by the Friends of the Library book sale July 10 & 11 for your summer cabin reading selections. Hardcover books are $1.00 and paperbacks are $.50

New medical healthcare books, courtesy of the Stevens Community Medical Center donation (more titles yet to come):
• 100 Questions & Answers about High Blood Pressure
• 100 Questions & Answers about Stroke
• Back Book
• Cancer Dictionary
• Choices in Breast Cancer Treatment
• Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies
• Consumer Handbook on Dizziness and Vertigo
• Epilepsy Explained
• Living with Arthritis
• Macular Degeneration
• Mayo Clinic, the Essential Diabetes
• Medical Tests Sourcebook
• New International Standard Medical and Health Encyclopedia
• Professional Guide to Diseases
• Thyroid Disease
• With Shaking Hands (Parkinson’s

Summer Reading Program / Picturing America / e-Mail Notification

Jun. 1, 2009

Bookends - June, 2009

It’s summer (well almost weather-wise) and the summer reading program at the library begins June 8th! The theme this year is, ‘Be Creative @ Your Library’. Sharon Ehlers has worked hard to put together a comprehensive program for every week through August. She and Roxane Malland will coordinate the special events, lunch bunch, and story-time activities. Special guest readers have been assigned throughout the summer (contact the library if you would like to participate). So, pick up your brochure today (or check our website, www.morris.lib.mn.us) for details of the events, including: Zoo Man, ventriloquist, magic show, dance, art projects and more.

The Library applied for and received a grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities, ‘Picturing America’, which is a collection of 40 reproductions of art masterpieces on 20 posters. The purpose of the grant is to tell the story of America through art including selections portraying American leaders, depicting courage and sacrifice, illustrating founding principles of freedom and equality, showing American creativity through the arts, and illustrating Native American heritage. These posters will be made available to the community for use in a classroom setting. Further information about this grant and the artwork can be found at ‘PicturingAmerica.neh.gov.

The Viking Cataloging system was upgraded in April. This upgrade allows us the opportunity to offer e-mail notification on overdues, and books being held for you. In addition you can opt to receive pre-notification announcements before items are due. If you would like to take advantage of this new feature, sign-up for this service the next time you are in the library. We need your name, library card number, and e-mail address to activate your account with this feature.

Did you know that the library has a new World Book encyclopedia set? Look for it in the newly created reference section.

Please keep in mind that the Friends of the Library are collecting books for our annual July book sale. Books can be dropped off at the library.

New children’s and young adult audio books include:
• Call it Courage, by Armstrong Perry
• The Gecko and Sticky Villain’s Lair, by Wendelin Van Draanen
• Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
• Jason’s Gold, by Will Hobbs
• Magic Tree House Books 37 – 40, by Mary Pope Osborne
• Make Lemonade, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
• The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P Figg, by Rodman Philbrick
• Savvy, by Ingrid Law
• Three Cups of Tea, young reader’s addition, by Greg Mortenson
• True Believer, by Virginia Euwer Wolff
• The Underneath, by Kathi Appelt
Wait Till Helne Comes, b