Blogs

Ever imagine eating a bowl full of bugs and worms, just for the fun of it? This stunt is part of the Survivor Family Game Show that combines the laughs of Gilligan’s Island with the thrills of reality TV.  It will be presented to teens aged 12-18 at the Shawano City-County Library on Tuesday August 9, 2011 at 1:30pm.

The interactive game show involves audience members and engages them in hilarious versions of the stunts featured on programs like “Survivor” and “Fear Factor.” The game is simple enough: audience volunteers are cast as members of the crew from the old “Gilligan’s Island” TV show. Bob Bohm, the host of the game, pits the participants against each other in a series of elimination rounds. To the cheers and applause of the audience, contestants find themselves being put through silly challenges such as bug eating (it’s Gummi Bugs). They’ll also spin hula hoops, dance the limbo and yell like Tarzan.

Bohm, who created “The Survivor Family Game Show” is a full-time professional magician and entertainer. 

Winnie the Pooh turns 90 this summer!  We're celebrating his birthday on Wednesday August 10 at 10am.  Stop by the Children's Department for stories, songs, and activities.  We'll finish the program by making birthday cards for Winnie the Pooh and sending them off to the New York Public Library, where Pooh and his friends have been on display since 1987.

Financial Edge by Investopedia.com released an article a couple days ago about the great free resources libraries have to offer.  Here's the list:

1. Read

2. Magazines and newspapers

3. Listen to music CDs and audiobooks

4. Periodical searches

5. Librarian access 24/7

6. Internet and WiFi

7. Watch movies

8. Learn a foreign language

9. Job preparation

10. Find your family history

11. Books for parents

12. Auto repair and other databases

13. Other free services (such as tax forms, fax services, test proctoring, and programs)

So, what do the Shawano libraries offer from this list?  Pretty much all of them!  Yep, for free.

Summer Reading kicked off 2 days ago and I haven't spent more than a couple minutes at a time in my office and can't quite find my desk yet...oh well, there's always tomorrow!

Our annual book sale is coming to a close in about a half hour.  Another year done!  Many thanks to our great Friends volunteers who helped setup and run this year's sale, along with staff member, Mikki, who handles our donations throughout the year and in preparation for the sale.  It's Mikki who actually touches every, yes every, donation and has our sale setup down to a precise science.  I mean, who knew you could fit 3 tents, tons of tables and an endless supply of book carts in the Bookmobile garage all at the same time?!  (Minus the Bookmobile, of course!)

Thanks to Julie, our children's supervisor and her staff for a great kickoff program by Mr Billy.  He's gotta be the most interactive musician around and the kiddos love him!

And to Betsy, teen librarian, for coordinating our first ever teen summer reading program.  Which expanded significantly in the last two weeks, as we received a grant from the Mielke Family Foundation.

Well, it's not quite closing time on a Wednesday and more people have visited the library in the past three days than in a typical week.  Summer is here!!

Well, it's official!! I've now got a 2nd grader at home!  Along with her report card, crayon nubs, dried up markers, crusty glue bottle, and well, I won't even mention the gym shoes(!), there was a packet of homework for the summer in her backpack earlier this week.  A short note from her teacher was attached encouraging parents to continue working on reading, writing and math during the summer citing without this practice, it'll take nearly 3 months next fall to return the students to where their skills are right now.

In public libraries, we have a phrase for this: summer slide.  And that's exactly the reason we offer a Summer Reading program for all ages~ to help maintain and in some cases improve reading skills of the children in our community.  And the program is very simple!  Stop in the library to get registered and pick up your reading log and away you go!  Track your reading throughout the summer and return your log for a variety of prizes.

Happy reading!

Once a year, we back out the Bookmobile, sweep away the dust, clean up the oil spills and move into the garage for the Friends Annual Book Sale!  "Book" sale is really misleading as it includes more than just books~ magazines, DVDs, audiobooks, music CDs and many other little odds and ends.  And that we hold it in the garage is somewhat misleading as well, since it generally spills over into the parking lot!

The Annual Sale is the Friends largest fundraiser of the year.  Funds support the library by purchasing new materials; programs for children, teens and adults; and new computers and technology upgrades.

The library is currently accepting donations for the sale.  Please drop off any books or media items by Friday, June 10 so we can include them in this year's sale!  All gifts to the library are tax deductible.

The sale runs Monday June 13, 4-8p; Tuesday June 14, 9a-4p; and Wednesday June 15, 9a-4p.  See you there!

On Friday, May 27, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) voted 16-0 to restore funding for the Department of Public Instruction’s contract with the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL). This action restores $183,400 (annual restoration of $91,700 in each year of the biennium) from the Universal Service Fund and would bring funding for the WTBBL back to the funding level for the current fiscal year.  The JCF vote did not change the proposed 10% reduction in funding for the three other statewide library service contracts (with the Milwaukee Public Library, WiLS, and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center). The JFC plans to complete their work on the biennial budget bill this week, and the bill will next be considered by the full legislature.

More information on the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library is available at: dpi.wi.gov/rll/wrlbph/

Adult Book Bingo is returning to the library again this summer! The program will run June 13-August 13.  Pick up your bingo card at the Checkout desk and get started!

Participants must read or listen to items from the following categories~ fiction; magazine; new book; travel; non-fiction; mystery, western or science fiction; paperback; large print, young adult or classic; and a free choice.

After completing the bingo card, return it to the library to be entered into a great prize drawing!  All prizes are provided by the Friends of Shawano County Libraries, Inc.

The Shawano City-County Library will be offering a children’s summer reading program again this year.  The program will run June 1- August 31.  The “read or be read to” program is open to all children from birth through 5^th grade.

Stop in the children’s department and pick up your reading log.  As you read during the summer, be sure to fill out the log and return it to the library by August 31 to collect great prizes, including a free book!  All prizes are provided by the Friends of Shawano County Libraries, Inc., as well as many other local supporters.

Many great children’s programs are planned for this summer.  They are:

·        June 14, 10:30a or 1:30p: Rockin’ All Over the World by Mr. Billy

·        June 15, 9a-3p: Exploring the Orient craft day

·        June 21, 10:30a or 1:30p: Stories & Songs From Around the World by Clare Norelle

·        June 22, 9a-3p: Hot! Hot! Hot! craft day

·        June 28, 10:30a or 1:30p: Wooden Shoe Carving by Luke Travers

·        June 19, 9a-3p: Celebrate the World craft day

·        July 5, 10:30a or 1:30p: Pint-Size Polkas by Mike Schneider

·        July 6, 9a-3p: Welcome to the Jungle craft day

·        July 26, 10:30a: Waupaca Children’s Theatre presents SchoolHouse Rock LIVE, Jr.

For the first time, the library will be offering a full-scale teen summer reading program for ages 12-18.  The program is possible through grants received from the Mielke Family Foundation and the Friends of Shawano County Libraries, Inc.  The program will run June 1-August 31.  Teens, pick up your bingo card at the Checkout desk and get started!

Teens must read items from a variety of topics, such as graphic novels, vampires, fiction, non-fiction, among many others.  After completing the bingo card, return it to the library to be entered into a great prize drawing! 

A very special thanks to teen librarian Betsy and the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) for planning so many great programs and activities this summer!

Many great teen programs are planned for this summer.  They are:

·        June 9, 2-4p: Aboriginal Art & Boomerangs

·        June 14, 1-2:30p: Origami

·        June 16, 1p: Manga Workshop by Nick Katzfey

·        June 30, 1p: Tales from Beyond by Magician Bruce Hetzler

·        July 12, 2p: Tibetan Singing Bowls by Malia Lesavage

·        July 14, 12p: Tye Dye

·        July 19, 1p: Henna by Amy Wilde

·        July 21, 1-4p: African Masks

·        August 4, 12-3p: Pizza Tasting

·        August 9, 1:30p: Survivor Family Game Show by Bob Bohm

·        August 16, 12p: Frozen Treats

·        August 18, 1-2:30p: Igloo Build

·        August 23, 2p: International Folk Dance by Mark Helpsmeet