Like Winter?

Hello,

 

I used to say I liked winter. I still like parts of it, but not so much so close together. Especially on the days I must go to work. We had snow again last night. I suspect it was between two and three inches. That is not really a lot, but with the piles we have around it is much more work to get it off the surfaces we would like to clear.

 

After the alarm went off, I said, “You know what we have to do.”

 

“Yes,” Leroy replied, throwing back the covers and swinging his legs out of bed.

 

It was not so cold this morning, however Leroy still bundled up. When we got back in the house an hour later all he could do was complain about how warm and sweaty he was. He even had to sit for a while. I dutifully waited on him with a glass of water.

 

We had planned to just clear a path, but neither of us could stop once we were out. Seeing the end so close, we could not stop, but did it all. There is something satisfying about looking at the results.

 

I prefer my snows to come about once a week rather than every two days. The temperatures are stuck in the low zone. Seems no so long ago I was complaining about it popping up and down. At that point I thought we would just get used to the cold if it would stay more consistent. Now I am not so sure about that idea. It seems even crazy.

 

Paula

Bike Locks at the Library

We are excited to announce a new addition to our collection: six bicycle locks!

Tween Scene programming has brought a new crew into the library throughout the week, who have requested a more secure way to park their bikes in front of the library.  We love getting suggestions for improvements for patrons and have already seen the locks in use several times!

In addition, the Hoover Bike Trail brings visitors from across Eastern Iowa to Ely.  Bike locks will allow visitors to enjoy their breaks in Ely and get a taste of our community.

To check out a bike lock, ask at the circulation desk.  They are available for three-hour loans, with extensions available.

-Madeline

Super September

The weather is gorgeous, gardens are blooming, …and school is back in session!  We had a great Summer Reading program, and are getting back into our September routines.  In addition to Toddler Time on Mondays at 10 and Preschool Story Time Thursdays at 10 and 2, I wanted to highlight some new programming from the youth services department:

Tween Scene: Ely Public Library and St. John Lutheran Church are thrilled to announce a partnership providing after school activities for kids 4^th-8^th grade.  Tween Scene will run Tuesdays (at the church) and Thursdays (at the library) from 3:30-5:30, with special programming 4-5.  Check out what’s on the docket this month!

September 1: Ping-Pong

September 3: Board Game Blast

September 8: Outdoor Fun

September 10: Coloring Club & Silent Library

September 15: Cook A Meal

September 17: Spaghetti/Marshmallow Towers

September 22: Decorate a Fall Fest Entry

September 24: Bingo

September 29: Community Clean-Up for Fall Fest

October 1: Bookface Challenge

Teen Advisory Board: This summer we launched our Teen Advisory Board.  I’ve had a blast getting to know the teens in our community and crafting, laughing, and even smashing watermelons with them.  I hope to see even more of you for our fall programs! Join us September 10^th for Silent Library (teens vs. tweens!) and September 24^th for another round of Broken Picture Telephone.   Stop by our Facebook, Instagram, or even the library to vote for our October events!

New Books: I can’t resist plugging a new graphic novel and YA book that will hit our shelves this month!
Fans of the Babymouse series and Raina Telgemeier's memoirs will love Sunny Side Up by sibling team Jennifer and Matthew Holm.  In this graphic novel we meet Sunny, who has been sent to spend the summer in Florida with Gramps after something happens in her family.  We learn about her family secret through flashbacks as she adjusts to her summer at a retirement community and learns to love comic books.

This weekend I sat down with a galley copy of The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow… and didn’t get off the couch til I had finished it! In a futuristic world ruled by AIs and facing drought crises, the United Nations keeps the children of world leaders hostage in a boarding school in an effort to deter war: if a country declares war, their captive will be killed.  Our main character, Greta, is the heir to the Pan Polar Confederacy and is months from her 18th birthday.   Will she live to see the day?  Will the hostages remain captive?   If you were a fan of The Hunger Games, give this book a try. 

See you in the library!

~Madeline Jarvis
Youth Services Librarian

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson

From the Epilogue:
"...writer Joseph Campbell. I've never forgotten his definition of a hero.  Campbell said that a hero is an ordinary human being who does 'the best of things in the worst of times.' Oskar Schindler personifies that definition."

Wow!  I have never come across a truer or better definition of hero than this.  How timely to discover this during our summer reading program - where every hero has a story.

I highly recommend this title as it provides insight into the life of a young Jewish boy during World War II in Poland.  Leon provides great detail to the atrocities that he and many others faced and how Oskar Schindler played a vital role to his survival.  Often these events go untold and for Leon to share his memories shows his courage and true heroism. 

This title has also been nominated by teens in Iowa to be included in the 2015-2016 Iowa Teen Award.  Check it out today!

Support Systems Towers

Today's STEAM activity was building support systems towers out of mini marshmallows and spaghetti!  I had a blast watching participants work together and figure out the different shapes and stability levels possible.

After the contest ended (tied #1 towers measured 16") we snacked on some mini marshmallows and continued to build... some nearly reached two feet by the end of the program!  A special thank you to the kids and parents who stuck around and helped me pick up afterwords.  It's always such a sweet surprise.

Check out pictures of today's engineers on our facebook page!

Next week's STEAM activity is a Shadow Storytime.  The full summer schedule can be found at our website.

-Madeline Jarvis
Youth Services Librarian

Super Surprise Books

I've been having a blast putting together youth surprise books!  The books are shelved between Easy Readers and Junior Nonfiction:

• Board Books are in blue bags.
• Picture Books are in red bags.
• Junior Fiction Books are wrapped in white paper.

Young Adult surprise books are on top of the YA stacks.  
If you're like me and not the best with surprises, give the Junior Fiction and Young Adult books a try.  The opening line(s) from the book are on top of the wrapped book!

Summer reading kicks off this Monday, June 1, and surprise books are great ways to add to your summer reading log.

See you in the library!

Madeline Jarvis
Youth Services Librarian

Summer Reading sneak peak

Even the books are getting excited for this year's Summer Reads theme!  Here's a sneak peak of some of the books dressed up in the Junior Fiction section:

Of course, these books can still be checked out!

Did I miss a favorite hero?  Let me know!

-Madeline Jarvis
Youth Services Librarian