New Year, Lots to Do

If you're lucky, or careful, by now you have probably stopped putting '09 on your correspondence and started adding in the required '10. If you're more like me, you have learned by now you can squeeze that 1 in before the zero and usually it doesn't look too bad.

Speaking of squeezing things in, there are a few more note-worthy events going on this month at the library.

The Prairie Writers Guild will be finishing up their tour of the Jasper County Public Library system this month with a stop in Rensselaer on Monday, Jan 18 at 6:30 p.m. Members were at DeMotte in November and Wheatfield in December, reading from the 2009 edition of From the Edge of the Prairie.

This book, which has been in publication since 2004, has become a place to showcase some of the best writing of the community. This year in addition to guild regulars, the works of several students are featured in its pages, as well as the poetry of Norbert Krapf, the Indiana Poet Laureate in 2008.

Books will be available for purchase, and you can get yours signed by the authors.

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For those with an artistic bent, the DeMotte Library this month is offering an opportunity for patrons to explore the world of oil painting with an all-day (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) class on January 23. The class, which costs $55 for materials, is geared at those of all skill levels. Even if you've never picked up a brush before, you will leave at the end of the day with a finished project.

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DeMotte is also hosting a reading program all month long. See how much your family can read and compete against other families for prizes. For more information, or to get a log book, stop in at the library and see how much time you can rack up with the written word.

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For the younger patrons, there are programs at each location. Teens can check out DeMotte's West Room Writers; younger siblings can check out the Library Kids and Third Thursday program at Rensselaer; and Wheatfield Library is offering some unique storytimes for tots ages 3-5 next week themed around pirates and Strawberry Shortcake.

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All of these stories can be found at our website myjcpl.org.

Whatever you decide to do with all the time in the month or the year that you have left, think on the recent buzz in the library world from New Bedford, Mass., where a patron returned a book that was 99 years overdue. The full story can be read here, but the short fact is, it is never too late to do something worth doing.

Family Holiday Project

Are you looking for something to fill those hours tomorrow between rounds at the food table? Or maybe you're planning to skip the Black Friday rush and just stay home, but you're not sure what to do instead of shopping.

Here's an idea that's guaranteed to build a little holiday spirit for you and your loved ones:

The DeMotte Library's Gingerbread House Contest is just around the corner and the library is inviting anyone interested to create a gingerbread house and enter it for judging. The library will be accepting donated houses anytime between December 3-5. The houses will go on display December 7-12, during which time patrons will be able to vote for their favorites by placing money into the associated jars. An auction of the houses will follow on the 14th.

Check out our contest page to see more information, as well as some JCPL books about gingerbread decorating. Put on your most creative hats and have fun. Whatever you come up with, we hope you find a bit of peace on earth and goodwill towards mankind in the process.

Contest entries showcase local writing talent

For those of you who are Stephenie Meyer fans, no doubt Friday's debut of the New Moon movie, the second in her popular Twilight series, has been on your calendar for some time -- probably dotted with hearts or slogans to designate the side you have taken in the thrilling debate started in this book: Team Edward, or Team Jacob.

Several of you showed your affection for the series earlier this fall, as well as considerable writing talent, to lend your thoughts as to what the next installment of the series might look like. These entries can be found on our website, along with the original contest information, in case you know of a group (school, homeschool, etc.) which might want to try their own version.

It was a difficult choice, but Kimi Peterson's entry was chosen by JCPL staff as the winner of the contest. She won free tickets to the opening night of New Moon at Rensselaer's Fountain Stone Theaters and a copy of the New Moon soundtrack. Congratulations to her and to all those who entered. We're proud to share this literary phenomenon with you as time goes on.

Go Team (insert your favorite name here)!

Halloween Happenings at JCPL

It's time for the fall holidays to begin and at JCPL we have several events coming up sure to get you in the mood for a haunting good time.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, stop in at the Rensselaer Library from 2-3 pm for the Riley Read. A long-time Rensselaer tradition that the Library has been pleased to continue, the Riley Read celebrates the poetry of Hoosier native James Whitcomb Riley. All ages are welcome to attend as veteran storyteller Jane Lord will usher back to a time of Gobble-uns and orphants, strawberries melting on the vine and frost on the punkin. This family event is open to all ages. Registration is requested.

If spooky tales are more to your fancy, consider the DeMotte Library's traditional Ghost Stories at the Fairchild House on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6-8pm. Registration required. Karen Slager from the Northwest Indiana Storyteller’s Guild will share stories of ghostly encounters on the lawn of the neighboring Fairchild House. Scarier stories will be told later in the program. Participants are encouraged to bring family-friendly ghost tales of their own to share.

The Wheatfield Library will also touch on the spooky side of things with November's book discussion, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Margaret Lea is going to write the life story of Vida Winter and becomes mesmerized by her story telling. Things come to light and they fight the ghosts that have haunted both of them their whole lives. Join us Nov 10 at 6:30 pm as we discuss this tale. In celebration of the nine year anniversary of the Wheatifield Library’s Book Club, a carry in meal will precede the discussion, and everyone in attendance is welcome to bring their favorite dish or dessert along…

Check your local library for upcoming childrens events for the holidays, and don't be surprised if you stop in on Oct. 30 or 31 and see your favorite librarians dressed up in their own costumes! Trick-or-treat!

Wishing you a safe holiday season. -- JCPL

Family Matters. Read about it at JCPL this month.

This month the Jasper County Public Library will be participating for the second year in “Books to Bridge the Region,” a regional program to encourage residents of all ages to read selected titles and share their reading experiences with one another.

Other participating counties include Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke.

“Family Matters” is this year’s theme and is carried out in three book selections for adults, teens and children.

Adults are invited to read The Ride of Our Lives by Mike Leonard, children and teens are invited to read The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis and the chosen title for preschoolers and young children is A Day With Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce.

The books chosen for this program focus on the common theme of the importance of family, and each library will hold special programs related to the selected titles. Special events and programs include book discussions at each branch of JCPL, as well as author visits and other related programs.

For more information about “Books to Bridge the Region,” including a list of the special programs we have going on this month, check out our Community Reads page.

New System / New Look

If you have been to the library catalog this week, you might have noticed a new look and some features we hope will prove to make the system easier to use.

Below is a screen shot of a search in the new catalog.(Click image to enlarge.) A search for the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series yields 16 separate items in the library system, some with multiple copies. Notice that on the upper right corner of each item now is a picture that lets you know what type of material you are looking at, whether it be a book or a book on cd. There are also icons for films and software for other titles.



At the top of the screen you can choose the familiar options of searching by title, author, series, subject and more. The choice to set limits, however, is a little more user-friendly than it used to be, and comes with a little help button (question mark) in the upper right corner that explains all about how set limits can help your searching.



Putting items on hold now should also be just as easy as before. On the left side of each item there is an image that looks like a stick pin. (Click image to enlarge.) Click the box and press the stick pin and you get a window that gives you a chance to put in your card number and four digit pin. You have now been added to the queue for that item. Don't forget to request which branch you want the item sent to. The option should be very useful for our patrons who like to pick up items at work on their way home.



We hope you like the new look and the new features this upgrade brings to the catalog. If you have any questions about it, or about any other library features, please stop in at your local library and ask. We're happy to help.

How would you tell the Twilight story?

If you have been a fan of the Twilight series, you probably had your own ideas of what might happen next for the Cullen family and their friends and foes.

Now is your chance to put your creative skills to the test and try for a chance at free movie tickets and a copy of the soundtrack for the New Moon movie.

The contest details can be found at the JCPL website.

For those adults who may wonder what this contest will do for their kids or students, we encourage you to check out the page for Teachers/Librarians. Not only will this contest tap into some creative writing juices, but it will give writers the opportunity to learn some research skills, as well as explore geography, mythology and art.

This project could be incorporated in a wide variety of subjects and lessons—what better way to get students enthused than to base a lesson around their favorite books?!