Heritage Quest: Internet Research Tool

Transcription

1 December 21, Number 4 In This Issue: HeritageQuest...1,2 Christmas Tree Winners.. 2 Creche Display...3 Good Books....3 Mailing form What s Happening...4 Club Read Membership form...5 Library Hours...6 Calendar...6 Jan Malone with her mother, Lillian Kelto s, creche display at the library. See article on page 3. Heritage Quest: Internet Research Tool By Duane Hargis. HeritageQuest, a fee-based internet site is now available free of charge to public library card holders. The site is divided into four sections, US Census images, genealogy books, Persi (Periodical source index), and Revolutionary War pension and bounty land warrant application files. US Census Images The census image search is very easy to use. Just type in a surname, census year, and state and it will list all names found for that year and state by county. Click on any of the names and it will take you to the proper census image. You can either download the image to your computer or copy the information onto a census form. Census images are also available through Ancestry.com which is available on-line but only through the library computers. On occasion, a dark or light image is found which is difficult to read. Go to the other site (Ancestry or Heritage (continued on page 2) Book Bags for Sale Now available at the library, Munising Public Library Book Bags. They are heavy duty to hold many books or whatever you want to put in them. The book bags are reasonably priced, and by purchasing them you will be helping the Friends of the Library raise money for programs, speakers, books and other library materials and needs. I m p o r t a n t please read this!! If you wish to receive this newsletter by mail, use the signup form on page 3. Either mail it or bring it to the library. Copies of the newsletter are also available at the library. If you would like notification, also fill out the address on page 3. This newsletter is also online at mi.us under library news.

2 Page (Heritage 2 Friends Quest...continued Newsletter from page 1) Quest) and often it will have a better image which is readable. It is also possible to browse the census images. Books Over 25,000 family and local histories are available. The books were digitally scanned and each page can be brought up on the screen and read. You may also download the screen image. Again, searching for a surname or place will bring up a list which can be searched by clicking on the desired name or place. One tip when searching for a surname, put it in quotes, otherwise you will get numerous false hits. Persi (Periodical Source Index) Searching this data base will give you only the title of a publication, not images or any information about your search query. You must order the publication to see the desired information. Revolutionary War Pension Applications You can search this database by typing in a surname along with a state and branch of service or just a surname alone. The images are of the original handwritten correspondence. Many of these applications include details of their war service, spouses, children, etc. Even if you are not doing genealogy, if you have an ancestor who served in the Revolutionary War and applied for a pension, these can be interesting reading. Sarah Carpenter and Sheila Bonner in front of their winning trees. Christmas Tree Decorating Winners The Christmas trees were judged and there was a tie for first place. Sheila Bonner won with her Mustang School Spirit tree and Sarah Carpenter with her traditional homemade ornament tree. Thanks to everyone who participated. There were many wonderful and creative trees. A free book from the Public Enrichment Foundation will be given to all other participants.

3 Page 3 Friends Newsletter Kelto Creche Display By Carol Kloskowski. The current nativity scenes displayed at the library are part of the collection of Lillian Kelto. She began her collection approximately thirty years ago when her husband, Rudy, made a small stable for the nativity figures she had at the time, including a treasured one her mother gave her. Since then, Rudy and sons; Paul and Peter, and daughters: Jan, Joyce, Jane, have given her many crèches. With the nativity scenes that Lillian has purchased herself, she estimates she has at least eightfive. There is one from Peru and one that came from Bethlehem, but was purchased at a gift shop right here in Munising. Jan Malone, her daughter, remembers that Mom used to have contests for the family about how many nativity scenes were displayed each Christmas around the house. You d think it would be easy to count, but there were some that were Christmas tree ornaments and some were very small and you d really have to hunt to find them all. (See photo on page 1.) Books I ve Raved About By Carol Kloskowski. A book that I found fascinating was Follow the River by Alexander Thom. It is the fictionalized telling of the true story of a woman who was taken prisoner by the Ohio Shawnee in the late 1700s Virginia frontier after they attacked the settlement in which she lived. Be warned, it starts out bloody, but soon becomes a truly incredible survival story. The first 150 pages are about the attack, the journey west to the tribe s camp and captivity. The author uses these events to paint a portrait of Mary that enables the reader to believe Mary had the courage and will necessary to survive the incredible, disgusting, despairing, and ultimately aweinspiring 600-mile trek home. I couldn't put the book down. Even when the starving Mary resorts to eating bugs and the leavings of buzzards, I was compelled to read in spite of my revulsion. A stick, a knife, a blanket and food once items to be taken for granted become the tools of survival when she and another halfmad woman captive escaped with only the clothes on their backs, and shoeless, if I remember correctly,. Without benefit of compass, map or any other guide, they overcame numerous obstacles as they traveled for 6 weeks in late autumn using the river as their guide home. M a n y T h an ks To...everyone who helped to make this such a successful year! A new microfilm reader/scanner, new comfortable computer chairs, and a display case have been added to the library. Profitable bake and book sales, flea market, dinner, and the million pennies project are some of the Friends fundraisers. Yes - I would like a Mailed hard copy of the news letter. My name and address are: Yes - I will access the newsletter online at then click on Friends of the Library News. I will be notified at my address when a new edition of the newsletter is online. My address is

4 Page 4 Friends Newsletter What s Happening?? Friends Board of Directors meeting summaries and more. by Carol Kloskowski As of July 1st we had 36 paid members of our organization. We are looking for ways to increase that number. In September of 2005 there was a re-organization of officers. At the November meeting Sue Said and Dave Worel were nominated to be co-presidents of our organization. The board approved. The officers are as follows: co-presidents: Sue Said and Dave Worel, Vice President, Lisa Cromell, Treasurer, Susan Coldsnow, Secretary, Carol Kloskowski, Directors: Elizabeth Rajala, Nancy Dwyer, Jack Carberry, Penny Hatt, Duane Hargis, Rita Hale. We hope you didn't miss the book signing by author Lori Anderson for his book Impressions of Arvo Laurila on Sept. 21st. His book was not without controversy. Some of those in attendance were offended by his depiction of U.P. Finns, which made for a very interesting discussion. Have you notice the changing displays at the library? First there were aprons and cookbooks compliments of Tina Graber and Lisa Cromell. Next, just in time for the Christmas season there are a large variety of nativity scenes thanks to Lillian Kelto (Jan Malone's mother). And of course we have our crop of mini Christmas trees that folks have been decorating. With the Million Penny Drive now a successful past venture, the Friends of the Library are putting much of the money to good use by agreeing to pay for one year of Brilliance Corporation's CD and MP3 book buying program. Once we begin their program, we will be buying 72 books during the year, some on CDs and some MP3. Our librarian, Char, will be choosing current best sellers. Please check out our new Heritage Quest link on the Munising Library site. Some valuable information for researchers may be found there. (See the article on front of this newsletter.) You will be hearing a lot about Community Read in the future. It is an attempt to get more people to read and discuss books. Many libraries across the country, including our library are having "Community Read" events. Our Friends of the Library board has chosen the first book for the on-going event. It is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. The book deals with a boy who is autistic, a condition which has become more prevalent in recent years. It is an easy read and very informative. The book will be available for check out at the library and at various locations around town (to sign-out on a sign-out sheet). You will be able to buy the book if you wish.. There will be at least two meetings after the reading period is over to discuss the book. We will probably have one meeting in the daytime and one in the evening, so that as many people as possible may participate. We are also trying to get a speaker knowledgeable about autism for another meeting. (Continued on Page 5.)

5 Page 5 Friends Newsletter Happenings (continued) The theme for next summer's reading program will be "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. The committee will also look into ways to develop "Read Outside the Box," another community read program. There are no plans for this program as of December To increase our membershipa membership drive will probably be forthcoming. December 15th Friends held a bake sale at the Munising Community Credit Union. Club Read Club Read is an adult book discussion group that meets on the first Thursday of each month at the library from 6:30 8:00 p.m. Some of the books that have been discussed this past year are The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, and Light in August by Faulkner. With such a variety of books, this is a great way to broaden your reading and share opinions, thoughts, and ideas with other interesting adults. WE NEED YOU!!! Every Friend of Library member is important. To do the most for our library, we need your help. At present, a small percentage of the Friend s membership is doing most of the work involved in our organization. Be aware you are invited to come to meetings and to become officers. We urge you to volunteer where you can. We want your ideas and, again, we truly need your help. If we all do what we can, our library will benefit greatly and that will benefit everyone. That s what it s all about! isn t it? MP3-CDs MP3-CDs audio books are coming to the library! Name Friends of the Munising Public Library Membership 2005/2006 Please detach and return with your dues payment Checks should be made payable to: Friends of the Munising Public Library 810 State Hwy. M-28 W. Munising, MI Address Phone THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Student and Senior Citizens $2.50 Business & Supporting $50.00 Individuals $10.00 BEST Friend $ Family $15.00 Life-Long Friend $1, I want the payment plan option of $ per year over 5 years I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE: (circle one or more) Budget & Finance Membership Programming Fundraising Publicity & PR

6 Page 6 Friends Newsletter Calendar of Upcoming Events TaleSpinners Story Time Every Monday 10:00-10:45 At Library or Kid s Kingdom Club Read First Thursday 6:30 p.m. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen January St. Helena by Christopher Knight February Voyageurs by Elphinstone March Mother/Daughter Book Club 3rd Tuesday 6:00 Falling Rock Café & Bookstore Friends Board Meeting 1st Monday 6:30 p.m. Phone: Fax: Web: < Winter Library Hours Sunday 12:00-6:00 Monday 10:00-8:00 Tuesday --10:00-8:00 Wednesday 10:00-8:00 Thursday -10:00-8:00 Friday 10:00-4:00 Saturday Closed June, July & August Library Hours Monday 10:00-4:00 Tuesday --10:00-8:00 Wednesday 10:00-8:00 Thursday -10:00-8:00 Friday 10:00-4:00 Sat. & Sun. Closed From: The Friends of the Munising Public Library 810 State Hwy. M-28 West, Ste. A Munising, MI 49862