A Message from Our Director...

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1 You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. C.S. Lewis A Message from Our Director... Monday Thursday 11 AM 9 PM Friday 12 PM 5 PM Saturday 10 AM 3 PM The Library is Closed on Sundays The Library is closed on Monday, February 17th For President s Day ~ Circulation Desk ext. 210 or 211 Reference Desk ext. 206 Children's Reference Desk ext. 204 Teen and Youth Services ext. 208 Administration ext. 203 After the short months of November and December, January is another exciting month for libraries. It s almost like a book holiday. Locally, we are watching what is happening at the American Library Mid-Winter Conference happening this month in Philadelphia. Two great main events will unfold: the announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott winners for Two committees, one for each award, are charged with selecting the winning titles, and are comprised of 15 members. Each group has been reviewing all children s books (written for ages between 0 through 14 years-old) during The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, published by an American publisher in the United States and in the English language. Contribution to American literature means the text of the book, not illustrations or other refinements. The Caldecott committee has the same criteria for submitted books but will be considering the story through illustrations. Each award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the US. Typically over 1000 books are considered by each committee each year and then narrowed to one winner. That s a lot of books. John Newbery ( ) called "The Father of Children's Literature" was an English book publisher who made children's literature a profitable part of the literary market. His shop in London, published several adult books, but Newbury became interested in expanding his business to children's books including ABC books, children's novels and children's magazines. Some credit Newbery with publishing the first English edition of Mother Goose. Some past Newbery winners were The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle (1923), Johnny Tremain (1944), A Wrinkle in Time (1963), and Holes (1999). Most people know Randolph Caldecott's ( ) name from the embossed medal on the front of beautiful picture books. At 26, after ten years working in local banks, Caldecott quit to become a freelance illustrator in London when children's books were coming into their own. Although he died at the age of 39 Caldecott s pen and watercolor drawings caused a revolution in children's literature by placing illustrations on par with text. You may recognize some iconic Caldecott winners such as Make Way for Ducklings (1942), Where the Wild Things Are (1964), The Polar Express (1986) and The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008). When the winner is announced each January, bookstores sell out, libraries order copies and teachers add the book to their lesson plans. That s not to say adults don t enjoy reading these winners and the movies that are made from them.

2 Friends of the Library Monday, February 3rd, 2:00PM A Friends of the Library group is a great way to get involved in your Library & your community. Right now The Friends are planning a Spring Flea Market! Join us and share your ideas. Free Film Series Best in Show Monday, February 3rd, 6:30PM (Directed by Christopher Guest, Comedy, 2000, 90 minutes) An entertaining movie done in documentary style by the director of WAITING FOR GUFFMAN about the various characters who are obsessed with their dogs and enter them in a prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. Starring Fred Willard, Eugene Levy & Catherine O Hara A discussion led by Patti Duskee follows the screening. Adults 18 and over are welcome. No registration is required. Needle Arts Group Wednesday, February 5th, 6:30-8:30 PM Do you knit or crochet? Like to do embroidery, needlepoint, beading, quilting or other needlework? Bring a current project to work on in a fun and informal atmosphere. All levels of experience are welcome. This is not a class. However, sharing of tips and experience are encouraged. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. No registration required. Creative Oxygen: Writing Group You want to write but don't! Wednesday, February 5th 6:30-8:30PM This is a Creative Writing Group looking for fun, creative, artistic writers who find it hard to stay motivated to write. Join us as we encourage each other in maintaining a writing schedule with the goal of using writing as a tool of empowerment, healing and personal discovery. Critique sessions, writing prompts, artistic encouragement, for writers of any genre. Registration is required. Please call the group facilitator Theresa Moore at to register.

3 Bookworms Book Club Thursday, February 6th, 1:00PM Mrs. Lincoln s Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini Chosen as the personal modiste for Mary Todd Lincoln, freedwoman Elizabeth Keckley is drawn into the intimate life of the Lincoln family as she supports Mary in the loss of her husband from the assassination that stunned the nation and the world. The Bookworms Book Club is a reading group for adults that meets at 1:00 on the first Thursday of each month. All are welcome to read along with us and attend our discussions in the library meeting room. No registration required. Next Month: Room by Emma Donoghue Horror Movie Night: My Bloody Valentine Tuesday, February 11th, 6:00PM-8:00PM Tom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. Instead of a homecoming, however, Tom finds himself suspected of committing the murders, and it seems like his old flame is the only one who believes he's innocent. Blood Drive On the third Thursday of every month the American Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive in the Library Meeting Room. The date this month is Thursday, February 20th, from 2:00-7:30 PM. For an appointment please call RED-CROSS. The Bookmarks Tuesday, February 25th, 7:00PM Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline Close to aging out of the foster care system, Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer takes a community service position helping an elderly woman named Vivian clean out her home and discovers that they are more alike than different as she helps Vivian solve a mystery from her past. The Bookmarks meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00PM except for December. All adults are welcome to attend and we invite you to read along with us and join our monthly discussions held in the Library s meeting room. For additional information please call Next Month: The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

4 Orchids Monday, February 10, 7:00PM Kathleen Harvey of Plant Artistry will present a program on growing and caring for orchids. The audience is invited to bring their problem orchids for Kathleen s help (as long as they do not have an insect infestation). Please be sure that your orchids are protected from the weather in a heavy cardboard box, if you decide to bring them with you. If the temperature is freezing or below please leave them at home! This program is free and open to the public. Please call x206 to register. Black History Month Film: In the Heat of the Night Starring Sidney Poitier & Rod Steiger Directed by Norman Jewison, 1967, 109 minutes Thursday, February 13th, 6:30 p.m. While traveling in the Deep South, Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), a black Philadelphia homicide detective, becomes unwittingly embroiled in the murder investigation of a prominent businessman when he is first accused of the crime and then asked to solve it! Finding the killer proves to be difficult, however, especially when his efforts are constantly thwarted by the bigoted town sheriff (Rod Steiger). But neither man can solve this case alone. Putting aside their differences and prejudices, they join forces in a desperate race against time to discover the truth. This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required. There is always something going on at the library. Stay in the know by: Liking us on Facebook at: Follow us on Twitter at: Monroe Library Check out our Events Calendar on our website at Stop in or call and talk to the library staff. We ll be happy to fill you in on everything we have planned.

5 SAT Prep Saturday, February 1st, 10:30AM-2:00PM Join other teens in our Technology Lab and take a FREE practice exam that will give you an assessment of what areas to work on for the SAT test. The database we use also includes lessons and practice problems tailored to the student s needs. You must have a valid Library Card. Bring your Library card and a calculator. Sign up required, stop by the Reference Desk or monroeteens@gmail.com. Teen Writer s Group Tuesday, February 4th, 6:00PM-8:00PM Calling all teen writers! Write. Share. Review. Chat. Ages Non-residents welcome. New member registration required: monroeteens@gmail.com or stop by the Reference Desk. Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game Meeting Saturday, February 15th, 11:30AM-2:00PM Our Yu-Gi-Oh card game nights are a place to play, trade and learn more about Yu- Gi-Oh. No sign up necessary, noobs welcome! Ages Movie Night: The Great Gatsby (2013) Tuesday, February 18th, 6:00PM-8:00PM Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy. Pen Point Pen Point is our new teen literary Blog-Zine To check out what has been submitted and published go to: Stop by the Reference Desk or monroeteens@gmail.com for details. We are on TUMBLR

6 The eight-week winter storytime is starting up again this January. Storytime will run from January 21st to March 11th. No pre-registration or signups needed...just show up at your age group s time slot. The schedule will be: months: Tuesdays, 11:30 AM 3-4 years: Wednesdays, 11:30 AM 4-6 years: Thursdays, 11:30 AM Just show up at your age group s session. Parents and siblings are welcome, too. Children in the month age group must have an adult with them in the Story Room. For the older two groups, adult attendance is optional. We hope we ll see you there for stories, crafts, games and movies! Mo Willems Birthday Party Saturday, Feb. 8th, 11:30 AM In honor of the birthday of author/illustrator Mo Willems this week, we'll be throwing a birthday party with games, refreshments, and read-alouds of books like the "Elephant and Piggie," "Knuffle Bunny," and "Pigeon" series. Ages 3 and up are welcome. Please sign up by Thursday, Feb. 6th. Lego Night Wednesday, Feb. 12th, 7 PM Ages 4 and up are invited to build with the Lego we provide! Signups required. Valentine Party Friday, Feb. 14th, 2 PM Ages 3 and up are welcome to enjoy refreshments, games like "Valentine Bingo," read-alouds, and decorate their own Valentine cookie. Please sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 12th. Rubber Band Bracelets for Tweens Wednesday, Feb. 19th, 7 PM Ages 8 through 13 are invited to weave their own rubber band bracelets with the rubber bands we provide. If you've got your own rubber band loom, bring it--we'll provide a couple of our own as well. Please sign up by Tuesday, Feb. 17th. Magic with Mlanjeni! Saturday, Feb. 22nd, 11:30 AM All ages are welcome to see "The Journey: Voyages in African American History," a magic and puppet show performed by the amazing Mlanjeni Nduma. Signups are required. Dr. Seuss Birthday Party Wednesday, Feb. 26th, 6:30 PM All ages welcome to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday! We'll have games like "Seussical Chairs," refreshments, read-alouds, and a cartoon. Please sign up by Monday, Feb. 24th. Call x204 for more information or to sign up for programs. Also be sure to call in the event of snowy/icy weather to make sure the Library is open