The current economic climate has made libraries an even more vital part of their communities; they’re busier than ever. It’s a national phenomenon.
Key quote*: "Whenever you have tough economic times, public libraries are a place people go because they have no other alternatives or because they know they are going to get the kind of powerful information that will make a difference in their lives."
--Kristin McDonough, Director of the Science/Industry/Business Library of the New York Public Library.
- “Frugal readers drive up library circulation 30%.&dquo; Chicago Sun-Times, 6/28/2009.
- “Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries”. The New York Times, 4/1/2009.
- “Libraries Stressed, Yet Needed More Than Ever.” The Denver Post, 3/22/2009.
- *“Hard Economic Times a Boon for Libraries. CNN.com, 2/28/2009.
- “In Slumping Economy, Library Use Shoots Up”. Greater Milwaukee Today, 2/10/2009.
- "Libraries many benefits rediscovered in hard economic times". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/22/2009.
- "Folks Are Flocking to the Library, a Cozy Place to Look for a Job". Wall Street Journal, 1/15/2009.
- "Library use up with economy drop." Racine Journal Times, 1/4/2009.
- “Check it out: As the economy sags, library use is booming.” The Boston Globe, 1/4/2009.
- "As economy goes down, traffic at the library goes up." Wisconsin State Journal, 1/1/2009.
The library will be offering beginner computer workshops in October. All workshops will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the library's meeting room.
- Monday, October 12 - Computer Basics
- Tuesday, October 13 - Internet 101
- Monday, October 19 - Email Basics
- Tuesday, October 20 - Microsoft Word Basics
No registration is required. All classes are free. For more information contact the library at 232-2164 ext. 10
Funded by a Library Services and Technology Act Grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services
Winter Sunday hours begin September 13. The library will be open from 1-5 p.m. through May 23.
Colleen Zertler, our teen librarian, just handed me her report on summer teen activities:
Rocking to Guitar Hero, getting “yucky” and making candy are just a few ways teens Expressed themselves at the library this summer. This year’s teen summer reading program, “Express Yourself @ Your Library” kicked off with teens rocking to Guitar Hero.
Over the course of the summer over 100 teens enjoyed this summer’s programs which included events such as Yuk Night where teens fed each other pudding with turkey basters and doughnuts covered in chocolate syrup from a string. There was also an obstacle course where teens had to fish plastic insects out of bowls of sauerkraut with their toes. The Wacked -Out Water Games event featured a water-balloon catapult, water rockets and a rousing game of duck-duck-splash! Candy Making attracted many teen chocolatiers who prepared fudge, peanut butter cups, tiger butter candy and other delicious delicacies. Other events included, Hemp Beading, Game Night, Decorating Gourd Bird Houses and Sherry Pitzer leading us in an evening of Yoga on the Lawn.
The Teen Book club enjoyed the books: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.
All teen programs are open to students’ grade 6-12 and are planned by TAB, the Teen Advisory Board of the Menomonie Public Library. Besides the planning of programs TAB members also help in the selection of materials for the library.
Upcoming events include our TAB fall meeting and open house, and a READ BEYOND REALITY party to celebrate National Teen Read Week. During this event and throughout the week of October 17th to October 24th teens are invited to vote for the Teens’ Top Ten books of Menomonie. No registration is required for either of these events.
For more information about upcoming events, TAB, or the list of nominated titles for the Teens’ Top Ten visit
www.menomonielibrary.org and look under the Teen tab.
http://jobs.iflsweb.org
A new job search website, specific to western Wisconsin, has been launched. It was created as a part of a grant received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The site was developed by the staff of the Indianhead Federated Library System in Eau Claire.
