JUNE 14, 2013
Orwell takes "1984" vs. "Fahrenheit 451" Smackdown
In a very close victory, "1984" by George Orwell beat out Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" 56 to 53 to take the week two fiction title in the Marathon County Public Library's Literary Smackdown.
Although both books take a hard stance against censorship and personal freedom, it was Orwell's dystopian look at government spying that resonated with Marathon County readers. Still, Bradbury's tale of book burning resonated strongly with library patrons making this race almost too close to call.
Wondering who won previous weeks? Visit our Smackdown page at
http://www.mcpl.us/events/slp/literary-smackdown-voting.php. Keep filling in those brackets and don't forget to vote in our week two nonfiction contest! It's "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin taking on "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson.
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posted by Amy Ryan / MCPL Library Services |
Category: Summer Reading Program
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JUNE 7, 2013
"Jane Eyre" takes Week 1 Fiction Smackdown Title
In a stunning upset, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte schooled "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and won the first round of fiction competition in MCPL's Literary Smackdown.
Despite the recent popularity of Fitzgerald's iconic and decadent Jazz-age novel, a plucky and intelligent young governess took the first victory in this summer-long competition to determine the most influential book in Marathon County.
Voting is now open in the first nonfiction matchup of the competition, so don't forget to vote for your favorite between "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank and "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan.
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posted by Amy Ryan / MCPL Customer Services |
Category: Summer Reading Program
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JUNE 4, 2013
The Marathon County Public Library...An International Resource!
The main clientele served by the Marathon County Public Library are residents of Marathon County. Now and then, the Wausau Headquarters' Reference Desk receives letters or emails from people outside the county or even outside the state asking for help. Often the people writing are looking for obituaries of family members who died in Marathon County Normally staff answers those requests as time allows.
Recently, the Reference Desk received a request that undoubtedly qualifies as THE longest, long-distance question ever put to Marathon County Public Library staff. The letter was addressed...Liverpool, ENGLAND!
The person wrote asking for lists of Marathon County newspapers and radio stations. The lists were sent along with suggested Internet websites that furnished such information.
In any case, it can now be truthfully said that the Marathon County Public Library serves customers around the world!
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posted by Mike@ Reference |
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JUNE 3, 2013
Get to Know "The Prince"
MCPL's Digital Classics Book Club in June is taking on a classic work of politics, Niccolo Machiavelli's "
The Prince." This year marks the
500th anniversary of The Prince. The book also is one of the competitors in our
Literary Smackdown event, and is scheduled to go up against
In Cold Blood the week of June 17-23.
MCPL has an unlimited supply of
digital copies available, and anyone can join the discussion about The Prince on our
Goodreads page.
Please feel free to call 715 261-7230 or
email us if you have questions.
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: Book Clubs,
e-books,
Books
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JUNE 3, 2013
June Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to Liz Vehlow, Marathon County Public Library’s June Volunteer of the Month! Liz volunteers at Wausau Headquarters and has been a great help sorting book carts and putting books in order. Liz is a committed volunteer who comes in every week and has been volunteering for about a year. She has a great relationship with staff and always has a smile. Liz is a retired registered nurse and enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, and photography. Thank you Liz for all of your hard work and dedication!
{{2013-6-30}}
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posted by Taylor W.-MCPL Library Services |
Category: Volunteering
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MAY 29, 2013
Summer packed with programs!
Marathon County Public Library locations across the county will be full of "underground"-themed activities for children, teens and adults during our 2013
Summer Library Program!
Children can "
Dig Into Reading" and do their choices of suggested activities to complete an archeological-themed reading log. Reading books is part of it, but kids also are encouraged to attend library events and work on reading-based activities.
In addition to art parties, a scavenger hunt, movie nights and a teen night at the aquarium, teenagers can take part in our "
Beneath the Surface" summer-long program. It may take a little work – read 15 books and complete five activities to receive a reward – but you get to choose the books (even graphic novels) and the activities.
As part of the "
Groundbreaking Reads" adult program, patrons around the county will decide the most influential book in Marathon County in our Literary Smackdown competition. A March Madness-style bracket pits well-known works of fiction and non-fiction against each other in a battle for supremacy. For adults, and some young adults, we also have programs on the weird and mysterious creatures allegedly roaming Wisconsin and the impact of prohibition on Marathon County, among other programs in the works.
So dig in! Check
www.mcpl.us/slp throughout the summer for program schedules, updates and new programs not listed in our SLP calendar.
(from the MCPL Newsletter, May-July, 2013)
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: Summer Reading Program,
Newsletter
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MAY 29, 2013
New meeting room and study rooms
MCPL Wausau is opening two new study rooms with room for six and 10 people, as well as a meeting room for 20 to 22 people. The study rooms are available for two hours at a time. The meeting room schedule is more flexible. We hope college students, non-profit groups and others will use these spaces for educational purposes – office hours or use of the room for entertainment is not allowed – and Wi-Fi and teleconferencing is available.
Our eight branch locations also have study or meeting spaces available, either within their walls or within the municipal buildings in which the libraries are housed. These rooms, varying in size, offer our communities a secluded space when a coffee shop is a little too busy or you need a central location for your group to gather.
For room policies and reservation request forms, call any MCPL location or go online to
www.mcpl.us/services/meetingrooms.
(from the MCPL Newsletter, May-July, 2013)
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Category: Newsletter
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MAY 29, 2013
New websites worth considering
The Marathon County Public Library is pleased to include two new, free historical websites to our collection of online resources aimed at connecting our patrons with a wide range of information.
The
Digital Public Library of America pulls together millions of items – photographs, manuscripts, books, sound recordings and more – from libraries, archives and museums across the country. Visitors can search by terms, category or year. Looking for a 1880s map of the Upper Peninsula, or a photograph of Billie Holliday? You can find both and much, much more on the DPLA site,
www.dp.la.
We also added the
Oyez Project, a public, multimedia database of Supreme Court proceedings. The creators of the project assembled an open, searchable archive of court recordings – both arguments and decisions – dating back to 1955. From the landmark 1972 Roe v. Wade case to the 2000 Bush/Gore arguments to the 2009 Citizens United case that reshaped campaign finance and more, the public can access more than 7,000 hours of Supreme Court audio at
www.oyez.org.
MCPL is not involved in the creation or funding of these sites, but we include them in our online resources because of the substantial amount of historical information offered. We also include them to complement our expansive list of online resources covering topics from genealogy to auto repair and foreign language – all free and accessible online.
We know not all of our patrons have computers or Internet access at home, which is why you’re always welcome to use our computers. We can help you learn more about them and the Internet, and our staff can get you started on searches. Patrons also can plug in headphones to listen to audio and video; print material to take home; or just stay and read.
Navigating technology and the web may seem daunting, but we’ll help you get past that because no one should be without access to the wealth of history, literature, science and other knowledge waiting to be discovered on the World Wide Web.
(from the MCPL Newsletter, May-July, 2013)
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: Websites,
technology,
Newsletter
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MAY 28, 2013
MCPL launches environmental book club
The Marathon County Public Library is starting the Steep Trails Book Club, a literary discussion group focused on fiction and non-fiction about nature, conservation, science and outdoor adventures; pioneers like
Leopold and
Rachel Carson, possibly alongside writers including
Edward Abbey,
Bill McKibben,
Gary Snyder and
Mary Roach. Anything is fair game, even children’s books.
Steep Trails – the name comes from a John Muir
book – will hold its first
meeting at 7:00 p.m. June 20 at MCPL Wausau, and meet the second Tuesday of each month after that. After the first month's selection, “
A Short History of Nearly Everything” by
Bill Bryson, club members will decide which book, poems or stories to read, and the location of each meeting (think parks or trails – anywhere outside, at least for the next few months). Members can continue the discussions on our
Goodreads page and post recommendations for future reads. Patrons at any of our eight
branches are welcome to join the Wausau club or start their own, and should contact their local branch.
Registration is appreciated, but not required – you could just tell us if you plan to participate. For more information, call 715 261-7234 or
email us.
[[PROMO]]{{2013-07-09}}
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: Book Clubs,
Reading,
blogs
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MAY 23, 2013
Dig Into Reading This Summer
It’s time to get ready to “Dig Into Reading” @MCPL this summer. The Summer Library Program starts June 8 and ends August 24. We have lots of fun activities, programs, therapy dogs to listen to kids read, and a summer reading club all ready to go for children and families at all MCPL locations.
Children can register for the reading club and pick up the Excavation Site Map @ any MCPL location. For every 15 minutes children read, visit the library, attend a library program and complete a suggested activity, they cross off or color a rock. When all 7 rocks are colored, the site map can be brought to the library and children can claim their treasure. Children will need their maps to get their treasure. Children can complete as many digs as they want and claim treasure for completion of each one.
Along with the reading club, we have many great performers lined-up who will be sure to delight the whole family and sneak in some learning as well.
· Musician/storyteller, Stuart Stotts will be presenting “Dig in and Dig It: Songs and Stories to Celebrate Reading” with songs about a magical cavern, the Underground Railroad and more.
· The Truly Remarkable Loon will amaze us as he “Read(s) Books and Juggles Everything Else” including juggling spinning plates.
· Jack Zolkowski and his amazing Soda Pups Dogs will steal your heart and keep you smiling all day. His dogs are named after soft drinks—Ginger Ale, Sierra Mist, Squirt, Dr. Pepper, and RB (Root Beer). Sierra Mist even rides in a remote-controlled Hummer and you won’t want to miss the Green Bay Packer trick!
· Magician Rob Halbrook is back as Professor Marvel, but this year he will be taking us on an amazing Archeological Adventure involving Merlin and the Goblet of Fire and lots more book-related magical adventures.
· With Professor Oops we will be “Dig(ging) Into the Underground World” and exploring creatures underneath the ground as only he can present it, with lots of humor and fun.
· David Stokes and his “Creatures Under the Earth Surface” program will help us discover creatures that hug the earth.
Discover, imagine and create @your library this summer and "Dig Into Reading". Special Summer Library Programs are also available for teens (Beneath the Surface) and adults (Groundbreaking Reads). For more information and schedules: http://www.mcpl.us/events/slp/
{{2013-06-14}}
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posted by Sharyn Heili, Children's Services |
Categories: Children,
Summer Reading Program
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MAY 23, 2013
Countdown to Smackdown!
In less than two weeks, Marathon County Public Library customers will be able to start casting their votes for the book they deem THE most influential book ever published.
Starting June 3, adults and teens will have the opportunity to vote, online or in person, for their favorite fiction and nonfiction books. During the first four weeks, two matchups per week will be offered. After that, there will be one matchup per week. Customers can vote online
www.mcpl.us, on Facebook
www.facebook.com/MCPL.Wausau or on paper ballots available at all library locations.
Among the candidates are novels such as "The Great Gatsby," "Animal Farm," "Harry Potter," "1984" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Nonfiction titles include "Silent Spring," "Diary of a Young Girl," "In Cold Blood" and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
The final smackdown will run from August 12-16 pitting the favorite fiction title against the winning nonfiction title. The grand champion title will be announced on August 18.
So, mark your calendars for June 3, send in your votes and help choose THE most influential book ever in Marathon County!
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posted by Mike@ Reference |
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MAY 7, 2013
Wausau Story Time Changes for Summer
Summer is coming, and with it the Summer Library Program at MCPL!
The next couple of weeks the Wausau Headquarters children's department will be busy with school tours, so there will be no story times May 12th through June 9th at the Wausau Headquarters library.
Book Babies, Tales for Tots and Preschool Story Times will continue through summer with an adjusted schedule.
Beginning June 10th, join us for Sweet Dreams Story Time.
This story time will be offered every Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. throughout the summer. Come join the summer fun! {{2013-06-09}}
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posted by Marissa/Library Services |
Categories: Children,
Summer Reading Program,
Storytimes
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MAY 4, 2013
May Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to Kathy Drobnik, Marathon County Public Library’s May Volunteer of the Month! Kathy has been volunteering at the Hatley branch for about a year. She shelves books and does whatever else staff needs help with.
Kathy comes in consistently each week to help. She is dependable, and a great volunteer at the Hatley branch.
Thank you, Kathy, for all of your hard work and dedication to Marathon County Public Library.
{{2013-5-31}}
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posted by Taylor W.-MCPL Library Services |
Category: Volunteering
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MAY 2, 2013
Providing Better Service to Customers With Hearing Loss!
The Marathon County Public Library recently installed 'Hearing Loop' devices at the Main, Children's and Reference desks at the Headquarters Library in Wausau.
Hearing Loops are a type of Hearing Assistive Technology that work in conjunction with hearing aids or cochlear implants. They pick up the staff person's voice via a microphone and transmit it wirelessly to the hearing aid or implant worn by the customer. The customer thus receives a direct, clear signal that is not garbled by distance or background noise.
These devices will enable staff to better assist customers with hearing loss while maintaining customer privacy.
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posted by Mike@ Reference |
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MAY 1, 2013
Tax Forms 2012 Summary!
Every year the Headquarters and eight branches of the Marathon County Public Library provide free paper copies of common federal and state tax forms to county residents. This year, MCPL furnished over 28,000 forms at the Wausau location alone; which equates to boxes and boxes and boxes of 1040 forms, 1040-EZs, Wisconsin Form 1, rent certificates and so on!
However, both the Internal Revenue Service and Wisconsin Department of Revenue are increasingly emphasizing that tax-filers file electronically. In recent years, both agencies have limited the number and variety of tax forms MCPL can order for the public.
It is very conceivable that, in the near future, one or both agencies may stop providing tax forms to outlets like the Marathon County Public Library.
In light of this, local tax filers should be aware of other avenues of help with tax forms.
The Internal Revenue Service website offers a ‘Free File’ service (h
ttp://www.irs.gov/Filing). Alternately, all Federal forms are available for downloading at the IRS website. See the ‘Forms and Publications’ section (
http://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs). Forms can also be ordered via telephone (800-829-3676) or by mail (Internal Revenue Service, 1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, Bloomington, IL 61705-6613).
All Wisconsin tax forms are available at the State's Department of Revenue website (
www.revenue.wi.gov). Forms and publications can be ordered via telephone (608-266-1961) or by mail (Forms Request Office, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 8949, Madison, WI 53708-8949).
MCPL staff can help guide customers to the appropriate websites and demonstrate how to copy off needed forms. (Staff cannot help prepare actual forms).
There also are several local options in terms of tax preparation help. One source of free tax preparation help is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provided by the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. The VITA program is geared to taxpayers with income less than $49,000.00 without business ownership, capital gains or rental property.
Likewise, the local AARP office offers free tax prep help for middle and low income people, especially those 60 and older.
Watch for future updates on the tax forms issue.
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posted by Mike@ Reference |
Category: Taxes
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APRIL 22, 2013
Check out a Pulitzer Prize winner at MCPL
The 2013
Pulitzer Prize winners, honoring journalism and the arts, were recently announced and include many authors whose work is available in MCPL's V-Cat system.
This year's top prize in fiction was awarded to
Adam Johnson for his novel "The Orchard Master's Son," an adventurous and moving tale of a journey into the depths of totalitarian North Korea. Finalists in the fiction category include
Nathan Englander for his novel, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank" and
Eowyn Ivey for her novel "The Snow Child."
Fredrik Logevall's historical account of the Vietnam War, "Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam" took the top prize in history, while
Bernard Bailyn's book, "The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America: The Conflict of Civilizations, 1600-1675" and
John Fabian Witt's book "Lincoln’s Code: The Laws of War in American History" were nominated as finalists.
In the biography/autobiography category,
Tom Reiss took the top prize for his account of Alexandre Dumas' father and the story behind the Count of Monte Cristo, "The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo. Michael Gorra's "Portrait of a Novel: Henry James and the Making of an American Masterpiece" and
David Nasaw's "The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy" were finalists for the prize.
Sharon Olds' book of poems, "Stag's Leap" received the 2013 Pulitzer for poetry, while
Jack Gilbert's "Collected Poems" and Bruce Weigl's "The Abundance of Nothing" received finalist designations.
Finally, the general non-fiction prize was awarded to
Gilbert King for his book "Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America."
Katherine Boo is a finalist for her book "Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity," as is
David George Haskell for his book, "The Forest Unseen: A Year's Watch in Nature."
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: Awards,
Books,
Reading
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APRIL 15, 2013
Children's Choice Book Awards!
Kids- Vote for your Favorite in the Children’s Choice Book Awards! Who do you think should be “2013 Author of the Year?” Jeff Kinney? Rick Riordan? Which book do you think should be “2013 Book of the Year?” Pete the Cat? Bad Kitty? Dork Diaries? Celebrate Children’s Book Week, May 13-19, by choosing your favorites! From now thru May 9th kids can vote for their favorite author, illustrator and book. Your voice counts! To vote, use the link below and start by choosing your age category and vote for your favorites. Then visit the MCPL Wausau children’s department and receive your very own “I Voted” sticker. And join us on May 20th for a Children’s Book Week celebration at 10:30am!
http://www.bookweekonline.com/voting
{{05/10/2013}}
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posted by Abby Beyerl- Library Services |
Categories: Children,
Awards,
Books
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APRIL 5, 2013
MCPL launching Digital Classics Book Club
See classic literature in a new light by getting some Tolkien on your tablet, some digital Dickens or a little Kafka on your Kindle, with the Marathon County Public Library’s new Digital Classics Book Club.
Each month, the group picks a new classic available free and without wait through the library’s Overdrive system here and here. Instead of a monthly gathering, members post their thoughts on MCPL’s Goodreads page (also free) as the pages turn. Need a hand getting started? Call or stop by the Wausau Headquarters' reference desk any time.
The club begins in May with "Babbitt," Sinclair Lewis' scathing critique of the American Dream, told through the eyes of his disillusioned protagonist, George F. Babbitt.
(Still prefer books in print? You're still welcome in the classics club, and we have other clubs at each MCPL location. Or, talk to us about starting your own!)
For more information, call 715-261-7234 or email bookclub @ mcpl.us.
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posted by Chad Dally / Library Services |
Categories: e-books,
OverDrive,
Book Clubs
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APRIL 1, 2013
April Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to Amanda Westerhaus, Marathon County Public Library’s April Volunteer of the Month! Amanda has been volunteering at the Wausau Headquarters for about 5 months and has been a great help organizing items to be shelved. Amanda has a great relationship with staff and volunteers almost every day of the week.
Besides volunteering, Amanda is also interested in American History and Agatha Christie mysteries. Amanda majored in History at St. Norbert College. “Volunteering at MCPL further contributes to my rising passion for reading,” says Amanda.
Thank you, Amanda, for all of your hard work and dedication to Marathon County Public Library.
{{2013-4-30}}
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posted by Taylor W.-MCPL Library Services |
Category: Volunteering
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MARCH 20, 2013
Spring Break at the Library
Spring Break at the Library!
Family LEGO Club
11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 26th
Families can create creative LEGO structures.
LEGOs and DUPLO blocks will be provided.
Movie Matinee
2 p.m. March 27th
Free children's movie matinee in our story time room.
DIY Crafts
11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28th
Stop in and make your own creations. Supplies will be provided.
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posted by Children's Services |
Category: Children
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MARCH 19, 2013
Antiques Appraisal Recap!
The Antiques Appraisal Roadshow held at the Headquarters Library on March 9th was a resounding success! Over 90 library customers brought in jewelry, paintings, dinnerware, furniture, toys and assorted nick-nacks for expert appraisals from antiques expert Mark Moran.
The program was so successful and demand so great that Marathon County Public Library is bringing Moran back for a special, one-time fall program. This will be held Sunday September 22nd from 1:30 to 4:30. So, here's another opportunity to bring in that family heirloom and find out its true value.
As always, registration is required. The cost will be ten dollars per item. That cost allows for a four-minute consultation.
Publicity on the fall Antiques Appraisal program will be going out in August. So, mark your September calendar and watch this site for further details.
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posted by Mike@ Reference |
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