Talk to the Frackville Library

If you have questions about Medicare, there is a lot of help available locally. Apprise, the State of Pennsylvania's program for providing assistance to Medicare recipients has several avenues for you to find answers. There are many events being held all over the county during the open enrollment period for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. Open enrollment is available until December 7, 2014. You can find out more about the events or about assistance right at the library by calling us at 570-874-3382. Leave you name and number, and a counselor will call you to schedule an appointment.  

The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  What a thoughtful, delightful, inspiring book this is! And  how meaningful to those of the baby-boomer generation. In 1960's Jackson, Mississippi, Eugenia Phelan, also known as Skeeter, has just returned from college. She is looking to make a place for herself in the world, preferably not under the thumb of her overbearing mother, Charlotte. But Skeeter's old friends, Hilly Holbrook and Elizabeth Leefolt are interested only in the Junior League, their ambitious husbands, and having children. Pursuing her interest in writing with a purpose, Skeeter seeks the help of two unlikely partners-Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, two black maids who agree to tell Skeeter what it is really like to serve the privileged ladies of white Jackson society. This partnership results in real change for Skeeter, her friends, and for the black women who agree to tell their stories. The book is filled with references to the early Sixties and the news and cultural events that marked the decade-the Kennedy assassination, integration in Mississippi, Bob Dylan, and mini-skirts all make an appearance. I would venture to say that everyone who has read or listened to this book, whether staff or patron, has enjoyed and recommended it to others. We have both the book and the audiobook versions. The latter uses different voices for the main characters and is very well done. Read this soon-the film comes out in August, 2011!

     Anyone who is taking medication these days is also probably complaining about the rising costs. If you are currently on a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or soon to be, you can get some of the best free assistance in finding out the best plan for you right here at the library. On Tuesday, November 16 and Thursday, December 2, staff and volunteers of Apprise will be in the library to help you with information, plan comparisons, and on-line enrollment, and it's all free of charge! Call the library at 874-3382 or the Apprise office at 800-621-6325 today to schedule an appointment. You will need your Medicare card, information about your current insurance, and a list of your medications with dosages in order to get the best comparison. Slots of time available are limited so call soon.

        Come on! You know you want to try it! I'm talking about Wii Gaming for Adults age 55 and up here at the library. Video gaming is a great way to get some light exercise, improve hand-eye coordination, and keep your brain active. And you can meet people and make new friends. You can play on Mondays from 3-5PM or Wednesdays from 6-8PM. Call the library for information at 874-3382, or register on our Calendar Page. Have a day out and make use of the services provided at your library.

       It's been a long, hot summer, and a lot of you haven't much felt like leaving the house, me included. But we have great air conditioning here at the library, and as the weather cools down, think about joining us here at the library for Wii Gaming. This program is exclusively for adults age 55 and up. Playing Wii isn't at all like using a computer. By using a small hand-held remote control, you can actually experience bowling, golf, pool, and many other games. We also have a new game that lets you test your brainpower with various quizzes and puzzles. It's great fun, and you can bring your friends or make new ones! Please consider joining us, or tell your parents, grandparents, or  aunts and uncles about it. There are sessions on Mondays at 3PM and on Wednesdays at 6PM. You can register on our website by selecting the Calendar tab, or call the library at 874-3382.
 

     On Thursday, May 6 at 6PM, the library will be featuring a program presented by the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association Foundation called Strong Bones. Dietician Amy Hehn, R.D., LDN will be giving us valuable tips about how to keep our bones healthy by eating right. This topic should be of interest to women of all ages. Call 874-3382 to register or for more information or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com

       On Thursday, May 20, 2010 our Adult Reader's Group will be discussing A.S. Byatt's intriguing and award-winning novel, Possession. A combination of past and present, we join two Victorian scholars as they try to solve a literary mystery based on the accidental discovery of a letter written from one poet to another. This book received the coveted Booker Prize, a prestigious award given in the United Kingdom. The group meets in the library at 7PM, and always welcomes new members. Call for information or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

          We're adding another session to our Wii Gaming for Adults. For those of you age 55 and up who are interested in joining our group, but are busy with work or other activities during the day, we will now be having a program on Wednesday evenings beginning on April 7, 2010. The program will be held between 6 and 8PM every Wednesday and will feature Wii Sports and a variety of other games such as pool, darts, and croquet. Believe me, our players really have a great time! Come and give it a try. Call the library for information at 874-3382 or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

The Adult Reader's Group at the library will be discussing Still Alice by Lisa Genova on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7 PM. Written by a psychologist, this novel tells the story of Alice Howland, a busy career woman who is suddenly beset with confusion, memory lapses, and other symptoms which eventually lead to her diagnosis with early onset Alzheimer's disease. This book examines not only the changes taking place within Alice, but also the effects on her family and friends. Our reading group always welcomes new members. Call 874-3382 for information or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

      We've probably all heard by now that the Census for 2010 has begun. Some people have already received forms and surveys, while the rest of us can expect them later this month. If you have received a form and you have questions about how to fill it out, we've got help for you here at the library. Between now and April 19, a census worker will be available at the library most weekdays between 11-2 to help you with your questions. Call ahead to confirm or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.  

      We've been trying to build up our collection of audio books here at the library. If you've never tried this method of getting into a novel, you're missing out on a great experience. Most of the presenter's of audio books are really actors and actresses, who do a great job of bringing the story to life. Some audio versions actually have more than one person doing the voices of the characters and add music and sound effects as well. It's not really like reading, but it is an alternative, if you're short on time, are visually impaired, or just want to pass the time when you're driving or walking. Some new additions to our own library's audio book collection include novels by Jodi Picoult, Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci, and Janet Evanovich. We have a large selection of both the cassette tape and CD variety, so have a listen! 

     Our first session of Wii gaming for adults took place on Monday, and it was really fun! All of our attendees were playing  pretty much for the first time, but they caught on fast. We tried bowling, tennis, baseball, and golf. Tennis was probably the most challenging-you really have to keep your eye on the ball. But practice makes perfect, so I'm sure we'll be having some champions developing before long. This program is being held every Monday afternoon from 3 to 5PM.  Call the library for more information or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.  

     ...to take advantage of the open enrollment period for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. In association with Apprise, we're offering couseling sessions at the library on Tuesday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 29 to help you review your current plan, enroll in a new plan, or just to examine your options. Call 874-3382 for an appointment or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com  

         The first of our gaming programs for adults over age 55 is fast approaching! On Monday, January 11, 2009 from 3-5PM we'll be bowling at the library through the wonders of the computer with our new Wii gaming console.This equipment was purchased through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act(LSTA) as administered by the PA Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Attendees can get familiar with the elements of computer gaming and learn to play. Show your grandchildren you're in the know, get some light exercise, and have fun! Register today by calling 874-3382 or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

     If your grandchildren are mad for computer games, why not join in the fun? We're now preparing for our first new adult program provided by our Senior  Spaces grant. On Monday, January 11 from 3-5PM, we invite adults aged 55 and older to come and try out Wii Sports. Enjoy bowling, baseball, tennis, boxing, or golf right in the library with your spouse or friends. Learn the techniques and surprise your younger family members with you skills. Call the library today to register or use our contact page. Beverages and a light snack will be provided.

     Don't forget to make your appointment for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Open Enrollment. We'll be available to review your current plans or help you choose your first plan on Tuesdays from Nov. 17 through Dec. 29 at the library. Call the library at 874-3382 or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com. 

     In August I wrote about a grant that we received for a new project called Your Place, an area of the library designed especially for our older patrons and new programs to go along with it. I attended another workshop in September which gave us more ideas and information about completing the project. Funds will be arriving soon, and you'll be able to see some physical changes in the library as well as the arrival of new materials. Programs that we hope to launch include computer classes, health information sessions, photography workshops, and Wii gaming for adults.  If you are interested in participating in any of these programs, please call the library for details or use our contact page at www.frackvillelibrary.com.

      A few months ago, I attended a workshop called Senior Spaces. The idea of the workshop was to encourage us to carve out some space in our library which we could dedicate to patrons over the age of 55. This is a kind of unusual idea-most of the time we're thinking about rooms or areas especially for kids or teens. As the population ages, however, a greater percentage of our users will be older, and we need to make sure we have the resources to serve them. We've been fortunate to have been awarded a grant for $4000 through the LSTA Grant Program to accomplish this. Our plan is to have an older adult area, which we're calling Your Place. Not only will it contain new materials appealing to these patrons, but it will also be accompanied by new programs built around their interests and needs. We are very excited about the possibilities! Keep reading our blog for further developments. 

       Many of us need a little help seeing these days, and some people have found it a lot more comfortable to read a book with larger print. Of course, there are others who find large print books strange to read and want no parts of them! But, if you prefer it, you'll be glad to know that our collection of large prints is growing. Not only have we received donations of some great titles over the summer, but we are also buying a few new editions of the latest best sellers in large print. You'll be finding authors like Stephen White, Kathy Reichs, and Sandra Brown as the year progresses, in addition to older favorites by writers like Danielle Steele, Sue Grafton, and Nora Roberts. Come have a look, and you may not even need those glasses! 

     We'll be presenting a special program on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 10AM at the library. Our guest speaker, Debbie Pauzer, is a representative of Apprise, a county-supported agency which supplies healthcare counseling and information. She'll give an overivew of Medicare D and answer your questions about this sometimes confusing but valuable benefit. Call the library at 874-3382 or use our contact page to get more information or to register. The program is free. Residents of Frackville and surrounding communities are welcome. Please take this opportunity to get some valuable healthcare information without having to leave town!