“Lead Poisoning: How to Protect Iowa Families” is a program that will be held at the library on February 5 at 7:00 p.m. Jackie Pippen, Coordinator of East Central Iowa Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention serving Marshall, Hardin, Tama and Benton counties, will be presenting the program. You will learn about the federal law on lead based paint, lead-based paint and the hazards, how to check your home for these paint hazards, and much more. What a perfect way to educate yourself so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones.  Please stop in the library, give us a call (641)482-3115, or email us at karen-antle@melbourne.lib.ia.us by Monday, January 26^th.   * As always, our classes and programs are FREE!!!! Please take advantage of these wonderful opportunities for you and your family. 

My husband and I are expecting a new baby in February of 2009. I will be having a maternity leave as soon as baby comes so there will not be any children and teen programs at the library during my leave. (As I am the one who works with this age group.) I will try to keep you aware of when the programs will stop and then again when they will start back up. Please watch for advertising and you can always check our website www.melbourne.lib.ia.us I will be leaving you in good hands- Karen and Rita will help you the best they can with your library needs while I am away.   These girls are great and are ready to assist you. Please don’t hesitate to let them know what you need.

      With the economy the way that it is this can be a very stressful time in life.  Your library cares about the hard times that you may be experiencing and want you to know we are here to help you find ways to deal with these difficult times.  Remember how much your library can help you out as you’ve decided to get rid of certain extras in your home. We have high speed internet here at the library, we have 6 public computers for you to use, we offer wireless internet for those that have access to laptops. Who says you still can’t check your email or chat online to family just like you did in your home? We provide this service for you for free. Please feel free to stop in during business hours to use our computers or wireless internet. 

     We also know that many of you have given up buying books, books on tape or CD, magazine subscriptions, movies, & even cable TV. We have a wide variety of books, audios, magazine subscriptions for men, women, & children; and movies. All of the above is free with a library card. We know that at times we won’t have what you are looking for, but please let us know so that we can get you what you want- that’s why we’re here. We participate in the Interlibrary Loan program and we can borrow from many libraries in the state to get you what you need. For the most part, this service is free of charge to you.  

Children need education and entertainment and it’s important for it to be free.   We have many board games, learning kits, busy bags, & activities & programs that they can come participate in. We have:
Kids' First is our after school program for children who are in kindergarten on up. We meet every Tuesday from 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. We have stories, games, crafts, and a snack is provided.

One of the real joys of the season is the opportunity to say “Thank you!” for choosing to use your Melbourne Library. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you with all your library needs.  We are wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a New Year of peace and happiness!! 

If you would like to give “End of the Year Donations” to the library or would like to give a memorial in someone’s name- please make your checks out to the “Friends of the Melbourne Library”.   Donations are more than welcome at any time of the year. We will also take book, movie, audio tapes or CDs, and board game donations if they are in good shape. If we can’t put them into our collection they will be given to our ongoing Friends of the Library book sale. Craft items & snack and drink donations for children and teens are also much appreciated.
 

We will be having another shutdown again this month. We will be closed December 24th – January 1st. We will reopen on Friday, January 2. All library programs will be cancelled during our shutdown, but will resume as normal after. You may come in and stock up on your books, movies, etc. to get you through the shutdown. We will extend all due dates. We are sorry for the inconvenience.