What to do, what to do???

You might ask yourself that question, after your child just informed you that they will be out of school for 16 days! No need to sweat it, we have the solution here at the library. Just send them to the library; as always, we love to see them here. On Mondays and Fridays at 1:30 pm, we will change it up a bit and turn off the computers for the kids and make some crafts instead.

On Monday the 22nd we will find out what Grungy Candles are. All  you need is a little Mod Podge, coffee  and a candle.

Friday the 26th is the day to make something for our winged friends. So bring a couple of cookie cutters with and we will make some really cute Bird-feeders. 

We might not have enough snow on the ground to make a snowman, but that will not stop us from creating our own Snowman inside on Monday 29th, if you have an empty coffee-creamer bottle, bring it with, so that we have enough for everyone.

On Friday January 2nd 2015 we will finish our winter program by filling our Snowmen with a Hot-Chocolate-Mix that we make and then we have to try it of course. We will also be playing some fun games.

Since all  the crafts are from Pinterest, they might change since we are still trying them out because we want to avoid a Pinterest fail with the kids. Also please let us know a week in advance if your child plans to attend, because we want to make sure we have enough for everyone.

On the  23rd of December we are showing a movie at 5:30 pm on our big screen. It will be a fun one for the whole family to enjoy. Watch our Facebook site to find out which one we are showing.

On December 30th at 6 pm we are having a workshop about Henna-Bodyart: Art, History,Hands-On. This should be a fun one and it sounds like this one is for teens and adults. It is funded in part or in whole by a grant from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

We are having a little contest going for the kids during the month of December.  The kids need to tell us how many books they plan to read during the month and when they meet their goal we will reward them with a mitten filled with goodies. So far we have 10 kids signed up and one of them, Brittney S. met her goal today. Way to go, Brittney! And thank you Walmart of Grand Rapids for helping us making the contest possible!

It's happy holiday time!

I wander forth this chill December dawn:
John Frost and all his elves are out, I see,
As busy as the elfin world can be,
Clothing a world asleep with fleecy lawn.
~Robert Buchanan (1841–1901), "Snow"

December is upon us, and we're adding some extra holiday activities to our schedule.  


Sunday, December 7th is the Marble City Christmas Party from 1:00-3:00 at the Greenway town hall.  There will be sleigh rides around town along with crafts, cookies, and juice.  This free event is sponsored by the city of Marble, the Marble Public Library, and our three local Girl Scout troops.


Wednesday, December 10th we will have more crafts here at the library from 3:30-4:30.  All ages are welcome to attend this free holiday decoration creating session.  Snacks will be served.


Wednesday, December 17th is only a week until Christmas eve, so it's time to jump into survival mode.  Are you holi-dazzled enough?  Need more glitter?  Come and join me from 3:30-4:30 and I'll do my best to help you avoid some common Christmas pitfalls while we make more holiday ornaments.

    

Wednesday, December 17th is also the night to come discuss our book club selection for the month: Atticus by Ron Hansen.  We have a couple of copies currently on hand if you would like to join our lively group.  Dessert and coffee will be served!  

 

 

 The only thing bad about a holiday is it is followed by a non-holiday.  ~Anonymous

  

The cold days of November are upon us.

I have come to regard November as the older, harder man's October. I appreciate the early darkness and cooler temperatures. It puts my mind in a different place than October. It is a month for a quieter, slightly more subdued celebration of summer's death as winter tightens its grip.

Henry Rollins

 

The cold days of November are upon us!  Time to hunker down under a blanket with a cup of cocoa and a good book.  If you don't have any idea what to read next, maybe you'd like some suggestions.  Here's a couple I've read that have stuck with me:

Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen:  I love known tales turned on their heads, and this story of Neverland does just that.  A dark look at Peter Pan and the boys who never grow up.  Hook is not all that he appears in Disney's version of the story, that's for sure!

 Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein: a delightful book for ages 8-125.  A new library opens with a select few invited in for fun and games.  They get in, but can they get out??

I've read lots more, but those two are currently on our shelves ready to be checked out.  As soon as I finish up the final book in The Giver series by Lois Lowry (good!), I'll have to move on to The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich.  Our library book club is meeting a week early this month which means I have until the 19th to finish it.

The kids around here don't have school this Friday, October 14th.  We'll be showing Maleficent at 1:30.  Come in from the cold for this free showing, popcorn may be served.  

Lots and lots to do at the Library

So according to my brother, I am supposed to tell you about all of the happenings at the library. Boy do I have my work cut out for me then, because there are a couple of things happening at the library next week.

Next week on Tuesday at 1 pm Susan from the Bovey Youth Center will be stopping by the library to have lots of fun with the kids again. I know they had a blast when she stopped by this week, they were tie-dying and playing a lot of water games. I heard a rumor that they might do something that has to do with Christmas, a White House and Trees. Christmas? Trees? A White House? Really!? Hmm, I wonder what it could be.

Wednesday night, at 6pm, we will have lots of fun, as we are bringing out the big screen and popcorn, and we are showing a movie called: The Nut Job. Find out what Surly and his friends could be up to. After all, they are squirrels.

On Thursday at 3:30 pm join Stubby the Elephant as he journeys through the jungle.  Stubby questions many different animals played by the audience, but the answer he gets from the Crocodile changes the “profile” of Elephants forever!

Sign up for the Stables is still open, so if you ever wanted to visit a Barn with lots and lots of horses, here is your chance.  Just stop by the library and sign up. Hurry in, space is limited.

As you might have heard, there are a lot of animals that aren't as fortunate as Alvin and I. The folks at the Star of the North Humane Society are trying to help those animals and so we thought we should help them. They are always in need of supplies.  Here is a list of things they need: Paper towels, Pine Sol type cleaner, Bleach, Dishsoap, waterless hand sanitizer, puppy collars, leashes, Purina puppy or kitten food, litter boxes, 45- gallon trash bags, copy paper and the list goes on and on. If you need more ideas, just ask Tanja, and she will be able to tell you more items that are needed. And if you have some of the items around the house and don't mind sharing, drop them off at the library.

And last but not least, the book that I am currently reading is called Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich. This is the newest one in the Stephanie Plum saga and let me tell you, it is really good! The usual crew is in it; Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli and Grandma Mazur. I don't want to say to much about the book, but it is a must read, it has everything: crime, humor, bucket lists and a hamster named Rex. I know, it isn't out yet, but Alicia and Tanja will make sure that it will be on the shelf on Tuesday. Since this is a hot ticket item, you better stop by and grab it right away!

Best wishes,
Alvin

Let me introduce ourselves ...

                                                     Hello there,

I am Mr. Whiskers ( I am the cute one with the dark fur), my brother Alvin and I are staying at the Marble Public Library. I don't know what it is with my brother, but if you should happen to peak into our cage, he is the one that just has to keep on waking me up, by crawling on top of me. Anyhow, if you should not have guessed it, we are not to be mistaken as humans, guinea pigs or mice. We are just to cute to be one of the listed!

We usually stay at the VanDyke Elementary school, but since school is out for the summer, we decided to take a little R and R at the library. Trust me, keeping up with Mrs. Inglebret's class can tucker you out. Don't believe it? Then spend a day with us in the classroom and you will end up wondering, where do those teachers get their energy? I swear, they must have special powers to keep up with those "little" munchkins (Yeah right, like they are little! They are the size of a giant compared to us). Don't take me wrong; the kids are lots of fun, but they sure are busy.

So we decided, why not pack our stuff up and stay at a place where we can just relax, visit with kids when we feel like it and read as many books as we can over the summer. And oh boy, do they have lots of books here! You would be amazed! And Tanja told me, if she doesn't have it at the library, she can get it for me! How cool is that? So I am thinking, that Alvin and I will not run out of things to read.

Anyhow, as I settle in at the library I will be stopping by at the blog and let you know what I am currently reading and if it is any good! Trust me, I will also let you know, if a book is a snoozer. I heard, that this is a most welcomed side-effect, if you are a parent and trying to get the kids to sleep, but I usually like to stay awake while I am reading. I will let you know so you can come into the library and check it out.

And since it seems that Alvin is more social even though he is a bit camera shy; I am sure that I can talk him into popping in every now and then to educate you (ha, I heard that word a few times in the school and I was just itching to use it) about things that will be happening at the library.

Anyway, I have to get started on my reading. Tanja told me to check out a picture book for tonight.  It is called: The Pigeon Needs a Bath by a fellow named Mo Willems. Supposedly those books are funny according to a gal named Alicia ( I think she works here, too but I haven't seen her yet). I guess I have to take Tanja's word for it and hope that that Alicia person is right.

Talk to you later,
Mr. Whiskers