Language aids are being explored. Way Cool Phrase Books and Learn and Play in both Spanish and French are available. Fun with Signing is a different sort of language but also designed to encourage use and to make the learning more interesting and less dependent upon rote.

Foreign language movies can provide a conversational and pronunciation guide - and a look at the local culture. Hear the words, read the subtitle translations. The library has an assortment of such films. It might be interesting to try the English version with Spanish subtitles.

Tax forms are ready for the shelves. Are you ready for them?? Along with government bulletins we’ll have the 2007 Ernst and Young book to answer your questions. We can help you look but can’t give tax advice. Forms are on the Internet, too. http://www.irs.gov

Magazines are being discarded. All discarded magazines are free. If you’re looking for recipes, decorating ideas, pictures for school or decoupage projects this is a great opportunity. Help us recycle.

New Year’s resolutions : Return all library materials on time and treat them carefully. Check out The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Breaking Bad Habits. Make a “to read” list or keep a journal of books read. Learn something new. Provide better library service to the community. Do something to make Ashley a nicer place for everyone.

Local events in January: A virtual recreation of the Ancient Ohio Valley will be on display at the Ohio Historical Society through Jan. 7. Next is The Armory Wall a tribute to 9/11. Also at OHS on Jan 25 is a Memory Scrap-in. Family Fun Saturday at Franklin Park Conservatory January 13, plus lampworking demonstrations. The Frog Prince at the Palace in Marion. Check Ohio Wesleyan’s calendar for free music performances in February. Check the library bulletin board for other options.


I have often thought that nothing would do more extensive good at small expense than the establishment of a small circulating library ..of a few well chosen books…to be lent …under such regulations as would secure their safe return in due time. Thomas Jefferson

January 2007

Hickory Knoll School will be at the library on February 13. Now that the ramp is finished the students are able to come upstairs and enjoy a real library experience along with their own story time.

Game Day provided activities and refreshment for a mixed group of vacationing students - from kindergarten through sixteen. As usual skittles and Apples to Apples were popular games. Thanks to the parents who lent a hand, and to Miss Vicky and Susan who got things together.

www.oplin.org will connect students to many library resources. Click on Electronic Resources, select Wornstaff Library, and enter your library card number. MasterFileEBSCOhost is a particularly helpful resource, providing full text magazine articles, often a required information source.

Construction work is now completed. The improved ramp and additional parking places are welcome features. People have been complimentary about the general appearance and we’re looking forward to the east yard in summer.

Computer changes are next in line. Chad Neeper of Level 9 Networks will be moving our library system onto a new program InfoCentre with a web accessible catalog. This means that people will be able to check our holdings at home and we’ll be one step closer to quick and easy interlibrary loans which will help people get any book they want.

Inventory continues. We’ve made a list and we’re checking it twice - and more, making sure our catalog reflects materials that are actually available. Long overdue and lost materials will be deleted and we’ll find out what else is missing. Angel Howard has been a wonderful help on this project.

Long overdues will also be checked again. TIf you receive an overdue notice, the replacement cost of the materials is listed and that cost is deleted when the material is returned. Book drop returns are welcomed. If the materials are lost or damaged you are responsible for that replacement cost. Many people using the same materials over and over is what makes a library work for a whole community.

New audio books were ordered at the end of the year. We concentrated on books that have more family appeal though selections range from Junie B. Jones to The Da Vinci Code. Also on order are three courses from The Teaching Company : History of the United States, Science Wars, and The Story of the Bible. We hope these purchases will be useful. All these materials are on Cds.