October 2007

Home School Book Talk is scheduled for Tuesday morning, Oct. 16 at 10:30. In recognition of United Nations Day (Oct. 24) this program will feature international books, crafts, games, and food. Programs are geared for first through sixth graders and all home schoolers are welcome.

Chess starts Saturday September 29 at 2:00 and will continue on an every other weekly basis. (Oct. 15 and 27) All ages and abilities are welcome.

Family Craft Night had twenty attendees. The sewing project was a hit and a good way to introduce this revived skill to a younger age group.

Hooked on Phonics (4 sets) and Hooked on Math (3 sets) are popular learning aids that help younger children understand basic reading and arithmetic concepts. Help your children at home. Check the library for the tools you need. There are Home Learning Media manipulatives and other books on math and reading.

Ashley area resident, Ronald Ray, led an exciting life as a Fort Lauderdale special police officer, revealed in Badge 149 “Shots Fired” by Gary P. Jones. A signed copy was donated to the library. Check out the book - and your neighbor.

Mr. Etch A Sketch will star in a library program on Thursday, October 25 at 6:30. All ages are welcome. Autographed books are available for $10. This man is amazing and the library is delighted to have him here for an evening. You won’t believe the pictures he can create even as you watch him at work. There’ll be prizes.

Fall is official. Days will be getting shorter creating more time for reading. The county fair has come and gone. Leaf identification, bird feeding, and craft projects should be popular. Check the new fiction list for a different author to try. Hope for cooler weather and some needed rain. Nominate a Delaware County Hero (forms available). Attend a Perkins Observatory astronomy program, listen to the Central Ohio Symphony opening concert. See Giraudoux’s Madwoman of Chaillot at OWU or walk through the Haunted Palace in Marion.

The School Halloween Parade will be Wednesday October 31, 2:30 or thereabouts. The library has front row seating and parking for spectators. It’s your small town working hard to entertain you. You can dress up, too. We do.

HEAP forms are available at the library or can be downloaded from the Internet. This is a federally funded program designed to assist eligible lo-income Ohioans with their winter heating bills. Information on other programs is included.

MORE report. Since going live with this interlibrary loan system our patrons have received 31 items they requested from other libraries and we have supplied 102 requests. During September our patrons received 24 items from other libraries. This is in contrast to an average of 100 interlibrary loans a year. And we have always tried to really promote the possibility of getting books from other libraries. Originally we were most excited about other libraries being able to request material from us as we’ve been on the receiving end only for years and years. How wonderful that our patrons are also benefiting. Audio books and videos are available. Just be polite. We’ve received a number of requests for very popular new titles, some before we’ve had time to process the item. That doesn’t seem right.

Sharing the library isn’t always easy. Sometimes a group - such as story timers on Thursday mornings - seems to take over the library. Sometimes teens don’t realize and aren’t concerned with how overwhelming their presence can be. Sometimes the staff gets frustrated trying to maintain fairness and order. The library is for everyone, especially in a small town where there aren’t very many places to be. Sometimes politeness and tolerance help.

Reader’s Advisory “New Book” displays provide an easy to browse mixed selection. That’s the place to look for that book you heard mentioned on TV. Other display areas can highlight second tier authors, make it easier to sort through a hot topic, or present a random grouping. (Books less than seven inches tall, or ones that are purple.) Ask the staff for suggestions. We’ll gladly supply a slip for your recommendations or encourage you to post something on the web site. You’re the readers. We just try to keep you supplied - and provide basic information. Maybe occasionally we’ll try to nudge you in a new direction.

Look for dinosaurs in the display case courtesy of the Layman family.

Banned Book Week & Teen Read Week are October events.

September 2007

Storytime:

Grandparents’ Day Sept. 6
Big & Little Sept. 13
Elephants Sept. 20
Falling Leaves Sept. 27
Apples & Pumpkins Oct. 4

Evening Storytime on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 will be Falling Leaves.

Welcome (back) to the 2007-2008 preschool story time. Sessions are held Thursday mornings and start at 10:00. The first fall month includes measuring each child’s height. Finger plays, stories, a simple craft, and (frequently) treats are a typical forty-five minute schedule. There’s time for more play, socializing (both parents and children), and book and movie selection afterwards. Storytimes are held in the basement meeting room which can be accessed by the outside ramp on the east side of the building. Parents are encouraged to attend. “Giving story time a try” and partial sessions are quite acceptable. All preschoolers are welcome.

Homeschool Book Talk is scheduled for Tuesday, October 16 at 10:30 . Programs are geared for first through sixth grade and October’s will feature international books and crafts, games and food. Around the World is the theme in recognition of United Nations Day (Oct. 24).

Craft Night is planned for Thursday evening, September 27 from 6:30 to 8:00. These are usually family affairs, suitable for both individual adults, and older children and parents. Copper foam pumpkins, felt coasters, and leaf motif cards are craft options.

School at Buckeye Valley started late in August and always brings changes in the library’s daily rhythm. Our days are much quieter until the bus arrives at 3:00. Looking at the intensive teen Internet use this summer, we are leery about what the evenings will be like. We may limit use to once a day and homework will have some priorities.

School assignment MORE alert. Borrowing from other libraries is now easier - and the more we borrow the less it costs per book. A student who needs an assigned fiction book or materials for a research paper should ask. A little planning and foresight are the only requirements. Bring your assignment sheet with you to the library for best results. Reading lists are very helpful for keeping our library collection up to date. Books still contain a lot of information and can be more helpful than the Internet. Ask about accessing magazine articles through “Reference” at www.oplin.org. It works at the library and at home.

The Delaware County Fair starts Saturday Sept. 15 and ends Saturday Sept. 22. Best of luck to all participants young and old. Check the library for recipes, how to raise chickens and grow vegetables, and lots of armchair country living. Our display case features some Ashley Fair memorabilia and a bow to Ashley’s ribbon factory. Ashley held the first junior fair in the nation. R. B. Powers Company makes ribbons that are awarded all over the United States and beyond.

Library board meetings are held at the library, at 7:30, the second Monday of each month. These meetings are open to all the public. Anyone with concerns or suggestions or wanting to know more about how the library operates should attend. Michael Wion, a teacher at Big Walnut, and the father of three (almost four) young boys is our newest board member. Shirley Thurston is the president. George Patterson, Kay Conklin, and Lisa Kimble are the remaining members. The number of members and the service to Ashley and the surrounding community were specified in the Wornstaff will which established the library. The area is now defined as the village of Ashley and Oxford Township though many users are Morrow County residents.

Ashley village will elect a mayor, councilpersons, and a member of the Board of Public Affairs this November. A list of candidates for all Delaware County offices is available at the library and on the Delaware County Board of Elections website. The village newsletter has additional information about council meetings and other events. Registration deadline for the November election is October 9.

Chess club will be back on alternate Saturdays starting Sept. 29 - after back to school adjustments and the Delaware County Fair. Chess club is open to all ages and levels. There are books and websites for learning basic moves and developing strategy. The video “Searching for Bobby Fisher” provides an interesting view of the competitive rounds.

Happy 80th Birthday to Lewis (Junior) Kimble. He was the library custodian from 1995 through 1999 - a small part of many years of keeping various aspects of Ashley cleaned up and in good shape.

Fall begins on the autumnal equinox September 23.

The Week has arrived. Billed as “all you need to know about everything that matters” it’s a quick, 40 page review of news, arts, business, and leisure.

Local Politics : a Practical Guide for Governing at the Crossroads is available for political candidates.

Delaware This Week will also be available on a regular basis thanks to the Delaware County District Library and the US Cargo route.

The book sale recently received a large donation of children’s books and videos - still ten cents each or one dollar a bag. There’s usually a variety.