Storytime
Unbirthday Party Jan. 8
Penguins Jan. 15
Let it Snow ! Jan. 22
Groundhogs & Shadows Jan. 29

New circulation policy: Starting Jan. 1, 2009 books, magazines, audios, etc. will circulate for three weeks. DVDs and videos will circulate for one week. Renewals must be requested. Materials on reserve will not be renewed. Home School and teacher loans will be six weeks with no renewals.
This policy is more in line with actual use and with other libraries’ policies. There will not be fines for overdues but the replacement cost of materials will be listed as a fine on the family card. Library use may be restricted until materials are returned or replacement costs paid.

Sewer line repairs. The library has a broken sewer line which will be repaired in eary January. The break is located at the top of the basement ramp and both the ramp and the back stairway may be blocked off for a week or so, interfering with access to the library, the book drop and some portion of the parking lot. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope the time will be limited. Work will be done by Del-O Plumbing, Emergency Drain & Plumbing and a sub-contracted concrete firm.

Pen pals needed. Fourth graders at Buckeye Valley West and North need pen pals to enhance their reading experiences. Students will chose a book and write a letter of introduction. The pen pal will exchange letters for 8 weeks followed by a get together. It doesn’t take much time and may be invaluable to a child. Call Margie West 363-5000.

Thanks to Lyn Heine for letting her Pere Noels live in our display case over the holidays. Thanks to all our patrons. If we had a mission statement it would involve being a vital part of the community. It takes people to accomplish that. Thanks for cards and goodies and story time supplies.

Income tax time : Forms have started to arrive and will be shelved on the rack inside the front door. They can also be printed from the www.irs.gov site. The Delaware County Earned Income Tax Coalition will again provide free tax preparation for qualifying persons, Helpline 211. They will be at the Wornstaff Library on Saturday, February 7, from 10:00 to 2:00.

Community Action has a representative here once a month - Thursday Jan. 8 1:00-3:00 this month.

Recycle magazines. Donate your slightly used, almost current magazines to the library for others to use. Archaeology is a recent example. Take home the library’s discards to read or use for crafts.

New magazines. It’s time to renew our subscription list, time for patron recommendations. If you have a favorite magazine you think others in the community might enjoy perhaps the library would subscribe to it. You could even borrow it from the library instead of purchasing it. Saving money has value.

New call numbers. Juvenile fiction can be on the regular shelves, on the “middle school” twirly rack or on the “teen” shelves. Are you confused? So are we. The catalog isn’t much help. Jane Horn is making a difference. Books on the teen shelf will be PBYs and those on the younger twirly rack will be PBJs. Then there are easy chapter books and new…

Great Books sold in a set of presumably what every well educated person should read were popular in the 1970s. A current book explores their life and effect. Libraries help anyone pursue individual projects. The Wornstaff Library has a set of Harvard classics along with a more popular literature set tucked away in a corner adjacent to our “classic” collection. Do your own Ellery Queen retrospective, or Harry Potter marathon - in books, on audio tape or on the screen. If we don’t have it there’s a good chance we can borrow it for you.

Buckeye Dulcimer Festival flyers are available. This almost week long workshop attracts instructors and learners from all over the country. It also provides two excellent evening concerts right down the road at Recreation Unlimited - unless they get snowed in again this year. All of this is organized by Ashley’s own Louise Ziegler.

Local literary trivia. Last year Delaware County read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby. Timeline’s Jul./Sept. issue profiles bootlegger George Remus purported to be a model for Gatsby. William Least Heat-Moon’s Roads to Quoz features Route 40 expert Frank Xavier Brusca from Westerville.

Happy 2009 from the Library Staff

New Year’s resolutions. Read more books. Take advantage of the library’s FREE movies and Home Learning Media. Return materials on time.

December 2008

Holiday hours : December 24 & 25 - Closed ; December 31 - 10:00 - 5:00 ; January 1 - Closed.

Story time :
Holiday Treats Dec. 4
Reindeer Dec. 11
Christmas Dec. 18
No Storytime Dec. 25 & Jan 1

Evening Storytime is scheduled for Wednesday evening Dec. 17 at 6:30. Christmas is the theme. A family story time is being considered for the coming year.

Comments and suggestions will help the library better serve the community.

Family Craft Night will be held Thursday evening Dec. 4 from 6:30 - 8:00. Crafts available include making candy mints and cubical photo holders from CD cases. Bring your own photos.

Home School Book Talk on Tuesday morning, Dec. 9 at 10:30 will focus on simple handmade gifts - always appropriate and perhaps especially so this year. As always books, good company, and a bit of food will be available. Programs are designed for first through sixth graders. It’s a Holiday Workshop.

Picturing America is a collection of 2 x 3 foot laminated posters of art works illustrating U.S. history. These posters will be a permanent addition to our materials and available for selected loan. This collection is provided through a grant and is contingent upon displays and programs which are still in the planning stage. Previews are available and suggestions would be helpful and appreciated.

Christmas books are on display : decorating ideas, crafts, recipes, and Christmas stories.

Robert Ziegler has been named the new member of the Wornstaff Library Board of Trustees. A long-time Ashley resident Mr. Ziegler has worked for the county highway department, Citizens Federal Savings and Loan and operated a small department store in Ashley and then the video store. He’s president of the Prospect Senior Citizens and helps his wife Louise with dulcimer activities. He replaces Kay Conklin who retired after thirty years on the board. We appreciate Bob’s interest.

The library board is composed of five members from Ashley and Oxford Township as established in the Wornstaff will. The board is responsible for policy and general oversight and is an essential element of library operations. Other members are Shirley Thurston (president), George Patterson (vice-president), Lisa Kimble (secretary), and Michael Wion. The interest these people take in the library and the time they devote deserves some recognition and appreciation. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month at the library and are open to the public.

The Children’s Buy-In program is designed to cover kids with special health needs and targets families with income above $42,000 who struggle to cover health costs. Families can only apply online at http://jfs.ohio.gov/OHP/cbi/index.stm. This Ohio program was expected to cover 5000 children and few have enrolled.

Magazine discards are coming. Some back issues are kept but most are cleared for the coming year. Discards are free and can be requested.

Long overdue materials (Jan. 2005-Dec. 2007) include 101 books and 54 videos. That’s over $1000 worth of materials per year. These are all materials that have been checked out by library patrons and NOT returned. In many cases the patrons have moved and we are unable to contact them. Sometimes we call and are told it’s right here on the table. The library only works if books and other materials are returned so others can use them. Your tax dollars pay for the library staff, operation and materials. Not returning materials is literally stealing from everybody in the community and limit’s the resources available to them.

A public Internet printer is still in the works though the scanner is functional and one upgraded public computer has better connections and sound. Staff appreciates the flat screen monitor at the desk and is looking forward to not having to print in the office. Thank you Level 9 Networks. Now if we could find a “filing cabinet” with 6” deep drawers or other solution for our DVD storage - and get our sewage drain problems solved we’d be in good shape for the end of the year.

Free tax preparation will again be provided for persons eligible for earned income tax credit by the Delaware County EITC Coalition, Jan. 15 - April 15.. The group will be at the library in Ashley on February 28 from 10:00 - 2:00. Call 2-1-1.

Ashley notes : Hello to Wade’s Barbershop. Get your hair cut right here in Ashley. It’s a familiar location there on High Street, all refitted and open for business. Farewell to Second Hand Rose and best wishes to Larry and Penny Gale on their move to Nevada. We’ll miss the store itself - a point highlighted by the going out of business bargains. FLOR plan is buying their building. Where will notebooks and envelopes appear??

November 2008

STORYTIME
Squirrels Nov. 6
Pioneers Nov. 13
Thanksgiving Nov. 20
No Storytime Nov. 27
Holiday Treats Dec. 4

Evening Storytime will be Wednesday, Nov. 19. The theme will be Thanksgiving.

December’s evening story time will be Dec. 17 with a Christmas theme.

Evening Storytime survey. Should we change the focus or the day? We wanted to provide a program opportunity for preschool and kindergarten attendees and working parents but recent attendance has been limited. Is there an evening which would be more convenient or have fewer conflicts? Should the age range be expanded with more emphasis on family reading and crafts? What type of program would be of interest and use? It’s your library.

The library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will have regular hours the rest of the week.

A Holiday craft family night is in the works for the first Thursday in December, the fourth.

Photo Cube and candy mints.

Don’t forget to vote

The couch in the reading area is scheduled for reupholstering by Interiors by Carole of Sunbury. We hope to have it back soon, looking relatively the same but sans tears and stains and good for many more years of comfortable seating.

Election Day will be a busy place at the library which is an Ashley polling place. Please be considerate about parking. The library election information folder will be available until the actual voting day.

Ashley Walkers meet Sunday at the library, at 4:00 in the afternoon starting Nov. 9. They walk around town for about an hour at a comfortable pace. It’s good exercise and good company. Bring a friend. Congratulations to all who participated in the Halloween 5K walk, November 2 at 1:00.

Homework help at the library. You’ve been to parent-teacher conferences and the second nine weeks is under way. Internet access, reference books and assistance, Hooked on Phonics, Hooked on Math, access to online journal articles in the library or at home - and more are available. Materials for reports and science projects along with extra help in trouble areas are free at your library and online at www.ohioweblibrary.org

The Buckeye Book Fair features Ohio authors and subjects and regularly provides small press, specialized materials for the library. Some offerings we had already purchased this year include organic farmer Gene Lodgson‘s second novel, David Giffels tale about making an old house livable, and Particular Places. Liz Barker and Vicky Collins will be bringing back two new mystery authors, a fishing guide to Ohio, Wanda Brunstetter’s juvenile series, a watercolor book, Ohio’s Grand Canal, A Young Birder’s Guide, and a book & CD on finger plays.

The BVE Elementary student council donated money to the children’s department and three books have been purchased with that money. Our WhiteHouse Looking In Looking Out created by 108 renowned authors and illustrators is a unique view of the nation’s capitol. Astronomy and Great Musicians with CDs are two Dorling Kindersley books. Also added was David Macaulay’s How We Work - a unique view of the human body.

Second Hand Rose continues to offer bargains until their Nov. 26 closing. The restaurant remains an enticing possibility - sometime. Ashley walkers have talked about a Christmas parade, a horse drawn caroling group early in December, Santa at Mandy Bear’s House. There could be other possibilities.

Teen Read Week (Books with Bite) was celebrated with a teen guessing contest. How many pieces of Count Chocula cereal in the container?? The winner was Ocean Casey whose guess of 1500 was closest to the actual count of 1573. He won 1573 pieces of Count Chocula cereal in a container and a book of his choice.

Bristle blocks are the new popoids in the children’s department - building blocks with wheels and creative possibilities, not quite as popular as Thomas the Tank Engine and tracks but a good addition. Thanks to Vicky Collins for her discovery.

October 2008

Storytime

Fall Oct. 2
Fire Safety Oct 9
Pizza, Popcorn, Pasta Oct. 16
Scarecrows & Pumpkins Oct. 23
Halloween Oct. 30
Squirrels Nov. 6

Evening Storytime will be Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30. Scarecrows & Pumpkins is the theme. Jane Horn will present the Thursday morning Fire Safety program. Thanks to the Ashley Community Fire Company for fire safety promotional materials.

The Halloween program will be one of costumes and treats. Families who do not participate in that holiday should be aware of the topic.

Home School Book talk will be Tuesday October 28 at 10:30. That’s National Fingerprint Day. What’s the topic ? It’s a Mystery. You’ll just have to attend to find out what educational fun is available and what there might be to eat.

The Scarecrow Workshop was a big success with 28 adults and children participating. Winners of the town scarecrow contest will be announced at the October 4, Fishing Derby. Many thanks to Rotary Products for the wood, Elaine McFarland for village coordination, and all those enthusiastic designers. Liz Barker really enjoyed seeing busy, happy people at Mandy Bear’s House. Maybe this should be a yearly event.

The School Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat Night dates are not confirmed. The library will be in line, as usual passing out bookmarks and candy. It’s a great tradition and fun to watch.
Voter registration deadline is Oct. 6.

The big storm left the library unscathed and with power to provide local residents with Internet access and some cell phone recharging plus some incidental perks for employees such as fresh hot coffee and hair dryer power. Nobody checked out any of theY2K survival or living without electricity books. If only we could have had cable TV and a projector. Thanks to custodian Don Baldwin and library neighbor/supporter Lyn Heine for cleanup. She also had the hanging branches taken cleared.

Please welcome Jane Horn, a new employee at the library. Jane has volunteered for the past couple of years both here and at BVEE school library. She has a master’s in library science, a background in the sciences, experience in working with MOPS - and we are delighted to have her on the staff. I could go on but you’ll soon find your own reasons for appreciating her.
Illness and an assortment of other recent staffing complications have pointed up a need for an additional staff person. Extra staff hours can help and will provide improved service to the community. We hope that will also be appreciated.

Teen Read Week is Oct. 12 -18. Books with Bite is the theme, with a bow to those popular vampire stories or maybe something to eat.

Heroes Breakfast nomination forms for 2008 are available. Nominate your local hero today. The deadline is October 20. The breakfast is Nov. 25 and will also honor Children’s Writing winners.

The “Best” season is upon us. Poetry, short stories, science essays, mystery stories…the list could go on but those are our standard additions. These collections supplement our collection with contemporary works by various authors providing good reading and a snapshot of the year.
Moving more books. In the back room corner where inspirational fiction meets biographies there’s some extra space filled with short stories, Louie L’Amour, Harvard classics, and a similar set by Black’s Readers Service. It might be worth a look. It’s opposite the “classics” collection which also deserves some readers other than high school English students.

Library cards for 20 new patrons were applied for at the fair. The cinch back packs were very popular and a great promotion for all the Delaware County Libraries. Thanks to board members Michael Wion and Shirley Thurston who helped staff the booth.

Voter information on candidates and issues, including newspaper items and The League of Women Voter’s guide, is available at the library.

Interlibrary Loan requests for September numbered 19 including several DVDs and audio books. We loaned 58 materials to other libraries. Don’t be shy about asking for materials you want.

The Ashley Walking Club has met twice with seven or eight people participating. See the town, meet your neighbors, and enjoy some exercise. They meet at the library at 7:00 on Sunday evening.

We’re ordering new DVDs (including Lars and the Real Girl). Your recommendations are welcome.

Magazines are getting a fresh professional look from “serials manager” Jane Horn. Keeping up with back issues and donations has always seemed to be a challenge. Carly Swagler’s volunteer time helped sort through some areas. Get your name on the list now for end of the year discards.

Available at your library: ABLE/GED/ESOL schedules, HEAP forms, hunting & trapping permissions, Arts Castle brochures, This Week, The Council Communicator, absentee ballot requests, and a variety of miscellaneous brochures.

September 2008

StoryTime

Grandparents’ Day Sept. 4
Let’s Count ! Sept. 11
County Fair Sept. 18
Apples Sept. 25
Fall Oct. 2

Evening Family Storytime will be Wednesday September 24 at 6:30. The program theme will be Apples. Families are encouraged to attend.

Storytime resumes September 4, after a library appreciated break between Summer Reading and the beginning of school. Grandparents’ Day is September 7th and will be the theme of the opening program. Children will be measured to see how much they grow during the coming year. Programs start at 10:00 and last approximately 45 minutes. Story reading and activities such as finger plays begin the session followed by a simple craft and sometimes snacks. Parents are encouraged to attend and all preschool children are welcome. Registration is not required.

Scarecrow Workshop, scheduled for Saturday Sept. 27, will be held at Mandy Bear’s House , 201 South Street, Ashley, where there’s a little more room for making a mess…rain or shine. There will be a village scarecrow competition in conjunction with the October 4 Ashley Fishing Tournament. Scarecrow entrants do not have to attend the workshop but scarecrows need to be in place by September 30. Interested people should contact the library or the municipal building to sign up for the contest.

Home School Book Talk is coming in October. First through sixth graders can enjoy a topic oriented book talk and related activities. Programs are held every other month, start at 10:30 and last an hour plus. It’s fun, educational, and social.

Delaware County Libraries at the fair. The Wornstaff Library will be participating in a joint library booth with The Community Library of Sunbury and the Delaware County District Library. September is National Library Card Sign-up Month and the emphasis will be on library services and registering. It’s a great opportunity to promote all those free library benefits - movies, reference, online access, and lots of books to read. Thanks to the Delaware folks for arrangements and decorations and the opportunity to remind everyone we all work together to provide library service to the area. Look for us in the Merchants Building at the Delaware County Fair. Sign-up for a library card.

A library card is your ticket to a wide variety of free locally available resources - especially pertinent as travel costs and the need to economize increase. The library has a wide variety of DVDs and videos free. The children’s section has hundreds of picture books - an invaluable aid to getting your child interested in reading and to developing necessary skills. That experience starts with coming to the library and picking out books. Easy readers and easy chapter books are grouped for easy selections as those reading skills grow. Best sellers are big discount items but that doesn’t beat being FREE. Being green is another library advantage. One book can be read by many. In fact, that’s a basic principle of library operation. Find out first whether you like the book enough to want to own it. Libraries even borrow from other libraries to curtail duplication.

Discovery Girls is being added to our magazine subscriptions and we hope it will be well used.

Career Discovery Encyclopedia, geared for middle school, covers Accountants to Zoologists with two page articles describing requirements, and job duties and availability. This set updates our career listings and is accessible to a lower age group. Check fiction and biographies for personal accounts.
Shifting shelves : Adult fiction is expanding as we add an additional shelf to the fiction ranges. You may have to reach a bit higher and strain those bifocals and your favorite author may have moved slightly. The advantage is more space for more books and less crowding on the shelves. Thanks to B & W Cabinentry for the shelving.

The Skateboard Park meeting had six attendees. It’s difficult to schedule meetings for everyone’s convenience but not as difficult to make up for not being able to attend. Contact the village office or Elaine McFarland. This is a project that needs community participation. Remember how great the Sesqui-Centennial was. We can do a lot ourselves.

A Walking Club will meet at the library, 7:00pm, Sunday evenings starting September 14. Walks will last about an hour. Get fit, have fun, learn more about the community and its residents. The village of Ashley is partnering with the Delaware County Health Department to work towards healthier communities. There are many walkers in the village now who must have tips to share and stories of their experiences. There’s Morrow in Motion; we could be Ashley in Action.

Suggestions for September : Read a book to a child. Visit a school. Attend a high school football game. Visit one of the Preservation Parks. Watch the All Horse Parade. Attend the Delaware County Fair. Go to one of the programs at Perkins Observatory or a recital by the Ohio Wesleyan Music Department. Visit Leeds Farms in Marysville, Miller’s Country Gardens, the Harvest Festival at Stratford Ecological Center. Purchase some produce at a Farmer’s Market (or second Hand Rose in Ashley). Take a walk at one of the state parks - or around Ashley. Learn about the candidates and issues for November. September 6 is Read a Book Day, the 16th is Collect Rocks Day - cheap, easy activities. Elephant Appreciation Day on the 22nd may require more ingenuity - maybe trying not to think about elephants - or a visit to the zoo!

August 2008

Storytime will resume on Thursday morning September fourth at ten o’clock. Some children will be off to kindergarten or first grade and there will be some new faces. The yardstick will be out to see how everyone measures up and so we’ll know how much you grow through the year. Storytime is open to all preschoolers and maybe a bit beyond. Programs last about 45 minutes and consist of stories and finger plays or other activities, a craft and, frequently, a snack. Parents are encouraged to stay and it’s all pretty relaxed with time for play, socializing, and book selection afterwards. Miss Vicky needs glue sticks and paper lunch sacks if you find bargains while school supply shopping.

Max Bergman the Bug Man performed for eighty some children and adults. He brought an amazing collection of “bugs” including several BIG spiders and a giant millipede. He was a great speaker and very responsive to all the questions.

Summer Reading Summaries are still in the works with tallies not completed and prizes still to be collected. But the programs are done for the year. The ant farm has been retired, the bugs are ready to be packed away, and the school bus will soon replace the picnic basket. It’s been hectic; it’s been fun; and it’s time to regroup, give Miss Vicky a vacation, and move on to the next phase.

Teen Night hosted 20 participants who bowled watermelons, jumped through hoops, designed cocoons, and ate sautéed apples and meal worms.

Adult readers, those who filled out reviews, numbered twenty-three and read 103 books. Cindy Shamp topped the list with 28. Reviewers were all women and romances and inspirational fiction were the most popular books.

Fundamentals, the teacher supply / children’s bookstore on Winter Street in Delaware, is celebrating its twentieth year. Owner Tami Furlong has a week of author activities ranging from a late night party for the release of Stephanie Meyer’s book Breaking Dawn to a visit from the Waldo based Bender & Bender crew who created Ribbit!, the flip and see froggy book, plus a visit from the Turtle Lady, Denise Fleming - and more. Pick up a schedule of events at the library.

Summer Reading accumulated 1155 hours with 131 children signed up and 51 completing 10 hours of reading - as of July 28.

Parents reading to children is not an active part of our summer reading program though there are good arguments for emphasizing that activity. Reading to a child is right there on the top of the list of factors that contribute to a child’s interest in and success with reading. Reading to children fits in well with Ohio’s Ready to Read program, not to mention preschool and kindergarten proficiencies. Learning that letters represent sound and that lines go from left to right seems obvious - to those who know - but can be bewildering without familiarity. Besides we’d like to increase our children’s books circulation. It’s interesting that that number has dropped significantly in recent years. Television and even computer games are competitors but that’s very different from a parent and child curled up together in a chair with the bedtime story.

The new Poet Laureate of the United States is Kay Ryan, a sixty year old woman from a small California town once rejected by a poetry club, her sparse lines are now acclaimed and worth a look.

The Young Adult category was the topic of a recent essay by an author, worried that adults wouldn’t read the book - or take it seriously. Thank goodness librarians get to read and enjoy all book categories. There are some real treasures in the juvenile room including our most popular audios.

Buckeye Valley School starts Aug. 27. Supply lists are available on the Internet and the library has a print copy. Morrow County schools have a longer break thanks to the fair (August 25 - Sept. 1). There should be a list of 101 things to do before school starts. Remember how long that vacation sounded in June. Suggestion No. 1 follows.

Summer Letterbox Adventure, a joint project of Preservation Parks of Delaware County and Delaware County District Library is available to Wornstaff Library patrons. Sign a waiver and get a packet that explores six Delaware County parks and introduces you to letterboxing. We’ll give you bonus points for checking out Wornstaff’s own letterbox. A stamp and a notebook are all you need to add some variety to trips or provide a destination for an evening drive. http://www.letterboxing.org/ gives a good overview and lists letter box sites. This can be a diversion while waiting for that long postponed list of Delaware County mystery picture locations.

Skateboard Park sign-up at the library or the village office is a step toward actually getting a skateboard area in Ashley. Not only would that provide a needed place where it would be okay for kids to skateboard (and maybe some ramps) but it seems as if it would alleviate some of the street skating and could be a benefit for everyone. Council member Elaine McFarland is looking at grant possibilities and would appreciate some helpful support. A meeting will be announced.

Homeschoolers should be interested in filling out the survey about the review of Ohio laws regulating home schooling. http://www.ode.state.oh.us/ is the survey site with a link to current law.

Special thanks to all the individuals, families, and business who helped with our summer reading program, providing prizes, assisting with programs, and generally making it all come together. That includes thanks to our staff, especially Vicky Collins, Susan Bussard, and Megan Burns.

July 2008

Summer Reading Program - Library Antics
Mondays 11:00
Don’t Bug Me - I’m Drawing July 7
with cartoonist Dan Collins
Flutter, Buzz, and Zoom July 14
Closing Program July 21
Mark Bergman the Bugman
and his “Live Bug”
Observation Station

Get an up close look at real live bugs, with “on hands” activities. Entertaining for all ages.
Summer Reading participants of all ages are invited to the closing program which will be held inside the library at 11:00 on July 21. The prize drawing will be held then. Winners do not have to be present but those who are get first choice. The final tally will be delayed to accommodate those who can’t attend. Free books for reading ten hours, and other coupons, etc. can still be collected after July 21, but there will not be additional prizes.

It’s not too late to sign up for the summer reading program - and to enjoy some of the activities. First through sixth graders keep track of hours read to receive stickers, coupons, and other prizes. Read ten hours to earn a ticket to be entered in the final drawing. Check the display case for a sampling of prizes. There are Barbie dolls galore.

Teens can Metamorphosis@theLibrary. Gummy bug treats and a mood pencil are your reward for signing up. A ticket for every book read is entered in a weekly drawing. Teen Night is Wed. July 23, 6:30 - 8:00. There will be games, fun, and food including a bug sampling for those who dare.

Adults fill out a review slip which is entered in a final drawing.

Bees and butterflies and bugs and a PICNIC BASKET ! Part of summer reading decorating entails creating a big box crawl through item. Join the giant ants in the picnic basket. It has been a hit - and recognizable. Kudos to Vicky, Susan and Megan with a little help from Dan Collins.
The ant farm has also been enjoyed by staff and patrons. A few caterpillars have survived and are getting almost big enough to notice. Matthew Smith discovered a Cecropia moth on the picnic basket Saturday morning - hatched from the assumed dead pupa mounted above the caterpillars! A patron brought in several bagworm cocoons which might hatch. Did we mention the edible bugs??

Storytime supplies are supplemented by donations. Some needed items, such as glue sticks, school glue, and paper lunch sacks, are often discounted when school supplies are promoted. Consider buying some extra items to donate to the library while shopping for school supplies.

Library Board member wanted - one concerned and interested individual able to meet once a month. Any Ashley resident interested in serving on the library board should contact Liz Barker (747-2085). The board meets on Monday evening July 14, 7:30.

The Car Show and Bean Dinner sponsored by the Wesleyan Church has been rescheduled for July 12, 11:00 - 3:00.

Interlibrary loans keep getting easier. Unchristian mentioned above is one example. We ordered the most recent Jen Lancaster memoir when a patron requested all three. City Under the Back Steps about two children who spend time in an ant hill was a long ago favorite prompted by the bug theme. Videos and DVDs are also available. Don’t be shy. Tell us what you want.

New westerns were discovered - eight paperbacks and one hardback by popular Elmer Kelton. Well, actually two were originally published around 1980 and two others are franchised Ralph Compton (now deceased) novels written by different authors.

Publishing mania. A patron recently mentioned hearing that publishers were really pushing big name authors to produce more works ala Danielle Steel. James Patterson is obviously hard at work complying. The latest Janet Evanovich (5 reserves) is thin, with wide margins and spacing - and cost $28. Do we need a Readers Movement against marketing and easy profits that gyp book lovers out of good reading?

New DVDs enjoyed by the staff include the mini-series John Adams, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Bucket List, Central Station, and Persepolis.

The library’s been a busy place - fifty some children here on Monday mornings and then a bonanza attendance of 33 at story time, plus a floating crowd of teens. We even survived one Monday when we were on the sewer checking list. Add vacations, illness, and the usual complications for some creative staff scheduling. The busyness and high traffic sometimes create conflicts. Two summer rules that may reduce conflicts are No Skateboarding in the library parking lot during open hours and No Food or Drink in the library. We enjoy being busy and really want to provide a place for all age groups. We certainly appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation.

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy. July starts off with a big boom. Other events in the area include the musical 42nd Street at the Marion Palace, the beginning of the county fair season, The Science of Big Machines at COSI, a torch light canoe trip, numerous nature activities at the parks, not to mention all the ice-cream socials, and farmer‘s markets. The Morrow County Independent featured local (low mileage) activities. Morrow County Link

June 2008

Summer Reading Program - Library Antics

Mondays 11:00am

Library Antics June 9
(sign-up and activities)
Bookworm Race June 16
Bring your own worm
Reading is a Picnic June 23
Insectigations June 30
with Preservation Parks
Don’t Bug Me - I’m Drawing July 7
with cartoonist Dan Collins
Flutter, Buzz, and Zoom July 14
Closing Program July 21
with Mark Berman the Bugman
and his “Live Bug” Observation Station

Programs last approximately one hour and include reading incentives and related activities including our renown annual worm race - especially pertinent this year. June 9 is the official starting sign-up date. After that sign-up is available anytime at the library, or at subsequent programs. Program activities are designed to be enjoyed but children don’t have to attend in order to read and receive coupons and other prizes. Reading will again be counted by time spent rather than the number of books read.

Catch the Reading Bug at summer story time s Thursday mornings at 10:00. June 12 - July 17. Join us for stories, crafts, and creepy, crawly fun. Registering helps Miss Vicky plan for supplies. Storytime is open to preschoolers and kindergartners. The program themes will be related to those for summer reading.

Metamorphosis @ Your Library invites teen readers to transform themselves this summer. Sign up starting June 9 - and get a prize. Read books, magazines, graphic novels and fill out reviews to win weekly prizes.

Adults can catch the reading bug, too. Rate the books you read for tickets for a drawing. Weekly family drawing, prizes include Franklin Park Observatory, The Wilds, The National Inventors Hall of Fame, Columbus Art Museum, The Butterfly House, and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.

The Oxford Garden Club gets extra special thanks this year for filling the planters with flowers. They announced that this would be the last year as they were all getting too old for the job and have helped beautify the library for many, many years. Volunteer replacements can apply within.

Kay Conklin announced her retirement from the library board at the May meeting. She knows how long she has been a board member - thirty years! Descriptions of the position usually emphasize a one hour meeting once a month. During those thirty years there were two additions to the library and two law suits involving the distribution of library funds, the compilation of an employee handbook, and the hiring of two library directors. The board is looking for a replacement and interested persons can leave a brief description of their interest and qualifications at the library.

The Tick Tock Opera Company put on a marvelous show for the school and the community and well deserved the front page coverage given them by the Delaware Gazette. Many thanks to those hard working and creative second graders, teachers Candy Staley and Kiana Brown and everyone else who helped. It’s a great achievement, worthy of recognition. Take a look at coverage of previous performances on display at the library before the bugs take over for the summer.

Easy livin’ summertime. June is fishing time and we’re trying to do our part to promote angling and other outdoor activities. The pool opens June 7 with library users Megan & Mike Wion managing. As usual the bulletin board will feature local people and coming events. Bicentennial Delaware photo locations should be posted June 15. Check the newspapers for all those ice cream socials and farmers’ markets.

Summer Reading miscellanea: Prizes for summer reading are on display. We’re waiting for the live ants who will inhabit the ant farm and are proud to announce that one Cecropia moth is busy laying eggs for our caterpillar farm.

Community Action Organization, which provides assistance with air conditioning and electric bills, has a new representative, Diana Coffman, who will be here at the Wornstaff Library on Friday, June 13 from 1:00 - 3:00. Call 369-3184 for appointments.

National Treasure 2, Golden Compass, and Great Debaters, plus a new Magic School Bus, Hermie, and Hannah Montana - and John Adams, Nova’s Human Body - and more.

Bean Dinner and Car Show at the Wesleyan Church is an annual event, on tap for June 13, 5 - 9.

The library has rainy day reading, help for all sorts of summer projects, and local touring guides.

MAY 2008

Storytime
Pets May 1
Mother’s Day May 8
This Is My Garden May 15
Fun in the Sun May 21
No Storytime May 29
No Storytime June 5

Evening Storytime will be held Wednesday May 14 at 6:30.

This Is My Garden is the theme.

Storytime will take a short break (May 29 & June 5) while Miss Vicky and Susan get ready for the summer reading program.

The library will be closed Memorial Day, May 26.

DelawaReads concludes Saturday May 10 with a West Egg party at the Delaware County District Library. It starts at 7:00. One dress was made at our flapper dress program, a new knitter was helped on her way, and a good time had by a few. The Children’s Art Program had 19 participants, including members of Robin Clay’s BVE art club. Debra Conner talked about Picasso and Dali and had everyone try their hand at cubism and surrealism. You CAN do this at home. Cubism starts with a picture, criss-cross with lines, and color each enclosed area a different color. It’s amazing. Surrealism portraits were created by using objects associated with a person for facial elements: vegetation for a gardener’s hair or books for a reader’s eyes. Self portraits could be a good introductory ice-breaker activity. The dance class received rave reviews. Susan taught basic Charleston steps and introduced the fox trot and the waltz. Everyone had a swinging time. Those who missed the book discussion have some Delaware options plus the CD.

Ghosthunter James Willis was a very entertaining and informative speaker. Mr. Willis mentioned the Bloody Mary urban legend and said he wished you could make ghosts appear by calling their name three times. We just wish more people had been able to attend. If only there were some magic way to match up programs, interest, and availability.

Ghosthunter report, April 29 6:43, re: the Lincoln Funeral Train. The sun is up and it’s a busy intersection at that time -not a very ghostly atmosphere. The cold chill along the tracks may have been due to the light snowfall and didn‘t deter the blackbird walking the rails.

Catch the Reading Bug is the summer reading theme. Monday morning programs begin at 11:00 and will be held for six weeks starting June 9th and ending July 21st with Mark Berman, The Bugman and his “Live Bug” Observation Station. Programs are open to first through sixth graders.
Metamorphosis @ Your Library is the teen program. Signup begins June 9 and there’s a teen party finale on July 23.

Preschoolers and adults will also Catch the Reading Bug June 12 - July 21.
Second Grade Opera (which is really first class) is tentatively scheduled for May 28 (2:30) and May 29 (10:00 and evening performance).

Children’s Book Week is May 11-17 - appropriately following Mother’s Day

Local history can be seen in Friday Night in the Downtown : memories of downtown Delaware from 1925 to 1975 produced by Brent Carson and Alum Creek Memories produced by Paul Clay.

The Delaware photo identification deadline has been extended until June 15, in contrast with our earlier report. There is still time to enter and b & w copies of the photos are available. Those who are awaiting the answers need to be patient.

Book signing : Connie Curry, Delaware resident and author of Give Me Back My Glory, will be signing this book about her experience with breast cancer at the Wornstaff Library on Saturday morning, May 3. She has donated a copy of her book to the library.

Children’s author Louise Borden will be at Buckeye Valley East Elementary on May 8. Her books are true stories on topics ranging from skating in Holland to Curious George. Boys (who often prefer real things to stories) should take note.

Tax rebate deadline for those who don’t normally file and for those who filed for an automatic extension is October 15 according to FAQ on the IRS site.

Science fiction fans might want to check the book sale as we’ve done some serious weeding in that area. Recommendations for additions are welcome.

History fans can visit a Civil War Enactment on Sunbury Square May 9-11 and a French and Indian War History Encampment at Infirmary Park south of Granville May 17 & 18.

Five Nights on Campus at OSU Marion has two May events. Howling at the Moon on May 8 features eight over age 60 women artists. Take a Bow on May 22 is a performing arts contest with scholarships for the winners.

Fishing as a recreational activity is on the decline especially among youth. Wildlife conservationists are concerned about fewer outdoor nature activities. Ashley village is doing its part with the stocked reservoir and tournament. The library is helping with more books for younger anglers.

Memorial Day will be recognized with a parade in Ashley, forming at Whipples at 9:00 and proceeding down High Street to the cemetery on May 26. The parade is organized by the Legion.

April 2008

Story time :

Nursery Rhymes / Fairy Tales April 3
Rainy Day & Ducks April 10
Library Week April 17
Trains April 24
Pets May 1

Evening Storytime will be held April 23 at 6:30.
The topic for the evening will be Trains.

Home School Book Talk on Tuesday morning April 8 at 10:30 will center on kites and the weather. Programs are designed for first through sixth graders. All home schoolers are welcome.

Library Week is April 13 - 19. The library is celebrating with a very busy month. We encourage everyone to visit a library. Libraries are a wonderful bargain providing books, magazines, and movies free to all. That should be something worth appreciating as many other prices are rising.

Flint Ridge specimens are on display courtesy of Jim Johnston and have revealed some low awareness. Flint Ridge, a 520 acre state memorial, provided prehistoric Indians with widely traded materials for tools for hundreds of years. It’s less than 60 miles away with a museum, lots of trails, and historical and geological interest - a great summer visit. Explore Ohio this summer.

The Ghosts of Ohio, a program presented by James A. Willis, is set for April 17 at 6:30 p.m. and helps celebrate Library Week. Local ghost hunters might be interested in a vigil at the railroad tracks on April 29 at 6:43 am. (Daylight savings time) That’s when the Lincoln Funeral passed through Ashley (5:43 am time before daylight savings) and folklore says its ghost repeats the trip yearly. You can see a hand carved replica of the funeral train at the Warther Museum in Dover, Ohio.


Delaware County’s Big Read 2008 is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and begins with a kick-off event Sunday April 13 at the Delaware County District Library.

The Great Gatsby will be the topic of a book discussion at the Wornstaff Library April 29 at 7:00.

The Great Gatsby, with reader’s guide and a background CD is available at the Wornstaff Library (25 copies) - plus two movie versions .

Flapper dresses and cloches you can make will be the subject of a program at the Wornstaff Library, Saturday April 19 from 2:00 to 4:00. Patterns, sewing machines, and stitchers will be available. Bring your own material (1 ½ yds. of 54” material or 2 2/3 yds. of 35”material). You can add personal finishing touches before the party finale at the Delaware County District Library, Saturday May 10.

Charleston dance lessons will be provided at the Wornstaff Library on Saturday afternoon April 26 from 2:00 to 4:00.

A children’s art program will be presented Tuesday afternoon April 22 from 3:30 to 5:00 at the Wornstaff Library by Debra Conner, Chautauqua scholar and Zelda Fitzgerald impersonator. She will bring Zelda Fitzgerald to life in programs presented at the Sunbury Community Library and the Delaware County District Library and will discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald at the Delaware Library.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.

New Home Learning Media have been added to the collection: a trundle wheel for measuring distance, pan balance for measuring weight, a cash register, and a digital stop watch. There’s much more. The collection is geared for home schoolers but materials can be checked out by any adult for home use. Don’t forget the Discovery Packs for younger children. The library is more than books.

The State Librarian Jo Budler and program coordinator Missy Lodge recently visited the Wornstaff Library. It’s nice to know they are interested in really seeing what goes on in libraries around the state. Ms. Budler will be at the Mt. Gilead Library’s 100th anniversary in case anyone’s interested in knowing what goes on downtown.

Free computer classes in the State Library’s Mobile Training Lab will be held April 19 - 24 at the Cardington Library. Register at 419-864-8181.

Pictures Past-Pictures Present contest entries closed Mar. 20 but packets of black & white copies remain. Try a “Sunday drive” around Delaware County to see how many you can identify, or what interesting sites you can discover. Having the answers available could be a plus - and provide a second tour. Travel locally could also be a slogan.

April is National Poetry Month. It’s a time to read, a time to listen, a time to write. A little more poetry might be a good thing for the world.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 this year. Earth Day was established in 1970. The discussion about global warming has heated up since then and our energy use continues to increase.

Ashley events: Legion BBQ Chicken April 5 and the Kids’ Fishing Tournament April 26.

March 2008

Storytime:
Hats off to Books Mar. 6
Green Day Mar. 13
Easter Mar. 20
It’s Spring Mar. 27
Nursery Rhymes & Fairy Tales Apr. 3

Evening Storytime will be held March 19 at 6:30. The theme is Easter.

Family Craft Night is scheduled for Thursday March 13 at 6:30. Bring the whole family for a variety of crafts and a social evening. Projects will include a woven paper basket, paper flowers, and decorated eggs. It helps us if you sign up.

Game Day during spring break is set for Thursday afternoon March 27 from 2:00 - 4:00. Bring a favorite game to share. Snacks will be provided.

Saturday games on March 1, 15, and 29 will be expanded to include board games along with chess.
No refreshments are provided.

Homeschool Book Talk will be held in April. February attendees voted 2% milk the tastiest, enjoyed oatmeal pancakes, and made and played Chinese jump rope. You can do this at home.
Summer Reading is on its way with a buzzy buggy theme. Vicky and Susan are busy with preparations - planning programs and printing materials. It takes a lot of work.
Don’t forget to VOTE. A folder full of information on candidates and issues is available.

Delaware County’s Big Read 2008 features The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is a county wide program with funding from the National Endowment for Arts in conjunction with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. There will be a kickoff event on Sunday, April 13, at the Delaware County District Library and a grand finale West Egg party on Saturday, May 10, also at the Delaware County District Library.

The Great Gatsby is available at the Wornstaff Library (25 copies) along with a vast supply of background CDs and reader’s guides. There will be various book discussion groups, including one at the Wornstaff Library. Sign up now. Two movie versions of The Great Gatsby are available.

Debra Conner, Chautauqua scholar, will bring Zelda Fitzgerald to life and discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s role in the Twenties. Debra Conner will present an after school children’s art program at the Wornstaff Library on Tuesday, April 22.

Flapper dresses and cloches you can make will be the subject of a program at the Wornstaff Library, still to be arranged.

Tax help provided by VITA filed 18 returns during their day in Ashley. Comments were very positive. Vita has hours in Delaware at 200 North Washington Street. Call 211 for an appointment.

The Buckeye Dulcimer Festival is here again with sessions starting on March 5. Friday and Saturday night concerts are at 7:00 and are open to the public. A fee is charged but it’s a chance to hear some top performers from all over the country - and to support Recreation Unlimited. The festival is organized by Ashley’s Louise Ziegler.

G & K General Store is advertising its grand opening March 15. Some hardware would be a welcome addition to downtown Ashley especially with higher gasoline prices. Check them out and be supportive. Flor Plan has moved in on the other side of Mobile Cycle Works. There’s a new craft shop in the old White Lily Ceramic shop. And we’re still looking forward to that restaurant.

Audio books aren’t a hot item and providing selections is a real problem for a small library. The most popular items have been juvenile materials that can be appreciated by a wide age range. Richard Peck’s books are a good example. Harry Potter is, too, though quite unique. We are adding CDs of the Potter stories, plus the Spiderwick Chronicles and Mary Poppins. Suggestions are appreciated.

Please excuse our snow. Has there been more than usual? Snow filled gutters dripping on walks seems to have been more of a problem, prompting several comments about architects and engineers though it’s still early to critique Buckeye Chuck or Philadelphia Phil. The Farmer’s Almanac predicted less rain and the usual amount of snow with intermittent periods of warm weather.

Pictures present - pictures past. Identify places around Delaware County in a bicentennial contest. Or just look at the display in the library and enjoy the possibilities. We all knew the R.B. Powers sign. The architectural features should encourage people to take an appreciative look at the older buildings. There’s more to see than the pink house. The library has photocopies of the pictures with an entry blank The deadline is March 20.

February 2008

StoryTime

Chinese New Year Feb. 7
Valentine’s Day Feb. 14
Brush Your Teeth Feb. 21
Leap Day Feb. 28

Evening Storytime

will be Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30. Brush Your Teeth will be the theme.

HomeSchool Book Talk is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12 at 10:30. The topic is Rise and Shine centered around getting a healthy start for the day with good food and exercise.

Craft Night is set for Thursday March 13.

Ghosthunter, James Willis, will present a program on April 17 during National Library Week, in time to psyche everyone up for an early morning Lincoln Funeral train watch later in the month.

Tax help provided by VITA for low income persons will be available from 10:00 to 5:00 on Saturday February 9 at the Wornstaff Memorial Public Library. Call 211 for an appointment and/or more information. Walk-ins will be accepted. Be sure to bring all the needed paperwork. VITA has hours in Delaware at 200 South Washington Street every Wednesday (6:00pm-8:00pm) and Saturday (9:00am-12:00noon) through April.

Persons over sixty can take advantage of AARP sponsored assistance available at the Delaware Library and the Community Library in Sunbury.

Ohio Benefit Bank a public-private initiative supported by the state of Ohio offers free online self-service income tax assistance. Persons can also check eligibility for various benefits available from the state.

A new globe graces the reading area. Times and country boundaries have changed and all that spinning was pretty hard on the previous occupant. Please enjoy and handle with care.

Jon Scieszka and Loren Long are touring the country promoting the new Trucktown series designed to encourage little guys to read. Delaware County was one of three stops they made in Ohio and it included a visit to Buckeye Valley East. Our Miss Vicky spent the day helping Fundamentals Bookstore owner Tami Furlong host the visit. BVE did a great job of welcoming these big guys with trucks to climb on and banners and blowups of their drawings. Students’ comments indicate that Jon Scieszka is a real ambassador for young people’s literature - plus being an official one.

Ohio’s primary will be March 4 and the registration deadline is Monday Feb. 4. This is your chance to vote for the presidential candidate along with a large slate of local ones - and Buckeye Valley is back on the ballot. Make your voice a vote.

Ashley Council update : Cheryl Friend and Jerry Hayes were appointed to fill John Davis’ and Aaron Scheeler’s respective terms. Next meeting is Tuesday Feb. 5 at 7:00.

Thanks to the McNews whose generous donation to the children’s department helped purchase the new Discovery Kits.

Free magazines. We’re starting the new year fresh and discarding the old. Recipes can be yours. Articles can be leisurely read and passed on. There’s raw material for reports, for decoupage and collage projects. Use your imagination. Recycle. Tell us how to improve the selection. Our magazine renewal list should be sent in soon. We try to provide a useful and interesting variety for you.

The Palace Theater in Marion has a busy February. First is the local production of The Sound of Music, then Blast!, an explosion of music and theatre, and ending with the Irish music of The Chieftains. Savor the pleasure of a live performance.

Interlibrary loan for January . We’ve sent 41 of our books to other libraries and have made 24 requests (16 already received). Totals for 2007 were 252 books sent to other libraries and 145 items received for our patrons. Those items included video recordings and books on tape. Don’t hesitate to ask if we don’t have what you want.

The Year of the Rat begins on Feb. 7 Chinese New Year. Take a look at the eclectic display of books celebrating the event. As for those gloomy days still before us, maybe the games in the display case will inspire some family fun. Maybe February 2 will be a gloomy day and Buckeye Chuck will not be secluded in his pseudo-hobbit habitat playing solitaire but fearlessly proclaiming an early spring.

Library patrons increase every year partly because we don’t automatically delete cards at some point. That makes some sense in relation to local residents but obviously pads our list with long since moved persons. We’re trying to make our list more current and pertinent. Please help us by updating your phone and address if necessary.

Intrigue, a Harlequin paperback subscription series, will start in February, replacing the Harlequin Presents series, and adding to Love Inspired, Historical, and American Romance subscriptions.

Magazine Discard

Free.
Our magazines are being discarded for the year. Use for collages, crafts, or just catching up. Ask at the desk.

Recycle your Christmas cards

Do you still have your old Christmas cards? I am looking for just the fronts of your cards. If you would like to get rid of them please bring them into the library, and leave them for Susan.

January 2008

Storytime

Unbirthday Party Jan. 10

Warm & Cozy Foods Jan. 17

Let it Snow ! Jan. 24

Groundhogs & Shadows Jan. 31

Chinese New Year Feb. 7
(Year of the Rat)

Evening Storytime will be

Wednesday evening

January 23 at 6:30.

Let it Snow !

Will be the theme.

Coming events:

Homeschool Booktalk Feb. 12. 10:30 a.m.

The topic will be Rise and Shine.

Taxes: We have begun to receive tax forms which will be on the rack inside the front door. These forms are provided by the IRS and are free. Additional forms can be downloaded from the irs.gov website. We have a list of forms affected by the recent changes in the Alternative Minimum Tax. The library charges ten cents a page for downloaded forms and any other copies. 1099s and W2s for employers are available at the desk.

VITA assists persons with low income in filing their forms electronically. The Delaware County Bank will provide a savings account (if necessary) to enable electronic transfer of funds. This is the fastest way to get your refund and will ensure that all who are qualified will get earned income credit. VITA preparers will be at the Wornstaff Library on Saturday Feb. 9 from 10:00 to 5:00. This is a free service. Registration is helpful. Call 2-1-1. Please bring all your information with you.

A Delaware VITA site will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays. AARP help for seniors is available at the Delaware County District Library and The Sunbury Community Library.
Comments can be made on - and about - our web site. The December newsletter thanked Lauren Shirk for posting announcements of village meetings. We were reminded by a council member that the village news letter posts notices of all meetings and lists them in the regularly published newsletter. Liz writes the library newsletter. Susan set up the website, and maintains and posts items to it.

Statistics for the year won’t be available until next month but monthly comparisons indicate some general trends. One - all the surveys are correct - people read less than they did last year, ten years or twenty years ago. Our video/DVD circulation has decreased for the first time in years. Not even the demise of Ashley’s video store has changed that. People coming in and out of the library has remained pretty constant but a higher percentage is juvenile traffic - and Internet use has essentially doubled. I sense a relationship. Watch for more specific figure. Do your own analysis.

Magazines are discarded in January. Most of the previous year’s issues are not kept. The use is limited; we don’t have space; and specific articles are usually available online. These magazines are given away free. If you are interested in back issues of a particular magazine please ask.

Discovery Packs provide books and activities for preschoolers. Three new additions are Fire Engines, Getting Ready to Read and Fractions.

Thank yous are also appropriate at the end of the year. It’s possible to list all the staff and the library board members, and volunteers but more problematic in relation to patrons. It takes them all to make a library - especially people using the library. Just having the resources sitting on the shelf isn’t helpful. The whole purpose of the library is to be an active part of the community. Thanks for all the goodies and cards and donations and special thanks for all the daily interactions. We need you. We appreciate you.

Interlibrary loan is one anticipated statistic . It’s always been possible to get books from other libraries and we’ve tried to make people aware of that. Thanks should also go to all those libraries from whom we’ve borrowed books. Starting in July we have been able to return that favor by loaning to other libraries. And even though our patrons can’t request books from other libraries by themselves they seem more willing to ask. MORE isn’t always better but this may be one case where it is and we’re looking forward to even more MORE next year.

Happy New Year to all. The library has lots of aids for those New Year’s resolutions : dieting, not smoking, breaking bad habits, learning how to play the guitar, keeping up on the news and the political candidates, watching the 100 best movies. We’d also accept suggestions for our improvement.

Chinese New Year February 7. The Year of the Rat.

The Best of 2007 is a popular end of the year topic, well represented in collections of poetry, science writing, political writing and cartoons, an the list keeps growing. The library has the ones specifically listed. Individual selections are relatively short, and the authors vary as do their styles and opinions.