December 2009

Story time
Polar Express & Trains Dec. 3
Reindeer Dec. 10
Christmas Dec. 17

NO STORYTIME Dec. 24
Dec. 31
Unbirthday Party Jan. 7

Home School Book Talk on Monday Dec. 14 at 10:30 will be a homemade Holiday Workshop with a focus on the Great Depression.

Game & Lego Day is scheduled for Monday Dec. 28 from 1:00-3:00. Bring a friend for games, food and fun. All ages are invited to attend.

The Bookmark Society will meet Thursday evening December 17. This month’s selection, Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon, celebrates the holiday season. All book lovers are welcome. Copies will be available at the library.

Library holiday hours : The library will close at 5:00 on December 24 and will be closed December 25 and 26. The library will close at 5:00 on December 31 and be closed January 1, 2010.

Special Thanks to everyone who has donated story time supplies, money, books, DVDs, magazine subscriptions, time, used ink cartridges, and sympathy. I think that covers most of the specifics though it doesn’t begin to cover the many individuals who have contributed to the concept of a public library which enables the whole community to share resources. The story time wish list and the magazines that will not be renewed are listed on www.wornstafflibrary.blogspot.com.

Bob Ziegler has resigned from the Wornstaff Library Board of Trustees due to illness. We thank Mr. Ziegler for his willingness to serve on the board and hope for his improvement.

Persons interested in serving on the Library Board of Trustees should contact the library (740-747-2085) or send a brief statement of interest and qualifications to Wornstaff Library, Box 358, Ashley, Ohio 43003. Applicants must live in either Ashley village or Oxford Township. Regular meetings are held once a month at 7:30 pm on the second Monday. Occasional special meetings are held. Board members establish general library policy and advise and make judgments on subjects ranging from personnel and public relations to financial and legal matters. Members should represent the community and have experience or knowledge applicable to their role. Current board members are Shirley Thurston, George Patterson, Lisa Kimble, and Michael Wion. For additional information contact any of the board members or the library. The next board meeting is Dec. 14, 2009.

The Friends of the Library met Nov. 19 and discussed requirements for incorporating as a non-profit organization. If the library board decides to put a levy on the ballot the friends organization would be very helpful in campaigning. This November the Sunbury Community Library levy did pass but Chesterville’s Selover Library levy failed.

Ohio voters approved 30 out of 38 library levies.

Missing Twilight series books have been replaced by our neighbor. Both books and tapes are shelved at the desk due to the high rate of theft. Can there be too much emphasis on how distressing it is to have books that should be accessible to everyone stolen by thoughtless individuals??

Christmas books have been retrieved from the basement for the holiday season. Craft and recipe books have been gradually making their way upstairs in response to requests as making gifts requires some extra lead time. Holiday movies and books on the regular shelves have identifying stickers and their very own section in the children’s department. Relax with favorite stories and share them with the next generation.

Grants offer some help in relation to the current budget problems. Thanks especially to Susan Bussard, Linda Thomas our fiscal officer, and Vicky Collins who have contributed to applications to The Delaware Community Fund, We the People Bookshelf, and Consolidated Electric’s People Fund. These grants would enable us to provide more resources for the library, to update reference type materials, and to maintain children’s programming. Current funding estimates for 2010 are $114,000 which would enable the library to maintain the current five day week / 47 hour week schedule with the present 30% staff cut. There would be no money for materials or programming and any repairs or maintenance would require the expenditure of reserves. Neither actual plans for 2010 expenditures nor a decision about placing a levy on the ballot have been determined.

The Wornstaff Library has received a five star rating from the Library Journal for the second year in a row. This year’s rating is based on 2007 statistics and ranks libraries according to per capita circulation, program attendance, and Internet use. We are quite pleased to receive this rating and feel that it is indicative of the valuable service we provide, not just to our service area, but to the surrounding community. Director Elizabeth Barker was interviewed and briefly quoted in the article. This rating is also dependent upon our patrons who encourage us to care about them. Without YOU our work would be pointless. Many thanks and Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us.

November 2009

Story Time 10:00 a.m. Thursdays

Bread & Butter Nov.5
Owls Nov. 12
Thanksgiving Nov. 19
CLOSED Nov. 26
Polar Express & Trains Dec. 5

The school Halloween Parade. Thanks to the Walter Heine memorial donation we were able to pass out the usual bookmarks and suckers.

The library will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving 101 guides you through the classic holiday menu and provides a tasty selection of variations and possible new traditions. It’s not too early to be perusing the cookbook shelf for gifts and plain old comfort food. Be inspired by Julie and Julia. Warm up the kitchen on the coming winter evenings - you could have your entertainment and eat it too. Your whole family will benefit.

The Buckeye Book Fair is Nov. 7 in Wooster. This yearly event features one hundred or so authors with Ohio connections. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk with a variety of authors and illustrators and to purchase autographed and discounted books - not to mention a scenic trip to the land of the Pine Tree Barn and Lehman’s Hardware. Admission is free. Check http://www.buckeyebookfair.com/ for authors and prices.

Veterans’ Day will be recognized on Monday Nov. 9. It’s a holiday for some. Please take time to recognize those who have served or are currently in the armed forces at home and abroad.
Scarecrow wannabees. Sheri Smith and the Conti family were winners Contest entries and workshop attendance were slim. What happened? It seemed like such a hit last year. The fishing tournament has had much better success.

No library funds for materials.
The good news: Vicky Collins ( our children’s librarian) attended the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers convention in Cleveland and brought back $675 (retail value) of preview books for the library. We have received a variety of donations of DVDs and books and have added 77 items with a retail value of approximately $2000. Individuals have donated The Help and The Lost Symbol, an assortment of fiction came from the Delaware County District Library pre-booksale, and many have contributed from their home libraries. The BVEE PTO voted to donate their movie night DVDs to the library. During September patrons donated $440 for the purchase of materials.

The bad news: Materials (60 items) that are overdue between Jan. 1, 2009 and June 30 total over $1000. 31 patrons are responsible for these materials. Our copy of Breaking Dawn is missing, as is a duplicate copy of another in that series.

The philosophical aspects: Those who have donated items have generously shared their purchases with the community. Those who borrow and don’t return, or steal items are taking away from everyone else. It’s distressing to be unable to purchase new materials. It is doubly distressing to look at the loss of items that were previously purchased. One discussion brought out the idea of each person donating a book for all to use. That’s the basic idea behind a public library - usually accomplished through taxes. Would there be many duplicates or would it be an eclectic collection???

Treasures from the past: Westerns, mysteries, inspirational fiction, and best sellers from years gone by are shelved in the basement. Demand is low and space is precious but it ‘s seemed a shame to discard all those books. They deserve a second look during this new book drought. Look for Emilie Loring and Grace Livingstone Hill in the inspirational fiction, mysteries on the new book shelf, and westerns with the paperbacks. There are plenty more downstairs.

Magazine subscriptions are being evaluated to determine which ones will be renewed next year. The current prospects for 2010 are even worse than this year. The estimate is $114,000 which s 8% less than what was received in 2009. We had hoped to resume regular hours in 2010 and to pick up some staff hours but that probably will not happen. Money for materials was to be halved and those cuts may be more extensive. Money donated by the Fish and Game Association will be used for Field and Stream, North American Whitetail, and Ohio Game and Fish. Popular Mechanics and National Geographic will be renewed by an individual. Lightly used magazines can be donated.

October 2009

Story time : (10:00 am on Thursdays)
Dinosaurs Oct. 1
Fire Safety Oct. 8
Pizza, Pasta, Popcorn Oct. 15
Bats Oct. 22
Halloween Oct. 29
Bread & Butter Nov. 5

Homeschool Book Talk will be held in early December and will be a holiday workshop. Reduced staff time will limit this program, but materials have already been assembled for this popular workshop and the library is pleased to offer it.

The Bookmark Society will meet on October 22, 6:30 - 7:30 at the library. The reading selected is The Glass Castle : a Memoir by Jeanette Walls. All readers and book lovers are welcome.

Scarecrow Workshop will be held October 10 from 2:00 - 4:00 at 201 South Street (same location as last year). Bring appropriate (your choice!) child or adult scarecrow clothing. Stuffing and posts and help will be available. Register for the Ashley Scarecrow Contest at the library or Ashley village office. Any handmade scarecrow can be entered in the contest; you do not have to participate in the workshop to be eligible. Judging will be done October 22.

Donations for the purchase of books and movies have totaled over $350. We are extremely appreciative of our patron support and will order in early October. We have also received several DVDs and books from patrons which have already been added to the collection. We especially want to thank the generous donation in memory of Rick (Walter) Heine, a long term board member. Participating in the school Halloween Parade is a small but much desired aspect. The Heines also maintain the tree line on the east side of the library.

A Friends of the Library is being organized by Haley Leonard and others who are trying to help the library. This group could raise money for materials, help look for grants, provide some additional programming, and even help campaign for a levy if that seems to be the best approach. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Friends, have ideas for projects, or would be willing to contribute money and/or skills in any way, please call (7040-747-2085) or sign up at the library.

The decrease in library funding (30%) has resulted in cuts in both library hours (closed Wednesdays) and staff time (30%). No materials will be purchased with library funds through the rest of 2009 and the materials budget for 2010 will be cut in half . This means that the library has much less time and fewer resources to use for services including programming.

Neighborhood Health Center comes to East Elementary the second Monday of every other month from 2 - 4 pm in the music portable. Services include blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. Flu shots can be scheduled by calling 740-203-2040 in advance. This is a partnership between the school and the Delaware County Health District. The next clinic is Nov. 9. The school also provides a food pantry which is open Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 and Thursdays 1:30-3:30.

Preservation Parks program will be rescheduled .

Book Donations : The Delaware County District Library invited both Ashley and Sunbury to look through books slated for their upcoming book sale. Three boxes of books were selected including many recent large print novels and some different authors. The Sunbury Community Library also shared a children’s books donation.

Magazine subscriptions will be reduced by one half for 2010.. We will be evaluating circulation patterns and making decisions about what subscriptions to continue. If you are interested in donating your personal lightly used magazine copy or in paying for a subscription please let us know.

Reader’s Advisory : Our “new” book shelf will try to feature “new to us” donations and “new to you” titles that may have been lurking unnoticed on the shelves. Authors to try or revisit include Janice Holt Giles and Earl Hamner for early 19th century family stories, Dudley Pope for seafaring action, Judith Michael for high stakes romance, and Dominick Dunne and Thornton Wilder for drama. Please alert us to your own discoveries during this time. It’s a good opportunity to promote old favorites. Other patrons will appreciate your help.

Meet the Candidates is scheduled for Thursday October 15 from 7:00-9:00 at JVS North. This event sponsored by The League of Women Voters, Farm Bureau and others will feature candidates for the Buckeye Valley school board and information on the state issues. Be informed.
Library levies for November across the state total 37 and include The Community Library of Sunbury and Selover Library in Chesterville. The Delaware County District Library barely passed one last spring to maintain and expand their services. It’s sad to see hard won state support deteriorate (perhaps never to return) but with few alternatives available we wish them well… and may join them in the spring.

HEAP applications can be picked up at the library. A Community Action representative is here once a month. Appointments are available.

Youth Catfish Tournament for all youth under age 12 is set for Saturday October 10 from 5:00-8:00 at the Newman Park Reservoir. Bring your own fishing poles and bait. Adult supervision is required. Children can register on-site.

Read Beyond Reality is the theme for Teen Read Week, October 18-24. This recognizes the current popularity of the Twilight series and hearkens back to classics such as Lois Lowry’s The Giver and generally encourages reading to stretch one’s imagination which is good advice not just for teens.

September 2009

Story time
Friends Sept. 3
Grandparents & Grandfriends Sept. 10
Bee My Honey Sept. 17
Fall, Leaves & Apples Sept. 24
Dinosaurs Oct. 1

Storytime programs are designed for all preschoolers and feature stories, finger plays, craft activities, and (usually) snack. Programs last about forty-five minutes. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children and there is time for socializing and playing - and for checking out books and movies- afterwards. No registration is required. Programs start at 10:00 and are located in the basement meeting room accessible from the northeast ramp.

The Summer Letterbox Adventure hosted by Delaware County’s Preservation Parks introduced children to nature. Five children from the Ashley area were among the 67 who visited all seven local parks and were eligible for a drawing. A.J. Shilt was a prize winner.

Preservation Parks will present a Family Night program on Tuesday, September 15th at 6:30. The topic will be announced but is sure to be of interest to all family members. Even though school has started and evening daylight hours are shorter September and October are wonderful times to explore the outdoors. Having an appreciation for local wildlife and knowing what to look make the experience that much more enjoyable.

The Delaware County Fair is September 19-26. It’s the 90th anniversary and sure to be special. Don’t forget the All Horse Parade on Sept. 13.

The Morrow County Fair is Aug. 31 - Sept 7.

Library Austerity Measures
(in effect Sept. 6 - Dec. 31 2009)
Changes in hours : closed Wednesdays
Staff hours : Reduced by 30%.
Purchases : No library materials will be purchased.
Copies will be 15 cents.

These strict measures will be in effect until 2010 when we plan to resume regular hours operating with a 20% staff time cut and begin 2010 purchasing with a 50% materials budget cut.
You can help. Donations for (and of) book and video purchases will be accepted and used. A request to purchase list will be kept. Our magazine subscriptions are paid through July but the list is due by February. Gift subscriptions can be added to our current subscription or money can be donated for a specific magazine. Storytime and summer reading supplies and prizes and general supplies will also be helpful.

Your suggestions and donations will help us maintain library service for the community.

The library has tried to be conservative throughout this year but has not made any significant cuts. The mid-August statement of total library funds for the year of $125,000 (2008 library expenditures were $172, 577) was the proverbial wake-up call. The library board in consultation with the staff and fiscal officer established the above economy measures.

Banned Books Week is Sept. 26 - Oct. 3. Celebrate by reading whatever you want to read. Take a look at the variety of books that have sparked controversy over the years. BannedBooksWeek.org includes a map of where challenges have occurred.

Copy prices will be raised starting Sept. 2. Most library fees essentially cover costs for what might be considered “extra” services. Our printing charges have been the same for years and years partially because they did cover our costs. Our recent scrutiny of expenditures (and recent increases in copier maintenance charges) has revealed that this is no longer the case. Standard 8 ½ x 11 copies will be raised to 15 cents per page. Double sided 8 1/2 x 11 and 8 ½ x 14 copies will be 20 cents. We will charge 30 cents per page for 11 x 17 copies.

What can I read ? All Ohio libraries are affected by this cut in funding. One service that has been maintained is Interlibrary Loan. It doesn’t seem fair, however, to not purchase new books and expect another library to loan their copy to our patrons rather than to their own. But we can all share resources and YOU can help. Now is a good time to tout those old or less publicized favorites. Have you read everything in the library? I don’t think so. That’s especially true if you are under fifty. Not too many years ago people were standing in line to read books that are unknown to you. We’ll be trying to publicize good books available right now in the Wornstaff Library. We hope you will help in this effort. Get out those lists of books you intended to read. Write a good review of one we do own.

Why close all day Wednesday? Closing one whole day maintains consistent hours the rest of the week, offers better building maintenance savings, and makes staff scheduling easier. Tuesday is actually our slowest day but it’s an interlibrary loan delivery day. Monday seems to be pretty busy with faxes and copying. Thursday is story time. Friday seems to cover some local library gaps especially with the Cardington Library now closing Thursday evening and not opening until Monday. What are students going to do for computer and Internet access? Besides, we hope to resume full time hours in four months and this provides the least disruption. Thank you, thank you all for your tolerance and cooperation.

August 2009

Storytime resumes Thursday Sept. 3.
Preschool story time will be back at 10:00, the first Thursday in September and will continue weekly. These programs are geared for all younger children. Finger plays and reading aloud plus theme related craft activities and (usually) a snack. Parents are welcome to stay with their children. No registration is required. Programs last about 45 minutes with time afterwards for checking out library materials and socializing for both children and parents.

Read with Me, the library’s preschool summer reading program had 52 children enrolled. Children kept track of hours of reading to them and received MacDonald coupons for both child and reader upon the completion of 8 hours of reading. The program was very popular and seemed to achieve its goal of encouraging reading to young children. Parents did comment that it was difficult to keep track of the time so books read will be used next year. Summer story time programs had a total attendance of 152.

Chip Richter, songwriter and musician, entertained 83 children and forty some adults for the closing program of Summer Reading. 123 children had enrolled in the program and 61 completed ten hours of reading which earned them a prize ticket for the drawing which concluded the program. All 1357 hours of reading are chronographed in pointillism on our paint by number poster of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jette by George Seraut. First through sixth graders enrolled in the summer reading programs totaled 123 and total program attendance was 295.

Forty teens signed up (bribed with a candy bar) and 17 of them read at least 5 hours with a total of over 555 hours. Five teens braved a dark and stormy night to attend Teen Night and deemed it well worthwhile.

Fifteen adults turned in 69 reviews. Cindy Shamp again topped the list with the most books read. Three men participated this year, one with a very negative review of a requested book. (Don‘t believe all the publisher’s hype.) . Approximately 1000 fiction and non-fiction adult books were checked out during that time period so participation is limited. Those reviews are appreciated . Maybe we should expand the candy bar offers.

Donations of prizes, supplies, and volunteer help all contribute toward our summer programs. This year the help has been especially needed and we are especially grateful.

Encyclopedias for sale. Make a bid on the Academic American (1995) or The New Book of Knowledge 1993). These are full sets and have not circulated. Bids can be made until Sept. 1.
Kids Discover and Cobblestone magazines have been moved to the juvenile reference shelf. History and a variety of science related topics are covered in individual copies - suitable for both school reports and general reading. This resource should now be more visible and accessible.
School supply lists for BVEE are available online and we have printed copies at the desk. It’s almost time to replace the puppet theater in the children’s room with the school bus.

The Bookmark Society will meet on August 27 at 6:30 at the library. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, a novel about Frank Lloyd Wright, is the book for discussion. Copies are available. Anyone who likes to read is encouraged to attend.

Library supporters who contacted state legislators and officials were also especially needed. We were amazed at and appreciative of the patrons who responded. The response across the state was overwhelming - an often overused term but very descriptive in this case. In the budget’s final version library funding was cut by an additional 11% - not the originally proposed 30%. This was accomplished by reducing the library funding from 2.22% of the general revenue to 1.97%. This is called a temporary measure and does mean that as the economy improves, library funds should increase - just not as much. Keep in mind that funding was “temporarily” reduced in 2002 and then frozen until this past year when reduced tax collection meant that libraries experienced a 20% cut in funding. As a more explicit example The Wornstaff Library received $170,368 in 2001; basically $156,000 years 2002-2008, and a projected $134,770 for 2009 (half of $142,614 for Jan. - June 2009, and half of $126,926 for July - December 2009). The Wornstaff Library has been supplementing state funds with reserves since 2004 and it is time to make some big cuts in expenditures. The library‘s biggest expense is staff. Significant reduction will probably be made in staff time, the purchase of new books and movies, and some programming. Copier costs have risen and our charge to patrons no longer covers them. Copies will probably be increased to 15 cents. We hope to maintain hours and general service.

How the library works addendum to above. The library uses taxpayer money to purchase materials that can be used by everyone. Materials that are not returned are a loss to everyone. Thirty-four patrons have 74 items (14 DVDs, 60 books) due between Nov. 2008 and April 2009 worth over $1000. Not returning library materials steals from everyone.

The Library Board meets on August 10 at 7:30. All meetings are open to the public. Comments and suggestions on how best to cope with this decreased funding would be welcome. It’s your library, here to provide services to the community.

June 2009

It’s Summer Reading Time !
Be Creative @ Your Library

Mondays @ 11:00
June 15 - July 27
1st -6th grades

Sign-up & Be Creative Activities June 15
Boogie Woogie Worm Race June 22
(bring your own worm)
Create Cartoons June 29
(with Dan Collins)
All the World’s a Stage July 6
Art Smart July 13
I’ve Got Rhythm July 20
Closing Program July 27
(come as your favorite color)
Chip Richter
music for kids & families

Be Creative at Summer Storytime
Storytime : Thursdays @ 10:00 June 18 - July 23
No Storytime June 4 & 11
Join us as we dance, paint, act, play, and read.
Preschool through kindergarten.

Read to your child to earn incentives for both of you - and to share a priceless experience.

Teens get a prize for signing up and can earn tickets for weekly drawings by reading. Your anonymous book reviews are eagerly anticipated. Teen Night is scheduled for July 22 at 6:30.
Adults read and rate books to enter an end of the program drawing. Your reviews are appreciated by other readers and the library’s book selectors.

The Clover Buds 4-H club refurbished our planters and helped with summer reading preparations. Thank you, thank you

Summer reading supplies still needed include 6” paper plates, white paper lunch sacks, wooden paint sticks, clean foam meat trays, inexpensive small watercolor brushes, and oatmeal boxes or tall deli containers - plus color newspaper comic pages, and soup can labels (for an art project connected with a food drive). Fereshteh Hale donated a new three hole punch to the library.
Thanks to everyone who has responded to our requests for supplies and prizes.

Andy Warhol’s pop art has inspired us to collect soup for the Buckeye Valley Food Pantry. The pantry is located in the white building by the alley west of BV East Elementary. Hours are Tuesday 9:3- 11:30. Thursday 1:30 - 3:30. Look for the red donation box near the copier.

Be Creative and help decorate the library. After June 15 take home a WordArt sign to decorate. Return it and we will hang it in the library.

The Bookmark Society, our new book club, will meet on June 25 at 6:30. The group is reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Copies will be available for checkout at the library for interested persons. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Heritage, the Appalachian music group who performed at our Picturing America program, will be playing at Art in the Park at 1:30 on June 14. Arts and crafts and music at Gallant Woods, 2151 Buttermilk Road - a Preservation Parks event.

Computer for sale, one PowerSpec with XP home edition operating system, monitor and keyboard. Make an offer.

Farmer’s Market time is here. The Delaware fairgrounds market will accept WIC coupons from both Delaware and Morrow County. Last year vouchers for seniors were also available. Don’t miss the chance to purchase fresh, locally grown produce throughout the summer season - or flowers in Ashley. Main Street is the place to look.

Local June activities include Friday night programs at Perkins Observatory, Rolling Acres Country Craft Show June 13 & 14, Summer Festival at the Delaware fairgrounds June 19, Youth Fishing Derby at Delaware State Park June 20, and Family Night at the Zoo June 24. Garden tours are available at Inniswood near Westerville, Whetstone Park of Roses in Columbus, and Kingwood Center at Mansfield - and they are always new - changing with the season.

Five things we learned from books this month: how to pronounce ergot (ur’-get) , the rate to seed wheat (3 pounds per 1000 sqft.), the difference between a rock and a stone (a rock is a stone that is too heavy to lift), how to play cribbage (see Hoyle’s), and information about the “giant lily of the valley” bulb leucojum.

Public access computers can be reserved. School will soon be out which may eliminate those generally open computer hours during the day. Don’t be frustrated by having to wait; plan ahead. Computers can be reserved by calling the library (747-2085) and requesting a specific time. Computer use will continue to be limited to twenty minutes, one time per day. Allowances are made for homework and job applications.

Summertime for students beyond the summer reading program - and the library computers - could mean the opportunity to read all those books there’s been no time for because class work comes first. You could read all the Harry Potter books before the new movie arrives. Or try The Mysterious Benedict Society, indulge in the Who was biography series, browse the graphic novel section. Then there is the great outside. Go Wild ranks up there with The Dangerous Book for Boys or the Daring Books for Girls. All three have lots of fun, simple, and entertaining crafts and activities, over 101 things kids should do before they have to pretend they are too old to enjoy them.

May 2009

Storytime
Mother’s Day May 7
What’s New for Children’s
Book Week May 14
Zoo May 21
Let’s Go Camping May 28
No Storytime June 4,11

Storytime will resume June 18 after a two week break Summer programs will relate to the summer reading theme, Be Creative @ Your Library.

Family Night is scheduled for May 19. The Zoo is the topic.

Programs are similar to Storytime with reading, finger plays, crafts, and, usually, a snack.

Summer Reading opening program and sign-up is Monday, June 15 at 11:00. Be Creative @ Your Library is the summer reading focus and the opening program will provide plenty of creative opportunities - plus sign-up for both the Wornstaff Library summer reading and for a Preservation parks letter boxing adventure. (Children can sign up for either program at the library any time after the opening program.) Weekly programs will continue through July 27.
Thanks to Clyde C. Keltner Post 518 for replacing the library’s American flat. Our tattered old flag was given to the Boy Scouts for proper disposal. Scou6ts regularly meetat6 the library and anyone having a worn flag can drop it off at the Wornstaff Library and we will pass it on to the Scouts.

Flowers for the library. After many years of filling the two library planters the Oxford Garden Club has retired. We would appreciate having someone donate plants and the planting. Care through the summer is provided by the library staff.

Weather station equipment will be available for loan from the library thinks to a generous donation from Ruth and Wendell McNew. A rain gauge that provides a nine day history plus temperatures, an anemometer, a barometer, and a humidity register are on the list. Brain Quest pack and flash cards have also been added. Take a look at Discovery Packs and Home Leaning Media for car trips and summer projects.

The Bookmark Society will a social organizational meeting on Thursday May 21 at 6:30. Bring your suggestions for nurturing an active group of friends sharing their love of reading. Call Marsha for comments or more info - 419-560-2331.

Special election: The library is a polling place. Ashley Village has a 1 mill Parks and Recreation levy on the ballot. This is a 5 year renewal and will provide funds for the swimming pool.

Donations of craft supplies and new items for prizes for children would be welcome. Craft supplies needed are 6” and 9” paper plates both inexpensive white and sturdier colored ones, wooden paint sticks, clean foam meat trays, colored Duct tape, inexpensive small watercolor brushes, and oatmeal boxes or tall deli containers for drums.

Used ink cartridges can be recycled and exchanged for office supply credits by the library. Donations of cartridges that might otherwise be discarded would help reduce our expenses. 200 cartridges would almost pay for our office supplies.

Miniature houses are currently in the diplay case. Cindy Farbrother created several and some are Cat’s Meow replicas. Books on similar creations, doll furniture, and miiature gardens are also featured. Think of the possibilities

Local activities are promoted and featured on the bulletin board, in the newsletter, and on our web site, www.wornstafflibrary.blogspot.com. Fliers for the Delaware area and Preservation Parks programs are available. Take advantage of these resources to become better acquainted with the area in which you live. Be a recreational local lore.

National Children’s Book Week is celebrated may 10 - 16. Take advantage of this event by taking a look at some current children’s books. Librarians and parents shouldn’t be the only adults who get to enjoy those treasures created for the younger set. Take a look at Swing or Gallop - and wonder how do they do that! Try Smelly Locker’s silly dilly school songs set to familiar tunes. What lady of any age could resist Fancy Nancy? Or who of any whatever not respond to Naked Mole Gets Dressed or Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek? But the best celebration is shared - reading to a child.

Poetry Month was in April, but deserves to be celebrated all year round. This year’s focus was on reciting poetry and the joys of memorizing the same - a helpful bulwark against getting stuck in traffic or during power outages. Essential Pleasures: a New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud is available to encourage you in this pursuit and includes a CD which cam make the reading aloud extremely simple - and double your pleasure.

Ohioana Book Festival features over 70 nationally recognized Ohio authors and will include readings, discussions, a book fair, entertainment and children’s programming. It’s May 9 at The State Library, 274 East First Avenue, Columbus. Ohioana Book Award finalist for 2009 have been announced.

April 2009

Story time :
Let’s Be Silly Apr. 2
Easter Apr. 9
Construction Zone Apr. 16
Farm Fun Apr. 23
Everything Grows Apr. 30
Family Night on Tuesday evening , April 21 at 6:30,

is an opportunity for the whole family to share stories and activities.

Everything Grows is the topic and the focus is on gardening.

GAME DAY for all April 1 2:00 - 4:00

Home School Book Talk is scheduled for Tuesday morning, April 14 at 10:30. The topic is Reptiles. Programs are geared for first through sixth grade and all home schoolers are welcome.

Picturing America Open House : The program will be held Tuesday evening, April 28, at 6:30. Please join us for an evening of music and history.

Heritage, a local musical group, will provide a historical program to celebrate the laminated pictures the library has available. Several of the pictures are hung in the back room and various other spots in the library. The rest will be on display in the meeting room. The double sided posters celebrate American history through paintings and photographs and are 3 feet by 4 feet. The posters and supplemental materials are part of the library’s permanent collection and will be on display and available for educational loan. The program will feature songs commemorating some local historical events, and will complement the various aspects of the history of our country represented in the posters. Heritage will be performing the program for the Delaware Historical Society the following Sunday.

Donations of craft supplies and new items that could be used for prizes for children who participate in the summer reading program would be welcome. Craft supplies needed are 6” and 9” paper plates both inexpensive white and sturdier colored ones, wooden paint sticks, clean foam meat trays, colored Duct tape, inexpensive small watercolor brushes, and oatmeal boxes or tall deli containers for drums.

The Bookmark Society : Join other book lovers to discuss an old or new read, recommend books you have enjoyed and couldn’t put down, share a poem or short story you’ve written. Marsha Carroll is interested in a social gathering of readers of any age in a book club tailored to whatever members want it to be. Sign up for contact and best times. An open meeting will be scheduled in May - with refreshments.

Free videos, DVDs, books, magazines, Discovery Packs, home school and/or science activity materials, plus Internet access (including wireless) are available at your local public library. Send and receive faxes, make copies, browse our ten cent continuous book sale. Your public library provides many ways to save money including books on personal finance, budgeting, home repair, and more. Sharing resources within the community benefits everyone.

New DVDs are in process. Well, some are new. Out of close to seventy, eight are replacements for long overdue popular materials, six are duplicates of videos, and six others are hunting and fishing DVDs purchased with money donated by the Delaware Fish and Game Association. Plus, in relation to the “we’re not a video store” refrain, our purchases strive to build a collection that will be appreciated over time - as a mini-series on Shakespeare, the Apostles Collection, Anita Renfroe, Jeff Dunham and A Woman of Substance. On the “popular” list are Twilight, Fireproof, Slumdog Millionaire, Nights in Rodanthe, Barbie presents Thumbelina - and more. We do take reserves and it‘s all free.

New DVDs are on the video shelves beside the family restroom. To provide more room on the DVD twirly rack, we’ve weeded videos and some will be for sale at the usual bargain price of ten cents each. Other low circulating ones may be relocated.

Stimulating Reading by Katha Pollitt is a column that recently addressed some of the ups and downs of current library use and funding. Here are some quotes from the article. “Library use is up - as belts tighten, people who might have bought a book in flusher times suddenly remember this fantastic free civic resource. Then, too, one thing unemployed people have is time and libraries are free, welcoming and comforting spaces ; you don’t feel judged or like you should be buying something. And these days, libraries offer more than books. Did you know that according to the American Library Association, 73 percent of libraries provide the only free Internet access in their communities? In rural areas it’s 83 percent. For many out-of-work people looking for jobs, for low-income students who don’t have the Internet at home, the library provides the only access to information technology they can afford. …School libraries are shrinking, too - sometimes there’s no money for books, sometimes there’s no money for staff and sometimes overcrowded enrollments eat up the space itself… How about some projects that are reader ready?”

March 2009

Story time
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss Mar. 5
Green Day Mar. 12
Good Night Sleep Tight Mar. 19
It’s Spring Mar. 26
Let’s Be Silly Apr. 2

Family Night will be held Tuesday, March 17. That’s St. Patrick’s Day and Irish stories, songs, and activities will be featured. It’s not just for preschoolers. Bring the family for an evening of reading and fun.

Game Day will be April 1, 2:00 - 4:00 midway through Buckeye Valley’s spring break. Come to the library for games and snacks. The program is open to all students.

In like a lion -out like a lamb is what we’re hoping for in March. Lions from Jane’s collection are already settled in the display case.

Softball trophies recognizing Alvin Master’s achievements at a single tournament are on display in the reading area. These trophies complement an assortment from Ashley High School that the library acquired by way of Stuart Powers and Gloria Schultz. Ashley teams have had numerous successes through the years and we are pleased to provide a little community sports background. Karate champion Alex Ringler and sharp shooter Shane Barnhart are on the noted Ashley area residents list.

Get ready for SPRING. March 20th is the official vernal equinox date. Celebrate by planting some seeds, or volunteering for some cleanup at the village Newman Park by the reservoir.

Free income tax preparation is available for those who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or for those over 60 through AARP and the Council for Older Adults. Call 211 for EITC appointments at the Woodward Family Resource Center in Delaware or contact the Council at 363-6677 for appointments at the Delaware County District Library (Mondays 9 - 3) or the Sunbury Community Library (Tuesdays 11 - 3). Tax forms are still available at the library or can be downloaded from http://www.irs.gov/.

The Wornstaff Library received a 5 star listing. in Library Journal. Ratings of 2006 data are based on four per-capita service indicators: library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet computer use, but are scored in relation to other peer libraries based on operating expenses. The village of Ashley is used as our service area. Our operating expenses are funded by a portion of the state general fund. Ohio libraries generally ranked high and we are flattered to be included.

The Buckeye Dulcimer Festival runs March 11 - 15 with concerts at 7:00 on Friday and Saturday night ($10 at the door). This nationally recognized workshop organized by local dulcimer champion, Louis Ziegler, provides a fund raiser for Recreation Unlimited and entertainment for many. Last year they were all snowed in which was fun for them but we hope that doesn’t start a tradition.

Thanks to Grolier Corporation for replacing our long overdue ChemLAB Carbon book with a brand new set of this now out of print collection. (There doesn’t seem to be a similar solution for Level 3 of the Hooked on Phonics series.)

New acquisitions : a new book on terrariums, two on French cooking (We didn’t have any!), Animal Life - a gorgeous fact packed collaboration of the American Museum of Natural History and DK Publishing, and Kingfisher’s Everything You Need to Know. Adults might try Build Your Own Electric Vehicle or The Best of Make for electronic projects.

Maple sugar festivals galore - Camp Lazarus on Feb. 28 and Mar. 7; Stratford Ecological Center on March 7. Mt Gilead State Park and The Lutheran Memorial Camp are the usual Morrow County entries. Malabar Farms has two weekends starting Mar. 7 & 8. Maple sugar was produced by the Indians and continues to be a traditional celebration of spring.

Picture Perfect : the Art of Ohio Book Illustrators will be on exhibit at the Delaware Arts Castle starting Mar. 9-Apr. 18.

Summer Reading planning starts when the previous session ends. This year’s theme is Be Creative @ Your Library. Vicky Collins and Susan Bussard will attend one statewide planning session March 6. Our funding for the coming year is 8% less than the previous year.

Donations of craft supplies and new items that could be used for prizes for children who participate in the summer reading program would be welcome. New items include small toys, books, games, Legos, gift cards (for children, teens, and adults). Craft supplies are 6” and 9” paper plates both inexpensive white and sturdier colored ones, wooden paint sticks, clean foam meat trays, colored Duct tape, inexpensive small watercolor brushes, and oatmeal boxes or tall deli containers for drums. Money would also be accepted.

The Strand Theatre in Delaware along with providing a big screen experience of some recent Academy Award winning films will show eight movies in the Community Film series: You’ve Got Mail, The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Notebook, The Son, Persepolis, Water, Hero, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. The Strand will also host the Delaware Area 2009 Student Film Fest on April 30.

Gardening books and farming are highlighted in two book displays. Take advantage of these still wintery days to read and dream and plan.

February 2009

Storytme
Feed the Birds Feb. 5
Valentine’s Day Feb. 12
Pancake Day* Feb. 19
Brush Your Teeth Feb. 26
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Mar. 5

*Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent (Feb. 24, 2009). England celebrates the day by eating pancakes which use up the butter, milk, and eggs that are given up for Lent. New Orleans Mardi Gras and German Fastnacht are similar pre-Lenten carnivals.

Family Night will be inaugurated on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30. Feed the Birds is the topic. Several books and stories about birds will be featured and a bagel bird feeder will be the craft. The birds really benefit from supplemental feeding during this cold snowy weather. A feeder also provides a great setting for some nature observation.

The program is designed for a wider than preschool age range and the night has been changed. The evening program may make it more possible for working parents, especially fathers to attend. The goal remains encouraging children (and the whole family) to read and to become more familiar with library resources. Bird resources at the library include an Identiflyer with frog and bird songs, bird house and feeder plans, videos and stories about birds, and many identification sources.

Home School Book Talk - We Ohio -is on Feb. 17, at 10:30. The program will celebrate Ohio’s 206 years of statehood. Books and crafts relating to Ohio and its symbols will be featured. Programs are geared for first through sixth graders. All home schoolers are welcome.

Chinese New Year Jan. 26, 2009 the Year of the Ox.

FREE resources at your public library. The Wornstaff Library has numerous free resources which can be particularly valuable during difficult economic times. Books, movies, audio materials can be checked out and used - time and again by anyone in the community. Internet connections, both direct and wireless are also available and can be especially valuable for seeking employment and filing online applications. Study guides and basic information can improve job skills and help with certification. Why pay more? Check the library for recreational, educational and informational needs.

Library budgets (and all those “free” resources) are provided by the state of Ohio and dependent upon tax money. In 2001 the Wornstaff Library received $170,000 Funding was frozen at $156,000 from 2002 - 2007, and the estimate for 2009 is $142, 000. So, at a time when those library resources are even more valuable for local communities the money available for their support is less and the competition for tax monies increases. You can help. The most important help is just taking good care of library materials and RETURNING them on time. We also accept donations. Extra change in 2008 totaled over $1000.

The Delaware Fish & Game Club donated $400 for subject related materials. Hunter safety and hunting DVDs are on the top of our list followed by some new fishing and hunting books. Thank you very much. Suggestions are encouraged.

Caldecott and Newbery winners were announced Jan. 26, 2009. The best children’s book illustrator is Beth Krommes for The House in the Night. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman gets the juvenile writing award. Caldecott Honor illustrators include Marla Frazee for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Uri Shulevitz (who won in 1969) for How I Learned Geography and Melissa Sweet for A River of Words. Newbery Honors go to The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle, Savvy by Ingrid Law, and After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson. Typically, our holdings are slim but will be improved. What would your choices be?

Discarded magazines are now available. Take your pick for pictures, crafts, and articles - yours for the taking. Please recycle what you don’t use.

Kindy Circle Time: Sarah Etheridge is offering a program for homeschooled kindergarteners aged 4 to 6 years. There will be songs, games and art inspired by seasonal and fairytale themes every other Tuesday, 10:00 - 11:30 at Mandy Bear’s House, 201 South Street, Ashley. Call 740-747-0389 for details.

Sewer repairs: The good news is that the broken sewer line has been repaired. The bad news is that after delaying twice the repairs were done the day before the big snow storm - and all that broken up concrete needs to be replaced. The plan was that this would be done immediately after the repairs and all would be back in shape within a week. That’s not going to happen. The back stairway and access to the bookdrop will be blocked until the concrete can be poured and cured. We apologize for the inconvenience and will certainly give that consideration.

Picturing America is on display here and there. Keep looking. A celebration of the Presidents’ Day and the inauguration plus some crafts to go with the hand crafted knives in the display case were our first choice. It’s a wonderful collection.