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.