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.

Free Tax Preparation
February 9, 2007
at the Wornstaff Memorial Public Library
Call 2-1-1 for information
Government funded program
Fliers at the Library

December 2007

Holiday Treats Dec. 6
Reindeer & Friends Dec. 13
Christmas Dec. 20
No Storytime Dec. 27-Jan. 3

Unbirthday Party Jan. 10

Evening story time will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 6:30. Come for Reindeer & Friends.

Homeschool Book Talk Holiday Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday morning, December 4, at 10:30. Crafts and recipes celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah will be featured.

Holiday Craft Night is a family affair with a selection of activities - folded paper ornament, cards, and a snowman decoration. The time is Thursday evening, Dec. 6 from 6:30 - 8:00. Come for crafts, come for the socializing. Call if you can.

Games and Crafts for Kids and Teens will be available Thursday afternoon, December 27, from 1:00 to 4:00. Enjoy a break during the long vacation.
Pop and munchies will be provided. Games to share are welcome. Stock up on books, magazines, and movies while you’re at the library.

Holidays at the library start with some decorations, magazines filled with crafts and recipes, Christmas stories and movies to keep everyone in the mood, and goodies to share. It’s been traditional for story timers to get reindeer food - and to reciprocate with supplements to our craft supplies such as paper paper plates, gluesticks, crayons and markers. There will be staff on vacation. The library will be closed Dec. 24 & 25 & Jan. 1. Dec. 31 10:00 - 5:00.

New DVDs : Popular titles include Christmas Blessing, Deck the Halls, Santa Clause 3, Disturbia, Fracture, Hairspray, Invisible, Mr. Brooks, High School Musical 2, Evan Almighty, Fantastic Four Silver Surfer, Spider Man 3, and Prestige. Children’s titles include Meet the Robinsons, Disney’s Princesses Enchanted Tales, Monster Squad, TMNT, Shrek 3, Unaccompanied Minors, I Love Big Trains, Magic School Bus Human Body, All About Construction, Nick Jr., Ratatouille, and Transformers. There’s a selection of foreign films such as Forecast for Tomorrow, God Grew Tired of Us, Raining Stones, and La Vie en Rose. You can learn how to tango, play the drums or guitar. Then there’s Okie Noodling, Ants, and the monastery visit Into Great Silence. Plus more.

Our rack is filled. So….children’s DVDs have been moved around the corner with the children’s videos. Keep in mind that this category includes many popular family films such as Shrek and Ratatouille.

Christmas books have taken their customary place on display with a mix of seasonal stories, crafts, and recipes. If you’re making presents these supplement the regular shelves which provide patterns and projects for woodworking, knitting, quilts, jewelry, and more - plus a basement hoard of craft magazines. Videos sport a Christmas label. Children’s materials have whole holiday sections for easier browsing and selection.

Reference updates include a 2008 edition of The World Book Encyclopedia (which updates our circulating copies to 2006 and 2004 editions). A fifteen volume Library of Natural Disasters ranging from Tsunamis to Ice Storms, and 15 volumes of the America the Beautiful state books. The latter are not only factually current but have a significantly revised very appealing format. It will be a couple of years before all fifty states are completed.

Santa Claus in the display case is quite in tune with the holiday season and available courtesy of a local Santa.

Where the Action Is is a monthly feature of Country Living, the rural electric co-op magazine. Marion is a hot spot this month. The Moscow Ballet presents The Nutcracker on Dec. 7 at the Palace and OSU Marion hosts the Central Ohio Symphony Strings holiday concert on Dec. 13. You’ve probably missed the peanut push (???) and the Train and Toy show on Dec. 1. There’s still the Buckeye Model Train and Railroad Show at the Lausche Center in Columbus on Dec. 13 and Marion’s Popcorn Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve.

Ashley’s holiday banners are mounted on street lights. The purple building has sold and the current hopeful rumor is that it’s going to be a restaurant. Oh frabjous joy! Can we wait? Until next summer? Should we award Air Express a medal? Let’s hope for replacements for the video store and the home medical equipment facility. What’s your big wish?

Congratulations to Ashley’s new mayor John Davis and new council members Aaron Scheeler and Elaine McFarland. Thanks to Loren Shirk who keeps Ashley residents informed of meetings. If someone would take minutes of meetings the library would be glad to post them. Or to promote a 2008 resolution about being informed and involved. It’s our town isn’t it?

The library’s holiday letter would list regrading the east lawn area, the new ramp and extra parking to the west, and additional bookshelves in the juvenile room. We’ve completed the migration to InfoCentre and joined the statewide resource sharing program MORE. Susan was one of a few from Ohio selected to attend a Gates funded program in Washington, DC. Summer reading was good. We have conscientious library board members and wonderful patrons. It’s been a great year. That’s quite enough to brag about.

November 2007

Storytime

Bread & Butter Nov. 1
I See the Moon Nov. 8
Thanksgiving Nov. 15
No Storytime Nov. 22
Bears Nov. 29
Holiday Treats Dec. 6
Evening Storytime will be Wednesday, November 14 at 6:30 and the topic will be Thanksgiving.

November events :
Election Day on Tuesday, November 6. The library is a polling place for one of the Ashley precincts. Please be considerate of parking for all - and please VOTE. Ashley will elect a mayor and two council members. This is your opportunity to be heard.

The Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster is Saturday, November 3, featuring 100 authors and illustrators who are either from Ohio or have Ohio topics. Admission is $2.00, books are discounted, author contact is free. If you’re in luck it will be a lovely fall day and you’ll enjoy other area attractions as long as you are there. Check the library after that day for books we’ve purchased there.

Children’s Book Week is Nov. 11-17. Some special recognition is well deserved but children should be read to and reading every week of the year. Use it as a license to indulge a thorough perusal of current and classic children’s books - good background for Christmas shopping perhaps.

Thanksgiving Day will find the library closed but we’ll be open regular hours the other days of that week. The library has Thanksgiving 101 and a book drop, but no turkey preparation hotline.

Mr. Etch-a-Sketch alias Tim George provided an entertaining and quite well attended (56!) program. Numerous completed drawings were on display and he demonstrated and explained his techniques. He was featured in The Washington Post the day before his appearance - a famous person you could see right here in Ashley. Tim George is originally from Mt. Gilead and was just a nice person to have here. Get his book through Fundamentals in Delaware.

Thanks to the Bussard crew for some serious cleaning and organizing in the basement room. It’s so much more pleasant and presentable. If we just hadn’t had water in the basement hallway during the last rain we might be tempted to do even more.

Holiday crafts will be featured in two December programs. Homeschool book talk is scheduled for Dec. 4 and a family craft night will be on Dec. 6.

The genealogy collection has expanded its area (literally to Marion and Knox County) thanks to a very generous donation from Gary Buechel. We’re still sorting and processing.

Tutoring can help bring up grades and get students through those mandatory standard tests. Help is available for high school students at Delaware Area Career Center south campus every Monday until 7:00. No Child Left Behind also provides free tutoring for qualifying students of all grades. Information is available at the library on our website Homework & Resource Site.

Extra ! Extra ! The library subscribes to 100 or so magazines and newspapers. Then there are extras. Some are donations from individuals. (It’s a great way to recycle magazines.) Others are samples, newsletters, and catalogs. Antique Week has been arriving regularly and includes listings for auctions and shows and numerous articles.

Displays highlight various areas of the collection and scientific studies have shown that those materials have higher circulation. It’s self serving for the library and for you as we try to feature seasonal books and topics - making them easier to find and more enticing to checkout.

A Literary Lane letterbox has been placed at the Wornstaff Library. Letterboxing is a fun family activity searching for “hidden” caches that include a book and a distinctive rubber stamp. Searchers have a personal stamp and their own book. Their book provides a record of sites they have found and our book a record of who has been here. http://www.letterboxing.org/ provides a description of letterboxing and a list of sites across the country. There are numerous local opportunities and it’s a great diversion on trips - or an excuse for one.

Most sites provide a GPS, more prominently featured in Geo-caching, a similar activity. GPS Made Easy by Lawrence Letham is a good introduction and The Complete Orienteering Manual is a look at some related activities.

Holiday shopping and sights are on the way.
Castle Arts Affair in Delaware is juried and affordable - Nov. 8 - 11.
Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park, Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo, and Christmas by Candlelight at the Marion Fairgrounds all begin in mid-November and continue through the end of the year.
And that’s a small sampling.
Columbus International Film & Video Festival showcases some of the best independent, studio and corporate films - at CCAD Nov. 7 - 11. Search our catalog to compile your own film festival. There’s now a possibility of borrowing films from other libraries.

Comments : We’d like to hear from you. If you use our website there’s an easy, anonymous way to comment on a book you’ve liked - or didn’t. You can let us know about activities in the area or make general suggestions about the library or the website.

Slate paintings by Cindy Fairbrother will be displayed during November. They could be an artistic inspiration for you - or art to just enjoy.

October 2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banned Book Week & Teen Read Week are October events.

September 2007

Storytime:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fall begins on the autumnal equinox September 23.

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

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

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

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

Storytime resumes Thursday, September 6. August is vacation time for us as well as ball players and many families, not to mention all the getting ready for school activity. Our preschool programs and staff take a break during this often overscheduled time. We’ll be looking forward to seeing older and new, younger children. The program starts at 10:00 and last about 45 minutes. Stories, finger plays, and activity, and treats are standard fare with time for playing, socializing, and exploring books.

Footprints have marched over the library walls, keeping track of all the hours read. Plus lots of teens and adults passed on their reviews and won prizes. Grades 1 - 6 had 147 registered and read 1150 hours. 43 completed 10 hours of reading. Average story time attendance was 22. Thirty-nine teens registered. 18 read 102 items. Adults read and rated books and won prizes in addition to the weekly Where in Ohio Will You Go ? drawings.

But their attention was elsewhere. This year we had 16 participants who read 84 books. Last year there were 37 participants who read 263 books. Checkouts for June & July 2007 were 1396 ANF plus 1426 AF ; for 2006 - 1511 ANF plus 1745 AF, a 13% drop in circulation. Juvenile circulation was down 21% during that same period. Picture books were about the same. Get a Clue registration was a little higher than last year; completion was a little lower though the change from books read to hours read makes comparison a problem.

Mostly it’s interesting. We were really surprised at the reduced circulation as the library has been a busy, active place this summer especially on Monday mornings and the programs have been enjoyed.

Summer Reading ended with a magical flourish on July 23. Stephen Knight’s program combined books and tricks and entranced close to 100 parents, children, and staff. Special thanks to those all too willing (perhaps excepting Miss Vicky) participants who got wet or embarrassed for the added entertainment to mere spectators. One innocent passer-by stopped to watch the show and added it to the “only in Ashley could this happen” list.

“The Crack in the Wall”, a mystery to be solved, was deemed our best ever teen program by at least one participant. Teams busily examined and compared various clues to determine who had killed the body discovered in the wall of the library.

Thanks to local business Dan’s Deli, Whipple’s, Scrib’s Pub and Grub, and Longbranch for providing coupons. Dan Collins, the Burns family, and Kathleen Layman donated expertise, time, and prizes. Extra special thanks to children’s librarian Vicky Collins and Susan Bussard for many hours of work organizing the summer programs.

Wheels to Work provides vehicle repair to individuals receiving funds from “Prevention, Retention, Contingency” a statewide program for one-time, short term assistance to low income families. Repair is limited to Morrow County residents and $500 per year per individual. Call Morrow County Job and Family services for more information. Check your local library for other services such as Homestead Exemption applications.

MORE is here. We’ve been an interlibrary loan borrower for years and are delighted that we are now able to be a lender, too. We’ve had eight requests from other libraries during the first week. This program for borrowing books from other libraries now has all the pieces together except for one. That one missing piece is YOU the borrower.

Request any material you want. That includes videos and audio books. We should be able to get it for you. It’s unfortunate that our catalog system doesn’t enable patrons to go directly to the MORE catalog and place requests. You still have to know what you want and you still have to ask. Please ask, often. Libraries work because everyone in the community is sharing resources. That community is now state wide and shares all circulating items . We’re getting proficient at sending off books to other libraries but need practice getting materials for out patrons. Bring us your requests. It would be ironic if our joining MORE turned out to be only a benefit to other libraries and not one for our patrons.

The library also has wireless access to the Internet - just provide your own laptop.

Audio books are good traveling companions both for the whole family to share and for individual listening on vacation trips or daily commutes. We have all the Harry Potter books. Most audio books have been moved to the back room of the library.

Delaware County Fair entries deadline is August 24. Booklets with entry forms are at the library.

Buckeye Valley starts August 29. Supply lists are on the website and at the library.

Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons, and Surviving Spouses
Homestead Exemption Application Form available at the desk.

Morrow County Job & Family Services
Under the Wheels to Work program one person can receive multiple repairs within a $500 limit, per year, per individual. Located on County Road 9 in Cardington.

Summer Bereavement Program for Kids
Mourning Lite & Silly Sites
"Journey" Day Camp
July 19-21, 2007
9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Children 6-12
Free of charge
Hospice of Morrow County
419-946-9822

July 2007

Get @ Clue at Your Library
Get the Scoop July 2
Fingerprint Cartoons July 9
with Dan Collins
Mammal Mysteries July 16
with Preservation Parks
Case Closed July 23

The Magic of Stephen Knight will provide the closing program for this year’s summer reading. It’s scheduled for Monday July 23 at 11:00 and all summer reading program participants, story timers, and parents are especially invited. Join us for an outdoor (we certainly hope) fun-filled finale.

Storytime will continue through July 19, on Thursday mornings at 10:00 and the program themes will be related to those for summer reading. There will be no Storytime through the latter part of July and August. Storytime will resume on Thursday morning, September 6, at 10:00.

YNK (you never know) @ Your Library continues through July 23. Teens can still sign up, and read and review books to qualify for a weekly drawing. Teen Mystery Night, on July 18 from 6:30-8:00, will provide, a little food, a little fun, and a lot of mystery. All teens are welcome.

Adults are encouraged to read and rank books to be eligible for a July 23 prize drawing. Some of the older mystery collection from the basement is on display along with current popular mysteries and some videos. It’s guaranteed “summer reading”.

Prizes for all ages are featured in the display case and include Barbie dolls, Mrs. Larue’s favorite dog Ike, book bags, T-shirts and, of course, books.

Read to date - 279 hours. Watch the footprints climb the walls. More or less fifty first through sixth graders have been filling the library on Monday mornings for a variety of activities, including the annual worm race. There’s more to come. More students throughout the day keep the computers busy. We’re glad the pool provides some alternative activity.

Carl McCurdy made the front page of the Delaware Gazette in one of their local profiles. He’s quoted as saying he has his fingers in all the pies and the article is a good reminder of all he has done and continues to contribute to the community. And just to set the record straight his book My Army Life is also available at the Wornstaff Library.

Delaware County Fair booklets with detailed descriptions of all junior fair and open class entries and entry forms are available at the desk. Thanks to Don and Sandee Long for personally picking up and delivering the booklets to the library.

Susan Bussard recently attended the American Library Association annual conference in Washington, DC as a representative of the Gates sponsored Web Junction program. She was one of a selected few from Ohio. We are quite proud of her and really appreciate her perseverance in making arrangements and coping with the trip - and are looking forward to the exhibition goodies she shipped back.

http://www.wornstafflibrary.blogspot.com/ now includes links to genealogy resources plus a complete listing of the Wornstaff Library holdings. Available in the library is a Genealogy / Historical Inventory for Morrow County Genealogical Society Cardington-Lincoln Public Library and Wornstaff Library, Ashley, Ohio. This resource was compiled for a recent library workshop attended by Barbara Nibert.

Check the list of Family Tree’s 101 best web sites (bottom of page).

A Children’s Activity Center is planned for 201 South Street, Ashley. This home on three acres seems well suited for a variety of indoor and outside activities for younger children and their parents, such as simple science experiments, baking cookies, gardening, and just running about. The initial development and programming could be provided through a parents’ cooperative and local contributions of time, skills, and materials. Please contact Liz Barker at the library (747-2085) to comment on or indicate an interest in this venture.

MORE will be coming soon. This statewide resource sharing program will make interlibrary loans easier and will include the ability to borrow AV materials. Requests for both interlibrary loans and reserves still have to be made through a staff member. Other libraries will also have access to Wornstaff Library materials which means that after years of borrowing we will be able to reciprocate as a lender. One of the requirements is being on a U.S. Cargo route which should increase cooperation and sharing in general among local libraries. As an example, the Delaware County District Library could share copies of Delaware This Week.

Harry Potter countdown. This is the big month. The concluding book of the series comes out on July 21, preceded by the fifth movie, The Order of the Phoenix. Fundamentals in Delaware (among others) will have midnight sales. We’re taking reserves on the book and audio tape. It’s been a phenomenon that’s changed children’s reading forever.

Magazine updates. U.S. News and World Reports is being donated by a patron and the past month’s issues are available for another view of current events. Our new subscription to The Week (soon to arrive) will provide a short overview. Also coming soon as recycled donation is The New Yorker. The Adopt-a Library program has entered a one year subscription to Smithsonian for our library from C. Clarke, of Cleveland, Ohio. Ellery Queen magazine is filled with mystery stories.

June 2007

Get a Clue @ Your Library

Solve the Mystery @ the Library June 11
sign-up activities

Spy Camp June 18

Who Will Win the Worm Race? June 25

Get the Scoop July 2

Fingerprint Cartoons July 9
with Dan Collins

Mammal Mysteries July 16
with Preservation Parks

Case Closed July 23
with the Magic of Stephen Knight

Clue into Reading with the library’s summer reading program starting Monday, June 11 @ 11:00 for all children grades 1 - 6. These hour long programs will include reading incentives and related activity programs, including our renown annual worm race. June 11 is the official starting sign-up day. After that, sign-up is available at the library or at any subsequent program. Program activities are designed to be enjoyed but children don’t have to attend in order to read and receive coupons and other prizes. This year reading will be counted by time spent rather than the number of books read.

Storytime resumes Thursday June 14 at 10:00 and the program themes will be related to those for summer reading. Please register to help Miss Vicky plan for supplies.

YNK (you never know) @ Your Library. That’s the teen program. 1. Sign-up and receive a prize. 2. Investigate good books, graphic novels, magazines, etc. 3. Fill out review forms for weekly prize drawings. 4. Teen Mystery Night on July 18.

Adults can read and review and receive rewards. Rank the books you read and be eligible for prizes.


The Magic of Stephen Knight will provide the closing program for this year’s summer reading. It’s scheduled for Monday July 23 at 11:00 and all summer reading program participants, story timers, and parents are especially invited. Join us for an outdoor (we certainly hope) fun-filled finale.

Mystery is the general theme. We’ve ordered some new books to provide contemporary options. Themes also lead to highlighting older books in the collection. It’s a good time to dust off some of those classics in the basement such as Agatha Christie and Earle Stanley Gardener. Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Nate the Great all have reprints or “modern” versions, including some graphic novel formats. There’s even a Mystery video category.

Where in Ohio Could You Go ??? A weekly drawing could win your family discounts for Franklin Park Conservatory, CAPA summer movie series, Columbus Museum of Art, National Inventors Hall of Fame or The Wilds. Adults may enter each time they come to the library and get their choice of available coupons.

The Oxford Garden Club came planting and the blooms in front of the library should enhance the view all summer long. Thank you, thank you.

Gnomes, and more gnomes, nicely nestled in the display case along with a leprechaun, a dwarf or two, and an elf are on loan from Jeannene Shemeth.

New videos will catch us up with some of the hot items released since our last order : Charlotte’s Web, Dreamgirls, Night at the Museum, Planet Earth, The Queen, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Last King of Scotland, and Freedom Writers, plus others.

Thanks to Carolyn Heine for taking care of the tree trimming on our joint property line. Her late husband was a diligent, long time library board member and we should be inspired to the library’s care. Additional thanks to the Bussard family who removed the fencing in that area and provided some more area clean-up. Rachel helped pack bags and made worm race boxes for summer reading.

School will be out soon and the summer reading program will create some high activity times at the library. Monday and Thursday mornings will be pretty kid oriented. We frequently remark that in our small space it’s important that the staff all be able to work together. Actually that applies to our patrons, too. Teens, and little ones, and parents, and Norwegian bachelor farmers all have to be respectful of each other - and tolerant. And respectful of the environment. There’s a bicycle rack. Parking takes precedence over skateboarding. Trash belongs in wastebaskets not the bushes. Also it is now actually illegal to smoke around the entrances of buildings because this exposes people entering and leaving the building to the smoke. We thank everyone for their cooperation and are looking forward to a busy, enjoyable summer for all.

Donations of materials are regularly accepted by the library. Some patrons even donate their current magazines. Vacation time might highlight another donation area. We have some special “discover Ohio” pamphlets and could certainly add ones someone’s picked up here or there.

Check the calendar on our website for library programs and events in the area. There’s plenty to do, and plenty to enjoy without having to drive plenty of miles. Enjoy without having to drive.

Audio books can be real sanity savers on those vacation trips - or make some tedious chores more pleasant. The Borrowers or Sign of the Beaver are examples of stories that might be enjoyed by the whole family. Then there are all the unabridged Harry Potters providing maybe 80 listening hours.

May 2007

Summer Reading starts Monday June 11 at 11:00 and signup will begin that day. The theme is Get a Clue @ Your Library. It’s all a mystery.

Storytime will resume that Thursday, June 14.

May days to celebrate along with the

dancing round the Maypole

and

leaving flower baskets

on people’s door knobs on the first.
Cinco de Mayo May 5
Teacher Appreciation Day May 8
Mother’s Day May 13
Memorial Day May 28
Star Wars Day - May the fourth be with you.

Clifford’s Phonics Fun Reading Program, six packs of 12 book your child can read, is available thanks to a donation.

The American Midwest is another recent acquisition. This interpretive encyclopedia is a rather unwieldy reference work weighing close to ten pounds - not exactly bedtime reading. But it is wonderful browsing material and should be a valuable library resource. It’s on the table in the reading room now, readily available for browsing. The Columbus Dispatch gave it a good review.

The Shepherd’s Nook (316 McMahan, Marion) will host three popular Christian fiction authors in May: Karen Kingsbury on May 2, Wanda Brunstetter on May 23, and Elaine Sturtz on May 26. Karen Kingsbury speaks at River Valley High School on May 2 at 7:00pm. Admission is $7.00.

Primary elections are on May 8. Buckeye Valley has a 2.3 mill bond issue, the Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreational district has a 1.2 mill bond issue, Ashley village has a 1 mill renewal for maintenance and cemetery operations. The only candidates for Delaware County Municipal Court Clerk and the second judge are Republicans on the primary ballot, so this vote determines the winner.

Letters to the Editor, Delaware Gazette April 1

In celebration of National Library Week (April 15-21) the board of the Wornstaff Memorial Library would like to thank all of the staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the library patrons and the community.

Our library is so much more than a place to check out the latest best-seller or the hottest new movie. It is a place for the community to gather and share information. It is a place for a preschooler to share a story at Story time n Thursday mornings, a place to go for homework help after school, a place to attend a meeting or craft night, and a place to make a copy or receive a fax.

The library has something to offer everyone. Please take time this week to stop into your local library, see what’s new and say thanks to the librarians for all their help. Lisa Kimble

Lisa Kimble is a board member. We appreciate her comments and the work all the board does throughout the year.

Robert Olmstead, a professor at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, has a book about the Civil War, Coal Black Horse, in which a mother sends her only son off to battle to bring his father home when she has a premonition. He’s a local author.

New magazines coming soon are The Week, Mailbox (Preschool), and Smart Computing. PC Magazine and Homeschooling Today have not been renewed. Check the end rack for donated and sample copies.

Library staff, Vicky, Susan, Karen, and Barbara attended the Ohio Library Council central conference workshop. This is an opportunity for some continuing education and a bit of hobnobbing with other librarians. Barbara and Susan will participate in the Morrow County Libraries spring workshop on genealogy in mid-May. Susan (we are pleased to announce) has been selected to attend the Rural Sustainability for Libraries national conference, in Washington DC, at the American Libraries annual conference in June.

Reading Tutoring was a regular library summer feature for many years discontinued because the school offered both SACC and tutoring programs and the need for additional help was much less. The school does not have funding for a summer tutoring program this year which reopens the question. The previous program consisted of daily sessions for two weeks in early August. This was after our summer reading program and also provided a refresher before school started. Certified teachers were hired by the library and there was no charge. A math program had also been considered. Your comments would be very helpful.

The BVEE Opera, New Kid Blues, is set for three performances Tuesday May 15 at 2:30pm, Wednesday May 16 at 10:30am and 7:00pm. This year’s opera is about stereotypes. The Look Twice Opera Company wants you to think twice about stereotypes, to look at a person’s character and insides to see how they really are. These second graders under Mrs. Staley’s guidance do a fantastic job of identifying a theme and creating an opera which is a marvel to see - FREE, though donations are appreciated. Don’t miss this local opportunity.

April 2007

Homeschool Book Talk on Tuesday April 17, 11:00 will focus on Earth Day related topics and activities. The emphasis is on grades one through six but it’s a good socializing opportunity for older students. All homeschoolers are welcome.

Craft Night on Thursday, April 12, 6:30 - 8:00 will follow the Earth Day / recycling theme. Craft nights are usually a family affair and everyone is invited. There will be opportunities to recycle clothing including some projects suitable for Mothers’ Day presents plus materials for cards. Bring your old T-shirts, jeans, and sweatshirts and transform them into fashionable clothing. There’s even a plan for old shoes.

National Library Week is April 15 - 21. It’s a reminder to take time to think about what libraries mean to you personally and to the community. Along with materials to check out, libraries make copies, send faxes, provide Internet access, host meetings, subscribe to numerous magazines and newspapers, and maintain community information.

Patron Recognition Week should be a corollary. We’re a team. There’s a very valid argument for preservation but the real function of a library involves the people of the community.

Location changes to note. The bookcases are in place in the juvenile room and we’ve shifted here and there providing a little extra room for juvenile fiction and non-fiction. We’ve lost the small table
but opened up the big table for more use. It’s a bit easier to move around in the juvenile area and feels less cluttered. Please ask if you can’t find specific materials. A new library map will be available.
* Located on the new bookshelf under the west
window in the juvenile room are : Dinosaur Books, Graphic Novels and Comic Strips (such as Garfield), and Collective Biographies.
* New Juvenile Non-fiction is on the bookshelf across from the drinking fountain.
* Audio Books are in the east back room adjacent to the Large Print books.
* The “younger” juvenile paperback rack has been moved in front of the southern west window.

My Library Info is a segment of our online catalog that tells you what books you have out. You can even print out a list at home. All you need to know is your library card number and your last name!! Before you make a trip to the library you can check to see what books and movies are available to check out AND what books and movies you need to return.
www.wornstafflibrary.blogspot.com

Youth Trout Fishing Tournament at the Newman Park Reservoir in Ashley is free to all youth up to age 16. That’s Saturday April 14 11:00 - 3:00 with registration starting at 10:00. You can borrow a pole but need your own adult supervision.

Lincoln Library of Sports Champions has a new edition which should provide helpful sports biography information for reports. The 2007 Sports Biography Today annual is also available.

New juvenile non-fiction is displayed opposite the water fountain. It is more accessible than the boxes (we think) and we hope that will encourage use. There is more to reading than just stories.

Sets for Sale. The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions is a 20 volume set (c1981) featuring 4-8 page biographies of sports figures, illustrated with photographs. The New Book of Knowledge is a 21 volume encyclopedia (1990). Both sets are complete and can be seen at the library. Bids will be taken until the end of April.

Flyers on local activities and a variety of issues are usually available on a rack inside the front entrance. Tax forms have been taking their place since the first of the year but will be replaced in mid April. Take time to see if there is something of interest.

Spring weather for spring break. It was a busy time for the library with a fairly steady stream of students in and out (and in and out) throughout the day. Internet use was substantially and some took advantage of the board games that were available. It’s been good skateboarding weather and the parking lot has served double duty which can work as long as skateboarders are considerate of patrons and the primacy of its parking use. Kids are kids as we once were and one of these days they will be us.

National Poetry Month is April. So is Keep America Beautiful Month , Arbor Day and Library Week. Everyone should go to the library and read “I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree”. Billy Collins remains one of our favorite poets and for the younger set there is Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky. The Katz/Catrow Take Me Out of the Bathtub books would work well during Karaoke week. Reread your own favorites, write a limerick, try an anthology. Keep poetry alive.

4-H clubs are getting started and participants can find plenty of information about horses, calves, small livestock, gardening, sewing, and carpentry projects at the library. The American Standard of Perfection for chickens and for rabbits and cavies is available plus a video on starting chicks. You don’t have to be a club member- or a student - to enjoy a summer project.

March 2007

More room. We have new bookshelves in the juvenile area thanks to B & W Carpentry. We’ll still be doing some shifting and rearranging but hope this will provide some more work and display space. If you can’t find what you want where you expect it to be, please ask. Audios will be moved - AGAIN.

Missing call numbers have recently become apparent. Apparently we’ve been preoccupied with getting used to the InfoCentre system and did not notice that many (way too many) books show up in the catalog with no call number. If you can’t figure out where to look for something it’s not your fault. You can double click the title and then click on copy information - or ask. Something was lost in the move and we’re hoping there may be a more universal fix than correcting each record.

Homeschoolers enjoyed a wintery talk making artificial snow and building sculptures with ice cubes. (Miss Vicky’s timing for the January’s snow story time was better than the Farmer’s Almanac.)

Summer Reading supply orders are placed before the previous year is over and work on programs begins about the same time. This year has a mystery theme. Miss Vicky and Susan have two workshops this month and are soliciting for prizes.

Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel, was born March 2, 2004. Most people are familiar with his children’s book which are full of delightful nonsense and wonderfully illustrated imaginary creatures, plus a moderate amount of social commentary. This will be the 50th anniversary for one of his most popular creations, The Cat in the Hat. Take time to read a Dr. Seuss book to a child - or enjoy one yourself.

New DVDs are on the way including some of the recent Academy Award winners and the usual variety. We’ll have a list as processing is completed and will take reserves. Videos and DVDs made up 34% of last year’s circulation, and increased 23% from 2005. In fact our total 2006 circulation increased 8%, almost entirely due to the increased DVD and video circulation. Someone thought it might be because DVDs were much better. DVDs cost more and seem to be more easily damaged - and apparently continue to be more tempting to steal.

Overdues notices are not being sent because we can’t figure out how to print them on the new system. We’ll call if there is a reserve and hope we’ll find a solution. In the meantime, we’re asking everyone to keep in mind that libraries work because patrons check materials out, they take reasonable care of them, and they bring materials back by the due date . Then someone else, including that same patron can check them out. Over and over again. Our main recourse is to refuse service until materials are returned. We lose far more from unreturned materials than we do from theft.

Thanks to a patron for donating the above book. Much thanks to two teens who did the main work of moving the paperback bookshelf through the library. Also thanks to our custodian Don, Associated Trenching, and those generous guys enjoying their snow blowers for keeping an open pathway to the library.

Magazine renewals have been sent in though they don’t take effect until June. We’re trying Smart Computing and canceling PC Magazine. Mailbox (Preschool) with children’s activities is mainly for library programs but can be checked out. Otherwise the list remains pretty much the same. If you subscribe to a magazine and read it and discard it you might consider donating it to the library when you are finished. Re-using is good.

Seed catalogs are tucking in amongst the shelf of catalogs and newsletters. If you don’t have any coming to your mailbox you can check one out here and learn about the newest and the currently popular heirloom vegetables.

Tax time is next month though our big rush is over, even though we haven’t received the full reproducible forms book. The IRS was much more prompt in keeping up with the demand for 1099s and 1096s.The irs.gov site is very helpful but can’t supply those forms. Be sure to file for the refund of federal telephone excise tax. There’s a space for a standard deduction on returns and we have plenty of forms if you skipped that. $30 is $30.

Circling above us, their wing-tips fanned like fingers, it is as if they were smoothing one of those tissue-paper sewing patterns over the pale blue fabric of the air. Turkey Vultures by Ted Kooser.

Learning & Volunteering at the Library

Home Learning Media are in the display case. These materials were purchased several years ago at the request of homeschoolers. They are available for anyone to check out and can be used to help any child with homework, to provide some enrichment, or as a family project. The home school section has a variety of helpful print material including texts and worksheets. The library also has Discovery Packs that parents may check out for young children. These packs contain books, videos, and materials on many subjects such as insects, careers, and cooking.

Volunteering provides opportunities for getting out and about, increasing one’s awareness of the community, and generally doing good. High school student Averie Kenney has been putting in some volunteer hours as part of a project. She’s read shelves, sorted discarded magazines, and helped with inventory - and has done good for the library.

Valentines to all of you. Roses are red, violets are blue, we love our patrons all the year through. A piece on job satisfaction which cited policemen and firemen as being at the top reminded us of how much we like being librarians. Much of that is thanks to all those people who use the library.

Teens in libraries have been in the news -and some of it has not been good. The internet is a big attraction here and the parking lot is good for skateboarding, though the urge to congregate can be a problem in our small space. There aren’t many places to go in Ashley and teens, too, are our patrons. Generally they’ve been good and cooperative. It could be a worthwhile exercise in intergenerational awareness and tolerance for us all.

More room, more room ! The juvenile non-fiction section gets more crowded all the time and we keep looking for ways to ease the crunch. Some additional bookshelves in the area should help and we’re planning to have them made. Should we hire a professional organizer to go with them??

the New & the Old

The new year is already 1/12 over. We’re adjusting to Barbara's shorter hours. The January rains came and the basement stayed dry - one of the hoped for benefits of the west side ramp and parking area renovations. End of the year reports are still in the works though the clerk treasurer is all done. The magazine list is here and ready for your recommendations. The Flying Circus of Physics was on the shelf when Jearl Walker talked at OWU but the Wanda Brunstetter books have not yet arrived. (soon) And we are all older.

A new pet, a large soft and cuddly jaguar with claws even, has a home in the children’s room. Thanks to thrifty shopper Karen.

The tractor calendar is back. The Delaware NAPA store has again provided our patrons with pictures to enjoy through the year.

The Caldecott and Newbery award winners were announced Jan. 22. The Caldecott best illustrated book winner is Flotsam by David Wiesner and it is available. Wiesner is a third time winner. The Newbery outstanding children’s literature is The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. That needs to be ordered and there will undoubtedly be a wait. There were three Newbery honor awards and two Caldecott honors. The library does not have any of the honor books. Apparently we would have picked other winners. It would be interesting to read more on the judging and why the awards were made. And always interesting that adults decide.

February 2007 Books & Computers

Computer updates are progressing and by the end of January we should be able to check books in and out with our new system InfoCentre. It will take us some time to become familiar with all the variant ins and outs but the big difference for patrons will be the ability to access the Wornstaff catalog online - that’s at home or wherever an Internet connected computer is available. In the meantime Chad Neeper of Level 9 Networks has been setting up a faster, more secure Internet connection for public users - and making our maintenance easier.

Book donations are generally accepted. Some additions or better condition replacements for the library collection are often provided along with adding to the book sale. There are some books such as older encyclopedias and textbooks that we’d just as soon not have and we’re not equipped to handle large quantities of books. It may make more sense to ask the donator to take that trip to Goodwill. On the other hand one recent donation was cheerfully accepted by a patron- a why I love the library story.

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

January 2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 2006

Story time :
Rudolph & Friends Dec. 7
Christmas Dec. 14
No Storytime Dec. 21 & Dec. 28
Unbirthday Party Jan. 4

Evening Storytime will be held Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30. Storytime will take a break over the holidays. There will not be a Storytime on December 21 and 28. The new year will begin with the traditional Unbirthday Party on January 4.

Home School Holiday Workshop will be held Tuesday December 12 at 10:30. The book talk and crafts are geared for 1st through 6th grades.

Game Day for all ages is scheduled for Dec. 28, 2:00 - 4:00. The library will probide snacks and some games. Bring a friend and maybe your favorite board or card game.

Share the Spirit of the Holiday ! Cards and ornaments are holiday workshop craft options. Families are welcome and pre-registration is helpful. Join us and make a craft, Thursday evening, December 7 from 6:30 - 8:00.

An autogyro, piloted by an OSU bear, is on desplay in the juvenile room. A drawing and basic operation information are posted nearby.

Pooh Bear in a multiplicity of manifestations is now occupying the display case. The collection is on loan from our page, Megan.

The library will be closed December 25 and 26 and January 1, 2007.
Happy Holidays to all.

Construction update. The ramp is complete except for some final brickwork touches. New angle parking on the side plus handicapped parking and well defined space in back with curb stops are in place. The library and Hickory Knoll are looking forward to their visit upstairs in the children’s room in December. Stegal Construction also reset the railing on the basement ramp in time for voting.

“No room! No room !” they cried..and the Hatter interrupted, “Let’s all move one place.” That’s what shifting in the library feels like. Current “moving one place” includes moving the rest of the Western collection to the basement. These books are still available for circulation and we encourage anyone interested in older westerns and mysteries to avail themselves of that availability. This made more room on adjacent shelves for Inspirational Fiction, Biographies, and Large Print.

Together at Last. Western fans should also note that space was made for a Louis L’Amour section. L’Amour books which were previously located in the regular fiction, the Western collection, the paperback westerns, AND the Large Print are all in one place adjacent to the paperback westerns.

“No Room” stage 2. Juvenile audio books have been moved to the audio shelves opposite the water fountain. Older adult audio tapes have been relocated to the end of the enlarged Large Print section. This provides more room for the high school fiction area.

Staff Picks :
Barbara recommends Christmas Letters, a fun holiday story by Debbie Macomber. Katherine O’Conner loves Christmas so much that she has turned her ability to write charming Christmas letters into a second job.

Warrior Heir by Cinda Chima is Vicky's pick. Jack lives an unremarkable life in Trinity, Ohio until he discovers he is one of the last warriors of the Weirland, an underground society of magical people. This is a great read for teens and adults. Look for the sequel in May 2007.

Karen's recommends a picture book by Mike Reiss with David Catrow illustrations, Merry Un-Christmas. What is Christmas was everyday?? Going to school could be exciting.

Truck : a Love Story by Michael Perry is Liz's choice. Take one 1950 International Harvester truck, add a literate guy to tell the story of its restoration and his ongoing life, and there’s one enjoyable read. Plus, there are two previous collections Michael Perry’s observations on life.

Manspace : a Primal Guide to Marking Your Territory by Sam Martin struck the right note with at least one man. It’s gorgeous pictures of clubhouses for the older boys with the bigger toys.

Beside our Springs and Streams: stories of the Native Americans and early settlers of Delaware County, a DVD conceived by Delaware historian Brent Carson is available. A group of young people tour locations of various historical events and listen to stories of earlier times in this local production.

Popular video/DVD additions for the year will end with the arrival of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and The Devil Wears Prada. Several documentaries are also on their way: Eminem, Model Trains, Cemeteries, and Country Boys.

New audio books are being selected as we get close to the end of our fiscal year and still have funds in the materials budget. We’re looking primarily at family interest read-alouds to insure use over a period of time and a wider range of patrons. Your suggestions are always welcome.

Magazine subscriptions don’t roll over until July but our renewal list should arrive any day. Plans are to not renew Teachers’ Helper (but those back issues and all the old Copycats will always be here). Mailbox will probably be added. One computer magazine should be sufficient and there may be another look home school materials. Your recommendations are appreciated. Don’t forget that you can recycle and share current issues of your magazines here at the library.

Inside upgrades: We’re working toward a web accessible catalog, participation in the statewide interlibrary loan program, MORE, and some better Internet access for the public. InfoCentre, an enhanced library program similar to the current one, has been purchased and will be installed by Level 9 Networks. Patrons and other libraries will then be able to check our holdings over the internet. It’s a first step toward sharing our collection with other libraries and sharing more local library information (such as this newsletter) electronically.

Inventory is in process in the meantime. We don’t want to frustrate people (including ourselves) by listing materials that are long overdue or otherwise unavailable. Volunteer Jane has printed out a bulky list of all our materials. Angel is hard at work on the preliminary shelf checking. Both are revealing database errors that need to be corrected. We’ll all be better off in the end.

Happy Holidays Christmas stories and movies, reindeer food, craft workshops, game days, cookies to and from patrons are all part of the holidays, and an especially enjoyable part of the library year.

November 2006

Story time :

Nursery Rhymes & folktales Nov. 2
Owls & Raccoons Nov. 9
Thanksgiving Nov. 16
Farm Harvest Nov. 30

Evening Storytime will be Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 and Thanksgiving will be the topic.

There will be no story time on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 23, nor on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. Miss Vicky will be on vacation Nov. 30 and Liz Barker will present the program that day.

A Homeschool Holiday Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday Dec. 12 at 10:30.

Barbara will return to work on Nov. 1. We’re looking forward to having her back at the desk again, as are many patrons.

The library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will be open all other regular November hours .

Construction update. Some delay has occurred because the brick did not arrive in a timely manner and the weather has not been as cooperative as might have been desired. The wall is looking pretty nice and we’re hoping that the ramp will be available again soon - preferably by the designated final date Oct. 31. We regretfully observe that water seepage in the basement has not been alleviated. In the meantime, on the east side of the building, the concrete supporting the railing has cracked, creating a somewhat dangerous situation which we hope will be remedied before Election Day. Congregating teens and skateboarders may have contributed to this damage and we may need to be more vigorous in restricting some activities.


The Wornstaff Library will be a polling place for Ashley Precinct A. Polls will be open from 6:30 - 7:30. We join other civic organizations in urging everyone to vote. There is a folder containing information on candidates and issues plus back issues of the Delaware Gazette, Columbus Dispatch and Morrow County Independent with additional information.

The Buckeye Book Fair will return to the Fisher Auditorium in Wooster, Saturday November 4, 9:30 - 4:00. Meet and talk with authors and illustrators. Purchase autographed books at a discount. Enjoy a scenic drive and visit additional area attractions.

New DVDs have arrived and are available for circulation. Some of the movies ordered have not yet been released, so keep checking. The library tries to provide a variety of materials as opposed to concentrating on top run movies.

Habitat for Humanity dedicated the Frank and Rebecca Martin handicap accessible home Oct. 29. Almost 300 volunteers were involved in this project.

The Sesqui-centennial Quilt now hangs above the computers. We hope it continues to be noticed and appreciated in its new location. The move has freed the bulletin board for other notices.

The witch in the tree line also deserves notice and appreciation. It’s outlaw art in Ashley, Act II.

Staff Picks :

Cookies : Bite-sized Life Lessons by Amy Rosenthal and illustrated by Jane Dyer is a wonderfully simple guide to good behavior through animals and cookies instead of lectures. Vicky recommends it for children and it’s not a bad book for adults, either. (Think Who Moved My Cheese?) She also praises the movie, Akeelah and the Bee, which is more than just another spelling bee story.

Karen has two picks. On Agate Hilll by Lee Smith is the life of a southern woman from post Civil War days to the 1920s. The Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel is the completely true and hilarious misadventures of a good girl gone broke. He DVD choice is The Lake House, the ultimate of romantic chick flick watching.

Jane liked Aunt Dimity’s Death by Nancy Atherton, the first in the series considered one of the best 100 mysteries, and a very sweet cozy mystery.

Fast Web’s College Gold Step-by-step Guide to Paying for College by Mark Kantrowitz is informative preparation for any parent of a college bound student and Susan‘s pick. She also recommends Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani, the third in this series.

Liz is still reading oldies and recommends John O’Hara’s 10 North Frederick Street about a small town prominent citizen and his political aspirations. A new book, Richard Ford’s Lay of the Land, continues the saga of Frank Bascombe - think Updike’s Rabbit books. Hurrah for the long awaited DVD of Warren Beatty’s Reds about John Reed.

Illustrator Betsy Lewin will be at Fundamentals bookstore in Delaware, Thursday Nov. 9, 5:30-7:30. She is best known today for books in which she and Doreen Cronin have teamed together. Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type is a delight for any age.

Children’s Book Week is Nov. 12-18. The best way to celebrate is to read to your child and/or make a family visit to the library. Second best could be attending the Betsy Lewin book signing.

Sample magazines include The Week, Practical Homeschooling, and National Geographic Little Kids. We’re always looking for suggestions.

Lincoln Library of Sports Champions is being revised and republished. This edition should provide a welcome addition to our sports information. Donations from Ruth McNew to the children’s department, and in memory of Josephine Bartlett and Pegge Stein helped fund this purchase.

Backyard mechanics should appreciate new Chilton manuals. Currently one volume covers one manufacturer, consuming more space and costing more than the old domestic, imported, and truck sets. GM, Chrysler, and Ford volumes 2002-2006 will be added. These volumes cover both cars and trucks and will bring those vehicles up to date.

Preservation Parks provided an interesting program on trees to a small audience. Staff do programs not only for libraries, but groups such as 4-H and Scouts. Their butterfly program sounds good for spring. Fliers on the numerous activities at parks around the county are available at the library.

Holiday Craft evening is in the works. Typically these programs have provided a mix of crafts plus a strong social component and are suitable for mother-daughter or family attendance. Watch for a date.

In like a lion, out like a lamb. It works for March. Could November be a switch with Indian summer making up for chilly October? Halloween squeaked by with moderate temperatures and light drizzles and the school parade was able to march. Thanks to our page, Megan “Picnic Lunch” Burns who helped pass out suckers and bookmarks.