March 2011

Story time

Thank You, Dr. Seuss Mar. 3

Pancakes Mar. 10

St. Patrick’s Day Mar. 17

It’s Spring ! Mar. 24

Celebrate Art Mar. 31

Library Week Is Coming April 7

Gardening series: Seed Starting is the basic topic for the March 19 program. There will be seed to share and tips on starting seeds at home. Plus, help make a straw bale cold frame and plant lettuce and spinach. The Backyard Master Gardeners will be here on March 15 to help the Girl Scouts start seeds for plants to be distributed in May.

The Buckeye Dulcimer Festival is set for March 9 - 13 with Friday and Saturday night concerts $10). Workshops are available during the day. This is the 20th annual event, organized by Ashley’s own Louise Ziegler and held at Recreation Unlimited. Develop your own musical skills or just enjoy the music of other well trained and talented musicians. All proceeds go to Recreation Unlimited.

Maple sugar time is here. Three area festivals provide an opportunity to view the operations, share the experience, and enjoy a breakfast. Camp Lazarus is open two Saturdays March 5 and 12. Stratford Ecological Center has tours on March 5 & 19, and tours and a reservation only breakfast on March. 12. The Lutheran Camp on Route 61 has breakfast on Sunday March 13. Indians produced maple sugar long before white settlers arrived and it was a basic sweetener for the pioneers. You get a history lesson along with motivation for venturing out into the cold to celebrate a genuine harbinger of spring as the trees come out of dormancy. Stay tuned for the chorus of frogs, the march of the salamanders and the return of the buzzards.

 

** Attention Harry Potter Fans ** The Central Ohio Symphony is providing a Magical Musical Month of March as promotion for its March 27 concert featuring The Harry Potter Suite and Carmina Burana. Downtown Delaware will be turned into Harry Potter locales on First Friday, March 4. Get your house assignment and free train ticket from the Sorting Hat at Platform 9 ¾ ( 24 E. Winter St.). Strolling Renaissance characters, wand makers, face painting, potion making, and carnival games are included. There will be a symposium on the writing of J. K. Rowling on March 22 and a Quidditch match Sunday afternoon, March 27.

Learning Express (www.ohioweblibrary.org then click on A+) has recently updated their computer skills courses to include Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010. Available databases include practice tests and tutorials for education levels from elementary school through college plus general workplace skills improvement. These are free to all Ohioans, funded by the State Library with a federal IMLS LSTA grant to libraries Connect Ohio. See what you could be learning at your library.

The Bookmark Society will meet on March 24 at 6:30. They are reading Possession by A. S. Byatt. Share a social evening with other book lovers. Refreshments are provided.

St. Patrick’s Day : Plant peas, wear green, and bake some soda bread, maybe sing an Irish tune.

The Christian Science Monitor is being passed on to the library and its users by a subscribing patron.

New DVDs will be ordered in March, with the usual effort for diversity - some popular commercial movies (Secretariat, Social Network ), children’s (Jr. Detective Agency, Barbie, Goosebumps), a couple of documentaries (Gasland, European River Tours) and a couple of foreign films (White Wedding Night, Inspector Bellamy). DVD replacements of some videos are also on the list - oldies but goodies doesn’t just apply to music.

Free tax preparation for low to moderate income people is provided by Delaware County VITA. Sites are 200 South Washington Street, Delaware (Wed. 5:00 - 9:00 and Sat. 10:00-2:00) and 7991 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center (Tue. 5:00-9:00 and Sat. 10:00-2:00). No appointment is required at these two sites. The Sunbury Community Library, Delaware County Senior Center, and Andrews House are other VITA sites where appointments are required. Farther information can be had by calling 1-800-906-9887. Over twenty people had their taxes filed at the Wornstaff Library by VITA workers on Feb. 5 and 19.

Big Screen opportunities include the Ohio Wesleyan Community Film Series at the Strand on Tuesday and Wednesday nights starting March 1 & 2 with some classics, some foreign samples, an independent or two and The Kids Are All Right. A series sponsored by Sustainable Delaware began Feb. 16 and will provide films, discussion, and tours of local facilities - Sims Recycling in Marion on March 19. For something completely different try the live HD broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera productions Saturdays at Crosswoods Cinema.

March is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time on the thirteenth, a whole week before Spring arrives. Perhaps Mother Earth will give up snow for Lent - at least in Ohio.

 

Juvenile biographies have been refurnished with almost forty selections from more contemporary series such as Wicked History and Who was…? It’s a fresh look at some standards (Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman) plus Princess Diana and Vlad the Impaler among others. Real stories about real people for real boys and girls.

February 2011

Story time : (Thursdays at 10:00)

Groundhogs & Shadows Feb. 3

Be My Valentine Feb. 10

What Shall I Wear ? Feb. 17

Brush Your Teeth Feb. 24

Thank You, Dr. Seuss Mar. 3

The Library Food Garden workshop will be held on February 19 at 2:00. The Backyard Master Gardeners will present a program on garden planning with ideas on what, when, and where to plant. Seed and plant options, bed preparation, and container gardening will be discussed. Find out how you, too, can grow vegetables for your family. Save money, enjoy the outdoors, and benefit from really fresh tasty results.

Homeschool Book Talk will be on money matters Tuesday April 12, 2:30. April is financial literacy month and will be celebrated with displays and some collaborative programming by all Delaware County libraries.

Big crayons were crafted for the library by story time parent, Alisa Agin. Various volunteers helped sort all the leftover small ends of crayons into color groups and Alisa melted and molded them for reuse.

One Christmas “present” remains, brightening up the library on these wintery days. This glass package filled with lights and tied with a fancy ribbon was made by Bret and Jennifer Rader and presented to the library.

The Bookmark Society meets February 24 at 6:30. Joanna Fluke’s Sugar Cookie Murder is the selected reading. All readers and book lovers are invited to share good company and food.

Free tax preparation for low to moderate income people will be available at the Wornstaff Library on February 5 and 19 from 10:00 to 2:00. Call 211 to schedule an appointment. Delaware County VITA is providing this service. Other VITA sites are 200 South Washington Street, Delaware (Wed. 5:00 - 9:00 and Sat. 10:00-2:00) and 7991 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center (Tue. 5:00-9:00 and Sat. 10:00-2:00). No appointment is required at these two sites. The Sunbury Community Library, Delaware County Senior Center, and Andrews House are other VITA sites where appointments are required. Farther information can be had by calling 1-800-906-9887.

Tax forms are still arriving and may be had at the library. State and school district forms, and many federal forms are available or can be printed from www.irs.gov. Schedule A will not be sent until sometime in February and instruction booklets for 1040A and 1040 are also not currently available. The library also has W2s and 1099s for employers,

Mardi Gras is Tuesday March 8 and New Orleans is on display. Get ready for your own celebration. Discover the worlds of James Lee Burke, John Kennedy Toole, Anne Rice, and Rebecca Wells. Make your own shoebox float or king cake.

You are our Valentine A big “we love you” to all our patrons from all the staff.

Love n’ chocolate - the perfect combination for a Valentine’s Day book display. Take a look & savor.

Magazine discards from previous years are now available, and they are free. They are just in time for making valentines and whiling away winter hours creating collages - or browsing articles and clipping recipes. Who knows what treasures lurk within. Please continue the recycling process. Don’t forget the library’s continuing book sale while enjoying the cool basement clime. At ten cents each and $1.00 a bag, they are almost free.

Newbery and Caldecott winners for most distinguished contribution to children’s literature and best children’s picture book are announced in early January. Winning is a guarantee of being in print forever which is great for the author/illustrator but decisions are just as argued as Academy Awards. We have ordered the winners but did not have either on the shelf and only one of the honor books : Interrupting Chicken by David Stein. The winners are Newbery: Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool with honors to Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, Dark Emperor by Joyce Sidman, and One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia ; and Caldecott : A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by Philip Stead with honors to Dave the Potter illustrated by Bryan Collierand written by Laban Hill, and the chicken book. Stay tuned for the Buckeye Children’s Book Awards. Students can nominate their favorites through March 2, 2011.

Winter wonderland?? You’re here in Ohio, why not enjoy it? Preservation Parks has regular park access plus a number of programs featuring an appreciation for the winter outdoors. The Great Backyard Bird Count on February 19 at Deer Haven Preserve will help you recognize birds at your feeder. Valentine’s Day weekend features Cuisine along the Ravine and a Sweethearts Walk. State parks also have hiking, sledding, and cross country ski opportunities. Maple sugaring is coming! Last Child in the Woods looks at the decreasing contact today’s youth has with the outdoors world. Adults may be suffering from a similar deprivation.

January 2011

Story time : (Thursday morning at 10:00)

Unbirthday Party Jan. 6

Hat Day Jan 13

Let It Snow Jan. 20

Penguins Jan. 27

Groundhogs & Shadows Feb. 3

Storytime sessions start the new year with a birthday celebration for everyone. These programs are open to all preschoolers. Stories, finger plays, activities, crafts, and (frequently) snacks last about forty-five minutes. Parents are encouraged to attend and participation is quite flexible. No registration is required. Many families extend the program with an upstairs play period in the children’s room while parents socialize and select materials for checkout.

The Bookmark Society will meet January 27 at 6:30. Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods : Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail is the January selection. February’s selection is Joanne Fluke’s The Sugar Cookie Murder. All readers are invited to share an evening of books and food.

Community Gardening 2011 will start off with the first in a series of third Saturday programs. Planning for the coming season will be the general theme with garden catalogs available and recommendations for basic vegetable gardening. There will be an opportunity to order seed to share and to suggest varieties for the beyond-the-basics vegetable garden. January 15 at 2:00 at the library.

Recycle your cell phones, batteries, and chargers. The Delaware County Health Department and The Friends for Life Fund have a collection box at the library for safe recycling of these materials.

Winter activities : There’s more than the mall in Columbus. The Columbus Museum of Art has a grand opening on Jan. 1 for the renovated building and new Center for Creativity. (Admission is free on Sundays.) Orchid Forest at Franklin Park Conservatory will be available for a winter reprieve from Jan. 15 - Mar. 27. Marion offers The Music of Florence Hardin at OSU Marion (Jan. 20); Amateur Film Finals (Jan. 22) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Jan. 28) at the Palace, and a Bridal Extravaganza (Jan. 23) at the fairgrounds.

Inventory in progress. We’re making a list and checking it twice- or not too many times more we hope. Books get misplaced or, unfortunately, sometimes stolen. It’s a good to periodically verify just what is actually here and available. Winter is a bit slower and a good time to concentrate on indoor activities. Preparation for summer reading is regularly on the top of the list and this year we’re also working on the inventory of materials. We’ll be checking on long overdues and clearing lost items from the catalog. Inventory is also a good check on misshelved and inaccurately labeled books.

Prospects for 2011 The income provided by the library levy will ensure a full year of full service with staff, programs, and materials. Thank you Ashley Village and Oxford Township. Summer Reading will take us everywhere with One World Many Stories. We may get the carpets cleaned before flying off to all those novel destinations.

Time magazine is being donated by a patron and will be available regularly for checkout.

New DVDs Eat Pray Love, The Expendables, Toy Story 3, Handy Manny, Letters to Juliet, Ramona and Beezus, Iron Man II, Temple Grandin, The Kids Are All Right, and Salt are some of the new purchases, plus several DVD video replacements, and documentaries on The Founding Fathers, Heroes of the Bible, and Ancient African Kingdoms. We do take reserves - and suggestions. We can also borrow from other libraries though not the most recent releases. And it is all FREE.

Magazine discards are another winter housekeeping activity. Articles are available online and the library no longer needs to keep back issues. Discards are free and may be requested. Duplicate requests are usually shared. The rest are available FREE to the general public for articles, recipes and both crafts and craft materials. You, too may have a bit more time and be more interested in indoor activities at this time of year. Creative Paper Jewelry is a new addition to the collection. Collage Discovery Workshop : Beyond the Unexpected has some interesting projects.

Profile Ohio, an informative pamphlet published by the Ohio Secretary of State is available at the library. History -People - Events of interest-More

WANTED : Bottle caps and jar lids are needed for BVEE’s visiting artist project in February. Used ink cartridges help the library purchase office supplies. The BVEE food pantry needs year round donations of both food and clothing.

Garden Tours ? Christmas in Ashley was such a wonderful experience perhaps something similar could be planned for the summer. Garden tours would fit in nicely with the library’s community gardening program, possibly in conjunction with the Corn Show. Vegetable gardening, flowers, and landscaping are all possibilities. Call the library (747-2085) and talk with either Susan Bussard or Liz Barker with your suggestions - and offers to help.

December 2010

Holiday Hours :

Closed December 24 & 25 ;

Close at 5:00 Dec. 31 ;

Closed January 1, 2011.

Storytime : (Thursday mornings at 10:00)

Holiday Treats Dec. 2

Animals in Winter Dec. 9

Christmas Dec. 16

No Storytime Dec. 23

Dec. 30

Happy Unbirthday Jan. 6

Megan Burns, our page and regular story time helper, will present the Dec. 2 Holiday Treats program. Storytime will take a short holiday break and resume January 6, 2011. Happy New Year !

Game Day, Wednesday December 29, will provide some activity for all those vacationing students. All ages are invited. We’ve even had some adult participation. The time is 2:00 - 4:00. This will be a good opportunity to try out the County Fair game purchased at the Buckeye Book Fair.

A Christmas Adoption Tree is at the library. Participants choose an Elf with age, size, and possibly a suggestion which should be attached to the unwrapped present for a child in need and delivered to a BV school no later than 2:30, Dec. 14.

Christmas in Ashley December 4, 6:00 - 9:00

Luminaries will line downtown High Street, a live nativity, Santa Claus, carolers, and a tour of homes will celebrate the season. What a wonderful way to appreciate what volunteer efforts can accomplish. The library has been collecting milk jugs for the Scouts to turn into luminaries, generous individuals are preparing and sharing their homes, and Amy Ruggles deserves some special credit. ENJOY !

The Library Food Garden evaluation and 2011 planning meeting consisted of five Master Gardeners, one library staff, and three community participants. Starting seeds, starter garden kits of plants and seeds, gardening assistance, and garden space would be the primary focus. The season would start with a January garden planning meeting encouraging group seed purchase. A list of people in the area available for plowing, rototilling, and spading (both volunteer and paid) should be made. Library gardens would continue the square foot garden, and have a straw bale cold frame followed by a bean teepee. The Brownies would again start seeds for community distribution and have a garden for donations to the food pantry. They will also have a fund raising pumpkin patch. Monthly programs, weekly visiting gardener support, and a Facebook page were discussed.

The Master Gardeners received an Excellence Award for an outstanding master gardener volunteer project for their participation in this year’s program. The award included a $50 gift certificate from A.M. Leonard Company which they presented to the Wornstaff Library.

The Bookmark Society is meeting December 2 at 6:30 (instead of Thanksgiving Day), reading Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand. All book lovers are invited for a social evening. The next meeting time - and book - will be decided at the December meeting.

Art projects at Buckeye Valley East include a January visit from folk musician Russ Childers with a community square dance at Radnor Buckeye Valley North on Jan. 13 and a February residence by bottle cap artist Michelle Stitzlein. Visit her web site http://www.artgrange.com/ for a look at some of the projects. And save your plastic bottle caps. The library may be a display site for some creations. What about a Wornstaff Library sign for the lawn?

Thanks to Brownie troops #2636 & #633 for books donated to the collection and summer reading.

We’re glad to host their meetings.

More space. Bookshelves from the now defunct used book store in Delaware have been donated to the library by the new occupant, The Central Ohio Symphony. One will go in the back room for paperbacks and audio books and one in the basement to provide better book sale access and storage. The moving logistics are still being worked out - both getting the shelves here and getting the materials back in order.

The Buckeye Valley East Food Pantry has been reorganized to include food and clothing and extra hours. The pantry is open Tuesdays 10:00 to noon and 4:00-6:00, and Thursdays 1:30-3:30. If no one is there, go to the school office . The Brownies are collecting coats. There is a box at the library.

 

K. C. Kay’s Tanning Salon is announced and looking very Christmasy in the space that housed the Phoenix Bakery. Work is progressing on the stabilization of the Sargent building and will include a modified front and opened streetscape sidewalk area. Christmas flags should be up and please may all the water leaks be found and repaired.

Gratitudes for the year : First and foremost we again thank our dedicated levy committee and the voters of Ashley village and Oxford Township for passing the library levy. After the previous months of shortened hours and no expenditures on materials we are all delighted to be able to be a full service library. Local interest and support for the Community Garden grant, donations of and for books, grants, and general community support were especially encouraging as we continued to gain appreciation for the benefits of staff time. We were able to provide the summer reading program thanks to a grant from the Delaware Community Foundation and the efforts of children’s librarian Vicky Collins and assistant librarian Susan Bussard plus volunteer help. We are looking forward to 2011 and the ability to serve the community with materials, computer access, meeting space, and friendly, unstressed staff. We thank our patrons.

November 2010

Storytime (Thursday morning at 10:00)

Daytime/Nighttime Nov. 4

Friends Nov. 11

Thanksgiving Nov. 18

No Storytime Nov. 25

Holiday Treats Dec. 2

The library will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 25, and there will be no story time that week. Hours otherwise will be the same.

Homeschool Book Talk will be Wednesday, November 17 at 2:30. We the People Bookshelf, a grant sponsored collection of American history, will provide the theme, with a focus on the Civil War. There will be a craft and some food. The program will be geared for 1st through 6th but all ages are welcome. Please note the change of day and time.

Community Gardening planning for next year should be looked at some time in November. We’re meeting with the Backyard Master Gardeners to lay out a full schedule and are interested in comments and participants.

Election Day is November 2 and the library is now the polling place for all of Ashley Village. There will be a temporary, handicapped parking place on the east side of the parking lot and (hopefully) a moderate amount of traffic during the day. Village council meeting will be held on Wednesday even though the village office is no longer a polling place.

The book sale is overflowing. There are lots of juvenile fiction books, some children’s (both from discards and donations), romance novels, and many others. As always, it’s ten cents a book or a dollar a bag. Stock up now for those long winter days. Video tape discards are also in the sale.

Movies at the Library

Thanks to all the donations of materials and time for the Community Gardening grant we were able to acquire a projector and DVD player with funds from the grant. Movies at the library debuted with the Pumpkin Circle program and there are other possibilities including summer outdoor showings, Another possibility would be a books-made-into-movies discussion group. We are in the process of looking at movie licensing which would enable us to share many of our holdings.

The Council for Older Adults display will be on the table at the front entrance during November. This Delaware County organization provides many services that help older residents maintain a healthy life style and stay in their own homes. The associated Senior Center has a variety of educational and recreational programs and facilities. Their monthly newsletter is available at the library.

A Board of Trustees retreat for The Delaware County District Library included directors and trustees of the Sunbury Community Library and the Wornstaff Library. Linda Murray from the Ohio Library Council spoke on the role of the trustees. A discussion on possible collaborations focused on personal finance, health and early childhood literacy and concluded with plans to use the Delaware Reads site as a community library calendar.

DVD purchases are a possible grant that Susan Bussard is exploring. Many video tapes would be replaced, especially in the children’s section. Many patrons still use tapes but younger families may only have DVD capabilities. We’d have more room.


New Juvenile Fiction Lots and lots of choices are available thanks to an extensive donation of several boxesful and the economical results of the conveniently located Junior Literary Guild sale. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year. Juvenile fiction circulation last month showed a 49% increase over that month’s circulation in 2009. How wonderful to be able to cater to that interest.

A tip for adults is the crossover interest. Many of these titles can be enjoyed by you, too. Perhaps we could use that strategy to increase the picture book circulation. One of the advantages of being a librarian is the “dreadful” necessity of being familiar with all the books - which is a legitimate excuse for reading Olivia, A Balloon for Isabel and Jon Scieszka.

The Book of Genesis illustrated by R. Crumb is the basis of a current exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art. Sundays are free. Should we have a copy??

The Family Tree Maker is exciting donation number two. We’re working on installing it and making it available to patrons.

Thanks to BVEE PTO for donating the DVD How To Train Your Dragon and the short Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon.

The BVEE Halloween parade had a sunny, not-too-cold afternoon for its march uptown. The library passed out around 350 bookmarks and suckers with Vicky Collins as a party going witch and Liz Barker sporting a flamingo hat. Storytime’s Halloween program saw a number of princesses and the requisite Power Ranger.

Holiday help at the library is there for you - recipes, Thanksgiving 101, gift suggestions and patterns, decorating ideas, and much, much more including ever popular seasonal books and movies. It’s not too early to start your planning as the store’s are already reminding you. Enjoy the season.

October 2010

Story time : (Thursday at 10:00)
Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7
Apples & Pumpkins Oct. 14
Pizza, Pasta, & Popcorn Oct. 21
Halloween Oct. 28

Daytime/Nighttime Nov. 4

Buckeye Book Fair is coming to Wooster on Nov. 6. This annual event features 100 or so authors either from Ohio or writing about Ohio. Books are discounted and authors available for autographs and conversation. Watch for fliers with a list of authors and their books. Plus, it’s fall; it’s Amish country.

The Youth Catfish Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, October 16 from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm at Newman Park reservoir. It’s free for all youth up to age 12. Bring your own fishing pole and adult supervision. You can register at the library.

A Scarecrow Contest is being sponsored by Preservation Parks. Families should bring clothing and other decorations. Frames and stuffing will be provided. Make your scarecrow on Oct 1 at 6:30 and come back for the judging Oct. 10 during the annual Pioneer Day event - both at Gallant Woods.

The library will not have a scarecrow workshop.

Growing Community : the Library Food Garden is getting wrapped up in a report and in the ground. Central Ohio Landscape Company and volunteers have planted fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and some miscellaneous items at Delaware Manor, Ashley Manor, Ashley Villa, Newman Park, BVEE, and the library. We expect other fruit from this project in coming years. Scheduled for late fall is a meeting with master gardeners to plan next year’s programs encouraging and nurturing local gardening. There’s interest in a pumpkin patch.

The Bookmark Society will meet on October 28 (6:30) and will be reading The Optimist‘s Daughter by Eudora Welty (which is actually here). It’s tricky to get half a dozen copies of the same book and we’ve run into problems the past couple of times. Not to worry. The book itself seems less important than the fellowship leavened with a bit of good food. All readers and book lovers are welcome.

Halloween costumes, customs, and consumables are lurking in October magazines and numerous books on the library shelves. You’ll find many new ideas and specifics for creating things that are ghostly images in your head. Ashley’s beggar night will be Sunday October 31. 6:00 - 7:30. The school Halloween parade is Friday afternoon, October 29 at 2:30. It’s quite a treat for everyone. The library lawn has bench seating and room for chairs and blankets.

Daylight saving time will be with us until November 7, six and one half weeks after the autumnal equinox, with ten whole hours of daylight to save. For a detailed history and rationale read David Prerau’s Seize the Daylight : the Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.

Discovery Kits for younger children are themed back packs with books, games, models, and sometimes a video. These packs may be checked out by adults and can be used at home for enrichment or plain fun and general interest. Subjects are Careers, Cooking, Dinosaurs, Feelings, Fire Engines, Frations, Get Ready to Read, Human Body, Insicts & Spiders, Music, Nature, New Sibling, Puppetry, Reptiles & Amphibians, Thomas the Tank Engine, Transportation, and U. S. Geography.

Home Learning Media are similar, singular, materials for older children and include a magnetism kit, microscope with slides, Spanish flash cards, and a rain gauge. Check our online catalog for a full list: , call numbers Dscvrykt and HLM.

The Pumpkin Circle will be shown at the Wornstaff Library, Wednesday October 20 at 6:30. Both the projector and the DVD were purchased with Growing Community funds. The movie is a unique celebration of pumpkin growing and will be followed by related crafts and food. Join us for what we hope will be a unique celebration of this year’s Library Food Garden.

Constitution Day ( September 17) was an ideal time for a display featuring We the People bookshelf and Picturing America posters that the library has received this past year. These books and posters are available for classroom and home school use and include some instructional materials. Books and DVDs may be checked out by individuals. DVDs include four Sunnyland seminars on the constitution. Ratification by Pauline Maier, a recently published book on pre-constitutional discussion, is on order.

Ashley History worth knowing. The Delaware County Fair is fresh in everyone’s minds - especially those young participants who proudly paraded their livestock and displayed all sorts of projects. The village of Ashley has a very special relationship to them. Years ago fairs were for adults. Mom and Dad and Aunt Minnie paraded their livestock and brought their pies and quilts. Ashley had the first junior fair in the nation, hoping to compete with other local fairs by attracting more visitors. The local R. B. Powers company supplied ribbons to reward the young participants. The rest is history.

What is a Green Hour? - National Wildlife Federation

What is a Green Hour? - National Wildlife Federation

September 2010

Storytime
Back to School Sept. 2
Grandparents’ Day Sept. 9
Elephants Sept. 16
Let’s Go To the Fair Sept. 23
Falling Leaves Sept. 30

Storytime is a program for all preschoolers. Programs last about forty-five minutes and include finger plays, reading aloud, craft activities, and (frequently) a related snack. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children and participation throughout the program is flexible. There is time for extra play and socializing in the library children’s room afterwards. No registration is required.

Summer Reading concluded with a water activity themed program at the library. Drawings were held for first - sixth graders who completed 10 hours of reading. A total of 1526 hours were read by 119 children who signed up. Nine preschoolers and caregivers completed the Read with Me program. Adults who participated in the program (16) received prizes. Five local area children completed the Preservation Parks Summer Letterbox Adventure and will be eligible for their drawing. Vacations were enjoyed by all. School is right around the corner.

Aaron Scheeler is the new library board member replacing David Knape. Mr. Scheeler is a local area native who lives in Ashley. He has a background in banking and a law degree and is a very welcome addition to the board. We appreciate his interest in the library and his willingness to serve the community.

The Worthington Deaf Services Center provides American Sign Language classes starting Sept. 21.

Garden Clean-up and Fall Planting workshop will be presented by Delaware County Master Gardeners on Thursday evening Sept. 2 at 7:00 at the library. No matter what your gardening success this summer this is a good evaluation program that will provide a start for an even better year in 2011. We hope to see many of you there.

The Community Garden plots have been providing fresh produce for the BVEE Food Pantry. Fruits, nuts, and berries will be planted at Delaware Manor, BVEE, Newman Park, Ashley Villa, Ashley Manor and the library. Books, magazines, and DVDs for the library and SACC are in the ordering process. Garden tools have been provided to SACC and are still available for check-out at the library. The Growing Community grant has definitely been a learning process. Thanks to all the donations of materials and help, spending the money has been more of a problem than anticipated. The good part of the small cost is that we hope to continue similar programming support next year with better planning and logistics - and minimal record keeping.

Safer steps into the library are thanks to Boy Scout Noah Eblin working on his citizenship badge. The Scouts provided white striping several years ago and Noah redid that and painted the bicycle rack.

The Bookmark Society will meet on Sept. 30 at 6:30 - at the library. The selected reading is The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty. All readers are invited to share a social evening.

Delaware County Health Department educators Audra Jordan and Caryn Roth visited the library and the school recently, educating themselves on the needs of the community and possibilities. What services and programming do you recommend for the area? One of our suggestions was a teen group with cooking classes.

Library and school partnerships are often a workshop topic and this was one of the questions the health educators asked. The Wornstaff Library is a local, accessible resource for students and teachers. In past years there were regular visits from school classes, teacher collections were provided, and school reports kept us scrambling to find and keep materials available for whole classes. Times have changed. Teachers are overwhelmed by requirements and, of course, everything is available on the internet. The library has public internet access and a wireless connection. (Not everyone does.) Extra time on the computer is allowed for homework assignments. And sometimes books are a better and more reliable source for information. The library can borrow materials from other libraries (though it takes some time and planning) or provide a teacher with a collection that could be used by the whole class. Parents and students can help the library and the school work together cooperatively for everyone’s benefit by communicating assignments or reporting on local resources.

Ashley updates: Best wishes for a better civic atmosphere and more cooperative efforts for the good of the community. Popsters seems to be thriving and gives a welcome look of activity to downtown. The drive-through has new local ownership and perhaps new possibilities. Unfortunately both The Phoenix Bakery and Wade’s Barbershop have closed.

Thanks to Rick Lindsay who has helped with a variety of tasks at the library including the refurbishing of the SACC strawberry bed.

School assignments can be made easier with some help from the library. Magazine articles can be accessed at http://www.ohioweblibrary.org/ at the library or at home.

Gardening Materials : Watch for gardening and healthy eating books, magazines, and DVDs paid for by the Growing Community grant. Some materials will be donated to the BVEE SACC program to encourage their participation in their garden plot.

August 2010

There will be no story time during August.

Splish Splash summer reading closing party will be held in the library parking lot on Monday August 2 at 11:00. All ages, preschoolers through teens are invited to attend for a fun filled water activity based finale. Final reading hour tallies and prize tickets will be recorded. The prize drawing for first through sixth graders will be held. Winners don’t have to be present to win but will have fewer prize choices. Adult prizes will be drawn later in the week.

One thousand and fifty-four hours have been tallied so far. The library was raided by pirates (twice!) brandishing hooks and searching for treasures. Underwater trips were made in the bubble room. Fun was had by all and many books were read.

Teen Night entertained half a dozen teens with food and games. The party might count as a partial thank you for some of our hard working summer reading volunteers. Thank you Nikki and Bailey Lucas, Megan Burns, and David Layman. Helping set up and keeping all those reading records up to date is an essential part of the program.

Summer reading statistics - sign up 118, hours read 1063; teens signed up 46; story time participants 41 with 39 Read with Me sign ups.

Thanks to all who made summer reading programs possible: The Wilds, Joe's Crabshack, CAPA, Magic Mountain Polaris, Target, Meijer's, Layman Family, Kauble Family, Walmart, Richland Carousel Park, Longbranch Pizza, Ohio State Fair, Ohio State Parks, McDonald's Delaware/Sunbury, Columbus Crew, Columbus Museum of Art, Rocky's Italian Ice, Cameron Mitchell Restaurant, Franklin Park Conservatory, Marengo Country Market/Subway, everyone who donated items on our story time wish list, library staff, and especially to the Community Foundation of Delaware County.

Buckeye Valley School starts Wednesday Sept. 1.

Fresh Foods Nutrition and Preparation will be presented Tuesday, August 17 at 6:30 by Diane Mays of the Delaware County OSU Extension Service. This program is part of the Growing Community grant.

Canning and Food Preservation was presented by OSU certified Cora French-Robinson who came all the way from Lancaster to discuss techniques and new standards with sixteen attendees. A variety of fact sheets are available. The current revised USDA Complete Guide to Canning is available online at www.uga.edu/nchfp tab Publications.

The Food Pantry at Buckeye Valley East is currently open on Thursday afternoon from 1:30 - 3:30. Thank you for volunteering, Robert and Twana Smith. Volunteers are needed for Tuesday mornings 9:30 - 11:30. Call Shelly Stewart (937-594-0859) or Smiths (614-593-6872) if you are interested. The Food Pantry has been serving close to 80 persons. Gardens at the library and one maintained by the local Brownie group have contributed produce to the food pantry. Anyone can donate extra produce.

The Ashley Corn Show is set for August 4, 5, and 6. Games, rides, music, barbecued chicken and corn on the cob are highlights of this traditional local festival and home-coming.

Ashley on the main route. Ashley has been host to the man walking across the United States, the bicyclist from out west and one morning in late July a group of bicyclists riding a mission fund raising trip from Pigeon, Michigan to Columbus, Ohio. They stopped for a break at the Wesleyan Church .

http://www.ohioheretohelp.com/ connects to public and private entities for job searches, education, training, etc. Search the web at the library or bring in your computer and take advantage of wi-fi which is fast and FREE.

The Bookmark Society meets on Thursday August 26, 6:30 - 7:30. The book selected for reading is The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford, the reflections of an elderly Chinese American who when quite young had loved a Japanese girl who was interred during World War II. All book readers are invited to join these discussions.

Used ink cartridges help us save money on office supplies. We appreciate your donations. There is a box for deposit beside the copier.

Fall Planting and Garden Cleanup presented by Master Gardeners is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 11, Saturday, at 1:00. This will be the final program in our Growing Community : the Library Food Garden grant funded program. It has been an interesting experience so far with many thoughts on how it could have been done better. We were very excited with the initial community response. Progress was a little sidetracked by grant terms, our levy campaign, and the weather. Tree plantings which should have been done in the spring will be done in late August at Ashley Villa, the Ashley Village Park, Buckeye Valley East Elementary, and Delaware Manor. There are still books and DVDs to come - and more vegetables. Thank you to the Brownies, SACC, Ashley Manor, and those busy Master Gardeners.

Mother Earth News Aug./Sept. 2010 has two interesting graphs. Where does the money go? from Consumer Expenditures April 2009 shows average annual household expenditures with percentages.

U. S. food system energy use (not cited) shows percentages of energy used from farm production through consumption.

July 2010

Make a Splash summer reading
Programs for first through sixth graders continue through July with a closing party on August 2.
Captain Dan’s Cartoon Adventure July 12
Pirates Ahoy ! July 19
Oceans of Fun July 26
All programs are held on Monday morning at 11:00 and last approximately 1 hour. Reading tallies can be done at the beginning of the program or at any other time. Children do not have to attend the programs to participate in the reading program and qualify for incentives and prizes. Nor are children required to read in order to attend the programs.
Storytime programs for preschoolers and kindergartners are held on Thursday mornings at 10:00. Themes are related to summer reading topics. Everyone is invited to the closing party on Monday August 2 at 11:00.

Read with Me encourages reading to young children. Eight out of ten reading activities can be chosen and completed for appropriate McDonald coupons for both child and reader. The activity sheet also includes information on developing skills necessary for reading.

Teen Night is set for July 20 from 6:30 - 800. Join us for food, fun and games. All teens are welcome. There’s still time to sign up for Catch the Wave READ and be eligible for prizes.
Adults receive a reduced state camping fee certificate when they sign up, and participate in a prize drawing when they rate books they read.

Books are for the mind what exercise is for the body.

The Bookmark Society will meet on Thursday evening July 29 at 6:30. The reading selection is Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. All book lovers are invited for an evening of socializing with food.

It’s Canning Time A canning and food preservation workshop will be presented by Cora French-Robinson from the OSU Extension Service at the library on Tuesday July 27, 6:30 - 8:00.
Growing Communities: The Library Food Garden grant sponsors the canning program. Other results of the grant include the following.

Our sample square foot garden and garden-in-a-bag are on display on the library lawn. Three families plus the Brownies have planted gardens at the community garden area. Soil and plants were provided for Ashley Manor planters. Anyone’s excess produce can be given to BVEE Food Pantry.

A large number of books were donated by master gardeners and video recordings and books are being reviewed for addition to the library collection.

We are in the process or arranging the planting of various fruit and nut trees and berry bushes at Buckeye Valley East Elementary, Ashley Villa, Ashley Newman Park complex, and Delaware Manor.

Food gardens encourage local growing of produce and its use and engage all ages and abilities in learning about plant life, gardening practices, life cycles, ecology, nutrition, hunger, and more.

New books related to the Growing Community grant include Grocery Gardening, Preserve It!, and You Can Can. Made by Hand by Mark Frauenfelder sounds like interesting supplemental material.

Non-fiction reading both adult and juvenile is lower than lat year. Broke, USA by Gary Rivlin, Every Other Monday by John Kasich, Elsie and Mari Go To War by Diane Atkinson, The Great Silence by Juliet Nicholson, God is Not One by Stephen Prothero, Russia Against Napoleon by Dominic Lieven, Sandhill Boy by Elmer Kelton or The Most Powerful Idea in the World by William Rosen might up those statistics.

Lighter reading (thanks to the means to order new fiction) includes Dean Koontz’s latest Frankenstein book, two Covington Ladies updates, a Discworld novel, a new Honor Harrington, Janet Evanovich’s number 16, an “adult” Darren Shan, more Amish romances, the last Robert Parker, Danielle Steel and James Patterson…and more. Enjoy.

The Summer Letterbox Adventure is offered by Delaware County Preservation Parks in conjunction with area library summer reading programs. Follow nature clues and find Letterboxes hidden in seven Preservation Parks. This free, award winning program continues through August and is a great way to visit all the parks along with introducing your family to letterboxing and some nature facts.. Pick up a flier on summer park activities. Mt. Gilead and Delaware State Parks, Highbanks, and Stratford Ecological Center provide additional nature programs and opportunities. Check the library for identification guides and books that provide even more natural history information and activities.

The library needs a new board member. Members should represent the community and have experience or knowledge applicable to their roll. Five board members establish general library policy and advise and make judgments on subjects ranging from personnel and public relations to financial and legal matters Regular meetings are held once a month at 7:30 pm on the second Monday of the month. Occasional special meetings are held. Applicants must live in either Ashley village or Oxford Township. Current members are Shirley Thurston, George Patterson, Lisa Kimble, and Michael Wion. Persons interested in serving on the library board should contact the library (7470-747-2085) or send a brief statement of interest and qualifications to Wornstaff Library, Box 358, Ashley, OH 43003. For additional information contact any of the board members or the library. The next board meeting is July 12.

June 2010

Summer Reading : Make a Splash
(1st - 6th grades Monday at 11:00)
(preschool story time Thursday at 10:00)
Dive in to ..Summer Reading June 14
Sign-up activities
Fishing Worm Race June 21
(bring your own worm)
WOW ! The Wonders Of Water June 28
Library closed July 5
Captain Dan’s July 12
Cartoon Adventure
Pirates Ahoy ! July 19
Oceans of Fun July 26
Closing Program Splish Splash Aug. 2
Activities, games, reading, and prizes! Join the summer fun at the Ashley Wornstaff Library. First through sixth graders meet Monday mornings at 11:00. Storytime for preschoolers and kindergarten continues on Thursday mornings at 10:00. The programs listed above are for 1st - 6th graders. Storytime programs will have similar themes
READ READ READ 1st - 6th graders who keep track of the time spent reading will receive prizes and incentives. “Read with Me” provides incentives for younger children and their caregivers.
Teen Make Waves @Your Library provides a prize for signing up and a prize-drawing ticket for each two hours of reading time. Teen Night on July 20 6:30 - 8:00 features food, fun, and games.
Adults can Water their Minds by reading and get an Ohio State Park certificate good for 50% off camping or getaway rentals plus other prizes by contributing a book review. Adults may also sign up for a weekly drawing for passes and prizes.

The library levy passed by 80% in Ashley village and 69% in Oxford Township. This was one of the three largest margins of victory in the state. Twenty-five out of 29 library levies passes. While we are concerned that the days of stable, equitable funding for Ohio libraries may be over, we are very pleased that local residents feel that the library is an essential community service. Special thanks to everyone on the levy committee, Shirley Thurston, Gary Buechel and the Bell family. Thank you Ashley Village and Oxford Township.
Levy money will not be received until March 2011. The library has contracts with the village of Ashley and Oxford Township for the collection and distribution to the library of the levy funds. Any other use of those funds is not permitted and would be an illegal breach of contract.
Library services can be restored immediately because the library still has reserves and that levy money is forthcoming. The library is now open on Wednesdays. Staff hours have been restored. There is a budget of $17,000 for materials for 2010. Books have been ordered and magazine subscriptions renewed. Individual magazines were renewed prior to the levy by Kathleen Layman, Sue Dicke, Donna Swisher, Shirley Thurston, Barbara Nibert, Elizabeth Barker, Ohio Fish and Game Association, People’s Fund, and the Growing Community grant.
Summer Reading funded by the Community Foundation of Delaware County.
Staff Picks :
While preparing for the Summer Reading program Vicky Collins enjoyed three books among others : Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer by Carol Bendler, Bird, Butterfly, and Eel by James Prosek, and Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock.
Jane Horn has been enjoying children’s audio books - especially A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck.
Whiter than Snow by Sandra Dallas is Karen Stein-Pendleton’s pick. An avalanche in the 1920ssweeps away nine children and four survive. Which four have survived in this tale of before and after events?
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke is Liz Barker’s choice. This story of a revival of English magic in the early 1800s is a 780 page turning commitment that was worth the effort.
Susan Bussard recommends Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. This second book of a trilogy is a great read with an always winning combination of Italian shoes, family life and finding love.
Delaware This Week is available at the library thanks to the Delaware County District Library which sends them via the interlibrary loan delivery service. Extra copies are at the post office.
Megan Burns presented the Pet story time to a full house of 14 children who made cat hats and snacked on puppy chow. Megan is the library page and a regular storytime helper. She’s a welcome fill-in for Miss Vicky who had an opportunity to attend the National Book Exposition in New York.
Hand whittled nursery rhyme illustrations are on display in the children’s room. They are the work of Ed Schuler, a resident of Ashley Manor. He could be Olive Green’s Elijah Pearce.
Father’s Day is June 20. Give Dad his due.
Growing Community has suffered some from cold weather and lots of rain but should be back on track. The Boy Scouts helped fill the planters at Ashley Manor. Master gardeners John Kerr and Connie Yugo offered beginning gardening advice to those attending the Starter Garden meeting. Ten starter garden baskets complete with plants were distributed. Baskets were filled by The Jolly Rangers. It’s not too late to grow some greens and more.
The library gardens are a good (belated??) example. Two samples on the front lawn made the May deadline. One is a square foot garden with specific sol composition. The other is simplicity itself - bags of topsoil laid on the sod with a large window cut in the top and holes punched in the bottom. Watch our plants grow.
There are still plants, seeds, and garden space available -fresh cheap food and exercise. Garden tools can be checked out at the library. It could be the “greening of Ashley” with Farmers’ Market proceeds donated to the village.
Ashley village financial statements can be viewed at the library. Copies are available for the usual fee.
The current water bill included a cash summary by fund for 2010. Council meetings are the first Tuesday of the month. Committee meetings are listed on Ashley water bills. Be part of the solution.
The Bookmark Society will meet Thursday evening June 24 at 6:30. June’s selection is Sarah’s Key by Tatiana Rosnay. A woman journalist is assigned a review of the 1942 roundup of Jews in Paris and discovers a connection with the event and much about her husband’s family and herself.
The perpetual book sale has received many, many romance novels and a large collection of contemporary hardback fiction plus miscellaneous items - all for that fabulous price of 10 cents or $1.00 a bag. Stock up on worry free vacation reading while the selection is good.

May 2010

Story time : (Thursday mornings at 10:00)
Mother’s Day May 6
Traffic May 13
Bugs May 20
Pets May 27
No Storytime June 3
June 10

Make a Splash@Your Library June 17 - Jul 22
Summer Reading starts June 14. The theme is a watery Make a Splash @ Your Library.

The Storytime break the first two weeks in June precedes the summer programming. Monday morning programs are for first through sixth grades and will last seven weeks. Storytime programs will continue on Thursday mornings with a similar theme. Read with Me will again be an active program encouraging caregivers to read to children. There will be incentives for both child and reader. Teens and adults can read for prizes and books relating to the theme will be featured. The closing program will be a party at the Ashley Pool Complex with a free swim period - open to all ages of participants.

The Bookmark Society will meet May 27 at 6:30 at the library. The selected reading is The Book Thief by Markus Zursak, the story of a girl in Nazi Germany who becomes addicted to stealing books.

Starter Gardens on Saturday May 8, 1:00 at the library will provide a start for local vegetable growing. Starter garden kits of plants, seeds, hand tools and planting ideas will be available plus some demonstrations and master gardener advice.

Growing Community: the Library Food Garden will officially begin on May 1. Starter gardens consisting of vegetable plants and seeds with basic instructions and hand tools will be available at the Starter Garden program on Saturday May 8 at l:00 at the library. A sod lifter, shovels, rakes and hoes can be checked out at the library. Community garden plots will be available. Sign up at the library or the village office. The library will have a square foot garden plot and another “sample” garden on the front lawn. There are many gardening books with ideas for container gardening or interplanting with existing beds. The school Food Pantry will appreciate donations of any excess produce and there’s talk of an Ashley farmers’ market. You really can grow your own food. Save money, improve your nutrition.

Delaware County Master Gardeners have been wonderfully generous with their help on our gardening program. Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company has donated The Ortho Problem Solver, (a comprehensive reference to plant diseases, insect attack, and general health) and potting soil for starting seeds. The Delaware County Extension Service has helped make arrangements for a food preservation program Tuesday evening, July 27. The focus will be on canning with some discussion of making jams and jellies.

Community garden plots are available at 201 South Street. Steve Duffey, Jim Foor, and Warren Brown have prepared the ground. Sign up at the library or village office.

May days to celebrate : Mother’s Day on May 9 and Cinco de Mayo on the fifth.

Student poetry posted in the young adult area commemorates both the Central Ohio Symphony’s Chasing Light with Joseph Schwanter and April’s Poetry month. Poetry is just like Earth Day - every day should be Earth Day and have a bit of poetry.

Artwork in the young adult section now includes a black & white oil portrait by Hailey Gorenflo.

Primary election is Tuesday May 4. Local issues include a new 1.8 mill five year levy for the Wornstaff Library, renewal of Ashley’s street levy, and an Elm Valley Fire levy renewal. We will be waiting for returns at the library after the polls close.

Media coverage for the library levy has been great. We must be the current library funding crisis poster child. There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch on April 22 and then shortly afterwards a lovely piece on channel 4 news. See Vicky Collins and board president Shirley Thurston and glimpses of Ashley. www.wornstafflibrary.blogspot.com

It’s Opera time. Candy Staley’s second grade at Buckeye Valley East Elementary School will present their annual Opera on May 26 and 27. It’s a real treat and the cultural event of the year in Ashley!

Preservation Parks May-August programs are available. Activities include the Summer Letterbox Adventure which introduces all the parks, Art in the Park, and Thursday evening concerts plus programs for ages 3-5 and ages 6-12. Mt. Gilead State Park and Stratford Ecological Center also have nature camps and programs through the summer.

The Ashley pool will be open Memorial Day weekend and then from June 4 -Sept. 6. Family passes for 5 are $100 and individual passes are $50. Check the village office.

Discovery Packs and Home Learning Media are available for checkout and can provide learning activities for children through the summer. Some games are included.

Children’s Book Week is May 10-16. Celebrate by reading to a child. Or pull up a chair and browse the new picture books, no matter what your age. One special library perk is “being required” to do that.

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News | Ohio Votes 2010

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April 2010

Storytime: (Thursday mornings at 10:00)

Easter Apr. 1
Fun & Games Apr. 8
Library Week Apr. 15
Earth Day Apr. 22
How Does Your Garden Grow Apr. 29
Mother’s Day May 6

A Pruning Workshop by Jon Kerr will be held on Saturday April 10 at 1:00. The workshop is at 201 South Street, Ashley and will include actual pruning demonstrations. Mr. Kerr is a master gardener who is volunteering his time. The program is part of the Growing Communities - the Library Food Garden grant. Parking is limited at the site but participants can park one block west in the White Lily parking lot on Main street. Garden plots will be available at this site and can be checked out at the same time.

The Starting Seeds program was presented by five master gardeners who volunteered their time and was attended by nine persons. Types of containers, proper soil and water mix, and various techniques for maintaining humidity for germination were demonstrated and discussed.
Seed starting by the Brownies assisted by master gardeners Sue Leichty and Connie Zuga took place at the regular Brownie meeting on March 16. Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, basil, parsley, marigolds, and nasturtiums were seeded and plants will be available for starter gardens and community garden plots. A great time was had by all. Seeds were donated by master gardeners and the county extension office and potting soil by Scott’s. Growing Communities : the Library Food Garden is for anyone interested in gardening. Sign up for a starter garden and a plot to call your own.

Voter registration deadline for the May primary is April 5, 2010. Voter registration and address change forms and requests for absentee ballots are available at the library. The library has a levy on the ballot which will be voted on ONLY in Ashley village and Oxford Township.

The Levy Committee manned a table at the BVEE school carnival, passing out informational fliers and voter registration forms. They have regularly been meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:00. Check the library for times or sign up for e-mail updates on those meetings. Your help is welcome.

The Bookmark Society will meet Thursday evening., April 22 at 6:30 at the library. The selected book is These Is My Words by Nancy Turner. All readers and book lovers are welcome for a pleasant evening of books - and food. Please bring books that you no longer want so you can share them with others.

National Library Week is April 11-17. The 2010 theme is Communities Thrive @ Your Library which fits in well with Growing Communities and The Wornstaff Library’s community commitments.

$55 ways to love the Wornstaff Library is our way of asking people to say why the library is valuable to them. It’s also important to make a special point of how important our patrons are and how much all of you contribute to our wanting to give back to each of you and the community.

Gardening books donated by master gardeners are on the new book shelf for the coming season.
Magazine renewal offers are available for anyone wanting to renew a library subscription which expires in June. Our Delaware Gazette subscription is also due to expire.

Upcoming events : Ashley village Easter egg hunt is scheduled for Saturday April 3 at 1:00 at Newman Park (preferably without snow). Then there’s the Youth Trout Fishing Tournament on Saturday April 17 from 8:00 am to noon. Register at the village office or the library.

Chasing the Light by Joseph Schwanter will be premiered at the May 1 Central Ohio Symphony Concert (and at 57 other concerts around the nation). Several local workshops (including instrument building and poetry writing) and special events throughout the community will precede this event sponsored by Ford Made in America.

Osprey Homecoming will be celebrated by Hogback Ridge Preservation Park on April 18, 1:00-4:00. The buzzards, the robins, and the killdeers are here and already setting up housekeeping. Spring is a good time to take a look at and around all the Preservation Parks.

Earth Day’s 40th anniversary is April 22. Plant a tree, pick up litter, celebrate being outside, be kind to our planet. The Strand Theatre in Delaware has special movies.

A Jeep collection is currently on display, on loan from John Pendleton. We’d be glad to feature your collection.

National Robotics Competition takes place April 15-17 at the Marion County Fairgrounds Coliseum in Marion. Middle schools, high schools, vocational schools, community colleges, and universities from all over the U.S. participate.

The more literary minded persons can choose from “Steel Magnolias” dinner theatre at the Marion Palace, OWU’s Opera Theater or the OWU production of “The Love of the Nightingale” - all on that same weekend. Or there’s always the option of settling in with a good book , perhaps after a day of getting the yard and garden in shape. Happy Spring!

March 2010

Story time : (Thursday mornings at 10:00)
Pigs Mar. 4
Green Day Mar. 11
Home Sweet Home Mar. 18
It’s Spring Mar. 25
Easter Apr. 1

Megan Burns, our page and a regular story time helper, will present the “Pigs” story time program.

Game Day will be held March 29 between 1:00 and 3:00. It’s a diversion during spring break. All ages are invited. Bring your favorite games to share with others or enjoy the library‘s offerings. Come for an afternoon of fun, food, and games.

The Bookmark Society will meet Thursday evening March 25 at 6:30. All book lovers are invited for an evening of sharing. The March 25 selection is Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. The group meets at 6:30. All readers and book lovers are invited for a social evening with food.

How To Start Vegetables from Seeds will be presented by the Community Garden Master Gardeners on March 13, Saturday afternoon, at 1:00 at the library. Tomatoes, peppers and broccoli are three popular plants that need an early start. You can do this at home. Find out how. This program is part of the Growing Community program.

Growing Community : the Library Food Garden, an LSTA grant available through the State Library of Ohio, has been applied for. The community interest has been exciting and we are looking forward to a revival of backyard gardening. Plans include starter garden kits, tool loans, programs on starting seeds, basic gardening, and produce preparation and preservation.

The library levy has been successfully submitted and will be on the May ballot in Oxford Township and both Ashley Village precincts. We are asking for 1.8 mills for five years. A Support the Ashley Wornstaff Library Political Action Committee is being formed and will meet again March 4 at 7:00.

Thanks for the continuing donations of books, DVDs, money, and supplies for children’s programs. Many people have contributed and it certainly helps our morale to be able to offer new selections. Up and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs are the latest PTO movie donations.

Padded mailing envelopes (used are good) are needed for the interlibrary loan delivery service. Interlibrary Loan: We can borrow materials from other libraries. Please ask and let us know what you want - books, movies, audio books. We don’t request best sellers as libraries who can purchase them want to provide them to their patrons.

“Ashley Library seeking its first operating levies.” There we are again on the front page of the Delaware Gazette. We hope the next time will be the passing of the levy. All the staff would really appreciate being able to buy materials and have the time to provide regular services to the community. It’s up to the voters to decide.

New books are coming. Grants and donations are funding children’s books from Usborne Publishers, some inspirational fiction in memory of Bob Ziegler and a few miscellaneous titles. We looked at popular authors and areas trying to answer the reading needs of our patrons. It’s much harder to order 28 books than 108 but quite exciting.

It’s Maple Sugar Festival time. Usually there are three opportunities in the area: the Lutheran Camp near Fulton on Mar. 14 10:30 - 4:00, Camp Lazurus south of Delaware on March 7, and Stratford Ecological Center on south Liberty Road on Mar. 13. Experience the sap to syrup story and enjoy some good food. It’s a winter treat, plus a sure sign that spring is on its way. That’s sweet!

It’s Buckeye Dulcimer Festival time - March 10 -14. There are classes for mountain and hammered dulcimers, autoharp, mandolin and band-it, plus two evening concerts on Mar. 13 & 14. $10 at the door at Recreation Unlimited. It’s a fund raiser for them, a personal project of Louise Ziegler’s, and great music of the Ashley area.

The pumpkin challenge. Several years ago we had a Halloween pumpkin that lived through seasonal sartorial variations culminating in A Cat in the Hat recognition of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. A picture survives but Mr. Pumpkin didn’t last to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Now there’s a new Cat in the Hat pumpkin who may be in need of a leprechaun’s hat if only out of gratitude that Pig Day on March 1 wasn’t a dress-up occasion.

Dental floss paintings done by Thursday morning story timers are on display in the children’s room.

Thanks to Floyd Dickman for his generous donation of children’s books.

Be a Rep for a Day. Representative Kris Jordan is sponsoring a reading program in his district for students in first through sixth grades. Bookmarks are available at the library for recording books read. Read five books to qualify. Return the bookmark to the library by March 31 One qualifying participant will be chosen by raffle from each of the District 2 libraries. Winners will spend a day at the Ohio State House as honorary legislators, receiving lunch and a VIP tour sometime in early April.

February 2010

Story time : (Thursday morning at 10:00)
Winter Games Feb. 4
Be My Valentine Feb. 11
Chinese New Year (tiger) Feb. 18
Brush Your Teeth Feb. 25

Grants from the Delaware Community Foundation and The People Fund have provided $4000 for books for children and young adults, and for our summer reading program. We are pleased that some funds may also be used for the staff time needed for program preparation and presentation.

Free Wi-Fi is available at the library along with videos and DVDs and public Internet access - plus, of course, all those book and magazines.

The Bookmark Society will meet on Thursday evening, Feb. 25 at 6:30. The book selected is Evening Class by Maeve Binchy - Irish workers are transformed by an Italian class. All book lovers are welcome. There is food and good company.

Two “Kill a Watt” meters for monitoring the electricity use of specific appliances have been donated to the library by Consolidated Electric Cooperative and are available for checkout.

Congratulations (sponsored by Kris Jordan) came from the Ohio House of Representatives to the Wornstaff Library on receiving a 5 star rating from the Library Journal and from congressman Pat Tiberi a letter offering the same. We appreciate the recognition that the Wornstaff Library has provided exemplary library service to the community. It’s what we like to do and hope to continue. Money helps and we hope this recognition will help persuade local voters to provide funds to make up for the shortfall in state monies.

The Friends of the Library will meet Feb. 18 at 7:00 to discuss levy campaign strategies. They are actually postponing their official organization because of legal restrictions on what Friends of the Library organizations can do during campaigns.

The filing deadline for ballot issues is Feb. 18 and it is hoped that at that point the filing process will have been completed. It’s been more complicated and frustrating than anticipated. Both Oxford Township and Ashley Village (our defined service area) must pass resolutions supporting the request and asking that it be put on the ballot. Also involved is an agreement on particulars regarding levy costs and transference of the levy funds. Special thanks goes to our fiscal officer Linda Thomas for researching those elusive particulars.

The levy could pass in the village but not the township or vice versa. This would provide some additional funds for the library and a second try could be made in just the one area. This potentially awkward situation illustrates another unfortunate aspect of the loss of state funding and subsequent need to depend upon local support. Many library users frequent multiple libraries and there has been a statewide effort to create a statewide network accessible to any Ohio resident. When local areas sacrifice to provide library services they may not be as willing to share with areas who seem not to have shared the expense.

The People Fund awarded the Wornstaff Library $3000 for the purchase of books for children and young adults. We will be purchasing the 2010 World Book Encyclopedia and continuing our subscriptions to Kids Discover and Cobblestone magazines. Other titles will be purchased through the year. We are very appreciative of this grant which will help the youth of the community.

Library Wish List : Sponsors for magazine subscriptions, DVDs, current books to supplement our $1,800 budget for those items for the whole year. Paper towel rolls and milk carton caps are wanted for summer reading crafts and activities.

Growing Community : the Library Food Garden is a grant funded by the State Library of Ohio which encourages libraries to partner with other community entities to establish food gardens on library or other public land. The library is interested in participating. The BVEE Food Pantry, the SACC garden, the village parks and recreation committee, Ashley Villa, Delaware Manor, 4-H and scout groups could all be partners. The USDA is also working with master gardeners to promote community gardens. The ultimate product of fresh locally grown produce in menus can have many other benefits including the satisfaction of growing plants for young and old. Your ideas and your participation will be appreciated.

The Phoenix Bakery is open and features Der Dutchman baked goods, noodles, and jelly. Try it. Hours are basically 5:00am to 4:00pm - ready with your coffee and roll for the ride to work.

The 2010 Census is on its way. Did you receive a long form asking all sorts of questions? Will you promptly return the more abbreviated form most of us will get? Will you answer the door when the census takers come knocking? Census numbers are important for determining how many federal funds are distributed and how areas are represented in the legislative process. Census figures also provide valuable statistical information for innumerable aspects of planning and allocating resources.

David Lewis’s art is in the display case. David, now a sixth grader, was a Buckeye Valley East student. He specializes in modeling clay and the exhibit features number of imaginative sculptures.

January 2010

Storytime : (10:00am Thursday morning)
Unbirthday Party Jan. 7
Alphabet Adventure Jan. 14
Soup Month Jan. 21
Snow Jan. 28

The Friends of the Library will meet Thursday January 7 at 7:00pm. Don Yarman from the Delaware County District Library will talk about their Friends group and levy campaigning.

The Bookmark Society will meet Thursday evening January 28 at 6:30. The book selected is The Good, Good Pig by Sy Montgomery. All book lovers are welcome.

The Library Board met December 14 and appointed David Knape to replace trustee Bob Ziegler who recently resigned due to illness. The board also voted to begin the process of placing a 1.8 mill, 5 year levy on the ballot in May 2010. Other business included extending through 2010 the suspension of limiting benefits to staff who averaged at least 20 hours a week. In the absence of specific benefit provisions benefits are pro-rated for all staff.

David Knape has lived in the village for several years and has been active in various capacities including being a member of village council. He is experienced in grant applications and should be a great asset during this stressful time. We are fortunate to have him as a member of the board of trustees and appreciate his interest.

Book and movie donations for November were $55 plus twelve movies and five books. Many have donated children’s supplies. Many thanks to all and best wishes for the New Year.

1099s and W2s. Earned Income Tax Credit free filing will again be available at the Wornstaff Library on February 13 from 10:00 - 2:00. This service is also available for qualifying persons at the Delaware office January 23 to April 15. Call 369-3316 for an appointment.

Patron list update : Please let us know of any changes - especially in telephone numbers. We try to keep our catalog and patron list current by deleting long overdue and lost materials and former patrons who have moved. Both aspects are complicated by needing a “delinquent” record.

Magazine subscriptions paid by patrons include Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Popular Mechanics, National Geographic. Hunting and fishing magazines will be renewed with money donated by The Delaware Fish and Game Association.

Recent DVD donations include Up (BVEE PTO), 40 Year old Virgin, Seven Pounds, Wolverine, Duplicity, Lakeview Terrace, Snow Buddies, and Speed Racer.

The other side : The case for Jeff Dunham Spark of Insanity was found on top of the bookshelves without the DVD - apparently taken out of the bookdrop. The Hunger Games is also missing and presumed stolen. Need we repeat that especially during a time when we can’t afford to purchase new materials non-returned and stolen items cause a lot of distress - to the library and the community.

Hunting permission slips available.

Ashley Doings : The G and K has closed its doors, also affected by illness. Perhaps its success will encourage something similar. It was, allegedly, the best place to buy milk in town and who can measure the advantage of not having to drive 10 miles for some small hardware item. What about The Phoenix Bakery?? Progress looks promising.

There was a survey on the Best in Delaware. It’s been interesting to watch Ashley change and cope in recent years. We should have our own Best in Ashley survey, where to walk for instance. The Ashley Walkers have not managed to get restarted but there are plenty of walkers in Ashley. Some people actually come into town to walk or run. Ashley Road north is a less trafficked route and the cemetery has its advantages. Does anyone have other recommendations?

Staff schedules for January are straight out of the book with no vacations or ills or other interruptions. The past months have been more challenging and we’re glad to have everyone well and here.

January suggestions : It’s time to start perusing garden catalogs and getting ready for spring. Don’t put those cookbooks away; just turn to soups and casseroles and slow cooked favorites. Ditto for the craft books now that any Christmas gift making pressure is gone. Learn to knit or crochet. Try some felting or calligraphy. Build a bookcase. Check out a foreign language movie or that serious book for those long winter evenings. Discovery Kits for the preschool set and Home Learning Media for older ones provide extra activities the whole family can enjoy. Hurry ; the days are already getting longer.

Game Day hosted 8 youth, producing some creative Lego designs, introducing games, and distributing our candy supply. You can try this at home. Thanks to those who shared their Legos.

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.