March Book Madness is coming to the library

March Book Madness imageEvents This Week

  • Monday – The Library will be closed on Monday, February 18th for Presidents’ Day. We will reopen on Tuesday for our regular hours.
  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Wednesday at 11 am Lapsit Storytime – Special storytime for children ages 0-2. Come listen to stories, sing songs, and develop key literacy skills. Also, every child gets a FREE book to take home!
  • Thursday at 5:30 pm Storytime – If you can’t make it to the morning storytime on Tuesday, you can come to the evening Thursday one instead. For children of all ages.
  • Saturday at 1:30 pm Winter PJ Party – Kids, wear your favorite pajamas and join us at the library for some stories & games! Be sure to bring your favorite stuffed “friend” or blanket!

 

More Events

TacosRecipe Swap

On Tuesday, February 26th at 6:30 p.m., join us for Recipe Swap and share your favorite recipe with fellow patrons who share your passion — cooking! Every month is a different theme! This month’s theme is “Taco Tuesday”.

 

Oscar Prediction Contest and Movie

Pick up an Oscar prediction ballot at the library. Fill it out and return it by Saturday, Feb. 23rd and you could win a prize if you accurately predict the winners of the four categories on the ballot. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 26th.

After the Oscars are over, come watch an Oscar worthy movie with us on Monday, the 25th at 5:30 pm. Free popcorn will be available!

 

Library and Lunch Book Club

In March, we will discuss “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. We’ll meet on Tuesday, March 12th at 12 p.m. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

 

March Book Madness Teen Display

March Book Madness

Next week is the official start of our third annual March Book Madness contest. We’ve taken our sixteen most popular books from each area of the library: adult, teen, and kids, and pitted them against each other in a battle to see which books will become our 2019 Books of the Year.

You decide who will be the winner. Vote each week during March for your favorites, either on our website (http://lmlibrary.org) or in person at the library.

You can also fill out a bracket, online or in person, to predict the winners. If you correctly predict the winner of any of the three tournaments and turn in your bracket before March 8th at 4:30 p.m., you will win a 2019 March Book Madness trophy!

When you vote each week, besides helping determine which books will move forward in the tournament of books, you will also enter yourself into weekly drawings for fun prizes. The first round ballots to select the Elite Eight are due Friday, March 8th by 4:30 p.m.

So have a little fun and maybe win a prize at the library by participating in this year’s March Book Madness.

 

 

Celebrating Black History Month

Here are a couple of books from our display of books written by African American authors.

The Mothers imageThe Mothers: A Novel
by Brit Bennett

From the book description
It is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, seventeen-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother’s recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor’s son. Luke Sheppard is twenty-one, a former football star whose injury has reduced him to waiting tables at a diner. They are young; it’s not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance—and the subsequent cover-up—will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth.

As Nadia hides her secret from everyone, including Aubrey, her God-fearing best friend, the years move quickly. Soon, Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey are full-fledged adults and still living in debt to the choices they made that one seaside summer, caught in a love triangle they must carefully maneuver, and dogged by the constant, nagging question: What if they had chosen differently? The possibilities of the road not taken are a relentless haunt.

Homegoing imageHomegoing: A novel
by Yaa Gyasi

Two half sisters, Effia and Esi are born into different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. Effia is married off to an Englishman and lives in comfort in the palatial rooms of Cape Coast Castle. Unbeknownst to Effia, her sister, Esi, is imprisoned beneath her in the castle’s dungeons, sold with thousands of others into the Gold Coast’s booming slave trade, and shipped off to America, where her children and grandchildren will be raised in slavery. One thread of Homegoing follows Effia’s descendants through centuries of warfare in Ghana, as the Fante and Asante nations wrestle with the slave trade and British colonization.

The other thread follows Esi and her children into America. From the plantations of the South to the Civil War and the Great Migration, from the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, to the jazz clubs and dope houses of twentieth-century Harlem, right up through the present day, Homegoing makes history visceral, and captures, with singular and stunning immediacy, how the memory of captivity came to be inscribed in the soul of a nation.

New Year’s resolutions at the Library

   image of Supr Bowl snacksEvents This Week

  • Monday Closed – The Library will be closed on Monday, January 21st for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday for our regular hours.
  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Wednesday at 11 am Lapsit Storytime – Special storytime for children ages 0-2. Come listen to stories, sing songs, and develop key literacy skills. Also, every child gets a FREE book to take home!
  • Thursday at 5:30 pm Storytime – If you can’t make it to the morning storytime on Tuesday, you can come to the evening Thursday one instead. For children of all ages.
  • Saturday at 1:30 pm Sing-Along Party – Feel free to dress up as your favorite “Frozen” character for our Sing-Along party. Make a fun craft and enjoy some free popcorn while watching the movie and sing your heart out!!

More Events

Recipe Swap

On Tuesday, January 29th at 6:30 p.m., join us for Recipe Swap and share your favorite recipe with fellow patrons who share your passion — cooking! Every month is a different theme! This month’s theme is “Super Bowl Snacks”.

Movie Time

On Saturday, February 2nd at 3 pm, celebrate Groundhog Day with us by watching the classic comedy movie starring Bill Murray.

On Thursday, February 14th at 6 pm, celebrate Valentine’s Day with us by watching a 2004 romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider. Free popcorn and water are available and feel free to bring your own soda if you’d like!

Library and Lunch Book Club

In February, we will discuss “Small Blessings” by Martha Woodroof. We’ll meet on Tuesday, February 12th at 12 p.m. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Coffee Lounge Area
Check out our new coffee lounge at the Library. Enjoy a free cup of coffee while sitting in one of our new chairs and chatting with friends or just watching the weather channel. This month Space Station Secure Storage was kind enough to sponsor the free coffee. If you or your local business would like to act as sponsor for a month, contact the Library Director, Royce Kitts via email at director@lmlibary.org or by phone at 620-626-0180.

New Year’s Resolutions

If you are working on a New Year’s resolution, this month’s book display might give you the boost you’re looking for.

book image "the power of a positive no"The Power of a Positive No: How to Say No and Still Get to Yes
by William Ury

From the book description
No is perhaps the most important and certainly the most powerful word in the language. Every day we find ourselves in situations where we need to say No–to people at work, at home, and in our communities–because No is the word we must use to protect ourselves and to stand up for everything and everyone that matters to us.

But as we all know, the wrong No can also destroy what we most value by alienating and angering people. The secret to saying No without destroying relationships lies in the art of the Positive No, a technique that anyone can learn.

This book gives you a three-step method for saying a Positive No. In the end, the Positive No will help you get not just to any Yes but to the right Yes, the one that truly serves your interests.

book image "Waste free kitchen handbook"Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money
By Wasting Less Food by Dana Gunders

Despite a growing awareness of food waste, many well-intentioned home cooks lack the tools to change their habits. This handbook–packed with engaging checklists, simple recipes, practical strategies, and educational infographics–is the ultimate tool for reducing food waste.

From a scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council come these everyday techniques that call for minimal adjustments of habit, from shopping, portioning, and using a refrigerator properly to simple preservation methods including freezing, pickling, and cellaring. At once a good read and a go-to reference, this handy guide is chock-full of helpful facts and tips, including 20 “use-it-up” recipes and a substantial directory of common foods.

book image "The Lucky Years"The Lucky Years: How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Health
by David B. Agus M.D.

In his first bestseller, The End of Illness, David Agus revealed how to add vibrant years to your life by knowing the real facts of health. In this book, he builds on that theme by showing why this is the luckiest time yet to be alive, giving you the keys to the new kingdom of wellness.

In this new golden age, you’ll be able to take full advantage of the latest scientific findings and leverage the power of technology to customize your care. Imagine being able to get fit and lose weight without dieting, train your immune system to fight cancer, edit your DNA to avoid a certain fate, erase the risk of a heart attack, reverse aging, and know exactly which drugs to take to optimize health with zero side effects.

December Events at the Library

   Ugly sweater imageEvents This Week

  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Tuesday at Noon Ugly Christmas Sweater Party – Wear an ugly Christmas sweater for this fun party for adults! Participate in a White Elephant gift exchange, play games, and eat snacks. Adults only. Seating is limited. Sign up online or at the front desk.
  • Thursday at 5:30 pm Storytime – If you can’t make it to the morning storytime on Tuesday, you can come to the evening Thursday one instead.
  • Saturday at 3 pm Movie – Vote ahead of time for which holiday movie you want us to show. Vote in person at the Library or on Facebook. Free popcorn! Feel free to bring your own soda and even a pillow, blanket, or chair to be comfortable!

Holiday closed days

The Library will be closed Monday, December 24th through Wednesday, December 26th for the holiday. We will reopen for normal hours on Thursday, 27th – 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m

We will close early at 1 pm for New Year’s Eve on Monday December 31st and be closed on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1st. We will reopen for normal hours on Wednesday, 2nd – 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Holiday Fiction

"Christmas cake murder" book imageChristmas Cake Murder (A Hannah Swensen Mystery)
by Joanne Fluke

From the book description
It’s Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen’s wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder . . .

With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York.

Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .

Noel DiaryThe Noel Diary
by Richard Paul Evans

From the book description
Romance author Jacob Churcher hasn’t been home for almost twenty years—not since his mentally ill mother kicked him out of the house when he was just sixteen. When a lawyer calls, days before Christmas, to inform him that his estranged mother has passed away and left her house to him, Jacob returns not just to settle the estate but to try and reconcile with the past and the pain and abuse he experienced as a child.

But as it turns out, the house holds more than just difficult memories. Jacob uncovers many puzzling items including a diary left by someone named Noel, who stayed with Jacob’s family during her pregnancy and Jacob has an unexpected visitor, Rachel, a woman looking for the mother who put her up for adoption thirty years before.

United by their quest to make sense of the past and rewrite their futures, Jacob and Rachel begin a search for Noel. Along the way they find more than they possibly imagined, including grace, forgiveness and a chance at love.

Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners
by Gretchen Anthony

From the book description
A formidable matriarch learns the hard way that no family is perfect in this witty, sparkling debut novel.

Dearest loved ones, far and near—evergreen tidings from the Baumgartners!

Violet Baumgartner has opened her annual holiday letter the same way for the past three decades. And this year she’s going to throw her husband, Ed, a truly perfect retirement party, one worthy of memorializing in her upcoming letter. But the event becomes a disaster when, in front of two hundred guests, Violet learns her daughter Cerise has been keeping a shocking secret from her, shattering Violet’s carefully constructed world.

In an epic battle of wills, Violet goes to increasing lengths to wrest back control of her family, infuriating Cerise and snaring their family and friends in  very un-Midwestern, un-Baumgartner  dramatics. And there will be no explaining away the consequences in this year’s Baumgartner holiday letter…

 

Full of humor, emotion and surprises at every turn, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners brings to life a remarkable cast of quirky, deeply human characters who must learn to adapt to the unconventional, or else risk losing one another. This is the story of a family falling to pieces—and the unexpected way they put it all back together.

Holiday Events at the Library

  Plate of cookies  Events This Week

  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Wednesday – Library closes at 1 pm
  • Thursday and Friday – Library closed for Thanksgiving
  • Saturday at 2 pm Movie – Come to the library to see a new animated movie about a family full of superheroes. Free popcorn! Feel free to bring your own soda and even a pillow, blanket, or chair to be comfortable!

Recipe Swap – Cookie Swap

We won’t have a Recipe Swap in November, but on December 4th at 6:30 pm we will have our annual Cookie Swap. Bring two dozen of your favorite homemade cookies to share, along with the recipe, and take home a sample of other people’s creations!

Gingerbread House Decorating

Signup for the annual gingerbread house decorating at the library begins Monday after next on the 26th. Signup in person or online at http://lmlibrary.org.

There will be two sessions on Saturday, December 15th. One at 12:30 pm and another at 2:30pm. Children ages 4-11 and their parents are invited to come decorate a gingerbread house! Frosting and all kinds of toppings will be available. Seating is limited, so sign up as early as you can.

Holiday Meal Planning

If you have family coming for the holidays and you’re looking for some inspiration about what to serve them, you could try checking out some of the library’s cookbooks. The Library has all kinds of cookbooks available for checkout. Here are a few:

"Talk turkey to me" book imageTalk Turkey to Me: A Good Time in the Kitchen Talking Turkey and All the Trimmings
by Renee S. Ferguson

From the description

Talk Turkey to Me is an informative, entertaining read featuring caller’s questions answered by a former Butterball Turkey Talk-Line expert. The book also features recipes for more than 80 dishes to accompany your turkey – everything from appetizers to desserts – to help you cook up a good time in the kitchen anytime!

"Smashed mashed boiled and baked" book imageSmashed, Mashed, Boiled, and Baked–and Fried, Too!: A Celebration of Potatoes in 75 Irresistible Recipes
by Raghavan Iyer

From the book description
Inspired by a diversity of cuisines, Raghavan Iyer’s passion for potatoes shines through in his continent-by-continent celebration of the amazing potato and the tastiest ways you can cook it – including soups, salads, gratins, tarts, and the Ultimate French Fries.

"A year of pies" book imageA Year of Pies: A Seasonal Tour of Home Baked Pies
by Ashley English

From the book description
Take a delicious seasonal tour of pies. Pies can be enjoyed year-round. Join Ashley English as she walks you through a calendar year of making pies, using the freshest seasonal ingredients possible.

"The Christmas cookie book" book imageThe Christmas Cookie Book
by Judy Knipe and Barbara Marks

From the book description
The wonderful aroma of home-baked cookies is part of the enduring magic of Christmas. Now you can celebrate the holidays with The Christmas Cookie Book, a mouth-watering collection of more than ninety recipes gathered from the family, friends, and neighbors of authors Judy Knipe and Barbara Marks.

More than a collection of recipes, The Christmas Cookie Book is also a practical guide to the basics of cookie baking, equipment, and techniques. A special section called “Cookies to Go” is devoted to gift-giving, with charming ideas for packing and wrapping your cookies. A veritable feast of terrific recipes, gift ideas, and cookie-lore, The Christmas Cookie Book is sure to please cookie lovers of all ages.

Celebrate Tolkien week at the Library

Tolkien week image

Events This Week

  • Monday all day Scavenger Hunt – We are kicking off Tolkien week with an all day scavenger hunt in the library. Ask the front desk for the scavenger hunt riddle list. Once you complete the entire list you may win a 3D printed Tolkien themed prize!
  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Tuesday at 5 pm Sword/Shield Decorating – On day 2 of Tolkien week, celebrate by decorating your own cardboard shield and/or sword. All supplies will be provided. This event is open to all ages!
  • Wednesday all day Trivia – On day 3 of Tolkien Week will have an all day “The Hobbit” specific trivia contest. Trivia pages will be available at the circulation desk just come by and ask! Prizes will be awarded for different grade groups!
  • image of Library Fundraiser Night at McDonaldsWednesday from 4 pm to 7pm Library Fundraiser at McDonalds – The McDonalds on 24 East Pancake is having a fundraiser for the library. They will donate 20% of all sales made on this Wednesday between 4 pm and 7 pm to the library! So if you’re eating out on Wednesday, swing by the McDonalds on East Pancake.
  • Thursday at 2 pm Game Day for Adults – Play Mexican Train Dominoes, Spoons, or the card game “5 Crowns.” For adults only.
  • Thursday at 5 pm Baggins Bingo – On day 4 of Tolkien Week play “Baggins Bingo”! Each of the squares has a familiar face or location in Tolkien’s stories. Open to all ages and 3D printed Tolkien themed prizes will be available for the winner!
  • Thursday at 5:30 pm Storytime – If you can’t make it to the morning storytime on Tuesday, you can come to the evening Thursday one instead.
  • Friday Activity Sheets – On day 5 of Tolkien Week have fun with themed cross words, word searches and coloring pages!
  • Saturday at Noon Movie – celebrate Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday with us with a viewing of the movie along with other fun activities and snacks. We will be finding out our names in Dwarven Runes and pin the ring on Frodo and Bilbo.

More Events

  • Tuesday, September 25th at 6:30 pm Recipe Swap – Bring something you’ve made (along with the recipe) to share and enjoy everyone else’s creations! Every month is a different theme! This month’s theme is “International Recipes”.
  • Tuesday, October 9th at Noon Library and Lunch book discussion – In October we will discuss “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Hobbit Day

image of the ring from the Lord of the RingsHobbit Day is observed annually on September 22nd. It is the birthday of the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, two fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien’s popular set of books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In the books both Bilbo and Frodo were said to be born on September 22, but of different years. Bilbo was born in the year of 2890 and Frodo in the year of 2968 in the Third Age (1290 and 1368 respectively in Shire-Reckoning.)

The American Tolkien Society first proclaimed Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week in 1978, and defines them as this: “Tolkien Week is observed as the calendar week containing September 22, which is always observed as Hobbit Day”, but acknowledges that Hobbit Day pre-dates their designation.

You can check out The Hobbit and other Tolkien books at the Library.

What’s happening at the Library

This Week

  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at every storytime. Story times are open to children of all ages.
  • Tuesday at 6:30 pm Recipe Swap – Bring something you’ve made (along with the recipe) to share and enjoy everyone else’s creations! Every month is a different theme! This month’s theme is “Sandwiches”.
  • Thursday at 5:30 pm Storytime – If you can’t make it to the morning storytime on Tuesday, you can come to the evening Thursday one instead.

More Events

  • Saturday, Sept. 8th at 2 p.m. Movie Night – Come see the latest installment of the adventures of your friendly neighborhood web-slinger.
  • Wednesday, the 12th, at 6 p.m. Movie Night – visit Mr. Roger’s neighborhood in this documentary by filmmaker Morgan Neville. It’s been 50 years since beloved children’s TV host Fred Rogers started entertaining and educating with his half-hour show. This documentary explores his life and philosophy and has quickly become the highest-grossing biographical documentary of all-time.
  • Saturday, September 15th at 1:30 p.m. Mexican Independence Day Party – Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the library. There will be crafts, games and snacks. Registration is limited, so signup online today at http://lmlibrary.org
  • Saturday, September 22nd at Noon Hobbit Day – Celebrate Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday with us by watching the first movie of the trilogy and enjoy other fun activities and snacks.

Kansas Notable Books

Every year the Kansas State Library chooses a new list of Kansas Notable Books that are either written by Kansas authors or about a Kansas related topics. Below are a few of this year’s new notable books.

You can find the complete list of books on the Kansas State Library website https://kslib.info. You can also find them on our library catalog http://featured.lmlibrary.org or by using the new library catalog app “Library Mobile”.

Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West
by Tom Clavin

From the Book Description
The true story of how two gunfighters brought law and order to Dodge City, the most depraved and criminal town in the nation.

Dodge City, Kansas, is a place of legend. The town that started as a small military site exploded with the coming of the railroad, cattle drives, eager miners, settlers, and various entrepreneurs passing through to populate the expanding West. Before long, Dodge City’s streets were lined with saloons and brothels and its populace was thick with gunmen, horse thieves, and desperadoes of every sort. By the 1870s, Dodge City was known as the most violent and turbulent town in the West.

Enter Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Young and largely self-trained men, the lawmen led the effort that established frontier justice and the rule of law in the American West, and did it in the wickedest place in the United States.

To The Stars Through Difficulties: A Novel
by Romalyn Tilghman

After the small town of Prairie Hill, Kansas is destroyed by a tornado, three women – Angelina, Traci, and Gayle are determined to create a library and arts center as the first act of rebuilding the neighboring town. They are inspired by an old journal where they read about the frontier women who worked to raise money for books to fill the fifty-nine newly build Carnegie libraries.

Ike and McCarthy: Dwight Eisenhower’s Secret Campaign against Joseph McCarthy
by David A. Nichols

From the Book Description
In January 1954 Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the most powerful members of the U.S. Senate. By the end of that year he had been censured by his colleagues, and his power was shattered. Ike and McCarthy is the dramatic story of how President Dwight Eisenhower worked behind the scenes to make this happen.
When Eisenhower took office in January 1953, anticommunist fervor was at a fever pitch. The loudest voice was McCarthy’s, charging that the government was riddled with communist spies. Ike thought that McCarthy’s accusations were dangerously irresponsible… David A Nichols tells the riveting and little-known story of how Eisenhower and his advisers carefully plotted their successful effort to diminish McCarthy’s influence.

Back To School

It’s almost time for kids to head back to school. For students, fall is a time of anticipation and excitement, as they gain a new teacher, new school supplies, new clothes, new classmates, new rules, and some even head to a new school. I thought I would tell you about a few good children’s books about school from our collection:

 

book image dinosaur vs school

Dinosaur vs. School by Bob Shea (picture book)

Dinosaur is starting preschool today. ROAR! There are new friends to meet, dress-up outfits to wear, glitter and googly eyes to paste, musical instruments to play, and snacks to eat. What’s not to like? But then, oh, no! It’s Dinosaur vs. Clean-up Time! Fortunately, when friends work together, EVERYONE WINS!

The Little School Bus by Margery Cuyler (picture book): Join Driver Bob the school bus driver and his little school bus as they wake early, pick up the children, and drop them off at school. Then it’s off to the garage to fix a tail light. All in a day’s work for this trusty team. The lyrical text, catchy rhyme, and bright pictures make this a perfect choice for preschoolers who are soon to be school bus riders!

Monster School: First Day Frights by David Keane (easy reader): Norm is perfectly normal. That is, until he finds himself at a new school full of monsters. Without fangs, horns, or a tail, suddenly Norm has become the odd one out. But as the day goes on, Norm’s unusual classmates find that Norm isn’t too unlike them after all, and Norm thinks he may actually fit right in.

Bad Kitty: School Daze by Nick Bruel (illustrated chapter book): Kitty and Puppy are out of control! They’re screaming, fighting, hissing, and drooling all over the house, and all of the commotion is upsetting Baby. Time for school—obedience school, that is. Can Kitty learn to follow the rules and make friends with the other students or will she bring chaos to the classroom? Find out in Bad Kitty’s hilarious, new (mis)adventure!

image of a sandwichPlus, don’t miss our fun events! Here’s what’s going on at the library for the rest of August:

  • We have Storytime twice a week: Tuesdays at 11 am and Thursdays at 5:30 pm. Join us for stories, songs, crafts, and more! Plus, every child gets a free book to take home at storytime.
  • Library and Lunch will be on Tuesday the 14th at noon. Bring your lunch and join our discussion of Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.
  • Join us for movie night on Wednesday, August 15! Free popcorn will be served. Visit the library, our website, or our Facebook page to see what we’re watching.
  • Back-to-School Saturday is on the 18th at 1:30 pm. Play games, make crafts, and get some FREE school gear! Space is limited, so register on our website
  • Recipe Swap is on Tuesday the 28th at 6:30 pm. Bring something you’ve made (along with the recipe) to share and enjoy everyone else’s dishes! This month, we’re making sandwiches.

So come to the library and check out a book or have fun at one of our events. We’re your free source for education and entertainment!

Discover Outer Space at Your Library

The National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA) was established 60 years ago today by President Eisenhower. Looking forward to next summer, the Summer Reading Program will be space-related to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing! So, I thought I would share some good kids’ books about space from our collection.

My Journey to the Stars
by Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly wasn’t sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. He struggled in school and often got in trouble with his twin brother, Mark. Then one day Scott discovered a book about test pilots and astronauts that set him on a new path. His new focus led him to fly higher and higher, becoming first a pilot and then an astronaut, along with his brother—the first twin astronauts in history.

But his greatest accomplishment of all was commanding the International Space Station and spending nearly a year in space, which set the record for the longest spaceflight by an American.

This story of an ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things is perfect for children, aspiring astronauts, and anyone who has ever tried to defy the odds.

To Burp Or Not To Burp: A Guide To Your Body In Space
by Dave Williams

Of all the questions astronauts are asked by kids, the most frequent one is, “How do you go to the toilet in space?” This book not only answers that question, but many others about the effect of zero gravity on the human body: How do you brush your hair in space? What happens when you sweat? What does food taste like?

The best thing is that the answers are provided by Dr. Dave Williams, a NASA astronaut who speaks from first-hand experience. Written for kids ages 7 to 10, this book uses age-appropriate language to explain the different phenomena that astronauts encounter during a mission. The bright, colorful pages, short blocks of text accompanied by photos and humorous illustrations make this a very attractive choice for young readers.

Space!
Senior Editor, Ben Morgan

Truly encyclopedic in scope and fully up-to-date covering the stars and planets, space exploration, and the night sky, Space! is packed with amazing facts and NASA images revealing the wonders of the cosmos — from black holes to the big bang to the planets. Using computer-generated 3D models to explore and open up the most amazing objects in the universe, showing each object in incredible detail, Space! is bursting with facts, infographics, and data boxes. Every topic is covered in depth and detail while remaining easy to understand at a glance.

Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond
by Martin Jenkins

Told in richly detailed cutaway illustrations by Stephen Biesty and friendly, engaging writing by Martin Jenkins, here is the enthralling story of how we made the great leap into space and what we’ve discovered there. Find out what life is like on the International Space Station, what the chances are that we will ever settle on Mars, where in the solar system we might find alien life, and why visiting other stars will almost certainly remain a dream. Budding astronomers, junior astronauts, and anyone who has ever gazed up at the stars in fascination will pore over this beautifully intricate yet accessible glimpse of the infinite wonders of space.

Final Summer Reading Events at the Library

What’s happening this week at the Library

This week marks the end of this year’s Summer Reading adventure “Libraries Rock”. Don’t miss our final Summer Reading events:

  • Monday – Friday at 11:30 am to 12:30 Summer Lunches – Lunches are still being served from 11:30 to 12:30 in the Downstairs Activity Area at the Library. USD 480’s Summer Food Service Program is open to all children and teens, ages 1-18. No registration or identification required. For more information, contact Connie Vogts at 620-604-1204.
  • Tuesday at 11 am Storytime – This storytime is for newborns to 3 year olds. Join us for stories, songs, and a craft! Plus, every child gets a free book.
  • Wednesday at 4 pm Teen Crafts and Video Games – For ages 12 & up. Play our X-Box, Playstation 4, or Wii! Or, make a cool craft! Free snacks and drinks will be provided.
  • Wednesday at 5:30 pm Movie Musical Mayhem – Celebrate “Libraries Rock” Adult Summer Reading with us and watch some iconic movie musicals! Attending this event counts as a stop on your tour badge. Feel free to sing along and have fun!
  • Thursday at 11 am Storytime – This storytime is for 4 to 6 year olds. Join us for stories, songs, and a craft! Plus, every child gets a free book.
  • Thursday at 6 pm Storytime – This evening storytime is similar to the daytime version but is for all ages.
  • Thursday at 6 pm Yu-Gi-Oh – For Ages 12 and up. Play the fun card game with friends! Free snacks and drinks will be provided.
  • Friday at Noon Adult Summer Reading Grand Prize Drawing – We will have our July grand prize drawing for Adult Summer Reading. This month’s grand prize is a guitar. Get your drawing slips in before Noon this Friday to be entered to win.
  • Friday at 2 pm Friday Fun Day – Kids of all ages, come to a different fun event at the library every Friday at 2 pm during Summer Reading and enjoy free popcorn and drinks! This week we are showing a fun kid’s movie full of mermaids and creatures of the sea!
  • Saturday at 1 pm End of Summer Reading Party – Enjoy Freddy’s Frozen Custard and toppings while celebrating the summer! Kids, remember to turn in your filled-in reading logs to get a prize!

Musically Themed Books

Our “Libraries Rock” Summer Reading program is about over, but there is still time to check out our musically themed book display.

Got No Friend Anyhow
by Peggy Ehrhart

From the book description
Maxximum Blues has a solid foothold in the Manhattan blues scene, but Maxx Maxwell (real name: Elizabeth) knows a CD will make the band irresistible to festival organizers. Prowling Rooster Records is her label of choice, but when the CD is nearly finished, producer Rick Schneider disappears.

When Maxx searches for the CD’s master in Rick’s studio, she finds his cherished memento, a framed album cover, knocked from the wall–and even more alarming, a pool of dried blood. The next day, she identifies Rick’s body at the county morgue.

The cops believe Rick was pirating CDs and was murdered in a mob territory battle. Maxx is determined to clear his name by finding his real killer.
In classic whodunit style, Got No Friend Anyhow takes the reader on a ride that keeps pages turning all the way to a dramatic and unexpected climax.

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: A Life In Music
by Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger

From the book description
A no-holds-barred look into the remarkable life and career of the prolific musician, songwriter, and producer behind Eurythmics and dozens of pop hits.

Dave Stewart’s life has been a wild ride—one filled with music, constant reinvention, and the never-ending drive to create. Growing up in industrial northern England, he left home for the gritty London streets of the seventies, where he began collaborating and performing with various musicians, including a young waitress named Annie Lennox.

For the first time, Stewart shares the incredible, high-octane stories of his life in music—the drug-fueled adventures, the A-list collaborations and relationships, and the creative process that brought us blockbusters from Eurythmics like “ Here Comes the Rain Again” and “Would I Lie to You” as well as Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” No Doubt’s “Underneath It All,” Golden Globe winner “Old Habits Die Hard” with Mick Jagger, and many more.

More Featured Books

See more featured books using our new “Library Mobile” app. View the full list by selecting the “Books for Music Lovers” tile on the app.

With this app on your phone or other device, you can quickly see what’s new at the library (new books, new DVDs, etc.), put a hold on items you like, renew what you have checked out, and even pay library fines using PayPal. You can also create lists of books you’d like to read or other items you would like to check out. Look for “Auto-Graphics” or “Library Mobile” in your app store to get started.

Hot Days, Cool Events

It is really hot this summer, so why not cool off and enjoy a fun event in the air-conditioned Library? Here’s what’s coming up at the Library in July:

  • Kids ages 18 & under can enjoy a free lunch every weekday (Monday – Friday) from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at the library! No registration or identification required.
  • We have three storytimes a week! Join us for stories, songs, and a craft: Tuesdays at 11 am, Thursdays at 11 am, and Thursdays at 6 pm. Plus, every child gets a free book to take home!
  • This month’s Library & Lunch is on Tuesday, July 10 at noon. Bring your lunch and join our discussion of The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce.
  • Join us for “Musical Movie Mayhem” every Wednesday in July at 5:30 pm and on Saturdays, July 14 & 21 at 1:30 pm. Adults, attending this event counts as a stop on your tour badge. Feel free to sing along and have fun! Check our calendar at events.lmlibrary.org for information on which movies we’re watching.
  • Young adults (ages 12 – 19) are invited to play video games every Wednesday at 4 pm! Play our Playstation 4, Xbox One, or Wii. Plus, this Wednesday and July 25, make a fun craft!
  • Young adults can also join us on Thursdays at 6 pm to play Yu-Gi-Oh.
  • It’s really easy for Young Adults (ages 12-19) to participate in our Summer Reading Program! Just check out a book or attend a Summer Reading Event, and you get a scratch ticket that could be a prize-winner! Prizes include free food at area restaurants, earbuds, fidget cubes, and more.
  • Musician Aaron Fowler will be at the library on Thursday the 12th at 11 am. Music, movement, and stories for ages 4 & up.
  • Adults, don’t forget to turn in your slips for reading a book or completing a tour stop every week by Friday at noon for our prize drawing!
  • Every Friday is Fun Day at 2 pm! This week, play our Playstation 4, Xbox, or Wii. Next week, make a fun craft. And on July 27, watch a fun movie and enjoy free popcorn and lemonade!
  • Tuesday, July 17, at 2 pm, learn about Native American dances and traditions from Ken Dixon and Regina Smith.
  • Adults, come to our music trivia contest on Friday, July 20th at 6 pm just after the library closes. You can use one of the library’s laptops to play or bring your own smart phone, tablet or laptop. Play individually or as a team. Questions will cover classic artists like The Beatles and Elvis all the way up to artists of today as well as many kinds of music. Attending this event counts as a stop on your Adult Summer Reading tour badge. You could also win a fun prize!
  • Our End of Summer Reading Party will be on Saturday, July 28 at 1 pm! Enjoy frozen custard and toppings from Freddy’s and celebrate everything you’ve done over the summer.
  • Kids, don’t forget to turn in your Summer Reading Logs at the end of July! If you read at least 25 hours this summer, you get a prize!
  • Recipe Swap is on Tuesday, July 31 at 6:30 pm. Bring a dish you’ve made along with the recipe and enjoy everyone’s dishes! This month, we’re making sides and salads.