March 2003 NEWSLETTER
Volume 8, No. 3 

LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT

If you have not taken a look at your library of the future, please flip through the boards on the easel in the adult department.  Floor plans are changing daily, and as new ones are received, they will be dated and added to the easel.  A carpet sample is also on display.  Other suggestions in the suggestion box:  

Have a public phone; Have a conference room/classroom for laptop computers and an LCD projector or a large monitor, screen, or wall that can serve as a screen; Have a  lounge for public to read and drink coffee or tea and relax.

INDIANA MYSTERY WRITER TO SPEAK

On March 5 at 7-9:00 p.m. Brownsburg author Beth A. Crawford will discuss writing and publishing.  The library owns both of her books “Silent Storm” and  “Silent Rage”, and readers are finding them to be page-turners.  Beth will demonstrate her method of binding paperback books, how publishers and writers make their money, and what to know before signing a publishing contract.  Her program “A New Approach for Writers” will take place during the March Scribblers’ Guild session, and local writers will resume sharing their writings at the April 2 meeting. 

VALENTINE’S DAY WINTER READING CELEBRATION was postponed due to the weather.  On February 21, twenty-one boys and girls and 10 adults enjoyed a two-hour celebration for the commitment they had made to reading and visiting the library in January and February.  The youth enjoyed making origami hearts, stamping bookmarks, and making a penguin scene.  Two videos were shown simultaneously, one in the small room and one in the large part of the youth department.  The wee ones enjoyed a new Barney video and Scooby Doo.  The older ones enjoyed watching the video “Rascal”.  Popcorn, Kool-aid and M&M’s were munched and crunched.  Each child received a treat bag and a book for participating.  Prizes were given for those who frequented the library during the reading program months.   Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun and Mrs. Hodgen soon discovered that popcorn was being consumed at 4 bags an hour.  Yes, 8 bags of popcorn were microwaved for this celebration.   It was delightful just watching everyone have so much fun at the library. 

BIG SNOWS ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS

When the weatherman threatens a big snow, the library does a booming business lending videotapes, DVD’s, books and more.  On Saturday, February 22, we let customers in twenty minutes before our opening time and we were not without customers for a single minute during the whole day.   Thanks for making your public library such an important part of your lives!

HOMESCHOOLING INFORMATIONAL MEETING

The youth department is sponsoring a homeschooling informational meeting for all who are interested in learning how to start this process and for all who are currently homeschooling and would like to share their knowledge and experience with others.  Parents are invited to bring their curriculum materials and ideas on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m., and invite anyone else who is interested in  homeschooling.   Panel members will discuss legal aspects and give 2- to 5-minute talks on their experiences.  There will be time for questions and answers and time to look at curriculum and the library’s collections.  Refreshments will be provided and the opportunity to interact with others. 

YOUTH DEPARTMENT SPRING PROGRAMS

March 11 to April 24th

Tuesdays 

Wednesdays                

March 25 and March 26 

YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST

April 6-12 is National Library Week.  The youth department have planned an essay contest for students of all ages.  Participants/contestants are being asked to write a paragraph that starts off “I love the library because…”  Prizes will be given to everyone who enters.  First, second, and third prizes will be awarded.  The winning entries will be posted on the library’s web site and will be on display at the library.  Entries must be mailed or brought to the Thorntown Public Library no later than April 1st.  Staff will judge the entries on content and neatness.  Entry forms may be picked up in the youth department after March 2.   

YOUTH COUNCIL is holding its first “Movie Night” on March 3 from 6:00-8:15 p.m.  Youth in grades four through eight are invited to wear their pajamas and slippers (co-ed appropriate and approved by parents) and bring their favorite pillow, blanket or stuffed animal in order to enjoy popcorn, beverages, and the movie of their choice “Sweet Home Alabama”.  Since the movie is rated PG-13, all participating students must have a signed permission slip in order to remain for the film.  Discussion will follow the viewing.   The Youth Council has voted to begin meeting each Monday from 6:30-7:45 p.m. for a combined business meeting and game night.  This is a high-energy group; new faces and ideas welcomed!

YOUTH COOK

On Wednesday, March 5, “Youth Cook” will cook and bake from 4-5:30 p.m.  Taught by local attorney Deborah Smith, the class is for boys and girls ages 9-15.  For now the class is held at the Thorntown United Methodist Church, which is handicapped accessible for those in walkers and wheel chairs.  Youth are entering their recipes in a personal book and keeping a journal.  Each month they take home a portion of the food prepared.

HISTORY WORMS are students in grades 4-8 who are interested in history.  The public is invited to attend their Wednesday, March 19, 3-4:15 meeting when interpreter Kevin Stonerock will portray "Billy Yank: Union Soldier".  Mr. Stonerock dresses and acts the part of a Union soldier during the Civil War.   Sponsor Jennifer R. Abbott says there is room for more who would like to participate in the monthly meetings on the third Wednesday.  A few members are attending the Winter Gathering of the Indiana Junior Historical Society on Saturday, March 22 at Turkey Run.  The History Worms are a chapter of the IJHS. 

BROWN BAGS AND BETTER BOOKS meets every Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Thorntown United Methodist Church, 201 N. Market Street. The current book is Franklin Graham’s “Living Beyond the Limits”.  No preparation is required to participate.

NEEDLEWORK TEA resumes on the first and third Fridays, from 1-3:00 p.m.  The March 7 and 21 sessions will allow participants the opportunity to work on their current needlework projects while enjoying tea and cookies provided by library staff. 

COMPUTER CLASSES - MARCH 10 &24

(Classes limited to five students.  Pre-registration required.)

Technology assistant Linda L. White will teach “The Ins and Outs of E-Mail” on Monday, March 10, from 8-10:00 a.m.  Using “Outlook Express”, the class will include setting up options, sending, replying, forwarding, deleting, saving, setting up folders, and sending attachments.

“Getting Started on the World Wide Web” will be taught on Monday, March 24, 8-10 a.m.  The class is a basic, hands-on computer class that uses “Internet Explorer”.    Included will be what the World Wide Web is,   what can be found on the Internet, browsers, home pages vs. web sites, following links, web addresses, going to a known site, subject indexes and search engines, and evaluation of web resources.

CHESS NIGHT will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Players from ages 9 to 70 played last month while others observed.  This is a time for those who want to play or to learn chess.

ADULT WINTER READING winds up on March 31 with Adult Reading Bingo at 6:30 p.m.  Many, many prizes have been collected, and readers will enjoy an evening of winning and celebrating the many great books they read or to which they listened.   Program originators Linda White and Stacie Lewis-Crick encourage adult readers to continue reading and marking off author-title Bingo sheets available at the circulation desk.  It is not too late to start: for every bingo (five letters in a row, any direction), readers will receive a bingo card to play on March 31.

For a complete list of NEW MATERIALS, check out the library’s web site at:

www.bccn.boone.in.us/tpl

Updated  28 Feb 2003 / llw