'Little City' Library

A Tale of Disappointment

2008-12-22T16:57:00.000-08:00

If you've never read Kate DiCamillo's A Tale of Despereaux, a charming little book about a brave little mouse and his attraction to "the light" that reading represents, then you might like the newly released children's movie based on the book very much.

But if you have read the book, then prepare to be disappointed. I was, at least. I understand that all movies based on books must, inherently, take huge liberties with the plots of those books. One simply can't squeeze all the exposition into a 90 to 120-minute time frame and still create a film fast-paced enough to hold an audience's attention. But did the creators of the new Despereaux movie have to change it so much? The writers added unnecessary plot elements (such as a weird magical vegetable man who inspires the soup-making), and a seafaring backstory for Roscuro the rat, and they changed (gratuitously, in my view) major details about the characters and their motivations. The saucy female chef who lets Desperpeaux go at a pivotal moment is now a man, Andre, who turns the making of soup into a village-wide community event, with the help of vegetable man. Despereaux's parents, especially his mother - a vain and selfish mouse in make-up - is softened up considerably in the film. Instead of a colorful and selfish crank, an interesting character in other words, she's just another worrying mom.

And don't get me started on Gregory the jailer and Boticelli, Rosuro's rat mentor. Their facelifts are downright strange.

True, the artistry behind the animation is brilliant. And the casting - Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman, and Matthew Broderick among other talented celebrities - is spot on.

I just thought most of the changes were unwarranted and, ultimately, condescending to children.

I'd be interested in what others who have read the book thought. There's just no comparison.

A comforting video

2008-12-12T11:22:00.000-08:00

Perfect escapism for a Friday ...

Even on my worst days in libraryland (or in any job), I've never gone off the deep end, as Parker Posey's character does in this wonderful scene from the great librarian classic film, Party Girl.

That's probably why this scene is so much fun to watch. It's soothing to be reminded that we all have our bad days. Some are worse than others. Some days we're able to cope with whatever life throws at us. Some days we just want to hide from the world, stay in our pajamas and eat Caramel Caribou ice cream all day.

But even the worst days do not last forever.

They'll always be winners to us

2008-09-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the award-winning KPL Battle of the Books team. They only came in Second Place in this year's battle, held last week at Silver Lake College (as opposed to First Place for the past two years in a row!), but they'll always be winners to us. KPL's team beat teens from four other libraries in a rousing, nail-bitting contest that was very competitive right to the end. And for that, we say, Way to Go!

The event is sponsored every fall by the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System. The purpose is to promote reading among teens in grades 7 and up, and to offer a venue for teen readers to compete for fun and prizes in a non-threatening and friendly atmosphere. It's safe to say that everyone - contestants, parents, and coaches alike - had a great time, and they plan to do at it again next year.

Pictured above (l to r) are KPL team members: Carolyn Kuske, Katie Gilsdorf, Rhea Lee, Gabrielle Draxler, Jacob Endries, Rachael Siehs, Noah Draxler, Kyle Henrickson, and Dylan Endries.

Special congratulations and thanks to their coach, Sheila Draxler, for putting preparing Kiel's team for the Battle, and coordinating our involvement.

Chilton Public Library's team came in First Place, if you're wondering.

But just wait 'till next year!

Share your favorite websites, videos and photos

2008-08-19T02:56:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty impressed with Searchme, a powerful new search engine that lets you create and share stacks in a very accessible format. Someone compared it to a Roladex, but I never saw a Roladex that looked as cool as this! And it is soooo easy to use. I just created a "stack" of some of my favorite news websites, but you can also create stacks of favorite videos and photos. I can see myself creating stacks of interesting author blogs, recommended book or video review sources, my favorite library blogs, or reference-related "homework helper" sites for students. The possibilities are enormous.

The website is still in beta, which means its creators are still test driving it. But so far I think it's pretty impressive. In my next post, I'll tell you how I stumbled upon it.

Anyway, below is my news stack. If you want to open any of the sites in my list, just click on it. What news sites would you add to this list?

Searchme

Maximize stack view

Happy Birthday KPL Book Club!

2008-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Imagine: A small kinship of readers who celebrate the excitement of books, and the way that passion grows when it is shared. This is, in essence, what a reading group offers, and one of the reasons why more and more people are giving themselves license to revel, once again, in a book.

- author Chris Bohjalian on why he supports book clubs

We're celebrating the one-year anniversary of KPL's book discussion group. Since last summer, we've discussed fiction and nonfiction, adult and teen titles, at our comfortable meeting place: The Stoelting House. All books have sparked interesting conversations, although some have been more popular than others.

This month we're discussing Chris Bohjalian's Before You Know Kindness, hailed by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as "extraordinary." It's a very appropriate book discussion title, since the author is a huge fan of such groups. (Read his explanation here) And August is the perfect time to discuss this particular one, as it takes place at an end-of-summer annual gathering at a family cabin on a lake. The Seattle Times calls the book a "dark pyschological dance of family estrangements, lies and self-righteousness."

Bohjalian is the author of several successful novels, including Midwives, The Law of Similars and The Buffalo Soldier. He also hosts a terrific website.

Please join us as we discuss Before You Know Kindness in Kiel, Wisconsin. We'll meet on Monday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Stoelting House. Several copies of the book are still available. Just ask at the KPL front desk. For more information, or to suggest titles for future meetings, call Nanette at 894-7122.

What book got YOU hooked?

2008-08-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

For singer Kenny Chensey it was Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemingway.
For actor Marlee Matlin it was Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
For satirist Stephen Colbert it was the Swiss Family Robinson
And for me, it was probably P.D. Eastman's Go, Dog Go! My two older sisters knew they could bribe me to do anything simply by promising to read me that book before bedtime. I just couldn't get enough out of the girl dog asking the boy dog, "Do you like my hat?"

What was the book that got you hooked on reading? The First Book people want to know. They're asking book lovers to share their memories of the first book that made reading fun for them on a special website created just for this purpose. They're also asking people to help determine which U.S. state should win 50,000 free books to distribute to children in need. The 2007 winner was Oklahoma, which garnered 34,000 online votes during last year's two-month voting period.

As of today, Wisconsin was at 34th place, but we've all got until September 15 to vote, and they're urging people to Vote Now and Vote Often. If we all help spread the word, maybe we can put Wisconsin over the top.

What a great idea to get books into children's hands! Since this non-profit organization was formed 16 years ago, it has distributed more than 50 million books to families all over the U.s.

Here's a quote I love from their website, a great reminder of the importance of reading to our children as often as possible:

At its core, the campaign celebrates the profound power of the picture and chapter books we can never forget and the critical role they play in developing a lifelong love of reading.

So, check out the website and find out what books grabbed the hearts of Barry Manilow, Emma Thompson, Eartha Kitt and others. Then share your own happy memories with books. (We'd be delighted if you shared those memories on this blog as well!)

Remember what Joie always tells visitors to the KPL Youth Department: A book is a gift you can open over and over again. - Nanette

Quick Computer Help

2008-08-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Custom Guide: Learning-on-Demand is a Minneapolis firm that specializes in customizable, computer training for users at all levels. The average employee is only familiar with 10% of a computer's features, they claim. They want to help businesses and non-profits fill in the other 90%.

They also make available more than 60 Free Quick Reference guides to help you start using the most popular computer software programs. They offer two-page tips for using the many Microsoft Office (2003 and 2007) products on the market, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and several others. There are also guides for getting started with Adobe products and web browsers including Internet Explorer and (my new favorite) Mozilla Firefox. The guides are very user friendly, with color-coded instructions and diagrams. You really can start using a program immediately.

Anyone with Internet access and a printer can print out these guides for free. The library has also copies several dozen of them for patrons to pick up and use on-site or at home. Just look for the "Quick and Easy Computer Guides" sign next to our local history collection. Or ask a library employee for help.

I don't know how much beyond a 10% familiarity with my own computer I'll ever get (seems that once I start feeling comfortable with a new program, they come out with a new version!) but it's nice to know there's some practical help out there.

And you can't beat the price. - Nanette

Words for those affected by cancer

2008-08-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

"Perhaps grief, because it makes clear the value of what might be lost, is one of the essential experiences that carries us, like music, toward meaning."

It's hard to find anyone whose life has not been touched by cancer. Friends, relatives, close loved ones .... it's a painful journey to experience, no matter what your vantage point. My sister, the most courageous woman I know, thought she'd licked her breast cancer five years ago. Now it's back with a vengeance. She and her husband are valiantly taking each day as it comes - that's pretty much all you can do. But the days - filled as they are with hospital visits, medications too numerous to count - apparent progress and good news followed almost immediately by setbacks and disappointments - seem to require more strength and courage than imaginable. She appreciates every small pleasure that crosses her path. And she takes special delight in her one-year-old granddaughter. But there's no denying that this journey is a very very difficult one.

Which is why I am so grateful to have found Dzvinia Orlowsky's affecting and passionate book of poems, Convertible Night, Flurry of Stones, an amazing collection of fierce and unflinching observations about life in the cancer lane, with all its paradoxes, heartaches and - yes - lessons.

"Orlowsky's poems about illness possess the necessary audacity to be fully human, with the insistence on missing absolutely nothing---at once beautiful and broken; magnificent and terrified," wrote Foreward Magazine in the review that prompted me to purchase this book for the library. The book just arrived today, and I have been unable to put it down. Orlowsky writes about waiting rooms, chemo visits, hair loss, and prostheses with an attentive eye, a dark, ironic wit, and an unwillingness to sentimentalize.

Note how she embeds her emotions in everyday language in this portion of "Losing My Hair." The kicker, for me, is in the last line:

I couldn't bear to wrap it in toilet paper,
throw it out.

I carried some strands to the woods,
spread them on the ground

for the birds to lift
into their nests.

I placed some more strands
in an empty hornet's nest,

its gray center welcoming
my hand.

The hornets are gone,
but the birds might come back.

I wrapped the last few strands with some horsehair I'd kept.
A few thick pieces of a black mane

I'd pulled riding once, out of fear.

Later, in the same poem, she describes a visit with Donna, a hairstylist, whose got some wig recommendations:

The first wig makes me look
like an airline ticketing agent.

The second one drives a school bus.
The third one, curling around my mouth,

wants sex. That one couldn't be worn
near an open oven door.

The dark one, like my mother's hair,
loves the rain,

travels well in a small box.
Donna says Try this human hair;

it fits like a silk glove.
but it's short, thick Oriental hair,

a gold medallist, figure skater's hair.
Donna says the reason my complexion looks so sallow

is because of all the chemo.
I leave the yellow of her fitting room.

Sweeping the floor
around my chair, Donna says

After the eyelashes and eyebrows go,
your eyes will need more bang.

These poems are painful to read in places, but comforting nonetheless in their unsparing honesty. I've always found that honesty offers a special kind of solace during especially painful times in life, probably because it too often is the first casualty. I appreciate and admire Orlowsky's determination to be honest with her readers and, obviously, with herself.

She also fulfills one of the primary purposes of poetry, which is, as one reviewer notes, to show us how "to look, to attend, to inhabit fully."

If I could grant one wish for my sister this summer, that would be it.

- Nanette

A New Eye on Wisconsin Government and More

2007-08-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin's own version of C-SPAN, WisconsinEye, is ambitious in its reach, and it will be interesting to see how it catches on in the state. Have a look, if you haven't already, and let us know what you think.

WisconsinEye, launched in May on the Internet and - as of last month - also available on TV to TimeWarner and Charter subscribers, bills itself as "a statewide public affairs network whose mission is to present an independent statewide view of community affairs and public policy discussion."

It was a long time coming to the state. A C-SPAN channel for Wisconsin has been discussed for years, but never really got off the ground until last spring. Cameras willl cover floor debate in both the State Senate and Assembly, as well as committee meetings, hearings and, eventually, portions of the Judicial and Executive branches. This morning the webcast link took me to a budget hearing from July 25. You can choose to watch a video of the proceedings, or simply to listen, provided you have Windows Media Player or other media software on your PC.

Recognizing that government proceedings can be ... uh ... boring, WisconsinEye's producers have added some feature-like videos, including an on-site tour of last week's EAA event in Oshkosh and the Dalai Lama's visit to Madison in May. As a librarian, I also appreciate "Wisconsin in Words," a Wisconsin version of C-Span's popular Booknotes program. About a half dozen interviews with authors have been archived so far.

Production quality so far leaves a little to be desired. Even with the audio button on my computer turned up all the way I had trouble hearing the discussions. The cameras seem to just sit there in one or two static locations; no one's making an effort to get close-ups or be visually creative at all. But the website is easy enough to navigate, and I'm impressed with the site's goals of objectively covering "local issues and civic activity that reflect the broad range of community and public life in Wisconsin."

Hey, it's a start. If you want to see state government in action, WisconsinEye may be the next best thing to sitting in a Capitol Building hearing room. At least you don't have to deal with Madison traffic.

Magazines for your health

2007-08-02T14:07:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a little inspiration to help you get back into an exercise or fitness regimen, we've got some quick and easy solutions that might appeal to you. I was perusing KPL's periodical section today, and counted no less than six magazines that focus almost exclusively on health. Add in our several popular culture titles that have regular health-related columns (Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, GQ, AARP, Oprah, etc.) and that makes for a pretty impressive repertoire of health magazines.

Yoga Journal is one of the newest and most popular of our health-oriented titles. It's not so much a weight-loss publication as it is a healthy living one. Our patrons really like this one.

Our other health titles are Prevention, Health, Arthritis, Fitness, and (my personal favorite) Consumer Reports On Health. Only 12-pages long, On Health offers an ad-free alternative to the over-hyped mainstream publications. It's full of useful information and on-target advice.

Like our 80+ other titles for adults, teens and youth, the above magazines (other than the current issue) can be checked out for up to three weeks. Patrons can also put specific issues on hold, or request titles from other libraries.

We're proud of our periodical collection, and we're delighted when people stop in on a regular basis, or even only occasionally, and avail ourselves of our many titles. There are worse ways to cool off on a hot summer afternoon than spending some time in the Kiel Public Library.

- Nanette

Help us create a book club

2007-08-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

The Kiel Public Library hasn't hosted a book discussion group for several years, and we miss it. Some of our patrons contribute to online book discussion groups. There are several good ones out there. But nothing offers the fellowship, emotional invovlement, and intellectual stimulation that you get from a face-to-face conversation.

That's why several of us hope to re-launch KPL's book club. We're hosting a book Club Meet-up on Monday, Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. to choose some titles (or at least list some good discussion candidates), discuss possible meeting formats, and set a tentative schedule for the coming months. Maybe we can even schedule some author visits.

Please join us as we devise a plan for sharing our page-turning passions.

Last Muggle Standing

2007-08-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to 7th grader Jacob Endries, the last muggle standing in the KPL Harry Potter trivia contest (otherwise known as N.E.W.T.) last month. He was one of more than a dozen local Potter fans who competed for top muggle honors. For his troubles, Jacob won a free copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final Harry Potter book. He was assisted in the contest by friend Greg Lutz.

Finalists first had to "qualify" for the contest by passing the OWLS exam, which featured the strangest and most arcane Potter details you could ever imagine. (So what IS Mr. Dursley's profession?)

The library also hosted a "divination," (prediction) contest and an art contest. Scott Vogel was the winner of the dinivation contest. He had the largest number of correct Deathly Hallows predictions. He even correctly placed six out of the seven horcrux locations. Now that's a true Potter fan!

Art contest winners were Katie Gilsdorf for the high school division; Caroline Kuske for middle school; and Alaina Foster for elementary school. Kuske's paper-mache sculpture of Fluffy (above right), the three-headed dog who guards the entrance to the Sorceror's Stone in the first Harry Potter book is still on display at the library.

Congratulations to all the participants, and a special thank you to our sponsors: First National Bank, Kwik Trip and Stardust Limousines.

We were able to take a few photos from the Harry Potter N.E.W.T. contest on July 20, the same day publishers released Deathly Hallows. Just follow this link to KPL's Flickr.com page, to see these and more than 200 other photos of library events.

Scenes from KPL's Get a Clue summer

2007-06-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Throughout the summer we'll be posting photos from some of our terrific summer library event programs. We use Flickr, a web-based online photo service, which enables us to download dozens of photos easily and quickly. All you have to do is follow this link, and view the images from the comfort of your own computer. Check out the slide show option for the best view.

We're also posting some images on the Community Calendar on CATV Channel 19, for those of you who get cable.

We're on the front page!

2007-01-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

We love it when the local media notices something good about us!

Today's Sheboygan Press (Jan. 22, 2007) features a front page story about the library's digitization grant. This follows on the heels of another story on the same subject in a recent edition of the Tri-County News. We're thrilled by the exposure, especially because this is such an exciting project.

We'll be digitizing 600 historic images from the Edwin J. Majkrzak Historical Research Center and, thanks to a $3,000 grant from the U.S. government, we'll get to publish them onto a prestigious website hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The fine folks at UW-Madison's Digital Collection Center will be helping us every step of the way between now and next August, when our photos will actually be published.

We're honored to join the several other Wisconsin communities who already have portions of their local history on this site. And we're especially honored to be able to share some of the amazing photographs in our Heritage Collection, most of which were donated by Kiel historian Ed Majkrzak.

If you haven't had a chance to see the archives in the library's local history collection, please do stop in and ask us to show you around. People stop and peruse these items on a daily basis. Some make copies of family histories for their own genealogy project. Some collect information from our original documents for school projects. Others just like to go through the 80+ notebooks to satisfy their own curiosity. Whatever the reason, we're glad to be able to provide public access to so many pages of text and images. Together, they tell Kiel's story, and what a fascinating story it is!

If you can't make it into the library, well, that's what the digitization project is all about. By next fall - if you have Internet access - you'll be able to enjoy a large portion of our collection 24/7, right from the comfort of your own home.

Digitization uses cutting edge technology and is increasingly used by libraries all over the world. And Kiel is right at the forefront of the fray. Imagine that.

Guess we really are the little city that does big things.

Good-Bye Mrs. Heberlein

2007-01-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

It was a sad day when long-time Library Assistant Ethel Heberlein (shown here at right with colleagues Terry Kuske and Joie Baldock) announced her retirement at the end of 2006.

We could understand that, after 17 years serving the library, she might want to step down and create some free time to do all the traveling that she and her husband Art love to do. Still, it was hard to say good-bye.

From a patron point of view, Ethel always had a smile for everyone who walked through the door. She had a gift for giving individuals their undivided attention (a rare quality in today's hectic world). She showed genuine interest in the stories they had to tell, the problems they were working to solve, the books they wanted to find. Watching how she treated patrons from my post behind the glass window, I always marveled at her calm patience, even during our hectic "early-release" Wednesday afternoons, when the after-school crowd piled in. Nothing seemed to fluster her. She just took things as they came.

Mostly I admired her graciousness and compassion, especially for the latchkey kids for whom the library is a safe and (we hope) pleasant alternative to an empty home. For adult patrons who were friends of hers, she appeared to take on the role often attributed to bartenders or hairdressers. She listened attentively to folks' updates about their health, loved ones, or the last book they read.

Mrs. Heberlein (nee Baumann - her father once served as Kiel mayor) was hired as a library clerk in 1992, after serving three years as a library trustee. Among her responsibilities over rthe years were maintaining our genealogy and cemetery records, processing overdues, answering reference questions, and organizing our newspaper and magazine sections. She was apparently pretty hard to say no to. Her reminder calls about overdue items usually prompted quick returns. And she was particularly adept at teaching others to use our online card catalog. Again, her compassionate, personal attention proved an asset.

All of us at the library wish her a great retirement. But she will be missed greatly.

Nanette

Books "NOT" Read, Oh My!

2007-01-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

Does this ever happen to anyone else or does it just happen to me? I take out some great books or a great movie and I don't even get to them! Oh NO! I have very good intentions, especially when I take out 10 books. I might get to just half of them. There's just so much of life that has to come first that the books (unfortunately) have to wait for another time.

So back they go and, hopefully, I'll remember to write down the titles so I can reserve them later. Yeah, Right.

Maybe it is just that time of year. Too much to do with family and friends, and then there is not much time left in the day. Unless you are a night reader. Then you have it made. Personally, I just can't read when I am in bed. But a lot of people tell us that they love to read before going to bed. Probably because it is the quietest time of the day.

In any case, don't let your busy day get so busy that you end up too tired to pick up that book. Even a few minutes with a good book can enrich your life.

Techkpl

Christmas Walk & Fiesta Images

2006-12-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

What a great time we all had at the Christmas Walk! The library had plenty of traffic throughout both days, including more than a few new faces. We were blessed, of course, with some top-notch entertainment, especially our wonderful harpist, Paula Settle, and the wonderful junior advisors who performed a Readers Theater rendition of Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates both days. We also loved displaying the samples of student art from the Chamber of Commerce contest. Here's a link to some of our favorite photos from the event.

And here's a link to some photos from the cultural fiesta we hosted on Dec. 6. The event was jointly sponsored by the Kiel and New Holstein libraries, and funded by a special grant from the federal government called "Learning to Use the Library in Another Language." Bob Hafeman, coordinator of the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System, gets the credit for writing the grant for the six MCLS libraries. The goal was to bring Hispanics and gringos together for a cultural evening of fun, food, music and sharing. It was all that and more!

Are you a writer?

2006-12-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here's another message from our ever-curious technical assistant. She claims she's not much of a writer but, if that's the case, then who created this blog post? Huh? Tell me that, Colleen! - nb

Do you have an opinion about the little messages that run - sometimes fly - out of the thoughts of people?? I sometimes think about where it all comes from. Has anyone ever wondered about how an author can come up with all the thoughts and feeling that it takes to write a novel? Very amazing to me. I sometimes stumble over a sentence when I speak. Not always but sometimes.

Does anyone think that they have what it would take to write a book? Sometimes I think I could. And then there are times that I think .... no way. I can hardly get the words out, or the thoughts meld together.

I guess that is why there are readers and there are writers out there, just to amuse us readers. So for me I guess the pressure is OFF. Don't you feel it?

Yeah, give me a good read anytime. I guess I will leave the writing to those courageous enough to travel through the "Great Adventures of the Mind."

Techkpl

You just can't beat this deal

2006-12-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

Colleen Bos, KPL's technical assistant writes:

So, have you read a good book lately? Gone or rented a great movie? NO? Well, then you're not visiting the library very much. With all the new books and new DVDs arriving almost daily at the library, there is much to pick from.

And the best part is that it's all FREE!

Can you believe that? It's all F-R-E-E.

You can check out a book and keep it for 3 weeks. And if you need more time after that, you can usually renew it for another 3 weeks. Movies on VHS or DVD don't have to be back for 7 days.

You just can't beat this deal. Libraries are just about the best thing that could happen to any community. Also free is all our programming, our displays, our newspapers and magazines, and our community bulletin board.

WOW, ya just can't beat FREE.

So if you haven't found a good book lately or watched a good movie, my suggestion is to visit the Kiel Public Library, where your dollar will stay in your pocket and your arms will be full of stuff you can take home.

Techkpl

Win a vintage photograph

2006-12-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

The library is pleased to be able to give away two enlarged and framed historic photos from early Kiel. The first one, shown here, depicts downtown Kiel in 1905 (image shows intersection of Fremont & 6th, facing west). The second is a group shot of the Kiel men's baseball team of 1909.

Both images are priceless, and they could be yours for free! All you have to do is stop in at the library at 511 Third Street during the Christmas Walk, and drop your name in the can. The drawing will take place at the end of the Walk, and we'll call the winner sometime Monday.

Special thanks to Ed Majkrzak, for donating these wonderful images. He framed and matted them himself as well.

Music From the Harp

2006-11-24T17:49:00.000-08:00

Celtic harpist Paula Settle will perform twice at the library during Kiel's two-day Christmas Walk celebration on Dec. 1 & 2. Ms. Settle is an acclaimed musician, instructor, and Certified Music Practitioner who specializes in music as a healing art. She has performed in area weddings, church services, hospices, and medical settings, and is a regular at the Wednesday evening Irish sessions at 52 Stafford in Plymouth.

Settle will play a mix of Christmas and Celtic music during her two performances at the library. You can catch her in the library's upstairs reading room on: Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the soothing sounds of harp strings.

Check Out CATV

2006-11-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping that the KPL website can provide a way for non-cable subscribers to catch up on local happenings. Charter Communications' CATV is broadcast from the library, so it makes sense to upload the continuous running slide show on to our site.

While we keep working on the technology end of things, you can catch the Community Calendar on Channel 19 if you subscribe to cable TV in the city of Kiel.

If you're not a cable subscriber, you can always catch it in the library!

Dashing to the Walk

2006-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

We're so glad to be participating in Kiel's second annual Christmas Walk on Dec. 1 & 2. There will be wonderful events and decorations at all four of this year's Walk locations (Stoelting House, Kiel Community Center, Kiel Historical Center and the library), but we're especially pleased with the way plans are shaping up at the library. Among new developments:

Throughout the two days of the Walk (4-8 on Friday, 12 to 7 on Saturday) the library will display all the student art entries in the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored contest. Turns out 172 local children answered the call to create a poster depicting Christmas celebrations of long ago. (The specific assignment was for the children to interview a grandparent to find out how they celebrated the holidays). We feel privileged to get to display all these charming, creative, and utterly amazing samples of local talent. Do come and see how local children are interpreting their elders' memories.
We're honored to be able to give away two framed vintage photographs of historic Kiel, thanks (once again) to the generosity of our good friend Ed Majkrzak. These are valuable photographs that we would normally display in the Edwin J. Majkrzak Historical Research Center. One is a hand-colored street scene of downtown Kiel in 1905, in a beautiful white wooden frame. The other is the infamous Kiel men's baseball team from 1909, the one that's on the mugs we sold to guests at the April, 2006 dedication of the Center. The free drawing is our way of thanking the community for its great support all these years. We also hope it attracts folks to visit our local history collection, especially if they've never seen it. Mr. Majkrzak has filled nearly 100 notebooks with photographs, original documents, newspaper clippins and other information dating back more than 150 years. You really have to see it to believe it, and the Christmas Walk is a great time to do that.
We've secured the talents of local harpist Paula Settle for play a mix of Christmas and Celtic music in the main reading room of the library Friday and Saturday afternoons. Settle performs regularly at the Wednesday "Irish nights" at the 52 Stafford in Plymouth, in addition to several local venues. We're pleased to welcome Ms. Settle, and can't wait to hear her music.
The library's Junior Advisory Board members and friends will present Readers Theater performances throughout both days in the downstairs meeting room. These talented teens have been planning this event ever since last year's Christmas Walk. If you like dramatic interpretation, this is the place to be.
Those who like to mix their art with their tastebuds will get a chance to show off their creativity at our cookie-decorating table in the Youth Department. We've ordered several dozen of Roeck's Bakery's finest cookies, along with several flavors of frosting and a whole slew of sprinkles. Last year this activity drew just as many parents (dads in particular) as kids, which is fine with us, as long as participants leave some cookies for everyone else.
Friends of the Library-Kiel have already hung the beautiful snowflake covered garlands they secured for us last year. Whether or not we actually have a lighted upstairs tree (a small detail we're still trying to work out), there will be plenty of holiday atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors.
Punch, coffee, apple cider, bars, cupcakes ... did we mention cookies? Yes, there will be plenty of refreshments to nibble on at the library, upstairs and down.
Don't forget, we are a library. That means our shelves are stocked with books, movies, music, magazines, and photographs celebrating Christmas, Hanukka, Kwanza, Solstice and anything else remotely related to these next few weeks. Great titles you can peruse here, or checkout for up to three weeks. Like we always say, your library card is one of the best deals in town.

Our Holiday Hours

2006-11-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

Just so you know, the Kiel Public Libary will be open most days this week. We'll be closed on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, to give our staff a chance to relax, serve and eat turkey, and maybe watch the Macy's parade. But we'll be right back to work on Friday and Saturday. This offers you a perfect opportunity to stop in and grab a good book for the weekend.
Our hours, for your reference:

Wednesday, Nov. 22 - Noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 23 - CLOSED
Friday, Nov. 24 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 25 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Happy turkey day, everyone!

In Search of the Right Person

2006-11-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

We have a great opportunity for someone who has always wanted to work in a library. KPL is looking to hire a part-time library assistant to help staff our busy circulation desk, answer reference questions, help process books, and do all the other things that need to get done in a small-town public library. Some library and/or customer service experience preferred, but the most important quality we seek is a warm, friendly personality .... a genuine "people person" who truly enjoys meeting new people and connecting them with the library materials or information they seek.

Think you might be interested? A job description is available at the library or here. We prefer a resume, but we also have application forms available in the library. Either one is fine to submit as long as you include the names and phone numbers of at least two references. We're in a bit of a hurry, so the application deadline is November 30. We'll start interviewing candidates the first week of December.

Girl Scouts Rock!

2006-11-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

What fun! This past week your city librarian had the special privilege of meeting local Girl Scouts (Troop #146) to talk about career planning. I was joined by fellow local career women Julie Walber (real estate agent), Dr. Barbara Karls (dentist), and Dr. Cheryl Roers (optometrist). We had a great time discussing the joys and challenges of our various jobs.

Mostly it was nice meeting the four young scouts themselves. They represent the future and, if they are at all representative of their generation, I'd say we've got a lot to look forward to! They are ably led by leader Donna Gilsdorf with assistance from Sheila Draxler.

Pictured above, left to right, are (front): Julie Walber, Dr. Barbar Karls, Nanette Bulebosh, and Dr. Cheryl Roers. (back) Gabrielle Draxler, Nicole Viletstra, Sara Dietrich, and Katie Gilsdorf.

Truth be told, I absolutely love speaking to or with Kiel-area groups. Book talks are my specialty, but I'm always happy to talk about the Kiel Public Library - the (often little-known) services we provide, our great staff, upcoming programs, how we appropriate our budget, and our plans and hopes for the future. Just ask.

Nanette
kielpl@esls.lib.wi.us

And a good time was had by all

2006-11-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

It wouldn't be Halloween without Joie reading stories in her witch costume. Our beloved youth director (now in her 27th year at KPL!) throws the best holiday parties. We had two on Oct. 31, one for the morning story hour crew at 10:30 a.m., and the other for the P.M.ers, at 2:15. We invited all kids (and kids-at-heart) to dress up in costume, listen to stories, parade around, sing and dance, and finish off with some goodies. Special thanks to those moms and dads who provided this year's terrific treats, including this cake!

We tend to celebrate most holidays like this (minus the costumes). Look for some turkey fun next week, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, followed by some really cool winter festivities in the following weeks.

Joie's family story hours are geared to pre-schoolers, but we welcome babies, toddlers, school-agers and older. Just come ready to hear some fanastic stories from the world's best children's librarian. We start promptly at 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. every Tuesday, and at 6:30 p.m. every first Wednesday. Please join us!

Kiel teens take first place!

2006-11-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Kiel Public Library's Battle of the Books team. For the first time since we've been participating in this MCLS-sponsored event, Kiel's team actually WON!!! Truth be told, we left the competition in the dust, even though ours was one of the smaller teams there.

Our team (Alex Griffith, Aaron Jenson, Dylan Endries and Gabrielle Draxler) correctly and quickly answered the most number of questions about the eight teen books selected for this year's battle, held Oct. 18 at Silver Lake College. They were assisted by their talented coach Sheila Draxler, KPL library assistant. Winning first place means the Kiel Public Library gets to keep the traveling Battle of the Books plaque for a year, as well as hog all the glory, fame and prestigue that comes with winning this contest.

As for the contestants themselves? Well, they did get free pizza. AND they get to keep those fab lime green t-shirts. Who could ask for anything more?

We're already accepting applicants for next year's battle, held during Teen Library Week in October, 2007. All 7th thru 12 graders are welcome. All you need is a passion for reading and good Jeopardy skills.

Historic Kiel

2006-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

Just a sample of the kinds of historic photos available in the Edwin J. Majkrzak Historical Research Center at Kiel Public Library. Stop in and see what else we have!