Construction Photos: Six

The outline of the new library is taking shape! I just hope these guys are as good at putting things together as they have been at taking things apart.

Here you can see the concrete footings for the expansion area. Not that exciting looking, but pretty important in terms of making the floor slab work right.

Ooooo... our new electrical transformer. So shiny, so... green!

And here's the new electrical service panel that the transformer feeds. More power!

Some of the... well, I don't know the technical term, but the metal forms they use to set the concrete mold shapes for the wall foundations.

Those metal forms from the previous picture are in use in this picture, showing how the concrete will look for the bay window, once it is poured.

Final shot-- the whole east side excavated. The new basement will run under this entire stretch of building.

Angry Birds

Angry Birds is a free fun game that is available for most internet compatible devices. Most Apple fans and those with fancy cell phones have wasted several hours playing the addicting game. While a special treat for you my blog readers. Anyone who uses the Google Chrome internet browser can now play it for free online! There are even special created Chrome levels! Enjoy!

It's Raining It's Pouring

It's raining, it's pouring.....but there is no old man snoring. Keep your family protected by listening to weather warnings and following these few safety tips:

1. Listen for warnings and alarms!
If the weather looks questionable turn on a local radio station and listen for warnings. You can also sign up for e-mail warnings and Facebook updates for emergencies at the Emergency and E-mail and Wireless Network. (Click the link to sign up for alerts for Waukesha County.)

2. For severe weather and emergencies seek shelter!
Anytime there is severe weather or emergencies there are shelter and services available to those in need in Waukesha County. Those seeking shelter should dial 2-1-1. This service will provide local information on available lodging. Your call to 2-1-1 is free and confidential, and is available throughout Wisconsin. 2-1-1 service is available 24 hours 7 days per week. If your cellular provider does not allow calls to 2-1-1, please call (877) 947-2211 or (262) 547-3388.
Program it in your phones right now.

3. Have a plan!
It has been said that the Japanese suffered less fatalities during the earthquake disasters because they were prepared. Take their example and talk to your family. If phones are down how will you find each other? Locate a shelter or safe place near your home as a designated meeting area. Or just talk to them about what to do in case of an emergency.

The best plan of all...is to have one! Stay safe...and if you need more ideas please stop by the Mukwonago Community Library and we can help you find some planning materials!

National Salvation Army Week

These bell ringers help thousands of people across the nation celebrate their holidays better by organizing and collectiong donations. To help celebrate this organization the National Salvation Army Week falls from May 8th through the 15th. When the United States entered World War I the Salvation Army was ready to help. The Salvation Army established a War Board and began programs in US Army camps and canteens across the country.

Come over to the library to read up on World War I and the history of the Salvation Army. We also have a great collection of educational World War I DVDs. Otherwise donate or volunteer at your local Salvation Army.

Construction Photos: Five

Wow! They are really going to town over at the expansion site. Here's some new shots from Tuesday, May 3. First the inside:

In the following photos you can see the foundations being prepared for the pouring of the concrete:

It's quite cool to be able to see where the new walls are actually going to go-- including that gorgeous West side bow window. The second of the two photos shows the inspection of the foundation layout. The front loader moving topsoil in the background was busy taking dirt from the east side and dumping it on the west side in preparation for the pouring of the foundations and the grading of the new parking area.

Finally, a shot of the We Energies guys hooking up our new electrical service:

JoAnn Early Macken helps the Library celebrate Children's Book Week

One little guy gets up close and personal with author JoAnn Early Macken as she shares her new book Baby Says Moo!

Special thanks go out to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for bringing the author to our library.

Hey You! The One With the E-mail!

Most of our patrons already take advantage of our library e-mail notifications. They get e-mails that let them know when holds are available, a first past due notice, and upcoming due date reminders. These quick and easy reminders could save you time and money! If you are worried about privacy or getting spam...NO WORRIES 'MON. We won't sell your e-mail address, and you only receive library notifications

You can sign up right now! Click on the picture!

Another quick reminder…the library has FREE notary services available in the evening. Most Monday thru Thursdays from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm...ask for Tristan!

Magazines for Everyone in the Family

Where do you see yourself this summer?

Just imagine yourself now...warm sand between your toes and a fresh copy of Good Housekeeping in your hot little hands.

Or maybe you are finally buying that new gas grill you wanted to barbecue with this summer and you feel wise making an information decision with a copy of Consumer Digest while you are in the store.

Or maybe you are just learning to read and Mom is reading you the newest edition of Ladybug. Or you are browsing through a Scooby Doo magazine.

Or maybe it is finally time to get in shape and you are learning new exercises with Shape and learning to cook stellar healthy meals with Eating Well.

Wherever you see yourself this summer...I bet a magazine from the Mukwonago Community Library will fit in with you. We have lots of title for all ages! Check out our catalog (*tip* browse our catalog for item types then you can search for all the titles available for magazines and reserve your copy online). We are also looking at adding more titles, so we would be happy to have your recommendation.

See you (and your magazines) this summer.

Congratulation Madelyn K., our Poetry Month Bingo contest winner!

Congratulations to our Poetry Month Bingo contest winner Madelyn K., grade 6. She wins a copy of Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Here is a haiku Madelyn wrote:

Haircut

Snip, snip, cut, fall, fall
Hair falling, on the clean floor
Snip, cut, fall, perfect.

Well done Madelyn!

Construction Photos: Four

The wet weather hasn't helped the project any, but things are still moving along. Here you can see the entire North wall stripped of its bricks:

While this is the eastern exposure, likewise missing almost all of its bricks:

Here you can see the huge mound of topsoil that has been created onsite by the excavating and grading occurring on the east side of the lot, where the parking will be going:

Wisconsin in the Movies

I don't know about you...but I have been reading about Wisconsin in the news everywhere the last few months. Every national or trade magazine is talking about politics....well let's try something lighter on for size this evening!

I came across this older OnMilwaukee.com article about movies filmed in Wisconsin. Did you know that a section of the Blues Brothers movie was filmed on 794? Check out this brief article to get some ideas about your next flick...then you can point and say "hey that's us!"

The author doesn't mention television like That Seventies Show or Happy Days!

Enjoy!

Celebrate Children's Book Week: meet author JoAnn Early Macken

Celebrate Children's Book Week by meeting author JoAnn Early Macken as she shares her new book Baby Says Moo! on Wednesday, May 4 at 10:00 AM. This is a storytime for families with young children. Jane D.

At the Car Wash....♫♫♫♫

Well....you could be at the car wash getting your car washed for FREE if you come enter for a chance to win at the library. You might be asking yourself how does one win this fabulous prize?

Step 1: Come to the library.
Step 2: Pick out any item in the library to check out (we have DVDs, books, music, video games)
Step 3: Go up to the self-check out machine near the entrance/exit, and check out.
Step 4: Rip off the top of your receipt and put it in the entry bin to the left of the machine.

Voila! Every time you do that you enter to win a weekly prize of a free car wash. We have 3 more full weeks of this wonderful promotion. So get your car washed....at the car wash ♫ ♫ at Amato Ford.

Attention Kindle Users!

Amazon has announced that later this year they will be launching the Kindle Lending Library. If you have a Kindle or you are thinking about getting one....this is great news for you! It means you will have the opportunity to borrow e-books for free from over 11,000 public libraries, including those here in Waukesha County.

If you don't have a Kindle...don't feel left out! You can borrow one from the Mukwonago Community Library. It is a browsing item so you won't be able to put it on hold, but for more questions give the library a ring at (262) 363-6411. Or if you find yourself insatiable for more new about this awesome new Kindle feature check out the Amazon press release.

Please enjoy our Recycled Art Contest entries!

Construction Photos: Three

Some pictures of the ongoing demolition from the previous two weeks. The exterior brick on the north and east walls has been removed, since the new building will be expanding in those directions:

Plus, the

planter is gone, making way for the drive-up book drop. All of the named bricks have been preserved, never fear.

The inside has not escaped unscathed. Most of the office space is gone, and the carpeting and ceilings have likewise disappeared.

Make Way for Children's Book Week!

May 2nd through May 8th is Children's Book Week! Tell me...who doesn't enjoy a good children's book? One of my favorite parts about working in a library is looking at all the neat storybooks and reminiscing about the ones from my own childhood. Well give your little one a little something extra to remember!

To help us celebrate Children's Book Week at the Mukwonago Community Library author JoAnn Early Macken will visiting. So come on down on Wednesday, May 4th at 10:00 a.m. for a story time where she will share her books. Check out her website for more information her and her books. A neat idea would be to read a few of her books to your little ones and bring them in to meet her. Nothing is cooler then a celebrity author!

See you soon and happy reading!

Construction Photos: Two

Groundbreaking! What a wonderful day. The weather could have been a little warmer, but it didn't rain and we had a great turnout for the event. Civic leaders, staff members, community volunteers, and several of our biggest donors were there to see the long anticipated moment when the construction would "formally" begin. Amongst the donors were nearly all of the John and Lorraine McAdams family. These generous and foresighted individuals combined their resources and donated $700,000 to the capitol campaign.

Thanks to all our many wonderful donors, we were finally able to do this:

Lorraine McAdams and members of her family break ground with a will. The family donated $700,000 to the capitol campaign in late 2010, allowing the construction to proceed this spring.

Members of the Library Board break ground on the long awaited expansion. Several members were unable to attend. Additionally, several past Board members who were instrumental to the project were also unable to participate.

Village Board members, library staff and village staff all move the earth to signal the start of construction.

Construction Photos: One

As the library settles into its temporary home at 1012 Main St., work is really started to ratchet up at the expansion and renovation site. Here are some pictures from late March, just as the construction project was starting to get under way:

The construction fencing is up, and the trees are starting to come down. The house on the corner is gone. Groundbreaking photos up next.

Can’t read the text of normal printed books?

If you (or someone you know) cannot read normal sized text in a printed book you should learn about the resources provided by the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library.

If you have a visual handicap, legal blindness, physical handicap, or reading disability you are eligible for the services of having borrowing materials sent to you free of charge. This service isn’t just for individuals, qualifying schools, hospital, or nursing homes can participate to enrich services and provide better resources.

You can get over 40,000 different titles of best sellers, romances, mysteries, classics, sports, travel, and more! These titles can come in Braille, recorded cassette, large print, digital book and they even have transcribed DVDs. Or ask about the special resources about Wisconsin and collection of works by Wisconsin authors.

In the last few years the services provided by the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library have been made even more convenient because you can search for and request materials right from your home computer! These aren’t just stale old titles either you can check out some newer James Patterson, Debbie Macomber books! So what are you waiting for check them out (or at least their resources).

If you want to know what the picture above says...check out the text to Braille converter website. :)

National Library Week

Wouldn’t it be neat if there was an entire week every year dedicated to libraries? A week where we could celebrate how awesome your library is?

Well lucky for us April 10th is the beginning of National Library Week! National Library Week came about in 1957 when research started indicating that people were spending less time reading and spending more time on entertainment like the radio and television. At that time the main purpose of National Library Week was to motivate people to read so they would support the library.

Libraries have changed a bit since then trying to entice you with other wonderful resources like movies, technology, learning, storytimes, and events. It is meant as a way to make a plethora of forms of educational and entertainment resources available for the community it serves. As we are here to serve you, come on down to the library and check out some of the excellent free resources, events, and programs we have to offer you (especially during NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!!!!).

ADULT EVENTS:

Computer Classes:
Tuesday April 12th – Computer Basics from 1pm to 3pm
This is very simple computer operation skills.
Wednesday April 13th – Microsoft Excel Come and learn the basics of how to operate Microsoft
Excel a computer program used for bookkeeping and form creating!
Friday April15th – Computer Basics from 10 am to 12 pm

Crossword Contest
Pick up a crossword puzzle at the library reference desk. Turn it in at the reference reference desk by April 20th, for your chance to be entered in for a Elegant Farmer gift card!

Book Club
Page Turners Book Club meets Monday April 11th at 1 pm.


CHILDREN/YA EVENTS:

Family Film Night:
Monday April 11th starting at 6 pm. Bring your family for a free movie and popcorn at the library. Everyone is encourage to where their pajamas and bring blankets to cozy up while watching this movie. This one is about a magically long-haired Rapunzel who is discovered by a runaway thief!

An Evening with Mama Baer
Tuesday April 12th starting at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy wonderfully crafted and told storytime by local storyteller Mama Baer.

Paws to Read
Wednesday April 13th from 6pm to 7pm. Come read to lovable B.J. the Rottweiler. You can even pick the book!

Earth Day Contest:
We are having a contest for building a piece of artwork or sculpture out of recycled material to win a prize! You have until Saturday April 15th at 4 pm to drop off your amazing artwork!

Your Library Card Works at ALL WCFLS Libraries

A lot of our patrons may not realize that their Mukwonago Community Library card is actually good at all of Waukesha County Federated Library System (WCFLS) libraries. That has all sorts of benefits for you! 1. You can check items out from other Waukesha County libraries. 2. You can return your items to any of the WCFLS libraries and it will get checked in and returned to the library that owns it! So if you live in Mukwonago and are running errands in Waukesha..you can return the items at the Waukesha library. 3. You can participate in any programs hosted by other libraries. If computer classes or storytime events don't fit your schedule at our library check out our companion libraries to see if they have something that fits your needs. You can check the WCFLS events calendar here. 4. You have 24/7 access to research and job search databases. 5. Don't forget you can always call any of the libraries for questions or reference services! Maybe you can take a drive and check out some of our wonderful libraries.

Frank Lloyd Wright Exhbit at the MAM

For me the special or featured exhibits at the local museum are always an exciting opportunity to see something new and fresh right here in the area. It is also something I don’t do for every exhibit..because tickets can get pricy. The Milwaukee Art Museum’s (MAM) featured exhibit is on Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century from February 12th through May 15th 2011. I have wanted to go this exhibit since it first opened, and finally got the chance this weekend. (I even roped a few friends into going with me). So what did I think? I thought it was an awesome exhibit that may only be exciting for people 13 and up, unless they are interested in the subject. The majority of the display was colored architectural planning sketches for Mr. Wright’s buildings. There was a nice mixture of his office buildings, commissioned homes, and larger plans that never actually got built. There were also a couple of excellent models and examples of his future so close you could almost touch them. I particularly enjoyed the two short videos playing at the exhibit which focused on his private life and a tour of a home he was commissioned to build. NOTES FOR CHILDREN: If you are going to take your children I highly suggest pursuing the free teacher’s guide to the exhibit before you go. There are some excellent talking points on architecture versus environment and some recommendations for children books that will help get them in the frame of mind. The suggested books The Wright 3 and Frank Lloyd Wright and His New American Architecture are both available at the library for checkout.

Temporary Closing Q & A

The last day we were open at our 300 Washington Ave. location was Friday, March 18th. On that day we started moving our items over to our new temporary location at 1012 Main Street (the Old Gooden's building across from Amato Ford.) We reopened today, Wednesday, March 23rd.

Q: Where do I return my items?
A:-Return all items to our temporary location at 1012 Main Street
Hint: Remember you can return the items you check out from our library to any other Waukesha County library.

Q: What if I returned my items while you were closed, do I get fines for late materials?
A: While we were closed there were be NO FINES accuring on items. In anticipation most due dates for items were automatically set for the end of March.
Hint: This doesn't mean you can turn in a book that was due in February and expect your fines to be gone :).

Q: When will be reopening back at the Washington St. location?
A: Hopefully by the end of the year, it all depends on how the construction process goes. We are currently targeting late November or early December, but construction duration is nearly impossible to predict in advance.

Q: Will the online library catalog still be available?
A: Yes! Yes! Yes! You can also have access to your "my account" feature. Subscription databases will also be up and running.

Q: Will all programs still be happening?
A: The AARP tax help which runs every Monday morning until April 11th from 9 am to 1 pm will be moving over to the Village Hall. All other events will be happening at our new temporary Main St. location.

Thank you for your patience during our move and expansion.

Title Suggestions for Your Book Club

If you are a member of a book club that needs a few suggestions for 2011, boy are you in luck! Or maybe these title will inspire you to start a book club of your own. If that happens be sure to check out the library because we have space your club can meet in and we can help you order books for your next club...just make sure you give us some advance notice ;).

Here is a list of select titles from the American Library Association Notable Books List for Adults from 2010 and 2011. These title have enough copies of the books in the library system and audio books available. Enjoy and happy reading!

Fiction

A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan.
A '70s punk band becomes the touchstone for a motley crw who spin their interconnected stories over time and distance.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin and William Morrow
Two men - one black, one white - must confront the secrets surround their childhood friendship following the disappearance of two girls in rural Mississippi.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzenem
This incisive portrait of the fractured Berglund brood captures the zeitgeist of contemporary America.

The Surrendered by Chang Rae Leeem
The complex entangled lives of three people forever scarred by the Korean War are sympathetically portrayed in gorgeous prose.

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantesem
An ambitious and idealistic American Marine faces the horror, heroism, futility, and pragmatism of war in this visceral portrayal of life in-country.

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soliem
The adrenaline high that danger offers infects photojournalist Helen Adams as she documents the war in Vietnam.

The Lonely Polygamist: A Novel by Brady Udallem
In this big-hearted novel, Golden Richards and his clan navigate their chaotic lives as each clamors to be noticed.

The Year of the Flood: A Novel by Margaret Atwoodem
In the near future, two women survive an apocalyptic event in a queasily enthralling work.

Await Your Reply: A Novel by Dan Chaonem
This chilling exploration of the modern meaning of the identity follows three people on the firnges of society.

Spooner by Pete Dexter
A boy struggles to navigate the vagaries of the world with lifelong guidance of his stepfather in this funny and heartbreaking tale.

Tinkers by Paul Harding
In this lyrical novel, the life of a dying man is examined through the smallest moments of time and memory.

Let the Great World Spin: A Novel by Colum McCann
Phillipe Petit’s high wire walk between the Twin Towers provides the backdrop for this rich portrait of the unlikely connections among a group of New Yorkers in the 1970s.

A Mercy: A Novel by Toni Morrison
Four women- white, mixed race, black and Native American – become a makeshift family under the care of a “good” man in colonial America.

Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers
In this postmodern indictment of the biotech industry, a student’s unnerving happiness seems to hold the key to banishing despair from the genetic code.

Nonfiction

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow
A landmark biography provides insights into the complexities of this founding father’s character, and brings him fully to life within the context of his times.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Chronicling the experiences of six people, this powerful account draws back the curtain on the brutality of life under totalitarian regime.


Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier
Stricken by Russia love, a writer sets out to experience all things Siberian and takes us along for the frolicking journey.


Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent
This intoxicating history of the 18th amendment reveals the surprising relationship between Prohibition and other social movements, and explores its lasting impact on American life.


The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick
An epic encounter between two iconic individuals is vividly portrayed in fluid, evocative, and decidedly objective prose.


The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
A science writer uncovers the fascinating story of an African-American woman’s cancer cells harvested for medical research, thereby raising important questions of bioethics.


The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant
Russia’s ecological and cultural history serves as the backdrop for the riveting adventure of tale of man versus beast.


Columbine by Dave Cullen
The fine work of investigative journalism challenges the myths and misconceptions of the Columbing tragedy.


Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
This powerful account explores the devastation of post-Katrina New Orleans through the eyes of a Syrian-American who remained and endured the resulting chaos and confusion.


The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
An intrepid reporter sets out to uncover the mysterious fate the last f the great Victorian explorers in this thrilling adventure.


Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld & the American Dream by Patrick Radden Keefre
Human trafficking and its subsequent effect on the American economy and social structures are document in this fast paced panoramic expose.


Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
One journalist’s quest to discover the secrets of the reclusive Tarahumara Indians leads to and exciting and dangerous endurance race.


Tears in the Darkness: The story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M

In-depth, brutal and moving this narrative prvides multiple perspectives into a tragic WWII epsidoe in the Phillippines.


The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War by Nicholas Thompson
The remarkable half-century friendship and rivalry between two influential strategists who helped shape American policy is brought to life in this insightful dual biography.

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Will you be kissing the Blarney Stone this March 17th? If so we have whipped up a few party ideas for you. Enjoy!

Irish Jig Contest
Create a mixed CD that has Irish songs, such as, “Danny Boy” or “Whiskey in the Jar.” (Or use Pandora.com) Pair up in couples. Find three judges (someone who does not want to dance) to decide on the winners based on their unique dance moves. If everyone wants to show off their dance moves, the couple standing the longest wins.

Irish Trivia Websites
- This is a entire website o' Irish trivia.
- This is just a simple little quiz that may be fun.

Irish Music Ideas
Go to Pandora and sign up for a free account. You get 40 hours of free music a month. Create a “Irish” station to stream music for your party. (I use this for entertaining at home all the time! Huge hit because you can pretty much tailor the music to the occasion.)

Irish Jokes
An idea I had for a game for the jokes is you could print off your favorite jokes, and then fold them up and put them in a bowl. Each guest has to select a joke and tell it at some point during the party.

Irish Movies
Put an Irish movie on in the background. Rotten tomato suggests a few!

Printable Leprechaun Mask
These can be a little too much fun.

May the luck o' thee Irish be with ye.

Money Smart Week Webinar: Investing 101

Morning Star Investment Research Center is a subscription database that you can access here at the library to learn about stocks, trading, and use free portfolio tools. They are hosting an online seminar on Investing that you can attend for free onlie, on April 8th at 11 a.m. I will be attending, hopefully you will be there too! Check the post below for more information!

"The American Library Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago are recognizing April 2-9 as Money Smart Week at your library. This is a week for libraries to help promote financial literacy and hold programs designed to help consumers manage their personal finances.

Morningstar Library Services will be participating in Money Smart Week with a free webinar, Investing 101: Simple Strategies to Get Started in the World of Investing. The session will cover the basics of how to start investing, including why you should invest, determining your investment goals, and finding the right mix of stocks, bonds, and other investments for you using Morningstar research.

The session will be done via the web, so it should be accessible from any location with a computer. This is an event that you can hold as a large group at the library or promote to patrons to attend on their own. Also during Money Smart Week, we will have our regular database training session, which can be attended by anyone as well.

Morningstar Investment Research Center web training will be held April 7 at 11 a.m. Central time. Investing 101 will be held April 8 at 11 a.m. Central time. Patrons can register by e-mailing librarytraining@morningstar.com and mentioning the name of their library."

Explore Your Local History!

Have you ever looked around Mukwonago or Waukesha and thought about the way it used to be? Can you see horses pulling carriages through the streets or imagine when Native Americans were the main inhabitants. The opportunity to exercise your imagination is rich within Waukesha County and Mukwonago itself. With an abundance of museums and local library reference collections you can learn more about the place you live and work every day!

Museums

Red Brick Museum

"Located in the heart of downtown Mukwonago, Wisconsin, the Mukwonago Museum was first established in 1967, the the Red Brick House was purchased with funds left by Mr. Arthur Grutzmacher. Built in 1842 by original Mukwonago settler Sewall Andrews, the home has been restored to a lovely Victorian house, reminiscent of the post-Civil War period.
For 40 years, community volunteers have staffed the museum, updated rooms, and educated guests in Mukwonago's history.
Today, the museum's mission is still strong. Continually involved in renovation of the old house, the museum's primary goal is to impart a love for history to all who visit this unique Mukwonago attraction." Check out their featured exhibit The American Indian Collection with artifcacs like beads, pottery, and arrowheads!

Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum

Founded in 1906 and residing in a the old gorgeous Waukesha Courthouse building built in 1893. The actual space for the collection began in 1913 and started with one room and has expanded to the entire building. For over 100 years it has been an instrumental part of the community housing, educating people about Waukesha County, coordinating local events, and housing great exhibits. Check out their Memories of World War II exhibit with photos from Associated Press photographers.

Local Library Resources

The Waukesha County Federated Library System has a great local history collection. I wanted to highlight just a few of the gems here at the Mukwonago Community Library.

A Chronicle of Mukwonago History is a work compiled by D.E. Wright in 1990. It will introduce you to some of the important folks from Mukwonago and early settlers where you can get to know people like "Old Cal" Agnew and the Craig Family. Imagine yourself as a pioneer when you read a little about earlier days and reminiscients. Get to know about the historical significance of the inns, industries, and church history.

Place of the Bear is another worked compiled by D.E. Wright with a first print in 1994. This seems to be an extension of A Chronicle of Mukwonago History and touches more on local schools, early Indian settlers, and family ties.

From Mequanego to Mukwonago is a set of four walking tours through Mukwonago by Kathryn Bergmann with the first edition printed in 1998. The tours are intersting and not overly long with a little over (or under) a mile on each tour. The book provides descriptions about each building it highlights on the tour and even adds some earlier photos of select buildings. This is definetly a neat family outing or romantic evening with a picnic!

Hopefully I will see you poking around these great places!

What happens with library events after the move?

In case you haven't heard....as of March 19th, we are temporarily MOVING for the expansion! Woot-woot! You may be wondering what happens with library events at this time. All scheduled events will go on as planned, either at the new location or at the village hall. Most will happen at our temporary home, 1012 Main St.-- across from Amato Ford-- but some of the larger events will be in the lower level of village hall.

Check out our calendar of events or Facebook (Adult/Teen) pages for more information about each event.

Child Day Care Newsletter

The Waukesha County Child Day Care Certification Department offers more then just certification for child care facilities. They also offer a monthly newsletter that I think is a great resource for parents or child care providers. The March 2011 newsletter touches on safety recalls, St. Patrick's day crafts and recipes, information on a lending library, and new standards for cribs. They also have a helpful link page that has one or two resources that may be of interest. Definitely check out the newsletter!

Online Job Applications -- How to Make Them A Little Quicker

Applying for jobs can be stressful and time consuming. Most job postings are listed on the internet and most applications are accepted electronically. With a focus on applying for jobs electronically I will try to give some tips and tricks to reduce the time you sit in front of the computer.

LOOKING FOR THE JOBS

Interest Cards: Automatic E-mails from Companies

A lot of larger companies and government entities will allow you to sign up for “interest forms” where they will e-mail you anytime a job in your field open. An example of that is Waukesha County. Once you create a profile with them you can file out an “interest form” and then they will e-mail whenever a position opens up in your field.

Details: For an example check out Waukesha County’s website.

Metasearch Websites: Check out Indeed.com

There are a lot of options for search engines to look for jobs. For example there are company websites, city websites, county websites, organization websites, and for profit sites like CareerBuilder and Craigslist. All of these options can be overwhelming.

If you want one website that grabs a variety of these job posting from other all these types of websites try a metasearch website. The results won’t be as precise as if you searched a regular website, so be ready to wade through about 50% more jobs. Try my favorite metasearch site, indeed.com.

FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION:

Google Chrome: Auto Fill

Google Chrome is a web browser similar to Internet Explorer and Firefox that is offered for free by Google. This web browser offers the cleanest add on option called “auto fill” that I have used yet. Basically you can add your contact information (e-mail, name, address, phone number, etc) to your profile and it will save it. Then the next time you are filling out an application, with the press of one button, the entire contact portion of the application is filled out.

Details: Download Google Chrome here. Get more information on setting up your Auto Fill profile here.

Plain Text Resume: Use Copy and Paste

Though this isn’t as quick and easy as Auto Fill, it will still help your aching fingers type less. Have a thorough plain text copy of your resume filled out. This means a simple resume with no embellishments like bold, bullets, or any other features. (Tip, on my plain text resume I also have extended information about former employers, like supervisor, address, telephone number, etc. some applications do ask for that information.

When it comes time to fill out the “work experience” portion of a resume, utilize copying and pasting from the plain text resume to the application. I use shortcut keys for the copying and pasting. Always have this plain text available by saving it in a online document storage place, like Google Documents (it is free!).

Details: How to make a plain text resume information can be found here. How to copy and paste information can be found here. How to utilize short cut keys can be found here.

MAKE REALISTIC GOALS

Limit Your Time in Front of the Computer

Set goals as to how many applications you are going to fill out for the day or how long you are going to spend. Also make sure to make your goal attainable, if you start setting your goal over 10 applications in 1 day or spending more than 4 hours at a time at the computer, you may be over doing it. After a certain amount of time your productivity and attention to detail will start to decrease and you will not be as accurate or thoughtful in filling out your applications. You want to make the best first impression! Good luck!

Hopefully these couple of tips and tricks help you fill out your applications easier. If you want some help learning how to make a resume please stop on in at the Mukwonago Community Library for our Resume Workshop on Wednesday,March 2^nd,2011 at 2 pm. I would also advise you to bring a flash drive to save your documents on.

Web Surfing

My type of surfing doesn’t involve a wetsuit, but a mouse and keyboard. Follow along and I will guide you through some of the most popular websites of 2010!

Time Magazine publishes an annual list of what they consider to the best of the Web. I have highlighted three of my personal favorites from that list:

MIT OpenCourseWare: The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has an initiative to allow partial access to undergraduate and graduate level courses for FREE to anyone. Access to these courses can be found on their website. I have used the Spanish course and dabbled a little in Astronomy. (I am not very good at Astronomy.) But MIT even has their own YouTube channel so you can watch lectures while looking at printouts from their website. Be prepared these are not all full courses, but there is enough pieces to find a very rich education experience...for FREE.

Pogo: Games, games, and more games....what more can I say? Some free games on the internet seem cheap and poorly planned. Pogo offers a variety of bright, and mostly child friendly entertaining games, from the mindless to the slightly educational. I do not recommend using this website at work!

Groupon: One big discount for your area once a day! This website is amazing for helping you find hidden gems in the community. Though there isn’t a Groupon location for Mukwonago, we are so close you can check out Milwaukee, Chicago, and Madison for ideas (triple bonus!). One of my favorite buys from this website was a three month fitness bootcamp in Milwaukee for $60, which saved me almost $200. Also if suggest friends to the website and they purchase something you get a $10 credit. Pretty cool!

Alexa is a Web Information Company that provides an update list of the top 500 internet sites on the web. The top three you can probably guess:. Google, Facebook, and then Youtube. I prefer using the Time List because their ratings are based on enterainment and quality, where Alexa is just amount of visitors. Popularity does not equal quality. Enjoy your surfing!

Wisconsin Unions

Disappearing senators, days of protesting in Madison, and a state full of concerned citizens boil down to one thing: heated debate. There is a lot of rhetoric and fast talking by newscasters and colleagues these days regarding their opinion of the situation. I am providing a few of the more substantial articles and information about the protest events. There is no intent to be biased in a general direction, I only mean to provide the resources and allow you to be the critic. Please read and if you have any resources you believe I overlooked or should be added please feel free to comment below.

For the most in-depth local coverage I have found check out Madison based Channel 3000’s website. It includes a long list of stories and video coverage about the events from the first mention of Governor Walker targeting state worker benefits in a speech on February 2^nd, to current day protests. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page linked above you will find a list of relevant article according to title and date, which is the cleanest type of timeline I have come across.

Keefe, Jeff. "Wisconsin Public Versus Private Employee Costs: Why Compare Apples to Oranges." 15 Feb. 2011. Policy Memorandum #173. N.p.: Economic Policy Institute, 2011. N. pag. PDF file

There has been discussion as to where Wisconsin public employees rank in pay compared next to the private sector. This memorandum put forth by the Economic Policy Institute using their finding and Bureau of Labor Statistics to state their findings say public employees make substantially less in income but have better benefits. All statistics and percentages are clearly labeled and easy to understand

Siegel, Fred. "How Public Unions Took Taxpayers Hostage. " Wall Street Journal 25 Jan. 2011, Eastern edition: ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

A lot of people are concerned that unions, especially those affiliated with the government could hold to much power. This article discusses some of the history of how unions have gained power and represented themselves. It is an opinioned piece against the power of unions, but it is historically accurate. The author Fred Siegel is also a reputable source having written many credible stories and having worked as not only a scholar but political advisor.

Carr, Julie and Kathy Barks Hoffman. "Republicans Challenging Unions in State Capitols." Associated Press 18 Feb. 2011: n. pag. NPR. Web, 21 Feb. 2011.

The Associated Press does a good job of representing the situation in Wisconsin and how it may most likely find similar effects in other states. It confirms the budget short fall, the number of public sector workers, and provides examples of other states that may have similar situations.

Please share your suggestions!

MLA, APA, Chicago, and AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Do citations and bibliography rules make you want to cry? Or perhaps you secretly love creating in text citations and want to make sure they are perfect every time. Whatever your opinion is on creating citations and bibliographies, they get easier when you use the library. You can copy and paste already created citations or utilize software that will build the citations from scratch for you. Let’s discuss your options.

Copy and Pasting Already Created Citations

EBSCOhost offers premade citations for all of its scholarly articles. You can check out EBSCOhosts different databases through our subscription database page. Once you login start searching for your articles. Once you select an article, on the right hand side of the page there will be a button that says “Cite”. Click on this button a pop up window will show you all of the different citations styles. From this point you can copy and paste to your heart’s content. A little warning from my experience, the citations offered by EBSCOhosts are not always perfect, so double check.

Building Your Citations From Scratch..(with a little help).

There are several free citations builders available on the web and today I will introduce you to EasyBib and NoodleBib.

EasyBib.com is a simple bibliographic management tool that creates citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. You choose what type of citation you are building and then fill in the blanks, from there EasyBib will create your citation for you. I especially liked this feature because you could create a list and then download it to a Microsoft Word or Google document file. This download feature minimizes a lot of the time and clumsiness involved in editing if you were simply to copy and paste citations. I recommend this citation builder for younger students who are just learning citations.

Though free and easy to use this program still comes with areas for improvement. The simplicity sometimes misses the finer details necessary for Chicago or Turabian citations. Also make sure you pay close attention to font size and margin spacing when you download citations to a Microsoft Word document. If a professor or teacher specifies a certain style of paper, EasyBib may not automatically create the style you are required to make.

NoodleBib.com is more complex free bibliographic management tool that also creates MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. This software also is a fill in the blank type citation builder, though you should expect a lot more blanks than EasyBib. This citation builder is a little more time consuming, but you can expect accurate and correct citations. Though you do not get the handy downloadable feature, you can expect better results for professional style citations. This citation builder is appropriate for high school age students and above.

If you are using the two citation builders for simple print journal articles you are likely to get similar results. There are minor differences if you are using it to build a bibliography of references used from an electronic database. Be careful about what information you add into the blanks and pay attention to any side notes or pop up information. Your citations are only as accurate at the information you put into it.

If you still want more information please check the library catalog for the writing style manuals. These are always the authoritative source of creating proper citations. Happy writing!

Extra Extra! We Are Temporarily Moving During Expansion!

We’ll be open thru March 18th, re-opening yet to be determined, but estimated on March 23rd.

Saturday, March 19th we’ll begin the process of moving everything out of our existing building. If you feel like volunteering to help with the move please sign up at the Circulation Desk at the library. Out new temporary home will be located at:

Goodden’s Sporting Goods location,
1012 S. Main St. (ES)
(Across from Amato Ford) see map below for directions.

When we reopen at the temporary location you can expect:
• Reopening with entire collection available
• All library services available
• Most programs will be held at the new location. Some larger programs, particularly

Summer Reading programming, may be held at the Village Hall
• Check the library’s website or the Mukwonago Chief for information on
re-opening dates.

Help us feel at home in our new temporary location and come and visit often!