Come Sign Up for the Summer Library Program

It doesn't start until June 13th, but you can come sign up now. We have some great volunteers that can help you get started as soon as you walk in the door. Also, don't be worried about being bored this summer, look at all the awesome things we have planned for you and yours!

2011 SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAM:
June 13th-August 3rd

Children's Programs

SPECIAL EVENTS:

ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES
Summer Reading Challenge
June 13-August 6
Open to newborn-grade 6

Children are invited to "Read to Feed" and help provide animals to families around the world. These animals will include a flock of chicks, a flock of ducks and geese, a hive of honeybees, a trio of rabbits, and even a water buffalo.

Part of the Heifer International summer reading program. Sponsored and funded by the Friends of the Mukwonago Community Library.

CAMP RUN-A-MUK
Thursday, June 16 at 2:00 PM
Grades 4-6

Share ghastly ghost stories, sing silly camp songs, play goofy games, adn stuff your face with marshmallows.

THE TROUBLE WITH TROLLS
Thursday, June 23 at 2:00 PM
Grades 1-3

Enjoy the classic story of the Three Biily Goats Gruff and one of its twisted variations, re-enact the story in a Reader's Theater, and test your skill at a Troll Toss.

LULLABIES FOR LITTLE ONES:
an Evening Lapsit Storytime
Tuesday, June 28 at 6:30 PM

This program is designed for children and their caregivers to enjoy together. It features Mother Goose, books, songs, bouncy rhymes, fingerplays, and lots of fun for little ones and their caregivers. (Older children are invited to attend Bedtime Buddies.) Recommended for families with children ages newborn-36 months.

BEDTIME BUDDIES
Tuesday, July 12 at 6:30 PM

Wear your pajamas, bring a "bedtime buddy," and come to the library for an evening filled with books and fun. Recommended for families with children ages 3-8.

POETRY ALIVE! Poetry Performance Like Nothing Else!
Tuesday, July 17, 7:00 PM

Enjoy poetry performances of many of your favorite poetry classics. Shows have lots of audience participantion so get ready to join Poetry Alive! on stage. Yoy'll never see poetry in the same way again. Sponsored by the Waukesha County Federated Library System.

FAMILY FILM NIGHT
Stay tuned.

Wear your jammies and bring a pillow and blanket to snuggle into. Popcorn will be served. Call the Library for titles. For families of all ages.

CONTESTS:

SSSNAKE STORY WRITING CONTEST
Open to grades K-12

In 100 words or less, write a story about an explorer, a tiara, and a giant snake. The story must include all three elements! One winner will be chosen in each of three age categories: grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-12. The winners will each receive a trophy plush giant snake. Contest ends Saturday, August 6. Pick up your official entry form at the Library beginning Monday, June 13.

MAGICAL RIDE DRAWING EVENT
Open to children of all ages.

Imagine you are taking a magical ride around the world. Show us how you would get there. All entries will receive a coupon for a cool, custardy treat. Contest ends Saturday, August 6. Pick up your official entry form at the Library beginning Monday, June 13.

GUESS HOW MANY FEATHERS!
Open to grades K-12.

Guess how many many are in our container and you could win a plush blue Macaw. To be eligible, be the closets without going over. Contest ends Saturday, August 6.

SKATEBOARD DESIGN CONTEST
Open to grades 7-12.

Create the artwork for a skateboard deck and earn a chance to win a skateboard from Won-A-Go Biking. Your design should be two-dimentional and approximately 8 x 32 inches. Contest ends Saturday, August 6.

SERIES PROGRAMS:

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS
For families of all ages. No registration necessary.

These events will be held in the lower level at the Mukwonago Village Hall, 440 River Crest Court.

June 15, 10:00 AM
Doug the Jug: "Juggling Extravanganza."

June 22, 10:00 AM
Jerry Falkenstein, Storyteller: "Circle the Globe with Storytelling."

June 29, 10:00 AM
Fox & Branch, Musicians: "Family Folk Music"

July 6, 10:00 AM
David HB Drake, Musician: "What a Wonderful World"

July 13, 10:00 AM
Jim Mitchell, Magician: "One World, Many Stories"

July 20, 10:00 AM
Nature in the Parks: "One Butterfly, Three Countries"

July 27, 10:00 AM
Tom Kastle, Musician: "Maritime Music"

August 3, 10:00 AM
Puppet Story Theater: "Puppet Travels"


LAPSIT STORYTIME
For ages newborn to 36 months
Thursdays at 10:00 AM

June 16-August 4

This program is designed for children and their caregivers to enjoy together. It features Mother Goose, books, songs, bouncy rhymes, fingerplays, and lots of fun for little ones and their caregivers. (Older children are invited to attend our Wonderful Wednesdays Series.) No registration is necessary.

PAWS TO READ
For readers of all ages

Visit the library and read a poem, picture book, or book chapter to Navarre, B.J., or Zeus the Therapy Dogs. Drop in; no registration necessary.

Navarre the Samoyed
Tuesdays, 1:30 PM
June 14
July 5, 12, 19, 23

Zeus the American Bulldog mix
Wednesdays, 7:00 PM
June 15, 22, 29
July 6, 13, 20

B.J. the Rottweiller
Fridays, 10:00 AM
June 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
August 5

Here it Comes.... the Summer Library Program!!

The Summer Library Program is gearing up to start soon. We are ready to tell you all about the Adult Summer Library Program.

The program officially begins on Monday, June 13th. But you can start signing up for events on Tuesday, May 31st. The theme is "A Novel Destination". We want you to travel on your mind's edge through the Antartic expanse, dwell on riveting tales of Appalachian storyteller, and meet local mystery authors! Check out our Facebook Page to see the events or to RSVP for them.
We have brochures with all this good information available at the Mukwonago Community Library too.

Soon we will be announcing all the details for the Children and YA SLP too. Watch out!

Pathfinder: Locavore...what?!

Locavore is defined as a person who typically eats food grown or produced within a certain radius of their home, or within a certain region. The Library Journal had a article in their April 2011 edition discussing the rise of the Locavore movement and discussing some excellent titles and resources if you are interested in the topic. I was impressed with the amount of titles we had available within our system that the article mentioned. Here is what we have availble:

Cooking

Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating Eating with More than 75 Recipes By Mark Bittman (2008)

American Terroir: Savoring the Flavors of Our Woods, Waters, and Fields

By Rowan Jacobsen (2010)

Farm to Fork: Cooking Local, Cooking Fresh By Emeril Lagasse (2010)

Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers' Markets By Deobrah Madison (2008)

Cooks' House: The Art and Soul of Local, Sustainable Cuisine By Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee (2010)

In the Green Kitchen: Techniques to Learn By Heart By Alice Waters (2010)

The Conscious Kitchen: The New Way To Buy and Cook Food - To Protect the Earth, Improve Your Health, and Eat Deliciously By Alexandra Zissu (2010)

Food Politics

Eating Animals By Jonathan Safran Foer (2009)

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto By Michael Pollan (2008)

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals By Michael Pollan (2006)

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal By Eric Schlosser (2001)

How To

The Joy of Keeping Farm Animals: Raising Chickens, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, and Cows By Laura Childs (2010)

The Locavore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food By Amy Cotler (2009)

The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Sel-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City By Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen (2010)

Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving with Ashley English: All You Need To Know To Make Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Chutneys, & More By Ashley English (2010)

Homemade Living: Kepping Chickens with Ashley English: All You Need To Know To Care for a Happy Healthy Flock By Ahsley English (2010)

Homesteading: A Backyard Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energey, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More. By Norton (2009)

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual By Michael Pollan (2009)

Ripe From Around Here: A Vegan Guide to Local and Sustainable Eating (No Matter Where You Live) By Jae Steele (2010)

There was also a video not listed by Library Journal that we have in the system:
Locavore: local diet, healthy planet (2009)

Websites

Eating Well Guide - Find farms, markets, resaurants, and more in the US and Canada.

Eco-Friendly Guide - A guide to green living and green companies for a variety of products.

Sustainable Table - An excellent resource for educating yourself about the benefits of eating local, sustainable food.

Be BIG Contest

Clifford the Big Red Dog promotes through Scholastic the Be BIG Contest. It is a national compaign that invites everyone, big and small, to take action and raise awareness for how CLIFFORD'S BIG IDEAS can make the world a better place. The mission of the BE BIG is to recognize and reward others for their BE BIG actions, to catalyze change in local communities and to provide resources for everyone to share Big Ideas!


Anyone can enter by June 17, 2011 and the grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 community grant to put towards their BIG IDEA. First prize honorees will get a $2,500 community grant, and second prize honorees will get $1,315.79. So what can you change?


My BIG IDEA was special funding for local children who are in foster care, hospitalization, or other circumstance. I want them to be able to have a selection of books available that they can keep. I believe that reading is a way for people to escape problems and to help identify themselves. So what is your BIG IDEA?

Mmmmm...I love New Documentaries!

Did you ever notice that watching or reading something that is popular gives you something to talk about with people? I hear on a constant basis..."Did you catch the latest American Idol performance"...or "Have you read this Stephen King book?".

I love having something to be able to talk about with people. I also like to start a conversation, which is why I am a documentary junkie. I'll be honest when I say I get a lot of my movies from Netflix because my home television is my computer. But working at the library gives me a lot of great ideas on what documentaries to watch or even checkout.

Time Out New York really did an excellent job pulling together some controversial and educational material. Check out their top 50 documentaries of all time here.

Otherwise here are some new titles available from the Mukwonago Community Library! If you click on the title it will take you to a trailer about the documentary! Enjoy!

Ronald Regan: An American Journey

Experience the astonishing political career of one of the most influential and popular political figures of the past three decades with this in-depth look at Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. This remarkable, feature-length look at Reagan's achievements is packed with incredible archival footage including highlights and news coverage from his groundbreaking speeches and debates as well as the major world events he faced in office. I think Mr. Regan can speak for himself about an exciting documentary!

Superbowl XLV Champions: The Packers (sorry no legal trailer).

Celebrate the champions of Super Bowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers, and follow the team from their first snap to the final gun of Super Bowl XLV. See the most anticipated and watched sporting event of the year. Complete with highlights from the regular season, playoffs, and the big game itself. Contains hours of Super Bowl coverage and behind-the-scenes action. If you are going through football withdrawals, check this one out!

"Waiting for Superman"

Provided is an engaging and inspiring look at public education in the United States. This documentary has helped launch a movement to achieve a real and lasting change through the compelling stories of five unforgettable students such as Emily, a Silicon Valley eighth-grader who is afraid of being labeled as unfit for college, and Francisco, a Bronx first-grader whose mom will do anything to give him a shot at a better life. Included are featurettes, and commentary. This is a powerful documentary especially during our own states conversation about the importance of teachers and education. Hard to get title, so place a hold!

Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking

British physicist Stephen Hawking explores the mysteries of the universe, discussing the possibility of aliens, time travel, and how the universe began. Seriously...if you like Star Trek...you might like this.

The Tillman Story

Pat Tillman chose to walk away from a multimillion-dollar football contract and join the military for no other reason than he felt it was the right thing to do. Documented are the facts surrounding the way the military manipulated his tragic death in the line of duty into a propaganda tool. If in addition to watching this documentary read up on Wiki Leaks, and you can have some interesting conversation about censorship.

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!