The Holidays in Song

Zachary Scot Johnson

Zachary Scot Johnson has spent the last 10 years touring nationally with not only Grammy winners such as Shawn Colvin but also famous movie actors such as Kevin Costner. For this show, Zach has uncovered some lesser known holiday "gems" to mix with songs we know and love. His singing and playing will include a little of everything, from upbeat to mellow. 

 Plan to take a break from the holiday rush and treat yourself to an uplifting hour of song. Zach will in the Virginia Public Library auditorium on Thursday, December 13, at noon.

Coffee an' generously provided by the Friends of the Virginia Public Library. For more information, call 748-7525. 

This event is sponsored by the Arrowhead Library System and funded by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

--Susan Hoppe, Adult Services Librarian

Unadvertised Specials @ Your Library

Come in to your library for the best deals in town!

All day today, check out two items and borrow the third for FREE!  No coupons required.  Bring your library card and check out books, magazines, music CDs, and DVDs for FREE! 

 If the item you wish to borrow has already been taken, one of our library employees will gladly request it for you from another library--Absolutely FREE! 

Today's special applies to regular circulating items only.  Normal overdue fees will apply, but you wouldn't bring anything back late, would you?  

Arrowhead Library System Card

Fleece to Felt & Confessions of a Professional Eater

Join us next week for two fantastic programs!

Fleece to Felt

At 3:30 on Wednesday, November 14, the Duluth Art Institute is bringing fiber art to the far reaches of the Northland.  Learn how to transform fluffy, colorful sheep’s wool into a fun, felted butterfly.  All is takes is a little soapy water and a lot of imagination.  It’s a very interactive and accessible art project for all ages.  Let the metamorphosis begin!  

This event is possible thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

Eleanor Ostman

Bring your lunch and meet cookbook author and St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press columnist Eleanor Ostman on Thursday, November 15, at noon.  Ostman, a Hibbing native, will reminisce on growing up and eating well in Northern Minnesota.  

Coffee an' for this event is generously provided by the Friends of the Virginia Public Library.

 For more information on these or other library programs, call 748-7525.

Election 2012

It's that time of year again--Time to get out and vote. To assist you in choosing which candidates and issues to vote for, we have compiled a list of informative websites. These are not the only websites available to you; they are simply a small sampling of what is out there. Be advised that they are not endorsed by the Virginia Public Library and that we have not read everything that is contained within them. You are using them at your own risk. A good source of Presidential election information is NewsBank, a database brought to you by your library.  Simply use your library card to log in and explore the Special Reports column on the left side of the screen. NewsBank For information on Minnesota legislative races, take a look at the Politics in Minnesota website: Politics in Minnesota   The League of Women Voters has put together a website with general election information. It can be searched by state and includes such information as how to register and where to go to vote. Vote 411   You can also learn where you should go to place your vote and how to register to vote at the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Additionally, this site has information on what issues and which candidates are to be voted on in your area. Secretary of State   Minnesota Public Radio has a series of questions to help voters see which candidates are more similar to their own beliefs. Select a Candidate   Project Vote Smart is a non-partisan, primarily volunteer, organization that presents the candidates. The website includes, among other things, a brief resume with biographical information and the candidate's voting record and position on issues. Vote Smart -- from Project Vote Smart

Fall 2012 Brown Bag Events

Save the dates for these Brown Bag events and the fun after school fiber-arts event!

 

"Thinking out loud" with Marsh Muirhead -- October 18th at noon 

 

The 2012 Fall Brown Bag Series begins on Thursday, Oct. 18th at noon with celebrated KAXE guest Marsh Muirhead. Mr. Muirhead is multi-talented and well-known in many circles. He is a dentist, a poet, a pilot, an essayist, a winner of The Great American Think-off and author of Key West Explained -- A Guide for the Traveler. 

He lives near Bemidji on the banks of the Mississippi and has had stories and poems published in the Southeast Review, New Mexico Poetry Review, Minnetonka Review, Rattle, Modern Haiku and elsewhere. He is a contributor to the Canadian Poetry website How Pedestrian and has participated locally in KAXE's "Great American Radio Show" and "The Beat".

Mr. Muirhead will talk about the value of poetry in our world and will read an edited version of his winning Great American Think-off essay. He will also read several poems and discuss the fresh face of Haiku – it’ not what you were taught in elementary school! There will be a Q&A session at the end of his presentation.

 

Copies of Key West Explained: A Guide for the Traveler, will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

 

Bhutan -- A View from the Top of the World with Cal Rice -- October 25th at noon 

 

Through his amazing photos, professional photographer Cal Rice will share his experiences from a recent trip to the Himalayan country of Bhutan. After being almost completely cut off for centuries, the government of Bhutan began allowing outside influences - including television and the internet – only a few years ago, while still preserving its ancient traditions. Besides the beauty of the land, its architecture and its people, this program will highlight the contrasts between centuries old customs and the impact of modern society.

Of his work, Bemidji resident Rice says, “What I am trying to do in this career is to visit and photograph countries that are in the midst of cultural change. Then come back to northern Minnesota and share my experience. This is more a documentary and cultural exchange rather than just a travelogue.”

  

Bring a lunch and join us in the library auditorium for an insightful view of a nation which puts more value on its “gross national happiness” than its gross national product.

This event is possible thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Confessions of a Professional Eater with Eleanor Ostman -- November 15th at noon

 Eleanor Ostman spent three decades as a food writer for the St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press where she wrote her popular Sunday column, Tested Recipes. This column was the basis for her best-selling book Always on Sundays: Eleanor Ostman's Best Tested Recipes and subsequent editions. Eleanor is a native of Hibbing, a graduate of Macalester College and winner of numerous writing honors, including the James Beard award.

She is also the founder and past president of the Newspaper Food Editors and Writers Association and has been active in the community through chairing the St. Pal Cancer Crusade and currently serving on the board of the Friends of Roseville Parks. She will visit Virginia Public Library to share stories of a life in food and reminisce about growing up and eating well in Northern Minnesota.

Zachary Scot Johnson -- December 13th at noon

After spending 10 years of touring with artists like Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Keb' Mo" and movie stars/musicians Kevin Costner, Rita Wilson and others, Zachary Scot Johnson has been performing throughout Minnesota libraries to excellent reviews. Zach performs on keyboard, guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro and more and is working on a holiday theme with a twist. Instead of another holiday program filled with yet another version of Jingle Bells, Zach has been digging through "lesser known gems and finding some really cool pieces". In addition to performing, he will explain the process he went through to rediscover the selections and will provide a little history behind them. Join us in the library lobby for a fantastic musical celebration of the holidays.This event is possible thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

After-School Workshop

Fleece to Felt:  Fiber Art Comes Alive Workshop -- November 14th at 3:30

The Duluth Art Institute will be presenting their workshop, "Fleece to Felt: Fiber Art Comes Alive" in the library auditorium. Participants will learn how to transform fluffy, colorful sheep's wool into a fun, felted butterfly. It is a very interactive and accessible (and clean) art project for all ages.

This event is possible thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

-- Susan J. Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian 

Get the Heebie Jeebies!

The Virginia Public Library invites children of all ages to listen, laugh, sing, shout, and dance along with award winning musician Glen Everhart On Monday at 10:30 in the library auditorium.

He will be performing his Heebie Jeebie's Family Comedy Music Show.  This high energy, interactive 45 minute show is suitable for all ages.  Songs include: I've Got The Heebie Jeebies, Camp Ishy-fishy-stinky-socky-skeeter-slappy-toad-a-hoppy-burpa-lotta-woodsa-tickle-ee, Young People Of The World, The 4 Headed 3 Legged 2 Armed 1 Eyed Monster, The Littlest Worm, and many more.

Glen Everhart

After growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Glen graduated from St. Cloud State University, receiving his B.A. Degree in Music Education. He taught public school full and part-time for seven years, has been a full-time professional entertainer since 1987, and has won The Great American Song Contest with the song Young People of the World. 

Glen is perhaps better known throughout Northern Minnesota partnered with Ted Fyder as part of the acoustic duo "Fyder and Everhart" by way of their still popular "Goin' Up North" CD.

Reviewers of the Heebie Jeebie's show say: "Wow! What a voice.Kids were dancing and singing-it was a joyful experience for everyone.", and "One of my kindergartners has been saying, 'the littlest worm I ever saw was stuck inside my soda straw', about 100 times this afternoon".  This is one you won't want to miss!

For more information, call 748-7525

-- Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian

This project was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Annual Book and Bake Sale

The Friends of the Virginia Public Library will hold their annual book sale in the library auditorium from Wednesday, September 19th through Friday, September 21st. Books, DVDs, paperbacks, and more will be available for sale from 10:00 - 5:30 on Wednesday and Thursday and from 10:00 - 4:30 on Friday. 

 

This year there will be a lot of books on cassette available.  If you or someone you know likes to listen to books while traveling or working around the house, now is a good time to stock up! 

 

Want more than books?  There will be lots of delicious goodies to choose from at the bake sale on Wednesday.

 

Browsing Available Non-Fiction

Chatting About Books

--Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian

Attention Genealogy Buffs!

The Virginia Public Library has a two week trial of two great databases from Newsbank.  The first is America's GenealogyBank.  On it you can quickly find your ancestors in over 300 years of historical newspapers, books, pamphlets and government reports. You can search over 1,000 newspapers; the American State Papers; US Congressional Serial Set and more. There are also obituaries, birth & marriage notices; pension records etc. You can even read every article on every page of the newspaper!

Link to America's GenealogyBank

The other database is America's Obituaries and Death Notices.  Extensive editorial review of all newspaper sections ensures thorough selection of obituaries for easy access. An easy-to-use interface allows searching by name, date range, or text such as institutional name, social affiliation(s), geographic location(s), philanthropic activities, etc. 

Link to America's Obituaries & Death Notices

These databases will be available until September 27th, so don't delay your explorations!  All you need is your library card. 

Susan Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian

It Takes a Community...

What a wonderful community we have here in Virginia!  Especially when it comes to reading.  I'm just starting to compile our summer reading program reports and am astounded at our preliminary numbers.  We've broken all previous records with 972 children participating in our summer reading program.  This is a fantastic number that begs to be broken again next year by hitting the 1,000 mark.  However, our reading program isn't about numbers, it's about reading.  Along that line, the kids who chose to count their reading by books read more than 10,000 books in two months. Those who chose to count by pages read more than 200,000 pages.  And those kids who decided to write a review for their peers wrote more than 5,000 reviews. Isn't this astounding?

 

 

While I would like to take the credit for every single book, page, and written review, I know that isn't fair.  After all, these are children who don't drive.   While several children walk to our library, the majority are brought to the library by their parents, grandparents, neighbors, babysitters, or even by the amazingly patient staff at their childcare center.  Considering the number of activities throughout our community, and the number of warm days this year, the dedication of these people to bring their children to the library in order keep them reading throughout the summer is amazing!

 

 

The credit goes even farther than that:  It extends to the many people who have worked hard all year to make sure we have the funds and means to provide such a successful program.  While the Friends of the Library have traditionally supported our summer reading program, they were joined this year by members of the Roosevelt and Parkview PTA, the Virginia Area Women of Today,  the Quad Cities Rotary Club and several businesses who provided incentives.  I saw more than a few children's eyes light up when they received free coupons from McDonalds Restaurant as part of their midpoint prize.  In addition, I heard many kids gasp when they were handed a certificate for a free meal at Perkins as part of their final prize.  With the numbers in our program, all the work and monetary donations that these groups have made have reaped a hefty benefit to our community.

 

 

All these fantastic numbers are tied together and that tie was heavily underscored by the good news regarding Virginia students' reading scores on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.  So, while I am gleefully exhausted at the conclusion of our 2012 Summer Reading Program, I am even more thankful for our fantastic reading community. 

Thank you, Virginia!

 

-- Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian

Dream Big Celebration

You came to the library at the beginning of June to sign up.  You came in every week to record the books you have finished and to check out more.  You reached your mid-point goal.  Some of you have reached your final goal and most of you will reach that before the end of this week. 

Now it is time for us to say thank you for participating in and congratulate you for completing this year's Dream Big Summer Reading Program.  There will be games and door prizes, as well as lively music with local performer Casey Aro.  

Casey Aro

Third Annual Lego Challenge and Lego Competition

We would like to thank all of the children and their parents who participated in both the Competition and Challenge this year.   All of your creations were wonderful.  Library patrons admired your Lego Competition entries last week and the Virginia City Engineering Department had a tough time choosing the winners. 

The Challenge was a great event, whether children used their own Legos or borrowed them from the library.  That judge, too was hard pressed to come up with winners due to all of the beautiful pieces the children put together.   

See our Facebook page for more photos. 



Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian

Read & Win at the St. Louis County Fair!

The Read & Win Program will begin on July 1^st at several area libraries, including ours!  This is a one month reading program for children entering first through seventh grade in the fall.  By reading library books, children may earn prizes to be redeemed at the St. Louis County Fair held July 25^th through July 29^th.

Free admission, food, and a ride that is not included in the ride packages will be awarded courtesy of Schwieby’s Concessions, Fraboni Sausage Company, The Todd Armstrong Show, the International Association of Fair and Expositions, the National Independent Concessionaires Association, Arrowhead Library System, and the St. Louis County Fair Board.

Children can register at the following participating libraries:  Chisholm, Eveleth, Gilbert, Hibbing or Virginia.  For more information call 748-7525.

-- Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian

Great Start to the Summer Reading Program

Choosing Tape

It is almost the end of the second full week of this year's SRP and there are more than 600 children and teens signed up, more than 1400 books read, and more than 1200 book reviews on the Summer Reading Program website! 

Having Fun

Do you or someone you know want to sign up but think it is too late?  Not at all--Registration doesn't end until Thursday, June 28th. 

Our first two programs, Slow Sal & Speedy and Duct Tape Madness saw great turn outs of kids and their parents.  Mystery of the Rainforest, today's event from Minnesota Sea Life, promises to have lots of animals and artifacts from the rainforest for kids to see and even touch.

Finished Product

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian

What to Expect When You're Expecting

You learned in the previous post that the Summer Reading Program started last week--There were already 270 children and teens signed up for it before we opened this morning!  Most of those children are choosing their own books.  For those of you with babies on the way or only just arrived, here are some books you may enjoy: 

If today's blog title looks like a movie title to you, you are correct!  But did you know that this movie, as with many great movies, was first a book?  What to Expect When You're Expecting, by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff and Sharon Mazel was first published in 1984 and has remained so popular that it is in its third edition. Another book that helps to guide you before and during pregnancy is Get Ready to Get Pregnant:  Your Complete Prepregnancy Guide to Making a Smart and Healthy Baby, by Michael C. Lu. 

In addition to more books on getting and being pregnant, the library also has books on taking care of mom.  Claire Mysko and Magali Amadeï have written Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat:  The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby, a guide to help counteract the blues.  Another good one is The New Mom's Survival Guide:  How to Reclaim Your Body, Your Health, Your Sanity, and Your Sex Life After Having a Baby, by Jennifer Wider. 



One of my co-workers is the proud grandmother of twin baby girls.  If you, or someone you know, are expecting twins or more, take a look at Dagmara Scalise's book, Twin Sense:  A Sanity-Saving Guide to Raising Twins--From Pregnancy Through the First Year.  In It's Twins!:  Parent-to-Parent Advice From Infancy Through Adolescence, Susan M. Heim goes beyond the first year to include high school. 

Not expecting?  Not to worry!  There are plenty of other books @ your library!

Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian

Dream Big -- READ!

Woo hoo!  School's out! 

Yes, summer vacation begins this week for most of the area schools.  For the kids in school, this is wonderful news:  No homework to do; no tests to take; and no assigned reading to struggle with.  The idea now is to have fun, and lots of it! 

Tackle a Good Book This Summer!

Wait--No reading??  Did you know that children who read over the summer vacation are more likely to be reading at or above grade level by the beginning of the next school year than children who do not read ?  What can you do to help your child improve his or her reading skills rather than remain static or--worse--possibly lose skills?

Find Your Muse in a Book!

It's easy:  Sign up for the Summer Reading Program at the Virginia Public Library!  Children who sign up for the program can choose their own books and earn chances to win raffle prizes, both of which encourage them to finish their books.  There are also wonderful programs every week.  For example, there will be theater, magic, Legos, duct tape, and animals of all sorts.  

Registration, book counts, book reviews, and more will all be done online this year as it was last year.  Online registration began on May 24th and many of you have already taken advantage of that convenience.  Registration in the library begins on Thursday, May 31st.  The registration period will end on Thursday, June 28th with the program itself ending on Tuesday, July 31st.  Registration, book counts, book reviews, and more will all be done online this year as it was last year. 

To register, go to the Virginia Public Library Online Programs page.  To find more information on the different events, visit the Summer Reading Program events page. 

Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian

 

Spring is in the Air

Spring is definitely here.  The frogs and toads sing us to sleep at night.  Hummingbirds sipping nectar and various finches, grosbeaks, and other seed eaters entertain us during the day.  All of the activity makes me want to get out and DO things.

A bike repair book at VPL

As with many people, I started the year with a resolution to become more fit.  It was tough during the colder months to get outside much.  Now, however, I have no excuse not to get on my bike and ride!  If your bicycle hasn't been out for a while and you prefer the DIY method of repair, Fred Milson's Complete Bike Maintenance: for Road, Mountain, and Commuter Bicycles is the newest of several repair books you can borrow from the library.

Well-Behaved Dog

Another of my favorite activities, and one that gets me outside and moving, is working with my dogs.   Though there are many training books at the library, I focus on hunting with my bird dogs and choose books that will help with that.  One of my favorite books is Positive Gun Dogs:  Clicker Training for Sporting Breeds, by Jim Barry, Mary Emmen, and Susan Smith.  A good book for training a well-behaved family dog is Imagine Life With a Well-Behaved Dog: a 3-Step Positive Dog-Training Program, by Julie A. Bjelland. 

Square Foot Gardening

Bicycling and dog training help with my goal of becoming more fit and active.  Something else that is going to help me with that is gardening.  This year we have installed two raised beds.  Due to the nature of our gardens, we have decided to follow the Square Foot Gardening method.  Don't know what that is?  Take a look at All New Square Foot Gardening, by Mel Bartholomew.  In addition to this title, we have books for container gardens, hanging gardens, traditional gardens, and many more to get your garden started and to keep it growing.

Deep Dish

Lest you get the idea that I only do outdoorsy-things in the spring, I will confess that spring is when I read more chick lit than any other time of the year.  This year I have discovered, for me, a new author--Mary Kay Andrews, a Georgia author who bases her delightfully funny novels in the South.  I have now read most of the titles our library owns by her and will say that I have found them all just as delightful as the first one.  I am currently reading Deep Dish, which is a hilarious look at what happens when The Cooking Channel is pits hunky "kill it and grill it" chef Tate Moody against former runner-up Miss Teen Vidalia Onion Gina Foxton against each other to determine who will be the next TCC star.

Not into chick lit or gardening?  Don't have a dog or a bike?  No problem!  Your library has books on hundreds of different topics, so we are sure to have something for you here.  Even if we don't have what you need, we can find something for you in a different library and bring it right here, just for you!

Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian

Second Weekend in May

The second weekend in May is nearly here, and you know what that means!  Yes, Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 13!  Have you found the perfect card or picked her favorite flowers yet?  Why not go for something a little different this year and suggest some new book titles to your mom this year? 

Baby Laughs

For a new mother who prefers non-fiction and humor, you may want to suggest Baby Laughs : The Naked Truth About The First Year of Mommyhood, by Jenny McCarthy.  This book is for those with new babies and who are perhaps not quite finding the humor in diaper changing. 

Come Home

Moms who are fans of murder mysteries may like Lisa Scottoline's new novel, Come Home.  In this thriller, Jill's life is thrown into turmoil when the daughter of her ex-husband asks her to investigate his murder.  Jill is not only searching for her ex-husband's killer, but also struggling to keep her family together and to understand her relationship with Abby, her ex-stepdaughter. 

Then Came You

Jennifer Weiner has a new book out that explores what might happen when an egg donor, surrogate mother, mother-to-be, and her stepdaughter are thrown together by the husband's sudden death.  In Then Came You, the father of this unborn child names the stepdaughter, not his wife, the guardian of the as-yet-unborn child. 

Deep Dish

Mothers who prefer lighter fare may enjoy Deep Dish, by Mary Kay Andrews.  It is a fun and romantic look at what happens when Gina, chef of canceled local television show Fresh Start, and Mr. "Kill It and Grill It" Tate Moody, chef of the hunting-fishing-cooking show Vittles, vie to be The Cooking Channel's next big star. 

You can find these and more great books by searching our library catalog.

Happy Mother's Day!

Susan Hoppe -- Adult Services Librarian