More on the Season of Giving

It is nearly time for folks to panic.  Little Johnny only wants a pair of skates, so he isn't too difficult to buy for.  Susy wants a sled, but your budget allows for a Radio Flyer, not a Polaris.  Nellie wants a new story book, but you don't know which ones she hasn't read already.  What can you do?

Easy!  Pop on in to the library to find great ideas for everyone on your list.

The easiest thing to do for Nellie is to get her the gift that keeps on giving--a library card.  She can't get it herself, because she is too young, but you can bring her in, sign her up for a card, and watch her eyes light up as she enters the Children's room and sees all of the wonderful books.  There is sure to be at least one she hasn't read yet.

Taking care of Susy's sled is a little tougher.  If you can't convince her to accept a runner sled, you might convince her to get a job so that she can buy her own snowmobile.  Even better, if you have an old clunker in the shed that just needs a little work to run like new again, make sure she, too has a library card, and introduce her to our snowmobile repair books and the Small Engine Repair database.  She'll learn how to get that machine going in no time!

Have other people on your list that you need to find gifts for?  Look at our many craft books for ideas on beautiful gifts you can make yourself.  We have a variety books for crafts of all kinds.  Are you a knitter?  Take a look at Norwegian mittens and gloves:  Over 25 classic designs for warm fingers and stylish hands, by Annemor Sundbø.  Prefer crochet?  Try Crochet hatimals:  Creatures with features for all ages, by Rebecca Goldsmith.  Perhaps you'd like to try needle felting this year.  Jackie Huang's Woolbuddies:  20 irresistibly simple needle felting projects is the book to read. 

For those who are more interested in projects with more physical substance, we have books on wood and metal working, as well.  Stocking stuffer ideas can be found in Steve Tomashek's book, Tiny whittling:  More than 20 projects to make.  Larger projects can be found in Simply wood:  40 stylish and easy-to-make projects for the modern woodworker, by Roshaan Ganief. 

Metal workers can find ideas from jewelry-sized to yard ornament. Ready, set, weld!:  Beginner-friendly projects for the home & garden, by Kimberli Matin, has several project ideas, some of which are bound to please.  John Sartin's The complete photo guide to making metal jewelry has the information you need to make beautiful baubles for every family member.

Find these and many more books filled with gift ideas @ your library!

--Susan Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian

Learn a new language for free through Virginia Public Library!

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Learning a new language with Mango Languages is free for all VPL patrons, and offers a fast and convenient solution for today’s increasing language-learning needs. Each lesson combines real life situations and audio from native speakers with simple, clear instructions. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture. Users learn actual conversation, breaking down complex linguistic elements within an audio-visual framework that draws important connections and builds on information they have already learned.

There are more than 40 foreign language courses available and 16 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

To learn more about Mango and get a preview of what the program has to offer, stop by the library and we will give you an introduction. You can access Mango through the library website at http://www.virginia.lib.mn.us. 

For more information, call 748-7525.

--Susan Hoppe, Reference Services Librarian

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News You Can Use

There is a lot going on in the world and many places to find information about it. Your library is one of those places.

Wall Street Journal

The Virginia Public Library has hard copies of several local, state, and national newspapers.  These range from the Mesabi Daily News to the Wall Street Journal.  We keep back issues of some of our newspapers for up to a year.  If you are looking for an article you saw in the MDN four months ago, give us the date and we'll provide the copy! 

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If you are looking for news from a particular community in another state, we have America's News, part of the NewsBank databases the library subscribes to.   With your library card, you can use America's News to read newspapers from Bangor, Maine; Fremont, California; and many points in bet
ween! 

ACRES Magazine

Many people prefer to get their news and entertainment from magazines, rather than newspapers.  Your library has a lot of magazine titles to choose from!   Our print magazines include Bloomberg Business Week, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, The Nation, the UTNE Reader, ACRES, Men's Journal, Midwest Home, The Writer, and many others.

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We don't have the magazine you are looking for?  Maybe we do...  The Virginia Public Library and other members of the Arrowhead Library System have subscribed to Zinio--"the World's Largest Newsstand"--in order to provide you access to more than eighty titles!  There are magazines for children, teens, athletes, car repair enthusiasts, and people with other interests.  If Zinio doesn't have it, we can find it in one of many other resources. Zinio will be available beginning July 1st. 

Circulating books, magazines, and newspapers can all be checked out for three weeks.  All you need is your library card!

Library Card

Susan Hoppe -- Reference Services Librarian