Rock On At the Library!

Be sure to come by the library and check out the nifty rock collection that we're borrowing from members of the Chippewa Valley Gem and Mineral Society.

Pam Yarrington of Eau Claire and Brian Berthiaume of Chippewa Falls have lent us all sorts of lovely geodes and stones (see below) for our enjoyment. They have also asked us to pass along information about the 49th Annual Chippewa Valley Gem and Mineral Show.

It's April 21st and 22nd at the Eau Claire County Expo Center and is FREE TO ATTEND.

For more information, call Mike at 715-456-0664 or email him at cvgmsshow@gmail.com. And tell him where you heard about it!

GIve-A-Kid-A-Book Delivery

Today was the goal date for getting our "Give a Kid a Book" donations over to the Spirit of Christmas Office.

I went and dropped them off and, let me tell you, it impressed me as much this year as it did last year. Piles and piles of clothes, games, puzzles, bikes, sleds, sleeping bags, snowshoes, and BOOKS. It's moving to see, really. One frazzled worker said to me as I left:

"In an economy this bad, the generosity is still OVERWHELMING.

It looked it. I was recruited to carry a bike inside before I could leave.

The Friends of the Chippewa falls Public Library donated 250 brand new books to the effort, with special thanks going to the new BAM! in Eau Claire and the book sale that took place in November at Memorial High School in Eau Claire.

It's SUPERYULE!

On Monday, December 12, from 6:15--8pm the Chippewa Falls Public Library will present its FIRST ANNUAL LIBRARY SUPERYULE!

Join Santa Claus HIMSELF and the library staff for an evening of stories, crafts, snacks, and prize drawings! Drop in and choose the activities you want to do in the time frame provided. No registration is required. However, craft supplies & snacks will be available until they run out. Here's how the SUPERYULE event breaks down:

-"The Three Bears See Santa" puppet show with a sign language interpreter will take place at 6:30pm in the large meeting room. If your child or a child you know is deaf/hard of hearing or simply curious about American Sign language, tell her or bring her along!

-Santa will be on hand to talk to children...Bring your camera so you can take a picture of your child(ren) with Santa in our Winter Wonderland Castle Scene. All families will receive a bag of goodies.

-Holiday treats and beverages for the adults and children.

-Drawings for holiday treats and kids' books.

-Make & Take holiday crafts. Crafts will be available for youth in the following age ranges:

3-5 Simple paper crafts
6-10 Tree garlands & ornaments...or make a holiday picture.
11 & up teaching card-making techniques with a local artist in the teen area.

Mayo Clinic Needs Volunteers!

Mayo Clinic, that noble network of not-for-profit health providers, needs your help. They are looking for volunteers to be greeters, to help with events and to help with clerical duties. It's one way the clinic keeps costs down, apparently.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, contact Karen Elwood at 715-568-6812 or email her at elwood.karen@mayo.edu. If a responsible teen in your life needs service hours, this could be a good opportunity.

There are volunteer opportunities at locations in Bloomer, Chippewa Falls and Colfax.

Mystery Patrons and Literacy Tutors Needed

Mystery Shopper, Anyone?

Have you ever fantasized about being a spy or detective? Are you observant and objective?

If so, the Chippewa Falls Public Library is looking for "Mystery Patrons." This is based on the "Mystery Shoppers" that businesses hire to find out how the staff of a business does when they don't know they are being observed. If you're interested, just email the director at deschete@mycfpl.org.

Literacy Volunteers Tutor Training

The Literacy Volunteers of Chippewa Valley are looking for people who'd like to help others with their literacy skills. Those interested have until September 16th to register and the training sessions in Chippewa Falls will be from 5:45--9pm on the following dates: 9/22, 9/26, 9/29. 10/3 and 10/6. To sign up, call Cheryl with LVCV at 715-834-0429.

National Volunteer Week 2011

It's National Volunteer Week this week and the Chippewa Falls Public Library, like most libraries, has several volunteers who help us keep running. In fact, we have more volunteers, at times, than we have projects for them to work on. Our regular volunteers, however, have regular niches in which they work, show up consistently, work hard and are pretty uplifting presences, every one. I'd like to recognize some of our stalwarts here in this blog entry.

Lucas Endres--The library's resident computer expert, Lucas comes in for several hours per week to work on our computers and computing issues. He is a de facto member of the staff in many ways and never disappoints when it's time to keep the eLibrary alive.

Matt Lyberg--We check thousands of DVDs out each week. The cases lock and unlock for the protection of the material inside. Double checking the discs inside and messing with the locks is, from what I've seen, tedious and time consuming. Each Tuesday and Friday, Mr. Lyberg comes in and takes care of the DVDs--locking and shelving--to keep our most popular commodity moving smoothly in and out.

Beverly Michels--Ms. Michels comes in on Wednesdays to straighten the break room and shelve Young Adult books. She's been doing this for years and we really notice when she is out.

Jean Liedl--Recently moved to the area and shelves books on days when the staff is overwhelmed. Loves the library and really bends her back to the task; we appreciate her contribution.

Kaitlyn Kampion--Ms. Kampion is a high school student who helps out with storytime preparation and other craft and repair projects in the children's department. An upbeat young lady with a forthright manner and the work ethic of a sure future success.

Judy Monarski--Ms. Monarski shelves and straightens and is always willing to do the extra tasks we can't get to. She is an asset indeed.

Karen Grothe--Ms. Grothe was employed by the library for years and retired in 2010. She still comes in to use her still-sharp skills on her own time to keep the library running the best it can.

Sue Elstran--If a book gets damaged enough to be noticeable but is in good enough shape to be used again, we repair it. Ms. Elstran has the skills to mix the glues, bind the spines and press the pages. Her efforts over the years have surely saved the library thousands of dollars.

To these volunteers and any I have let slip my mind: THANK YOU. Thank you so much. You make the library a better place, truly.

We have had other volunteers come and go over the years and applications still arrive regularly. If you or anyone you know is interested in doing some volunteering, contact our volunteer coordinators, Sue Rada & Joe Niese.

Coming April 12th: The Honey Dewdrops

On Tuesday, April 12th from 6:30-8pm, The Honey Dewdrops, a married musical duo out of Charlottesville, Virginia, will be in the Northwoods to work their magic. They are going to perform right here at the Chippewa Falls Public Library, and we are lucky indeed to have them. Thank you Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library for footing the bill!

I know it will make me sound like a musical snob, but I give my testimony that, from the listening I've been doing, these two are the genuine article. It's a mix of clever guitar runs (the work of a Mr. Kagey Parrish), old-school feeling and harmonies led by an insistent and powerful female lead (Laura Wortman). Not to mention the "spell." The music SOUNDS like misty hollows and forested hills.

It's real mountain music, yet modern.

The best part is that there will be no admission charged AND those who show up will have the chance to purchase CDs.

It would be a shame to miss it, really. Spread the word. And if you don't want to take my word for it:

Press Release: Give a Kid a Book 2010

This is the press release I sent out just a little while ago. I hope my thousands of loyal readers will feel free to forward the information to whomever they feel might be willing to take part.

Chippewa Falls Public Library Announces “Give A Kid A Book” 2010

Chippewa Falls--November 9, 2010--The annual book donation drive sponsored by The Chippewa Falls Public Library in conjunction with The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County and the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library is back for the 2010 holidays.

“Give A Kid A Book,” as the effort is called, gives the public the opportunity to give the gift of reading to the children and families served by The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County, a gift-giving program for low-income families in and around Chippewa County.

Sandy Harberts of the Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County says that the organization makes it a point to include books in every bag of gifts they put together and that donations of books in the past have been very helpful to their efforts.

Until December 3rd, the Chippewa Falls Public Library will be a drop-off point for new books and donations of money meant to purchase new books. Checks should be made out to “Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library” with the words “Give a Kid a Book” in the memo line. Cash should be placed in an envelope with those same words on the outside.

"It might not be obvious to make sure books are included in a bundle of Christmas presents for children or teens," says Darryl Eschete, Director of the Chippewa Falls Public Library. "Toys or electronics usually come to mind first. But books serve children in important ways that other gifts simply can’t.”

“I think it’s one of the nicest things the library could do,” says Carl Miller, Treasurer of the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library. “A kid can’t have too many books.”

Those wishing to mail donations should send the donations to:

Chippewa Falls Public Library
ATTN: Carl Miller
105 W. Central St.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

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