No Recall Petition At Library

Judging from several phone calls received today, there is a rumor in town that the Chippewa Falls Public Library is a place where the recall petition can be signed.

This is untrue. For the record, it is a matter of policy that such political activity would not be allowed on the premises of the library.

Call 715-720-4720 with questions regarding the recall petition.

Library Elf

I have meant to blog about this for a long time, but it kept slipping my mind, until now.

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to get more organized, then I've got something useful to show you.

Library Elf Instructions

The above link will take you to instructions for signing up with Library Elf, a service made available to members of the MORE system. Library Elf basically sends you alerts via email or text reminding you that you have books due OR that holds have arrived. I believe the free subscription we get through MORE is a premium one, though I confess I am not wholly certain.

Anyway, once you have looked at that little brochure, go here:

Signing Up In MORE

Follow the prompts to sign up. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact me directly. I've been hearing about Library Elf for years, but just signed up myself today.

By the way, if you know someone else who might make good use of the service, feel free to send them a link to this blog, even if they don't live around here. They might be able to find their library on the list of libraries with Library Elf access.

Tax Forms Arriving

Heads up, Chippewa! 1040 EZs have just started to arrive. By the middle of the month, most of our federal forms should be here.

When you come into the library, take an immediate right and then a left. We keep the forms under the stairs. State forms haven't gotten here yet, but I'll keep you updated.

In the meantime, if you want tax forms, you can download and print them at these sites:

IRS Form and Instruction Search Page


Wisconsin Department of Revenue--Forms and Publications--Note: 2011 forms are not uploaded yet.

SAD Resources

It's getting colder. The sun takes its time in greeting us these days and it gets dark earlier in the evenings. Trees are becoming bare, the atmosphere is turning grayer and we're stuck inside a lot of the time. All of this can add up to the winter blues, called Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) by clinicians. Experts seem to think it has something to do with light levels dwindling in the winter months.

But, there's a lot one can do about it, apparently, and almost ten percent of the population has had to learn to deal with it every year, especially in places like Chippewa Falls. Below are some links that might shed some light--no pun intended--on SAD.

Mayo Clinic--"It's a Sad Time of Year"

National Alliance on Mental Illness--A fuller picture of the problem.

Mayo Clinic--Choosing a "light box," the preferred treatment.

About.com--Light on Winter Darkness

Eastern Illinois News-Gazette--SAD: Tips to help you get up when feeling down

Watt's Up?

The device you see pictured above is a watt-usage meter provided to the Chippewa Falls Public Library by the folks at Xcel Energy. Patty Darley, the coordinator of Xcel Energy's conservation education projects, dropped them off to us last Thursday and they are now ready to be checked out. These are in addition to the "Kill A Watt" meters provided to us earlier in the year by CESA-10.



These "Power Check Meters," as they are called, allow one to plug an appliance into them to see just what the "draw" of that appliance is. Then, one can plug the meter into a computer and see a readout of roughly how much it costs one to run that appliance each month. In times like these, every dime counts and it's nice to be able to arm oneself with the knowledge necessary to save as many dimes as possible.

Just come to the circulation desk and ask for one, if you're interested. They check out for seven days (just like our AV equipment) and come in their own carrying cases.

Under the Glorious Starry Firmament: Links for Campers

We're just getting into that time of year in which it isn't too miserably hot nor too frigidly cold to go camping. Not to mention the fact that Labor Day is coming up and that camping--once one has the proper equipment--isn't dreadfully expensive as a quick getaway, either.



One of the most beautiful things about living in this part of the country is the number of parks, campgrounds and trails that are available to outdoors types...more than I bet many Wisconsinites realize or appreciate. Below are some links that hopefully will inspire the reader to think about spending some time under what John Muir called "the roof of the glorious starry firmament" with friends or family. Or, for the truly rugged, maybe even alone.

Where to Go

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Camping Page--A pretty comprehensive guide to the many beautiful parks, trails and forests of the Badger State.

U.S. National Parks in Wisconsin

Camping Site of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism--Hosted by Dr. Miles Feldspar.

Wisconsin Campgrounds--A listing of privately owned campgrounds in Wisconsin, made available by the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners.

What to Bring

About.com's Camping Gear Checklist--Put together by David Sweet, an experienced camper and sometimes employee of the National Park Service.

GORP.com's guide to what to to bring for whatever type of camping is being done. Customizable lists depending on time of year, activity, etc.

Eating Well

Lovetheoutdoors has recipes, equipment, techniques and tips to help satisfy a camper's hunger, even when hundreds of miles from a kitchen.

Bass Pro Shop's guide to outdoor cookery. Fun site to read.

Author Visit: Joe Knight

On Wednesday, February 24th, the Chippewa Falls Public Library will have the honor of hosting an author reading by Wisconsin native Joe Knight.

Mr. Knight writes a column for the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and has a long history of engaging in outdoors pursuits; he has been a cross country ski instructor and a U.S. Forest Service worker. On the night he honors us with his presence, Mr. Knight will be discussing his book Frozen assest: reflections on winter in northern Wisconsin.

The event will take place on the second floor at the Chippewa Falls Public Library on 105 W. Central St. Call 715-723-1146.