THE LIBRARY

BY D.R. MOON LIBRARY DIRECTOR ELIZABETH MINIATT

Welcome back to our monthly library column, everyone. Since March started, library patrons have been saying that they are ready for winter to be over, and I couldn’t agree more. Hopefully spring will be here before we know it! The library board meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5PM in the lower level of the library. The meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. However, if you are unable to make it to the meet- ing, you can find the news and updates I share with the board each month here.

Library fact of the month, taken from our 2021 statistics: with 81 total checkouts, our WiFi hotspots were our most popular item to check out last year. That averages out to a hotspot being checked out about every 5 days. Our other most popular items in 2021 were The Midnight Library by Matt Haig for fiction, Talking to Strangers, by Malcom Gladwell for non-fiction, 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Pe terson for audiobooks, and Nature of Love and Pearl in Paradise for movies.

We’re having a library sale this month! Stop by March 21st, 22nd, or 23rd, anytime during our open hours from 10AM-6PM. We’ll have books, movies, office supplies, electronics, and more. Help us out with our spring-cleaning and find something you want to take home! It may seem a little early to be thinking about summer gardening, but our seed library is open! In our area, March is the right time to start many plants that need to be planted inside early. We are accepting seed donations this month and we have a host of different varieties available for community members to take for free.

In other ongoing preparations for summer, library staff are planning for the upcoming summer learning program. Using this year's theme, “Oceans of Possibilities,” to tailor our focus, we have been busy applying for grants, organizing materials and events, and arranging the prizes. We recently received a generous grant from the Warren and Virginia Wermund Endowment Fund through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County for our summer program. Thank you for your support!

Our library book club is reading Acres of Bitterness this month and planning to meet on April 7th at 2PM to discuss the book. Please let library staff know if you’d like to read a copy. Books for the rest of the year are still being chosen, so if you would like to join our book club and make your own suggestions please come to the meeting! Other programs this month include the Creative Writers Guild on the 15th and 29th at 2:30PM, Storytime on the 10th and 24th at 10:30AM and Crafting Club on the 30th at 2:30PM. Girls Who Code clubs are meeting at 4PM on the 17th of this month as well. New members are welcome, please make sure to register with library staff before attending. Check out our website, or pick up a calendar from the library, for the full details.

The library is open for you Monday through Friday from 10AM-6PM. Come in any time to use the computers, find a book or movie, bor row a WiFi hotspot or iPad, or use our printer to fax, scan, and copy. We also have state and federal tax forms with instructions which can be picked up or printed free of charge during our open hours. We are still offering curbside pick-up to those who wish to use that option and home delivery for the elderly and homebound. We hope to see you soon!