Health Insurance Marketplace

New health insurance options become available on October 1, 2013.  One of the services that the Morgan County Public Library provides is access to new and current information, including information about health care.  There has been a lot of talk recently about changes in our health care coverage requirements. You might be confused about your options but now there is a new website available to explain the changes coming up.  It is https://www.healthcare.gov/ and there you can find answers to questions such as what the health insurance marketplace is, what is available in Indiana specifically, and how to find coverage for the lowest cost.  And, if you do not have access to the internet or high-speed internet you can come to the library and check out a computer or use our free wireless in order to find out more.  See you at the library!

What is a Minibranch?

     I get asked this question quite frequently. Our library has six locations. Main (Martinsville), Monrovia, and Waverly are full service. They are open seven days a week and offer a wide range of services. There are 3 smaller Minibranch locations Brooklyn, Eminence, and Morgantown. They are open from 2-4 days a week.
     Eminence is located in the Lion's Club building on Walter's Road. It open 2 days a week. Brooklyn and Morgantown are each open 4 days a week. All three of the Mini's offer public computers, WIFI, and copy or fax service. We offer many of the same services as the larger locations. Our book collections are limited to the space available in our buildings.
     One of the best things about our system is if you are looking for something and we don't have it, if it is available at another Morgan County location, and there are no other holds, we can usually get it in for you within a week from your request day. Since joining Evergreen Indiana we have opened 102 other library doors to our patrons. You can request books from these libraries and they will be brought to your home library branch. It might take a little longer to get there, but for the avid reader it is fantastic.
   So if you are out and about in Morgan County stop in one of our 6 locations and see what they have to offer!
Laura B

    

What a Wonderful Community!

Every library belongs to its community. I think that is something often taken for granted as a cliché; but, in a very real sense, I believe that is the essential defining quality of every library. Our community contributes to the library in many ways that go far beyond the financial support that buys materials of many kinds, keeps up facilities, and pays the staff. There are volunteers helping in many ways at every branch location. There are program participants who offer creativity and respond to the challenge to create something new or offer a unique insight.

I started thinking about this, just by looking around the Waverly Branch. I will offer a couple of examples, but there are many more than could possibly be listed.

The new mural by the Crafty Kids Color Outside the Lines art group, funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Morgan County, is complete and on display at the Branch:

 

 

I believe these values, and the individual creative contributions, stand as symbols of what makes a community strong. I'm proud to be part of this community.

Another recent contribution has come from a long-time library patron who is participating in the Master Gardener program. Alice Pollert has put many hours into creating a new landscaped area at the front of the Waverly Branch:

I wanted to publicly thank Alice for an investment of effort and creativity that will bless the Waverly Branch for many years to come. I also want to thank all of the people in the community, far too many to name, who make it possible for the library to serve that community.

Chuck

The Reviews Are In...

One thing I look forward to doing every few days is reading the awesome mini-reviews participants in Summer Reading BINGO have turned it.  I normally grab a quick snack at my desk, and dive into the huge pile!  As of this afternoon at the Main branch alone, over 600 reviews have been submitted.  Now, I won't fib and say that I have personally read all 600 of them, but I do read through the majority.  I'm impressed not only with the sheer quantity, but also at how engaging and candid the reviews are. I've found that folks are pretty honest about what they like AND what they don't!

Here are a few reviews that may inspire you to try out a new author or genre:

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini:  "This amazing story captured several stories of individuals who were all connected.  It was beautifully written, heartbreaking, and intriguing as all the pieces of the puzzle were connected."

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: "The book was highly recommended and had raving reviews.  I guess, I'm a sap for happy endings.  On the one hand important characters survived, but so many regrets haunted them.  I felt cheated at how the book ended.  I wanted to know more."

The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier:  "A very fresh and original read-- this book is beautifully crafted fantasy that contains elements of magic, dragons, and empires in a way that I've never read before.  The writing is very detailed, but lyrical and has some very beautiful expressions.  I'm glad I read this."

 Invasive Procedures by Orson Scott Card:  "Futuristic Sci-Fi at it's best.  Genetic manipulation, illegal transplants,  plus chips to make memories and take over the mind.  A great story!"

 Participants have reviewed programs...

" I attended the worm composting library program.  It was a great program that taught us all about worms and how to obtain poo for fertilizer.  I enjoyed it a lot!"

"I came to the genealogy program to learn more about Heritage Quest.  It was a great program with lots of good information."

And they have even reviewed this blog!

"My favorite blog post was about the new mural.  What a beautiful and fun display.  I also enjoyed the one by Morgan about transforming the reading corner."

Stop by the display of "Groundbreaking Reads" next to the reference desk and check out the reviews for yourself!  It is an interesting way to learn more about what folks in Morgan County are reading, and what they think. 

Happy Reading,

Jennifer

Book Review: W.A.R.P. The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

Hello everyone! I’m Emily, a new volunteer for the library. I’m an incoming junior at Martinsville High School and Cassie has been generous enough to let me write for the blog. Today I’m writing about the new book by Eoin Colfer, W.A.R.P. The Reluctant Assassin. 

W.A.R.P Book 1:  The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

 It’s science fiction, adventure novel about teenage FBI agent, Chevron Savano. When something goes wrong on a mission back in the US, the agency ships Chevron, nicknamed Chevie, to London. She’s on what she calls a “baby-sitting” mission. At first, it seems like it is just baby-sitting, but that’s just not exciting enough for an Eoin Colfer book. 

While you’re reading about Chevie, you’re also reading about a teenage boy named Riley, who lives in London in 1889. He’s an apprentice to the assassin Garrick, and they’re on a mission to prove that Riley has what it takes to be a killer. He’s to kill an old man, but before Riley can, the man wakes up and spreads orange magic around himself. Garrick kills him, but the magic is already working.

Garrick, a retired magician, is fascinated when the orange magic grabs Riley and the man—and pulls them into a wormhole that brings Riley to the future. Specifically, it brings him right to the pod that Special Agent Savano is baby-sitting. Soon Riley and Chevie are lost in a conspiracy about 18^th century crime bosses, dirty FBI agents, escaped witnesses, and Chevie may end up trapped in the past forever.

If you were a fan of Artemis Fowl, you’ll be a fan of the W.A.R.P. series. It keeps you guessing at every page turn. It’s a book full of time travel, mystery, and magic. It’s a very fast paced book, but it will drag you in. Just wait until you read the Epilogue. You’ll be cursing Eoin Colfer.

-Emily K

Summertime in the Library for Teens

One of my favorite things about summer is the increase in the number of teens I see coming into the library.  The number of teens participating in Teen Thursdays every week is nearly double what it was at the end of the school year.  We’ve got almost 200 teens signed up for the reading program, Beneath the Surface.  And the number of minutes those teens are reading is absolutely astonishing!

This is the first summer we’ve had teens keep track of the number of minutes they spend reading.  We made this change for several reasons.  Tracking minutes, instead of pages or books, means that we can allow teens to read ANYTHING!  Those teens who are still reading materials in our juvenile collection can be just as involved in the program as those regularly reading from our tween, young adult, and adult collections.  And those teens who challenge themselves with a 500 plus page book reap the same rewards as those who prefer several quick reads.  Minutes have been a great equalizer for readers of all abilities and the teens seem happy with the switch.

Summer reading is two-fold for me; reading and programming.  Of course we encourage reading and offer programs all year but summer is a special time at the library and we want our programs to reflect that.  We kicked things off at our Down the Rabbit Hole to Summer Reading party on May 31^st and have continued to host a steady stream of well attended teen programs at many of our locations.  Every week at 3:00 teens, grades six through twelve, are welcome to attend Teen Thursdays.  Teen Thursdays this summer focus on crafts, activities, presentations, and snacks related to this year’s underground theme.  We’ve also got the last after-hours event of the summer coming up on July 12^th.  The Masquerade Ball will be evening filled with glamorous fun, including music, games, snacks, freebies, and more!  Space is limited and filling up fast so be sure to turn in your permission slip to any of our six locations as soon as possible.  

 

 

Teens at the kick-off party, Down the Rabbit Hole to Summer Reading

Not only do we see more teen patrons in the summer we also have more teen volunteers in the summer.  We currently have two high school volunteers who each spend about an hour a week helping us prepare programs, pull materials, straighten collections, build displays, and whatever else we need. 

A week or two ago I had the pleasure of hearing one of teen volunteers, while working in our tween area, make recommendations to a preteen who seemed a little lost about what to read.  Without any prompting from me she went on to encourage the girl to sign up for summer reading.  It was such an amazing thing to see one patron sharing her love of reading and the library with another patron.  Hopefully this volunteering gig will lead this particular volunteer to a career as a librarian because I know she’d be stellar at it! 

You’ll also hear from our newest volunteer on the blog later this week.  Emily was a long time participant in Lunch in the Library at West Middle School before she moved on to Martinsville High School.  She spent a day shadowing me for her career planning class last year and now we’re lucky enough to have her back as a volunteer.  Emily is an avid reader and I know you’ll enjoy hearing her book reviews and thoughts on blog occasionally.

As you can see the library is an exciting place to be in the summer, for you and for us!  If you haven’t yet become involved in the summer reading program it isn’t too late to join.  Stop by any of our locations (Brooklyn, Eminence, Martinsville, Monrovia, Morgantown, & Waverly) to sign up.  And summer reading isn’t just for kids and teens, we’ve got reading programs and special events for all ages.  We look forward to serving you this summer and always!