Rabbit or Cat: What am I?

Many of my younger visitors seem to confuse me with another animal.  A lot of them are coming up to my gate and calling me, "Kitty" or "Cat."  One even started meowing at me, in hopes of striking up a conversation.

To clarify, this is me:

This is a cat (Thanks to Olivia, Ms. Alyssa's cat, for modeling):

I see very few similarities.  Yes, we are both furry.  We both have ears that stand up, four paws, and a tail.  And we are stunningly gorgeous.  Other than that, I see no resemblance. 

Friends, what do you think?  Do I look like a cat? 

Love and carrots,
Morgan 

From Janice at the Reference Desk:

If you don't already have your taxes done, you can find any and all the forms you need online. Simply click on IRS Income Tax Froms or Indiana State Income Tax Forms.

You can either do this at home or at the library. We have several computers that allow users to go online and print out the forms they need. Remember to bring your library card or a government issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, etc.) Cost to do this is .10 for each black and white page or .25 for each color page. It helps if you know the exact name or number of the form such as Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return or 4868.

Yes, the library does have some forms, but we cannot guarantee we have the exact form you will need. This year the library's supply of tax forms disappeared fast. We hope this means that many people had their taxes done early.

At the library we are often asked specific questions about income tax preparation. While we do want to be as helpful as possible, we simply are not qualified to answer those kinds of questions. If you do have a question you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (average wait time is about 18 minutes)or the Indiana Department of Revenue at (317) 232-2240. Additionally, there is an IRS office in Bloomington, Indiana on 2017 S Liberty Dr. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. They are closed for lunch from 11:30 - 12:30 and the phone number is 812) 337-7600. Expect a wait time if you stop in or call.

Once you have your taxes done, you'll have plenty of time to stop by the library and check out the spring display of books at the end of the new non-fiction books. There you will find everything you might want to know about landscaping, lawn care, perennials, roses, gardening and much more.

One last tax tidbit: If you are expecting a refund and have a smart phone, you can download IRS2Go mobile app. You can go to the iTunes store or Google Play to do this. Find more details online at:

IRS2Go mobile app

So many new books, It's hard to keep up

There are so many new books coming in that I am having a difficult time keeping up with all my favorite authors. There are 2 authors I have been reading for years that have recently written new books.
G. A. McKevett writes a cozy mystery series that I have been reading for 20 years. Her newest is called Killer Honeymoon and is a quick and fun read. The other author is Linda Barnes which I found over 15 years ago. Her newest is The Perfect Ghost which I just checked out today. It is a stand alone novel and not part of her series. I am sure it will be great.
Other mystery/thriller authors that I can recommend are Lisa Jackson, Laura Lippman, Lisa Gardner,  and Sandra Brown just to name a few. If you can't find their newest book on the shelf, then please place a hold. All locations of our library have either a list or notebook of New and Upcoming books. Just fill out a hold slip and hand it to someone at the desk if you are unable to place the hold yourself.
Keep Reading
Laura B.

Preschool Programs at Monrovia Branch

Exposing preschoolers to books is a great way to get your little ones ready for school and to love reading.  Children who are read to regularly and have access to interesting and colorful books are more likely to want to learn to read and will do better in school when they are older.  Going to the library to check out books and attending our story time program each week can be a fun way to expose your preschoolers to great picture books and to foster a love of reading and learning.

Ms. Kathy

Ms. Kathy comes up with the most interesting stories and craft projects to inspire your preschooler.  Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m., we have a preschool program at the Monrovia Branch that your child will be sure to enjoy.  Check out all the new books available after the program is over.  Just look for the "New Books" shelves in the children's section.  We invite you to visit the library for preschool programs and then check out books to read together with your child.  It is never too soon (or too late) to start fostering a love of reading in your child!  Use the library catalog to find the book you want to read with your preschooler today!

You may also want to check out these books, available at the Monrovia branch, for further guidance on what to read to and with your children:

Silly Books to Read Aloud: A Guide by Rob Reid

 

Children's Book-a-Day Almanac by Anita Silvey

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up edited by Julia Eccleshare

An Eternal Question

I was recently asked if all of the libraries would be shutting down, since people can now download any book they want and read it on an e-reader or other device. In 30 years as a librarian, it seems like I have heard that question, in one form or another, many times as technology and the internet have continued to change our interactions with information and the world around us. The fact that libraries are still here is a testimony to their ability to not only adapt to changes, but help the community to access and use the products of those changes. Our patrons may download e-books and audiobooks to their own devices free of charge, download music, use the library’s computers or Wi-Fi to access the internet. Broadband internet is still not accessible to many people in our county, making the library their only source. They may access a large array of databases, allowing them to repair their cars, trace their ancestry, print legal documents, or learn to speak a foreign language.

They have access to all of these services, as well as the traditional children’s programming, cultural events, book clubs, art displays, adult literacy services, and many other resources; and, yes, they can still check out books, DVD’s, audiobooks, and other items. All of this costs the average Morgan County household less than the cost of a typical hardback book. I may be biased, but I believe that libraries will be with us as long as we stay open to meeting the ever evolving needs of the public that it is our pleasure to serve.

We never forget that you are reason for what we do.

Enjoy!

Chuck

 

 

Do you like to read? Join the club!

One of my favorite things about being a librarian is being a part of our adult book club here at the Main branch!  We started out a couple of years ago, and have grown to include over 20 members.  We have read books from many different genres, but it seems that we have the best discussions whenever we've just read a book about the past.

Last night, we met and had a chat about the book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford. It tells the story of Henry, the son of Chinese immigrants who struggles to find a sense of belonging in Seattle during WWII.  He feels isolated at home, as his parents don't allow him to speak Chinese in an effort to make him more "American."  He feels like a misfit at his all-white school until he meets Keiko, a spirited Japanese girl.  The narrative is split between Henry's past and present in an extremely engaging way.

 I can't put my finger on what exactly attracts me to historical fiction.  Maybe it is just the "slice of life" aspect is so appealing.  I always find it touching and refreshing to find that even though a character may be in a completely different country, century, or culture I always seem to find something that rings true to my life here in the modern world. I like how playwright Alan Bennett sums it up, “The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.”

If you would like to join a book club, we have plenty to chose from! We have adult book clubs that meet at our Monrovia, Morgantown (and Main as mentioned above) branches.  Teens in grades 6-12 can join the group,  We Must Ask You to Read that meets at our Main branch.  The cool thing about this group is that there is no set reading list or monthly book assigned.  The group picks a genre or theme and then reads whatever book they like!  For tweens, ages 9-12, there is inbeTWEEN the Lines and for kids ages 5-8, there is The Page Turners.  These lively groups meet monthly at our Main branch to talk about an assigned book (that they get to keep!) along with crafts and other fun activities.

Interested??  All you need to do is visit our event calendar for more details and to see if registration is required! 

Happy reading,

Jennifer

Bookmaking Workshops for Kids and Teens

Staying in town for Spring Break?  Looking for something to do?  Sign up for our Bookmaking Workshops!  Book artist Bonnie Stahlecker will be here to talk about the art of bookmaking and you'll get to make your own book.

The programs will be held on Monday, March 25th at the Main Branch in Martinsville.  Children ages 5-10 will have a program from 1pm-2pm; the program for teens, ages 11-15, will be from 2pm-3pm.  Due to limited space, participants will need to preregister for this program.  Sign up online, or here at the library! 

These programs are made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Morgan County.