Christmas Walk & Fiesta Images

What a great time we all had at the Christmas Walk! The library had plenty of traffic throughout both days, including more than a few new faces. We were blessed, of course, with some top-notch entertainment, especially our wonderful harpist, Paula Settle, and the wonderful junior advisors who performed a Readers Theater rendition of Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates both days. We also loved displaying the samples of student art from the Chamber of Commerce contest. Here's a link to some of our favorite photos from the event.

And here's a link to some photos from the cultural fiesta we hosted on Dec. 6. The event was jointly sponsored by the Kiel and New Holstein libraries, and funded by a special grant from the federal government called "Learning to Use the Library in Another Language." Bob Hafeman, coordinator of the Manitowoc-Calumet Library System, gets the credit for writing the grant for the six MCLS libraries. The goal was to bring Hispanics and gringos together for a cultural evening of fun, food, music and sharing. It was all that and more!

Are you a writer?

Here's another message from our ever-curious technical assistant. She claims she's not much of a writer but, if that's the case, then who created this blog post? Huh? Tell me that, Colleen! - nb


Do you have an opinion about the little messages that run - sometimes fly - out of the thoughts of people?? I sometimes think about where it all comes from. Has anyone ever wondered about how an author can come up with all the thoughts and feeling that it takes to write a novel? Very amazing to me. I sometimes stumble over a sentence when I speak. Not always but sometimes.

Does anyone think that they have what it would take to write a book? Sometimes I think I could. And then there are times that I think .... no way. I can hardly get the words out, or the thoughts meld together.

I guess that is why there are readers and there are writers out there, just to amuse us readers. So for me I guess the pressure is OFF. Don't you feel it?

Yeah, give me a good read anytime. I guess I will leave the writing to those courageous enough to travel through the "Great Adventures of the Mind."

Techkpl

You just can't beat this deal

Colleen Bos, KPL's technical assistant writes:

So, have you read a good book lately? Gone or rented a great movie? NO? Well, then you're not visiting the library very much. With all the new books and new DVDs arriving almost daily at the library, there is much to pick from.

And the best part is that it's all FREE!

Can you believe that? It's all F-R-E-E.

You can check out a book and keep it for 3 weeks. And if you need more time after that, you can usually renew it for another 3 weeks. Movies on VHS or DVD don't have to be back for 7 days.

You just can't beat this deal. Libraries are just about the best thing that could happen to any community. Also free is all our programming, our displays, our newspapers and magazines, and our community bulletin board.

WOW, ya just can't beat FREE.

So if you haven't found a good book lately or watched a good movie, my suggestion is to visit the Kiel Public Library, where your dollar will stay in your pocket and your arms will be full of stuff you can take home.

Techkpl

Win a vintage photograph

The library is pleased to be able to give away two enlarged and framed historic photos from early Kiel. The first one, shown here, depicts downtown Kiel in 1905 (image shows intersection of Fremont & 6th, facing west). The second is a group shot of the Kiel men's baseball team of 1909.

Both images are priceless, and they could be yours for free! All you have to do is stop in at the library at 511 Third Street during the Christmas Walk, and drop your name in the can. The drawing will take place at the end of the Walk, and we'll call the winner sometime Monday.

Special thanks to Ed Majkrzak, for donating these wonderful images. He framed and matted them himself as well.

Music From the Harp

Celtic harpist Paula Settle will perform twice at the library during Kiel's two-day Christmas Walk celebration on Dec. 1 & 2. Ms. Settle is an acclaimed musician, instructor, and Certified Music Practitioner who specializes in music as a healing art. She has performed in area weddings, church services, hospices, and medical settings, and is a regular at the Wednesday evening Irish sessions at 52 Stafford in Plymouth.

Settle will play a mix of Christmas and Celtic music during her two performances at the library. You can catch her in the library's upstairs reading room on: Friday from 5 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the soothing sounds of harp strings.

Check Out CATV

I'm hoping that the KPL website can provide a way for non-cable subscribers to catch up on local happenings. Charter Communications' CATV is broadcast from the library, so it makes sense to upload the continuous running slide show on to our site.

While we keep working on the technology end of things, you can catch the Community Calendar on Channel 19 if you subscribe to cable TV in the city of Kiel.

If you're not a cable subscriber, you can always catch it in the library!

Dashing to the Walk

We're so glad to be participating in Kiel's second annual Christmas Walk on Dec. 1 & 2. There will be wonderful events and decorations at all four of this year's Walk locations (Stoelting House, Kiel Community Center, Kiel Historical Center and the library), but we're especially pleased with the way plans are shaping up at the library. Among new developments:

• Throughout the two days of the Walk (4-8 on Friday, 12 to 7 on Saturday) the library will display all the student art entries in the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored contest. Turns out 172 local children answered the call to create a poster depicting Christmas celebrations of long ago. (The specific assignment was for the children to interview a grandparent to find out how they celebrated the holidays). We feel privileged to get to display all these charming, creative, and utterly amazing samples of local talent. Do come and see how local children are interpreting their elders' memories.
• We're honored to be able to give away two framed vintage photographs of historic Kiel, thanks (once again) to the generosity of our good friend Ed Majkrzak. These are valuable photographs that we would normally display in the Edwin J. Majkrzak Historical Research Center. One is a hand-colored street scene of downtown Kiel in 1905, in a beautiful white wooden frame. The other is the infamous Kiel men's baseball team from 1909, the one that's on the mugs we sold to guests at the April, 2006 dedication of the Center. The free drawing is our way of thanking the community for its great support all these years. We also hope it attracts folks to visit our local history collection, especially if they've never seen it. Mr. Majkrzak has filled nearly 100 notebooks with photographs, original documents, newspaper clippins and other information dating back more than 150 years. You really have to see it to believe it, and the Christmas Walk is a great time to do that.
• We've secured the talents of local harpist Paula Settle for play a mix of Christmas and Celtic music in the main reading room of the library Friday and Saturday afternoons. Settle performs regularly at the Wednesday "Irish nights" at the 52 Stafford in Plymouth, in addition to several local venues. We're pleased to welcome Ms. Settle, and can't wait to hear her music.
• The library's Junior Advisory Board members and friends will present Readers Theater performances throughout both days in the downstairs meeting room. These talented teens have been planning this event ever since last year's Christmas Walk. If you like dramatic interpretation, this is the place to be.
• Those who like to mix their art with their tastebuds will get a chance to show off their creativity at our cookie-decorating table in the Youth Department. We've ordered several dozen of Roeck's Bakery's finest cookies, along with several flavors of frosting and a whole slew of sprinkles. Last year this activity drew just as many parents (dads in particular) as kids, which is fine with us, as long as participants leave some cookies for everyone else.
• Friends of the Library-Kiel have already hung the beautiful snowflake covered garlands they secured for us last year. Whether or not we actually have a lighted upstairs tree (a small detail we're still trying to work out), there will be plenty of holiday atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors.
• Punch, coffee, apple cider, bars, cupcakes ... did we mention cookies? Yes, there will be plenty of refreshments to nibble on at the library, upstairs and down.
• Don't forget, we are a library. That means our shelves are stocked with books, movies, music, magazines, and photographs celebrating Christmas, Hanukka, Kwanza, Solstice and anything else remotely related to these next few weeks. Great titles you can peruse here, or checkout for up to three weeks. Like we always say, your library card is one of the best deals in town.

Our Holiday Hours

Just so you know, the Kiel Public Libary will be open most days this week. We'll be closed on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, to give our staff a chance to relax, serve and eat turkey, and maybe watch the Macy's parade. But we'll be right back to work on Friday and Saturday. This offers you a perfect opportunity to stop in and grab a good book for the weekend.
Our hours, for your reference:

• Wednesday, Nov. 22 - Noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 23 - CLOSED
• Friday, Nov. 24 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 25 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Happy turkey day, everyone!

In Search of the Right Person

We have a great opportunity for someone who has always wanted to work in a library. KPL is looking to hire a part-time library assistant to help staff our busy circulation desk, answer reference questions, help process books, and do all the other things that need to get done in a small-town public library. Some library and/or customer service experience preferred, but the most important quality we seek is a warm, friendly personality .... a genuine "people person" who truly enjoys meeting new people and connecting them with the library materials or information they seek.

Think you might be interested? A job description is available at the library or here. We prefer a resume, but we also have application forms available in the library. Either one is fine to submit as long as you include the names and phone numbers of at least two references. We're in a bit of a hurry, so the application deadline is November 30. We'll start interviewing candidates the first week of December.

Girl Scouts Rock!

What fun! This past week your city librarian had the special privilege of meeting local Girl Scouts (Troop #146) to talk about career planning. I was joined by fellow local career women Julie Walber (real estate agent), Dr. Barbara Karls (dentist), and Dr. Cheryl Roers (optometrist). We had a great time discussing the joys and challenges of our various jobs.

Mostly it was nice meeting the four young scouts themselves. They represent the future and, if they are at all representative of their generation, I'd say we've got a lot to look forward to! They are ably led by leader Donna Gilsdorf with assistance from Sheila Draxler.

Pictured above, left to right, are (front): Julie Walber, Dr. Barbar Karls, Nanette Bulebosh, and Dr. Cheryl Roers. (back) Gabrielle Draxler, Nicole Viletstra, Sara Dietrich, and Katie Gilsdorf.

Truth be told, I absolutely love speaking to or with Kiel-area groups. Book talks are my specialty, but I'm always happy to talk about the Kiel Public Library - the (often little-known) services we provide, our great staff, upcoming programs, how we appropriate our budget, and our plans and hopes for the future. Just ask.

Nanette
kielpl@esls.lib.wi.us

And a good time was had by all

It wouldn't be Halloween without Joie reading stories in her witch costume. Our beloved youth director (now in her 27th year at KPL!) throws the best holiday parties. We had two on Oct. 31, one for the morning story hour crew at 10:30 a.m., and the other for the P.M.ers, at 2:15. We invited all kids (and kids-at-heart) to dress up in costume, listen to stories, parade around, sing and dance, and finish off with some goodies. Special thanks to those moms and dads who provided this year's terrific treats, including this cake!

We tend to celebrate most holidays like this (minus the costumes). Look for some turkey fun next week, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, followed by some really cool winter festivities in the following weeks.

Joie's family story hours are geared to pre-schoolers, but we welcome babies, toddlers, school-agers and older. Just come ready to hear some fanastic stories from the world's best children's librarian. We start promptly at 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. every Tuesday, and at 6:30 p.m. every first Wednesday. Please join us!

Kiel teens take first place!

Congratulations to the Kiel Public Library's Battle of the Books team. For the first time since we've been participating in this MCLS-sponsored event, Kiel's team actually WON!!! Truth be told, we left the competition in the dust, even though ours was one of the smaller teams there.

Our team (Alex Griffith, Aaron Jenson, Dylan Endries and Gabrielle Draxler) correctly and quickly answered the most number of questions about the eight teen books selected for this year's battle, held Oct. 18 at Silver Lake College. They were assisted by their talented coach Sheila Draxler, KPL library assistant. Winning first place means the Kiel Public Library gets to keep the traveling Battle of the Books plaque for a year, as well as hog all the glory, fame and prestigue that comes with winning this contest.

As for the contestants themselves? Well, they did get free pizza. AND they get to keep those fab lime green t-shirts. Who could ask for anything more?

We're already accepting applicants for next year's battle, held during Teen Library Week in October, 2007. All 7th thru 12 graders are welcome. All you need is a passion for reading and good Jeopardy skills.

Historic Kiel

Just a sample of the kinds of historic photos available in the Edwin J. Majkrzak Historical Research Center at Kiel Public Library. Stop in and see what else we have!