Library Legislative Day

 

2-21-2025

Last week Tuesday, our Facebook followers would have seen a picture of Governor Evers delivering a welcome speech to a room full of librarians. Each year the Wisconsin Library Association organizes Library Legislative Day. This was my third opportunity to attend, but the first year I’ve screwed up the courage to do so. Have PLLS Trustee/ETLPL Trustee/Village Trustee Mary Hubbard Nugent with me for support helped with that.

The day started at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel right across the street from the Capitol building where Gov Evers delivered the first welcome speech followed by Representative Tony Kurtz, State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly, Assistant State Superintendent Dr. Darrell Williams, and Senator Dianne Hesselbein. All the speakers spoke of the value of libraries. More than one also mentioned librarians are the loudest group they usually see at the Capitol. That reassured me that I’m not a misfit after all.

Organizers scheduled appointments for the librarians to meet with their Representative and Senator in small groups. Mary and I met with Nathan Cobb, State Senator Nass’s Legislative Aide, and Representative Robin Vos.

At both meetings we spoke about the importance of libraries and specifically addressed proposed statute changes that would facilitate the formation of a joint library. For perhaps the past decade, the Town of Troy, Town of East Troy, and Village of East Troy have worked to combine resources and make their services more efficient and cost effective. The combined emergency services may be the ultimate example of their success in doing so. The formation of a joint library was intended to be part of that. The agreement was written, revised, accepted by relevant governing organizations and ready to sign in August 2022 when funding issues reared their ugly heads.

Library funding is a bit like public school funding; everybody pays it. However, the biggest difference lies in first where it fits in the tax bill and who receives the initial payment. In the case of the Village of East Troy, which houses the ETLPL, library funding is part of their tax levy and subject to those limits. The monies are collected and put right into our account. In contrast the Towns do not contain a public library. Their library funding is collected as part of their Walworth County taxes. Walworth County then passes it onto the library system that oversees the libraries their residents frequent. In our case that would be Prairie Lakes Library System, which later writes out checks for the individual libraries. The county tax is neither part of the Towns’ levies nor part of their levy limits. Becoming part of a joint library would change that.

The proposed change in statutes would alter that slightly. In forming a joint library and funding it directly, the change would identify that funding as a transfer of services. It would not increase the levy and is not meant to increase taxes. It simply shifts who receives the check.

Representative Vos was aware of the proposal and has one of his aides researching it looking for any unintended consequences to make certain it isn’t as simple as I indicated in the previous paragraph. His main question to me was, “What would you do with the additional funding?”

My internal answer was more sourdough.

Reading Now: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Listening to Now: The Colour of Mystery by Joy Ellis

Book Valentines

 

2-14-2025

For the last two year’s I’ve written about Claudia Felske’s Literary Soulmate tradition in AP Literature and revealed my all-time heartthrob. For 2025 I’m looking over 12 months of reading and trying to decide who/what would receive that honor if those were the only books I read in my life.

Thanks to Goodreads, I can scan the covers rather quickly. Doing so brings home how eclectic my reading choice seem to be. While there is a fair amount of fluff or mind-candy, the covers that bring back the strongest impressions represent more serious work. That isn’t simply because they are serious, it is more a reflection of the beauty of the writing. These are the books I placed holds on for my mother as I no longer buy her the best books I’ve read. Here’s an overview.

Taking the top spot is author Viet Thanh Nguyen. Pulitzer Prize winning Nguyen and his family are Vietnamese refugees. The books I read this year reflect those experiences. Starting with his prize winning The Sympathizer about a North Vietnamese plant who flees to the United States with his military superior and which HBO turned into an eight-episode series. It isn’t an easy read and not just because of the content. While beautifully written, the lack of quotation marks requires extra focus to follow the dialogue. For this story, slowing down my reading helped my take the time to absorb the main character’s emotions as both a mole and a refugee. The quality of Nguyen’s writing extended to the other two books on my Read list.

The Sympathizer also kicked off a streak of Pulitzer winning novels, especially given Percival Everett’s James was a favorite this year and he has been recognized several times by the committee. While I find Everett thought provoking, Nguyen tells a better story.

There are several writers of fiction whose work I’ve systematically been making my way through and enjoyed. There are too many good books out there to continue with them if that were not the case. However, I’ll just briefly mention those I have only begun to delve into and who represent a variety of genres, okay mostly historical fiction. Jennifer Rosner’s The Yellow Bird Sings was beautiful and made me cry – Poland, 1941, Jewish mother and daughter in hiding. Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was a fascinating look into Chinese 15^th century culture. Katie Hafner’s The Boys was the most unusual book I read this year. It requires the most attention to detail to understand and a bit of a puzzle, which was refreshing. Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island is literally a puzzle as it belongs to the mystery genre. It’s the second Lehane book I’ve read, the first being Mystic River. He is the king of the suspense genre.

Not quite the same take on literary soulmate, but perhaps this list will offer reading suggestions. Three of them and several I wanted to include but forced myself to cut are from our Adult Book Club. Providing my most persuasive argument for people join in the reading even if they can’t join the conversation.

Reading Now: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Listening to Now: Ink and Sigil by Kevin Hearne

More Sourdough and Community Storytime

 

2-7-2025

Anyone who follows our Facebook page knows it is full of sourdough updates. The program last month was extremely popular. We had 80 people sign up for the two sessions. Only live animals consistently do better than that. Although they don’t have the advantage of two time slots. It’s been fun experimenting with different recipes. Crackers are nice an easy. So far, I’ve tried fresh cracked black pepper, sea salt, and rosemary flavors. The bread I made this week is like my annual apple pies: doesn’t look the prettiest, but tastes just fine.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the free MasterClass seats available in 2025. In looking for additional recipes, I discovered they have a sourdough class. I will definitely need to try the sourdough brownies as I have a weakness for both.

We’d love to hear other baking stories. We’d also love to hear suggestions for other adult programs, either a topic of interest or interesting community member with something to share.

Miss Maria has arranged for eight community members to cover her February and March storytimes while she is recovering from surgery. Thankfully, it was planned well in advance so plans are all taken care of. The rest of us just have to read and follow directions. Just like subbing at school, of which I have years of experience.

February will bring us retired teacher Claudia Felske who after years of high school English is enjoying subbing in elementary classrooms, yoga instructor Jennah Strand, ETCSD bus driver Rachel Neubauer, and East Troy Trolley Superconductor Jim Feyerherm. In March we have acupuncturist Brandon LeGreca, ETPD Chief Jeremy Swendrowski, ETFD Chief Joe DeGaro, and Citizens Bank teller Jennifer Christensen. Library staff will run the storytime and craft with guests sharing books of their choosing. They have been encouraged to show off any special vehicles related to their occupations, but I don’t think the trolley will make it.

All but one of the crafts are planned out. The remaining one is making a piggy bank. The top idea is to create a leprechaun’s pot of gold from a Oui yogurt jar. Those jars are a favorite basis for craft projects, which gives me an excuse for spending the extra money on that brand. They were also used to hand out sourdough starters. We’ve added them to our list of accepted donations along with books, yarn and plastic bags.

Reading Now: Breath by James Nestsor, Twenty-four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

Listening to Now: An Aura of Mystery by Joy Ellis

New Experience Passes and More

 

1-31-2025

It’s been a week since I made the tantalizing promise to reveal tangible proof of the generosity of members of the Friends of the East Troy Lions Public Library. I shall proceed to do so as, also as promised, I spent a bit of time this week spending the money. The only question is where to start, with the traditional or new?

New.

On their website, the Friends identify their purpose as supporting and enriching the local library. They do so by providing more for our patrons. It is because of the Friends that we are able to add popular experience passes last year. Unfortunately, our agreement with that particular organization doesn’t allow me to name them in any advertising outside of the building; however, I can write that the two passes to the one location have been checked out 87 times in the past 10 months. Call the library and we can talk about them. That pass will be renewed in March.

The Friends will sponsor two additional passes for 2025. The first is membership to the Friends of the Domes, which translates into three household passes for the Mitchell Park Domes. A household pass allows free entry for all members of a household. This was chosen as the Domes are open all year round with changing exhibits and appeal to a wide age range. As a member of the American Horticultural Society, the Domes has a reciprocity agreement with 360+ other members. What that translates into varies and it is suggested making a phone call before making the trip to another garden or conservatory before arriving expecting free entrance, but there are several within a relatively short drive.

The East Troy Railroad Museum is a much shorter drive and one of the reasons it was selected as the third experience pass funded by our Friends. While I reached out to them this week, I don’t have full details on that pass at this time. We do have time to work out the details as they are open a limited number of months.

As significant as the donation these passes represent, they are actually less costly than the other items they voted to fund. Here I’ll mix a bit of the traditional. Each year they donate a generous amount to sponsor our Summer and Winter Reading programs covering the costs of staff t-shirts, participant prizes, the pizza party, and some of the programs. That will continue.

The largest portion of the donation has me thinking, “That will finish the Lower Level.” I don’t say it out loud, I have done so in the past and then found something else to change/add. My original intention was to keep my request to the items listed above and it was a fair amount of money and they did purchase very expensive furniture last year. However, in the Executive Board meeting, which took place at tables and white chairs rather than the expensive and comfortable blue couches and chairs, someone asked, “Have you thought about replacing these chairs?” Since that answer was yes, that was added to the list. Within the next month all of the seating in the Lower Level will be comfortable.

Thanks to the Friends.

Reading Now: Breath by James Nestor

Listening to Now: An Aura of Mystery by Joy Ellis (The first novel she wrote)

Speak Pirate and Other Learning Tools

 

1-24-2025

The library staff meets every other month to update everyone on programming, policy changes, new procedures, etc. This month we explored a new online service for language acquisition called Mango Language. Offering 71 languages including American Sign Language, Mango offers two interfaces. The regular one for the majority of users and Little Pim for 0-5 year olds.

Following a link from our website, patrons create their individual accounts, select a language and begin learning. Miss Lisa has begun Italian in preparation for an upcoming vacation. She has learned essential phrases such as asking for a restroom as well as some cultural information. With only 5-10 minutes available for the staff’s exploration before the meeting ended and the library opened, we selected Pirate.

Yes, Pirate is one of the 71 languages and a great way to learn how to use the program. The first lesson on Ship Talk list Conversational and Grammar Goals such as Call Someone Names (not nice, but Pirates are not known for being so) and Use Me as a Possessive. Part of the lesson records the user repeating a sentence or phrase and playing it back with the original for comparison.

I did well with, “Blow me down, the ship’s becalmed!” That translates into “Oh my gosh, the ship isn’t moving!” for those of you less fluent in Pirate.

This language tool replaces Transparent Language which expires on January 31^st and is available from our website or through an app.

Less irreverent, but possible as entertaining, Prairie Lakes Library System once again received a MasterClass grant of 1,000 seats. Patrons may register for a seat which is good for 12 months and take classes. There are classes for career development and leadership skills, cultivating a healthy and active lifestyle. The class that most interests me is Matthew Walker, a neuroscience professor, whose class “Teaches the Science of Better Sleep.”

(Since I wrote this and visited the MasterClass website, Facebook is sending me adds for Halle Berry's class on menopause, so there's that class too.)

Sign up information is available for both services from our website on the Online Courses page.

The Friends of the East Troy Lions Public Library had their first general meeting for 2025 this past week. This is the meeting during which I try to be my most charming as it is when I present that year’s wish list. After a very successful play fundraiser, I knew that money was there for a big ask. As always, the Friends were more than generous. This week I’ll work on placing orders. Next week, I’ll reveal their generosity.

Reading Now: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore and  Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

Listening to Now: Echoes on the Fens by Joy Ellis (the latest Nikki Galena just came out on audio at New Year's)

Wicked, Bunnies & Stuffies, Oh My

 

1-17-2025

Two weeks ago, Libby had Wicked in audio format available for an unlimited number of patrons. As soon it was recommended to me, I jumped on board; however, not with enthusiasm. I read the book about 25 years ago also based on a recommendation. I didn’t like it then; I find I do now. The difference is probably in expectations.

The first time through I only had a vague idea it was Wizard of Oz fanfiction. In my mind it was similar to Susan Kay’s Phantom, also read about 25 years ago, which attempts to provide a very sympathetic backstory for Erik, the Opera’s most famous Phantom. That book was fluff and took great liberties with the characters. I expected a feel-good book that would make the Wicked Witch of the West sympathetic. While it does, there is much more politics involved than I was in way shape or form prepared to find.

This time through I was prepared for it.

The movie’s DVD release is scheduled for February 4^th. We have pre-ordered it for the library. While I normally like to put significant time between reading and watching what is reported to be the same story, based on the trailers that won’t be a problem with this one. They don’t seem to be very similar.

We Live in Time is the library’s most recent DVD acquisition, sort of. It’s actually on Blu-Ray. As a British production, it’s reported the first movie that allows Andrew Garfield to use his real accent. Florence Pugh is also allowed her. I don’t know if that’s a first. Emma and I saw it as a stop on the way back to her dorm this fall. Nothing like breaking up a three-hour drive with a two-hour movie. Well worth it though.

Our latest reoccurring program is Storytime with Mr. Nibbles. As a domestic rabbit, he is dependent on humans for transportation to the library. The result is a monthly program, but not a set schedule. February’s storytime will be Thursday, February 6^th at 3:15 pm. It will include stories and making Valentines. All ages are welcome.

The ETCSD scheduled teacher inservice for Monday, January 20^th. Our special program for that day is a stuffed animal clinic. Local residents (notice I didn’t specify children) are invited to bring their stuffies to the library. Veterinarians from Mukwonago Animal Hospital will provide free exams, while skilled library staff will perform minor repairs. It’s a drop in program running 10:00-11:30 am.

Reading Now: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Listening to Now: Taste by Stanley Tucci

CandyLand and Sourdough Programs

 

1-3-2025

Happy New Year from the staff of the East Troy Lions Public Library.

The majority of us are nice and refreshed after several days off over the holidays. One exception may be Miss Maria whose family joined her at the library on Christmas Day to set up our life size CandyLand game. The fifty-nine people who came by to play the game seemed to really appreciate their efforts. A few adults without the pretense of children even stopped in. With three different versions of the boardgame, coloring sheets, and additional toys available, our programming space was the place to be on Friday and Saturday.  Staff and one of our volunteers spent a good portion of Monday packing it up safely so it will likely become a holiday tradition.

Next up for programming is Sourdough Made Simple on January 22, 2025. Margaret (Hill) Schultz from Blue Bird Custom Creations will run the program for her. Margaret is a local find. Her aunt Sue Loth connected us. She’ll run the same program twice first at 2:00 pm at the East Troy Intergenerational Community Center (IGET) and again at the ETLPL at 6:00 pm. The first provides an opportunity for stair free access. IGET is located in the back of the ETCSD’s business office, formerly Doubek Elementary. While the official address for the building is Beulah Avenue, access to the parking lot is actually from the Division Street side of the building. It is set back quite a way, so there is a sandwich board sign next to the driveway.

Participants will all receive a sourdough starter, so we are asking for advance registration. To do so simply call the library at 262-642-6262 and let us know which time slots works best. We do not have a limit, but would like to have numbers for Margaret by January 15^th.

Christmas books and movies are being packed up and stored until November. That will give us room for our Winter Reading Program prize drawing. We had requested participants wait until January to return their forms/grids. Now is the time to do so. The deadline of 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 11^th is here. Names will be drawn before the library opens on Monday, January 13^th.

Last January we replaced the Christmas book display with a puzzle swap.  Afterward the remaining puzzles (which seemed to at least double in number), were moved to a side room in the lower level for a permanent, if out of sight, swap. We now have so many that a new shelving unit was added to the program space for puzzles of 550 pieces or less. Those with 750 or more are still in the side room. This is a good time for puzzles. Stop in anytime and staff will be happy to show you where they are.

Reading Now: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson (My first Patterson book.)

Listening to Now: Wicked by Gregory Maguire