Children's June 4th of July Parade

 

6-27-2025

The East Troy Lions Public Library is very fortunate to be located on a sizeable Village owned property and across the street from another in form of Playmore Park. This allows us the flexibility in holding programs outside. Unfortunately, we don’t own the weather.

Monday’s program was to be the annual FFA Petting Zoo. That was switched to a movie once the forecasted highs became a reality. The animals have, through their social secretary Mr. Ryan Holle, made arrangements to be at Playmore Park this coming Monday. That means we are double booked for the weekly children’s program. Here’s the plan.

The original schedule called for a Children’s Parade along the sidewalk in front of the East Troy High School and East Troy Middle School. They would love to have an audience so feel free to gather some friends and a lawn chair to come watch. I don’t believe it will be necessary to drop off chairs the night before. There is plenty of prime seating. Participants should bring their bikes, scooter, wagons, stroller, etc. to the library at 1:30. We will have plenty of supplies for decorating their “float” including streamers, garland, temporary tattoos, flags, and pinwheels.

The parade will line up in the library parking lot just before 2:00 to begin the parade. We will be led by Chief Jeremy Swendrowski and followed by a mini pony.

Waiting for us at the park will be the rescheduled FFA Petting Zoo, water, and a small snack.

The East Troy Lions Club will take over the celebrations at the end of the week beginning at 5:00 on Thursday, July 3^rd. In order to make room/stay out of the way, the library will close at that time and reopen on Monday, July 7^th. Copies of the Lion’s event schedule including the bands and parade are available at the library.

Before we close on Thursday, Miss Maria will be holding a Preschool Sensory Playtime at Playmore Park’s Pavilion. She held on the day we rescheduled the FFA Petting Zoo last year. (It seems we don’t have luck with animals outside.) This is a hands-on exploratory event. Children will be invited to play with items that appeal to their senses of touch, smell, and sound as well as their creative nature. While some of the activities may be a repeat of last year, others will be new.

That event will take place during the regular Thursday Playgroup’s 10:00 am time.

Reading Now: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betsy Smith (#13 on the Great American Reads list)

Listening to Now: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (July's Adult Book Club Selection)

 

Competitive? Like Puzzles? See below

 

6-20-2025

Summer seems like an odd time for this article about a puzzle competition, but I didn’t schedule it. The competition is officially called the Prairie Lakes Puzzle Masters’ Tournament and is entering its second year. That means I wrote sketchy articles about it last year with little detail or used it as filler. This year I have history to draw from. History is very helpful.

The competition is sponsored by our library system; that’s the Prairie Lakes portion of the name. It involves teams of 2-4 working their way through three levels of competition for full bragging rights; that’s the Puzzle Master portion of the name.

The first level of competition takes place at individual libraries to select up to three teams to represent them at the regional level. A shortened version of the rules would include the amount of time allowed for assembling the puzzle (I’m thinking 1 hour at this level) and the number of pieces (500 at this level). Other rules apply that can be summarized here as don’t cheat or distract other teams and participants under 16 years old need a parent involved. The full list will be provided to anyone interested. All teams will be given the same puzzle. A date will be set for September.

East Troy’s best puzzlers will then move onto the regional competition on October 18^th at Walworth Memorial Library. Competitors at this level will have 2 hours to complete a 750-piece puzzle. The top 3 teams will continue to the 1000-piece systemwide competition on November 15^th at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay. Therein lays the true glory.

Given the number of events happening at the library this month, it may seem odd to write about a September/October/November event now. Most of us will be lucky to remember these details tomorrow. However, true puzzlers and competitors need time to create their teams and should block out those dates early. They are also welcome to meet at the library, preferably the 1^st or 3^rd Saturday of the month to hone their skills and team work.

Will they complete the edges first? Sort pieces by color? Divide the puzzle by sections assigned to specific team members? Well oiled team work takes practice.

The library has a large selection of puzzles in our Puzzle Swap to use as practice in preparation of each level. It is separated onto two different shelving units: 750+ pieces and -750 pieces. The former collection is in a side room that is usually locked. We are happy to open it for anyone, competitor or not, to borrow/swap a puzzle. The later is in the programming space near the television for easy accessibility for children and families.

We’d love to hear from anyone interested in competing. Look for more specific information about a local competition when the fall Park & Recreation Guide is available. Even if we don’t have a page in the guide, we’ll have our fall calendar available.

 Reading Now: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Back to PBS's Great American Read list)

Listening to Now: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Time to compare it to Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead. Hopefully it won't take as long.)

IMLS Update

 

6-13-2025

In April I wrote an article about President Trump’s Executive Order regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services. At that time, Trump had appointed Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of the IMLS and the majority of staff had been placed on administrative leave. Libraries across the country received half the funding appropriated by Congress on their behalf. This was a departure from the traditional full payment. It is not known at this time if payment of the other half will be made.

Since then, President Trump has release his FY26 budget with does not include any funding for the IMLS and would eliminate the only federal agency that provides funding and services to public libraries.

There are currently several lawsuits against these actions playing out in the courts. One of their arguments is that the Executive Order disregards the role of the federal government’s three branches. Congress makes laws and appropriates funds the president is meant to implement and spend. While some of those suits have resulted in temporary restraining orders others have not allowing some of the dismantling of the IMLS to continue before final rulings are given.

Libraries systems across Wisconsin have worked together to create the Speak Up for Libraries advocacy campaign. In additional to an informative website providing basic background on the issue, they have also distributed postcards for patrons to express their opinion to US Senators and Congressional Representatives who also have a say on the future of the IMLS.

We have postcards and address labels for Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson and Congressman Bryan Steil available for residents to express their opinion. In addition, there is a collection box for the postcards. Those boxes will be collected in Milwaukee and bulk mailed. Residents may also choose to mail them independently instead or voice their opinions via a phone call or email.

The Walworth County Health & Human Services has given us a second collection box for the summer. Every three years they conduct a Community Health Assessment. Those survey results are used to create their Community Health Improvement Plan and guide their work to improve quality of life in Walworth County.

Anyone wishing to complete the survey may return it to the collection box at most Walworth County libraries. We do have paper copies of the survey and a QR code for the electronic version.  A link is also available on the Walworth County website by searching Community Health Assessment & Improvement.

Reading Now: The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman

Listening to Now: Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne (Final book in the Ink & Sigil series)

Adult Summer Programs

 

5-30-2025

This week acts as the official bridge between our spring and summer at the library beginning with the Friends of the ETLPL Books and Bites on Saturday. We had collected so many books over the past year that it took nearly an hour and half to set up. Five hours later the bites were gone along with many boxes of books and the Friends had raised over $900. Now begins the process of collecting more.

June 2^nd begins sign up for the Summer Reading Program. All ages are welcome to sign up. Materials are printed, give aways are organized and prizes are arranged. The calendar will be handed out to Little Prairie Primary students who make their yearly visit next week. It’s also available on our website and at the front desk. The framework of our schedule remains the same with year-round reoccurring programs and additional children’s programs on Monday afternoons. There are new programs scattered here and there. Some of those scattered programs are open to adults. We also have a program each month specifically for them.

In June Ben Merens from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will give the presentation Common Scams and Frauds. Merens reached out to public libraries offering a list of twelve presentations from which to choose. Scary to think that many people have found a minimum of that many ways to try and cheat and steal. Look for another of Merens presentations in the fall. The IGET Community Center has kindly opening its space for us at 2:00pm on June 11th. The Community Center is located in ETCSD’s Doubek building. The entrance can be found off of Division Street. Sandwich boards with the IGET center and ETLPL logos will be by the driveway.

July will see us back at the IGET Community Center for Meet the Author: Mary Bub. Nearly two year’s ago Bub’s husband passed away. One of the ways she dealt with her grief was through a series of letters later published as Letters to Betty: the anatomy of one woman’s grief. Bub will talk about her book on July 23^rd at 2:00pm. Copies will be available for purchase and signing as the event. We also have one available for checkout through the library.

Sourdough returns to the library on August 6^th. Experienced bakers are invited to enter their best recipes in a sourdough bake-off, think State Fair rather than British. Margaret Schultz will return that day to run her Sourdough Made Simple class in the evening at 6:00pm. That afternoon at 4:00pm she has agreed to work with three other judges to select the best sourdough baking East Troy has to offer. More details for that will follow as we finalize categories and procedures. In the meanwhile, that are two months left to tweak and perfect baking. A sourdough discard class is available through MasterClass for any bakers wishing for some professional advice before August. Free MasterClass seats are available through the library’s website. Registration for both events will be required.

Reading Now: Return of the Thief by Meghan Whelan Turner (Final book of the Queen's Thief series which took Turner 24 years to complete. This gives me hope for the completion of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles. Afterall, The Name of the Wind only came out on 2007.)

Listening to Now: Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire (Book 2 in Wicked series.)

Goodbye Grab Bags, Hello Brag Tags

 

5-23-2025

Summer really is right around the corner. Maybe not the weather, but certainly the end of the school year. While I still catch myself making plans for when I am off in the summer, I quickly catch myself and panic sends me back to making my real summer plans. This week has been a flurry of activity printing our summer schedules, reading grids, coloring sheets, drawing tickets, and fliers. All the supplies are lined up on a table ready to go.

This year we are making two big changes to the Summer Reading Program.

The program and prize drawing are open to all ages. Sign up begins on Monday, June 2^nd. Usually that would be the first day we set out the grab bags. Kids love the grab bags. As a mom, I have not appreciated them. It’s been a tradition since the beginning of time to give children plastic Oriental Trader items that break, get left behind, or end up in a landfill. I have cringed for three summers as the bags are filled and set out. What I haven’t done is purchase any new items. We didn’t quite run out last year; however, we are low enough that (CO)OPERTATION Learn at Little Prairie Elementary nearly did the trick.

We are now free to start a new tradition. Beginning this year children will receive brag tags each week. Each one is a different design with this year’s theme on one side and a saying like, “Reading Rocks” (that’s the guitar) on the other. At sign up children will receive a cable ring with a twist lock to keep them on. The cable rings come in five different colors. The tags come in ten different designs. The hope is they are a more desirable take away and will serve as a reminder of a fun summer rather than another plastic mini skateboard with wheels that fall off.

True story, my first summer here I found sets of those wheels lying on the floor and though they were a tongue ring. After finding a second, that didn’t seem probable. It took me another summer before I realized what they actually were.

Each month this summer we do have an adult program scheduled. No excuses for not coming based on weather. Ben Merens, Consumer Protection Outreach Specialist for the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will kick us off on June 11^th with the presentation Common Scams and Fraud. The Intergenerational Community Center is lending us their space for the program which will begin at 2:00 pm.

Scams and fraud have been an issue probably even before Nigerian princes discovered email. Today they bombard me with countless texts every week. At first it was election related, now several are threatening social security. Merens will help take the panic those type of appeals create and help us avoid their lure.

Reading Now: The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

Listening to Now: Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire

Guest Gecko at the Library

5-16-2025

Last summer Miss Maria began a weekly book club for patrons 9-13 years old. The Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club was actually in conjunction with the publishers of those books who provided swag for everyone who participated each week. When school started back up the book club switched gears meeting once a month and becoming Series Sampler. Each month they read the first book in a juvenile or young adult series. If they like the book, they may continue the series on their own.

The final Series Sampler for this school year is a favorite of mine, Suzanne Collins Gregor the Overlander. Gregor lives with his family, minus his father, in New York City. His dad disappeared the previous year leaving the family in rough financial straits. One day while in the laundry room of their apartment complex, Gregor and his sister fall through an opening into the Underworld where all sorts of creatures live. While the book clubs will discuss the book, the focus of the meetings is usually a creative project related to the plot. This month’s meeting will include a visitor representing the Underworld. Her name is Tig, and she is a leopard gecko. Don’t worry, she isn’t a substitute for Snake Discovery this summer.

The book club will transition again in June to meet twice a month and align with the Summer Reading Program theme: Color Our World. This time it will be called Read the Rainbow. Each book has a different colored cover beginning with the purple covered Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate and making its way through red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Miss Maria enjoyed selecting the books until working on the flier. That’s when the impact of new editions hit home. They have different colored covers. So far, copies of the first two books have arrived in the desired color. Keep you fingers crossed for us that good luck continues.

Also in the works for Color(ing) Our World is Friday afternoon Art Attack! This is an art program for all ages beginning on June 13^th. We do ask for registration the Monday beforehand to make certain there are enough supplies for everyone. In August the library will host an art show to display their creativity and hard work.

Our summer calendar with dates for the book club and other programs can be found on our website. This year we are not in the Park and Rec Guide as their pages were cut by four. It can be found as a separate flier where the guide is available, at the library and frequently on Facebook.

Reading Now: The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

Listening to Now: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Book for Sale and Chairs for Loan

 

5-9-2025

We are two weeks away for the Friends of the ETLPL’s Annual Books and Bites. This is the only time all of the books donated for our book sales are pulled out of the storage room and available for purchase. It is held the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. This year that means May 24^th. It will begin an hour earlier this year to catch the early bird: 9:00am-2:00pm

Prices are unreasonably reasonable. At $1.00 for a hardcover and $.50 for paperbacks, children’s books, and DVDs I’d say they’re giving them away except this is a fundraiser and I don’t want any confusion. Since the prices are so low, the Friends actually make more money off the Bites part of the sale. We are looking for bakers. Should anyone wish to contribute, baked goods should be dropped off at the library by closing on May 23^rd. In fact, it was reported at the Annual Meeting last week that the table in the library raised nearly as much money the past year as last year’s Books and Bites. That is largely due to Friend Don Roberts who swaps out the books every Tuesday afternoon.

Also for sale are items the Yarn & Stitch ladies made. There are plenty of hats and lap rugs. This may not be the time we think of needing knit caps, but this is Wisconsin so they may be needed yet. Year-round items include floral book marks and the such adorable stuffed animals they keep selling just by virtual of being visible in the programming space. The snail and fox were still there last time I checked.

Once the Friends are set up, I hope to finish cleaning the Lion’s Room. Last month they emptied that storage area of everything they didn’t know was there and didn’t want to keep. Six tables remained. Last week DPW removed items that should have been scraped or tossed after various maintenance projects. I’ve been battling spiderwebs and general dust/dirt and organizing the extra shelving and maintenance supplies we will keep.

By the end of Books and Bites the dust and dirt will be banished so we may store large and seldom used items in that room. First up will be those white chairs I wrote about in March. At that time, a stack was left outside to draw interested parties. We actually had one taker, but only for four chairs. Brandy, remembering her daughter’s bridal shower and wedding, suggested we add them to the Library of Things.

Last week Brandy scrubbed them clean. Lisa added them to the catalog. They wait in groups of 10 for patrons hosting any type of event requiring up to 30 more chairs then their home provides. Due dates are flexible and most importantly, we’ll take reservations.