It's My Party and It Better Not Rain

 

7-18-2025

It’s the final countdown. Eight days until the end of the reading portion of the Summer Reading Program. All reading grides and lists are due no later than 1:00pm July 26, 2025. Drawing for the raffle winners will take place at 1:15pm. I am very excited about the changes made to the final Pizza Party beginning with the early drawing. This will allow both a guarantee of limiting winners to one prize and becoming a real celebration.

Nobody in the greater East Troy area with an ounce of compassion may wish/hope/think about rain for July 28^th. That will ruin the bounce house portion of the event. Arguably we would be able to face paint and make balloon animals, but our boldest change will have to stay at Martin’s Hardware Store if it rains.

This year Prairie Lakes Library System’s new Programming Consultant Kate Davis approached businesses in the three counties to solicit donations on behalf of member libraries. The donations we received didn’t fall in line with our traditional program. Most of them are coupons that will be offered up during a raffle at the Pizza Party. While winners do not need to be present to win the ice cream making kit on display in the library, they will need to be present to win these coupons. I believe the coolest of which is a free day pass (with shoes) for Climb @ the Loop in Burlington. That’s saying a lot as a free chocolate chip cookie from Casey’s is also in the offerings and I do love chocolate.

Before we reach either the due date or the party, Wednesday, July 23^rd at 2:00pm is the date and time for Mary Bub’s author talk at the IGET Community Center. (By the Pickleball courts.) Mary published her Letters to Betty: The Anatomy of One Woman’s Grief a year after the death of her husband based on letters written to an imaginary friend over the course of that year. That book was followed up by And So It Goes: A Companion to Letters to Betty, which can be described as a toolkit or workbook for others experiencing their own losses.  

Before Mary Bub’s program, on Tuesday, July 22^nd, our new website goes live. This is the second new website in seventeen months as our website provider announced his retirements six months after the last one. I’m looking at that as a rough draft. The next one is the revised final product. This is the version that will include the LocalHop calendars for the library and our Community Calendar. Check it out if you want to sign up for either Sourdough events electronically.

Reading Now: Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Listening to Now: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Registration Required

 

7-11-2025

July may be the busiest programming month of the year here at ETLPL. We have year-round ongoing programs for all ages, Monday afternoon summer programs, Friday afternoon art, reading grids due, and three adult programs to promote.

The last item on that list is the reason for recent email newsletter sent out to our adult patrons whose email address are on file. At this point I see using Patron Point to send these emails for three reasons: promote adult programming, highlight changes to our schedule three times a year, and welcoming new cardholders. The emails do allow recipients to unsubscribe from one or both of the first two types or all emails.

The beauty of the emails is that they will be infrequent, especially compared to these articles, and allow for immediate responses. Two of the upcoming adult events ask for advance registration with a deadline the week before the event. Included in the email are links to our new calendar which includes an online registration feature. Registrations can be made immediately and the event added to the home calendar at that time. The LocalHop calendar, which took the registration, has the ability to send an email reminder about the event. Given the infrequency of these events, that is helpful for patrons.

Registration is required for one of two reasons: events which involve more preparation than most or are expected to be popular and have limited space. In January when we ran Sourdough Made Simple the first time, registration meant we had enough starters and instruction pamphlets for everyone. In the end when registration reached 80 people for the two time slots, it let us known when the space would be full.

Miss Maria has a one-day teen program requiring registration in order to give her time to prepare. On July 31^st, she is planning to host a Teen Murder Mystery. This will be a role-playing adventure for which participants will be given parts to play as they solve the case. The choice of mysteries will be determined by the number of participants who register by closing on July 26^th.

This is also the final due date for summer reading grids. When we close that day Miss Maria will start preparing materials for the teens and I will draw names for the summer reading prizes. Last week Monday was the due date for the June grid as well as the Children’s Parade and FFA Petting Zoo. We had 333 in the library that day. Without the two programs I expect there to be a few less on July 26^th, but I’ll wear my running shoes just in case.

Reading Now: Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Book 1 of the Dresden Files)

Listening to Now: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Art Attack and Registrations

 

7-4-2025

This year’s Children’s Parade was a glorious way to kick off 4^th of July celebrations. We had eighty-one children and parents participate. Many of the children will, however, need a stern talking to before they get their temps as they broke a cardinal rule. Never pass the police officer. While Chief Swendrowski led the start of the parade, using the high school’s bus lane provided many of the bicyclists the opportunity to lead the finish. Perhaps we should add bike races to the final celebration on July 28^th.

This week is a short one for the library as we will be closed for the holiday and the carnival. Miss Maria will appreciate the breather as Friday’s Art Attack has been quite popular. The first week was a bit slow with eight participants, but now that summer is in full swing last week’s craft had twenty-nine participants plus their parents. This will definitely be a program we run again next summer. Miss Maria has also brought up the possibility of offering it one Saturday a month during the school year as well.

Moving forward with a program like Art Attack will be made easier with the new website we are soon to reveal. Our current website is only sixteen months old; however, six months after it went live, our provider announced his retirement. Prairie Lakes Library System stepped in and provided funding for a web designer and will host the new site. One of the changes we’ll make is in converting our calendar feature to the event management service LocalHop, also provided by PLLS. That’s a fancy way of saying our new calendar will allow us to add events with built in registration. This will be used for future Art Attacks and events such as the returning Sourdough Made Simple.

The final service PLLS provides its libraries that we are beginning to implement is Patron Point. That service allows us to send a variety of emails to patrons. The first of which went out this week. It provided information on adult programming for July and August. The two August events, Sourdough Made Simple and Sourdough Bake Off, include links to LocalHops registration page. The new website isn’t live yet, but the registration process is ready. For patrons without email, a call or visit to the library will allow for easy sign up. Benefits of using LocalHop include setting limits to the number of participants, but allowing for waitlist as well in case someone cancels and email reminders before the event so fewer people forget they signed up.

More next week on other features of the new website and upcoming programming.

Reading Now: Moira's Pen by Megan Whalen Turner (Short Story collection from the Queen's Thief series)

Listening to Now: Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

 

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.

East Troy Electric Railroad Museum

 

5-2-2025

This weekend the East Troy Electric Railroad Museum opens for the 2025 regular season. They will run the trolley on Saturdays for the first month and expand that to Friday through Sunday in the summer. This is relevant because the newest experience pass available at the library is a family pass for the Railroad.

Our pass is a Family +2 pass, meaning it allows six people entry and rides on the trolley on regular operation days. That means it excludes their special events such as the Santa train and the dinner trains. The 2025 schedule is posted in the library, although mainly for the staff’s convenience so you’ll need to ask for its location. Like the other experience passes, the checkout period is three days with no holds.

Given the limited days they are open, it should never be checked out on a Sunday when we are closed or a Monday when it would be due before the museum is open again. That means Tuesday checkouts for the Friday train and Wednesday or later for the Saturday or Sunday trains. All experience passes may be returned using the outside book drop when the library is closed in order to avoid late fines.

Here’s an open secret. Any materials found in the book drop when we open the library at 10:00 am are checked in as though they were returned the last day we were open. Hence a pass (or book or movie) due on Saturday may actually be returned on Sunday without the hefty $50 late fine. Of course, that doesn’t work for the fishing poles or telescope as they can’t be returned via the book drop.

This pass, like the one for the Mitchell Park Domes and the destination I cannot name in an article or social media post but can post a sign for on the library windows, are all courtesy of the Friends of the East Troy Lions Public Library and anyone who successfully bid on a live auction basket at the fall play. Those bidders enjoyed the wine, cheese or cheesecake while the rest of us enjoy the passes literally at their expense. So thank you to all of them as well.

Speaking of the Domes, the trains have left the Show Dome. Last weekend the spring exhibit began which I have it on good authority features every color hydrangea imaginable. Miss Maria tells us it smells divine.

 Reading Now: Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whelan Turner

Listening to Now: Sold a Story Podcast

Friends of ETLPL Annual Meeting

 

4-25-2025

Next Friday, May 2^nd, the Friends of the ETLPL will hold their Annual Meeting at 1:30. This is a great time to join the Friends for the following reasons.

Dues Collection – Best Bang for Your $10: Annual membership is $10 with all renewals due at the Annual Meeting. That means Friends who join in June donate $10 for eleven months of membership rather than twelve and the relative cost only increases as the year goes on. The best bargain is to become a lifetime member for $100 at the Annual Meeting.

Officer Voting: Members who are current in paying their dues will elect the next set of officers and directors. Since the slate of officers is established at least two weeks in advance, anyone not wishing to be on the ballot is relatively safe that first year. Even if they have persistent friends on the Friends.

Volunteer Opportunities: The Friends hold several fundraisers throughout the year of varying degrees of complexity. The two largest are the play and the book sales. Books and Bites is the only time each year all of the donated books are available for browsing and purchase. Held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, this is the fundraiser currently with the most pressing need for volunteers. The sale is traditionally held on the side lawn under pop-up canopies. Volunteers (often husbands who are voluntold) set up the canopies and tables and carry the books outside. Other volunteers man the sale or bake before the event. Our Yarn & Stitch group has made several items from hat and scarves to stuffed animals and donated them to the sale. It’s usually a beautiful day and with $.50-1 prices on most books, the take down is much quicker.

Social Time: Although this year revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws are up for a vote, very little official business is conducted at the meeting. Members have time to socialize among themselves as well as hold more informal conversations about the group’s activities.

Food: Socializing is always more pleasant with a little something upon which to nibble. As a thank you for all that the Friends support and make possible, the library provides snacks. I just made out a list which will have me baking a fair amount this coming week finding inspiration in the food related programs we hosted this past year.

Support: The Friends have been open to supporting any need the library identifies thereby relieving stress on our tax supported budget and providing more opportunities for their community. They fund our Summer & Winter Reading Programs, Experience Passes which now number three, updated program space, and community outreach programs. The more Friends there are, the lighter the load and the bigger the difference they make.

 Reading Now: Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (Book 4 of the Queen's Thief series)

Listening to Now: Little Women by Louise May Alcott

Executive Order Regarding IMLS

 

4-11-2025

It’s a little late to mention, but this is National Library Week. That always catches me by surprise. First because I want it to be later in the month and second because libraries organizing their NLW celebrations seem a bit like throwing your own birthday party, which I would never do.

This year is full of changes that make this a good time to bring them up. On March 14^th, President Trump signed an Executive Order that effects the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The IMLS is a government agency that flies under most people’s radar, including mine, even when they reap the benefits. Their purpose is to support learning through access to museums and libraries which provide “trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage.” They do that primarily by providing grant money to libraries and museums. In 2024 Wisconsin received $3.2 million of those grant monies in addition to any grants awarded to individual libraries.

The ETLPL is primarily funded by the Village of East Troy. Our next largest funding source is Walworth County. Next is state funding passed on from DPI to the library systems such as Prairie Lakes. Those sources appear as budget items seen locally. The IMLS funds trickle down to us indirectly in the form of services that are simply there, which is why it is easy to overlook. Those funds support BadgerLink, interlibrary loans, technology upgrades, and staff training.

BadgerLink is Wisconsin’s online library. The databases it provides are available to every Wisconsin resident. It is very helpful for student research in public schools from elementary onwards. Public library patrons may use it for research as well; however, the convenience of pulling up ChiltonLibrary at home mid-repair or looking up an item in Consumer Reports before making a major purchase can’t be beat.

Interlibrary loan allows libraries across the state to share resources and offer patrons more for a lower cost. While the materials are paid for, the computer program that facilitates the loans and the delivery system that moves them around the state are not.

As of March 31, 2025, the entire staff of the IMLS, around 70 people, was placed on administrative leave and their email accounts were disabled. Ironically, the institute also funds workforce development programs.

On a happier note, you can tell the age of a whale by its circles of ear wax. They are lighter in summer and darker in winter. Now you know thanks to Lynn Brunelle’s Life After Whale.

Reading Now: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Listening to Now: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Mini Gold and Many Thanks

 

4-4-2025

This week will continue the focus on our children’s programming. Our January through May programming needs to largely be determined by November 1^st in order to make the Park & Rec Guide’s printing date. Those due dates may be the best incentive we have for thinking through possibilities, reaching out to presenters, and setting schedules early. They don’t all end up making it into the Guide, but that’s mainly because Miss Maria’s favorite phrase is, “Would it be possible . . .” and I’m not going to tell her no.

One upcoming program that didn’t make it into the guide is the bonus storytimes with Mr. Nibbles. This local bunny usually makes an appearance once a month based on his owner’s schedule. This month’s appearance will honor the Easter Bunny on Thursday, April 10^th at 2:00. I hear he’s shopping for a new outfit for the occasion.

A program that did make the guide happens the following Thursday, April 11^th at 11:30-1:00. The library’s lower level will be set up for mini golf. I don’t really know what that will look like; it isn’t my vision. However, having seen the miracle Miss Maria performed for Life-Size CandyLand this winter gives me confidence that it will be fabulous. It is for all ages. East Troy Community School District is on spring break that week, so if you’re self-conscious about coming as an adult bring a child who’s off of school. We’d like to thank Delbrook Golf Course for their help in supplying putters for the event.

Miss Maria’s extra programs were limited this winter due to her medical leave. Even before her leave was confirmed, she was making arrangements to cover her programs. Miss Anna deserves a heartfelt thanks for again stepping in to cover Storytime and Teens & Tweens. This time around we added Pokemon and Series Sampler to the workload bringing her in an additional extra day.

The community guest story readers lightened Miss Anna’s role. We thank them all. From the local school’s we had retired teacher Claudia Felske, bus driver Dave Bretz, and FFA beekeepers Aubrey Benz and Alyssa Henningfeld. Police Chief Jeremy Swendrowski volunteered his time and police car. Not that it’s a competition, but half the fire department led by Chief Joe DeGaro come the following week with a fire engine AND a rescue vehicle. Citizens Bank lent us Jennifer Christensen. Patrons Jennah Strand from Heartbeat Yogo with her friend Danielle Alger and Brandon LeGreca from East Troy Acupuncture each took a week as well. As a special thank you I will shamelessly plug Brandon’s new book Cancer, Trauma & Emotions which is available at the library.

They say it takes a Village, and we are thankful for ours.

Listening to Now: Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

Miss Maria Returns

 

3-28-2025

It’s spring at the library, which translates into cleaning in my native tongue. This year it was courtesy of the best Department of Public Works a library could ask for. A few weeks ago, Jason Equitz and I toured the building in anticipation of creating the 2026 Capital Budget. The library board followed up with approval to replace the two sections of concrete in front of the library with cracks running across them.

Jason followed up by sending Anthony, aka the library’s DPW guy, over for the day to clear out some of the clutter in the mechanical rooms, make a plan to install a dehumidifier (I just realized my $2,900 cut to heat and electric will take a hit), measure for a shelf to organize cleaning supplies, and hang our ladder. Anthony was still wiping off phantom cobwebs at the end of his day. 

Additional cleaning will require assistance from the East Troy Lions Club. One of our mechanical rooms has a fair amount of storage space available. It houses several items the Lions left in storage when the library took over the building. The space is too remote and damp to be terribly useful, but anyone who has seen the library’s evolution over the past three years knows I’m not a fan of clutter. Given how many years the items have been in that room, it isn’t likely the Lions even know what is there. I also have to fess up to storing a few items there for later consideration that need a second look.

The above makes me happy, but for all of us I followed the Save the Best News for Last adage. Miss Maria’s doctor signed off on her return to work!

April 3^rd will see Miss Maria back in the library on a limited basis. She will be here for Monday afternoon programming, her regular Thursday shift, and Friday children’s programming. I will continue to cover her Saturday shifts for at least another month but up to another four.

She’s been planning for April for months with Easter and spring focused storytimes. This includes a visit from Mr. Nibbles on Thursday, April 10^th at 2:00 for a bonus Easter bunny storytime. In the past Miss Nancy wore a bunny costume. Miss Maria arranged for a bunny instead. She will continue the Easter Egg hunt tradition the following day during the regular Friday morning storytime.

Miss Maria’s most ambitious program upon her return is Mini Golf in the Library on Thursday, April 17^th at 11:30. This is during East Troy Community School District’s Spring Break. It is open for all ages.

 Listening to Now: Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

Technology Got the Best of Me

 

3-21-2025

I consider myself at least technologically literate. Like many Americans, I spend much more time on my computer, phone, and tablet than is really good for me. I answer questions about patron devices on a regular basis and can troubleshoot just fine. True there are devices I choose not to learn such as our video game system and the most recent update to the smart tv, but that’s because I have staff and can delegate. If I really need to use it, I learn how.

Then Friday happened.

One of the services a library system provides the libraries in its service area is negotiating collective purchasing and subscription agreements. Deciding what subscriptions will be included is a focus for several months. The directors of Prairie Lakes libraries began discussions on the 2026 services and budget in February. This is the budget that funds Ancestry.com, our Libby/OverDrive contribution, and computer programs for staff use among other services.

One of this year’s computer programs is a marketing tool for sending out emails – newsletters, announcements, even personalized messages. We haven’t used any email newsletter services, so this was supposed to be exciting and tailored to fit the strategic goal regarding expanding communication.

The marketing director for PLLS arranged a workshop for libraries wishing to receive hands on instruction and work time with peers available to ask questions and bounce ideas. As a bonus, a rep from the company was available to lead the training portion. So, I sallied forth to Milton Public Library to get creative.

Let’s just say after waiting an hour for the rep to log into the webinar, my sallying time was dwindling quickly. Staff from the larger libraries, ones with dedicated marketing time, had newsletters ready to go and were there to brainstorm and fine tune. I learned how to make it past the log in screen. An hour later I had a rough idea about the purpose of various tabs without any real comfort in using them. That was partially due to every libraries’ documents being saved together and no clear understanding about the various boxes I was supposed to be filling in with titles and descriptions and commands.

An hour after the rep began answering questions, I was able to log into their help site, yes it’s a different website and covers all the companies products making it ever so fun finding the answer to that one, beginner level question. I’ll take it as a win.

If you find me huddled in the lower level with my laptop, I’m probably searching their help site for training materials or throwing my hands up and using YouTube videos to figure it out and wishing Apple made the product. (Yes, I’m iPhone, not Android.) The frustration will be good for me. I’ll be ever so much more empathetic in the future.

Newsletters to follow.

Listening to Now: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What to do with the white chairs?

 

3/14/2025

If the library staff didn’t already know the weather is lovely, the sounds of children playing at Playmore Park would clue us in. There is so much joy being experienced this week, I have to remind myself the school district isn’t on Spring Break. Knowing they aren’t, I’m sending my thoughts to the teachers who have to keep students engaged for the next four weeks.

Here at the library we can dust off our outdoor Library of Things items instead and offer them up. It’s a great time to checkout the telescope. The weather is lovely, the stars are relatively close, it still gets dark fairly early, and there are no mosquitoes to battle. Of course, last week before the whole-time change would have been better, but then the weather was less cooperative. That’s Wisconsin for you and proof we can’t have both.

Looking for excuses to be outside, I brought a stack of the white chairs from our lower level out to be disassembled and recycled. The seat and back are plastic, but the frames are some form of metal. Looking a them in the sun, it seemed a shame to do so. They are less sturdy than I would like and fewer than we need, but tightening the screws on the frame and replacing missing screws on the back made them serviceable for someone.

Therefore, I held off. The stack is still just outside the library for all to see. I’m wondering if there is any organization who could find a use for some or all of them. We have about 35 left. They do have all their parts and are tightened. The distinction among them now is regarding the whiteness of the plastic seats. Some are more so than others which are showing their wear more.

They do stack for storage. We kept the stacking down to 4-5 as unlike heavy restaurant chairs, the stacks tend to lean. Plus, I was always worried a little one would try to climb on top of one of the stacks. A few years ago, we could line the stacks up against the wall. Now we have bookshelves where they used to go. Our new chairs are a navy blue that matches the couches and chairs in that space. They also fold and fit somewhat on a cart in the side storage room making them much easier to store and free up floor space.

I’ll give word of mouth a few weeks to work its way through the community and find a group/groups interested in a few or all of them before finding a means of disposing of them. Anyone interested should call or stop by and take a look at the stack outside available for trying out.

Reading Now: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Book Club already met, but it's worth finishing.)

Listening to Now: Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

Senior Outreach

 3/7/2025

I know it seems as though sourdough is all I am interested in. That’s not true even though I stayed up late baking sourdough, chocolate chip cookies for my daughter’s March 7^th birthday. (She’s 19 and away at college, so I had to ship them.) I have not forgotten about other aspects of my job. One of those is implementing the Strategic Plan.

Goal 3 calls for the creating solutions to minimize facility shortcomings. Translation, how do we make our programs and materials available for people who can’t make it down stairs or to the library at all.

With the second scenario in mind, we reached out to the management of The Heritage, East Troy Manor, and Brolen Park about beginning at out reach program. This is modeled after the Dane County Library services provided to my mother’s senior housing facility in Stoughton. The library drops off a crate of books each month for the residents. We have offered to do the same for East Troy’s senior living facilities. Thanks to a donation by our Friends group, we will also lend them a portable CD player and headphones and include audiobooks in the delivery.

The items will be checked out to a corporate library card in order to track where they are and update their availability status in the library’s catalog. A clipboard with a title list will be provided for residents use in signing out material to aid management’s ability to track in house. So far, two of the facilities have agreed to participate. The third hasn’t had time to respond. Deliveries will begin in early April.

The long-term goal is to offer delivery to individual patrons. It would not be difficult from our end to have residents with their own library cards, place holds and include their books in the delivery.

We actually have tested this with a resident at one of the facilities. Each week his daughter, who lives on the west coast, logs into his library account to place holds on movies he’d like to watch. On Thursday we get take out. I deliver this week’s checkouts and pick up his returns as part of the lunch pick up. It’s gone very well. With the help of a volunteer, I anticipate opening up this outreach service to patrons who live in private homes as well. The key to success has been having the patron or a family member make the selection and having a consistent day for delivery.

If this sounds like an appealing service, reach out to us in May, after we get into the swing of things and before summer kicks in.

 Reading Now: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Listening to Now: Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup

 

Brainstorming with Yarn & Stitch

 

2-28-2025

This Monday was a Yarn & Stitch day. It’s a wonderful group of ladies that does nearly as much socializing as crafting. I like to sit it at least part of each session whenever possible to both get to know them and to gather ideas.

This week they brought in sample items created for our Friends of the Library’s Books and Bites book sale over Memorial Day weekend. Included were a variety of book marks and small animals. I think my favorite was the owl, but the snail was darn cute too. Then there was the frog.

We also shared stories of, yes I’m bringing it up again, sourdough baking. While bread and crackers were common recipes, there were several more creative bakers among the mix: cookies, muffins, pancakes, pizza crust, etc. I made an apple pie last week and kick myself for using the old standby pie crust rather than finding a sourdough recipe. I also learned that a starter from our program has made its way to a former student of mine who lives in California. Another one is soon to travel to Georgia. 

Out of that discussion came the idea of holding our own blue ribbon style event. I’d like to bring Margaret back for another demonstration, especially if she would include a Q&A for those of us who attended the first. Part of that could involve bringing in our favorites, taste testing, swapping recipes, and tips. Those who felt confident in their baking skills could enter their creations in a taste testing competition.

I’m looking for feedback on who would be interested as well as ideas for other one-off classes we can offer. Obviously, I’ve made my dreams come true already.

Last Sunday I took advantage of the Mitchell Park Domes experience pass. I took Max, the six-year-old grandson made famous when his picture at our Life Size Candy Land game appeared in the newspaper. The last time I was there my eighteen-year-old was younger than Max and the show dome was closed. The parking lot was full when we arrived. I hadn’t thought about the fact that it was a weekend and they had a special Bonsai Tree exhibit, but people were constantly coming and going so it didn’t take long to find a spot. We had a great time. He’s already asked to go back while the trains are still there.

I would highly recommend it.

Reading Now: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (March Adult Book Club selection)

Listening to Now: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert (Book 2 in Dune series)

 

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