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