Story time resumes

The new preschool story time session with Miss Mary, Baby Bear and all their story time friends began on Feb. 6. The story times are at the same times as the previous session and are listed below in the on-going monthly programs and meetings.

Ornamental Grasses Program

“Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape” is the name of a program to be held at the library on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10:30 a.m. Local gardener Steve Horan, whose garden has been featured on national, regional and local garden tours, will present this Friends of the Library sponsored program.

Pictures from Horan’s backyard will illustrate how ornamental grasses can be used as individual specimens, in mass plantings, or as border plants. Their texture, color, movement, and easy maintenance provide three seasons of interest, from summer through winter.

This program is free but seating is limited so please call the library or stop at the circulation desk to reserve a seat.

Preschool Puppet program

A special program is planned for preschoolers of all ages on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 a.m. It will be presented at The Phipps Theater for the Performing Arts which is on Vine Street across from the library. Seating is limited, so starting Feb. 16 tickets will be issued at the information desk in the children’s library.

The program, “A Night on Bear Island,” will be presented by Heron Gardner’s Puppet Tellers. It’s billed as original story-telling by means of puppet-theater. The unusual blend of puppetry, bold graphics and dramatic sound effects creates a fast-paced and family-friendly tale of suspense and surprises about friendship and overcoming fears of monsters and the dark. For more information, visit www.thepuppettellers.com.

New preteen book club

If you like fairy tales and you are 10-12 years old we have a new preteen book club just for you. Be prepared to read, write, and have fun! The club meets monthly from 5-6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday. At the Feb.23 session the next book, “Belle: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast,” by Cameron Dokey will be lent to club members.

This book/writing club was created by and is led by teen volunteer Katelyn Asmus. Free refreshments will be served. Interested preteens are requested to sign up at the information desk near the children’s area because space and the number of reading copies are limited. Members of the club need to have a valid library card.

Book club titles on Kindles

The library’s four Kindles for loan now have the library’s book club selections loaded onto them. The Kindles are for local checkout only and may be requested at the circulation desk. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be reserved or put on hold.

Kindles can be borrowed for 14 days with no renewals. The overdue fees are $5 per day. Kindles may be checked out by patrons with a valid library card. They should be returned at the circulation desk, not returned via the book drops.

Patrons have access only to content that is already installed by the library onto the Kindle. Patrons are not allowed to download additional content or delete content. The library reserves the right to charge fees for damage or loss of the Kindle, up to and including the current replacement cost.

2010 Tax Forms

To assist our patrons, Reference Librarian Matthew Winkler has put together a brochure on where to find tax forms. It gives clear instructions on four ways to get the correct forms: from the library, from the Internet, by phone, and in person. The brochures will be available on the tax form display stand in the downstairs lobby and at the circulation desk.

These brochures should be helpful, especially now that the Wisconsin Department of Revenue will no longer proactively mail tax forms and instructions to those who filed on paper from the previous year. The department will continue to send tax forms to people who request them and Homestead credit tax forms will be mailed to individuals age 60 and older who filed on paper last year.

Patrons may file their tax forms electronically at the library but they should be aware that the library staff cannot help with tax information nor can they recommend tax filing software or websites. Also, the library is not responsible for any information that is lost during the process.

Anyone needing extra time to file taxes on the public computer should ask for an extension at least 10 minutes before the computer session is set to expire.

On-going monthly programs and meetings:

--Preschool story Times:

Rhyme Time Baby Story Time is for ages newborn to talking. Babies and their caregivers are invited to join us for 20 minutes of stories, puppets, poems, finger plays and action activities. Programs are held every Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.

Walkey-Talkey Story Time is for children talking to age 3. Children and their caregivers are invited to join us for 25 minutes of stories, songs, poems, puppets, and activities. Programs are held every Monday and Wednesday at 11:15 a.m.

Wiggles and Giggles Story Time is for children ages 3-5. Books, puppets, songs, poems, flannel board stories, crafts, and action activities help to ready your child for a future of reading. Programs are held on Tuesday nights from 7-7:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:15-10:45 a.m. (special 10:30 program on Feb. 23, see above) and 1-1:30 p.m.

--Friends of the Library Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 9, (tonight) 6:30 p.m.

--Library Board Meeting, Monday, Feb.13, 6:30 p.m.

--Bookmarks Book Club, (formerly known as the Library Book Club) Wednesday, Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m., “A Reliable Wife,” by Robert Goolrick.

--Mystery Book Club, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1 & 6:30 p.m., “Deal Breaker,” by Harlan Coben.

--Page Turners Book Club, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” by Ransom Riggs.

--Teen Book Club Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 23, 4-5 p.m. “Double Helix,” by Nancy Werlin.

--Preteen Book Club Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 23, 5-6 p.m. “Before Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella,” by Cameron Dokey.

More detailed information about programs, events and meetings can be found on the library website: http://www.hudsonpubliclibrary.org

Tags: lifestyle, books, hudson