Early Spring On The Way?

This is today's news from groundhog.org

"Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way."

Annual Association Meeting

The Sodus Free Library's annual meeting and election of Trustees will be held this Thursday, February 1st, at 7 p.m. in the Library's meeting room. All meetings of the Board of Trustees are open to the public. Anyone 18 years or older, living within the boundaries of the Sodus Central School District, and having an OWWL card, may vote in the annual election. Absentee ballots are available at the check-out desk.

Pre-K Visit

That same icy weather kept some of Debbie Neal's Pre-K families from their field trip to the Library, but the children who came had a good time playing with the puzzles, reading the books, and listening to stories while their Moms had a tour of our "home." If you belong to a group who would like a tour, call or stop by the Library; we'd love to show you around.

Library Blooms

It might be icy outside, but inside the library we're quite tropical. The Snowcap poinsettia's white bracts appeared with no special care, and the hibiscus seems to be very happy in its new home at the Library.

New Book Club Choice for Oprah

Oprah Winfrey has chosen a new book to share with her audience: Sidney Poitier's The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography. Click here to access the Book Club home page, where you can read or listen to an excerpt, take a trivia quiz, and even print out a bookmark. And stop by the Library soon to borrow our copy of the book so that you can be part of "the biggest book club in the world."

Chocolate Sale

Yes! It's almost time for our Fourth Annual Valentine Chocolate Sale. The Friends of the Sodus Free Library are busily signing people up, both for making goodies and to work at the sale. If you'd like to do either, please call or stop by the Library and add your name to the list. The sale will be held on Thursday, February 8th, from noon to 8 p.m., and on Friday, February 9th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our Koffee Korner will also be open for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, along with a single-serving Valentine treat. Mark your calendars now!

Rock Painting Class

While they all look very serious in this picture, there was plenty of laughter and fun at Shirley's first rock painting class on Monday. There's room for more at the table, so call or stop by the Library if you'd like to join the group.

Printz Award

Another big announcement: This year's winner of the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature goes to Gene Luen Yang for American Born Chinese. Click here for more information and for the list of the 2007 Printz Honor Books.

Award-Winning Children's Books

The Newbery and Caldecott Medals were announced today, with The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, winning the Newbery, and David Wiesner's Flotsam winning the Caldecott. We have the Patron title on order, and Wiesner's book is here on display. For the complete listing of award winners, click here. Call or stop by the Library to put any of these books on Hold.

Opposing Viewpoints

"Those who do not know their opponent's arguments do not completely understand their own." ~Motto of Opposing Viewpoints series

To gain more understanding on several current topics, stop by the Library and check out the new additions to our Opposing Viewpoints and Current Controversies collection. New titles include: Animal Experimentation, Mental Illness, Energy Alternatives, Hate Crimes, Child Abuse, Iran, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Teen Pregnancy and Parenting, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Problems With Death, and Police Brutality. These not only provide great research for school projects, etc., but are interesting reading for those wishing to understand diverse opinions.

January Friends Meeting

The Friends of the Sodus Free Library will meet at 4 p.m. this Thursday, January 18th, in the Library's meeting room for the purpose of planning the February Chocolate Sale. Come join us!

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

This is part of a mural in Kansas City credited to Alexander Austin.

Knitting Fun

It's obvious that these ladies are having a great time at their first knitting class with Sarah Harper. They will be meeting for the next three Fridays at 10 a.m. Stop by and find out how you can join in the fun.

Seminars on Government Branches

"Every officeholder, including every federal judge, takes an oath of office when we assume the role of judge. And we swear to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States, so help me God. And it doesn't matter what I personally think or would do at all. It matters what the Constitution provides." ~Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

To help us all understand what the Constitution does provide in relation to the Judicial and Executive branches of our government, the Annenberg Foundation Trust has donated DVDs of four Sunnylands seminars. Titles are:

Our Constitution: A Conversation
A Conversation of the Constitution: Judicial Independence
Key Constitutional Concepts
Mandate: The President and the People

Stop by the Library soon to pick up one of these informative DVDs.

Library Closing

The Library will be closed Monday, January 15th, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. At the age of 35, Dr. King was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. Click here for a biography by Nobelprize.org.

Monthly Board of Trustees Meeting

This month's Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 4 p.m. this Thursday, January 11th, in the Library's meeting room. All Trustee meetings are open to the public.

Best of the Year

Looking for a great book to share with a favorite young child or teen? Check out the list at the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books for the titles earning their 2006 Blue Ribbons. There are some terrific books on the list, including picture books, fiction, and nonfiction. Let us know which titles you'd like to read, and we'll help you place an OWWL Hold on them.

Rock Painting Classes

Shirley's very popular house painting classes will be starting again soon. House as in "rock," that is. You can create your dream house, or store, (or library!), or whatever you'd like. Only a couple of spots remain available, so call or stop by the Library soon if you want to be included. Classes will be held on Monday mornings from 10 to noon (or so), starting January 22nd. We guarantee you'll have a rockin' good time!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

New Books

New books added to our adult fiction shelves this week include: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Barbara Taylor Bradford; One Good Turn, Kate Atkinson; Beasts of No Nation, Uzodinma Iweala; Bleeding Hearts, Ian Rankin; The Book of Samson, David Maine; The Deception of the Emerald Ring, Lauren Willig; Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris; Heart of Winter, Diana Palmer; Measuring the World, Daniel Kehlmann; Odyssey, Jack McDevitt; Ride a Painted Pony, Kathleen Eagle; and The Threat, David Poyer.

New adult nonfiction titles include: The Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs by the Consumer Union of the United States, Inc. editors; Crashproof Your Kids: Make Your Teen a Safer, Smarter Driver, Timothy C. Smith; Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement: A Step-By-Step Guide, Julian Cassell; Dragon Rising: An Inside Look at China Today, Jasper Becker; The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic and How it Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World, Steven Johnson; How To Speak Your Spouse's Language: Ten Easy Steps to Great Communication, H. Norman Wright; The Joy of Cooking (75th Anniversary edition); and Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System, Stephen P. Kiernan.

Stop by the Library Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to pick up any of these new titles or to place Holds on those already checked out. Keep in mind that although we'll be closed Sunday and Monday for the New Year's holiday, our OWWL catalog is available 24/7 for placing Holds, renewing materials, and checking due dates. If you need help accessing your account, stop by and we'll walk you through the process.

New Magazines

Thanks to a generous patron, we have added Essence and People en Espanol to our magazine shelves. New issues of our magazines are always available for browsing, and all older issues may be checked out for three weeks. Take time to stop by and see the great variety of topics which our periodicals cover.

Holiday Closing

The Library will be closed December 31st and January 1st for the New Year's holiday, and will reopen at noon on Tuesday, January 2nd. Be sure to stock up so you're not caught without a good book and a movie or two.

Knitting Class Offered

Sarah Harper, an accomplished knitter, will be offering a beginner's class from 10 a.m.-noon, starting on Friday, January 12th (note change of day and time). There will be a small fee to help cover the cost of supplies. Call 483-9292 or stop by the Library to sign up or for more information.

New Movies at the Library

DVDs recently put on our shelf include Ice Age 2: The Meltdown; How To Eat Fried Worms; Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest; Lassie; Barnyard; The Ant Bully; Air Buddies; Talladega Nights; World Trade Center; Superman Returns; The Fox and the Hound 2; Seinfeld, Season 7. With our new one-week loan period, there will be plenty of time to watch these new titles. You may put any of them on hold, or just stop by the Library, pick up one of our "Circle the Video" forms, and we'll do it for you.

Memorial Sign Installed

Our new sign, crafted by Michael Boone, has been installed, and announces our presence and our hours to passersby. It has been donated in memory of Ruth Richards, a unique and special woman, who worked as a teacher and made a positive impact on many lives. Thanks to the Joe Coons family for making this memorial possible.

Christmas Closing

The Library will be closed December 24, 25, and 26 for the Christmas holiday, and will reopen for regular hours at noon on Wednesday, December 27th.

Preschool Storyhour

"The Mommies on the bus go 'Shh, shh, shh,' all around the town!" Four singers have fun with "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" while our new "Storyhour Lady," Jan Koch (pronounced "Cook") accompanies them on her guitar. There's room for more, so bring your preschoolers to the Library at 10:30 a.m. every Monday.

December Board of Trustees Meeting

The monthly Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 14th. Because the Friends' Holiday Bake Sale will be underway in our meeting room, the Trustees will be meeting upstairs in the Ruth Mills Room. All Board meetings are open to the public.

Friends' Annual Christmas Bake Sale

Stop by the Library to pick up some delicious homemade breads, cookies, muffins, and more, all wrapped and ready to give as gifts, or just as a treat for your own family. Sale hours are from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 14th, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, December 15th. Plan to come early as these goodies tend to sell out quickly. If all the holiday chaos has left you exhausted, relax for a few minutes in our Koffee Korner; the Friends will be serving individual baked goods along with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Donations of baked goods will be gratefully accepted Wednesday evening before 8 p.m. or Thursday morning between 9 and 10 a.m.

The Flakes Are Flying

Now that the snowflakes are starting to fly, remember that when the Sodus Central School District announces that our schools are closed, we are also closed.

Homework Club

Thanks to these members of Sodus Central's Homework Club, our "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" is up in the children's room, and it looks great!

Get Out The Popcorn!

Starting next Thursday, December 14th, all videos and DVDs will check out for one week, with one renewal allowed. Along with several other OWWL libraries, we are standardizing our loan periods to better serve you. So get out the popcorn and pop down to the Library next Thursday!

Music and More Story Hour

Jan Koch will present a Music and More Preschool Story Hour on Monday, November 27th, at 10:30 a.m. This program was rescheduled because of illness. We hope to see lots of children enjoying themselves Monday morning.

Thanksgiving Closing

The Library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22nd, and will remain closed for Thanksgiving and the day after, November 23rd and 24th. We will reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 25th.

Want to try a new recipe for your feast? Stop by early in the week to check out a couple of books from our cookbook collection. While here, you might also want to pick up a movie or two; DVDs taken out Tuesday or Wednesday won't be due until Saturday.

High Demand Fiction

Place OWWL Holds now on these in-demand new titles: A Spot of Bother, Mark Haddon; The Long Night of Winchell Dear, Robert James Waller; Home to Big Stone Gap, Adriana Trigiani; Born in Death, J. D. Robb; Dear John, Nicholas Sparks; H. R. H., Danielle Steel; Keeper of the Keys, Perri O'Shaughnessy; Lisey's Story, Stephen King; and Echo Park, Michael Connelly.

Nursery School Field Trip

Children from the Sodus Cooperative Nursery School, along with several parents, visited the Library this week. We shared facts about how to use the library, enjoyed two stories, and took a walking tour of the downstairs.

Thanks to all of you for being such good listeners and for behaving so well on your visit; I hope you will plan to visit us again soon!

Today's Books-Sandwiched-In

Jean Seymour's book review was, as always, enthusiastically received by a sold-out crowd. Stop by the Library or call 483-9292 if you would like to place an OWWL Hold on Swanson's Manhunt.

"That's All, Folks!"

Contrast the photo of the children's corner which was posted earlier to what was left after our used book sale. Thanks to our Friends group and their many helping hands, we had a record-breaking sale, taking in $1,542! We are so grateful to all who helped; a complete list of those wonderful people will appear soon.

More Books, Please!, this year's theme for the 87th observance of Children's Book Week, encourages children, and the adults who care for them, to spread the joy of reading by spending some time with a book each day. Celebrate Children's Book Week by stopping by the Library to check out the new books on our children's shelves.

November Board Meeting

The Library's Board of Trustees will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, November 16th, at 4 p.m. All Trustee meetings are open to the public.

November Books-Sandwiched-In

This month's Books-Sandwiched-In will feature Jean Seymour reviewing Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase For Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson. Jean is a retired high school English teacher, and is well-known in the area for her wonderful reviews. The program will be this Wednesday, November 15th, at noon. Reservations are required; a $3 charge covers lunch.

Bag Sale Continues Monday

Because the Library was closed on Saturday in honor of Veterans Day, our Friends group is extending their Bag Day Sale to Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You don't want to miss these bargains!

Book Sale Started Today

Hundreds of children's books (picture at left) and tables groaning with the weight of all genres of fiction and nonfiction books greeted approximately 200 shoppers at the Friends of the Sodus Free Library's Used Book Sale today.
The sale continues tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take time to stop by and pick up some bargains!

Library Closing

The Library will be closed on Saturday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

Quote for the Week

"Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote."
~William E. Simon

So, no matter how sick you are of all those political ads, make your choices and get out to your polling place Tuesday to vote!

Teen Book Club

Our Teen Book Club held its first meeting Friday afternoon, discussing Vivian Vande Velde's book Heir Apparent. All the work of organizing the club has been done by Jesi Jonasse as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award project, and the Friends of the Sodus Free Library donated the books. After a lively discussion of Vande Velde's book, the girls decided that the next book they want to read is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

We Top The List!

Our Library has once again made the list of America's Top 100 Libraries! The 2006 HAPLR (Hennen's American Public Library Ratings) Index is being published in the November 2006 issue of American Libraries, and will list the top 5 libraries in each of 10 population categories based on the size of the communities the libraries are chartered to serve. (We are chartered to serve the Village of Sodus, so our population category is that of 1,000-2,499.) The author of the Index, Thomas J. Hennen, gathers statistics from all U.S. libraries' State reports, including information on circulation, staffing, materials, reference service, funding levels, along with ten other areas, and then computes scores for all the libraries according to their size.

With a score of 934, the Sodus Free Library was named #1 in our category! We're all excited about this honor, and broke out the brownies in celebration this afternoon. For more information on the Index, or just to see your library's name at the top of the National list, click here and start with "What's New."

Annual Used Book Sale

Stop by the Library next week, and we'll help you fill your emergency bookshelf - the one you need to keep stocked for those (hopefully rare) times when you can't visit us. Our Friends group is holding their annual used book sale starting, as always, the Thursday after Election Day. Sale hours are: noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 9th; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 10th; 2 - 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 12th; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, November 13th. The funds raised from this sale will be used to purchase items and sponsor programs not included in our annual budget. There will be literally thousands of bargains, starting at 25 cents. On both Sunday and Monday, the books will be sold for $1/bag. Bargains include books for all ages and reading levels, audiobooks, CDs, and movies on VHS and DVD. Special offerings include our SFL tote bags, purchased full of books for $12, and autographed copies of Bob Pearson's Stinky's Tales for $20. Plan now to shop early and often!