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Try an eReader at Tech Petting Zoo

Are you flabbergasted by eReaders? Are you one of the many people who received a Nook or Kindle for Christmas and aren’t sure how to use it? Are you thinking about buying an eReader but aren’t sure which one to get? Come to the Technology Petting Zoo on February 16th to learn about eReaders, eBooks, and using your library card to access a world of digital content.

Devices to be featured are the Kindle Touch, the Nook Color, and the iPad 2. It’s a great opportunity to meet these new “critters.” Ask questions, try out the “feel” of the devices, learn what it takes to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks, and try reading a bit from the screen.

Participants are welcome to bring their own eReaders, though for liability reasons, library staff will not handle patrons’ devices. You could ask about using your particular device to borrow books, or perhaps you’ll want to demonstrate your favorite features and tell others why you’ve become a fan of eBooks.

Stop by anytime February 16, from 5-7pm. . Audience: all ages

Thanks, WalMart!

The Jay County Public Library has received a $1,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to promote digital literacy in Jay County. The funds purchased a Kindle Touch, a Nook Color, and an iPad 2 at the local Wal-Mart store.

Library staff will be trained to use these devices so that they may better assist patrons with questions about eReaders. The Library will also offer periodic “Technology Petting Zoo” programs like the one described above that will educate patrons about eReaders and eBooks.

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Heard at the Library

“There’s a community calendar?”

Yes! JayCountyEvents.org is an online community calendar featuring info about events and activities.

“Connecting Jay County's Neighbors Through Events and Activities” the site that aims to build awareness of events, promote tourism, and encourage cooperation and collaboration amongst event planners.

Look for the link to the community calendar on the library’s homepage.

 

Support for Connecting Our Neighbors is provided by The Portland Foundation, Jay County 20/20 Vision,
Jay County Chamber of Commerce, and Arts Place, Inc.
Activities of Arts Place, Inc. are provided, in part, with support from the Indiana Arts Commission,
and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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Gifts to the Library

You can make a gift to the library in honor or in memory of someone, or perhaps just in order to share your gift with the community. Cash gifts can help support library services valuable to so many.

Donors may designate in general terms the use of the funds.  For example, materials, programming, equipment, etc.  If for materials, they may make further suggestions, such as children's materials, large print books, recorded books, relevant non-fiction topics, or favorite types of reading material of the honoree or decedent. With 'in memory' or 'in honor' materials, an acknowledgement will be sent to the honoree or family, if appropriate.

A bookplate acknowledging the gift is added to items where appropriate.

Gifts may also be made to the Jay County Public Library Endowment in The Portland Foundation. 

You can ask for a gift form at the circulation desk or print one at home.

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Bring a Dish You Love to the Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club meets Monday, February 13 at 6:15 p.m.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, adults and teens are asked to bring a food that is red. (And maybe you could bring a cookbook that is “read?”)

The club meets the second Monday each month except July and August. No dues, no business meetings! Just share dishes and recipes with each other. It’s a sweetheart deal.

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Intern to Learn Library, Help with Youth Programs

Abby Tipton will spend 8 to 12 hours at the library each week to learn about public libraries from the staff side. While here, she’ll help with programs for youth and families. Watch for an upcoming program based on Dr. Seuss and more from Abby.

Abby is School librarian/Media Specialist at East Jay Middle School while also pursuing a Master’s of Library Science degree from Indiana University. The internship is part of the degree program requirements.

A Portland native, Abby has been a Jay County Public Library user since early childhood, participating in reading programs and after school activities and reading, reading, reading.

She’ll be working with Youth Services Librarian Linda Shreve and Adult Services Librarian Molly Jones, and with library director Barbara Bonney to learn more about day-to-day operations. Abby will also put in time at the circulation desk, where she’ll learn a lot while working with other staff and meeting our terrific patrons.

Welcome, Abby!

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"The best of my education has come from the public library …
You don’t need to know very much to start with, if you know the way to the public library.”
            —Lesley Conger

Did you know …?

At the eIndiana Digital Consortium powered by OverDrive, many ebooks titles are in high demand and even have waiting lists! But by following the link marked “Additional eBooks Always Available” you’ll always find something free to read, and it won’t count against the maximum 3 titles you can have on your consortium account.

Look for this box at the bottom left on the homepage of eIndiana Digital Consortium powered by OverDrive.

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Winter Reading Program for Adults

Would you like to have a chance to win gift cards to stores and restaurants in Jay County? If you are 18 or over, all you have to do is register for the Adult Winter Reading Program! Read books, eBooks, graphic novels, magazines, and more during the month of February.

Fill out a Prize Entry form for each item you read to be eligible for weekly Wednesday noon prize drawings for gift cards and the grand prize drawing February 29. Grand prize: a book of your choice (value to $20).

The Adult Winter Reading Program runs February 1 - February 29. Registration is required. Registration is open from January 20 – February 6. Ask staff for more details.

Need reading ideas? Here are some places to look:

Check the display just opposite the circulation desk and take your pick. Topics change frequently.

Pick up a copy of BookPage at the desk for reviews of new books, author interviews and more.

Get sample readings by email at “Online Book Clubs” from DearReader on the library’s homepage.

Use the “What’s Next?” link on the homepage or on the catalog computers at the library to find titles in popular series by author, character or genre.

Scan the new materials shelf for recent fiction and non-fiction in print and on CD.

For ereaders: check “Award Winners” or “Recently Returned” in the “Browse Collections” box in OverDrive.

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Book Reading Group

On February 20th 16th the book reading group will talk about Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

From the back cover:

Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born of a secret union between a beautiful Indian nun and a brash British surgeon. Orphaned by their mother’s death and their father’s disappearance, bound together by a preternatural connection and a shared fascination with medicine, the twins come of age as Ethiopia hovers on the brink of revolution.  

Moving from Addis Ababa to New York City and back again, Cutting for Stone is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miracles--and two brothers whose fates are forever intertwined.

The Book Reading Group welcomes new members.

The group meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Need more information?  Call (260) 726-7890.

What kinds of books do they discuss in this group? See the group’s list for 2012 below. See past titles here.

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15 years ago - A $20,000 grant awarded by the Indiana State Library from federal Library Service & Technology Act funds was to be used to help with the cost of adding public Internet access at the library.

10 years ago - The “Hot Spots on the Internet” column featured the official site for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games at Salt Lake City, Utah. [In 2014 Sochi will be the first Russian city to host the Winter Olympics.]

5 years ago - Terry & Gisela Lemaster donated a copy of the DVD The 40th Class Reunion Class of 1966: Portland Senior High School.

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Friends, Locals, borrowers!
Lend us your brains.

We’re seeking people willing to share what they know.

ebook lovers:
We have a few questions for you. Do you look to your Nook for books, keep your Kindle close, or is an iPad it for you? Do you love toting tons of reading materials on your electronic reading device? Are you willing to share your experience and enthusiasm with others?

Potential Local Experts:
We need you. Do you know a subject well or have a skill you can teach? Share your expertise and enthusiasm with the community.

Either group: Contact Molly at the library to volunteer your brain!

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Friends of the Library

Next regular Friends of the Library meeting is Tuesday, March 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Come spend time with Friends!

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One-on-one beginning Internet instruction is FREE @ your library.

Call 260-726-7890 to set up a time.

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