Germantown Public Library

We held our 19th annual coloring contest in honor of National Library Week.  All entries are posted at the library and really brighten up the whole place.  This year’s winners included Brylee Deerhake, Kaelyn Gebke, Garett Gebke, Aidan Diesen, Reese Kalmer, Kyliee Smith and Alaina Kohnen.  Each winner was able to choose a new book as their prize.  Congratulations to them and thanks to all who entered!  Everyone who stops in the library this week may pick up a sweet treat as a reminder to feed your imagination by reading.

If you’ve been in the library lately, you may have noticed that one of our patron computer monitors is broken.  If you have a working monitor just sitting around your house, would you consider donating it to the library?  Any donation to the library is tax deductible and would definitely be appreciated!

The knitting classes being held at the library are now open to adults!  Total cost is $10 and practice yarn will be provided.  You will need to bring your own size 8 metal knitting needle and scissors.  Upcoming classes will be held here at the library on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm on the following dates: March 20, April 3 and April 17.

Next time you’re in the library, pick up a free copy of any of the interesting newsletters we have at the front desk.  Right now, for example, we have the January 2014 Germantown Elementary School-Community Newsletter.  Also available is the February 2014 issue of “BookPage”, with reviews of the newest in fiction and non-fiction for adults, teens and children.  (See page 9 for how to win free books!)

We also have Amtrak train schedules, the St. Joseph’s Hospital Winter/Spring Wellness Program Guide and several brochures from the Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center.

We are sorry to say that we will no longer be able to offer our patrons the magazine, “Creating Keepsakes”.  As of the December 2013 issue, the publisher has stopped issuing this title in a print format.

Instead we are excited to announce that we will be receiving 2 entirely new titles.  “Piecework” is issued bi-monthly and covers a wide range of needlework techniques, including crochet and knitting.

“Paper Creations” is published quarterly.  This magazine offers instructions, patterns and tips on creating cards, stationery, decorations, gift boxes and more.

We hope you’ll enjoy these new titles.  Please let us know what you think!

We have begun receiving tax forms.  Now available are the federal 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ.  We have no instruction booklets for them yet and the IRS says it could be mid-February before those arrive.  Illinois has not sent out the state forms yet either.  Please stop in or call us at 523-4820 to see if we have the form you need.  As always, these forms are free to the public.

The library now has a trial subscription to “BookPage”, a book review guide.  We’ll have issues available for you to pick up at no charge.  This guide evaluates and reviews the best books published each month in a variety of categories for adults, teens and children.  Maybe you’ll find a new author or title that grabs your interest.  You can then borrow the book from the library or if we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you through Interlibrary Loan.  Please let us know if you enjoy “BookPage” and feel it would be a useful addition.

The library will be closed Monday, January 20 for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Normal hours will resume Tuesday, January 21.

Beginning this month, we will be hosting a knitting class sponsored by the 4-H and taught by local 4-H leader Anita Brandmeyer.  Classes begin January 16 and will be held here at the library on the first and third Thursday of each month through April.  Class times are 6:30pm – 7:45pm and the total cost to participate is $10.

DUE TO THE SEVERE WEATHER, THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY JANUARY 6.  STAY HOME IF YOU CAN AND STAY SAFE.