THE BREWER TIMES

The Newsletter of the Brewer Public Library April 2003

Karaoke Night!

The public is cordially invited to welcome our new Library Director, Michele Nolen-Karras, and new Children’s Librarian, Ed Tiegs, at a Karaoke event to be held Saturday, April 12 from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. at the Richland Center Community Center . Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, this evening of entertainment will feature SPOTLIGHT KARAOKE SERVICE of Spring Green, with karaoke jockeys Rose and Gaylan Rabine. The suggested donation for admission is $3.00 each, or $5.00 per family. Snacks and beverages (soft drinks, coffee) will be available for a nominal charge. All donations to the Friends are tax deductible. Proceeds will be added to the Friends Furniture Fund, which will be used to repair, renovate, reupholster, or replace aged library furniture.

Family Night

Juggling Fun

Don't drop the ball this time. Remember to attend the all-ages juggling show at the Brewer Public Library on Thursday, April 10, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Too busy? Juggle your schedule! Best of all, it's free.

You Can Never Have Too Many Friends

The Friends of the Brewer Public Library would like to welcome new members Marilyn Nielsen, Florence Lenhardt, Shirley Steiner, Alice and Kent Frydenlund, Deborah Cureton, and Carole Troxel.

Friends Book and Bake Sale set for May 16, 17

The annual Friends Book Sale will be held Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17 at the Brewer Public Library upper level. Hours will be: Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. We are now accepting your used books, videos, CD’s, and DVD’s, which can be brought to the Brewer Public Library. If you are unable to bring items to the library, please call the library, 647-6444, and someone will collect your donations. The Friends are sponsoring a bake sale in conjunction with the book sale, so we are also soliciting donations of bars and cookies. These can be brought to the library Thursday, May 15, or Friday and Saturday morning, May 16 and 17.

Story Hour

Children approximately 3 to 5 years old are invited to participate in story hour on Friday mornings in the basement of Brewer Public Library, at 9:30 am or 10:30 am. Topics for April include:

April 4 - Dancing with Pam Berg (snacks - Angie Rizner and Madison)

April 11 - Buffaloes and Stuffed Animals with Ed Tiegs (snacks - Pam Berg)

April 18 - No Story Hour

April 25 - Three Billy Goats Gruff with Dianne Hendricks (snacks - Lynette Schwichtenberg)

Kindergarten through 3rd Grade children will have an Easter Egg Hunt and story hour Saturday, April 19 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.

There will be no story hour programs in May to allow staff time to prepare for summer library programs. Sign up for summer library activities starts May 1 .

PROJECT FORWARD FOR TEENS

A teen group called "Project Forward" will be meeting at the library on Tuesday, April 8, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm to decorate cookies, and on Tuesday, April 22, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm to sample world fruits. These free programs are open to high school students and are coordinated by Mary Compton. Call her at 647-5178 for more information.

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

The Friends of the Library would like to thank the Church Women United for their generous donation of $500. The Friends have discussed using the money for adult basic education materials or applying it to the Furniture Fund for renovation and replacement of library chairs and tables.

Ed Tiegs is New Children's Librarian

Brewer Public Library is happy to announce the selection of Ed Tiegs as the new Children's Librarian. His official duties began on March 17, 2003. Mr. Tiegs will replace Michele Nolen-Karras, who was hired as Library Director on February 3, 2003, after 11 years in the position of Children's Librarian. Ed has been a library assistant at Brewer Public Library for 7 years, and lends many years of experience and dedication to his new job position. Please join us in welcoming him and supporting him in his new endeavor.

Friends Meet Library Needs

Some time ago, the Friends allocated funds for the purchase of a new circulation desk for the Children's Room. Dennis Fry was hired to build the desk to the library's specifications. The circulation desk is nearly completed and will be installed soon. Visit the Children's Room and admire this beautifully crafted and much-needed addition to the library.

Thanks to recent membership additions and other donations, the Friends recently donated $300 to the library for a core DVD collection, and $300 to the Richland County History Room for needed supplies. Two typewriters have also been donated to the library.

Baked Goods Needed

The Friends of the Library need donations of baked goods for two upcoming events, the April 12th Karaoke Night, and the Book and Bake Sale, May 16 and 17. Members as well as nonmembers of the Friends are invited to contribute bars and cookies for these events. If contributing to the Karaoke event, please bring your bars or cookies to the Community Center between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12. You may also drop them off at the library before 2:00 p.m. on April 12. We are also asking for bars and cookies for our book and bake sale on May 16 and 17. Please bring these items to the library on Thursday, May 15, or Friday and Saturday morning, May 16 and 17. If you have questions, please call Kathy Bastian, 647-4948 or e-mail Kathy at the library, richlandcenterpl@yahoo.com

MILLENNIUM SPOTLIGHT ON FREDERICK DOUGLAS

"...the gain of all the gold in the world would not compensate for the loss of the nation's soul. National honor is the soul of the nation, and when this is lost all is lost."

Frederick Douglas

"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppose."

Frederick Douglas

Frederick Douglas was born into slavery in Maryland. Self-educated in reading, writing, and oratory, he eventually escaped to Massachusetts by disguising himself as a sailor. He became a famous orator, delivering on July 5th, 1852 one of the greatest antislavery orations in American history : The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro. He published his own newspaper for 13 years, campaigned to make blacks eligible to serve in the Union Army, and then protested their unequal treatment personally to President Lincoln. Douglas consistently objected to every form of discrimination - legal, gender, and economic.

He wrote three autobiographies that are collected for the first time in FREDERICK DOUGLAS, AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (Henry Louis Gates Jr. editor). He relates the turning point in his young life, the time that a cruel farmer named Covey with a reputation for "breaking" slaves tried to beat Douglas. Instead of submitting to the beating, Douglas fought back, and that episode animated the rest of his life. His accounts of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the Reconstruction, as well as travel writing from his trips to England, Italy, and Egypt can all be found in this collection of autobiographies, as well as excerpts from some of his famous speeches. This Library of America book is part of the Millennium Collection of classic American literature. The entire collection is housed at the Brewer Public Library and is available for check-out to library patrons.

Submissions

Please submit news, event information, book reviews, and other library related material for the May 2003 newsletter by April 25. Submissions may be left at the children's desk or e-mailed to Greg Myszkowski at grmyszko@yahoo.com.