Holiday Library Events!

Flickr user: zachklein

We’ve got so much great programming at each of our 13 libraries this holiday season. Here’s ALL of it just for you. Clicking the name of each event will take you to its listing in our Event Calendar, where you can set up email reminders or subscribe to a feed of related events (visit this page to watch Event Calendar how-to videos).

Jump to December Holiday Events by Week: First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth

First Week of December Events (Nov. 28- Dec. 4)

Hi-tech Holiday Gifts
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 12/1/2010
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Description: Are you purchasing an eReader as a gift for someone, or included it on your own wish list? Join us for this informative overview of the Sony Reader ®, Barnes & Noble Nook ® and Amazon Kindle ®.
Library: Williamston (WM)

Holt-Delhi Holiday Open House (All ages)
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages
Date: 12/1/2010
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Description:
Come in and warm up after Delhi Township Annual Tree Lighting! Enjoy live music, refreshments and a craft activity for children. Sponsored by the Friends of the Holt-Delhi Library.
Library: Holt-Delhi (HO)

Make a Non-traditional holiday centerpiece
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 12/1/2010
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Description:
An expert from VanAtta’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop will demonstrate how to create a unique, non-traditional centerpiece to highlight your holidays. One lucky guest will take home the sample! While supplies last.
Library: South Lansing (SL)

Haslett Holiday Open House (All Ages)
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children, Adults
Date: 12/2/2010
Start Time: 6:00 PM
Description:
From 6-8 pm, enjoy food, fun and fellowship @ your library! Storyteller Jenifer Strauss will present “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” from 6:30-7:15 pm, followed by a special surprise guest to visit with children. Refreshments provided by The Friends of the Library.
Library: Haslett (HA)

Dansville Winter Fest (All ages)
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages
Date: 12/4/2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Description:
Welcome winter with horse and pony rides, a petting zoo, balloon animals, face painting, and refreshments. Held at the Dansville Village Hall. Runs 1-2 pm.
Library: Dansville (DA)
Location: Held at the Village Hall

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Second Week of December Events (Dec. 5 – 11)

Holiday Open House
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages
Date: 12/5/2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Description:
Make a Christmas card with Colleen Redfield and listen to live music provided by the Debbie Fogell Quartet. Refreshments provided. Runs 1-3 pm. Partially sponsored by the Friends of the Stockbridge Library.
Library: Stockbridge (ST)

Leslie Holiday Open House
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/6/2010
Start Time: 2:30 PM
Description:
2:30-4 pm: Meet live reindeer when they land on the library lawn.
6-8 pm: Enjoy music from harpist Veanna Bordeaux
Refreshments provided by the Friends of the Leslie Library. Runs 2:30-8 pm.
Library: Leslie (LE)

Aurelius Holiday Open House
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages
Date: 12/6/2010
Start Time: 3:00 PM
Description:
Get into the holiday spirit at the library! Enjoy holiday treats, make a craft and visit the Friends table for information. Runs 3-8 pm. Be sure to visit with our live reindeer from 6:30-8 pm.
Library: Aurelius (AU)

Reindeer Visit (Ages 3-8)*
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Young Children, Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/6/2010
Start Time: 4:30 PM
Description:
Visit the library for some holiday cheer!  Listen to holiday stories, receive a brown-bag craft to take home, and see live reindeer on Monday, December 6th at 4:30pm.  Registration is required; please call 517-694-9351 ext. 3.  If you have a letter for Santa, make sure to bring it along and add it to the drop box in the lobby of the Township Building.  Letters are being accepted until December 17th, when they will be collected and sent off to Santa.
Library: Holt-Delhi (HO)
Other Information:
*Registration required; call (517) 694-9351 ext. 3

Make Your Own Holiday Door Swag
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages
Date: 12/6/2010
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Description:
An expert from VanAtta’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop will demonstrate how to create a holiday door swag to highlight your home. One lucky guest will take home the sample!
Library: Okemos (OK)

Make a Traditional Holiday Centerpiece
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/6/2010
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Description:
Our annual event, with everything you need to craft a gingerbread masterpiece.
Library: Williamston (WM)
Other Information:
*Registration required; call (517) 655-1191

Gift giving book talk w/Sarah Redman
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Adults
Date: 12/8/2010
Start Time: 1:15 PM
Description:
Sarah Redman, CADL Adult Selection Specialist, will recommend great gift-giving titles for everyone on your list.
Library: Leslie (LE)

Card-making Class
Event Type: Hobbies & Crafts
Age Group(s): Adults, Teens & Tweens, Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/9/2010
Start Time: 6:00 PM
Description:
Adults, teens, and kids in grades 4 & up are invited to create three unique cards during this hands-on class. Materials and instructions provided. Runs 6-8 pm.
Library: Aurelius (AU)

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Third Week of December Events (Dec. 12 – 18)

Paper Making: Holiday Ornaments (Ages 7 & up)
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/12/2010
Start Time: 2:00 PM
End Time: 4:00 PM
Description:
Make holiday ornaments from handmade paper that you create!
Library: Downtown Lansing (DL)

Reindeer at the Library/Webberville Holiday Open House
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/13/2010
Start Time: 4:00 PM
Description:
Get into the holiday spirit with a special visit from live reindeer. Enjoy stories, crafts, refreshments and more. A great time for the whole family, hosted by the Friends of the Webberville Library. Runs 4-6 pm.
Library: Webberville (WE)

Rooftop Reindeer
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/13/2010
Start Time: 5:00 PM
Description:
Meet live reindeer outside the Foster Community Center, then come into the library and decorate a cookie to take home. Runs 5-6:30 pm.
Library: Foster (FO)

Folk Music Concert (all ages)
Event Type: Movies‚ Music & Art
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children, Adults
Date: 12/15/2010
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Description:
This family-friendly music series features talented local musicians who have made names for themselves playing in Michigan and across the United States. Seating is on a fist-come basis. Today’s artists call themselves Nervous But Excited. This Michigan-based folk duo consists of Kate Peterson & Sarah Cleaver–two songwriters, two singers, three guitars, a mandolin, a violin, a ukulele, a few harmonicas, dead-on harmony, some vaguely choreographed dancing, an impressive amount of laughter and a glockenspiel.
Library: Okemos (OK)

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Fourth Week of December Events (Dec. 19 – 25)
Okemos Holiday Break Family Films
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/21, 12/22 (additional dates below)
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Description:
Bring the whole family. Call (517)347-2021
Library: Okemos (OK)

Winter Break Cinema 12/21/2010
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/21/2010
Start Time: 2:00 PM
Description:
Enjoy favorite family films on our big screen. Today: Why is the Grinch such a grouch? No one seems to know, until little Cindy Lou Who takes matters into her own hands and turns both Whoville and the Grinch’s world upside down in her search for the true meaning of Christmas. Jim Carrey stars in this holiday favorite. (PG)
Library: Downtown Lansing (DL)

Winter Break Cinema 12/23/2010
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/23/2010
Start Time: 2:00 PM
Description:
Enjoy favorite family films on our big screen. Today: Jim Carrey stars in this 2009 Disney retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. (PG)
Library: Downtown Lansing (DL)

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Fifth Week of December Events (Dec. 26 – Jan. 1)

Okemos Holiday Break Family Films
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/28, 12/29 (additional dates above)
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Description:
Bring the whole family. Call (517)347-2021
Library: Okemos (OK)

Foster Winter Break Activity Days 12/28
Event Type: Families & Kids
Age Group(s): Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/28/2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 2:30 PM
Description:
Drop in anytime from 1-5 pm to play board games.
Library: Foster (FO)

Winter Break Cinema 12/28/2010
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/28/2010
Start Time: 2:00 PM
Description:
Enjoy favorite family films on our big screen. Today: Woody, Buzz and the other toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home in part 3 of the Disney trilogy. (G)
Library: Downtown Lansing (DL)

Foster Winter Break Activity Days 12/29/2010
Event Type: Families & Kids
Age Group(s): Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/29/2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 2:30 PM
Description:
Drop in anytime from 1-5 pm and have fun making Lego creations!
Library: Foster (FO)

Foster Winter Break Activity Days 12/30
Event Type: Families & Kids
Age Group(s): Elementary Age Children
Date: 12/30/2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 2:30 PM
Description:
Drop in anytime from 1-5 pm to play board games.
Library: Foster (FO)

Winter Break Cinema 12/30/2010
Event Type: Holidays
Age Group(s): All Ages, All Children
Date: 12/30/2010
Start Time: 2:00 PM
Description:
Enjoy family friendly films on our big screen. Today: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed. (PG)
Library: Downtown Lansing (DL)

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Thanksgiving in Lansing 100 Years Ago

A hundred years ago, Thanksgiving in Lansing was a quiescent affair. The paper describes an abeyance of business throughout the city. However, the post office was open from 7-9 am and a delivery was made.

Local news was brief. In the paper the day before Thanksgiving, November 23rd there was a notice “NO DANGER IN LANSING ON ACCOUNT OF SMALLPOX”, four houses were under quarantine. There were only a few local stories and no newspaper on Thanksgiving proper. One article told how little was happening in town over the holiday. It explained when the meal would be served at the Industrial School for Boys and that there would be “some speaker”. Holiday themed advertisements peppered the paper. Many Lansing retailers ran sales to lure shoppers.

Large stories in the included articles concerning the Mexican Revolution, suffragettes hurling rocks and the hanging of American Dr. H.H. Crippen in London. Crippen, convicted of murdering his wife, is known as the first criminal captured with the aid of wireless communication. In 2007, evidence surfaced in the form of DNA studies conducted at MSU, which resulted in doubt being cast on the conviction.

The biggest event covered in the paper was a banquet held the night before Thanksgiving at the Hotel Downey to honor outgoing Michigan Agricultural College football, baseball and basketball coach Chester Brewer. Brewer coached the MAC Aggies from 1903-1910, never losing a home game on the gridiron. He returned to MAC from 1917-1920. Seventy-five guests, including many prominent citizens, attended.

After a “sumptuous and well-served banquet” the guests were treated to cigars. Then the speeches began. Among the presenters were future Michigan Supreme Court Justice Howard Wiest and founder of Motor Wheel William K. Prudden.
The Hotel Downey, standing in the current location of the Knapp’s building, was built as the Lansing House Hotel with bounty money obtained from the capture of John Wilkes Booth. The Downey burned in February 1912.

-Dave V., CADL Local History Librarian

Reader Roundup

Joe M. recommends:

The Great Dinosaur Discoveries by Darren Naish

Check out The Great Dinosaur Discoveries in our catalog.

Cheryl L. recommends:

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

Check out A Homemade Life in our catalog.

Jessica T. recommends:

How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu

Check out How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe in our catalog.

Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh

Check out Angel’s Blood in our catalog.

Sara D. recommends:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Check out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in our catalog.

Berlin (Book 1): City of Stones by Jason Lutes

Check out Berlin (Book 1): City of Stones in our catalog.

Want to find more good reads? Check out our Books, Movies + More page or watch Book Bytes, our video book reviews, at YouTube.

This Thanksgiving, give thanks for great reads!

It’s Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season.  The next couple of weeks may find you in the backseat on the way to Grandma’s house or stuck in a houseful of relatives.  Why not combat the long hours and boredom with a great book?  As a former teen I can attest to the magic spell that seems to fall upon teens who are reading – adults and kids alike will assume that you are doing homework or something really important and leave you in peace.

If you need reading suggestions, check out some of the Mock Printz Award nominees, selected by students from the Bank Street School.  The Printz Award is given out in January to a teen book published in the previous year – last year Going Bovine by Libba Bray won.

White Cat by Holly Black

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin & Lisa Brown

 

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Click here for the complete list of Mock Printz 2011 titles.

Have your say -  what 2010 YA title – whether listed here or not - should win the 2011 Prinz Award?

- Lynn H., CADL Youth Services Specialist

Thanksgiving History and Trivia

Flick User: Jennifer 13

The library’s books and databases can tell you a lot about Thanksgiving.

— Why do we eat what we do on Thanksgiving? I am sure you know the answer to that one. The pilgrims hunted for game for the first Thanksgiving and found wild turkeys. The Native Americans also brought them other food including pumpkins boiled with maple sap, hence pumpkin pie today.

— If you think your dinner is long…the first Thanksgiving lasted nearly a week.

— When did Thanksgiving become national? Before 1863 it was a primarily a New England celebration but President Lincoln signed a proclamation that year making the last Thursday in November officially a national celebration. In 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt changed this to the fourth Thursday since in some years November has five Thursdays.

—When did the ceremony begin of a turkey getting pardoned by the president? Folklore has it that Tad Lincoln asked his father to spare a turkey named Jack from a holiday meal in 1863. President Lincoln obliged his son. Many sources erroneously credit Harry Truman with pardoning the first National Thanksgiving Turkey in 1947, but it looks like the first family actually ATE the turkey presented as a gift.  John F. Kennedy pardoned the first National Thanksgiving Turkey a few days before his death in 1963.

— Do other countries have Thanksgiving? Yes, Canada has a Thanksgiving but it is in October. Many countries such as Japan, Poland and Albania have festivals to celebrate the harvest.

Resources:

• “Thanksgiving Around the World” by Brenda Waterman.  Children’s Digest, November 1, 2004 page 22.
• The American Thanksgiving: The Evolution of a Tradition Plimoth Plantation 1991 pages 4-7.
• Beg Your Turkey Pardon

-Anne R., CADL Reference Librarian



‘Tis the Season for Gadgets

Flickr user: allaboutgeorge

You’re probably seeing a ton of advertisements for gadgets this time of year, but those ads don’t have all the information you need. If you’re on the hunt for a gadget this holiday season, it would be very helpful to get some consumer information on that computer, mp3 player or e Reader. There is a nice guide to gadgets called: Great gadgets. It provides some basic features and functions on a variety of gadgets, including their cost.

Another great place to check out holiday deals as well as tech deals during any season is dealzmodo.  It is a big list and sometimes contains GREAT deals, but you’ve got to be fast to get them.

Maybe surfing the web is not what you want. The Capital Area District Library subscribes to Consumer Reports, a useful resource on consumer information such as prices, quality, reliability and comparisons to similar items. Don’t be in the dark this shopping season!

- Matt P., Technology Librarian @ CADL Downtown Lansing

Breaking News: Beatles Catalog still at CADL

flickr user: kyz

Stop the presses.  The Beatles catalog is finally coming to iTunes.  Whew, that was an agonizing wait.  While this is certainly exciting to digital music lovers and their music playing gizmos, this brings up a good question.  Why not get it at CADL?  That’s right. CADL has much of the Beatles Catalog in stock and has had it for many years.  The best thing about it is that you can check it out for free.

-Jeff A., Public Services Librarian @ CADL South Lansing Library

Reader Roundup

Jessica T. recommends:

Sherlock: Season 1

Check out Sherlock: Season 1 in our catalog.

Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron

Check out Spirit Thief in our catalog.

Sara D. recommends:

Bayou (vol. 1) by Jeremy Love

Check out Bayou in our catalog.

Zandra B. recommends:

That Bird Has My Wings by Jarvis Jay Masters

Check out That Bird Has My Wings in our catalog.

Liz V. recommends:

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Check out Fire in our catalog.

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

Check out The Ex Games in our catalog.

Want to find more good reads? Check out our Books, Movies + More page or watch Book Bytes, our video book reviews, at YouTube.

Pottermania: Here Comes Harry

Friday is the day that many of you have been waiting for.  No, I am not talking about the fact that Friday is the twentieth anniversary of the end of the Cold War (although that’s cool, too).  I am talking about the opening of Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  In a theater near you, fans of all ages will gather to watch as Harry, Ron and Hermione hunt down Horcruxes and seek to end the reign of Lord Voldemort forever.   Whether you’re a fan of the movies or the books, this film is a must see.  If you can’t wait until Friday to get your Harry fix, check out the trailer.  If you haven’t read the book since it came out it may be a good idea to grab a copy and brush up on the details.  Stop at your local library or place a hold online.

-Liz V., Youth Services Librarian at CADL Holt-Delhi

Looking for a Job?

Flickr user: freeparking

The library can assist you in job searching or in career research. The CADL Job Hunting Guide gathers a lot of career information for you in one place. This page has links to job searching, salary research, resume and cover letter creation, interviewing tips, practice tests, information on filing for unemployment and more.

On the Job Hunting page you will see a link to the LearningExpress *  database. LearningExpress has always been a great resource to take practice tests such as preparation for the civil service and other vocations.  You can brush up on computer skills, practice for the GED and much more.

Recently Learning Express has added the LearningExpress Job and Career Accelerator. * The Accelerator has many features to assist you in job searching. You can create resumes and cover letters and store them for future use.  You can practice interviews and match your interests and skills with possible careers. There are local and national  job postings.

We know times are tough, let the library help!

*Library card required to access this outside of the library

-Anne R., CADL Reference Librarian