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Test Prep Books
Test preparation books are now located on the shelves next to the Local History Room. Materials are available for tests such as the ACT, SAT, Civil Service, and ASVAB.

Forthcoming Book Releases
Stop by the Circulation Desk or Information Desk to pick up a list of forthcoming adult book releases. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library will purchase these titles as soon as they are released.

Evening Book Discussions
The evening book discussion group with Amy Garrett meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. September through April.

Alternates:

Copies of the books will be available approximately four to five weeks before the date of discussion and will be held at the Information Desk. If we do not own enough copies of a book, we will try to Interlibrary Loan the material. Please call Amy Garrett at 330-688-3295 for more information.

Morning Book Discussions
The morning book discussion group with Chris Caccamo meets the second Friday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Sign up is not required. Please call Chris at 330-688-3295 if you have any questions.

Computer Use
Computers for use by adult and teen patrons are in very high demand! This is a reminder that you can reserve a computer ahead of time. Just call the Information Desk at 330-688-3295 to reserve a computer for a one-hour time limit. Computers may be reserved up to one week in advance. All adult patron compuers are now available by reservation only.

Computer Training
The library offers classes for beginning computer users and more advanced users. They include Introduction to Computers, Introduction to the Internet, and training in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Classes are offered both day and evening at no charge. The class calendar can be viewed at www.smfpl.org/calendar.htm. There will be no computer classes in December. The class schedule for January will be released Tuesday, January 3. Please call 330-688-3295 if you have any questions.

Computer Volunteer
Computer volunteer Tom Labbe is available to help patrons with computer questions during the following hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 - 2:30. He is available at the Adult Information Desk.

Local History
During the month of December the Local History Room is featuring a "Baby Boomer" Christmas tree and display. Stop by for a nostalgic look at the 1950's and 60's.

The Local History Room is looking for "a few good people." Volunteers are needed to staff the Room on afternoons or evenings once a week. The Local History Room is a unique resource for the community, providing access to Stow's 200-year history via books, maps, news clippings, photo albums and more. Volunteers will welcome visitors and help them find information, as well as perform tasks to further organize the collection. If you are at least 18 and like to sleuth out the occasional mystery, please call Bridget Hair at 330-688-3295.

Teen Services Book Blog
Join other teens who like books by reading their reviews and posting your own. Link to the blog from the Teen Services Book page at www.smfpl.org/tsbooks.htm.

Yu-Gi-Oh
Saturday, December 3 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Chess Club
Tuesday, December 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Life Size Monopoly Games
Thursday, December 29 - 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. OR 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
For ages 9 to 17. Space is limited.
You've never played Monopoly like THIS before! You become the hat, the car, or token of your choice, as you walk around from Boardwalk to Park Place to Community Chest on our room-size playing "board." Roll giant dice and buy properties, land in Jail, do everything as in the regular game but at LIFE SIZE! Registration begins December 8 at the Teen Information Desk.

For further information on Teen programs please go to the Teen Services web page at www.smfpl.org./TS.htm.

Storytimes
Storytime registrations for 2006 began December 12. Please call 330-688-3295 for further information.

Programs during December include The N.E.D. Show on December 28 and Make a Craft on December 27. For further information and to see a complete list of Children's programming, please go to the Children's Department web page at www.smfpl.org/CS.htm.

Please call the Children's Department at 330-688-3295 to register.

Pick 5 Bestsellers Club
How would you like to automatically be placed on the reserve list for five of your favorite popular authors? Join our Bestsellers Club and that's exactly what will happen! Just pick up a form at the Circulation Desk and join over 300 satisfied members. Are you already a member, but would like to change an author or two? Ask for an "add/delete" form at the circulation desk. It's just that easy!

Honorees
Arabica gift certificates have been awarded to the following patrons visiting Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library recently: Holly Darhower, the 650,000th checkout of 2005, Janet Smith, the 22,000th window checkout of 2005, Margaret Grasso, the 23,000th window checkout, Karen Holderfield, the 5,000th registration of 2005, and Larah Orzabal, the 30th Best Sellers Club registration of 2005. Congratulations!

Cardholders have their privileges at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library!

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Corner Gallery
During December the Corner Gallery features the weavings of Helena Richardson. Helena began weaving in 1993 in a tapestry class at Notre Dame college. She has a Master of Fine Arts in weaving from Kent State University, where she taught and studied weaving with Janice Lessman-Moss. She is a member of the Cuyahoga Weavers Guild and has shown her work locally, winning several awards. Several of her works are currently on exhibit at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. Helena recently completed her librarian intership at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library and has accepted a job as a librarian in Virginia.

Display Case
Look for Janet Howard's Santa collection in the display case across from the Corner Gallery.

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The Friends, one of the largest organizations in Stow, is a citizen support group for Library services and activities. They sponsor booksales as well as the annual Needlework Show and other activities. Friends meet the third Tuesday of every month (except December and July) at 2:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. Friends membership is currently at 450 members.

If you are interested in joining Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Friends of the Library you may call the library at 330-688-3295 for further information, or you may go to the Friends page on the library website (www.smfpl.org/friends.htm) for an online application.

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     December's spotlight shines on Christmas. If you are looking for Christmas music, you will find Christmas music CDs shelved in the "Holiday/Special" section of the CDs along the wall near the new books. Titles include The Christmas Collection by Il Divo (to read more about this quartet go to www.ildivo.com), WOW Christmas, by various top Christian artists, A Christmas Album by James Taylor, Christmas Celebration by Mannheim Steamroller, and Merry Christmas With Love by Clay Aiken.

    Books about the Christmas holiday are in both the nonfiction and fiction areas. A Catered Christmas: A Mystery With Recipes by Isis Crawford, A Christmas Guest by Anne Perry, The Christmas Scrapbook: A Harmony Story by Philip Gulley, The Christmas Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini, and There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber are some of the new books acquired by the library. They are located in the New fiction section. Popular authors such as Mary Higgins Clark (Silent Night) and John Grisham (Skipping Christmas), also have Christmas books. Nonfiction titles include Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Book of Christmas Virtues; Inspirational Stories to Warm the Heart, compiled by Jack Canfield, The Christmas House: How One Man's Dream Changed the Way We Celebrate Christmas by Georja Skinner, and An Idiot Girl's Christmas: True Tales From the Top of the Naughty List by Laurie Notaro.

    To learn more about Christmas history and traditions try Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas, a nonfiction DVD produced by History Television Network Productions, which traces the emergence of modern-day Christmas traditions and Santa Claus and December 25th: The Joys of Christmas Past by Phillip Snyder, which covers the history of Christmas in the United States. "Party Foods for the Holidays," a display of cookbooks, is located near the elevators during December. To find more holiday cookbooks, such as Mary Engelbreit's 'tis the Season Holiday Cookbook and Cooking Light Holiday Cookbook by Heather Averett (a New Nonfiction book) look in the 641 section. Websites with recipes for the holidays and tips for entertaining include www.allrecipes.com, www.joyofbaking.com, and www.epicurious.com. Adult and family Christmas DVDs and videos are located near the Adult Information Desk. The Children's Department contains many books, DVDs, videos, and music suitable for children.

    During the month of December Christmas materials are located at the Questions and Directions Desk inside the front door. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please ask a librarian at the Information Desk.

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December's staff pick is Peace Like a River by first-time author Leif Enger. The novel takes place in the early 1960's in Minnesota and the characters move throughout the mid-west, including the Badlands. Reuban lives with his father, his older brother and his younger sister. An event involving his 17-year-old brother changes the family forever. It is a wonderful story about love, loss, family, faith and miracles. Highly recommended by librarian associate Chris Caccamo.

Place a hold on this book by going to the library's online catalog at http://www.smfpl.org/catalog.htm.

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Website for the month of December is Pricerunner at www.pricerunner.com. PC World Magazine's pick as the best shopping comparison site on the web, Pricerunner allows users to compare prices and read reviews on various products. It sorts products by base price, bottom-line price, merchant, merchant message, merchant rating, shipping information, and stock availability. Browse categories or enter a search term. Pricerunner finds low prices and is easy to navigate.

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