Welcome to the January 2008 edition of LIBRARY E-NEWS. This monthly newsletter includes several features containing information about the library. If you would like to join other subscribers in receiving the Library E-News in your e-mail every month, please fill out the following form online or complete a paper registration form at the circulation desk.

For a complete calendar of events at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library go to www.smfpl.org/calendar.htm

Go directly to the following features by clicking on the name of the feature you want to read, or scroll down this page to read all of LIBRARY E-NEWS.

Notices
Upcoming Special Events
Recent Library Happenings
New Titles
Department News
Art on Display
Library Foundation
Friends of the Library
Quilt on Display
Book Picks
What do I Watch?
Website of the Month
Previous Issues

IRS tax forms may be delayed
The library may not have supplies of IRS tax forms to give out to patrons and library staff may not be able to obtain forms online until mid to late February. According to an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer dated December 20, 2007 and entitled Expect Delays in U.S. Tax Returns, "many basic forms, both online and on paper, won't be available until at least the second week of February and possibly not until late February."

Tax help available
A free tax service will be available to older residents and residents with low to middle incomes at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library beginning Friday, February 1. This annual program is sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons, who work in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program to assure that the volunteers are knowledgeable about the special tax provisions for older people. The service will be available on Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. at the library through April 11. One-hour appointments may be scheduled by contacting the library at 330-688-3295. Bring with you a copy of last year’s tax return, social security card and picture ID. If a child is claimed as an exemption, you must show his or her social security card, no exceptions. Also bring any forms showing income you earned or pensions or social security paid to you, 1099 forms showing interest or dividends that your investments have earned and receipts or cancelled checks for income or property taxes you have paid or any contributions you have made to charities. Bring with you documentation of medical expenses. Please be aware that library staff are not permitted to give tax advice, answer questions on your taxes or fill out your form for you. However, they will help you locate books and the appropriate forms and publications to help you complete your tax return.

Help for Job Seekers
If you are unemployed, laid-off or changing careers, a representative from the Goodwill Industries of Akron, Employment Resource Center is coming to Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library on Friday, February 1 to tell you about the free services available to all job seekers. Meet one-on-one with an ERC representative who can explain how this agency can help you find your next job. The representative will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. Reservations are not required.

Coffee With the Editor
The next Coffee With the Editor will be Wednesday, February 6 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Back By Popular Demand.....Book Bags!!
You can again purchase Zippered Top Pocket Book Bags at the front Circulation Desk at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. These are roomy bags with a gusseted bottom and made of 600 denier polyester nylon material. They have 24-inch long handles. The bags are $10, including tax. All proceeds benefit the Stow-Munroe Falls Library Foundation.

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Jazz Band Concert
The next performance of the community jazz band will be Wednesday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Stow-Munroe Falls meeting room of the library. The concert is free. Reservations are not required.

Reflections Student Art Show
The Reflections Art Show, featuring the work of Stow-Munroe Falls students, will be on display in the Stow-Munroe Falls Meeting Room on the second floor of the library from January 24 through 28. The show may be viewed during regular library hours.

Bridge Club
Come to the library for cards and conversation. The Bridge Club will meet on the second Monday of the month from 12:45 until 3:30 p.m. Players should arrive at 12:45 p.m. and bridge will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. The next meeting is January 14. Bridge Club meets in the Stow-Munroe Falls meeting room at the library. There is no fee to join the club, but a small collection will be taken for refreshments. For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Nelson at 330-688-3295. Bridge Club is co-sponsored by Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library and the Stow Woman’s Club.

Financial Programs for Seniors
Start the New Year off right with these free, informative lectures on investing. Programs are on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Call 330-688-3295 or stop by the Reference Desk to register. These programs will be held in the Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the library.

• January 22 - IRAs: Avoiding Costly Mistakes (Register now!)

• January 29 - Sound Investing for Retirees (Register now!)

• February 5 - Retirement Income Planning (Registration begins Monday, January 7)

Aromatherapy
Just in time for Valentine's Day! Come to the library on Thursday, February 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. for a program on aromatherapy. Aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care of the skin, to alleviate tension and fatique, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Join Gloria O'Neal of ArcAncient in Lakewood as she explains the mysteries of some of the most popular and fascinating scents. Registration begins Monday, January 7 and is limited. Call 330-688-3295 or stop by the Reference Desk to sign up. The program will be held in Stow-Munroe Falls meeting room.

Home Staging-Preparing to Sell Your Home
Come to the library on Wednesday, February 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to learn how to prepare your home and avoid costly delays before listing it on the market. Lynn Koerner will present ideas on how to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives. Registration begins on Monday, January 21 and is limited. Call 330-688-3295 or stop by the Reference Desk to register. The program will be held in the Stow-Munroe Falls Room at the library.

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Winners of the Lifesize Monopoly Games were Cora Coen and Keaton Parks (ages 9 to 11 game) and Abby Lavely (ages 12 to 17 game). Winners received Monopoly-themed t-shirts.

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New Titles

New titles are arriving daily at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. Some of the new titles are:

Fiction: 7th Heaven by James Patterson, Beginner's Greek: A Novel by James Collins, The Appeal by John Grisham, The Accidental Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren.

Large Print:Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, At Home in Mossy Creek by various authors, Honor Thyself by Danielle Steel, Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough.

Nonfiction:Age of Betrayal: The Triumph of Money in America 1865-1900 by Jack Beatty, Ageless Face, Ageless Mind: erase wrinkles and rejuvenate the brain by Nicholas Perricone, I'm Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted by Jennifer Finney Boylan.

Books on CD: Killing Ground by Jack Higgins, Betrayal by John Lescroat, Three Shirt Deal by Stephen Cannell.

DVDs: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Superbad, Nanny Diaries, Balls of Fury, Bourne Ultimatum,

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Department News

Adult Services

New Programs for Writers!

Lax takes the audience on a personal, yet universal journey. He illustrates ways to use story and myth to let people know that they are not alone in the world, and teaches students how to share their stories with others in a positive way. Lax is currently senior writer for Northern Ohio Live Magazine, for which he writes a monthly column; Associate Director for The Fairmount Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, as well as Director of Fairmount's School of Writing. He is currently writing a novel. There will be time for questions after the presentation. The program is free of charge. Light refreshments will be available. Stop by the Reference Desk or call 330-688-3295 to register. Seating is limited. If you are serious about writing as a career, don’t miss this!

This program is sponsored by the The Lit- Cleveland's Literary Center, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library and the Friends of Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.

Larry Smith and Carole Calladine Unscripted
Professional writers Larry Smith and Carole Calladine will present an unscripted program for writers on Saturday, February 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. This program will allow participants to ask questions about developing their work, writing as a career, getting work published, balancing writing with other aspects of life and much more.

Larry Smith is the Director of the Firelands Writing Center and the Editor-in-Chief of Bottom Dog Press, Inc., a non-profit literary and educational organization dedicated to publishing the best writing and art for the midwest and beyond. He is a graduate of Muskingum College and Kent State University and is the author of six books of poetry, a book of memoirs, two books of fiction, two literary biographies, a life biography and more. He is co-founder of the Independent Midwest Publishers and Authors Consortium. (IMPAAC)

Carole Calladine, writes about relationships, life stages and choices. She has a Master's Degree in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University and an undergraduate honors degree in Sociology from the State University of Iowa. Her most recent book is Second Story Woman: A Memoir of Second Chances which deals not only with her mid-life passage but also her diagnosis with type 2 diabetes. Her other titles are Praising Siblings...raising brothers and sisters without raising the roof and One Terrific Year: supporting your kids through the ups and downs of their year. The program is free of charge. Light refreshments will be available. Stop by the Reference Desk or call 330-688-3295 to register. Seating is limited. This program is sponsored by the Lit- Cleveland's Literary Center,Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library and the Friends of Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.

Author Sarah Willis
Sarah Willis, author of the books Some Things That Stay,The Rehearsal, A Good Distance and The Sound of Us, will speak to writers at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library on Saturday, February 23 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. She will do a reading of new work and discuss writing: from idea to print. There will be a question and answer period.

Willis was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where she still lives. Her father, Kirk Willis, was a well-known actor and director at The Cleveland Play House. After walking out of Lakewood High School when she was sixteen, she attended Friends Free School, a small alternative high school started by Quakers. In 1971 she began working at the Cleveland Free Clinic, where she worked for the next ten years in a variety of jobs from janitor to Medical Coordinator. During this time she attended Cuyahoga Community College, Otterbein, and finally graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 1978 with a BFA in Theater Arts. She then went on to earn a Certificate in Photography from Cooper School of Art. At the age of thirty-four she began taking non-degree graduate classes in creative writing at Cleveland State University.

She finally found her calling, writing fiction. Her short stories have been published in Book Magazine, Confrontation, Crescent Review, (this story was nominated for a Pushcart Prize), Vincent Brothers Review, Rockford Review, Whiskey Island Review, Riverwind, No Roses Review, Artful Dodge, The Missouri Review, and the anthology, Our Mothers Our Selves. Sarah Willis' first novel, Some Things That Stay, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2000) was listed as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, won the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction 2000, and was awarded The Cleveland Arts Prize in Literature 2000. Some Things That Stay was made into a movie which opened in Canada in October, 2004. Her other novels are, The Rehearsal (Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2001), A Good Distance (Berkley, 2004), and The Sound of Us, (Berkley 2005). She writes essays which can be found in the Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine. She is now writing her fifth novel.

Willis has taught creative writing classes at numerous writer's workshops and colleges, including Hiram college, John Carroll University, The Imagination Conference at CSU, The Columbus Writers Conference, The Writer's Center at Chautauqua, and the Maui Writer's Retreat.

If you are serious about writing as a career, register for this program by stopping by the Reference Desk or calling 330-688-3295.

The program is free of charge. Light refreshments will be available. This program is sponsored by the Lit-Cleveland's Literary Center, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library and the Friends of Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.

Ohio Writer Magazine available
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library now offers Ohio Writer Magazine. Ohio Writer Magazine is designed to help writers at all levels of accomplishment connect with other writers. They publish feature stories, interviews, informative how-tos, and articles relevant to all types of writing. The reviews keep you up to date on area small presses, literary publications and the work of other Ohio writers. Check out an issue today!

Need to Use a Computer? Call ahead and reserve one!
Computers with Internet Access, located in the Adult Services Department of the library are always in great demand. If you are planning a trip to the library to use the computer, please call ahead and make a reservation. There may NOT be one available if you don't make a reservation! Computer time can be reserved up to one week in advance. Staff at the Adult Information Desk can schedule you for up to two hours of time once per day, Monday through Saturday and up to one hour of time on Sunday. Don't be disappointed! Call ahead! To make an appointment, call the Adult Services Department at 330-688-3295.

Evening Book Discussion
The evening book discussion group with Amy Garrett meets the fourth Thursday of the month through April 2008. Discussions will be on these Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. except in November and December.The November meeting will be the third Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and the December meeting will be the second Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Copies of the book will again be available at the Reference Desk prior to the discussion date.

Monday Evening Book Discussion
The evening book discussion group with Barbara Nelson meets through June 2008. Discussions will be on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Copies of the book will again be available at the Reference Desk prior to the discussion date.

Daytime Book Discussions
The daytime book discussion groups with Chris Caccamo will meet the second Friday of the month from October through May at either 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. Books will be available at the Reference Desk prior to the discussion date.

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.


New Computer Class Signup Procedure
You no longer have to sign up for computer classes weeks ahead of time! Instead, stop by the Reference Desk one half hour before class time and sign up. Be sure to have your Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library card with you! It is that easy!

Chess Club
The next Chess Club will be Tuesday, February 19. Peer instruction is from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. and game play is from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Play chess against a variety of opponents, and learn new moves. Chess club is for students age 5 and older who are familiar with the basic rules of chess. Snacks provided. No registration is necessary.

Madden NFL 08 Playstation Tournament
Registration begins Monday, January 7 for the Madden NFL 08 Playstation Tournament scheduled for Saturday, January 19 from 1 to 5 p.m. for ages 10 to 18. Compete for the grand prize of a $25 Best Buy gift certificate. Second prize is a $15 Best Buy gift certificate. Snacks will be provided for the participants. This will be a single elimination tournament, using two minute quarters, with opponents randomly chosen. Players may play any regular season team of their choice. Stop by the Reference desk for game rules or to sign up or call 330-688-3295.

Teen Newsletter
The Teen Services Department is seeking submissions by teen patrons for the next issue of the Teen Newsletter. Submit stories, artwork or reviews. To view a sample issue, follow the link on the Teen Services page. Items can be turned in at the Reference Desk or E-Mailed to the Teen Librarian at the following address:

Please go to the Teen Services web page at www.smfpl.org./TS.htm for information about current Teen activities. To see photos of Teen events go to www.smfpl.org/tsphotos.htm.

Amelia Bedelia Crazy Mixed-up Mystery Dinner
School age children and their parents can register to attend Amelia Bedelia’s crazy-mixed up dinner and try to figure out what is being served. Sorry, no preschool children. The program is Wednesday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. Registration begins Monday, January 7. Contact the Children’s Department at 330-688-3295. For more information or to register, contact the Children’s Department at 330-688-3295.

Please call 330-688-3295 or go to the Children's Department web page at www.smfpl.org/CS.htm for further information about Children's activities and programs.

Pick 5 Bestsellers Club
Don't have a computer or are you too busy to get to your computer? How would you like our staff to automatically place you 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! Here's a few authors whose new books could be waiting for you!

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Display case exhibits

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The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Foundation was incorporated in 1994 as a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizaton. The Foundation is dedicated to ensuring a great library system by raising, managing and allocating funds to expand and improve the library.
Why a Foundation? Maintaining Stow and Munroe Falls' top-notch library isn't possible with public funding alone. The Foundation's mission is to stabilize the library in times of reduced public funding and secure the ongoing excellence of the library.
The next Foundation meeting will be Tuesday, January 15 at 5:00 p.m. at the library. The public is welcome to attend.

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The Friends of the Library 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.

New Friends Officers for 2007 (from left to right) are: Peg Niemeyer, Corresponding Secretary; Hermine Meyer, Treasurer; Peggy Shaffer, Vice President; Helen Meier, Recording Secretary; Martha Keisler, President.

Also pictured are Jane Mesereau (far right) and Lois Patton (handing out the flowers).

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January's quilt is by Iva Brubaker. It is displayed over the front checkout desk.

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Book Picks

January's book pick is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

From Amazon.com...
It's difficult to imagine a harder first act to follow than The Kite Runner: a debut novel by an unknown writer about a country many readers knew little about that has gone on to have over four million copies in print worldwide. But when preview copies of Khaled Hosseini's second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, started circulating at Amazon.com, readers reacted with a unanimous enthusiasm that few of us could remember seeing before. As special as The Kite Runner was, those readers said, A Thousand Splendid Suns is more so, bringing Hosseini's compassionate storytelling and his sense of personal and national tragedy to a tale of two women that is weighted equally with despair and grave hope.

Place a hold on A Thousand Splendid Suns by going to the library's online catalog at http://opac.smfpl.org.

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What Do I Watch?

The 2008 Golden Globe Awards are scheduled for January 13. Many Golden Globe nominees are later nominated for Academy Awards. Although some films are still in theaters, the library owns some of the nominated films that have already been released on DVD. Place a hold on the titles listed below.

A Mighty Heart (Angelina Jolie nominated for best actress in a drama)

Away From Her (Julie Christie nominated for best actress in a drama)

Hairspray (nominated for best motion picture, musical or comedy, best actress musical or comedy-Nikki Blonsky, best supporting actor musical or comedy-John Travolta)

La Vie En Rose (Marion Cotillard nominated for best actress, musical or comedy)

The Simpsons Movie (nominated for best animated motion picture)

Ratatouille (nominated for best animated motion picture)

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Website of the Month

The website for this month is for myGoals.com at http://www.myGoals.com/

myGoals.com is the Web's leading site for setting and managing all of your personal and professional goals. myGoals.com walks you through a simple, step-by-step goal-setting process for any goal, whether it's short-term or long-term, easy or difficult, practical or lofty. They also provide pre-made GoalPlans® for popular goals, to get you started even faster. The website gives tips for making good New Year’s Resolutions, showing that there is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year's resolution. This website gives expert tips to see that your resolution actually makes a difference.

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