Welcome to the March 2004 edition of LIBRARY E-NEWS. This monthly newsletter includes several features containing information about the library. If you would like to join over 860 subscribers by 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 the 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
New Titles
Recent Library Happenings
Department News
Art on Display
Friends of the Library
Books on Display
Spotlight on Spring
Staff Picks
Website of the Month
Previous Issues

Library Policies
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Board of Trustees has updated the Library Conduct Policy to include the following: Children under the age of twelve may not be left in the library without direct supervision. If it comes to the attention of the library staff that a child under twelve has been left unattended, an attempt will be made to contact the parent/caregiver to pick up the child. If the parent/caregiver cannot be reached the police will be called.

The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Internet Policy has been changed to reflect this addition to the Conduct Policy. Students must now be 12 and over in order to use the Adult patron internet access computers (with parent permission on file).

A Concealed Carry Policy has been adopted by the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Board of Trustees and is now in effect: The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library does not permit weapons of any kind, either concealed or in plain view, on its property or in its building, unless the owner of the weapon is a law enforcement officer.

To read the complete text of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Conduct and Concealed Carry policies, go to About the Library at www.smfpl.org/about.htm. and select "Library Policies".

Community Jazz Band
The Community Jazz Band performs the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. Their next concert will be Wednesday, March 3, 2004.

Library Board
The next meeting of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Board of Trustees will be Thursday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. To read minutes from previous board meetings go to www.smfpl.org/trustees.

18 Million!
It's coming...after nearly 80 years of service we are approaching the circulation of our 18 millionth item! Stacked together, that's enough books to reach from Stow to New York City!

Enter our contest and guess when you think we'll hit 18 million. The winner will receive two $18 gift certificates for any Stow or Munroe Falls restaurant (winner's choice). Entry slips are available when you check out materials at the Circulation Desk.

Or maybe YOU will be the one to check out the 18 millionth item! This winner will also receive two $18 gift certificates for any Stow or Munroe Falls restaurant (winner's choice).

Donation
Edward Monteith of Pebble Beach, California has donated $1,000 to the Friends of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. This donation will be matched by the ExxonMobil Foundation for a $2,000 total donation. The donation is in memory of his parents, Charles H. and Netta Monteith. Chares Monteith was the first mayor of Stow, served on the school board and was board president, and also served on the Stow Park Board. Charles and Netta Monteith were also active members of the Stow Community Church. The gift will be used for the acquisition of large print books for the library's outreach program.

The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library is reaching out to the community by providing books and other materials to several senior citizen residences previously served by the Akron-Summit County Public Library. The library is still in need of donations from the community of any large print fiction books in good condition.

As part of the library's outreach service, materials are now being delivered to Stow-Glen, Stow-Kent Gardens, Saltis and Briarwood senior residences. These locations are in addition to service already provided to Maison Aine, Allen Place, and Keys Towers.

Tax Forms
Federal and state tax forms are available at the Questions and Directions Desk. If you do not find the forms you need, please consult the Librarians at the Information Desk. The Librarians will not give you tax advice, but will assist you in locating the forms you need. To find forms online go to www.irs.gov and www.state.oh.us/tax. The cities of Stow (www.stow.oh.us) and Munroe Falls (www.munroefalls.com) also have income tax forms online.

If you had storm damage to your home or business last summer, you may be eligible to file a claim on your federal income tax. The library has ordered the forms and publications necessary for anyone who wants to make damage deductions. You can also look for this information on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Look for Publication 2194, 2003 Disaster Losses Help Kit, and Publication 547.

Tax Program
Tax Counseling for the Elderly, free assistance for completing income tax forms, will be available Fridays through April 9, 2004 from noon to 4:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. This assistance program is sponsored by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and the IRS.
Each taxpayer must bring:

1. a copy of last year's tax forms
2. any forms showing income you earned or pensions or Social Security paid to you
   
3. 1099 forms showing interest or dividends that your investments have earned.
   
4. receipts or canceled checks for income or property taxes you have paid, or any contributions you have made to charities.
   

Library Card Reminder
This is a reminder to stop by the library to check out an item at least once a year. This will keep your library card current, as well as let you see what new materials and services Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library has to offer.

Acme Community Cash Back Program
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library is once again participating in the Acme Community Cash Back Program. Just bring your Acme receipt tapes (dated September 7, 2003 to May 15, 2004) to the Children's Department or put them in the box by the elevator. Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library receives one percent of the total amount of the receipts. Over $65,000 in receipts have been collected since September. During the 2002/2003 school year, patrons turned in over $136,000 worth of receipts! Thank you for supporting the library!

Recycling
Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library is now participating in a recycling program with Abitibi Recycling Corporation called the Abitibi Paper Retriever Program. The Paper Retriever bin is located behind the library and is available 24 hours. Anyone in the community can drop off the following items suitable for recycling (all items must be clean and dry): newspapers, magazines, shopping catalogs, office and school papers, and mail. Stow-Munroe Falls elementary schools and middle school also participate in this program.

We can win $1,000 for Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library if you help us recycle the most paper through our green and yellow Paper Retriever (out of all the Paper Retrievers in Northeast Ohio) in February and March. Go to www.paperretriever.com to learn more.

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Faculty Art Show
March 10 - 29, 2004 in the magazine area.
The art program in Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools is recognized for its excellence throughout the community and Summit County. The students are exposed to a wide variety of teaching methods that help them value the artistic culture in our society. The purpose of the Stow Faculty Art Show is to demonstrate the diverse talents of our Stow-Munroe Falls art teachers.

The theme of this year's show centers around the self-portrait. Artists traditionally have used the venue of the self-portrait because of the convenience of not hiring a model, the direct avenue of self-expression it offers, and the opportunity to see ourselves in a new way. Artists such as Rembrandt, Cezanne, and Picasso have awakened us to the possibilities of the self-portrait.

We welcome you to enjoy the artwork of this very talented group of teachers from our own community.

Spring Needlework Show
The Friends of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library will be holding the 30th Annual Spring Needlework Show Wednesday, March 17 through Sunday, March 21. Registration of entries will be Saturday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 14 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Judging will be Monday March 15.

Needlework Show Hours are:

• Wednesday, March 17 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 18 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 19 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 20 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 21 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

All types of hand needlework will be accepted; however, there must be a minimum of five entries in a category. Categories are: Counted cross stitch (large, medium, small), counted thread (other techniques), surface stitchery (crewel, embroidery, smocking, bead work, etc.), canvas (needlepoint, etc.), quilting (large, medium, small, and machine), hand knitting, crochet, miscellaneous and student (ages 4 to 16).

All ages may enter. Framed entries may not exceed 37 inches in any direction. Limit four quilts per person. There is an entry fee of $3.00 for the first item and $1.00 for each additional item. The fee is waived for students under age 17. For further information call 330-688-3295.

Recipe Swap
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
Attention, Cooking Enthusiasts! Looking for new recipes to try? Why not sample the favorites of others? Bring a dish of your favorite recipes, your appetite, and your favorite cookbook. You'll have an opportunity to share ideas, recipes, food preparation techniques and timesaving tips or, if you prefer, just taste, listen and learn!

Registration is required and limited. Call Cheryl Nelson at 330-688-3295 or contact her by e-mail at nelsonch@oplin.org to register or for further information. Participants must be 16 years or older.

Book Donation Day
Book donation day will be held Saturday, April 3. Please bring your used books to the library to be donated to the Friends of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library booksale. No textbooks or magazines please. The book sale will be held April 22 through April 24.

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Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament

The Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library "Semi-Annual" Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game Tournament was held Saturday, January 31 with 38 students competing. The 8 to 14 year olds "dueled" to win Yu-Gi-Oh card prizes. The Yu-Gi-Oh Club meets once a month on a Saturday. To learn more about the Yu-Gi-Oh Club go to the Teen website at www.smfpl.org/TS.htm.
Alan Lester battles an opponent during a duel.	Tournament judge Daniel Kaib settles a question during game play.

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DVDs: Swimming Pool, House of the Dead, Intolerable Cruelty, The Fighting Temptations, and The Runaway Jury.

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Department News

Adult Services

Evening Book Discussions
The Evening Book Discussion Group with Amy Garrett will be held the following dates at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room:

• Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl - Thursday, March 25
• Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand - Thursday, April 22

For more information, please contact Amy Garrett at 330-688-3295.

Morning Book Discussions
The Morning Book Discussion Group with Chris Caccamo will be held the following dates at 10:00 a.m. in the upstairs meeting room:

• Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg - Friday, March 12
• Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - Friday, April 9
• Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman - Friday, May 14

For more information, please contact Chris Caccamo at 330-688-3295.

New Reference Source
Chapman Piloting and Steamship, 64th edition, by Elbert S. Maloney is a new reference book at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. Boaters have depended on this complete reference since 1917 and for the first time in decades it has been completely revised and expanded. It contains updated information from boating organizations and professionals in various fields, as well as 1,500 illustrations. Chapman Piloting and Steamship is the standard text used by private boating schools and is recommended by the United States Power Squadrons and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for their own public-boating classes.

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 computer class schedule for April will be released Monday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. The class calendar can be viewed at www.smfpl.org/calendar.htm. 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 1:00 - 2:30.

Local History Room

Display Case
The display case outside the Local History Room contains a display on prominent people in Stow Township's history.

To learn more about the Local History Room go to www.smfpl.org/LH.htm.

Young Adults

Chess Club
Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m.

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

Children's

Read Across America Day - Tuesday, March 2 all day.
Celebrate Read Across America Day. Stop by the library and pick up a book on any state in the union. For each book you take home, we'll give you a Dr. Seuss bookmark. No registration required.

Nursery Rhymes and Tales - Wednesday, March 10 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Children ages 5 and up. Nursery rhymes, tales, fables, crafts, songs, and fingerplays! Parents welcome. Registration is required - sign up in the Children's Department or call 330-688-3295.

Puppet Shows, On the Hour - March 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Take a break from your day, and enjoy a puppet performance. The Children's Librarians will be presenting several 5 to 10 minute puppet shows every hour during the day. There will be no puppet show at 1:00. For children of all ages and their families. No registration required.

Please call 330-688-3295 for further information or go to the Children's Department webpage at www.smfpl.org/CS.htm for a complete list of children's programming.

Circulation
Lucky Days
We want to share with you our excitement about celebrating 80 years of service to the Stow and Munroe Falls communities, so we are having "lucky days" at the library. We'll be hiding special symbols in select books on the adult floor. If you're lucky and find one of them in a book you're planning to check out, turn it in at the Circulation Desk for a small prize. Each month's symbol will have an appropriate theme, such as snowmen for January.

We hope you will join us in celebrating 80 years of service and visit the library to try YOUR luck each month!

Drive-Up Window
Don't forget about the Drive-Up Window service at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. This is an especially helpful service during inclement weather! The drive-up window is open during regular library hours and closes 15 minutes before library closing.

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 the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library recently: Ettabelle Schwartz (100,000th check-out of 2004), Janice Zekoski (2,000th window check-out), Marcie Shorter (3,000th window check-out), and Lora Eves (1,000th registration of 2004). Congratulations!

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

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Art on Display
Visit the Corner Gallery to view the 35 photographs from the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District Photo Contest. Winners include First Place: Cascading Into Autumn at Brandywine Falls by Susan Carpenter, Second Place: Cuyahoga River Water Falls by Richard G. Lubinski, and Third Place: New Life in the Beaver Pond by Pam D. Wilson.

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Friends of the Library

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.

If you are interested in joining the 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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Books on Display

"Women - Inspiring Hope and Possibility" is the theme for National Women's History Month, March 2004. "National Women's History Month" is celebrated at the Questions and Directions Desk near the front door with books about prominent women such as Madeline Albright, Eleanor Roosevelt, Gloria Steinem, Harriet Tubman, and Rosalynn Carter. Women in World History, a 17 volume reference set is a great source of information about women who have played important roles in history around the world. To learn about the 2004 National Women's History Month honorees go to www.nwhp.org/whm/2004/honorees.html.

March is also "National Nutrition Month". Books and videos about nutrition are on display near the Information Desk. Books include The Everything Nutrition Book: Boost Energy, Prevent Illness, and Live Longer by Kimberly A. Tessmer, Kathy Smith's Moving Through Menopause: the Complete Program for Exercise, Nutrition, and Total Wellness by Kathy Smith, and Nutrition Almanac by Lavon J. Dunne. Losing Weight Making the Right Choices is a video produced by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. More videos and books on nutrition can be found in the 613 section.

Items on display are available for check-out. Please help yourself.

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Spotlight on Spring

    If March has you thinking of Spring, take a look at some of the materials at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library on gardening, landscaping, and spring cleaning.

    The Everything Gardening Book: Grow Beautiful Flowers, Delicious Vegetables, and Healthy Herbs - Right in Your Own Backyard by Allan A. Swenson, Gardening All-in-One For Dummies by the editors at the National Gardening Association, and Natural Gardening in Small Spaces by Noel Kingsbury are three recently published books about outdoor gardening. Others (including videos) can be found in the 635 section. Gardening topics range from flower and vegetable to gardening to attract butterflies and birds. For those interested in ordering seeds you can now order online from such companies as Burpee at www.burpee.com, Park Seed Company at www.parkseed.com, and White Flower Farm at www.whiteflowerfarm.com.

    Outdoor landscaping books and videos are located in the 712 area. The Everything Landscaping Book: From Planning to Planting, Mulching to Maintenance - Simple Steps to Beautify Your Property by Allan A. Swenson and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Landscaping Illustrated by Joel M. Lerner offer ideas and how-to on basic landscaping for your yard. Pool Scaping: Gardening and Landscaping Around Your Swimming Pool and Spa by Catriona Tudor Erler, Deckscaping: Gardening and Landscaping On and Around Your Deck by Barbara W. Ellis and Landscaping Decks, Patios and Balconies by Jo Kellum.

    If you want to get started on cleaning and organizing your home indoors, the 648 section holds books such as Spring Cleaning: the Spirit of Keeping Home by Monica Nassif and Haley's Cleaning Hints: a Compilation by Graham and Rosemary Haley. Get Organized With Heloise, a book on time management and organization, is located in the New Book section.

    After all that cleaning and planting, it's time to relax with a good book! Fiction books with a spring theme include Death at the Spring Plant Sale: a Gardening Mystery by Ann Ripley, Sharpe's Havoc: Richard Sharpe and the Campaign in Northern Portugal, Spring 1809 by Bernard Cornwell, A Cold Spring by Edra Ziesk, Married in Spring: (three original stories) by Stella Cameron, Bobby Hutchinson, and Sandra Marton, and The Bride of Spring by Catherine Archer.

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Staff Picks

March's staff pick is The Wedding Dress by Virginia Ellis, recommended by PC Technician Judy. This is a story of three sisters in the post-Civil War South who decide to make a wedding dress for the youngest sister. Even though there is no groom in sight and the sisters are very poor, they are helped by kindly neighbors and a surprise visitor. According to Judy, this is the kind of book you curl up with on a cold winter night with a cup of hot cocoa!

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Website of the Month

March's Website of the Month is Info Line at www.infolineinc.org. Info Line, Inc., is Summit County's 24-hour community information and referral service, answering 75,000 incoming calls annually to link people in need of services with the providers of such services. The agency maintains a computerized resource directory of over 1,100 agencies and services for the Summit County area. It is the sole source for comprehensive information and referral, senior information and referral, and child care resource and referral services in Summit County. To access Info Line by phone, simply dial 211.

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