Check it Out! A NEWSLETTER SPONSORED BY FRIENDS OF THE WATERTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
WINTER 2016 by Jan Runge
As I write this the sun is shining and it looks like a winter wonderland out there. I don't
know about you but I am not going to be fooled by a little sun in February. The temperature is in the lower teens, but hopefully you have a warm place to curl up with your favorite library item. Our library has a lot more for you than books. You should "check it out." For those of you who like to plan ahead there are many Friends of the Library Happenings coming up. Once again we would like to invite you to a taste of Watertown as the Friends serve up delectable treats at Glenn's Brat Haus on Friday April 22nd. The featured brat is bacon cheese...doesn't that just make you think of warm weather? As we fire up our imaginations for spring, join us on Saturday May 14th, for our second annual plant sale/
exchange. But by far the most interesting event this spring will be an author visit by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff, who wrote the biography of Rose Kennedy, a long time resident of St. Coletta's, entitled: The Missing Kennedy. Please join us at the Elks on May 17th. More information about this event will be available. As we look even further ahead to fall we have set the date for our annual Friends Used Book Sale: Sept. 14-18. We hope to see you there, and at all of our happenings.
CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK APRIL 10-16
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the President’s Desk Library Expansion Update Used Book Sale Teen Corner Author Event Recap Upcoming Events Library System Merger Children’s Department News Introducing Bridget Kenney Social Media Update Ceiling Tiles Friends FRIENDS OF THE WATERTOWN LIBRARY OFFICERS JAN RUNGE PRESIDENT JULIE CRNKOVICH VICE PRESIDENT CATHY HOOF SECRETARY TOM O’CONNOR TREASURER DEBBIE BROWN MEMBERSHIP KIM ELLER & FAMILY BOOKSALE CHAIRPERSON CARLA OESTREICH LANDSCAPE CHAIRPERSON JEANNIE HIGGINS MARSHA LOEB MEMBERS AT LARGE JULIE OLVER MEDIA COORDINATOR
LIBRARY EXPANSION UPDATE The Library Board of Trustees met with architects from Studio GC on Thursday, February 11 for their first look at updated drawings for the library expansion. Rick McCarthy and the Studio GC team updated the drawings based on feedback received from the community meeting in January and from feedback from the feasibility study conducted in 2015. The new drawings show dramatic change to the front and back facades of the building with a shift in design to reflect Watertown’s historic downtown architecture.
by Peg Checkai 2018. According to the architects the library would be accessible during construction, although access and space may be periodically changed to accommodate construction work. The total project budget, not including the acquisition of property or existing building demolition, is estimated at $10,314,462. Library trustees and architects from Studio GC will meet in March with the council of the whole to present the updated drawings and discuss the project.
Inside, plans still include a venue for public events and performances, dedicated space for Children’s Room programming, gallery space to highlight local artists and traveling art displays, meeting rooms, and public internet computers. The expansion project would add 22,710 sq. ft. to the current library structure. The last library expansion was completed in 1984. A very tentative timeline for the project was discussed with library trustees. If constructive begins in March 2017, the library would be ready for full occupancy around September
Updated drawing for the library expansion.
USED BOOK SALE A SUCCESS!
by Jan Runge
This September we turned the page on the 2014 chapter of the Friends of the Library Book Sale. The Used Book Sale is the major fundraiser for the Friends, and the money that is generated is used to purchase items and programs for the library. Thanks to all the people who helped make this sale one of the best ever: Bill Jannke, The Grosenick Family, Walt Vogeli, Pat Cunderman, Pat Groth, The Zelinski Family, Joan
Doyle, Ron Aygarn, Regina Thompson, David and Pat Francoise, Rita Nolte, Ken Riedl, Cathy Hoof, Janet Hoeft, Jeanine Mallach, Cathy Kerwin, Debbie Brown, Tom O'Connor, Louise Dietrich, Marsha Loeb, Jeanne Higggins, Bob and Donna Schhmutzler, Kay Ferguson and Peg Checkai (our wonderful Library Director). How could w ever get the thousands of books sorted and put on tables without the help of the Eller Family: Kim Isabelle, Gabby and Isaiah. You deserve extra credit for all the work you do. Wow, that was one long list wasn't it? We are very lucky to have so much help. This was the third year that we had a bake sale along with our book sale. What a success that was! Thanks to all of the Friends members who donated baked goods, including many of the library staff, and Kohl's Department Store for their generous grant. Our event....Everything Goes for Free on Sunday... was a great success as well. In case you missed that happening be sure to stop by this year. We can't promise that the special title you are looking for will be there, but there are bargains, and the price is right.
TEEN CORNER
by Kim Hiemstra
This winter has been my first at Watertown Public Library, and it has been a busy one! At the end of last fall, myself and 2 wonderful coworkers walked down to Towne Cinema with roughly 35 teens and watched The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, which was a huge hit. The connection made between the teen department and Towne Cinema has been continually thriving with gifts of movie posters, great deals on movie showings for teens, and donations of movie tickets toward programs. I am looking forward to upcoming opportunities of continuing our relationship with Towne Cinema in the months to come! December held our Holiday Party, where great fun and good cheer was had by all. January was a month preparing for Love your Library with various activities and decorations, and February brought the ever-so-popular Anti-Valentine’s Party. We also had a Teen Bake Sale over Valentine’s Day weekend, where we raised a very profitable amount. For Love Your Library month, Bridget (the Children’s Librarian) and I created a display upstairs in the youth room where patrons can jot down reasons why they love their library on hearts, which in turn are hung up on the wall; this has been a fun way to see reasons why people enjoy our library specifically. During the winter, I started up both a Middle School and High School book club, and we are currently meeting once a month; I am looking forward to seeing this expand in the coming months as well! We are all looking forward to the Summer Reading Program with the theme of “Get in the Game… READ!” Please keep up to date with our upcoming programs, activities and occurrences on our library Teen page or on our Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/watertownpubliclibraryteens.
AUTHOR EVENT RECAP
by Jan Runge
We were honored to host Watertown's own Fran Milburn as our featured author this past November. Lyon's Irish Pub was the backdrop for an entertaining evening as Fran told us many personal stories related to her writing. About 60 people enjoyed a libation of choice and snacks, as we began to understand all of the effort it takes to be published. You notice I say we began to understand. You thought that writing a book was the hard part. Not so! Many of you know Fran as a retired teacher at Riverside. During her years at the middle school she wrote a youth novel, Pizza Highway, which was used in the district. Fran's works, Hundred Dollar Cat, Roscoe's Treasure, and most recently, Clothesline Messages, have appeared in the Watertown Daily Times as serials.
Fran Milburn (left) and Louise Dietrich (right)
In case you missed Fran, you can catch her at the library running a writer's workshop on March 15th from 6:00-7:30. Stop by the library or call for more information.
SAVE THE DATE! SPECIAL AUTHOR EVENT MARK YOUR CALENDAR Mark your calendar for these upcoming events. Check out our Facebook page for updates. Brat Sale Glenn’s Market (722 W Main St) Friday, April 22 11 a.m. Order forms available at the library Second Annual Plant Sale/ Exchange Watertown Public Library Saturday, May 14 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Special Author Event (see article this page)
Elk’s Lodge (117 N 1st St) Tuesday, May 17 Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. Speaker at 7 p.m. Friends’ Used Book Sale Watertown Public Library Members Only Wednesday, September 14 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 15 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 16 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday, September 17 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sunday, September 18 12 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Everything goes for free on Sunday!
by Peg Checkai
Friends of the Library is excited to announce that author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff will visit Watertown on Tuesday night, May 17th to share insights and stories from her book The Missing Kennedy: Rosemary Kennedy and the Secret Bonds of Four Women. In this insightful and poignant memoir, based in part on Sister Paulus' private notes and augmented by over one-hundred never-before-seen photos, Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff recalls the many happy and memorable times spent with the missing Kennedy. Sister Paulus was Elizabeth's Wisconsin aunt and for thirty-five years Sister Paulus was Rosie Kennedy's caregiver. (Amazon) The Friends of the Library and Watertown Library will be co-hosting the event, which will be held at the Elks Lodge in Watertown. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase her book and chat with the author during the book signing. Watch for more details at the library and on the Friends of the Library Facebook page!
MERGER BRINGS NEW RESOURCES
by Peg Checkai
The merger is complete! The 8 public libraries in Jefferson and the 16 libraries in Waukesha County have joined together to create the Bridges Library System. The merger provides access to a larger collection of materials (2.3 million) and more databases. Your Watertown Public Library card can be used at all libraries in both counties…no need to get another card if you travel to Oconomowoc or Delafied. The merger comes with some new resources for Watertown patrons! New databases include Gale Courses: Online Instructor-led Courses, Flipster Digital Magazines, Rosetta Stone Foreign Language resource, JobNow Career Preparation and Morningstar Investment Research Center. We still provide access to library favorites; Consumer Reports, Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and Reference USA. If you would like further information about all of our databases, please visit the library website at www.watertownpubliclibrary.org and click on the Resource tab at the top of the page. If you haven’t used the library in a while, now might be a good time to dust off your card and stop in for a visit.
WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHILDREN’S DEPARTMENT First and foremost, I would like to thank you, the Friends of the Watertown Public Library, for all that you do, especially for the Children’s Department. You have made my first few months in this job an easy transition! Our Winter Reading Program is nearing its end and we have had a fantastic turnout this year! Along with weekly prizes, we offered three very fun grand prize baskets: board and picture books for infants and toddlers; early readers and chapter books for kindergartners and elementary age participants and a ‘Family Fun’ night basket! This being my first time running the Winter Reading Program, I am very happy with the response from our patrons! We also held several exciting programs, a few of which were new, that helped to cure some of those winter blues. Back by popular demand was Beth Mueller and her great program ‘Read, Rhyme, Rhythm!’, which focuses on books, music and movement. New this winter was the Bookworm Reading Club, for 4K2nd graders, and the Game Club, a program I ran in conjunction with Kim (our Teen Librarian), that offered opportunities to play different board games and Wii and Wii U games. We are excited about expanding this program in the summer and offering more opportunities for kids and teens to participate in technology-based programs.
by Bridget Kenney
Coming up soon is another new program – Super Sleuths! If you love mysteries and enjoy a good scavenger hunt, then you won’t want to miss this fun program. Sign up or come by on Sunday, February 28th at 1:00pm for some fun that would even make Sherlock Holmes jealous! We are also planning a Leap Day Party! On Monday, February 29th, we plan to celebrate the day that only comes around once a year with frog-themed games, crafts and other activities from 3-6pm!
Before you know it, summer will be here, which can only mean one thing…the SUMMER READING PROGRAM! The theme for the children’s program this year is On Your Mark, Get Set…Read! Keeping with that fitness theme, we will have Beth Mueller back in July with her program ‘Read, Rhyme, Rhythm!’, as well as more great programs! Mike & Mike, a variety and comedy show will be here on June 18th and Magic Morgan will return this summer on July 23rd! Also, Duke Otherwise, a fantastic musician will be here on July 9th and Mike Schneider will bring his Pint-Size Polkas here on August 1st.
INTRODUCING CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN, BRIDGET KENNEY Bridget hails from the state of Indiana, born and raised in Indianapolis, and is the oldest of 5 kids. She has wanted to be a librarian since she was in the 8th grade and followed that dream all the way to Boston, where she earned her MLS from Simmons College. From there it was on to Chicago, where she began her first library job and met her future husband, Ryan, whom she will be marrying this summer! Ryan and Bridget currently reside in Pewaukee with their lovable, but very spoiled Greyhound, Steve. Bridget is a diehard Indiana sports fan – Hoosiers, Colts and Pacers, which makes it a little difficult to live in Wisconsin, but she has really enjoyed getting to know all about Watertown and meeting so many new faces! Stop by the Children’s Room and say hi, her door is always open!
CONNECT WITH US The Friends of the Library group is now on Facebook and Twitter. Please give us a like or follow for updates on Friends of the Library!
We also have a new website. More content is coming soon, but in the meantime, check us out at friendsofthewpl.org.
facebook.com/watertownlibraryfriends
@FriendsoftheWPL
COME CHECK OUT OUR CEILING TILES!
The next time you’re in Meeting Room 1 of the library, make sure you look up
at the ceiling and check out our newly painted ceiling tiles. The tiles, painted by local artists from the high school, feature scenes from children’s literature favorites.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY MEMBERS Thanks so much to all of the following people who have renewed or joined the Friends of the Library recently. We appreciate your support. Remember, all of our memberships are up for renewal on September 1st. We now have 259 members! If you would like to receive your newsletter via email, please mail to:
[email protected]. FRIEND - $10.00
SUSTAINER - $50.00
Shelly Jannke, Ann Steckling, Charlotte Johns, Connie Wanke, Wendy King, Barb Tessmann, Donna Else, Esther Else, Richard Dunham, William Jannke, Lisa Stafford, Janet Sayre Hoeft, Lisa Gross, Chase Hanson, Judy Kohls, Julie Olver, Dawn Westenberg, Carole Schumacher, Jan Hoddy, Lana Jilek, Linda Travis, Kay Ferguson, Keith Pajot, Cathy Gurnee, Patty King, Terri Crum, Mary Radford, Kathy Sorenson, Leon Lord, Frank Riojas, Andrew Murphy, Eric Glass, Harold Sack, Dave Hingtgen, Brittany Hutchinson, Aaron Cronk, Sharry Lueck, Rita Nolte, Jeannine Mallach, Cathy Kerwin, Pat Cunderman, Tiffany Highstrom, Matt Brody, Ryan Gadwood, Margaret Amthor, Ellen Bohn, Debi Boehme, Deb Richter
Lynn & Vern Tucker, Cassandra Schug, Jeanne & John Higgins, Koplin Excavating & Grading Inc., Dale & Carla Oestreich, Fran Milburn & Lee Buescher, Katherine Ammon, Schmutzler & Vick Funeral Homes Inc., Kiwanis Club of Watertown, Larry & Susan Schultz
FAMILY - $15.00 Karen & David Surges, Duane & Prudence Mandel, Bob & Mary Noon, Ruetten Family, Cliff, Pat & Charlotte Groth, Doug & Judy Rosenow, Gantner Family, Beth & Terry Lundsten, Betty Mullen, Phyllis Hapke, Todd & Mary Zellinski, Roger & Nancy Klein, Dorothy & Dick Field, Bob & Diane LaPoint, Ralph & Margaret Krueger, Erin O’Neill & Kelly Lynch, Bonnie & Dick Gallup, Georgi Freimark, Richard & Lynne Uttech, William & Deborah Brown, Diane Fontaine, Patricia & David Francoise, Schaller Family, Tom & Cathy Hoof, Ron Aygarn, Ramona Rihn, Scott Carson, Elaine Milewski, Dave Griffin, John & Gladys Ebert, Bob & Donna Schmutzler, Beth & Randy Mueller, John & Jane Aschenbrenner, Gunderson Family, Ron & Sue Fendt, John & Chris Maas, Margaret Luchsinger, Dick & Nancy DeCono, Fred & Karen Gustafson, Mike & Jan Detrie, Bishop -Garbelman Family, Walt & Shirley Voegeli, Dick & Marie Miller, Tony & Katherine Arnett, Mark & Sue Putra, Bob & Bonnie Sell, Candy Stramara, Mike & Ellen Klaus, Dulcinea Galaviz PATRON- $25.00 Roger & Phyllis Block, Randy Roeseler, Carolyn Schloemer, Sally Mundt, Jackie Brunk , Bob & Bea Krueger, Harriet Schwoch, Susan Brock, Tom & Sue O’Connor, Patricia Peterson, Ramona Hackbarth, Julie & Wes Crnkovich, Kim Gilligan & James Kuehl, Fred & Cindy Gremmels, Tom & Mary Schultz, Joan Doyle, Paul & Sue Edison-Swift, Darlene Schultz, Joan Hinze, Jerry & Deborah Vomhof, Karen & Roger Prickette, Sheila & Donnell Geib, Daley Painting & Decorating, Alice & Walter Mirk, Larry & Cheryl Crawford, Carol Voss, Sue & Don McNaughton, Dewayne & Anne Roberson, Vivian Bogenschnieder, Don Christensen
BENEFACTOR - $100.00 Lyle Lidholm, Mary Rohr, Pat & Ron Ziwisky, Kay & Aden Ward, Phyllis Weeden, Marsha & Bruce Loeb, Neuberger, Griggs, Sweet & Smith LLP, Judith Draeger, Peg & Joe Checkai AMBASSADOR – $250.00 Randy & Sandra Neuser BUSINESS - $500.00 A huge thank you to Rotary Club of Watertown for $1,000.00. LIFE MEMBERS While we no longer offer new life memberships, we will always honor the membership of Life Members. We thank those who continue to be generous over the years. Grace Bentzin, Lorene Bloomer, Susan Budewitz, Elizabeth & Polk Burleson, Peg & Joe Checkai, Thomas Cignek, Bruce & Diane Cochrane, Anne Cooksey, Catherine Desmond, Louise Dietrich, Gary Ellias, Dr. Cary Gillingham, Michael George Hertel, Judy Hoffstetter, Irene Hohman, Ellen Holden, Karen Jaehrling, Bill & Marilyn Knowles, Jean Kwapil, Tom & Karen Kwapil, Russell & Amy Maki, Art & Maggie Marquis, Ralph & Marlene Meiers, Marian Moran, Janet Mueller, Jamey& Karen Quinn, Susan Rule, Wayne & Pat Simon, Andrea Turke, Dr. Fred & Cindy Gremmels
BE A FRIEND If you would like to join Friends, please mail the completed form with a check made out to: Friends of the Watertown Public Library 100 South Water Street Watertown, WI 53094 Are you a current friend? Memberships come due in September. Thank you!
Library Hours Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. WATERTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 SOUTH WATER ST WATERTOWN, WI 53094 watertownpubliclibrary.org
