Paws to Read Events

More Paws to Read Summer Reading Program 

Upcoming Events - June 24 thru July 3

Minnesota Animal Tracks Program by St. John's Arboretum

Tuesday, June 24 at 1:30 pm - Princeton Area Library

Tuesday, June 24 at 4:00 pm - Cambridge Public Library 

(must pre-register for Cambridge program by calling 763-689-7390)

Join us as we learn about animal tracks through storytelling, activities and create a field guide of Minnesota Animal Tracks to take home with you.  For ages 3-12.  

Hinckley Experiment with Nature Program

Use your sense of wonder to explore nature!  Read a story, ask questions and learn how to be a naturalist through hands-on-activities a the Hinckley Public Library on Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 pm.  For ages 3-12.  Funded by the Hinckley Lions.  

Paws to Read Animal Sleepover at Milaca Community Library 

Chisago Lakes Reach Out 'n' Read Storytime with Pete the Cat

(Sherlock the Fox - ECRL's Mascot will also appear)

"Bear" Necessessities Program at the Pine City Public Library 

Kids in grades K-6 are welcome to join us as the MN Department of Natural Resources teaches us all about bears.

Lake Superior Zoo - Animals in Action 

at Cambridge Public Library

Learn how animals move and groove and meet some animal ambassadors from the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth on Tuesday, July 1 at 1:00 pm at the Cambridge Public Library.  

Rush to Rescue Program at the Rush City Pubic Library 

Join us on Tuesday, July 1 at 3:30 pm as we learn about the Rescued Tails Animal Sanctuary and their work with pairing homeless dogs with prison inmates.  Meet one or more of the dogs being saved through this collaborative effort!

Curious Canines at the Hinckley Public Library

On Wednesday, July 2 at 2:00 pm a naturalist from the St. Croix State Park will teach us about Minnesota's three wild dogs and we'll make a canine mask to take home.

Vickie Sorn

Youth & Community Services Librarian

Upcoming Summer Reading Events at ECRL Branches!

 Upcoming Summer Reading Events at ECRL Branches!

Northwoods Humane Society at Chisago Lakes Area Library 

Check out the Chisago Lakes Paws to Read video, too!

Father's Day Storytime at the Rush City Public Library!

Animal Life Cycles with the Lake Superior Zoo 

at the Pine City Public Library 

Join us on Wednesday, June 11 at 11:15 am – Who hatches from an egg? Who sheds their skin? Students will explore the stages an animal goes through after being born, and how they must learn and develop skills and behaviors in order to survive.  For kids in grades K-6.

Farm Animals Program with the Ambitious Pines 4-H Group

Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at 11:15 am.  For kids in 

grades K-6.

Professor Marvel's Amazing Aussie Adventure 

at the Hinckley Public Library

Our favorite reading magician is back and we're going to the Australian Outback for some "awesome" fun.  Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at 2:00 pm.  The event is funded by the Hinckley Lions.   

Ruff Start Rescue program at Princeton Area Library 

Paws for Poetry at the Cambridge Public Library 

Kids and teens ages 10-18 are invited to join us as we write poems about our favorite pets and/or animals on Thursday, June 19 at 2:00 pm.  To participate sign up at the Cambridge Public Library or call the library at 763-689-7390.

Vickie Sorn

Youth & Community Services Librarian

Save Energy by Checking Out a Power Check Meter

Everyone wants to save energy – whether it’s to lower your monthly bills and/or to help save the environment.  East Central Regional Library has partnered with Xcel Energy to help members of the community learn more about their energy use and determine ways they can save money and conserve energy.

All of East Central Regional Library branches now have a Power Check Meter available for check out by library users.  With the meter you can:

·        * Determine the approximate operating costs of various appliances and electronics

·         *Identify high energy-use appliances

·         *Calculate the cost savings for replacing older appliances with more energy-efficient ones

·      *   Discover which appliances use energy even when they are switched off

In the Power Meter case you checkout you will find the power meter, a brochure with information and quick-start instructions, a manufacturer’s instruction booklet and a USB cable.  ECRL branch staff cannot answers questions about the Power Meters, however, if you need help using the Power Meter you can go to xcelenergy.com/PowerCheck for an instructional video.   To place a hold on a “Power Meter” simply go to the ECRL catalog on our homepage at www.ecrlib.org and type in “power meter” under the keyword search  or call your local ECRL branch for more assistance.  

Watch a video on how to use the power check meter:

Vickie Sorn, ECRL Youth & Community Services Librarian

ELECTION 2008

November 4, 2008 is election day!

You may want to look at the following websites and familiarize yourself with your Federal and State governments. Become an informed citizen!

In this election year you may also need to locate your polling place or view election results.

Check out these sites:

USA.gov

http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml

This is the official website of the Federal Government. Peruse the A-Z index of government departments and agencies. Note the links to State, Local, and Tribal governments. Contact your elected officials, replace vital records, or find out how to apply for a passport. Its all here!

Minnesota North Star

http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=NorthStar

This is the official website of the State of Minnesota. See the various links to state agencies, jobs, education, social services, and natural resources. Find a phone number in the Government Telephone Directory. Look at the "Kids Page" and the resources for "Minnesota Seniors". Or contact the office of Governor Tim Pawlenty!

Polling Place Finder

http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/Default.aspx

Locate your polling place (where you go to vote) in Minnesota. Get maps and directions. Locate a specific district number. Just enter your zip code or county of residence to get started!

Election Center

http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=4

From the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Access voter and candidate information, view election results and statistics. Includes historical facts and figures from past election years!

Above all, don't forget to vote on November 4th!

Bob Gray, Reference and Adult Services Librarian

Library News from Hinckley

"Look What’s Cookin’ at your library" took on a whole new meaning as the delicious smell of stone soup filled the library this past Wednesday, July 2. Of course the soup had lots more than just a stone in it. 10 vegetables, plus beef, pasta, and seasonings were prepared under the watchful eyes of volunteers Michelle Letourneau and Alyssa Prater. After hearing the story "Stone Soup", kids surrounded a table of work stations and were all peeling, chopping, dicing, slicing, grating, or julienning (is that a word?) It was a sight to behold! And then while the soup was cooking, they kept busy with other stories, games, and activities until it was time to sample the yummy results of their labors. Much thanks to those two gals for all the time they enthusiastically put into prep and production.

This week’s event on Wednesday, July 9 will be the "Happy Birthday, Minnesota" party where Lori Klar and Mindy Johnson will help the kids celebrate our state’s sesquicentennial. A special part of this celebration will be stories told of early Minnesota by guest storyteller, Steven Keillor. 150 years deserves a party and details will be in next week’s column.

Winners in the Teen level program for week three were Colton Blesi, Robert Bustamante, and Janiqua Robinson, while week four’s winners were Chris Carlstrom, Erika Winter, and Liz Sikkink. Congratulation to all of you and keep on reading and entering!!!

A new feature this year is a drawing for prizes for parents, or other adults who have been helping their kids participate in the summer reading program. It’s one way to say thank you for all the efforts they have to put in to enhance their kid’s library experiences. Prizes are from the Daily Dollar store, who generously donated a portion of them. Make sure you register when you’re here with your kids!

Holy scavenger hunts!!! The activity around the library gets intense as kids scurry around searching for items or pictures for the various hunts…and this week a new one will begin. This one appropriately has to do with the great state in which we are all fortunate enough to live in.

Ceci Cross-Maser, Hinckley Branch Librarian