Appleton Public Library Abbreviated Homepage Feed

Summer Hours Begin May 25

tbabler — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:09 +0000

Wed, May 22, 2013

Our summer hours begin Saturday, May 25. We will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

We will also be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. We will reopen Tuesday, May 28 at 9:00 a.m.

Summer Reading Programs at APL

tbabler — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:43:45 +0000

Wed, May 1, 2013

Starting June 10 we kick off one of the busiest and most exciting programs of the year, the Summer Reading Program!

This year we will continue to offer the children's program, the teen program and the adult program, as well as last year's new family reading program. We will also be offering a new baby and toddler program this summer.

While the program doesn't actually begin until June 10, you may register for the Summer Reading Program online or at any service desk beginning today. For more information about this year's programs, please see the Summer Reading Program webpage or visit any of our service desks.

Check out our cover story from last year's Summer Fine Print, which highlights the importance of summer reading, and don't forget to register today!

LinkWISCONSIN Information Gathering

tbabler — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:42:43 +0000

Thu, Apr 25, 2013

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) needs your input to help improve high speed Internet connectivity in Wisconsin. The PSC is looking to assess the broadband needs and gaps in our state with the goal of being able to provide data to providers and policy leaders at the local and state level for future broadband planning.

A team of regional leaders has been working with the PSC and LinkWISCONSIN to improve broadband in the state, and your input will help them identify where there may be a need for improved service or learn lessons about best practices in areas where service is adequate.

Your input will be used in two ways: 1) locations will be mapped to show adequate service, inadequate service or unmet demand for high speed Internet; 2) submissions will be used to communicate needs to the provider community.

The PSC is asking for a few minutes of your time to complete a survey regarding your current and future broadband usage and needs at home. Please consider completing the online survey. If you would like to fill out this survey for your business, please complete this survey.

To receive a hard copy of the survey by mail, please call (608) 267-2338. Please complete only one survey per household. The survey deadline is May 15, 2013. For more information about the LinkWISCONSIN project, please visit their website or email pscstatebroadbandoffice@wisconsin.gov.

Teens Take a Break: May

tbabler — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:57:20 +0000

Tue, Apr 23, 2013

Check out what we have scheduled for you this May - you won't want to miss out on a single program!

May 7 | Cans Into Holders
Upcycle and customize a can into holder for pens, loose change, or whatever, that you won't mind seeing on your desk.

May 14 | Game Break
Videogames, board games, card games - take your pick, grab a soda, and hang out for a relaxing, competitive evening of gaming.

May 21 | U-Pick Movie Night: Questionable Athletes
Bring your own burrito to watch one of these alleged sports comedies: Talladega Nights, Balls of Fury, Blades of Glory, or Happy Gilmore. Raise your hand high when you vote for the movie of your choice, or an alligator might take off your hand.

All programs start at 6:30pm and are in the lower lever meeting room, unless otherwise noted.

May 2013 Teen Programs

Community Conversations Phase II

tbabler — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:56:13 +0000

Fri, Apr 19, 2013

We invite you to participate in the planning for future growth of public library services. Next week, April 22-27, an experienced facilitator will conduct five focus groups to gather data pertaining to what our community envisions for future services at APL. The focus groups are a follow-up to the Community Conversations conducted in April of 2012. For more information about Community Conversations Phase II, please call (920) 832-6170.

Below is the schedule for Community Conversations: Phase II.

Millennial Generation Focus Group - Monday, April 22 | 6:00-7:30 pm
Business Person Focus Group - Wednesday, April 24 | 7:30-9:00 am
Candid Focus Group - Wednesday, April 24 | 3:00-4:30 pm
Creatives Focus Group - Wednesday, April 24 | 6:00-7:30 pm
Dads Focus Group - Saturday, April 27 | 9:30-11:00 am

Registration is required for each focus group. To register, please click on the focus group you would like to attend and fill out the online form or call (920) 832-1695. All meetings will be held at the Appleton Public Library.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

tbabler — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:05:00 +0000

Tue, Apr 16, 2013

Please join us in celebrating Will & Ruth Bloedow, recipients of this year's Paul and Elaine Groth Mentoring Award. Will Bloedow is a member of the Appleton Public Library Board of Trustees.

Will & Ruth never stop contributing to the community and are true beacons of volunteerism. Thank you Will & Ruth for all you do to help improve our community!

Celebrate National Library Week

tbabler — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:54:43 +0000

Sun, Apr 14, 2013

April 14-20 is National Library Week and APL along with many other libraries across the country are celebrating the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians.

This year's theme, Communities Matter @ Your Library, couldn't be a better fit for APL. Here at your library we strive to bring you high-quality programming with partners from all over the community. Check out some of our community-based programming this week:

April 14 | 2:00-2:45pm
Play and Learn: Hmong Edition

April 15 | 6:30-7:30pm
Applying to College and Acing the Admissions Process

April 16 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Creative Journey

April 17 | 4:00-5:30pm
Charlotte Adelman - The Midwestern Native Garden

April 18 | 6:30-8:30pm
Alison McGhee - The Art of Writing for Children

April 19 | 4:00-6:00pm
Geoff Herbach - The Story of Stupid Fast

April 20 | 3:00-5:00pm
Holly Harden - The Way I See It

We don't just offer high-quality programming at your library, we also have an array of other excellent services. Some of those services include:
• free WIFI (thanks to the Friends of Appleton Public Library)
• online Staff Picks as well as a display near the front entrance
• free databases including; Zinio, the world's largest digital newsstand, Mango to help you learn a new language and Ancestry so you can finish putting together your family tree
• free ebooks and audiobooks
• free meeting rooms for use by community groups for presentation of informational, educational, or recreational meetings
• and much more!

Have you had the chance to check out our Facebook page yet? We keep you up-to-date on our latest programs, services and more. Make sure to "Like" our page today!

Please join us this week in celebrating all the library has to offer and share with others why you love your library!

Be a Friend!

tbabler — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:53:15 +0000

Tue, Apr 9, 2013

Be a Friend of Appleton Public Library – and you strengthen one of our most important resources. Appleton needs a strong library more than ever before, and we cannot be strong without your support. Consider these areas and so many more which have been assisted by Friends funds:

Reading Readiness and Family Literacy Education
Appleton Ready to Read reaches out to the underserved Hmong population with books and activities which help parents become their child’s first teacher. Family R.E.A.D. (Read, Eat, and Discover) (page 4) joins with Bemis Foundation, FVTC’s Even Start Literacy, and a variety of local food service organizations to provide dinner, story-hour, and conversations for the whole family.

Music and Fine Arts
Fox Valley Music Teachers recently completed their successful fundraising for a community piano donated to APL with help from Friends of APL, Heid Music, and hundreds of community contributors. APL’s Music @ the Library provides scores of local musicians with a stage, and hundreds of community members with concerts twice a month.

Authors, Writing, and Conversations
From Richard Louv, this year’s Fox Cities Reads’ author, to numerous children and adult 2013 Fox Cities Book Festival authors, APL joins other local libraries in facilitating visits and important conversations with appealing writers.

Quiet Reading Area
There’s now a warm sunlit area on APL’s second floor for silent reading of newspapers, magazines, books, and e-books. Those comfortable reading chairs were purchased thanks to Friends’ funding.

Technology
Reading is evolving. E-books, Kindles, iPads, Nooks – can be explored hands-on at APL with a librarian’s helpful guidance. And, thanks to Friends’ funding years ago, APL was the first public library in Wisconsin to offer free WiFi.

Friends’ mission is to expand APL’s capacity to serve our entire community. Your support strengthens Appleton Public Library and all the library does.

If you wish to make a donation to Friends of Appleton Public Library you may do so in person by stopping at any of the service desks or online here. Whatever level of support, whatever you can do to sustain this essential community treasure, we thank you.

2013 Fox Cities Book Festival

tbabler — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:01:03 +0000

Mon, Apr 8, 2013

The 2013 Fox Cities Book Festival is almost upon us! This year’s Festival will run from April 17 through April 24, and will feature nearly 50 writers and more than 60 events. Activities include book talks, readings, poetry panels and workshops.

Here at APL, we have 17 special events planned for you; including a craft talk and reading by Holly Harden, a visit from wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela and a discussion with this year's Fox Cities Reads author Richard Louv. View all the events at APL by clicking on the photo to the left or by opening the PDF below.

Be sure to keep checking the Fox Cities Book Festival website and Facebook page for special announcements and updates. You can also receive updates from the Fox Cities Book Festival Committee via email by signing up for e-alerts.

2013 Fox Cities Book Festival Schedule

Money Smart Week @ Your Library

tbabler — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:49:14 +0000

Thu, Apr 4, 2013

April 20-27 is Money Smart Week at your library! Money Smart Week (MSW) is a series of free classes and activities designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances.

This year we have three special programs planned for MSW.

The ABC's of Retiring
April 24 | 4:00-5:00pm
Presented by Kate Thome, President of Thome Benefit Solutions, LLC. Kate will address the challenges of possible retirement; income needs and how to efficiently use the multiple sources and forms of retirement income, including Social Security, Pensions, Annuities, and personal investment accounts.

The Sandwich Generation: Financial Considerations
April 25 | 4:00-5:00pm
Presented by Megan Stumpf, Investment Advisor Representative, Legacy Investment Services, Inc. Megan will address and discuss financial considerations when caring for your children and parents.

The Big Read
April 27 | 10:00-10:40am
Join us for a storytime featuring the book A Dollar for a Penny. Registration is required - please register by calling the UW-Extension at (920) 832-5123 or online here. Every child who registers and attends the Big Read will receive a free book!

Money Smart Week - Adults

Money Smart Week - Kids