Activities in the Children's Department

Celebrate Children’s Book Week! Come to the Children’s Department during Children’s Book Week, November 12-17, and enjoy a variety of FREE daily events in the Book Nook! Daily events include:
· Scavenger Hunt – pick up a Scavenger Hunt anytime during library hours – complete it correctly and receive a FREE library movie rental!
· Crafts – make a bookmark, and help decorate the Book Nook area. Crafts hours are: Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-3pm
· Stories – Enjoy Eric Carle stories each day at 10:30 a.m.
· Balloons – for all kids!

Grand Opening of the Book Nook! Join us on Saturday, November 17, from 10am-1pm for the official grand opening of our Book Nook! This special area is inspired by children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle. Enjoy special activities at the Eric Carle Party, including stories, crafts, treats, and more! Free and open to the public – come and help us celebrate this great new area of the library!

Family Story Hour: Bring your family and friends, and come join the fun at NPL’s Family Story Hours! Family Story Hours take place in the Community Room at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10. No registration is required to attend.

For more information about these and other activities, call the Children’s Department,
454-4668.

Easy & Elegant Holiday Entertaining Program

Join Chef DeAnna Beltz of Kitchen Connection as she serves up some easy and elegant entertaining ideas for the holidays! You’ll sample Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breasts w/Smoked Gouda, Mashed Yams with Apples, Autumn Succotash, and Chocolate-Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars – recipes provided! Join the fun on Monday, November 12, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Registration is required, call 452-1757 to sign up. This FREE event is sponsored by the Friends of NPL.

New Circulation System Coming in December

During the week of December 3, 2007, Normal Public Library will be going to a new circulation system. We believe that we will be able to better serve our patrons with the new Sirsi/Dynix system. We appreciate your understanding and patience as the staff learns the new system.

Computer Classes for Adults Offered in November

Computer classes for adults will be offered from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on the dates listed below. There is no fee, but in-person registration and a $10 per class deposit are required; the deposit will be returned when you arrive for the class or if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. The second date’s content is a repeat of the first. Classes offered include:

Microsoft Word Reports & Resumes: Tuesday, Nov. 6 & Wednesday, Nov. 14
Excel: Creating a Budget Spreadsheet: Wednesday, Nov. 7 & Tuesday, Nov. 13
PowerPoint: Thursday, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15

Sign up in person at the Circulation Desk on the first floor.

Movie Matinee for Adults at NPL

NPL’s Movie Matinee series continues this month at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 15. The featured film is a Hitchcock thriller set in the French Riviera, starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly as an ex-burglar and a rich widow on the trail of a jewel thief. Bring a friend and enjoy the afternoon – free, and snacks provided!

Make a Basic Green Christmas Centerpiece

Indulge your creative side, and make a Basic Christmas Green Centerpiece to brighten your home for the holidays! The staff from Jean’s Flower Basket will guide you in making a fresh evergreen centerpiece. The program is at 2 p.m. Friday, November 30 in the Community Room. A $10 materials fee will be charged, and registration is required – please sign up and pay at the Circulation Desk. (Limit of 20 participants) Participants are also asked to bring garden shears or scissors to cut the branches, and 3-4 small ornaments of your choice. Please contact Mary Lou Lawson at 452-1757 if you have questions.

Teen Advisory Council Activities

A GameFest for teens in grades 6-12 will take place 5-8 p.m. Friday, November 2, at Miller Park Pavilion. Pizza will be sold at $1/slice, and free drinks are provided. Interested teens should sign up at www.bngamefest.org

NPL’s Teen Advisory Council will meet November 8 at 4 p.m. for a book discussion of Vampirates by Justin Somper. All teens in grades 7-12 are welcome, and snacks will be served. For more information, contact Linda Hutchins at 452-1757.

NPL Newsletter Going “Green”

The Town of Normal is encouraging all departments to make an effort to “go green” by recycling and eliminating as much use of paper as possible. With this in mind, Normal Public Library will no longer publish a paper newsletter, starting in January 2008. (A few paper copies will be available at the library)

The newsletter will be available online via the library’s website (click on the newsletter tab at www.normal-library.org). If you do not have access to a computer at home, visit your local public library!

If you choose, you may have the newsletter e-mailed to you: send your e-mail address to Mari McKeeth, Lud19@hotmail.com Please indicate “library newsletter” in the subject line, so that your message won’t be deleted as junk mail. Once you have done this, future newsletters will be e-mailed to the address you have sent.

Please note that if you are a paid member of the Friends of Normal Public Library, you will continue to receive notice of the Book Sales in the mail!

Donate Your Used Books

The Friends of NPL are happy to accept donations of used book throughout the year.
Bring them to the library marked ‘for the Friends book sale’. Please DO NOT leave your book donations at the off-site book drops!! All donations for the sale must be brought in to the library. Thanks!