Need to Make Some Financial Resolutions?

Is it time to tweak your finances? We are offering a Financial Resolutions program for adults on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00pm in the Multipurpose Room. Join guest speaker Marty for tips on how to set and maintain healthy money management habits. Marty is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones in Stoughton. This is a hybrid program with the speaker presenting on ZOOM, so you can join us in-person or virtually. Registration for ZOOM attendees is required, but not needed for in-person attendance.

Looking to explore further?

- Visit the online SHARE catalog to place a hold on one of EFPL's finances books. 

- Check out some of these financial LinkedIn Learning courses. They are FREE with your library card!

MasterClass

 

Did you know that you can take a MasterClass for FREE with your library card? MasterClass has partnered with Prairie Lakes Library System to offer no-cost Annual Memberships to the entire MasterClass platform for one year. (a $180 value) Use your mobile phone, desktop, or smart TV to access online classes taught by the best in arts and entertainment, writing, business, food, home and lifestyle, music, sports and gaming, and more.

How to Get Started:

1. Request an invitation by filling out this Google Form.

2. Then watch for an email invitation from support@email.masterclass.com. Follow the instructions to claim your subscription.

(Free subscriptions are available to our library cardholders on a first-come-first-served basis while supplies last.)

"Raft of Stars"

 Our Antemeridians Book Club is back this month! They will gather on Thursday, April 18 at 10:30am in the Multipurpose Room to chat about Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff. We still have regular and large print copies available at the upstairs desk if you need one to check out. 

If you're wondering what the book is about, here's a short and sweet summary: When two hardscrabble young boys think they've committed a crime, they flee into the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Will the adults trying to find and protect them reach them before it's too late? We hope to see you at Book Club to hear all about what you thought about this book!

If you enjoyed Raft of Stars, Andrew J. Graff's new book True North came out earlier this year. This is a heartfelt novel of marriage and whitewater rafting, following one couple as they navigate the changing currents of family, community, and the river itself.

Have You Tried Kanopy Yet?

Did you know that your library card gives you the ability to stream thousands of movies for FREE? Kanopy is the best video streaming service for quality, thoughtful entertainment. You can find movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films, and educational videos that inspire, enrich, and entertain. Kanopy partners with public libraries to bring you an ad-free experience that can be enjoyed on your TV, mobile phone, tablets, and online. There's a wide variety of options available for all ages. Give it a try today!

Stories you won't believe are true!

Have you ever felt that something that happened to you was so bizaare, nobody would ever believe it was true?  These amazing stories are all true, though some feel a bit like a Hollywood movie.

 

Tell Me Everything by Erika Krouse

Erika has a face that everyone bares secrets to.  When a lawyer finds himself telling her secrets, he offers her a job as a private detective.  Her first case is working on a college rape case that has national implications, but Erika’s own past history threatens her composure and she wonders if she is strong enough to dive into the case.

 

Under the Same Sky by Joseph Kim

Joseph lived as the son of a general in North Korea until he was 5 years old. When his father is exiled, the family is left penniless to starve on the streets. Abandoned by his parents, Joseph survives in street gangs until he finds a path to a better life under a very unusual meeting.

 

Passport by Sophia Glock

A graphic memoir, Sophia recounts her childhood spent traveling with her family, then finding a letter that divulges her parents are CIA agents.  Suddenly questioning everything she thought she knew, Sophia examines her self-identity and all the lies she swallowed as truths.

Unlikely Warrior: a Jewish Soldier in Hitler’s Army by Georg Rauch

At 19, Georg is drafted into Hitler’s army, despite the fact that he is Jewish and admits it to his recruiting officer.  While his mother hides other Jews in their attic, Georg is sent to the front lines, where his fascination with radios comes in handy.  Undergoing tremendous challenges, Georg manages to survive, recounting the battles and injuries he sustains.

 

Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery by Catherine Gildiner

A therapist shares the stories of five clients who overcame incredible odds. A woman who was abandoned with her siblings in the middle of winter, a musician with sexual dysfunction. Five heroes that survived atrocities beyond belief in a gripping read that explores ways to cope with unimaginable horrors.

Spring Break Cat Craziness

 Are your kids a little cat crazy?  We are too!  Don’t miss our Purr-fect Kitty Cat Pawty on Tuesday, March 26 at 2 pm. (During Spring Break week!)  Welcome to a pawty where the kids are the cats!  We’ll turn up the mew-sic and let the yarn fly, with kitty crafts, a mouse toss, and a meowing competition.

We’ll also be bringing out the games for Spring Break! Join us on Wed (March 27) at 2 pm to try our Meta Quest VR games. (Group play available through cell phones with Acron app.) On Thursday (March 28) at 2 pm, we’ll bring out the board games.  Feel free to bring a favorite board game from home if you like.

Do you have a favorite cat book?  Here are some ideas to keep you feline fine:

Picture books

Pete the Cat series by James Dean

Fluffy McWhiskers, Cuteness Explosion by Stephen Martin

Itty Bitty Kitty Corn by Shannon Hale

This Story is not about a Kitten by Randall de Seve

Early Reader

Magic Kitten series by Sue Bentley

Middle School

Warrior series by Erin Hunter

Cat Wings

Evil Secret Society of Cats by Pandania

Max Meow series by John Gallagher

Cat Kid series by Dav Pilkey

Teens

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Adults

Lara the Runaway Cat by Dion Leonard

Hidden Language of Cats: How they have us at meow by Sarah Brown

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen 

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa 

Time Twisters

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and change things? Or be young longer?  Here are a few books that imagine time a bit differently:

 

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

Tom just found work as a high school history teacher, a subject that comes easily to him, as he’s lived through a lot of it.  Born with a medical condition that ages him incredibly slowly, he looks to be in his 40s, but has lived over 5 centuries. Tom has found a secret society of people like him, and they only have one rule: do not fall in love. 

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

When Addie is faced with an unbearable choice, she makes a deal with the devil.  Literally.  She requests  a life of freedom and to live as long as she desires-- in return for her soul. The wish is granted. But wishes have a way of going awry, and her freedom means no one remembers her as soon as she is out of sight. From 1714 France, she continues into present day, determined to make the devil suffer as long as possible.

 

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

Ever have a day you wish you could erase and do over?  Cassandra has the worst day of her life: she is fired, dumped by her boyfriend, and finds out her roommates hate her. Then she discovers she can go back in time and do things differently…

 

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Could you prevent a murder? Jen is waiting for her son to come home when she witnesses a murder. When she wakes up the next day, she is living the day before the murder, then weeks before…  What does she need to know to prevent the murder?

 

Thrust by Lidia Yuknavitch

Laisve is a carrier, someone who can harness the power of objects to move her through time. She uses her gifts to help vulnerable historical figures and to save a world that in her present is destroyed by greed.  A raw, lyrical story about slavery, feminism, immigration, power systems and a world turned upside down.

Delicious Reads: Foodie fiction books you’ll love to savor

 

Do you hunger for a book that dishes up culinary delights?  Whether you’re craving one that inspires you to try new recipes, teases you with tantalizing descriptions, or just make your mouth water, here are a few foodie books to whet your appetite:

 

Recipe for a Charmed Life

Georgia’s dream is to open her own restaurant in France, but when her tastebuds suddenly go bitter, she accepts an invitation to reconnect with her estranged mother.  On a mysterious island, Georgia uncovers a family legacy that make her reconsider her choices.

 

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

(April 2024 release) A food novel by a famous food critic? Yes, please!  Stella is not the adventurous type, but when her mother passes away and leaves her funds for a trip to Paris, Stella follows her request. Culinary adventures combined with museums and an amazing vintage dress lure Stella into stepping outside her comfort zone.

 

Heartburn by Nora Efron

Seven months pregnant, Rachel discovers her husband is in love with another woman. A cookbook writer, she turns to food for comfort.

 

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni dreams of becoming a chef and has talent to spare, but as a high school student with a young child to raise, her path is full of obstacles.

 

Ramón and Julieta  by Alana Quintana Albertson

Stolen recipes and a simmering family feud should make them bitter enemies. Julieta has worked hard to become a celebrity chef and wouldn’t dream of jeopardizing it, but when she meets Ramon, the son of her family’s worst enemy, sparks fly.

March Mixed Bag Book Club

Our Mixed Bag Book Club is back! This is a relaxed book club with the option to pick your own title based on a bi-monthly theme. The group will next gather on Thursday, March 21 at 10:00am.  Our new director, Bronna, would appreciate it if you came with thoughts and ideas on the future of Mixed Bag book club as well as our Antemeridians book club. For March, you can choose any book with a bookstore or library setting. We do have several different options set aside at the upstairs desk for you to choose from. Otherwise feel free to pick whatever sounds good to you. There are so many awesome books out there that take place in a library or book store. Below are some of the titles we have squirreled away. 

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Running the Books by Avi Steinberg

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

Collection Spotlight: Adult Graphic Novels

Did you know that we have a collection of graphic novels for adults? They might be a little tricky to find in the library, but staff would be happy to point you in the right direction. While our collection is still growing, we do have a wide variety to suit your tastes. If you have a certain graphic novel series or author to recommend, please let library staff know!

Likely Stories by Neil Gaiman

Sherlock: A Study in Pink by Steven Moffat

The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Jane by Aline Brosh McKenna

Keeping Two by Jordan Crane

The Phantom of the Opera by Cavan Scott

Wonder Woman: Dead Earth by Daniel Warren Johnson

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

A Boy Named Rose by Gaelle Geniller

Author Spotlight: Heather O'Neill

Our Bookaholics Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30pm to chat about The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill. Please note that from here on out we will be meeting in the Multipurpose Room in the lower level of the Library. Feel free to bring along a snack  or treat to share with the group!

Here's a snippet about the book to get you interested: Two babies are abandoned in a Montreal orphanage in the Winter of 1914. Before long, their talents emerge: Pierrot is a piano prodigy; Rose lights up even the dreariest room with her dancing and comedy. As they travel around the city performing clown routines, the children fall in love with each other and dream up a plan for the most extraordinary and seductive circus show the world has ever seen. 

We have copies of the book available to check out at the Library starting TODAY, so stop on in to grab one. Below are other books by Heather O'Neill.

Lullabies for Little Criminals

The Girl Who Was Saturday Night

When We Lost Our Heads 

Daydreams of Angels

National Library Lovers' Month

February is National Library Lovers month! It's the perfect time to celebrate all the things you love about your library. (Although, we recommend doing that all year long.) Need some inspiration on how to celebrate? You could sign up for a library card, attend a library program, stop in to chat with library staff, use our online resources, come hang out with family or friends, use a study room or computer, and so much more! Another option is checking out a book that features libraries. There are some great options below. However you choose to celebrate, be sure to show your library some love at some point this month!

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn

"L" is for Library by Sonja Terry

The Lady of the Library by Angie Karcher

The Night Library by David Zeltser

The Not So Quiet Library by Zachariah OHora

The Light She Feels Inside by Gwendolyn Wallace

The Library Fish by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Raymond the Buffalo by Lou Beauchesne

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

How Can I Help You by Laura Sims

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Here there be dragons...

 

                                                    Photo by 順平 黃 on Unsplash

Chinese New Year begins on Saturday, Feb. 10^th and this year marks the year of the dragon! To celebrate, we’ll have a Take & Make dragon craft available for kids starting Feb. 5 and a Chinese New Year themed Movers & Makers on Feb. 9^th.  

Want to delve into a fantasyland populated by fire-breathing creatures?  Here are a few of our favorite dragon books:

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

The Last Dragon Chronicles by Chris D’Lacey

Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey

Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer

Travel + History: Historical fiction set in other countries

 

Are you dreaming of escaping Wisconsin’s snowy winter? Travel around the world by book and learn some history in the process with these picks:

 

(India/Pakistan) A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury

(Pakistan) Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam

(France) Paris Housekeeper by Renee Ryan

(France) Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

(Spain) Capitan Alatriste by Arturo Perez Reverte

(Italy) Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran

(Puerto Rico) Daughters of the Stone by Dahlma Llanos Figueroa

A Better World

On Martin Luther King Jr Day, we are reflecting on the kind of world we’d like to see and how to work toward it.   Here are a few books focused on positive steps toward a better future.  What titles would you add to the list?

Think Again by Adam Grant

The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac

Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen 

Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt 

Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future by Cameron Herold

Seeing Others: How Recognition Works—and How It Can Heal a Divided World 

By Michèle Lamont

Community: the Structure of Belonging by Peter Block

Tribe: on Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger

Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World by Fareed Zakaria

MLK Day: Unity in the Community

 

Have you seen all the activities planned in Evansville for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?  If you love a good writing challenge, don’t miss the Library’s “I Have a Dream” Essay Contest! ($25 amazon gift card prize to winning entry!)  Entries are due today (Jan 8), but let us know if you need a time extension, we’d love to read your essays!

On Jan 15, join us at the library at 2 pm to hear an excerpt from MLK’s “I have a Dream” speech, followed by a reading from our essay contest winner. Light refreshments served.

We’ll have an MLK theme for our regular Storytime next week (Jan 17, 10 am).  Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the Community Reads book this year: The Hate U Give”by Angie Thomas.  Copies are available at the library (or to download at home.)  We’ll have a book discussion on Wed, Feb 21^st at 6 pm at the library to delve into the themes.

Other community events include a service opportunity: distributing food at Creekside Place, a food drive, and a reflective labyrinth walk.

 

We are excited to be able to offer the Evansville community a year of Masterclass for free!

The Eager Free Public Library is happy to partner with MasterClass to offer no-cost Annual Memberships to the entire MasterClass platform for one year (a $180 value). Use your mobile, desktop, or smart TV to access online classes taught by the best in arts & entertainment, writing, business, food, home & lifestyle, music, sports & gaming, and more.

Launched in 2015, MasterClass is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s experts. With an annual membership, subscribers get unlimited access to 100+ instructors and classes across a wide range of subjects, including Arts & Entertainment, Business, Design & Style, Sports & Gaming, Writing and more. Step into Kelly Wearstler’s design studio, Ron Finley’s garden and Neil Gaiman’s writing retreat. Get inspired by RuPaul, perfect your pitch with Shonda Rhimes, and discover your inner negotiator with Chris Voss. Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. You can learn on your own terms—in bite-size pieces or in a single binge. Cinematic visuals and close-up, hands-on demonstrations make you feel like you’re one-on-one with the instructors, while the downloadable instructor guides help reinforce your learning. 

Membership numbers are limited, be sure to sign up soon. (First come, first served)  To register:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRBMtRrYr5pB5201MD3BjUsN7rTGrJNZyqTynoKHl9wj4mww/viewform?pli=1

Our grant with MasterClass begins mid-January and you’ll receive an email at that time that will explain how to access the classes.  We hope you enjoy the classes!