Hey, Check This Out!

THE HOBBIT

J.R.R. TOLKIEN

 

 J.R.R. Tolkien's enchanting prelude to his Lord of the Rings trilogy centers around Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

 

Check it out today! And make sure to look for other Tolkien
works as well, including The Silmarillion and The Book of Lost Tales.

FA LA LA LA LA

 

JOIN US FOR A NIGHT

OF MUSIC AND HOLIDAY SPIRIT

 

 LITTLE MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR

Tuesday, December 11th | 7:00 - 7:30 pm

 

Join us for an evening of warm holiday spirit, brought to us by none other than the musical talents of Little Miami High School's own choir. Lead by the school's choir director, the group will be serenading us with a selection of holiday music sure to warm you right up.

 

 

 

 

Quilts, Quilts, Everywhere!

HAVE A QUILT YOU'D LIKE TO DISPLAY?

 

 

All this month, the library will be accepting quilts from

its patrons to be placed on display. Whether they're old or new,

big or small, we'd like the world to see your work!

Stop by the Circulation Desk today for more information

and to sign-up. And make sure to stop in soon to

 see the wonderfully colorful quilts already on display!

 

Call today for more information | (513) 899-2588

 

 



Halloween Haunts!

October 29th | 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Family Program

Looking for some freaky family fun? Coming October 29th, children and their families can come and participate in all of the spooky fun games and activities we will be having at this year's Halloween Spooktacular!

There will be tricks to play and treats to enjoy!

COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED!



October Fun!

THE GREAT

PUMPKIN CHALLENGE

 

 Beginning October 12th, visitors to the Salem Township Public Library

can drop off their entries for this year's Great Pumpkin Challenge! All you, your

family, and your friends have to do is sign-up at the circulation desk, then dress up and decorate* a pumpkin and enter it in this year's contest. Visitors will then vote for

their favorite entries - the pumpkin with the most votes wins!

 

ENTRY DATES

October 12th-15th

 

VOTING

October 15th-18th

 

DROP IN TO REGISTER YOUR ENTRY TODAY!

 

*NO CARVINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED*

 

Questions? Call us at (513) 899-2588 or stop in today!

READER BEWARE!

 

 

What do the books The Great Gatsby, Gone With the Wind,

and The Lord of the Rings have in common?

THEY HAVE ALL BEEN BANNED

 

Next week, libraries across the nation will be observing the 30th Anniversary of National Banned Book Week (September 30th - October 6th, 2012). Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the value of free and open access to information. Bringing together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular, Banned Book Week focuses on the efforts made across the country to remove or restrict access to books, and draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

 

Want to know what other books have been banned?

You may be surprised. Check out the link below to find out more!

 

http://www.ala.org/bbooks

Computers Don't Byte Classes

Feeling lost in this increasingly digital world? Know someone who does? We're here to help! The ever-popular "Computers Don't Byte" classes are returning to the Salem Township Public Library this October! These classes will teach you all of the basics of using a computer and e-mail.

 

Class numbers are limited, so stop-in

or call the library at (513) 899-2588 to register today!

UPDATE | 9/26/12
Due to lack of numbers, three sessions of Computers Don't Byte have been cancelled. The remaining two classes are listed below. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

 Class 1: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, October 2, 3, & 4 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm

 

Class 5: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, October 16, 17, & 18 | 10:00 am - Noon

Have An Interest for Pinterest?

    Do you have an interest for

 

 

"I saw that on Pinterest!"

"I found this amazing craft idea on Pinterest the other day!"

"Oh, I got this recipe from Pinterest!"

 

Pinterest. Pinterest. Pinterest. You keep hearing about it from your friends, your family, your coworkers, maybe even your kids and grandkids, but you have no idea what it is. It sounds fun, but you're not quite sure how to get started or if it's even something for you.

 

This month the library will be hosting two FREE Pinterest workshops. You'll learn all of the basics, including how to sign-up for an account, search for images, pin and repin images, as well as some neat tricks and tips that Pinterest has to offer.

 

 

Saturday, September 22nd        *Limit of 20 per class*        Tuesday, September 25th

12:30 - 1:30 pm                                  Ages 15+                               6:30 - 7:30 pm

 

Register at the Circulation Desk or

call the library at (513) 899-2588

to reserve your spot today!

 

 

 

Back to School!

 

 

It's that time of year again! Whether you're student or the parent of one, it's time to get back into that school-year schedule. We here at the Salem Township Public Library would like to give you a couple of back-to-school reminders as you enjoy your first day week back and the school year ahead:

 

1. Don't forget to add a library card to your "school supplies" list!

 

A library card is a must-need for you or your child. Each school year, we have a multitude of patrons check-out biographies, documentaries, and other materials to help them with their homework, reports, and other school-related projects. All of these materials and more are yours to check-out, but only if you sign-up for a library card. The best part: they're absolutely FREE! Still not convinced? Sign-up or renew your library card anytime between now and September 29th during our "Show Me Your Card!" drawing and be entered to win a $10 bookstore giftcard!

 

 

2. We are always here to help!

 

Having homework troubles? Need help researching? The Salem Township Public Library offers multiple learning and homework-help resources. This includes "KnowItNow 24x7", a free online service that connects you to a librarian anytime, day or night, to offer you homework help, answer your questions, or simply to find a great book to read!

 

Still have questions? Stop in or give us a call at (513) 899-2588.
We hope to see you soon!

What We're Reading!

Finished that summer reading? Have you found yourself at the end of your booklist? Looking for something to fill that literary void? Read on to find out what we here at the Salem Township Public Library are reading! Check them out today!

Summerland

Elin Hilderbrand

"This novel was very well written. Having read some of Hilderbrand's previous novels, I found this one to have a more in-depth construction of the characters, of the people involved. The author seemed to have a greater emotional insight into the characters, which in turn made them seem far more vivid than in her previous works."

What begins as a local tradition is torn asunder when Nantucket High student Penny Alistair is tragically killed in a car accident, an accident that leaves her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming. As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

by Erik Larson

"I like how the author juxtaposes the lives of the architect and the murderer. They share a lot of the same characteristics: they're both very charming, very intelligent, and passionate with their respective works. It's just very interesting because about half of what the author's writing is from actual letters and correspondances: words that were said, ideas that were real. For example, he mentions that a lot of people have forgotten that there was ever a World's Fair in Chicago, which is true. Its very interesting."

Erik Larson—author of #1 bestseller In the Garden of Beasts—intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

Insomnia

by Stephen King

"As anyone who has extensively read Stephen King knows, Derry is a town with a wickedness beneath its surface. Having just finished It, I was very excited to return to Derry, and this novel does not disappoint. It is not as emotionally engaging as some of his other works, but it definitely more complex and far more intruiging. At times it can feel as if you're lost within the plot, but its important to remember that this is as much an entry into King's Dark Tower series as it is a standalone novel. The spook level? Somewhere inbetween Bag of Bones and Tommyknockers."

Ralph Roberts can't get to sleep. Literally. Ever since the death of his wife, he has been up all night, and its beginning to affect his sanity.  He's seeing some pretty strange things, things no-one else is seeing: colors, auruas, and strange little bald men with scalpels. No wonder he can't get back to sleep. But what Ralph discovers is far more terrifying than anything he could ever dream. You see, Derry is a town that is not at all what it seems and what Ralph discovers about his beloved home will leave him at the center of an apocalyptic war between the forces of good and evil.

A Princess in the Queen City

GUARDING PRINCESS DIANA

A TRUE STORY OF MYSTERY, ADVENTURE, AND ROYALTY

AUGUST 14th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Show More

Autumn 1993. Local detective Rich "Mac" McDonough is quietly enjoying a piece of fried chicken in his office when his phone rings. The caller, a woman, claims that she needs the help of the Shamus Detective Agency of Cincinnati in order to help find the kidnapped son of her childhood friend. "Who is this?" he asks. The answer is incredulous and one he never expected --- Princess Diana of Wales herself!

Come here this incredible true story by Rich McDonough as he reports the tale of a kidnapping and the undercover work, high speed chases, and cross-country flights that followed, all while in the company of the late Princess Diana herself. It is sure to be a night unlike any other.

 

What We've Enjoyed!

Looking for an entertaining read for your little one(s)?

Something to keep you turning the pages late into the night?

Here are a few reccomendations from staff and fellow patrons!

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

 Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

"When Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat, an exciting adventure takes ensues as Trixie realizes 'somebunny' was left behind. Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy's in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong."

ADULT FICTION

"Three Pines Mystery" Series by Louise Penny

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. So begins Still Life, the introduction to what is not only an engaging protagonist in Inspector Gamache, who commands his forces--and this series--with integrity and quiet courage, but also a winning and talented new writer of traditional mysteries in the person of Louise Penny.

2012 Summer Reading Program Finale!



Another year of summer reading has come and gone and it was more than jam-packed full of fun activities, exciting programs, amazing prizes, and lots and lots of books! We hope that you enjoyed participating in 2012's "Dream Big" Summer Reading Program and will join us again next year. We would also like to say thank everyone who did participate and made the program so much fun!

Congratulations to our prizes winners! The luck of the draw was on your side this year as you won one of our many amazing prizes, including Kindle Fires, Nook Tablets, Kings Island tickets, Cincinnati Reds tickets, and more! If you were one of the lucky winners, please stop by the Circulation Desk as soon as possible to pick up your prize.

Still haven't earned that 2012 Summer Reading t-shirt yet? Don't worry -- you have until this Friday, July 27th, to enjoy your remaining materials and earn yours!

Make sure to stop in just as frequently throughout the rest of the year, as we will be having even more fun programs, activities, and prizes to give away this fall and winter!

Summer Reading - Library at Night

Can you believe that we have reached the final week of the 2012 Summer Reading Program already? We sure can't! We hope you've enjoyed dreaming big with us this summer and will join us again next summer! But, before we get all nostalgic, let's enjoy this last week of amazing activities, programs, and crafts! 

Mark Wade's Dream Machine

Monday, July 23, 6:30 - 7:15 pm

Family Program

Wouldn't it be great to have a machine that could make every dream come true?

Ventriloquist, Mark Wade and his friends are going to unveil the Dream Machine!

Shooting Rockets!

Tuesday, July 24th, 11:00 - 11:30 am

Grades K-5

Make a rocket launcher using a paper cut-out, a bendy straw,

and some thread! This craft promises to be a blast!

The Library After Hours

Tuesday, July 24th, 7:00 - 9:00pm

Family Program

*Registration Required*

This is the biggest event of 2012's Summer Reading Program! In celebration of a summer

jam-packed full of great reading and fun, the library will stay open after-hours! Families

can participate in the Ultimate Challenge (similar to the popular "Minute To Win It" game show),

where they can compete in multiple 60-second challenges that escalate in difficulty and fun to win the Dream Prize! There will be monster crafts, fairy & gnome crafts, Library Bingo, and Wii on the giant 8-foot projector screen! Come hungry as we will be serving pizza, popcorn, and drinks!

Summer Reading - Night Shivers

Can you believe that there are only two weeks left in this year's Summer Reading Program? Don't worry though --- anyone can sign up at any time from now until the end of the program and still win any of the amazing prizes the library has to offer. This year's prizes include a "Dream Big" t-shirt, scooters, Kings Island tickets, stuffed animals, as well as Kindle Fires and Nook Tablets! Still not convinced? Read on to find out about all of the fun (and spooky) things we will be offering for the week of July 16-20:

Monster Blow-Out!

Monday, July 16th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Family Program

It's a monster blow-out party, packed full of scary stories, crafts, treats, and more!

No-Scare Monster Pal

Tuesday, July 17th, 11:00 - 11:30 am

Grades K - 5

There is no reason to fear these monsters. They're cute, fun, cuddly, and they'll

be your little one's best friend! A fun monster craft for the nightstand!

Bricks 4 Kidz

Tuesday, July 17th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Ages 5 - 12

*Registration Required - Limit 15*

Think you've got what it takes to be a Bricks 4 Kidz builder? Explore the

creative process of model design and discover how LEGO components can work

together to create all kinds of structures. Games and activities are led by

a Bricks 4 Kidz pary host! LEGO bricks galore!

Lego Build Your Dream!

Friday, July 20th, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Family Program

One hour of free-building fun with your friends and family!

Dream up some great creations!

Summer Reading - Starry Starry Night

We are approximately at the halfway point of the 2012 Summer Reading Program already! If you have yet to sign up, fear not! You can register at any time throughout the course of the program. There are, of course, plenty of activities and programs for you to take part in still, including this week's fun and fantastic programs:

Universe in a Jar

Monday, July 9th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Family Program

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN 16 oz PLASTIC OR GLASS JAR

Ever wanted to bottle the universe and keep it on your shelf?

Well, now you can! Bring one 16 oz clear glass or plastic jar from home

and we'll show you how!

Make Your Own Constellation!

Tuesday, July 10th, 11:00 - 11:30 am

Grades K - 5

Do you love stars? Listen to a starry night story and design

your very own constellation! This craft is "out of this world!"

Hunger Games

Tuesday, July 10th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Grades 6 - 12

*Registration Required - Limit 30*

Think you have what it takes to be declared a victor in the

library's first annual Hunger Games? Crafts, skill stations, Capitol food

and an Arena Scavenger Hunt await our tributes.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Mosaic Dream Monogram

Wednesday, July 11th, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Grades 4 -8

*Registration Required - Limit 15*

Using shiny, glittery gems, beads, buttons, and more, teens will

have a blast creating a mosaic monogram on a canvas banner.

The results are stunning!

Lighted Paper Lanterns

Thursday, July 12th, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Grades 4 - 8

Lighten up your night. Make your own custom paper lanterns!

Summer Reading - Night Adventures

Independence Day is just around the corner, but that's not the only thing. Week four of the 2012 Summer Reading Program is about to begin as well! Read on to find out what events, activities, and programs we will be hosting for next week's "Night Adventures"!

>>>PLEASE BE ADVISED<<<

The library will be closing at 5 pm on Tuesday, July 3rd.

Opening the Door to Dreams

Monday, July 2nd, 6:30 - 7:15 pm

Teens & Adults

Presenter Robin O'Neal Kissel (aka "Robin Ok") will guide

this interactive session where you will learn how to capture, work with,

play with, and honor those nighttime excursions---dreams!

Poppin' Rockets!

Tuesday, July 3rd, 11:00 - 11:30 am

Grades K-5

Little ones will make a poppin' rocket using simple household materials

such as plastic cups and rubber bands. This program promises to be a "blast"!

Lego Build Your Dream!

Friday, July 6th, 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Family Program

One hour of free-building fun with your friends and family!

Dream up some great creations!

Summer Reading - Night Life

Well, folks, we have two weeks down! Have you signed up for the Summer Reading Program yet? If not, hurry in today! You could win one of dozens of our prizes and giveaways, including Nook Tablets and Kindle Fire's! The activities and programs we have for the week of June 25th-29th are as follows:

Glow-In-The-Dark Spider Ball

Monday, June 25th, 6:30-7:30 pm

Family Program

If you're thinking "Eeek---spiders!", fear not! These spiders will not bite and

 are quite friendly. For this program, you will be making creepy,

 but super-easy spider balls. Their glow will haunt you!

Who-o-o-o's There?

Tuesday, June 26th, 11:00-11:30 am

Grades K-5

Who-o-o doesn't love owls?

Your little one's will be making their

own owl crafts to take home!

Bricks 4 Kidz

Tuesday, June 26th, 6:30-7:30 pm

Ages 5-12

*Registration Required- Limit 15*

Think you've got what it takes to be a Bricks 4 Kidz builder?

Explore the creative process of model design and discover how

LEGO components can work together to create all kinds of structures.

Games and activities are led by a Bricks 4 Kidz party host! LEGO bricks galore!

Flashy Fireflies!

Wednesday, June 27th, 4:00-5:00 pm

Grades K-5

*Registration Required - Limit 15*

Who doesn't like catching fireflies? For this craft, your little one's

 will be making fireflies that really light up!

Going Batty Headbands

Thursday, June 28th, 4:00-5:00 pm

Grades K-5

*Registration Required - Limit 15*

Ever feel like going a little batty? Then these headbands will be exactly what you need!

Summer Reading - Night Night

The 2012 Summer Reading Program has officially begun and what a start it has been! Dozens and dozens of you have registered to participate and many more of you have already begun to take full advantage of all of the programs, activities, and crafts that we have to offer. Interested in what is going on this week? Read on!

The Reading Genie

Paul Adams

Monday, June 18th 6:30-7:15pm

Family Program

This family program has comedy, music, storytelling, puppets and more!

The Reading Genie encourages young readers and their families to check out

bedtime stories, books about stargazing, the moon, dreamcatchers,

and even creepy crawlers and things that go bump in the night!

Jumbo Crickets!

Tuesday, June 19th, 11:00-11:30am

Grades K-5

Listen to a nighttime story and make a jumbo-sized cricket to take home!

Fortunately, this cricket won't keep your little one awake at night!

Clifford's Stuffed

Animal Sleepover

Wednesday, June 20th, 4:00-6:00pm

*Recommended ages 3-7 years*

(Drop-off)

Have you ever wondered what happens in the library after we're closed for the night?

We will share our secret world with your stuffed animal friend during this "stuffed animal sleepover". When you drop off one of your stuffed animal friends at the library, you will:

1.) Create a name tag for your stuffed animal

2.) Listen to a story with your stuffed animal

3.) Tuck your animal in for the night

Thursday, June 21st, 12:00-6:00pm

(Pick-up)

You will then pick up your stuffed animal and receive a picture of your friend's sleepover adventure! You will find out what fun mischief your stuffed friend got into during their overnight stay at the library!

Lego Build Your Dream

Friday, June 22nd, 3:00-4:00pm

Family Program

Sixty seconds on the clock! Get ready for fast-paced,

crazy building challenges using LEGO bricks!

There will be free-building fun, too! Stop in and

dream up some great creations!

Summer Reading - Dreams & Wishes

The 2012 Summer Reading Program is just around the corner--literally! Beginning next Monday, June 11th, you can begin signing up for the program and enjoy all of the fun that the program offers. The first week's theme, "Dreams & Wishes", will have lots to offer you. Read on to find out what fun activities, programs, and crafts you can enjoy next week!

Catch a Fairy, Catch a Gnome

Monday, June 11th, 6:30-7:30 pm

Family Program

*Registration Required*

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN 16 oz PLASTIC OR GLASS JAR

Ever been fascinated about capturing a fairy or gnome?

Where would you keep it? What story would your "little treasure" tell?

Capture your own little treasure tonight!

Dreamcatchers

Tuesday, June 12th, 11:00-11:30 am

Grades K-5

Keep the bad dreams and nightmares away!

Create your own dreamcatcher!

Dreamcatcher Bracelets

Wednesday, June 13th, 4:00-5:00 pm

Grades 4-8

*Registration Required - Limit of 12*

Make a dreamcatcher to wear around your wrist!

Wish Upon a Shining Star!

Thursday, June 14th, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Family Program

Make a beautiful shining star out of foil, cardboard,

yarn, tissue paper, and Mod Podge!