Thank You For Reading!

Thank you to all of our loyal readers here at the Solon Library blog. After much consideration, we have decided to temporarily stop creating new posts for this blog. There is a chance we could revisit it in the future, but for now, the best way to get information about what is going on at the library is to visit our website (www.solon.lib.ia.us) or like us on facebook.

New DVDs at the Library

Here is a list of new titles that are available to check out or put on hold. 50/50 The Big Year Drive The Ides of March In Time Martha Marcy May Marlene The Mighty Macs Moneyball Real Steel The Rum Diary Take Shelter The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn The Whistleblower If you are interested in any of these titles, contact the library and we can put them on hold for you.

Last Chance to Enter the Oscar Contest

This Saturday, February 25 is the deadline to turn in your guesses for the 2nd Annual Predict the Oscars Contest. Entry forms are available at the library. Fill out your guesses for who will win and you could win a fabulous prize package worth $40! For more information, visit the library.

Babygarten Starts This Week

Don't forget that Babygarten starts this Wednesday at 9:30 am. Babygarten is designed for infants ages 0-24 months and their caregivers. The beginning of the program consists of rhymes, songs, and fingerplays, which is followed by a period of free play. No registration is required, so come on over to the library for this very fun program.

New Audiobooks

For those of you who commute to work, have a big trip planned, or just like to listen to books around the house, here are some recent additions to our audio collection. Taken by Robert Crais A Grown-up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson The Hunter by John Lescroart Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George 7 Money Rules for Life: How to Take Control of Your Financial Future by Mary Hunt Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell Scarecrow Returns by Matthew Reilly

Looking For E-Books?

We have had lots of people coming in to the library asking if we have e-books here. The answer is "YES WE DO!" If you have a new e-reader, you can download e-books from our website by clicking on the Neibors link on the homepage. Neibors has e-books and audiobooks available for download to your computer or your e-reader devices. If you need help downloading e-books, feel free to stop by the library where we have step-by-step guides available.

Guest Reviewer Skylar

Title: The Island: Shipwreck Author: Gordon Korman Summary: Six kids, Nick, J.J., Will, Lyssa, Charla, and Ian, are thrown together against their will on a small boat that will make a one-month journey on the Pacific Ocean. The six must learn to work together to survive a vicious storm and a shipwreck that places them in the middle of the ocean with no food, no water, and almost no hope for survival. Skylar Says: I liked that there were kids. I didn't like that two kids got lost.

Early Out Activity This Thursday

This Thursday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm we have an early out craft program at the library. This week we will be making mobiles and colored paper cutouts. Early Out activities are open to all Solon students and there is no registration necessary. Parents are responsible for getting their children to and from the library after school.

Babygarten Starts on February 22nd

Babygarten returns to the library for six weeks starting on Wednesday, February 22 and lasts until March 28. The program meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 and lasts about 45 minutes. During the program, infants and their caregivers will share nursery rhymes, songs, and books followed by twenty minutes of free play. Babygarten is intended for infants ages 0-24 months. No registration is required! For more information about Babygarten, contact the library or email Miss Jennifer at jleveck at solon.lib.ia.us.

New Display at the Library

Our wonderful volunteer Toni has done it again and created a lovely display for the library. Her newest creation is called "Snowbound: A Garden in Winter" and is dedicated to the Solon Garden Club. So visit the library this month to see her elegant display. It will be available to visit through March 10.

Book Sale Today

Make sure to stop by the Friends of the Library book sale today! It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and there are over 4,000 books available. There are also cake pans, music cds, and puzzles for sale. Most items are $.50 and below.

Friends of the Library Winter Book Sale

The Friends of the Library is having their 2nd Annual Winter Book Sale on Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The sale will include around 4,000 used books as well as a collection of music CDs, cake pans, and puzzles. Admission is free and most items are priced under $1.00. Stop in early to get the best selection.

Predict the Oscars Contest

The Solon Library's 2nd Annual Predict the Oscars Contest has officially started. Come to the library and pick up a ballot that lists the nominees in every category. Fill out the ballot with your picks for the winners and place it in the box at the library. Entries must be received by 5:00 pm on Saturday, February 25 and there is only one entry allowed per person. The person with the most correct guesses will be named the winner. If there is a tie, a random drawing will select the winner. The $40 winning prize package includes a $10 Dairy Queen gift certificate, a 12 pack of your favorite pop, an unframed copy of Toni Russo's poster "Of Time and Place" and a Friends of the Library tote bag. Get your guesses in today!

Catalog Link Not Working

The catalog link on our homepage is not working properly at the moment. We are aware of the problem and are working to fix it as soon as possible. In the meantime, feel free to call the library if you need to renew your books or if you would like to place a hold on an item. We apologize for any inconvenience and will hopefully have the issue resolved soon.

Early Out Movie on Thursday

On Thursday from 1:00-3:00 we will be showing a movie at the library. We will be watching the very funny movie about Mr. Popper and his many penguins. Come on down to the library after school and feel free to bring your own snacks to munch on. No registration is required for the early out programs, but parents are responsible for getting their children to and from the library.

Staff Picks Nonfiction Display

The library staff has pulled some of their favorite books to create another Staff Picks display near the library entrance. This time around, all of the choices are nonfiction titles. The display is ever-changing, so feel free to check out anything that looks interesting, we will keep refilling as needed. There are adult nonfiction, children's nonfiction, and documentaries included in the display. Come by and pick something out before it disappears.

Meal and a Movie: The Music Man

This month's Meal and a Movie pick is the 1962 film The Music Man. The program is sponsored by the Senior Advocates and will take place on Monday, January 30, starting at 11:30 am. Meal and a Movie participants will get to eat a "state fair" type meal followed by a showing of the classic musical. There is a small charge for the meal and registration is required. If you are interested in attending the program, contact the library for more information.

Come and check out The New Yorker

We have been getting a steady stream of new magazines in at the library and one of the most popular new additions is The New Yorker. The New Yorker is a weekly magazine that contains essays, cartoons, commentaries, and other articles covering topics from politics to pop culture. The most recent issue of the magazine can be read here in the library, but any of the older issues can be checked out for three weeks.

Storytime Guest This Week

Join us for a special storytime this week when Gwen Prentice from the DNR will be here to share with us fun and exciting things about the natural world around us. As usual, we will have a craft at the end of the storytime. Preschool storytime meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and is geared for ages 2-5, but siblings are always welcome. No registration is required.

Early Out on Thursday

This Thursday we will have another early out program at the library. This week we will be making kazoos out of paper towel rolls and doing "Thumbies" artwork. Thumbies are little critters that you make by stamping your fingerprints on a piece of paper and then drawing in arms and legs to make animals. The program will last from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and no registration is required. Parents are responsible for getting their children to and from the library.