Schedule for Summer Reading, Week of July 6-10 and the Alternate Activity for the week!

The alternate activity for this week:
Check out an activity book and let it inspire you to make a creative project. Make a craft, bake a cake, learn a magic trick, memorize a poem, or anything else you have not tried before, and bring it to the library to display (please, no extreme oversized projects) or perform! This may be completed any day this week but must be completed and reported to the librarian no later than Thursday, July 9 at 7 pm!

Saturday, July 4
The Library Will Be Closed on the Fourth of July! Be sure to check out enough books to last over the long weekend!

Monday, July 6

10-10:45 am: Story Time
for Pre-School through Beginning Readers and a parent or caregiver

1-2 pm: Tweens and Teens
Bring an old COLOR T-Shirt or other cotton item that reacts to bleach – we will experiment with dye reduction decoration. (Please note: wear old clothes, as careful as we may be, accidental bleach splatters will ruin your good clothes!)

Tuesday, July 7

2-3 pm: Junior Readers Group Activity
Please wear OLD clothes -- we will be using messy art supplies!

Thursday, July 9

2:30-4 pm: Thursday Activity: Minnetrista’s Theatre Preserves presents Hook, a very special theatre event! Target audience age is Kindergarten through 5th grade, but all Summer Reading participants are encouraged to attend. Though not required, we would appreciate it if you could sign up for this event in advance so we can provide the best experience for everyone! We will leave the library as a group and walk to the Main Street Coffee Company, 104 North Main Street. Parents of children younger than first grade (this fall) are asked to accompany their child or be sure there is a caregiver to assist them. The performers will encourage any questions related to the play or about performing in the theatre.

7 pm: Alternate Activity
For those who choose to do the alternate activity, it is due by 7 pm today (Thursday)!

D.E.A.R. Day at FPL

Thursday was Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) Day at FPL! We had a great turnout, and everyone present Stopped -- Dropped Everything -- and READ for 30 non-stop minutes of fun!

Junior Readers Learn About Starry Nights and Sunflowers

Our Junior Readers listened to a reading about the famous artist: "Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers and Swirly Stars," by Brad Bucks and Joan Holub.

The author began the book by selecting van Gogh as his subject because he thought he was a wealthy man. But soon he learned that van Gogh only sold one painting while he was living. Although he would become one of the world's most famous artists, his vision was not what the people of his time wanted to buy.

When he was young, van Gogh preferred dark colors and sad scenes because he liked to paint what he actually observed. Later, he learned to use brighter colors and favored yellows.

Looking at his famous Starry Night painting, we saw that he later used a misture of bright and dark colors. He also used dots, dashes, and swirls to paint, in a style called Impressionism.

After hearing the story and exploring his work, we set up shop and painted our own ideas of Starry Nights on lightswitch plates -- complete with glow in the dark stars! We did not get photos because we were handling wet paint...but every light switch was beautiful and unique!

Story Time Readers Get Inspired by Dots!

This week, Story Time Readers listened to "The Dot," by Peter H. Reynolds.

It is a story about a little girl who does not know what to draw in art class. Her teacher asked her to try to draw a dot, and see where her imagination might take her.

After the story, we made our own dot pictures, and let our dots inspire us! We framed our work, and signed it; then it was hung in the library "gallery" for everyone to enjoy!

FPL and Bearcreek Farms Country Resort Encourage Adult Summer Reading!

Be a Farmland Public Library Reader And Enter a Gift Drawing for An Overnight Vacation at Bearcreek Farms Country Resort in Bryant, Indiana!

The getaway package includes:
Overnight lodging on a Thursday of their choice and based on availability;
Water Park Swimming Hole 2 hour-passes for the entire family for Thursday;
Museum Passes for the Fire, Elvis, and Country Museums and the Tin Lizzy;
Theater tickets for the whole family;
Thursday Dinner: Buffet style for the whole family;
Friday Breakfast: Buffet style for the whole family.
Package is for Family of up to 6; limit 2 adults and up to 4 children (each additional child $10.00)

How to Enter:
This program is for adult readers!
A reading challenge will be announced each month this summer.
Fill out an entry form, then complete the reading, and your entry will be placed into the monthly drawing to win the trip!
You must have a Farmland Public Library Borrower’s Card to enter. All you will need is a legal document of any sort with your name and permanent address on it; library cards are always free to residents of the Town of Farmland and of Monroe Township, Randolph County, IN. Limited quantities of free cards are currently available to residents of Green, Stoney Creek, and Union Townships.

The July Reading Challenge:
The scenario:
You are catching a few ZZZzzzzz’s on the beach during a well-deserved tropical vacation. Suddenly, you realize that hours have passed. You awaken to find yourself, along with your beach bag (well-stocked with Farmland Public Library books, of course) on a deserted island paradise.
The challenge:
1. List at least 10 library books that you would have in your beach bag.

Bring a good copy of your list to the library (it will be put on display.)
2. Check out and read two of the books on your list.
3. All reading must be completed and reported by Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 pm.
4. The July drawing will take place at 6:45 pm on Thursday, July 30, 2009 inside the library.

Winner of the June Reading Challenge: Jennie Baldridge of Farmland, Indiana
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Farmland Public Library, 116 South Main Street, Farmland, IN 47340
Hours: Monday & Saturday 9-1 & Tuesday & Thursday 1-7 (Closed July 4)
468-7292 www.farmlandlibrary.org

ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMER READING?

Be Creative @ Farmland Public Library!

This year, summer reading is all about

creativity and imagination!

Sign Up Begins on Saturday, June 27th

and runs three weeks (July 18th)

Story Time for pre- and beginning readers and a parent or caregiver

meets Mondays from 10- 10:45

Junior Readers in Grades 2-5 meet on Tuesdays from 2-3

Older Readers meet on Mondays from 1 - 2 pm

Summer Reading Final Celebration for Everyone

Saturday July 18th

Additional Special Activities To Be Announced Later!

Come and have fun with friends and books!

NEW TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT FICTION AND GRAPHIC NOVELS

FICTION
Twisted / Anderson, Laurie Halse
Tithe, a modern faerie tale / Black, Holly
Crank … Impulse … Burned … Glass / Hopkins, Ellen
Wake / McMann, Lisa
Wicked Lovely / Marr, Melissa
Gentlemen / Northrop, Michael
Max (Maximum Ride #5) / Patterson, James
Sovay / Rees, Celia
A Certain Slant of Light / Whitcomb, Laura
I Am The Messenger / Zusak, Marcus

GRAPHIC NOVELS
Dragon Hunt (1) / Shadows of Ice (2) / Ghostlands (3) .. (Sunwell Trilogy)/ Knaak, Richard A. Bone (Complete in one volume) / Smith, Jeff
Thoreau at Walden / Thoreau, Henry David

NEW BOOKS, GAMES AND MOVIES FOR KIDS!

EARLY READERS NONFICTION
Sap to Syrup / Snyder, Inez
Wax to Crayons / Snyder, Inez

EARLY READERS FICTION
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green / Baker, Keith
Berenstain Bears and the Big Red Kite / Berenstain, Stan & Jan
Storytime with Dora and Diego / Bergen, Lara
Bad Kitty / Bruel, Nick
Little Red Bird / Bruel, Nick
The Shivers in the Fridge / Manushkin, Fran
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie / Rankin, Laura
The Dot / Reynolds, Peter H.
Carrot Soup / Segal, John
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street / Dr. Seuss
Horton Hatches the Egg / Dr. Seuss
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! / Dr. Seuss
Mr. Brown Can MOO! Can You? / Dr. Seuss
Wee Little Chick /Thompson, Lauren

GAMES & KITS
Barnyard Floor Puzzle
Brain Quest for the Car
50 States:jumbo-sized fact cards and fun games
From Head to Toe Game
My First Brain Quest
Pictureka!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Card Game

JUNIOR NONFICTION AND BIOGRAPHIES
The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Junior Edition / Borgenicht, David
Milton Hershey, Young Chocolatier / Eboch, M. M.
Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself / Frith, Margaret
Walt Disney, Young Movie Maker / Hammontree, Marie
Annie Oakley, Young Markswoman / Wilson, Ellen

JUNIOR FICTION
The Call of the Wild (abridged) / London, Jack
Judy Moody Predicts the Future / Judy Moody Around the World in 8 1/2 Days / Judy Moody, MD : The Doctor Is In! / McDonald, Megan
Stink: Great Guinea Pig Escape/Stink-O-Pedia, Super Stinky Stuff /McDonald, Megan
Isabelle's Perfect Performance/ Kate's Special Secret (Royal Ballet Diaries)/ Moss, Alexandra Soccer Sabotage / O'Donnell, Liam
Midnight on the Moon … Day of the Dragon King / Osborne, Mary Pope
Heidi / Spyri, Johanna
Four Mice Deep in the Jungle, Temple of the Ruby of Fire, A Cheese Colored Camper/Stilton, Geronimo

JUNIOR AUDIOBOOKS ON CD
Three Unforgettable Classics by Eva Ibbotson / Ibbotson, Eva
The Magician's Nephew / Lewis, C.S.

DVD's
Barbie as Rapunzel
Bedtime Stories
Bolt
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!
The Secret Garden
The Tale of Despereaux
Thomas and Friends Double Feature

VHS
Antz
Beethoven's 4th
Cinderella
Franklin and the Green Knight
Tales from Avonlea, Vol. 1. The Journey Begins
Tales from Avonlea, Vol. 2, The Gift of Friendship

New Adult Materials Ready for Check Out!

ADULT NONFICTION
Through Indian Eyes / Cassidy, Jr., James J.
The Middle Place / Corrigan, Kelly
Cats in Their Gardens / Dickey, Page
Barn: The Art of a Working Building / Endersby, Elric
Taste of Home: America's Best Church Supper Recipes / Hagen, Mark (ed.)
Embellishments for Paper Crafts / Klassen, Pam
Liquid Land, A Journey Through the Florida Everglades / Levin, Ted
Alzheimers A to Z / Lokvig, Jytte
The Lost : A Search for Six of Six Million /Mendelsohn, David

Taste of Home : Gifts from the Country Kitchen / Olski, Jennifer (ed.)
Making Crafts from Your Kids' Art / Schrader, Valerie Van Arsdale

ADULT FICTION
Wormwood / Albert, Susan Wittig
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County / Baker, Tiffany
First Family / Baldacci, David
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie / Bradley, Alan
The Scarecrow / Connelly, Michael
Sarah's Key / de Rosnay, Tatiana
The Evidence Against Her / Dew, Robb Forman
Lavender Morning / Deveraux, Jude
Queen of Swords (Wilderness #5) / Donati, Sara
The Ministry of Special Cases / Englander, Nathan
Five Quarters of the Orange / Harris, Joanne
The Last Child / Hart, John
Freddy and Fredericka / Helperin, Mark
Deadlock / Johansen, Iris
On the Road : The Original Scroll / Kerouac, Jack
The Secret (Seasons of Grace #1) / Lewis, Beverly
The Torment of Others / McDermid, Val
Summer on Blossom Street / Macomber, Debbie
Mr. and Miss Anonymous / Michaels, Fern
Razor Sharp / Michaels, Fern
Brimstone / Parker, Robert B.
The 8th Confession / Patterson, James
The Poe Shadow / Pearl, Matthew
The Geometry of Sisters / Rice, Luanne
Unveiled : Tamar...Unashamed : Rahab...Unshaken : Ruth...Unafraid : Mary / Rivers, Francine
The Last Jihad / Rosenberg, Joel C.
Wicked Prey / Sandford, John
Shanghai Girls / See, Lisa
The Red Hat Club Rides Again / Smith, Haywood
The Help / Stockett, Kathryn
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun / Tolkien, J.R.R.
Roughing It / Twain, Mark
Wanted, The Hunt for Dillinger and His Stash / Young, Jason N.

ADULT AUDIO BOOKS ON CD
The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso / Alighieri, Dante
The School of Essential Ingredients / Bauermeister, Erica
Saint / Dekker, Ted
Anansi Boys / Gaiman, Neil
the curious incident of the dog in the night-time / Haddon, Mark
Honor Thyself / Steel, Danielle
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle / Wroblewski, David

DVD's

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Family Matters : Choosing to Represent Yourself in Court
Follow the River
Hotel Rwanda
Marley & Me
Scientology : An Overview
Slumdog Millionaire
Tristan + Isolde
Twilight

VHS

Braveheart
The Cider House Rules
1492 : Conquest of Paradise
A Midsummer Night's Dream

State Library Recovers Historic Letter Stolen in 1962

The Indiana State Library recently recovered an extremely rare and valuable letter written by President Ulysses S. Grant to his former Vice President Schuyler Colfax in 1873. The document was up for sale at a Pennsylvania auction house where it was discovered by the Northern Indiana Historical Society ( South Bend ) who contacted the State Library to determine the provenance of the letter.

Indiana State Library staff discovered, after examining content records for the Library’s collection of Schuyler Colfax manuscripts, that the letter was previously in its Manuscripts Collection and reported missing. They then contacted the owner of the auction house who connected them with the holder of the Grant-Colfax letter. Upon receiving documents verifying the State Library’s ownership of the document, the collector graciously donated the letter to the Library.

The letter was stolen along with other items from the Indiana State Library by Robert Bradford Murphy, who visited the Library sometime in 1962. Murphy was later apprehended in Detroit with $500,000 worth of documents he had taken from the State Library, the National Archives and other institutions. In 1963, Mrs. Hazel M. Hopper from the State Library testified at Murphy’s trial and was able to identify some of the items that were taken from the library. Many of the stolen items were returned, but the Grant-Colfax letter did not. Presumably, the letter was sold prior to Murphy’s apprehension by law enforcement officials.

The letter was written on Grant's inauguration of his second term, and it is believed to be the first correspondence between Grant and Colfax after Colfax was no longer in office after losing the Vice Presidential nomination in 1872. Colfax was elected Vice President in 1868 and served along side Grant his first term as President. In the letter, Grant invited Colfax to join him for dinner. Later correspondence indicates Colfax declined his offer.

This letter may be viewed online at the State Library’s Website.

About Schuyler Colfax:Schuyler Colfax was born in New York City on March 23, 1823 and moved with his parents to New Carlisle, Indiana in 1836. Colfax became interested in politics at an early age and was an avid newspaper reader. He was a supporter of the Whig Party, abolitionism, and the temperance movement. In 1845, Colfax scrapped together enough money to buy a local newspaper, The South Bend Free Press.

After losing his first election in 1851, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1854. The next election, he ran as a Republican. Colfax served in the House of Representatives until he resigned to become vice president in 1869, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 1863. Colfax as Vice President, along side General Ulysses S. Grant who was the presidential candidate, easily won the 1868 election. However, Colfax lost the Vice Presidential election in 1872 to Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts . Wilson went on to serve as Vice President during Grant’s second term in office.

Vice President Colfax did not escape the scandals that plagued the Grant administration. In 1872, he became caught up in the Credit Mobilier Scandal, which involved railroad companies overcharging millions of dollars for government contracts and the company's directors bribing various government officials with company shares. Although Colfax was never convicted of any wrongdoing, he was not cleared either, and his political career effectively ended. After stepping down as vice president in 1873, Colfax retired and returned to Indiana . Leaving public life, he had a successful career as a public speaker. He died on January 13, 1885.