May 2017
LW Public Library & LW Museum & Cultural Center Preserves History as We Reach 100 years as a City

The Lake Wales Public Library and the Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center have a shared mission to preserve our local history for future generations of citizens, visitors, scholars and researchers.

Through careful cataloging, preservation and digitization this history will become more accessible to everyone.  

As we approach the landmark 100th anniversary of the City of Lake Wales' incorporation on May 28, 2017 we are more conscious of the importance of preserving everyone's contribution to building our city.

The Lake Wales Public Library has digitized the first ten years of The Highlander newspaper.  We will continue this effort with an additional ten years digitized in the near future.

Here are the front pages of The Highlander leading up to our town becoming an incorporated city!  To read more clearly Click Here and open the 1917 Link.

The City of Lake Wales invites everyone to celebrate our 100th Anniversary of "City-Ship" on Sunday, May 28, 4 until 9 pm at Lake Wales Park on the Shores of Lake Wailes Lake.




May 2017 Book Discussions

Night Owls Book Discussion 
Tuesday, May 23, 6 p.m.
Lake Wales Public Library
A Star for Mrs. Blake
by April Smith

Thursday Morning Book Discussion 
Thursday, May 25, 11 a.m.
Lake Wales Public Library
The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant


                                                                                 


Truth is Stranger Than Non-Fiction Book Discussion
Wednesday, May 24, 12 p.m.
Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center
Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
by Jane Mayer



Bartow Book Discussion
Bartow Public Library
The Convert by Deborah Baker
Wednesday, May 3 - 3 pm

Books with Friends
Latt Maxcy Memorial Library - Frostproof
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Thursday, May 4 - 6 pm


LWPL & LW Museum Book Discussion Groups are s ponsored by the 
Lake Wales Library Association - Friends of the Library.  

Follow Our Book Discussions and other 'book' news on the

May Classes & Programs
  • Yoga - Mondays & Wednesdays - 5:30 - 7 pm - (Class Fee applies, pay at class)
  • Coloring for Adults - Wednesdays - 11:30 am - 1 pm (No registration & Free)
  • Knitting & Crochet - Fridays - 9 am or 5:30 pm - (No registration & Free.  One on One instruction available in the 5:30 p.m. group.  Call Dawn, 678-4004 for information.)                  
  • Genealogy at the Library - Friday, May 5 - 11:30 a.m. (No registration & free)
  • Creator's Crafting Circle - Tuesday, May 9 - 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. - May Craft - Create a Personal Bookmark (No registration & Free)
Classes sponsored by 
Lake Wales Library Association - Friends of the Library & 
Florida's Natural Growers Foundation
What's Happening At the Library
 ~ Information & Assistance~
  • Tuesday, May 2 - 9 a.m. - CareerSource Polk's Mobile Services Bus - Library's Main Parking Lot
  • 1st Wednesday monthly, May 3, 2 to 4 p.m. - Grief Support - Schoenoff Meeting Room
  • Tuesday, May 2 & May 16 - 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - PTSD Counseling for Veterans - Veterans who would like to attend for the first time, please call the Lakeland Vet Center at least one day before the meeting. 863 284-0841 - Schoenoff Meeting Room
  • Monday, May 8, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Central Florida Speech & Hearing Amplified Phone Distribution - Schoenoff Meeting Room
  • Wednesday, March 8, 4 - 5 p.m. - Lake Wales City Library Board - Schoenoff Meeting Room
  • 4th Monday of each month, May 22 - 1 to 2 p.m. - Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group - Schoenoff Meeting Room
Meetings subject to cancellation or rescheduling.
For a complete Library calendar of events Click Here
Creator's Crafting Circle

The LW Public Library staff is full of amazingly talented individuals.  They have formed a DIY team and are implementing monthly craft programs for teens and adults.  The first Creator's Crafting Circle program was held on April 25, Basic Book Repair.

May's program is Create a Personal Bookmark.  Stop by the library Tuesday, May 9, 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. and let your creative juices flow.  

The Creator's Crafting Circle monthly classes will focus on reusing, recycling and book crafts.  For more information call 678-4005!  It's free and very relaxing.
May Local Artist Gallery

The Lake Wales Public Library's Local Artist Gallery will feature the works of Don Porter.  Don is an acclaimed watercolor artist & teacher. He is also an accomplished photographer.  Don's watercolors and photography will be on display May 1 through May 31 and may be viewed during library hours of operation.  Don will be available to discuss his works on Saturday, May 20, 12 noon until 2:30 pm.  Stop by and meet the artist.
What the Library & Museum Staff is Reading ...

- No Easy Target by Iris Johansen- Margaret, Bookmobile
- Reckless: The Racehorse Who Became a Marie Corps Hero by Thomas Clavin -   Lynn, Reference 
- The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood - Dawn, Youth Services
- The Everglades: River of Grass by Marjory Stoneman Douglass - Bart, Museum
- Marked for Life by Emelie Schepp - Lisa, BMail/Books by Mail
- Expecting to Die by Lisa Jackson - Christy, BMail/Books by Mail
- Man Overboard by J.A. Jance - Marcia, Reference Services
- Ross Poldark by Winston Graham - Sydney, Circulation Services
- The Dog that Talked to God by Jim Kraus - Melissa, Circulation Services
- Waking Gods: Book 2 of The Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel -Carol, Reference
- The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - Kristina, Circulation Services
- Fallen by Karin Slaughter - Jeff, Bookmobile
- News of the World by Paulette Jiles - Tina, Library Admin
- The Looking Glass by Richard Paul Evans - Carolyn, Circulation Services
- The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic & Madness at  the Fair that Changed    America by Erik Larson - Monica, Museum
- My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith - Marilyn, Reference 
- It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh - Marie, Cataloging




The Lake Wales Public Library celebrated Preservation Week with a Basic Book Repair Workshop.  Nine people learned the proper techniques for tipping in pages, tightening bindings and other skills.  Thanks to our sponsors, the Lake Wales Library Association and Florida's Natural Growers Foundation and to our wonderful staff instructors, Diana Davila and Carol MacIntosh.  



The Lake Wales Public Library and the Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center staff have finally recovered from Bok Tower Gardens' Earth Days Celebration. Literally, thousands of Lake Wales Charter School and Polk County School elementary students visited Bok Tower on April 20 & 21 to learn about their community.  

Youth Services Librarian, Kara Wiseman and Polk Co. Library Cooperative Outreach Librarian, Jennifer Kovac relax at the library's Lorax Selfie booth. Monica Drake-Pierce, LW Museum Director, had a wonderful booth full of LW History!  Thanks Bok Tower Gardens' Education Department for inviting us to participate.


Support your Lake Wales Library Association with your contribution to the  Lake Wales Library Association.  


Visit  Bookmobile Schedule for a list of PCLC Bookmobile stops.

The Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center will close May 15 through May 20 as they relocate inventory to climate controlled & secure storage.  

Library & Museum May Closings

Museum Closed for Inventory
May 15 - May 20

Library & Museum Closed for Memorial Day 
May 27 & May 29
Lake Wales Public Library | library@cityoflakewales.com | 863-678-4005 | www.cityoflakewales.com/library/
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