Shorewood Public Library has joined libraries across the state to conduct a postcard campaign to state legislators called Libraries Step Up! The aim is to showcase all that Wisconsin's public libraries did for their communities during 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through Wednesday, March 17th, we are asking you to send a postcard to your state legislators to share how the library “stepped up” for your family over the last year. The timing for the postcard campaign is coordinated with state biennial budget conversations taking place in the upcoming months. Your words can make a powerful difference for public libraries in our community and state.

Join in by picking up a postcard from any service desk or via curbside pickup!
SEUSS CELEBRATION TO GO
The 2021 Seuss Celebration is in the bag - literally.

The COVID-19 pandemic will not stop us from having some "good fun that is funny" and acknowledging the March 2nd birthday of the groundbreaking Dr. Seuss.

This year, kids can pick up a Seuss Celebration To Go Bag filled with Seuss related crafts, activity sheets, snack ideas, stickers, and a temporary tattoo. Bags will be available on Monday, March 1st in the library or via curbside pickup while supplies last.
MEET LOCAL AUTHOR JEANNEE SACKEN
Meet Shorewood author and photojournalist Jeannee Sacken! On Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00 PM Jeannee will discuss her new novel, Behind the Lens, in a virtual conversation with fellow author Rochelle Melander.

About Behind the Lens:

Eight years ago, seasoned photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green barely survived a Taliban ambush that left her military escort dead and a young Afghan girl dying in her arms. Since then, she has managed to suppress her memories of that brutal day - until she returns to Afghanistan to teach a photography workshop at the secondary school for girls. As the Taliban gain prominence in the once peaceful region, Annie’s nightmares from her last time in-country come roaring back with a vengeance. But are they just dreams? The unshakeable feeling of a grim, watchful presence makes Annie think otherwise.

Join us for this exciting event! Registration is required. Please register HERE.This event is co-sponsored by Boswell Book Company.
WIFI HOTSPOTS
You can now check out a WiFi hotspot from the library! A wifi hotspot is a small device you take home to set up a wireless internet network you can connect your phone, tablet, or laptop to.

The Friends of Shorewood Public Library have generously funded five hotspots for anyone to borrow.

Hotspots can be checked out for three weeks (plus a three day grace period). They allow you to connect to wireless internet easily from anywhere in the U.S. at no cost to you.

Stop in and check one out!
FROM THE YOUNG ADULT LIBRARIAN
Get to Know Graphic Novels

There is a common misconception that comic books and graphic novels have no literary merit.

Often derided as "junk food" for the brain, this format actually has so much to offer readers of all ages. After all, human beings are visual creatures, processing images at a much higher rate than words. While some may think comic books’ visual nature makes them a "lazy read," the images serve to reinforce the text, not replace it, making many of these just as complex as traditional books.

Comic books and graphic novels have proven to be invaluable tools for getting reluctant readers hooked on reading, helping people learn new languages, and making texts more accessible to neuro-diverse readers. They help early readers by presenting stories in a sequential format with both pictures and words, requiring readers to interpret what is happening based on the synthesis of the images and text before them. They can be used in art education, to teach budding writers about the elements of a story, and improve reading, writing, and visual and emotional literacy. They are also an engaging way for the general reader to explore a new topic or dive into a fictional landscape.

We realize how valuable this medium is so we have graphic novels in our children’s, young adult, and adult collections. On these shelves, you will find tales of superheroes battling nefarious villains, histories of global conflicts, biographies, post-apocalyptic zombie stories, realistic stories about navigating middle school, stories of illness, adaptations of classics, stories about navigating first loves, and more.

If you haven’t read a graphic novel, I suggest you pick one up from us today. You might be surprised by the experience!

Lisa Quintero
TAX HELP
Volunteer tax filing assistance looks different this year, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not being able to offer the normal weekly tax filing assistance coordinated by AARP volunteers and Shorewood Senior Resource Center, local AARP volunteers are providing two options for those most in need of free assistance:

  • Virtual tax preparation meeting using Google Meet. Click HERE to learn more.
  • Drop-off tax preparation assistance. Click HERE to learn more.

Appointments are very limited and some types of returns cannot be filed this way. Please call the library or Senior Resource Center (414 847-2727) for more information and/or help to make an appointment.

If you need tax forms, whether to file with volunteer assistance or on your own, the library has the basics. We will also print any other blank federal or state forms at no charge to you.
FROM THE FRIENDS
The Friends of Shorewood Public Library rely on membership donations for about half of our revenue - revenue which supports robust library programming such as the recent Do Black Lives Matter? series and annual summer reading programs for kids and teens.

The Friends are currently recruiting a new volunteer to serve as Membership Coordinator, taking over from a long-time volunteer who is stepping down in the fall. The ideal candidate will be able to learn the current system of membership maintenance, and streamline it for the future. Do you have the skills needed to fill this role? Learn more about the position on our recent blog post!
2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Like many organizations, we use the beginning of a new year as a time to reflect on the previous year’s successes, challenges, and accomplishments as a chance to focus on upcoming goals and opportunities. 

For those of you interested in a deeper look at how your public library navigated the historic pandemic year, and how we will move forward, please read our 2020 Annual Report linked below.

PROGRAM PREVIEW: ONLINE & AT HOME
ONLINE
Virtual programming lets you stay connected as you continue to socially distance.

Here's what we're offering online for you this month:

Online Story Times take place Thursday, March 4th & 18th and Rhyme Time Tuesdays are March 9th & 23rd on Facebook. You don't need a Facebook account to watch a virtual story time, just navigate to our page to read, play and laugh along with Ms. Heide!

The PM Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 PM to discuss Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk.


Did you know that the monthly library board meeting takes place on Zoom and is open to anyone who wishes to attend? The next meeting is Wednesday, March 10th.

And, the Read Woke Challenge, our all ages reading program is ongoing.
AT HOME
All take-home activities are available inside the library at service desks, our Take & Make table near the children's area, and via curbside pickup.

Every Wednesday, Ms. Susan shares a new Art Cart activity you can do two ways: get the instructions online and use materials you have at home, or pick up a kit with everything you need!

On Tuesday, March 9th, families can pick up a Family Fun Night To Go kit perfect for "takeout Tuesday."

On Friday, March 19th, adults get in on the fun with a Grown-Up Take & Make kit to make a Sashiko sampler.

On Monday, March 29th, kids in third grade and up can grab a Tinker Lab To Go kit with items for at-home gardening.
WHAT WE'RE READING

Travel across the globe in search of the highly prized arowana fish. Arowanas are the world's most expensive fish, and in The Dragon Behind the Glass, journalist Emily Voight shadows pet detectives, delves into the exotic animal trade, and meets with aquarium aficionados at trade shows. Voight gives a thorough overview of the arowana, but will she find one in it's natural habitat?

Recommended by HAYLEY
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri explores a rich fantasy world of hot, desolate deserts where sleeping gods dream the world into being. In so doing, this novel really explores the paradox of choice and what it means to have power over another person. Adventurous, romantic, and beautifully detailed, this book will bring you from our cold Wisconsin winter to warmer climates. 

Recommended by KATE
One year in to the COVID-19 global pandemic, you still may find yourself wondering how we got here. CNN host and author Fareed Zakaria has some insight into what fueled the fire, and what we can learn moving forward to improve our world and our chances at hedging off another pandemic. While this isn't exactly light reading, it is compelling, thoughtful and, ultimately, hopeful.

Recommended by EMILY
INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST
With so many sources for information, it can be hard to sort out fact from fiction and to determine who to trust.

It is more vital than ever to be certain that you are accessing and sharing the most factual and authoritative information you can.

The state of Wisconsin has created a one-stop resource for information on COVID-19. With links to relevant state agencies and updated news releases, you can easily stay on top of the facts.

SHOREWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
3920 North Murray Avenue 
Shorewood, WI 53211
414 847-2670