Hi friends,

Happy New Year! January always ushers in the excitement of discovering the best of the best in various categories – from books and movies to albums and podcasts. We can’t get enough of those favorites-of-the-year lists!

If you’re on the lookout for a local twist on the usual recommendations, check out what your librarians have enjoyed reading this year. Watch the Great Reads video on YouTube for a quick look at their top 15 books or grab the complete list of both fiction and nonfiction titles. 
We can’t wait to welcome Darryl Eschete, who will be joining us this month as the new library director. To give our staff the opportunity to get acquainted with Darryl and to hear his plans for the library’s future, the building will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 19. The doors will reopen from 2 to 6 p.m.

We’re also finalizing details for a community meet and greet. Stay tuned – more information is headed your way soon.
Enjoy an exciting lineup of titles to kick off 2024!
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to read more in 2024, the Wild Winter Read Off is a great way to start!
Space is limited. Call (920) 236-5208
or visit the Children’s Department to register.
This high energy event for kids ages five and older is all about sounds and sound waves. Watch these creative scientists use ordinary objects to demonstrate complex ideas. After the show, browse our shelves to find books that will help you extend your child’s learning experience at home.
Jan. 1 – Feb. 1: K-12 students can use library writing prompts for the Young Authors program. All original work will be featured in a special book distributed at the Young Authors Writing Celebration on Sat., Feb. 24.

Jan. 1 – Feb. 10: Pose for a photo with artist Spencer Young’s N.E.W. Dragon Boat Festival mini mural. It’s on loan to the library, and you can find it in the First Floor Reading Room.

Sundays, Jan. 7 – Feb. 25, 1 – 5 p.m.: Looking for a little bit of quiet happiness this winter? Enjoy a good book and warm cup of cider in the specially lit areas under the Dome and in the First Floor Reading Room.

Thurs., Jan. 11, 6 p.m.: Retired librarian Mara Munroe will be in the Lower Level meeting room to discuss the library’s Genealogy Collections with you. Presented by the Winnebagoland Genealogical Society.
The library will be closed on Fri., Jan. 19 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an all-staff meeting. We will reopen from 2 to 6 p.m.