April 2010 Library Events

Tiny Tots Time – Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
This program brings babies and caregivers together for an hour of stimulating experiences intended to nurture the bond between caregiver and child and to increase the caregiver’s awareness of their child’s development.

Preschool Story Time – Fridays at 10 a.m.
Help your child prepare for school while having fun too! Meaningful literacy activities, such as reading, singing and playing with children, can impact a child’s brain development and subsequently, help provide them with the pre-reading skills they need to start school.

English Conversation Group – Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
For students learning English as a second language, this is a chance for you to practice everyday conversation skills.

Culver’s Coloring Contest
In celebration of National Library Week, Wisconsin libraries and Culver’s restaurants are kicking off a “Communities Thrive @ Your Library” drawing campaign for children 11 and under. Beginning April 1, children can pick up an entry sheet from the Children’s Department of the library and draw a scene from their favorite book. Every child who completes a drawing will receive a coupon for a free scoop of frozen custard from Culver’s and be entered to win other prizes. The contest runs from April 1-30 at Aram Public Library and drawings will be displayed at the library during that time.

Basic Computer Class – Thursday, April 1 from 1:30-3 p.m.
If you are new to computers or need a refresher on the very basics, this class lets you learn in the company of other adults. Information covered includes starting and shutting down your computer, using the mouse to navigate the desktop, and opening and closing programs.

Foreign Film – Tuesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m.Ladrón Que Roba a Ladrón (Rated PG-13, 100 minutes; In Spanish with English subtitles) Two thieves unite to rob a rich infomercial guru, Moctesuma Valadez, who makes his money selling worthless health products to poor Latino immigrants. When none of their affiliates want to go undercover in Valdez’s home, the men recruit real immigrants to pull off the heist.

Library Board Meeting – Thursday, April 8 at 4 p.m.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party—Saturday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m.
Ooo-la-la! Young ladies and gentlemen, show off your fancy attire in a fashion show and eat some fancy food with pinkies up! Activities include Fancy Nancy stories, cookie decorating, and creating a tiara or crown. Families are invited to attend with their children.

National Library Week Food for Fines—April 11-17
National library week is a time to recognize all that your library has to offer. To help you celebrate, Aram Public Library will be accepting nonperishable food items as payment for overdue fines. All donations must be unopened, in good condition and not past their expiration date.

Introduction to Food Preservation—Tuesday, April 13 from 6-7 p.m.
Jenny Wehmeier, UW Extension Family Living Educator, teaches the basics of canning, freezing and drying food. Learn about pressure and water bath canners, and bring your pressure gauge for complimentary testing. Registration required.

Friends of APL Meeting—Wednesday, April 14 at 2 p.m.
Help plan summer events such as the library’s July 4th parade entry, Maxwell Street Days book sale, and other programs.

Gocks: A Goth Sock Puppet Experiment—Thursday, April 15 at 3 p.m.
Unleash your sock’s hidden potential. At this program your odd socks will fit right in.
For grades 8-12.

The Big Read Book Disucssion – Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m.
Join residents of Rock, Walworth and Jefferson counties in the nation’s largest reading initiative. This year’s title is Sun, Stone and Shadows : 20 Great Mexican Short Stories edited by Jorge F. Hernández. Tour the real and the unreal, the faithfully rendered and the fantastic, as well as the tangible past of Mexican history through these short stories. Books and discussion guides are provided by The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. Anyone who has read the book is welcome to attend.

Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels—Monday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Explore the benefits of keeping rain water on your property with UW Extension Horticulture Educator Chrissy Regester.

Catapults and Castles—Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m.
Here ye, here ye! Prepare to storm your enemy’s castle at Aram Public Library’s Catapults and Castles event! Make your own chainmail and helmet, sword, shield, and catapult, then test them in battle. Who will the victor be? For grades 4-8.

The library will be closed Friday, April 2.

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A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Washington Post Best Book of the Year

A Businessweek Best Business Book of the Year

A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year

In this brilliant, essential book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas L. Friedman speaks to America's urgent need for national renewal and explains how a green revolution can bring about both a sustainable environment and a sustainable America. Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a dangerously unstable planet--one that is "hot, flat, and crowded." In this Release 2.0 edition, he also shows how the very habits that led us to ravage the natural world led to the meltdown of the financial markets and the Great Recession. The challenge of a sustainable way of life presents the United States with an opportunity not only to rebuild its economy, but to lead the world in radically innovating toward cleaner energy. Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman: fearless, incisive, forward-looking, and rich in surprising common sense about the challenge--and the promise--of the future.

Not a quick read to take to the beach on a summer afternoon, but the topic and ideas presented are too important to ignore. People sometimes quickly dismiss books about environmental issues, assuming it will lead to the condemning of science, technology, and societal advances, instead proposing a regression toward a simpler 1800's style lifestyle. What makes the book different to me is that Friedman has researched and described solutions which exist, have been proven, make both environmental as well as economic sense. The U.S. has faced significant downturns in the housing market, the stock market, banking, a continuing energy crisis, volatile and soaring gasoline prices, Detroit now stuck with 20th century vehicles no longer suitable for the 21st century, soaring budget deficits, and a do-nothing Congress locked in ideological finger pointing. Perhaps the culmination of all these problems arising at the same time is that the public will read this book and clamor for solutions.
~Katrina