It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

November and December are my favorite months to look at magazines, and this year, having let my subscriptions lapse, I was happy to be able to read holiday issues of all my favorites at the Library. The December 2010 Good Housekeeping magazine has two articles that I found particularly interesting.

Did you know that the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” started as a short story by Philip Van Doren Stern that first appeared in Good Housekeeping magazine in December 1944? “It’s a Wonderful Life” was the December film feature at the library, so I was interested to read the story upon which it was based. You can find this short story, The Greatest Gift, reprinted in the December 2010 issue on page 205. Some people make this film an annual holiday tradition, but I hadn’t seen it for a very long time. It reminded me to be thankful for everything in my life – dirty socks and hairballs included.

Then I came to another article in the same issue. This one was called “The Gift of Gratitude,” and included statements from authors, celebrities, and ordinary people telling what they are grateful for. Here are some excerpts from that article:

“My library card. Every hurdle I’ve faced, I have researched my way over at a library. I’m grateful for that part of the American spirit that believes every citizen should have access to books. –Sarah Bird

“Nancy Drew, who made it possible to envision a life beyond fifth grade. She is directly responsible for pointing the way to the career I love so much today. –Jayne Ann Krentz

“Audiobooks. I listen to them while taking my daily walk. Being read to is at once a treat reminiscent of childhood and a privilege that transports me into literature through a whole different portal from the printed page. –Aimee Liu”

A recurring theme in both articles, appropriate to this time of year: the great value that comes from the simple things in life . . . like your library. Imagine the world without libraries, where only those who could afford to buy books were entitled to read them.

This holiday season, appreciate the simple things in your life. Consider the bounty your public library has to offer -- the opportunity to read what you like, to enjoy movies for free, to indulge your passion for music or current events, to follow your interests and fulfill your intellectual needs.

The Management and Staff of Aram Public Library thank you for your support and wish you a very happy and blessed holiday season.

January 2011 Library Events

Lego Club – Mondays, January 3 and January 17 @ 4 p.m.
Attention Lego Lovers: We’re starting a Lego Club! Come to the library with your friends on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. At each meeting, we’ll give you a theme to build from, time to build individually or together, and a chance to share and display creations. Final projects will be displayed in the Youth Services Department.

Foreign Film – Tuesday, January 4 @ 3:30 p.m.
Mostly Martha (Rated PG, 109 min. In German with English subtitles.)
Martha, the domineering chef at a fancy restaurant, has her rigid routine broken when her sister dies in a car wreck, leaving behind her daughter Lina. Martha takes the girl in. Meanwhile, her control over her kitchen is threatened when her boss hires a buoyant Italian named Mario to assist, and Martha finds herself flailing in an effort to reestablish control of her life. This movie was remade in English as No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Books ‘n’ Bagels – Saturday, January 8 @ 10 a.m.
Get together for a light breakfast with other bibliophiles and discuss your latest and greatest reads. This informal drop-in program gives you a chance to compare notes with others who have read the same book you have and to get ideas about new titles or authors to try. Bagels and beverage provided. Adults only please.

UFO Club – Monday, January 10 @ 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, January 27 @ 2 p.m.
Bring your Un-Finished Objects and get together with other time-crunched crafters to work on your current projects.

From Piles to Files: How to Conquer Your Paperwork – Saturday, January 15 @ 10 a.m. – Please register
Learn an easy-to-use system for handling every piece of paper that enters your life! If you have piles of unread mail, this program can help you. Whether you are handling your own mail, dealing with a relative's paperwork, running a business from your home, trying to keep track of children's school papers, or all of the above, we'll discuss solutions.

Kathi Miller, Clutter Coach, teaches her clients a new way of living - what she calls the “Clutter-Free Life.” It’s not just about stuff, or their relationship to their stuff, but an entire system of re-evaluating what is important. Kathi does on-site consulting for individuals and businesses, presents workshops, teaches classes, and is the author of the Clutter Coach Success Secrets, a monthly email newsletter.

Book Discussion - Thursday, January 20 @ 7 p.m.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found and her beloved uncle is convinced she was murdered and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed and troubled yet resourceful computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. Books and discussion guides are available at the library.

101 Dalmatians 50th Anniversary Party – Friday, January 21 @ 1:01 p.m.
Come enjoy spotted cake, make a puppy mask, and have fun to celebrate the golden anniversary of “101 Dalmatians.” We’ll also collect pet food donations to give to the Lakeland Animal Shelter. Young children should be accompanied by an adult.

Knitting 101 – Mondays, January 24 –February 14 @ 6:30 p.m. – Please register
Have you always wanted to learn to knit but never found the time? Then this class is for you! Meet once a week for four weeks with other beginning knitters to learn how to cast on and bind off, knit and purl. Students will also complete a simple project. There is no cost for this program and all supplies will be provided. For ages 8 to adult.

Jigsaw Madness – Saturday, January 29 @ 10 a.m.
Break out that crossword puzzle or Sudoku book and celebrate National Puzzle Day. This is the day to work your way through brain teasers or get your friends and family involved by joining the Jigsaw Madness event at the library. Jigsaw puzzles of different sizes and complexities will be available for you to work on individually or as a team.

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

Tiny Tots Time – Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Babies in the library – that’s what Tiny Tots is all about! Tiny Tots Time, designed for children ages 0-2, is a program that brings caregivers and babies together for an hour of stimulating experiences intended to nurture the bond between caregiver and child. The program includes nursery rhymes and songs, book sharing, parenting information, and free play.

Preschool Story Time – Fridays at 10 a.m.
Help your preschooler get ready to read. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children and build language skills. Preschool children and their parents or caregivers are invited to join us for story time on Fridays at 10 a.m. Activities are age-appropriate for children from age 3 through Kindergarten, and each program includes a variety of activities. The program is free and registration is not required, but caregivers are expected to stay with children.

Library Board Meeting – Thursday, January 13 @ 4 p.m.