Moving On From Snowpocalypse (This Week at the Library)

Snow! *grumble*grumble*yay!!*grumble*yay!!!

Okay, now that we’ve stated the obvious (and people’s mixed love/hate feelings towards the white stuff), let’s just face it with some need-to-know/helpful information AND what’s happening this week.

We operate independent of the East Penn School District in our own delays and closings decisions, meaning even if EPSD is closed one day, we may still open or open late. However, as far as children’s programs go, we take a cue from East Penn: If EPSD has a two hour delay, morning programs are cancelled. If EPSD has an early dismissal, afternoon and evening programs are cancelled. If EPSD is closed for the day, all children’s programs are cancelled. You can find the library’s winter weather delay and closing information by checking our website (www.lowermaclib.org) which will have a gray banner across the top with any information, on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lowermacungielibrary), or on WFMZ.

Now, if we’re not open, there are still library resources you can take advantage of from inside your warm, dry home:

Carbon Lehigh Downloadable Library—download an eBook or eAudiobook day or night AND we just recently sent in more titles, so plenty to choose from!

Zinio—If your ability to read is more bit-sized (or you like the pictures), check out Zinio and read eMagazines! Zinio requires a “double login” so you have to go through the library’s site and create an account, then create an account with the commercial Zinio site (hint: use the same password for convenience!)… Download the Zinio app from your app store (enter your Zinio commercial site login info), check out on the library’s Zinio page, then download your library title through the Zinio app!

Pronunciator—use this new database to learn 80 different languages! There’s an app, too!

Cure for the Rammy Kid Pinterest board-- if you're tired of snow days with your children cooped up inside, check out this board we've accumulated some good imagination-filled activities and games with items you probably have on hand at home!

Now on to programs…. But stay tuned at the end for some updates following last week’s closings.

This week at the library…

Monday: Roots; 6:30pm; 4-7th grade. This is our monthly program for children in 4-7th grade.  We “dug” the “Dig” summer reading theme so much, we decided to keep it going during the school year, focusing on “roots”… plants, trees, hair, family history. Each month we’ll read some stories and do a craft. Advanced registration is required.

Tuesday: 4 year old storytimes, 10:30am and 12:30pm. Advanced registration is required for storytimes, as there’s a limit to how many kids I can fit into the program room, plus advanced registration helps me prepare for the right number of kids… not ending up “short” or wasting craft supplies when people don’t show, and there’s an age cutoff date of 9/12 based on the East Penn School District.

Wednesday: 3 year old storytimes, 10:30am and 12:30pm. Advanced registration is required for same reasons as above

Thursday: Shingles Shot; 10am-2pm. The Pennsylvania Department of Health will be offering a low-cost or no cost Shingles vaccine (Zostavax) at Lower Macungie Library for people 50 years and older.  The cost for the vaccine is $5.00 for those above WIC income guidelines payable by check or money order. To register for the Shingles vaccine, please call the PA Department of Health at 610-821-6770. The library is not scheduling appointments.

2 year old storytimes, 10:30am and 12:30pm. Advanced registration is required for same reasons as above.

Heritage Quest Workshop; 11am. This class will explore search techniques to access a unique genealogical database from home computers. It will include Census records, Revolutionary War records, Books and Periodical indexes of Local and Family Histories, post-Civil War African American Family records, and US House and Senate documents.. Advanced registration and a $5 class fee are required.

AARP Tax-Aide; 1-5pm. AARP Tax-Aide, 1pm-5pm. Free tax help for taxpayers with low and moderate-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older. First-come, first serve. Appointments can be made in-person with AARP Tax-Aide representatives during tax help hours (Thursdays, 1pm-5pm).  For more information, call AARP at 1-888-227-7669.

Friday: Baby Lapsit, 9:30am, a “beginner storytime”/introduction to the library for children who were 11 months old or younger as of 9/12/12; advanced registration required.

Ones Storytime, 10:30am; a “beginner storytime”/introduction to the library for children who were between 12-23 months as of 9/12/12; advanced registration required.

Social Networking; 10am. We’ll cover the fundamentals of the most popular sites, explain how to create a new account, discuss the more commonly used functions, and make sure you’re taking the  steps needed to protect you and your information. Advanced registration and a $5 class fee are required.

Saturday: Cherries+Chocolate+Jazz, 7:30-9:30pm. Join us for a delightful evening of appetizers, desserts & beverages with music by the Kutztown University Jazz Quartet. Tickets are required—no purchase at the door, and available through Tuesday, February 18th.

Now, our AARP Tax-Aide program is a big hit.. but obviously, there was no chance for the kind folks from Tax-Aide to meet with their scheduled appointments last Thursday due to the storm. Please know if you had an appointment scheduled, Tax-Aide representatives will contact you about rescheduling.

Cherries+Chocolate+Jazz ticket sales have been extended until Tuesday, however, NO tickets will be sold after that, including at the door! Over 90 people are already signed up for this great night featuring the Kutztown University Jazz Quartet… and yummy treats!

That was a lot of info, so hopefully the important-to-you stuff stuck! Stay sane out there and hopefully we’ll have a no-snow March!