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Hotspots: Grant lets library check out portable Internet links

Checking out the use of one of the new hotspots available at the library are,

front row, left to right, Brenna McCrummen, Ben Drake, Susan Nipp,

Mary Sanderson, Holly Stetson, and Sarah McVey, all with the Library Foundation,

Back row, Library Trustee Steve McCrea, Library Foundation members, Kristen Lahner

and Lisa Chesebro, and Peggy Appleman, president of the Friends of the Library.

Internet access is a necessity for most job searches, careers, school work, and popular entertainment, but nearly a third of local families do not have access to the Internet unless they visit places like the Coeur d’Alene Public Library where they can use computers or the free Wi-Fi.
Through a grant of $10,875 from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation obtained by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, the library now offers patrons “Internet to go.”
“This is a significant step in bridging the digital divide in our community,” said Library Director Bette Ammon. “This grant helps us provide access to the world for patrons who need to connect to family and friends, do online banking and job searches, use school resources, and for entertainment.”
Ben Drake, president of the Library Foundation, said that his group is proud of the role they played in obtaining the grant.
“The Library Foundation was involved in fundraising to build the physical library which opened 10 years ago,” he said. “We want to continue to help the library grow by enhancing the resources it offers the community.”
The library has 25 hotspots – portable devices used to create a wireless Internet access point – available to check out to library cardholders. The devices can be checked out for four weeks and can be renewed for an additional four weeks as long as there are no holds placed on them.
These hotspots can be used through the T-Mobile Network even if the user does not have cell phone, landline, or cable television service. Users can access the Internet from any location served by T-Mobile using a laptop, tablet, smart phone, or other wireless-equipped devices. They can also be used in conjunction with Rokus, or similar devices that permit streaming movies or other shows from the Internet. The library also has Rokus available to check out.
The hotspots will be checked out with instructions on how to use the devices and assistance will also be available from the library staff.

You Are Never Too Old to Enjoy Summer Reading

The library is collecting new pajamas

and books for children in need

in our community as part of the

Summer Reading theme,

“Build a Better World.”

Everyone knows that Summer Reading is great for kids. Young brains stay active between school terms if they spend at least part of the time reading or being read to.
Libraries encourage this by providing things like reading logs with prizes for the time spent with books, fun library programs, and other incentives.
Well, why should children’s brains get all the benefits of Summer Reading? That’s why the library has Adult Summer Reading, too,
Here are some of the activities:
► Summer Reading Book Reviews: Patrons are encouraged to write reviews of books they have read recently. Place your reviews in the green box under the “What to read next sign,” and you are entered to win one of two gift baskets. The reviews will also be typed out and displayed in the same area.
► Summer Reading Bingo: Visit the library for your Bingo card, and fill it out by performing various library/reading activities. Take your completed card to the Adult Check Out Desk and receive a limited-edition library tote bags. The game continues as long the tote bags last.
► 1000 Origami Cranes: Instructions and materials to fold origami cranes are set out on the Crane table near the Check Out Desk. Help us reach our goal of 1,000 cranes this summer. Once we have them all, they will be displayed at the library.
► Coloring: Patrons are invited to take a break and do some coloring at the table near the writing rooms. Our Coffee & Coloring program is also offered the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. We provide the refreshments and drawing materials or bring your own.
► Pajamas and Book Drive: This year’s theme for Summer Reading for all ages is, "Build a Better World." With that in mind, the library is collecting new pajamas and books to distribute  to local children in need. We are accepting donations of pajamas in sizes from birth to adult XXL and all kinds of new children’s books. The collection box is just inside the door to the main library upstairs.
► A Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club: The Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. As a special summer project, the club is knitting backpacks and animals to be shared with the kids at Children’s Village.
► Author Talks: A regional author has been invited to discuss their new books each month. Landscape architect Jon Mueller will share stories and images from his book “Private Park, Public Park: A Story of Coeur d’Alene and its First Park,” on Thursday, July 13, at 7 p.m. (See the story on Page 3.) On Thursday, Aug. 17, at 7 the library will host Heather Branstetter discussing her book, “Selling Sex in the Silver Valley: A Business Doing Pleasure.”
► Pageturners Library Book Club: The book club will have discussions through the summer on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:15 a.m. in the Community Room.

Deadline for Coeur d’Con Fan Art Contest is July 31

Main Event at Library Aug. 19
The deadline to submit entries in the Fan Art Contest for Coeur d’Con is Monday, July 31.
Coeur d’Con, a celebration of comics, movies, TV, and video games, is coming to the library on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Artists of all ages may submit their own original work or select a graphic novel, movie, book, or video game and create fan art. Entries will be displayed at the library for two weeks prior to Coeur d’Con and will be judged by the public.
Entry forms can be found at www.coeurdcon.weebly.com or can be picked at the public desks at the library.

Author Sneed Collard Youth Programs Offered

Sneed Collard III, shown with his dog, Mattie, will present  

programs  for children and teens at the library July 14.

An award-winning wildlife author will present a pair of programs – one for children, one for teens – as Summer Reading continues at the library during July.
Sneed B. Collard III is the author of such award-winning books as “Fire Birds—Valuing Natural Wildfires and Burned Forests,” “Double Eagle,” “Shep—Our Most Loyal Dog; Dog Sense,” and others.
His first book, Sea Snakes, was published in 1993. His seventy-fifth (or so) book, his memoir, “Snakes, Alligators, and Broken Hearts - Journeys of a Biologist’s Son,” was released in Fall, 2015.
In 2006, Sneed was the recipient of the Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Children’s Nonfiction Writer of the Year Award for his body of work.
On Friday, July 14, Collard will present a program geared toward children ages 8-12, “Birds of the Amazon,” beginning at noon.
At 1 p.m. his program will be specifically for ages, 13-18, and he will demonstrate to kids how to refine and narrow an effective writing idea by taking them on a journey to the Galapagos Islands.
July activities will culminate in a Building Day Family Program, 1-3 p.m., on Friday July 28. Participants can choose from a variety of wood kit projects. The event will also feature a LEGO pit. This activity is sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement with additional support from the Friends of the Library.
Families can come to the library throughout Summer Reading to pick up a reading log. Children can track the time they read – or are read to – and for each three hours of reading they can return to the library for a prize. Children who complete at least 10 hours of reading this summer will also be entered in an additional prize drawing. The final day to turn in reading times will be Sept. 2.
Children and teens who pick up a Summer Reading Log will have any overdue fines on their library cards erased.
Weekly programs include:
► Spanish Bilingual Story Time: Mondays, 11-11:30 a.m., for ages 3-5. Learn Spanish words through stories, activities, and crafts.
► My Little Pony Club: Mondays, 1-2 p.m., for ages 5-10. Meet with other My Little Pony fans, bring your favorite pony to share, and check out the “My Little Pony” books at the library.
► Book Babies: Tuesdays, 10:15-10:45 a.m., and Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m., for ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or other adult caregiver.
► Tales for 2s and 3s: Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m., for ages 2-3.
► World Travelers Club: Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m. (Registration required) For ages 8-12. Enjoy Food, festivals, and fun as we discover exotic cultures in virtual travels around the world.
► Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30-11 a.m., for ages 3-5.
► Book Club Jr.: Wednesdays, 12-1 p.m. (Registration required) For ages 8-9, a bona fide book club for which you take the book home to read and return to the library for discussions and other activities.
► Code Club: Wednesdays, Beginning 2-3 p.m./Continuing 3:30-5 p.m. For ages 7-11, learn coding basics on Scratch and code.org.
► Storytime for all Ages: Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m., offered at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on Ramsey Road.
► Lunch Bunch Book Club: (Registration required) Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For ages 10-12, a bona fide book club for which you take the book home to read and return to the library for discussions and other activities. Bring your lunch.
► World Renowned Readers: Thursdays, 1-2 p.m. For ages 5-7. Stories and activities.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. For ages 5-11, creative time with the library’s LEGO collection.
► LEGO Club With Robots: Thursdays, 4-5 p.m., at Lake City Public Library.
► Make It & Take It Crafts: (Registration required) Fridays, 1-2 p.m. Creative projects for ages 7-12. (Building Day will replace this program on July 28.)
► Reading Pals: Independent reading sessions you schedule yourself. Come to the library, pick out a Beanie Baby pal, and read out loud to it. For each 15-20 minutes of reading you earn a raffle ticket for a prize when you turn your pal back in.
Children under 6 visiting the libraries need to be supervised by an adult or a person who is at least 14 even during programs. Children ages 6-9 should be accompanied by someone who is at least 14 who will remain in the building.
For more information call 208-769-2315 Ext. 438 or e-mail Susan Thorpe, Youth Services Supervisor, at sthorpe@cdalibrary.org.

Author Talk About the History of City Park

Jon Mueler

The closure of Fort Sherman and the building of a railroad line that brought new tourists to the young community of Coeur d’Alene were among the factors that led to creation of City Park.
Landscape architect John Mueller will share stories and images from his new book, “Private Park, Public Park: A Story of Coeur d’Alene and its First Park,” on Thursday, July 13, at 7 p.m., in the Community Room at Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
“This is the story of the creation of Coeur d’Alene’s first park and one of the oldest in the State of Idaho,” Mueller said. “Its origins are found in the will of determined local people and newly arrived captains of industry. Its frame of reference is not only intertwined with and a part of the state and local history of the time, but also with the national movements of the era.”
Originally known as Blackwell Park, it would eventually be called Coeur d’Alene City Park and become a centerpiece in the life, economy, and culture of the community. Mueller is a landscape architect with more than 35 years of experience and a background in park and recreation planning and design.  His list of completed works includes projects in seven western states.
A native of Coeur d’Alene, he also has an interest in both history and governmental affairs.  He  enjoys photography as a leisure pursuit and understands the power of images in story-telling.
Mueller is a past national president of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).  He was elected to ASLA’s prestigious Council of Fellows in 2007, and a recipient of the ASLA President’s Medal in 2015.  He continues to make his home in Coeur d’Alene.

Tabletop Gaming for Teens Offered July 15

A Teen Tabletop Gaming Event will be at the library on Saturday, July 15, 2-5 p.m., in the Community Room.
Activities will include Library DnD, HerClix, Smash Bros, and board games. Snacks and sodas will be provided.
Additionally, wildlife author Sneed Collard III will present a program for teens on writing at 1 p.m., Friday, July 14.
Teens have their own Reading Log to keep track of their Summer Reading and to win prizes – any kind of reading counts. Any teen with overdue fines on their library card who participates in Summer Reading by picking up a reading log will have those fines forgiven.
Other teen programs in July are:
► Teen LEGO Club: Thursday, July 6, 4 p.m.
► Teen Movie: “The Space Between Us,” Friday, July 7, 5:30 p.m.
► Stop Motion Camp: Mondays July 10-24, 3-6 p.m. Culminates in the Stop Motion Film Festival, Saturday, July 29, 1 p.m.
► Teen Book Club: Tuesday, July 11, 4 p.m.
► Manga & Anime Club (for middle schoolers): Tuesday, July 18, 4 p.m.
► Manga & Anime Club (for high schoolers): Tuesday, July 25, 4 p.m.
► Teen Makerspace: Thursday, July 20, 4 p.m. in the Library Makerspace.
► Teen Craft: Felt Flowers and Geo sculpture, Thursday, July 27, 4 p.m.
► League of Legends: Each Friday at 4 p.m.
For more information contact YA Coordinator Talley Gaskins, 208-769-2315 Ext. 469 or tgaskins@cdalibrary.org.

Pageturners Book Club Reading, Discussing Safina’s ’Lazy Point’

The Pageturners Library Book Club will discuss “Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World,” by Carl Safina when it meets Wednesday, July 26, at 10:15 a.m., in the Community Room. Jim McDonnel will lead the discussion.
Beginning in his kayak in his home waters of eastern Long Island, Safina's book takes us through the four seasons to the four points of the compass, from the high Arctic south to Antarctica, across the warm belly of the tropics from the Caribbean to the west Pacific, then home again.
We meet Eskimos whose way of life is melting away, explore a secret global seed vault hidden above the Arctic Circle, investigate dilemmas facing foraging bears and breeding penguins, and sail to formerly devastated reefs that are resurrecting as fish graze the corals algae-free.
Pageturner discussions are open to any adult reader. Books are available to check out at the Research and Information Desk. The book club is also supported by a grant from the Friends of the Library.

Milestones Lecture Looks at Coeur d’Alene’s Regatta

Photo courtesy of the Museum of North Idaho.

The Coeur d’Alene Regatta will be the topic for regional historian Robert Singletary as his series, “Inland Northwest Milestones,” continues Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m., at the library.The first regatta was held in the Lake City in 1913 and continued as an annual event into the 1920s. The event attracted thousands of people and Tubbs Hill once had viewing stands built on its slopes to accommodate the crowds.
The free lecture series is offered in partnership with the Museum of North Idaho in the Community Room, usually on the fourth Thursday of each month, except for the final program which will be presented on Nov. 30 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Subsequent programs will be:
► Aug. 24: Farming in North Idaho.
► Sept. 28: Inland Empire Electric Line.
► Oct. 26: Kirtland Cutter: Spokane’s Master Architect.
► Nov. 30: History of Skiing in North Idaho.

Libraries will be Closed for Independence Day Holiday

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library and the Lake City Public Library on Ramsey Road will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday.
The Lake City library is currently observing its summer hours, Monday through Thursday, 12-5 p.m.
When the libraries are closed many services can still be accessed through the library website, www.cdalibrary,org.
Patrons can access their library accounts to place holds and check due dates as well as view the catalog for the Cooperative Information Network. The site has numerous online reference resources
E-books are available through the OverDrive system and free music downloads are available through Freegal.
Some online resource do require a username and/or password. Call of visit the library during open hours to obtain these.