January 2019 Library Calendar - Click for Full Size

Click here for the library's website calendar.

Julie Meier Writers Competition Marks Its 30th Year

As the Julie Meier Writers Competition marks its 30th year, it begins its second year under a new name, a new set of rules, and the elimination of entry fees.
The library is again partnering with Idaho Public Television to encourage young writers to participate in the PBS Kids Writers Contest.
The PBS contest is for children in kindergarten through third grade. The rules for the library’s Writers Competition were changed last year to reflect the grade level of participants younger than 19 in order to better fit the PBS contest rules.
It’s recommended that families who are interested in participating in both contests first create an entry complying with the IPTV rules by going to www.idahoptv.org/writerscontest, where they can register online. To submit the entry in the library contest they will then need to fill out the local registration form and create a title page for the Coeur d’Alene library competition.
Copies of the new rules and entry forms will be available at the library beginning Jan. 31 and will also be available online at the Writers Competition link at www.cdalibrary.org/events. A newly updated guide to creating an entry can also be found at this site. Forms can also be requested by email to dtownsend@cdalibrary.org and can be requested by mail.
Entries need to be mailed or delivered to the library no later than Sunday, March 31.
The biggest change in the writers competition was the elimination of entry fees, which previously were $1 for entries in age groups 6-12, and $2 for entries in other age groups.
The age groups for the competition are Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and Adult – ages 19 and older. Homeschooling families can determine the age group that best suits their children.
As last year, one entry per participant will be accepted for the competition. Entries can be fiction or nonfiction up to 2,000 words and participants need only submit one clean copy along with their registration form.
The rules have also been simplified in terms of how the entries can be formatted – how they appear on the page.
Despite the changes, participants are encouraged to read through the rules and make sure they are understood before they begin writing. It’s especially important that adults who are organizing classes or other groups of children to submit entries make sure they read and understand the entry requirements.

A Holiday Tradition

Santa, Mudgy, and Millie, led by “Mudgy & Millie” author Susan Nipp

and assisted by Coeur d’Alene sculptor Terry Lee, joined a capacity family crowd

Dec. 8 at the annual Holiday Sing-Along sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Public

Library Foundation. Along with sharing some holiday music, the author

and sculptor signed copies of the “Mudgy & Millie” books while  Mudgy and

Santa posed for holiday photos with the children and families.

Copies of the books are available at Second Story Books at the Library

as well as at local stores. Royalties from the books and the sale of the

plush animals benefit the Library Foundation.

Library Hosting READY! for Kindergarten Workshop

The library will host the first of two workshops designed to help families prepare their children to begin kindergarten on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m.
The free READY! for Kindergarten program is designed to build strong parent engagement and teach families new skills and helpful tips to nurture a child’s development; foster essential early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills; and provides learning targets, and take-home activities and tools equip parents and caregivers to help toddlers and young children develop strong brain connections for success in school.
The workshop, in the library Community Room, will include free materials, toys, and refreshments. Participants are asked to register by calling 208-667-8112 to ensure that sufficient materials are available.
A spring workshop at the library is scheduled for March 13.
New Author BINGO continues in the children’s library. Participants ages 8-12 can pick up a card at the checkout desk in the Seagraves Children’s Library. For each book they read by an author they have not read before, they can get their card stamped and collect a small gift bag or a ticket for the grand prize drawing.
Participants age 7 and under can also play, but don’t necessarily have to read a new author for each stamp.
The activity will continue through Feb. 28 and the grand prize winners will be selected March 4.
Families are invited to join the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
The free program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and five years.
Following the New Year’s holiday, weekly children’s programs at the library resume Jan. 7 and include:
► Bilingual Preschool Storytime: Mondays, 11 a.m. Stories and other activities in Spanish and English for ages 3-5.
► Family Storytime: Mondays, 4 p.m. Stories and a craft for the whole family.
► Book Babies Lapsit:  Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m., for children ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
► Toddler Time Music & Motion: Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m., fun, songs, movement, and a story for 2-3 year olds.
► Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., after Toddler Time and Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. after Book Babies, families can stay for fun and socializing.
► Lake City LEGO Club: Tuesdays, 4 p.m., at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on Ramsey Road.
► Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., stories and a craft geared to ages 3-5.
► Code Club/Minecraft Club: Wednesday, 4 p.m., learn coding basics with robots and video games. For ages 7-12.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 4 p.m., free play with the library’s huge collection of LEGOs. Generally for ages 5 -11.
Children and teens younger than 18 are no longer charged late fees. Patrons of all ages are still responsible for lost items.
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.

Teens Win With Winter BINGO

Winter Reading BINGO for Teens continues at the library through Feb. 28.
Participants read and do library-related activities to fill out a BINGO card that gives them free books for a BINGO line and an entry into a grand-prize drawing for a Kindle Fire for a blackout. BINGO cards with more information are available at the Adult Checkout Desk.
The free Teen Movie on Friday, Jan. 25, at 6 p.m., is “Venom” (PG-13), the origin story of one of Marvel’s most-dangerous anti-heroes. Pizza will be provided.
Teen Choice Tuesday voting is open. Teens can now vote on what weekly club the library will offer on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m. starting in February 2019. Vote at the Teen Zone at Cd’A Library Facebook page or at the library.
Other January teen programs include:
► Scribbler Society Writing Club: Jan. 14 and 28, 3-4 p.m., in the Jameson Room. This is an all-ages activity for patrons who want to improve and share their writing skills.
► Teen D&D: Thursdays, 4-6 p.m., beginning Jan. 24, in the Gozzer and Jameson rooms. Be part of an epic campaign. Have grand fantasy adventures, using your imagination, strategic skills, and the power of teamwork. Beginners welcome.
► Library League of Legends:  Fridays 4-5:30 p.m., resuming Jan. 18, in the Shirley Parker Story Room. Play the MOBA “League of Legends” with other teens. Use our laptops, or bring your own. Snacks provided.
► Volunteens Cocoa & Convo: Friday, Jan 18, 6-7 p.m. in the Story Room - Chat with the teen librarian about what you’d like to see the library offer for teens while you’re sipping on a hot cocoa. Not a teen volunteer yet? This is a great time to get an application.
For more information contact Angela Flock at 208-769-2315 Ext. 463 or by e-mail at aflock@cdalibrary.org.

Novel Destinations Features the Southwest

The southwestern corner of the United States is an area of great natural beauty, though much different than what we are used to in the Inland Northwest.
On Friday, Jan. 18, ay 7p.m., George Sayler, will share stories and photos from a trip he and his wife, Katie, took through southern Utah and northern Arizona on a quest to visit four national parks, five national monuments and numerous archeological and cultural sights.
The couple traveled for two weeks, along with five friends, discovering the wonders of that part of the southwest.
The program will feature pictorial highlights of their trip, relevant travel information, commentary on the natural geologic features, cultural history of the ancient Puebloans, and more. Discover the amazing beauty of slot canyons, see what it is like to hike up a river, marvel at the bizarre beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park, and gaze in wonder at ancient petroglyphs and pictographs.
The program, sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, is free, but donations are welcome.
Anyone with a travelogue to share at the library is asked to contact the Library Foundation at 208-769-2380 or by e-mail at cdalibraryfoundation@gmail.com.

Share Seeds, Info at Swap

The Seed Swap in 2016.

The annual Seed Swap will be Saturday, Jan. 26, 1-3 p.m., in the library Community Room.
The program is offered in partnership with The Inland Northwest Food network and True To Seed: Coeur d’Alene Seed Lending Library
Participants are invited to bring their extra seeds, home-saved or purchased, to share with others and go home with lots of seeds for spring and summer planting.
Learn about seed saving from some of our region’s avid seed savers, and take home seed varieties that you won’t find anywhere else and that are well-adapted to our growing conditions.
No seeds to swap? Come anyway and consider making a donation to help cover costs and help our seed program grow.
For more information contact Char Beach, cbeach@cdalibrary.org or call 208-769-2315 Ext. 651.

Libraries Closed for MLK Jr. Day, New Year’s

The Coeur d’Alene and the Lake City public libraries will be closed due to two upcoming holidays.
The main library will close early, at 5 p.m., for New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, and Lake City will be closed. Both libraries will be closed for New Year’s Day on Jan. 1.
The libraries will also be closed Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
When the libraries are closed many library resources are still available through the websites: www.cdalibrary.org and www.lcplibrary.org.
Patrons can access their library records using their library card numbers to check due dates, renew checkouts, and request holds from the Cooperative Information Network catalog.
Through the EXPLORE link the websites also provide access to numerous online resources such as reference materials, career planning, practice tests, automotive repair manuals, genealogy resources, travel guides, language learning and English as a second language services, and more.
Patrons can also download e-books through the OverDrive system. The Freegal Music Service allows cardholders to download and keep up to five songs a week and to stream music on Internet-linked devices.

Holiday Changes Schedule for Knitters, Colorers Stay the Same

Due to the New Year’s holiday, the Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club meets the third and fifth Tuesday of the month – Jan. 15 and 29  – at 2:30 p.m. in the Jameson Room.
All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Materials and refreshments are provided.
Coffee and Coloring for adults meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month – Jan. 8 and 22 – at 10 a.m.
Drawing materials and refreshments are provided, or bring your own.

Improve, Share Your Writing Skills With New Library Group

A group for people who want to improve and share their writing continues at the library.
The Scribbler’s Society Writing Club meets the second and fourth Monday of the month – Jan. 14 and 28 – 3-4 p.m., in the Jameson Room.
The club welcomes writers of all ages to come together to crank out some words, edit drafts, and take part in critique sessions. It will offer the chance to set some post-NaNoWriMo writing goals and brainstorm with fellow writers.
Participants are asked to bring their notebooks and/or laptops. Snacks, tea, and coffee will be provided.

STCU Works Offers Tips to Prevent Fraud, Identity Theft

“Prevent Fraud & Identity Theft” will be the next free workshop offered by STCU at the library on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at noon.
The presentation will include what attracts identity thieves and other criminals, how you can spot the warning signs of fraud, learning about trending scams, and key resources to keep your finances safe and protected.
The workshop includes a light meal.
Participants are asked to register by going to www.stcu.org/workshops or by calling 855-753-0317.
The next STCU workshop will be “Protect Your Credit Score” and will be offered Feb. 20.

Pageturners Begin New Series With Ken Kesey Selection

The Pageturners Library Book Club is reading “Sometimes a Great Notion” by Ken Kesey. The group will discuss the book on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 10:15 a.m. in the Community Room.
This is the first of a series books on loan from the Idaho Commission for Libraries through its Let’s Talk About It program.
Kesey’s second novel follows the lives of a family in an Oregon timber town.
Pageturners discussions are open to any adult reader. Copies of the books for each month are available to check out at the Research and Information Desk.

History of Coeur d’Alene the Focus of Milestones Lectures

The Inland Northwest Milestones lecture series with Robert Singletary will resume on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.
A regional historian and the Program and Marketing Director for the Museum of North Idaho, Singletary will discuss, “The ’30s in Coeur d’Alene” with information compiled by the speaker for his upcoming book, “Coeur d’Alene: Beautiful and Progressive, 1878-1990.”
The subsequent lectures in the series will be:
► Feb. 28: Farragut’s influence on Coeur d’Alene.
► March 28: Coeur d’Alene After WWII and into the ’50s.
► April 25: Coeur d’Alene in the ’60s and ’70s.
► May 23: The Turbulent, but Progressive ’80s.

Food For Thought Book Club to Discuss Urban Farming Story

The Food For Thought Book Club is reading “Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer” by Novella Carpenter. It will be discussed Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m., in the Gozzer Room.
When the author – captivated by the idea of backyard self-sufficiency as the daughter of two back-to-the-earth hippies – moves to a ramshackle house in inner-city Oakland and discovers a weed-choked, garbage-strewn abandoned lot next door, she closes her eyes and pictures heirloom tomatoes, a beehive, and a chicken coop.
What starts out as a few egg-laying chickens leads to turkeys, geese, and ducks. And not long after, along came two 300-pound pigs. And no, these charming and eccentric animals aren’t pets. Carpenter is raising these animals for dinner.
An unforgettably charming memoir, full of hilarious moments, fascinating farmer’s tips, and a great deal of heart, “Farm City” offers a beautiful mediation on what we give up to live the way we do today.
This book club is offered in partnership with the Inland Northwest Food Network. For more information visit www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

Your best book bargain for December!

Decmber 2018 Library Calendar - Click for full size

Click here for the library's online calendar.

Annual Sing-Along With Mudgy & Santa Dec. 8

St. Nick, the moose and mouse available for photosJoin the fun Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m., at the library with a special family activity, the seventh annual “Holiday Sing-Along With Mudgy and Santa.”
The free program will be in the Community Room on the lower level of the library. Easiest access will be from the lower parking lot behind City Hall and through the lower entrance.
Children’s author Susan Nipp, creator of the “Mudgy & Millie” books and the nationally known “Wee Sing” series of books and music, will lead the kids in singing some holiday favorites.
Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse will be on hand along with Santa Claus and they will be available after the music for informal photos – so be sure to bring your cameras and phones.
Nipp and sculptor Terry Lee, who created the bronze statues along the Mudgy Trail, will also sign copies of the “Mudgy & Millie” books.
The original “Mudgy & Millie” was published in 2008 with its royalties and those for “Mudgy & Millie” merchandise going to the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation. Its release coincided with the unveiling of Lee’s bronzes and the opening of the 2.5-mile trail in cooperation with the City of Coeur d’Alene.
Earlier this year Nipp introduced a new series of “Mudgy & Millie Adventures” books that will take the pair around the world in the hot-air balloon they keep stowed away on Tubbs Hill. Their first adventure took them to Australia to learn about boomerangs and about Australian culture and wildlife. The latest book and the original were illustrated by Charles Reasoner.
Copies of the books will be available to purchase at the Dec. 8 event.
Information: Library Foundation, 208-769-2380

New Group at Library for Writers

A new group for people who want to improve and share their writing begins meeting at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library in December.
The Scribbler’s Society Writing Club will meet beginning Dec. 3, 3-4 p.m., in the Jameson Room and will meet again Dec. 17.
The club welcomes writers of all ages to come together to crank out some words, edit drafts, and take part in critique sessions. It will offer the chance to set some post-NaNoWriMo writing goals and brainstorm with fellow writers.
Starting January 2019, the group will meet the second and fourth Monday of every month. Participants are asked to bring their notebooks and/or laptops. Snacks, tea, and coffee will be provided.
For more information contact Lindsay Moore, 208-769-2315 Ext. 469 or by email at lmoore@cdalibrary.org.

New Author BINGO Back for Young Readers

Young patrons at the library can win prizes while discovering new authors with New Author BINGO beginning Dec. 1.
Participants ages 8-12 can pick up a card at the checkout desk in the Seagraves Children’s Library. For each book they read by an author they have not read before, they can get their card stamped and collect a small gift bag or a ticket for the grand prize drawing.
Participants age 7 and under can also play, but don’t necessarily have to read a new author for each stamp.
The activity will continue through Feb. 28 and the grand prize winners will be selected March 4.
Families are invited to join the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
The free program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and five years.
Due to the Christmas and New Years holidays, there will be no children’s programs at the main library Dec. 24 through Jan. 1, The Coeur d’Alene and Lake City public libraries will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24 and 25.
The regular library programs for December  include:
► Family Storytime: Mondays, 4-5 p.m. Stories and a craft for the whole family.
► Book Babies Lapsit:  Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m., for children ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
► Toddler Time Music & Motion: Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m., fun, songs, movement, and a story for 2-3 year olds.
► Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., after Toddler Time and Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. after Book Babies, families can stay for fun and socializing.
► Lake City LEGO Club: Tuesdays, 4 p.m., at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on Ramsey Road.
► Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., stories and a craft geared to ages 3-5.
► Code Club: Wednesday, 4 p.m., learn coding basics with robots and video games. For ages 7-12.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 4 p.m., free play with the library’s huge collection of LEGOs. Generally for ages 5 -11.
Children and teens younger than 18 are no longer charged late fees. Patrons of all ages are still responsible for lost items. 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. The Branch Manager for Lake City is JD Smithson, and she can be reached at 208-763- 0814 or jsmithson@cdalibrary.org.

Teens will Exchange White Elephant Gifts

Teen patrons – ages 12-18 – will have a White Elephant gift exchange Saturday, Dec. 15, 4-6 p.m., in the Community Room.
Participants are asked to bring a silly or serious wrapped gift worth about $5. The item can be new or used. Teens will be playing the classic White Elephant gift exchange game with them, where gifts can be swapped and stolen, as the rules allow. (Some gifts will be provided, in case the purchase of a gift is an obstacle to attendance.)
Time permitting, there will also be a sockball fight. Cocoa and popcorn will be provided. No one will go home empty-handed, but you might laugh at what you get.
On Friday, Dec. 28, at 6 p.m., in the Community Room there will be a free screening for teens of the holiday movie, “Elf” (PG), starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. Pizza will also be provided.
Other December teen programs include:
► Scribbler Society Writing Club: Monday, Dec. 3 and 17, 3-4 p.m., in the Jameson Room. This is an all ages activity for patrons who want to improve and share their writing skills.
► Teen Makerverse: Tuesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Nelson Room. This is a creative hangout time. Come enjoy the social making atmosphere. This is a great opportunity to make Christmas gifts for your family and friends.
► Teen D&D: Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. in the Gozzer Room. Be part of an epic campaign. Have grand fantasy adventures, using your imagination, strategic skills, and the power of teamwork. Beginners welcome.
► Library League of Legends:  Fridays 4-5:30 p.m.  in the Shirley Parker Story Room. Play the online game "League of Legends" with other teens. Bring your own laptop, or borrow one of ours. Snacks provided.
► Winter Reading BINGO for Teens: Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, read and do library-related activities to fill out a BINGO card that gives you free books for a BINGO line and an entry into a grand-prize drawing for a Kindle Fire for a blackout. Visit the Adult Checkout Desk for the BINGO card that gives more information.
► Volunteens: Applications are always available for teens who’d like to volunteer at the library.
For more information contact Angela Flock at 208-769-2315 Ext. 463 or by e-mail at aflock@cdalibrary.org.

Libraries Closed for Christmas, New Year’s

The Coeur d’Alene and the Lake City public libraries will be closed due to two upcoming holidays.
The libraries will be closed be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24 and 25, for Christmas. The main library will close early, at 5 p.m., for New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31, and Lake City will be closed. Both libraries will be closed for New Year’s Day on Jan. 1.
The Friends of the Library are combining the November and December business in a single meeting on Dec. 4, at 10:30 in the Gozzer Room. The Friends normally meet the fourth Tuesday of the month. Their meetings are open to anyone interested in supporting the library.
When the libraries are closed many library resources are still available through the websites: www.cdalibrary.org and www.lcplibrary.org.
Patrons can access their library records using their library card numbers to check due dates, renew checkouts, and request holds from the Cooperative Information Network catalog.
Through the EXPLORE link the websites also provide access to numerous online resources such as reference materials, career planning, practice tests, automotive repair manuals, genealogy resources, travel guides, language learning and English as a second language services, and more.
Patrons can also download e-books through the OverDrive system. The Freegal Music Service allows cardholders to download and keep up to five songs a week and to stream music on Internet-linked devices.

Great Bear Adventure to be Revisited Dec. 14

Mary Sanderson will share her new kayaking trip in the Great Bear rainforest in British Columbia as a Novel Destinations program Friday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., at the library.
She will share stories and photos from her trip along the Canadian coast organized by Mothership Adventures.
The vast, sodden land encompasses 1,000-year-old cedars, waterfalls spouting off the sides of moss-covered mountains, granite-dark waters, and glacier-cut fjords.
This remote expanse is home to many First Nations communities as well as abundant wildlife: coastal gray wolves, grizzly bears, Sitka deer, cougars, mountain goats, orca, salmon, sea lions, sea otters, humpback whales, and its most celebrated resident, the rare, cream-colored Kermode bear, or sprit bear, considered sacred by the T'simshian people.
The program is free, but donations are welcome.
Anyone with a travelogue to share at the library is asked to contact the Library Foundation at 208-769-2380 or by e-mail at cdalibraryfoundation@gmail.com.

Enjoy Creativity, Conversation With These Adult Programs

The Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month – Dec. 4 and 18 – at 2:30 p.m. in the Jameson Room.
All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Materials and refreshments are provided.
Coffee and Coloring for adults meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month at 10 a.m. Due to the Christmas holiday, the group will only meet Dec. 11 this month.
Drawing materials and refreshments are provided, or bring your own.

Book Club Reading About Ways to Fix the US Food System

The Food For Thought Book Club is reading “Fixing the Food System: Changing How We Produce and Consume Food” by Steve Clapp. It will be discussed Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m., in the Gozzer Room.
America's broken food system has provoked an outcry from consumer advocates seeking to align food policies with public health objectives. This book examines both sides of the conflict for solutions and traces the development of a national food policy proposed by food movement leaders.
For more information visit www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

Pageturners Library Book Club Doesn’t Meet in December

The Pageturners Library Book Club does not meet in December, but will resume meeting Jan. 23, at 10:15 a.m. in the Community Room. The group normally meets the fourth Wednesday of the month.
The books for the next series are on loan from the Idaho Commission for Libraries through its Let’s Talk About It program.
Pageturners discussions are open to any adult reader. Copies of the books for each month are available to check out at the Research and Information Desk.

Singletary Lecture Series on Cd’A Resumes Next Month

Inland Northwest Milestones lecture series with Robert Singletary will not be presented in December, but will resume on Thursday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.
A regional historian and Program and Marketing Director for the Museum of North Idaho, Singletary will discuss “The ’30s in Coeur d’Alene” with information compiled by the speaker for his upcoming book, “Coeur d’Alene: Beautiful and Progressive, 1887-1990.”

Mudgymobile On Parade

Mudgy and Millie greeted enthusiastic fans while riding in the Mudgymobile as part 

of  Coeur d’Alene’s annual holiday kickoff parade Friday, Nov. 23.

 The moose and mouse will be at the library Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m.

 for the annual Mudgy & Santa Holiday Sing-Along.

 “Mudgy & Millie” author Susan Nipp will be joined by friends to lead the singing.

 Bring your camera and phones for photos with Mudgy and Millie and Santa.

November Calendar - Click for Full Size

Click here for the library's online calendar.

Stories to Mark American Indian Heritage Month

Fifth-graders from the Sorensen Magnet School read

“The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush,” one of two stories presented

as part of the library’s StoryWalk project in McEuen Park.

In honor of American Indian Heritage Month in November, the library will have two programs featuring Grandmother Tales from Sarai Mays, Indian Education Coordinator for Coeur d'Alene School District 271. Attendees will hear stories, make a dreamcatcher, and snack on maple popcorn.
The programs will be Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Both programs will be in the Shirley Parker Storyroom in the Children’s Library.
The library has also installed a StoryWalk exhibit in McEuen Park adjacent to the library that features two Native American stories.
The Pageturners Library Book Club will read and discuss “Love Medicine,” by Louise Erdrich. The discussion will be Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 10:15 a.m. Pageturner discussions are open to all adult readers. Copies of the book will be available at the Research and Information Desk. Books have been provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries.
The Pageturners do not meet in December.
The upcoming benefit for the Coeur d’Alene Library Foundation, the BZN Film Rodeo, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m., includes the feature film, “Mankiller,” the story of Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief for the Cherokee Nation.
Tickets for the film festival are $15 apiece and will be available at the door. Admission includes popcorn and other snacks and a no-host beer and wine bar is available.

Program Sets 1K-PreK Reading Goal for Families

Families are invited to join the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the library.
The free program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills.
Research shows that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and five years. Registration opens Nov 1.
In celebration of Idaho Family Reading Week, local author Donna Bain presents her book “In the Soft Moonlight - Haiku Poetry for Children of All Ages,” Tuesday, Nov. 13, 4-5 p.m. Learn to write your own haiku during this author talk and workshop.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no children’s programs at the main library Nov. 19-21, and the libraries will be closed Nov. 22 and 23. LEGO Club at the Lake City Public Library will be offered at its usual 4 p.m. time on Nov. 20. Lake City will be closed Nov. 21.
The regular library Fall Reading Programs include:
► Family Storytime: Mondays, 4-5 p.m. Stories and a craft for the whole family.
► Book Babies Lapsit:  Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m., for children ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
► Toddler Time Music & Motion: Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m., fun, songs, movement, and a story for 2-3 year olds.
► Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., after Toddler Time and Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. after Book Babies, families can stay for fun and socializing.
► Lake City LEGO Club: Tuesdays, 4 p.m., at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on Ramsey Road.
► Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., stories and a craft geared to ages 3-5.
► Code Club: Wednesday, 4 p.m., learn coding basics with robots and video games. For ages 7-12.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 4 p.m., free play with the library’s huge collection of LEGOs. Generally for ages 5 -11.
Children and teens younger than 18 are no longer charged late fees. Patrons of all ages are still responsible for lost items. 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. The Branch Manager for Lake City is JD Smithson, and she can be reached at 208-763- 0814 or jsmithson@cdalibrary.org.

Film Rodeo Riding Into Town for Library Foundation

The BZN Film Rodeo is coming to Coeur d’Alene to benefit the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation.
The screening on Friday, Nov. 9, will feature award winners for the 2018 BZN International Film Festival including three short films and the feature documentary “Mankiller.”
The films will be screened in the Community Room at the library. Tickets will be available at the door for $15. The doors open at 6:30. Popcorn and treats and a no-host wine and beer bar will be provided.
BZN Film Rodeo is the traveling exhibition for the Bozeman Film Celebration, now in its second year in south central Montana, serving as a platform for independent filmmaking and creative expression, and supporting emerging and established voices.
Organizers said the BZN International Film Festival spotlights women filmmakers, writers, directors, actors and producers who understand that film is a powerful medium to convey their dreams and passions — and who are ready to take the helm, pioneering projects to change current statistics and elevate women’s visions and voices.
The idea of the festival was conceived about a year-and-a-half ago, and the inaugural festival was held this past June. Plans for a second festival are already underway, and the dates are set for June 6-9, 2019. The BZN International Film Festival was started by Beth Ann Kennedy, artistic director with the support of Executive Producer George Dorsey.
“Mankiller” – the Spirit Award winner - is the story of an American legend, Wilma Mankiller, who overcame rampant sexism and personal challenges to emerge as the Cherokee Nation’s first woman Principal Chief in 1985.
The film was directed by Valerie Red-Horse Mohl and produced by Valerie Red-Horse Mohl and  Gale Anne Hurd. The film has a run time of 73 mins.
The feature will be preceded by three shorts:
► “Where the Wild Things Play,” Narrative Short Winner, directed and written by Krystle Wright. There’s a revolving conversation of asking why aren’t there more females in the adventure industry whether it’s big mountain skiing, filmmakers, big wall climbers and so forth. Well it’s about time we found out. Run time, 4 minutes.
► “Drawback,” Documentary Short Winner, directed, written, and produced by Colter Olmstead, the story of a young bowhunter as she journeys out on her first hunting experience. Run time, 2.8 minutes.
► “Deux Mains,” (“With My Own Two Hands”), directed and written by Michael Barocas, a poetic expression of the human experience told through hands. Run time, 2 minutes.

Teens Can be Part of a Worldwide Gaming Event

Be a part of a worldwide event with International Games Day at the library on Saturday, Nov. 10, beginning at 4 p.m. in the Community Room.
For ages 12 and up, play Switch games, League of Legends, or board games. Snacks will be provided.
On Friday, Nov. 30, enjoy a free Teen Movie, beginning at 6 p.m. Watch two of Marvel’s smallest superheroes on the big screen, “Antman and the Wasp,” (PG-13) while enjoying popcorn and refreshments.
Other weekly programs for November include:
► Teen Makerverse: Tuesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Nelson Room. There’s a universe of different making opportunities at the library –3 D printing, art, writing, jewelry-making, sewing, video game creation, and so much more. Basically, this is a creative hangout time. Come enjoy the social making atmosphere. In honor of National Novel Writing Month teens can use this time to work on their novel during November.
► Drone Club: Wednesday, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Community Room. A four-part program for ages 8 to 18 meeting only Nov 14 this month.
► Teen D&D: Thursdays, 4-6p.m. in the Gozzer Room. Be part of an epic campaign. Have grand fantasy adventures, using your imagination, strategic skills, and the power of teamwork. Beginners welcome.
► Library League of Legends:  Fridays 4-5:30 p.m.  in the Shirley Parker Story Room. Play the online game "League of Legends" with other teens. Bring your own laptop, or borrow one of ours. Snacks provided.
For more information contact Angela Flock at 208-769-2315 Ext. 463 or by e-mail at aflock@cdalibrary.org.

Winners of Pumpkin Decorating Named

The winners of the library’s pumpkin decorating contest were Child: Kailee Beck; Teens: Loren and Lilah Roberts; and Adult: Rachel Hazard.
Pumpkins were provided by the City of Coeur d’Alene’s Compost Facility and were grown in Coeur d’Green, the city’s own soil enhancement product. Decorating supplies were provided by a grant from the Friends of the Library.

Loren and Lilah Roberts

Kailee Beck

Library Hosts Inland Northwest Free-Mo-N Fall Open House

The library will host the Fall Open House for the Inland Northwest Free-mo-N model railroad group Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The group boasts the largest operating modular train layout in North Idaho and it will be set up in the Community Room. The exhibit is free.
The Inland Northwest Free-mo-N group was begun in March 2015 and Models in the n scale – 1:160 inches.

Library Schedules Changed due to Veterans Day, Thanksgiving

The Coeur d’Alene and the Lake City public libraries will be closed due to two holidays in November.
The libraries will be closed Sunday and Monday, Nov. 11 and 12, for Veterans Day. On Nov. 21 the main library will close at 5 p.m. and Lake City Public Library will be closed. The libraries will also be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22 and 23, for Thanksgiving.
When the libraries are closed many library resources are still available through the websites: cdalibrary.org and lcplibrary.org.
Patrons can access their library records using their library card numbers to check due dates, renew checkouts, and request holds from the Cooperative Information Network catalog.
Through the EXPLORE link the websites also provide access to numerous online resources such as reference materials, career planning, practice tests, automotive repair manuals, genealogy resources, travel guides, language learning and English as a second language services, and more.
Patrons can also download e-books through the OverDrive system. The Freegal Music Service allows cardholders to download and keep up to five songs a week and to stream music on Internet-linked devices.

Milestones Series on Lake City Has Two Programs in November

The new series of Inland Northwest Milestones at the library, based on material researched for Robert Singletary’s upcoming book, “Coeur d’Alene: Beautiful and Progressive, 1887-1990,” will have two programs in November.
The Wednesday, Nov. 7, presentation will be “The Timber Boom, then World War I” followed on Thursday, Nov. 29, by “The Dynamic ’20s.”
Singletary, is a regional historian and Program and Marketing Director for the Museum of North Idaho, the library’s partner for this series. 

Jack Nisbet Bringing New Book to Author Talk

Author, naturalist, and historian Jack Nisbet will discuss his book, “The Dreamer and the Doctor: A Forest Lover and a Physician on the Edge of the Frontier,” Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the library.
A Spokane-based teacher and naturalist Nisbet is the author of several books that explore the human and natural history of the Intermountain West, including the story collection “Purple Flat Top and Singing Grass Burning Sage,” an illustrated exploration of the flora and fauna of the dry side of the Cascade Range. His essay book “Visible Bones” won awards from the Washington State Library Association and the Seattle Times.
Since 1994, Nisbet has worked extensively on Northwest fur agent and geographer David Thompson. He has also produced two books that detail Thompson’s travels and cartography west of the Continental Divide: “Sources of the River” and “The Mapmaker’s Eye.”
“The Dreamer and the Doctor” is about John and Carrie Leiberg, who lived in North Idaho in the 1880s and ’90s and passed through Coeur d’Alene many times. Carrie Leiberg is the doctor and John Leiberg was a Swedish-born naturalist.
This presentation is in partnership with The Well-Read Moose. The program is funded in part by the Friends of the Library.

Local Favorite Novels Are Harry Potter Series

When the votes were all counted in the PBS Great American Read Tuesday night, America’s favorite novel was declared to be “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.
Voters at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library ranked it fourth and gave top honors to the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling, with 67 votes.
In all, 304 votes were cast at the library. The other top-ten novels were:
2. “Left Behind,” 54 votes.
3. “The Chronicles of Narnia,” 30 votes.
4. “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “Pride & Prejudice,” 12 votes each.
5. “Gone With The Wind,” 11 votes.
6. “Little Women” and “The Book Thief,” 7 votes each.
7. “Outlander, 6 votes.
8. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” 5 votes.
9. “1984,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “Rebecca,” “The Alchemist,” “The Great Gatsby,” 4 votes   each.
10. “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Jane Eyre,” “Lonesome Dove,” “Lord of the Rings,” “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “The Help,” “The Hunger Games,” “Wuthering Heights,” 3 votes each.
The list of books in the national vote in order of popularity can be found here:
www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#.

Library Holiday Craft Fair Features Locally Made Items

The annual Holiday Library Craft Fair is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16 and 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Community Room and the lower level of the library.
The fair features locally made handcrafts and art.
A portion of each sale benefits the Friends of the Library.
For vendor information contact David Townsend at dtownsend@cdalibrary.org.

Adult Activities Offer Chances for Creativity, Conversation

The Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month – Nov. 6 and 20 – at 2:30 p.m. in the Jameson Room.
All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Materials and refreshments are provided.
Coffee and Coloring for adults meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month, Nov. 13 and 27, at 10 a.m.
Drawing materials and refreshments are provided, or bring your own.

Book Club Will Chew the Fat About the History of Butter

The Food For Thought Book Club is reading “Butter: A Rich History” by Elaine Khosrova, and it will be discussed, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m., in the Gozzer Room.
After traveling across three continents to stalk the modern story of butter, award-winning food writer and former pastry chef Khosrova serves up a story as rich, textured, and culturally relevant as butter itself.
For more information visit www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

Santa is Coming to Town Dec. 8 to Sing with Mudgy & Mudgy

Join the fun Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m., at the library with a special family activity, the annual “Holiday Sing-Along With Mudgy and Santa.”
The free program will be in the Community Room on the lower level of the library. Easiest access will be from the lower parking lot behind City Hall and through the lower entrance.
Susan Nipp, author of the “Mudgy & Millie” books will lead the singing with some help from her characters, St. Nick, and some other friends.
The author and sculptor Terry Lee will sign copies of the “Mudgy & Millie” books. Santa and the characters will be available for photos.

October Calendar - Click for Full Size.

For the library's online calendar, click here.

New Bike Racks are Wild(life)

New bike racks created by local artist 

Allen Dodge were recently installed in front

 of the library. Representing various

 animals, the racks were funded by the 

Coeur d'Alene Arts Commission.

Star Wars Reads Day Here Oct. 13

Star Wars Reads Day – a program to encourage early reading through the popular sci-fi franchise – will be hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Pubic Library Saturday, Oct. 13, 1-3 p.m., in the Community Room.
The event will feature Star Wars games, crafts, activities, and snacks.
At 3 p.m. a free movie – “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (PG-13) will be screened after the event.
On Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning at 12 p.m., the Saturday with the Symphony concerts continue with musicians from the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.
The regular library Fall Reading Programs include:
► Family Storytime: Mondays, 4-5 p.m. Stories and a craft for the whole family.
► Book Babies Lapsit:  Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. and Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m., for children ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.
► Toddler Time Music & Motion: Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m., fun, songs, movement, and a story for 2-3 year olds.
► Stay & Play: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m., after Toddler Time and Fridays, 11-11:30 a.m. after Book Babies, families can stay for fun and socializing.
► Lake City LEGO Club: Tuesdays, 4 p.m., at the Lake City Public Library in the high school on Ramsey Road.
► Code Club: Wednesday, 4 p.m., learn coding basics with robots and video games. For ages 7-12.
► LEGO Club: Thursdays, 4 p.m., free play with the library’s huge collection of LEGOs. Generally for ages 5 -11.
Children and teens younger than 18 are no longer charged late fees. Patrons of all ages are still responsible for lost items.
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. The Branch Manager for Lake City is JD Smithson, and she can be reached at 208-763- 0814 or jsmithson@cdalibrary.org.

Let Your Imagination Take Flight with Drones

It’s one of the world’s fastest growing technologies with a variety of practical uses and entertainment potential.
Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 10, 4-5:30 p.m., the library will offer Drone Club in the Community Room for ages 8 to 18. The first 10 participants at each session will get flight time with the library drone.
The club will meet for four Wednesdays in all continuing Oct. 24, and 31, and Nov. 14.

Decorate a Pumpkin Oct.6

A free pumpkin and the materials to decorate it will be available Saturday, Oct. 6, at the library.
Families are invited to come to the Community Room at 1 p.m. to select their pumpkin from those being provided by the City of Coeur d’Alene. The library will provide paint and other materials for decorating. Sorry, we won’t be doing any carving.
Participants can then take their decorated pumpkins home or have their pumpkins displayed at the library until Oct. 27 when they can be picked up.
Library patrons will vote on their favorites in child, teen, and adult categories and the winners will be announced on Halloween.

Pick a Side for ‘Human vs. Zombies’ Teen Night

It’s time to make a last stand with “Humans vs. Zombies” Teen Night Saturday, Oct. 20, 6-8 p.m. on the upper level of the library.
This is an after-hours activity for teens ages 13-18 - an apocalyptic game of tag and role-play. Be part of the zombie hoard or save humanity from infection.
Bring your own nerf gun, or be provided with low-grade zombie protection.
For even more fun and gore join us for the free Teen Movie, Friday, Oct. 26, in the Community Room, for a screening of “A Quiet Place” (PG13).
In this horror movie a family’s survival depends on their absolute silence.
Weekly programs for October include:
► Teen Makerverse: Tuesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. in the Nelson Room. There’s a universe of different making opportunities at the library –3 D printing, art, writing, jewelry-making, sewing, video game creation, and so much more. Basically, this is a creative hangout time. Come enjoy the social making atmosphere.
► Teen D&D: Thursdays, 4-6p.m. in the Gozzer Room. Be part of an epic campaign. Have grand fantasy adventures, using your imagination, strategic skills, and the power of teamwork. Beginners welcome.
► Library League of Legends:  Fridays 4-5:30 p.m.  in the Shirley Parker Story Room. Play the online game "League of Legends" with other teens. Bring your own laptop, or borrow one of ours. Snacks provided.
For more information contact Angela Flock at 208-769-2315 Ext. 463 or by e-mail at aflock@cdalibrary.org.

‘Lost Battalion’ Talk by Don Pischner

In honor of the 100th anniversary of WWI, area historian and former legislator Don Pischner will share the epic story of two local doughboys in a presentation at the library on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.
The Lost Battalion is the name given to nine companies of the United States 77th Division, roughly 554 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. Roughly 197 were killed in action and about 150 missing or taken prisoner before 194 remaining men were rescued.
The battalion suffered many hardships. Food was short, and water was available only by crawling under fire to a nearby stream. Ammunition ran low. Communications were also a problem, and at times they would be bombarded by shells from their own artillery. Despite this, they held their ground and caused enough of a distraction for other Allied units to break through the German lines, which forced the Germans to retreat.
Pischner will relate the experiences of Ruben Hudlow and Irvin Pischner, the speaker’s dad, based in part on their correspondence.
This presentation is offered in partnership with the Museum of North Idaho.

Beginning Chinese Mahjong Classes Offered

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library will host a Beginner Chinese Mahjong Class starting Oct. 16, and reservations are being accepted.
Chinese beginner Mahjong is a social, four-player tile game of skill, strategy and an excellent mental workout. The tiles are based on Chinese characters and symbols, but you don't need to speak Chinese to play.
In this Beginner Class, new players are introduced to the tiles, the Chinese International Mahjong basic rules of play and those folks who would like to learn and have fun. Class size requires a minimum of four people to a maximum of 12.
Participants should plan to attend all four sessions offered on Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m., Oct. 16, 23 and 30, and Nov. 6 in the library’s Gozzer Room.   
For more information and reservations, contact Maureen Westfall at 208-292-4580.

Class Helps You Save Your Photos

Melode Hall

Remember when your family photos accumulated in boxes that you always intended to get organized? Chances are these days your photos are accumulating in your digital camera or your phone – different technologies, same results.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m., come to the Community Room at the library and learn to Save Your Photos. Melode Hall will discuss ways to create a back-up plan for your treasured photos and videos.
The free presentation will discuss how to be proactive and avoid heartbreaking losses, the importance of cloud storage, how to manage mobile phone photos, and steps to create a photo plan.
She will also discuss how to preserve outdated media such as videotapes, slides, film reels, and other items, scanning services for photos and albums, and how to protect your digital assets so they can be passed on to future generations.

Slovenian Culture Subject for Novel Destinations

Overlooking Bled in the Republic of Slovenia – formerly part 

of Yugoslavia and the subject of a Novel Destinations program on Oct. 19.

The history, culture and geography of Slovenia and how it commemorates World War II through sport and physical activity will be the subject of a Novel Destinations presentation at the library on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.
Sharing images and information will be Pullman, Wash., resident and Slovenian citizen Mateja Lončar, Ph.D. She is in the process of organizing a trip to her native Slovenia for the 63rd March Along the Barbed Wire and Run of Trios, a walk and racing event that commemorates the liberation of the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, at the end of World War II.
Novel Destinations is sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library to provide area residents the opportunity to share their photos and stories from trips around the world. Anyone with a program to share is encouraged to contact the Library Foundation at 208-769-2380 or by email at cdalibraryfoundation@gmail.com.

Knitting, Coloring Groups Offer Time to Create, Converse

The Well-Knit Tale Knitting Club meets the first and third Tuesday of the month – Oct. 2 and 16  – at 2:30 p.m. in the Jameson Room.
All skill levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Materials and refreshments are provided.
Coffee and Coloring for adults meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month, Oct. 9 and 23, at 10 a.m.
Drawing materials and refreshments are provided, or bring your own.

STCU Workshop Provides Tools to Help You Become Debt Free

STCU will offer a free workshop – Become Debt Free – Wednesday, Oct. 17, at noon in the library’s Gozzer Room.
The workshop is designed to provide information on determining where your finances are now and where you want them to be; get tools to make debt-free living possible; and learn the importance of celebrating milestones.
To register online visit www.stcu.org/workshops or call 855-753-0317.

Pageturners Library Book Club Reading ‘Passages West’ Stories

The Pageturners Library Book Club is reading “Passages West: Nineteen Stories of Youth and Identity” edited by Hugh Nichols and will discuss it Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 10:15 a.m.
This is the third of four books in the club’s current series. The books are on loan from the Idaho Commission for Libraries through its Let’s Talk About It program.
Pageturners discussions are open to any adult reader. Copies of the books for each month are available to check out at the Research and Information Desk.
The final book in the series, “Love Medicine” by Louise Erdrich, will be discussed Nov. 28.
The Pageturners Library Book Club is supported by a grant from the Friends of the Library.

Inland Northwest Free-mo-N Train Layout Here Nov. 2 & 3

The library will host the free Fall Open House for the Inland Northwest Free-mo-N model railroad group Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The group boasts the largest operating modular train layout in North Idaho and it will be set up in the Community
The Inland Northwest Free-mo-N group was begun in March 2015 and models in the n scale – 1:160 inches.

Food For Thought Book Club Looks at Our Comfort Foods

The Food For Thought Book Club is reading “The History of Spices, Salt, Sugar, Fat” by Michael Moss and will be discussed, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m., in the Gozzer Room.
In this Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative report Moss shows how we ended up here. Featuring examples from Kraft, Coca-Cola, Lunchables, Frito-Lay, Nestlé, Oreos, Capri Sun, and many more, Moss’s explosive, empowering narrative is grounded in meticulous, eye-opening research.
Held in partnership with the Inland Northwest Food Network, discussions are open to anyone interested in the science, cultivation, and preparation of food.
The upcoming title and its discussion date is “Butter: A Rich History” by Elaine Khosrova, Dec. 5.
For more information visit www.inwfoodnetwork.org.

Storyteller Programs Will Be Part of American Indian Month

In honor of American Indian Heritage Month in November, the library will have two programs featuring Grandmother Tales from Sarai Mays, Indian Education Coordinator for Coeur d'Alene School District 271. Attendees will hear stories, make a dreamcatcher, and snack on maple popcorn.
The programs will be Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m. Both programs will be in the Shirley Parker Storyroom in the Children’s Library.
The library will also install a storywalk exhibit in McEuen Park featuring two Native American stories.
The Pageturners Library Book Club will be reading and discussing “Love Medicine,” by Louise Erdrich. The discussion will be Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 10:15 a.m. Pageturner discussions are open to all adult readers. Copies of the book will be available at the Research and Information Desk.

Naturalist, Historian Jack Nisbet Will Discuss New Book Nov. 8

Author, naturalist, and  historian Jack Nisbet will discuss his book, “The Dreamer and the Doctor: The Northwest Odyssey of Carrie and John Leiberg,” Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room.
Spokane-based teacher and naturalist Nisbet is the author of several books that explore the human and natural history of the Intermountain West, including the story collection “Purple Flat Top and Singing Grass Burning Sage,” an illustrated exploration of the flora and fauna of the dry side of the Cascade Range. His essay book “Visible Bones” won awards from the Washington State Library Association and the Seattle Times.
Since 1994, Nisbet has worked extensively on Northwest fur agent and geographer David Thompson. He has also produced two books that detail Thompson’s travels and cartography west of the Continental Divide: “Sources of the River” and “The Mapmaker’s Eye.”
“The Dreamer and the Doctor” is about John and Carrie Leiberg, who lived in North Idaho in the 1880s and ’90s and passed through Coeur d’Alene many times.
This presentation is in partnership with The Well-Read Moose.

Milestones Series on Lake City Has Two Programs in November

The new series of Inland Northwest Milestones at the library, based on material researched for Robert Singletary’s upcoming book, “Coeur d’Alene: Beautiful and Progressive, 1887-1990,” will have two programs in November.
There are no programs in October.
The Wednesday, Nov. 7, presentation will be “The Timber Boom, then World War I” followed on Thursday, Nov. 29, by “The Dynamic ’20s.”
There will be no program in December.

Singletary, is a regional historian and Program and Marketing Director for the Museum of North Idaho, the library’s partner for this series. 

Movie From Bozeman Film Celebration Will Be Screened

A film from the Bozeman Film Celebration will be screened Friday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room.
“Mankiller,” the winner of the Documentary Feature Award, has been a popular pick so far, as it has a regional relevance and is social justice-driven.
“Mankiller” is the story of Wilma Mankiller, who overcame rampant sexism and personal challenges to emerge as the Cherokee Nation’s first woman Principal Chief in 1985.
Bozeman Film Celebration spotlights women filmmakers, writers, directors, actors and producers who understand that film is a powerful medium to convey their dreams and passions.

September Library Calendat - Click for full size.

For the library's online calendar click here.

Coeur d’Con Cosplay Winners

The winners of the Cosplay Contest at the fourth annual Coeur d’Con at the library Saturday, Aug. 8 were: Youth – Ashton Dickinson as the 11th Dr. Who, front right, and, runner-up, Collin Decker as Robin; Teen – Logan Jaggi, center, as Jareth the Goblin King and Madison Jaggi as Sarah, and, runner-up, Becca Basta as Agent Carter; Adult – Tiffanie Berlin, second from the right, as Minty Chip, and, runner-up, Tyler Brostrom as Harley Quinn, and Professional, Phoenix Blossom, left, as Cacklerot, and, runner-up, Allyson Fiellen as Oreo. The winners were selected by a panel of judges from among finalists who were voted on by Coeur d’Con attendees.

Reading, Music Go Hand-in-Hand for Author

“Mudgy & Millie” author Susan Nipp beside the Tubbs Hill statue

 — created by Terry Lee — of her characters.Add caption

The elements that make music an important part of brain development in young children enhance their ability to read, do math, and even participate in sports, according to children’s author Susan Nipp, the creator of “Mudgy & Millie” and their new “Adventures” series.
Before she wrote about the moose and the mouse playing hide-and-seek in downtown Coeur d’Alene, Nipp was best known as the co-creator of the Wee Sing books and music series for children. She and collaborator Pam Beall began the series in 1977.
Nipp said that as music educators she and Beall understood the importance of sharing music with young children as their brains are developing.
“Through active music they gain skills in listening, vocabulary, coordination, and self-confidence,” she said. “This early involvement can enhance their future abilities in reading, math, and sports.”
She cites the old children’s song “Head and Shoulders.”
“While singing and moving, language is developing as kids learn their body parts. The words are heard as syllables and the child begins to enunciate the words more clearly, assisting with speech. The words have tone and rhythm and inflection which add to the phonemic awareness.” 
While “Mudgy & Millie” differs from the “Wee Sing” books, music, and videos, the locally based book does have its own song and a video on YouTube that was produced by Jeff Crowe of Bunkhouse Productions and CDA-TV. And there is a new song to go with “Mudgy & Millie Adventures: Australia.”
“Yes, and it is quite fun!” Nipp said. “There is a simple sing-along chorus and the verses tell the story in the book. You learn about the various animals and their silly names. I wrote the song and Brett Sommer created the arrangement and produced it. We have a great group of adults and kids singing on the chorus – including my grandchildren – whose dads sang on the Wee Sing tapes!”
The new song will be performed along with reading the new book at the tenth annual Birthday for Mudgy & Millie at the library on Saturday. Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.
It was observing animals that led to the development of the “Mudgy & Millie” characters, the author said.
“I thought long and hard about this. We live where moose occasionally wander through our yard. I find them fascinating and their appearance actually humorous with their long legs, big snout, and funny dewlap. I love the idea of opposites, thus, the huge moose and tiny mouse. I also love alliteration so found moose and mouse a great beginning for Mudgy Moose and Millie Mouse as a wonderful string of "M" letters.”
Australia was selected as the first subject for the new series, in part, because of its unique wildlife, but Nipp said a family link also played a role.
“I have an Aussie cousin whom we have visited several times,” she said. “Thus, I have been so enamored with the amazing animals of Australia and thought a great beginning country for our “Mudgy & Millie Adventures” series.”
She admits that forthcoming books in the series also give her an opportunity to travel, “for research.”
“We recently returned from Africa and I was enthralled with the beautiful animals,” she said. “I also loved the birds of Costa Rica when we visited. So, am thinking about one of those places as the next destination.”
Charles Reasoner is back as illustrator for the new books and will also return to Coeur d’Alene for the unveiling on Sept. 8, when Nipp reads it publically for the first time.
“Chuck has illustrated more than 400 books for a variety of publishers. He worked with us on several Wee Sing books and I especially liked his illustrations using watercolor. I asked if he would join me on the Mudgy & Millie project using that style and he loved the idea and the project.
Joining Nipp and Reasoner for the party will be sculptor Terry Lee, whose life-size bronzes have become a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike as they walk the 2.5-mile Mudgy Trail through Coeur d’Alene’s downtown area.
All royalties from the “Mudgy & Millie” books benefit the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation, a reflection of the influence libraries have had on the author’s life.
“I grew up in the Hillyard area in Spokane. In grade school I would walk about a mile to the library and always check out lots of books. Afterward I would walk a couple more blocks to the ice cream store for a treat. Appreciating how those days transported me to different worlds as a child makes me want to give that same opportunity to kids today” she said.
Nipp said she hopes that families will also share that opportunity. She said she hopes that next month they will take away from the party, “ultimately, the love of reading. Because kids already know Mudgy and Millie, they can now look forward to spending more time with them. And to go on adventures with them, they need to read about them.”

Susan Nipp’s new book, “Mudgy & Millie Adventures: 

Australia,” will be available for the public for the first time 

on Saturday, Sept. 8. The author, illustrator 

Charles Reasoner, and sculptor Terry Lee will

 be on hand to sign copies of the new book and the original book.