What’s Clickin’ @ Your Neighborhood Library

¡Feliz Cumpleaños!

Summer Conversation Group Our Spanish-English Conversation Group provides an opportunity to improve listening, speaking and comprehension skills during ‘real’ conversation in an informal setting. People learning English come to practice English with native speakers and those learning Spanish come to practice Spanish with native Spanish speakers. At each meeting we have a theme to keep conversation flowing. Conversations range from simple ice breakers to describing the most unusual vacation experience you’ve had.

The group originated at Brown County Library’s Central location 5 years ago as the Spanish-English Language Exchange/Intercambio Inglés e Español. Initially, the group met once a month. Over the years our group has evolved to meet twice a month and is now called the Spanish-English Conversation Group/Grupo Bilingue de Conversación. We meet once a month at the East Branch Library and once a month at the Southwest Branch Library. It’s been a pleasure to form friendships and watch language skills grow over the years.

Whether you’ve been attending for years or haven’t checked us out yet, help us celebrate our 5th year of the Spanish-English Conversation Group this Saturday, July 18th, noon-1 p.m. Enjoy bilingual conversation, birthday cake, Lotería and refreshments.
All people learning Spanish or English are welcome. No pre-registration is required.

Add comment July 9, 2009

Summer Reading Programs in Full Swing

Summer Reading Programs: Carnival, Fun with Cutting & Pasting, Otto Goes to the Library, Father's Day Craft

Take part in a summer reading program at the Brown County Libraries. There’s one for everyone!

Be Creative @ Your Library for Children

Art Attack! for Teens

Master the Art of Reading for Adults

Add comment June 26, 2009

Have a Preschool Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

Here are some ideas for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with young children! Click on Cinco de Mayo Fiesta for Preschoolers (Word doc) to download a listing of things (songs, crafts, games) to do. Have fun!

Describe a day in Mexico.
Use a globe to show where Mexico is. Talk about how long it takes to get there by car or plane.
Show and talk about pictures of Mexico: people, places, etc.
Teach children simple words in Spanish. For example: count to ten, colors, days of the week or month, common food items, etc.

Add comment May 5, 2009

Event: Tickle Your Memory on Tues, April 14th

Don’t miss the final program in the series!

Tickle Your Memory!

Control all those countless slips of paper on your desk, in your wallet and scattered throughout your home. Learn to create a Tickler System to keep track of things you need to remember with guest presenter, Yolanda Martin.

Tuesday, April 14

6:30- 7:30 p.m.

Meet at Harmony Café

1660 W. Mason Street (next to Goodwill)

Questions? Call the Southwest Branch Library 492-4910 or visit www.browncountylibrary.org

Add comment April 2, 2009

Notes from Past Get Organized! Programs

Yolanda showing her coupon organizer.

So far, Yolanda has shown us how to Cut the Coupon Clutter by using coupon management system. Yolanda showed us how to create our own. Her system uses:

Coupon sorting mat

Receipt section to track spending.
Expiring coupons section
Store key cards stored with coupons
Gift Card section
Rebates
Checkout section (coupons to be used on this shopping trip)

Yolanda also talked with us at Conquer That Clutter about her method of organizing her kitchen and home.

We spend 20% of our effort to achieve 80% of our results. Being better organized can increase efficiency.

ABC method of organization

Sort things into 4 categories:

Most important-items you use daily
Very important- use several times a week
Low value- items might come in handy one day
Total waste of space

Organize around the 5 areas in the kitchen:
- Sink Center
- Cooking Center
- Mixing Center
- Serving Center
- Refrigerator Center

When sorting, use four containers:
- Trash
- Giveaway/donate
- Put away
- Undecided

Add comment March 31, 2009

Events: Cut the Coupon Clutter and Book Discussion

Cut the Coupon Clutter (Part 1 in a series)

Do you have a pile of coupons lying around? Want some help in organizing coupons so you can get the best deals before they expire?

Create a coupon management system with Yolanda Martin who specializes in helping others get organized.

Tuesday, February 24th

6:30-7:30 pm

Meet at: Harmony Cafe, Justice Room, 1660 W. Mason (next to Goodwill)

One Book, One Community Book Discussion

The book discussion of Bless Me, Ultima has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 26th at 10:30 at the library.

Books about organizing clutter:

Clutter Rescue: Just Minutes a Day to Get Organized-Forever! by C.J. Petersen

One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for good by Regina Leeds

Where’s My Stuff?: the Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide by Samantha Moss with Lesley Schwartz

When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Julie Morgenstern

Add comment February 6, 2009

Un-Valentine’s Day Party- Think Outside the Chocolate Box

Join us for Southwest’s

After Hours Un-Valentine’s Day Party

Friday, February 13th 5-7pm

Grades 5+, Call 492-4910 to pre-register

Here are some ideas on how to throw an Un-Valentine’s Day Party:

Encourage kids to wear black
Play un-love songs in the background
Un-valentine making table: Make a valentine for a friend or family member
Pointless Poetry table: Imitation parchment paper (for writing not for cooking!), pens, and examples of silly poetry are available for kids to create non-romantic poems
Alone Time table
Cookie decorating table: Heart shaped sugar cookie halves, frosting and sprinkles available for kids to create their own un-valentine cookies
Create a personalized candy heart picture at Acme Heart Maker like this