February 2015

Volume 5, Issue 2

E-Connect

Cruise through your driving test!

In partnership with Driving-Tests.org, East Central Regional Library is proud to offer free online test prep for those preparing for MN Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services' written examinations. The partnership will strengthen the library's mission to connect people to resources and educational experiences that enrich and empower their lives.

This free Driver Education program includes:

* 11 car practice tests

* 6 motorcycle practice tests

* 2 CDL practice tests (Commercial Drivers License)

* 3 online driver's manuals (car, motorcycle, CDL)

* An FAQ section with detailed answers to 100+ questions about visiting DVS

These resources are available by clicking on the Magazines & Databases page, on the homepage under Quic

k Links, or directly at http://ecrlib.driving-tests.org.

The service includes accessibility tools that allow users to hear selections read aloud, make them into MP3s, translate pages into other languages, magnify text, and mask sections of the screen for greater visibility on driving practice tests.

East Central Regional Library is dedicated to driver safety and education, and wants to turn drivers into safer drivers. The new resource is great for teens, those with disabilities, seniors who need to take a renewal exam, and anyone looking to brush up on their knowledge of Minnesota's traffic laws.

No library card number or personal information is needed! Check it out today.

Introducing Once Upon

a Reader: a Statewide Early Literacy Initiative

The book, Moo, is part of Once Upon a Reader, a statewide early literacy initiative for ages 0-6. This year, communities in every region of Minnesota will be united through programming based on the book, Moo written by Minnesota author, David LaRochelle and Minnesota illustrator, Mike Wohnoutka. Once Upon a Reader is brought to you by the Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators and funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.

Once Upon a Reader is a program that celebrates Minnesota's rich cultural heritage by bringing the joy of stories, art, and literacy to our state's youngest members through libraries. But it doesn't end there; parents, caregivers and teachers have a crucial role to play in the celebration. Once Upon a Reader makes it easy to bring the fun and learning home. When children become deeply engaged with books, and stories leave the page to become part of everyday life, they are building a strong foundation of early learning, which will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

A decision was made to include all the children enrolled in Head Start in Minnesota as part of the inaugural Once Upon a Reader program. Therefore, funds were also set aside to provide a copy of the book, Moo, to every Head Start child in the State of Minnesota. Books in the ECRL region were distributed through Lakes & Pines Head Start to over 400 children in Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine counties and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibway.

Join us for these special "Once Upon a Reader" puppet shows with music, storytelling and more from the author and illustrator of the book,

Moo! See the poster below for the

locations of each program!

Regional Library System Honors

Exiting Long-Time Board Member

Keith Carlson, center, was recognized for his service to the East Central Regional Library system. Library board members are limited to no more than three consecutive three-year terms, which Carlson has served, so he could not be re-appointed for 2015. He is succeeded by Lindstrom resident William Schlumbohm Sr.

Carlson is pictured receiving a certificate of appreciation and an official mug from Carla Lydon, representing the regional library offices, and County Board Chair Rick Greene. The Regional Library Board consists of three appointees from each of its six county members.

Photo and article reprinted with permission

from Chisago Country Press

Upcoming Legacy Programming

(events funded with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund)

Straw Bale Gardening with Joel Karsten

Saturday, February 21
10:30 am - Hinckley Public Library
2:00 pm - Wyoming Area Library

Tuesday, March 7
10:30 am - Aitkin Public Library
2:00 pm - Mille Lacs Lake Community Library

Come learn about straw bale gardening from author Joe

Karsten. Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. The main difference is that the container is actually the straw bale itself, held together with two or three strings, the outside crust of the bale serves as the container. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decompose, the straw becomes "conditioned" and ready to plant.

Minnesota Author Julie Kramer
Wyoming Area Library
Tuesday, March 3 - 7:00 pm

Former investigative television journalist, Julie Kramer writes a ser

ies of thrillers: STALKING SUSAN, MISSING MARK, SILENCING SAM, KILLING KATE, SHUNNING SARAH and DELIVERING DEATH-set in the desperate world of TV news. Julie won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense, RT Reviewer's Choice Award for Best First Mystery as well as the Minnesota Book Award.

Steve Russell Juggling Workshop

Wyoming Area Library

Tuesday, March 10 - 6:30 pm

Learn a new skill! Impress your friends! Annoy your cat! Join us as former circus arts instructor for Ringling Bros. Circus, teaches you about the basic of the fun and ancient of juggling. For kids ages 10+ Space IS limited and pre-registration is required by calling the library at 651-462-9001.

Erin Hart & Paddy O'Brien

Aitki

Public Library

Tuesday, March 17 - 6:30 pm

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with songs, tunes, and stories as they'd be shared by an Irish fireside. Paddy will play some tunes on his button accordion followed by telling a few adventures from his memoir. Erin will then add a song or two from her book, The Book of Killowen.

Arn Kind - Fur Trade Tour

Mora Public Library - Monday, March 16 - 6:00 pm

Princeton Area Library - Thursday, March 19 - 6:30 pm

Sandstone Senior Center - Friday, March 20 - 1:00 pm

Aitkin Public Library - Monday, March 23 - 6;30 pm

Cambridge Public Library - Tuesday, March 24 - 6:00 pm

Chisago Lakes Area Library - Tuesday, March 31 - 6:00 pm

Experience "The French Voyageur and Minnesota's Fur Trade" as historical presenter, Arn Kind teaches you about how the fur trade began, the cultures and the people, the transportation of goods and furs plus lots more. Arn loves to bring lots of artifacts, clothing and equipment so you can observe, handle and interact with this living history program.

Plus check out all the other activities going on throughout ECRL.

Simply check any of the following spots on our website: NewsBits at www.ecrlib.org, Google calendar, ECRL Facebook page or follow us on Twitter@ecrlib.

Staff Reviews

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson (print, Bk/CD)

The summer of 1927 was filled with groundbreaking achievements by Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Al Capone, Al Jolson, Calvin Coolidge and others. Bill Bryson connects all of these remarkable people and events in an amazing true story that you won't be able to put down!

Reviewed by Sarah Ethier, Wyoming Branch Librarian

The Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen (print, Bk/CD)

Your high school has just been taken over by an evil librarian that has possessed your best friend. Is he a vampire, a demon, a werewolf? Can Cyn save her best friend, Annie, from the clutches of Mr. Gabriel, the evil librarian? This all seems like a B horror movie and a Twilight wannabe. However, once I got started I just had to find out how it would end. If you like "lite" horror without a lot of gore along with a little romance, you might enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Vickie Sorn, Youth & Community Services Librarian

Look of Love by Sarah Jio (Bk on CD)

A story about a woman who has the gift of 'seeing' true love and what she must do with that gift to ultimately find love herself. A very nice read for February.

Reviewed by Betty Evans, Milaca Branch Aide

Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla (The Secret History of the Pink Carnation #11) by Lauren Willig (print)

In Willig's 11th Pink

Carnation installment the

vampire craze has just hit London, 1806, when a young woman is found dead on a balcony, with fang marks on her neck. Immediately suspicion rests on the Duke of Belliston, a mysterious member of the Ton just returned from New Orleans after a several year absence. It's up to Miss Sally Fitzhugh to prove his innocence.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Shirek, Chisago Lakes Branch Librarian

New ECRL

Overdrive Titles

(Search for any these in the Overdrive catalog)

eBook Titles

*American Sniper by Chris Kyle

*And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

*Backfire by Catherine Coulter

*February Fever by Jess Lourey

*Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag

*Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner

*Girl on the Train by Paul Hawkings

*Motive by Jonathan Kellerman

*Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

*River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

eAudio Titles

*2 a.m. at the Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino

*Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

*Blood Infernal by James Rollins

*High Druids's Blade by Terry Brooks

*Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

*Immoral by Brian Freeman

*Motive by Jonathan Kellerman

*Nightingale by Kristin Hanna

*Private Vegas by James Patterson

*War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

eBook Juvenile & Teen Titles

*Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

*Bramblestar's Storm by Erin Hunter

*Cardboard by Doug TenNapel

*Cinder by Marissa Meyer

*Death Cure by James Dashner

*In the Age of Love and Chocolate by Gabrielle Zevin

*Redeemed by P. C. Cast

*Rise of the Dragons by Morgan Rice

*There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake

*When She Went by Gayle Forman

Forthcoming DVDs in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these items in the ECRL catalog:

New Adult DVDs

*Birdman with Michael Keaton

*The Good Lie with Reese Witherspoon

*Peter Pan Live! With Christopher Walken

*Wild with Reese Witherspoon

New JDVDs

*The Aviators

*CatDog : The Complete Series

*I Love Brother Bear (Berenstain Bears)

*I Love Sister Bear (Berenstain Bears)

*Monster Madness (Scooby Doo)

Forthcoming Print Fiction in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these items in the ECRL catalog:

*Death of the Redheaded Woman by Loretta Ross

*Gideon by Alex Gordon

*Girl Before a Mirror by Liza Palmer

*The Grown Ups by Robin Antalek

*If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie

*The Killing Season by Mason Cross

*Phantom Angel by David Handler

*Revenant by Michael Punke

*River of No Return by David Riley Bertsch

*What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field

Forthcoming Print Adult Non-Fiction Books in the ECRL Catalog

Search for any of these titles in the ECRL Catalog:

*An American Cardinal: the Biography of Cardinal Timothy Dolan by Christina Boyle

*American Reckoning: the Vietnam War & Our National Identity by Christan G. Appy

*Beautiful Eyes: a Father Transformed by Paul Austin

*Driven to Distraction at Work by Edward M. Hallowell, MD

*The Internet is NOT the Answer by Andrew Keen

*The Most Revolutionary Year in Music - 1965 by Andrew Grant Jackson

*No Simple Highway: A Cultural History of the Grateful Dead by Peter Richardson

*Soul Food Love by Alice Randall & Caroline Randall Williams

*Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness & Self-Compassion by Elisha Goldstein, PhD

*Washington's Revolution: The Making of America's First Leader by Robert Middlekauff

New Easy Picture Books

in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these in the ECRL Catalog:

*Books for Me by Sue Fliess

*The Crown Affair by Joe Dumpty as told to Jeanie Franz Ransom

*Hank Has a Dream by Rebecca Dudley

*How to Train Your Dragon by Devra Speregen

*I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty

*Not a Lot, Robot by Marie Powell

*Please Take Jake by Marie Powell

*Virgil & Owen by Paulette Bogan

*Who Wants a Hug by Jeff Mack

Playful Learning Grant Correction

In the January 2015 eNewsletter an incorrect statement was made in regards to the grant received.

The article should have said, "The Playful Learning Grant was made possible, in part, by funding from the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library Services and Technology Act (LS-00-14-0024-14) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services."

ECRL's Mission

To strengthen communities by connecting people with resources, spaces, and educational experiences that enrich and empower their lives.

*East Central Regional Library is funded by the counties of Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine. ECRL also receives state and federal funds.