News from East Central Regional Library

July 2015

Volume 5, Issue 7

E-Connect

Did You Know?

State Funding and Libraries

East Central Regional Library is the collaborative result of a joint powers agreement between the counties of Aitkin, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine. Library services are supported through a combination of county and state funds. 60% of ECRL's income is from the participating counties and 29% is from the State of Minnesota. The rest is from a combination of local contracts and fees.

The state portion of the budget is governed by the legislature. The 2015 Legislative session has ended and we're planning for the 2016 session. The Minnesota Legislature meets each year, functioning on a two-year cycle called a biennium. The first year of the cycle (just ended) in odd numbered years is the budgeting year. The second year (even numbered years) is referred to as the bonding year and also often deals with left-over business. State bonding money is essential for library building as well as many statewide building projects.

State advocates for library users and the libraries that serve them met Wednesday, July 8th at the annual Library Legislative Forum at St Cloud Public library. The Forum is sponsored annually by the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) and Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota (ITEM). MLA Legislative Chair and ECRL Director Barbara Misselt welcomed the participants and led the day's discussion to plan upcoming legislative activities. Other ECRL attendees were Trustee Karen Lee, Assistant Director Carla Lydon, and Resource Librarian Sarah Hawkins.

Library lobbyists Elaine Keefe and Sam Walseth reported that the 2015 session will result in mostly flat state funding for libraries. ECRL receives Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) and Regional Library Telecommunications Aide (RLTA). Both amounts allocated for libraries will remain the same that they were in the previous biennium. ECRL also will again receive funds from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Amendment, but the amount to be received in 2016-2017 will be about 27% less than the amount received in 2014-2015.

The 2016 legislative session will be a bonding year, and Minnesota libraries have requested a bonding bill to fund Library Construction Grants. At least one and possibly more ECRL cities are planning library construction projects.

Barbara Misselt, Director

Staff Reviews

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose (J print)

I really didn't know much about the role Denmark played in WWII. This juvenile non-fiction book reveals how Denmark's youth, disgusted by their own government bowing to the Nazis, started their own resistance movement. Did they really know what they were getting into and the consequences it would have? A true story about a little known subject and a story on how you can make a difference.

Vickie Sorn, Youth & Community Services Librarian

God Help the Child by Toni Morrison (print; bk on CD, eBook)

The main character, Bride, encounters physical violence and a car accident as she tries to reconcile her difficult childhood and find out more about her mysterious boyfriend and why he left her.

Kathy Morrow, Mille Lacs Lake Branch Librarian

Upcoming Legacy Programming

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

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Bird-A-Wocky Storytime

North Branch Area Library

Thursday, July 16 - 2:00 pm

Learn about the differences between birds and other animals. For all ages.

Splashy, Flashy, Frogs Storytime

North Branch Area Library

Wednesday, July 22 - 10:30 am

Dive into the fabulous and noisy world of frogs. For all ages.

Great American Songbook: Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood - a History!

Cambridge Senior Center

Wednesday, July 15 - 1:30 pm

Eastwood Senior Living - Mora

Monday, July 20 - 1:30 pm

Lake Song Assisted Living - Onamia

Tuesday, July 21 - 2:00 pm

Ecumen North Branch Assisted Living

Thursday, July 23 - 2:00 pm

Northland Village Assisted Living - McGregor

Friday, July 24 - 4:30 pm

Join us as musicians Brian and Sheralyn Barnes present a history of American music throughout the decades. Plus there will be a sing-a-long!

Author Nancy Carlson

Milaca Community Library

Thursday, July 16 - 10:30 am

Join us at storytime as children's author and illustrator, Nancy Carlson, joins us. She'll talk about her new book, It's Okay to Ask and show everyone how she draws her characters.

The Medicine Show Music Company

Aitkin Public Library

Friday, July 31 - 2:00 pm

Join us for our annual library lawn party. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to an old fashioned medicine show with comedy and music. Ice cream floats provided by the Aitkin Friends of the
Library.

Ventriloquist James Wedgwood

Aitkin Public Library - Tuesday, July 28 - 10:30 am

McGregor Public Library - Tuesday, July 28 - 2:00

Mille Lacs Community Library - Thursday, July 30 - 10:00 am

Princeton Area Library - Thursday, July 30 - 1:00 pm

Mora Public Library - Monday, August 3 - 10:00 am

North Branch Area Library - Monday, August 3 - 1:00 pm

Milaca Community Library - Tuesday, August 4 - 10:00 am

Pine City Public Library - Tuesday, August 4 - 1:00 pm

Rush City Public Library - Tuesday, August 4 - 3:00 pm

Sandstone Public Library - Wednesday, August 5 - 10:30 am

Hinckley Public Library - Wednesday, August 5 - 1:00 pm

Chisago Lakes Area Library - Wednesday, August 5 - 3:30 pm

Cambridge Primary School Multipurpose Rm -Thursday, August 6 - 10:30 am

Wyoming Area Library - Thursday, August 6 - 1:00 pm

Help us celebrate our Read to the Rhythm summer reading program as comedy ventriloquist, James Wedgwood and his friends, entertain us!

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.

New ECRL

Overdrive Titles

(Search for any these in the Overdrive catalog)

eBook Titles

* Alert by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

*The Forgotten by Heather Graham

*H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

*Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

*The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark

*Memory Man by David Baldacci

*Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling

*Suddenly One Summer by Julie James

*Time for Truth by Ted Cruz

*Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

eAudio Titles

* Baby Proof by Emily Girffin

*Breaking Free by Lauraine Snelling

*The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark

*Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

*The Rumor by Elin Hildenbrand, et al

*Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling

*Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs

*The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows, et al

*Truth or Die by James Patterson

*Twice in a Lifetime by Dorothy Garlock

New DVDs in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these in the ECRL catalog

*5 Flights Up starring Morgan Freeman

*Big Momma's House 2 by Martin Lawrence

*Gunman starring Andrew Roma

*Danny Collins starring Al Pacino

*Jurassic World starring Chris Pratt

*McFarland, USA starring Kevin Costner

*Pitch Perfect 2 starring Anna Kendrik

*San Andreas starring Dwayne Johnson

*Survivor starring Pierce Brosnan

*While We Were Young starring Ben Stiller

Forthcoming Print Fiction in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these items in the ECRL catalog:

*All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark

*Cross Justice by James Patterson

*The Guilty by David Baldacci

*Lady Maybe by Julie Klassen

*Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

*Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel

*Scam by Janet Evanovich

*Sea Keeper's Daughter by Lisa Wingate

*Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

*Target Island by Tim LaHaye

*Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

Forthcoming Print Books on CD in the ECRL Catalog

Search for any of these titles in the ECRL Catalog :

*All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark

*Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury

*Cross Justice by James Patterson

*Golem of Paris by Jonathan Kellerman

*Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

*Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

*Shadow Play by Iris Johansen

*Trick Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich

*Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods

*Wishes of Christmas by Fern Michaels

New Music CDs

in the ECRL catalog

Search for any of these in the ECRL Catalog:

TOP 40

*Black Rose by Tyrese

*Mobile Orchestra by Owl City

*Sometime Last Night by R5

*Water for Your Soul by Joss Stone

COUNTRY

*Angels and Alcohol by Alan Jackson

*The Blade by Ashley Monroe

*Blacked Out by Moonshine Bandits

*Bittersweet by Kasey Chambers

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.