September  2011
Issue No. 8
ECRL Newsletter Logo 

E-Connect 

Calling all Digital Immigrants!


Do you sometimes feel like an immigrant in a world of technological gadgets and devices? Yet, kids born in recent years are native to this brave new technology world. ECRL's upcoming classes for Digital Immigrants may be just what you're looking for to speak the language of technology.


ECRL has been awarded a federal grant to bring a series of 4 classes to each of our 14 branch libraries. Each of the 4 classes focuses on a different topic and will give participants an opportunity to try technology tools. Class dates and times will be posted at branches and listed on the ECRL website.  Registration is limited and will be done by the branch library where you wish to attend.
 

The classes are:
1. Social networking: A variety of social networking tools will be introduced including Facebook, Skype, and Twitter.
 

2. Career resources and job searching on the Internet: An instructor from Central Minnesota Jobs and Training will bring ideas and tips for using employment and career websites.


3. Electronic reading devices: Try out ECRL's new eBook service and learn how to use a Nook electronic reading device.
 

4. Maintaining and upgrading computers: Learn basic computer maintenance. Learn about browsers and how to install and update them as well as utilities like java clients, Acrobat Reader, and flash. The class will also cover anti-virus software and malware - the absence of which causes all kinds of trouble.

 

Tell Us What You Think!
 
We want your input for planning ECRL services.  Both these surveys will close September 30th. 

Online Job Search and Resource Class 

Need to boost your job-searching skills and learn tips for career planning and employment?  Then join us for one of several online job search and resource classes.  The classes are part of our Digitial Immigrants II series teaching individuals new skills.

The 90-minute workshop is presented by East Central Regional Library in conjunction with Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services.  Classes will be offered during the months of October and November.  One class will be held at each of ECRL's 14 branch libraries with some having multiple sessions.

Limited seating is available and pre-registration is required!  Make sure to contact your local ECRL branch to register and for more information.

There are no fees for the class.  The classes are made possible with an LSTA grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services.

CMJTSIMLS

October Classes

 

October 3 - Chisago Lakes Area Library - 1:00 pm
October 4 - North Branch Area Library - 3:00 pm
October 6 - McGregor Public Library - 11:00 am
October 12 - Rush City Public Library - 10:00 am
                   Pine City Public Library - 5:00 pm
October 14 - Mille Lacs Lake Community Library - 10:00 am
                   Hinckley Public Library - 2:00 pm
October 19 - Milaca Community Library - 10:30 am
                   Princeton Area Library - 3:00 pm
October 20 - Mora Public Library - 6:00 pm
October 25 - North Branch Area Library - 10:00 am
                   Cambridge Public Library - 2:00 pm
October 27 - Chisago Lakes Area Library - 1:00 pm
                   Wyoming Area Library - 6:30 pm 


November Classes

November 2 - Aitkin Public Library - 10:00 am
November 4 - Sandstone Public Library - 10:00 am

November 8 - Mora Public Library - 2:00 pm
November 10 - Princeton Area Library - 6:00 pm

November 12 - Pine City Public Library - 10:00 am
November 16 - McGregor Public Library - 1:00 pm
November 17 - Cambridge Public Library - 10:00 am

                      Milaca Community Library - 6:00 pm

Fall ECRL Storytimes

 

 Cambridge Public Library

         Wednesdays - 10:00 am - September 14 thru November 2

  Chisago Lakes Area Library

          Wednesdays - Lapsit - 10:30 am & Preschool - 11:15 am -

          September 14 thru November 16

  Hinckley Public Library

          Fridays - 10:30 am - Starting September 9

  Isanti Link Site

          Wednesdays - 11:00 am - September 14 thru November 9

  McGregor Public Library - 10:30 am - Starting September 16

  Milaca Community Library

          Thursdays - 10:30 am - September 15 thru November 17

  Mille Lacs Lake Community Library

          Tuesdays - 11:00 am - September 13 thru November 1

  Mora Public Library

          Fridays - 11:00 am - Starting September 16

  North Branch Area Library

          Wednesdays - 10:30 am - September 21 thru November 9

  Pine City Public Library

           Wednesdays - 10:00 am - Starting September 7

  Princeton Area Library

           Wednesdays - 11:00 am - October 5 thru November 23

  Rush City Public Library

           Tuesdays - 10:30 am - September 13 thru October 18

                                             November 8 thru December 13

  Sandstone Public Library

           Wednesdays - 10:00 am - September 21 - December 14

  Wyoming Area Library

           Tuesdays - 10:30 am - September 6 thru October 25

       

 

Contact your local ECRL branch for more details for each event.

 

ECRL's Mission
  
Connecting and strengthening communities
through the power of knowledge.

 

*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.  

 

Find us on Facebook
Author of the Month:
Stieg Larsson

 

 "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and its sequels catapulted Larsson to the bestseller lists after his untimely death in 2004.  If you enjoyed his "Millennium Series", the following novels by other authors will be of interest.  All are thrillers set in the Scandinavia countries:

*Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
*Call Me Princess by Sara Blaedel
*The Shadow Woman by Ake Edwardson
*The Hand That Trembles by Kjell Eriksson
*The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler
*The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg
*Until Thy Wrath be Past by Asa Larsson
*The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

 

New Novels Soon to Appear in the ECRL catalog:
Search for any of these items in the ECRL Online Catalog:

*Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke
*The Maid by Kimberly Carter
*The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
*Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
*American Boy by Larry Watson
*Letters from an Unknown Woman by Gerard Woodward

New DVDs recently added to the ECRL catalog: 

 

Selections from the "TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection", including:  romantic comedies; Broadway musicals; murder mysteries; Hitchcock thrillers; family films; western adventures;  "Best Picture" winners; and science fiction classics.  Just enter "TCM Greatest Classic Films" as a keyword search on Evergreen to see the entire list!

New Non-Fiction Titles Available
Search for any of these titles in the ECRL Catalog

 

*2012 and the End of the World: The Western Roots of the Maya Apocalypse by Matthew Restall and Amara Solari

*America Walks Into a Bar: A Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies and Grog Shops by Christine Sismondo

 *Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington by John F. Wukovits

 *Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem, and the Birth of the Indy 500 by Charles Leerhsen

 *High Stakes: The Rising Cost of America's Gambling Addiction by Sam Skolnik

 *A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea: The Race to Kill the BP Oil Gusher by Joel Achenbach

 *The Library: An Illustrated History by Stuart Murray

 Focus on

School:

Search for any of these items on the ECRL Online Catalog:

 

Picture Books

 

*10 Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive on the School Bus by John Grandits

*Dino Pets Go to School by Lynn Plourde

*Mouse Loves School by Lauren Thompson

*Seven Little Mice Go to School by Haruo Yamashita

*We Love Our School by Judy Sierra

 

Juvenile Books

 

*Best Kept Secret by Debra Moffitt

*It's the First Day of School...Forever by R. L. Stine

*Katie and the Cupcake Caper by Coco Simon

*Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

*Mr. Harrison is Embarrasin' by Dan Gutman

 

Teen Books

 

*Education of Harley Kendrick by Eileen Cook

*Liar Society by Lisa Roecker

*Misfit by Jon Skovron

*Nerd Girls by Allan Sitomer

*Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen