Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Last week was a plethora of learning as Zoa, Brandi, and I attended the Montana Library Association conference. I attended some amazing sessions, one in particular on AI (Artificial Intelligence). More and more, our students, businesses, and others are using free AI sources to edit and write first drafts of documents and educational papers. The session not only covered the different types of AI available on the internet but also the ethical concerns, problems with the programs, and costs of incorporating AI into libraries. I also attended...
Next Thursday, April 25th, the Holocaust book discussion group will meet. It seems impossible that a year ago today, I traveled to Los Angeles with a dedicated team of teens and adults to visit the Holocaust Museum in LA. We were privileged to attend the birthday party of a 99-year-old survivor named Renee Firestone, who survived Auschwitz. She was gracious in answering questions, sharing her experiences, and showing the tattoo that marked her for the rest of her life. This year, she turns 100, a milestone for anyone. I was saddened to hear...
The Whitehall Community Library is excited to announce it will host a “Memory Café” on Thursday, April 11th, from 2 PM to 3:30 PM. The program is for people with early dementia and their care partners to engage in social activities and raise dementia awareness. Please call the library at 287-3763 to register for this first free session. The University of Montana Geriatric Education Center and the Montana State University Extension Center will present the program. They will be bringing their Mobile Memory Café, and it will be a great time for a...
The Holocaust Book Discussion group will meet on Thursday, March 28th, at 6 PM. This group explores the many facets of history's darkest period by reading the stories of survivors, general historical accounts, fictionalized tales based on true stories, and young adult literature on the subject. Everyone is welcome, but the group is not recommended for children under twelve due to the content discussed. The Robotics program is taking off, with meetings for grades 1-5 on Fridays at 2:30 PM and...
One of the great things about belonging to the Broad Valleys Federation is the training they hold every spring and fall. Last week I enjoyed two days of learning, networking, and meeting the new librarians in our area. One of the training courses held was on leadership and taught by a retired Army Ranger who turned academic. His ideas on leadership definitely had a military slant but as the daughter of an army man who then worked with the military on construction projects, his presentation brought back how a truly well-run organization depends...
Spring is in the air, and everyone seems to think of outside activities! Our Rockhounding group will not be meeting in March because they are planning a huge meeting and planning session on Monday, April 15th, at 5:30 PM at the library. They will be hosting speaker Deb Hanneman, PhD, of the Whitehall Geo group. The Montana Geological Society (MGS) has a new quarterly magazine entitled Montana Applied Geosciences Magazine or MAGMA. The publication will reflect the birth of new rocks and the beginning of the rock cycle. MAGMA will include...
This will be a busy week at the Library with the schedule full of programs for young, old, and in-between. The Caregiver Retreat will occur on Wednesday, March 6th, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Then on Thursday, March 7th, at 6 PM "Robotics R What?" will kick off our new robotics programs for adults, teens, and elementary age patrons. The program is free and open to the public. Robotics 101 for elementary-age children will meet in the basement on March 8th at 2:30 PM. This program will begin to explain and explore how robotics are becoming a daily part...
One of the great things about libraries is that the staff learns so many things from the patrons. A patron brought me information on a new Property Tax Assistance Program for the Tax Year 2024. There are applications at the Library and this program offers up to an 80% reduction in property taxes, depending on the owner's income. The applications must be filled out and delivered by April 15, 2024. For all of my favorite techies, the Library will be hosting an evening program on Robotics R What?? at 6 PM on March 6th for anyone who would like to...
It's beginning to look a lot like spring or maybe that is just wishful thinking. Just a reminder that the Library will be closed for Presidents' Day on Monday, February 19th. We will be open regular hours the rest of the week. The book drop is always open if patrons would like to return things after hours. If you saw the Library staff wandering around with their arms full of roses, it is just staff delivering for AARP's Cupid Crew. The Library was given 75 long-stem roses to share with our...
Just a reminder that the Library will be closed for Presidents' Day on Monday, February 19th. We will be open regular hours the rest of the week. The book drop is always open if patrons would like to return things after hours. Presidents' Day was first celebrated in the 1880s in honor of George Washington, commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Washington was the first president of the United States, and his birthday was declared a federal holiday. Abraham Lincoln was added in 1968 with the passing of the Uniform...
I would like to thank the Library Staff and the Friends of the Library for the lovely flowers they sent after my mother's passing. Thank you also to the many patrons for all the touching cards and well wishes. They meant a great deal during this difficult time. On a brighter note, the Library is starting several new programs including a Mommy & Me musical program on Mondays at 10 AM. Dads are also invited for this fun time of music and movement. This will run during February except for President's Day when the Library will be closed. The...
The Library will be starting a new book club in February entitled “Silent Readers.” The idea is for anyone who would like to come to the Library and read without having to engage in lengthy conversations. This is a great opportunity for those who spend a great deal of time alone and would just like to be around people without having to do a lot of interacting with them. The club will begin on February 6th from 4 PM to 7 PM. There will be snacks, drinks, and of course, lots of books to read. There is no need to sign up, just come and enjoy the...
The Library will be closed on Monday, January 15th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will be open the rest of the week for regular hours. This is the 37th marking of the holiday and falls on Dr. King’s birthday this year. He is best known for his work in non-violent activism during the Civil Rights Movement. Mystery Book Club meets on January 16th at 5 PM. Mystery Readers are invited to come and share their favorite authors, latest reads, and other fun mystery trivia. The group meets after our Knitting Group, which meets every Tuesday from 1-3...
Happy New Year’s Day to everyone. The Library will be closed on January 1st but open the rest of the week for regular hours. The book drop is open any time the Library isn’t so feel free to drop things in if you are finished with them or they need to be returned. We will also be closed on Monday, January 15th, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and open regular hours the rest of the week. If you have older children who would like to sign up for the children’s quilt class on Friday afternoons, please call and let us know at 287-3763. We have limit...
You may have noticed the pamphlet rack beside the children’s computers and wondered what all those little booklets are. They are a series of information that helps parents of young children on how reading helps their children develop all through their growth from babies to preschoolers. Provided by the Montana State Library (thank you all so much!!) the Ready2Read Project lets parents, guardians, grandparents, childhood educators, and anyone else who works with young children, explore the advantages at each grade level of reading to children a...
The Library will be closed for Christmas on December 23rd -25th. The Library will be open on Friday for regular hours and on Tuesday for regular hours. The book drop will be emptied during the weekend if patrons wish to return things during the holidays. The Library will be closed on January 1st and open regular hours the rest of the week for New Year’s Day. There will be no programming between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as the staff will be busy planning all of the new programs for the winter season. Don’t forget to pick up your book...
We want to extend a BIG thank you to our Friends and volunteers who helped out in the Library during the Christmas Fest. Patrons selected over 200 coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks from the Winter Wear Giveaway. It was so much fun to see all the children showing us their new hats and winter clothing. Thank you to everyone who donated new items for this most important program. Wednesday, December 13th, the Library will be hosting an adult Christmas Crafts gathering at 2:30 PM. Crafters...
The Christmas Festival is around the corner and the Library will host its normal packed schedule of activities and treats. On Saturday, December 9th, the Library will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM and will begin the day with the Friends Book Sale at 9 AM. Books will be $1 a bag for the day. Children's crafts will go from 10 AM to noon. Children of all ages may come and create their own colorful Christmas stockings and ornaments. All materials will be provided by the Library. Then at noon, the...
The Christmas Festival is around the corner and the Library will host its normal packed schedule of activities and treats. On Saturday, December 9th, the Library will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM and we will begin the day with the Friends Book Sale at 9 AM. Books will be $1 a bag for the day. Children’s crafts will be from 10 AM to 12 PM. Children of all ages may come and create their own colorful Christmas stockings and ornaments. All materials will be provided by the Library. Then at noon, the Winter Wear Giveaway will begin. Patrons may s...
The Library will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday, November 24th for Thanksgiving. We will be open on Saturday for regular hours. We are excited to see all of the new Christmas decorations the Friends have provided this year. The Homeschool Hangout students are going to decorate the Library on November 30th so it will be already for the season. We will also be displaying our holiday books and movies so they will be easy to find for everyone. The Library has been steadily increasi...
This Wednesday evening, November 15th, at 6 PM Arlene Weber will be giving an old-fashioned slide show on the history of Whitehall. This is the second of three programs the Library will be hosting to share Arlene’s never-ending knowledge of Whitehall and the surrounding areas. Come bring your family for a great night of fun and discovery. The Library has received news we have been selected for a $3,000 grant for children’s materials through the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and the Dorothy Louise Kyler Fund, which was created to help sup...
The holidays are getting closer and lots of events and projects are in the works. I have a request for any of our quilting friends, we need quilt batting to finish a project for the K-8th graders in the Friday afterschool program. If you have any pieces 36" by 36" and would be willing to donate them for the program, please drop them off at the Library. We are also collecting new hats, gloves, scarves, and coats for our Winter Wear Giveaway. Others are also busy getting ready to play Santa for...
With all of the holiday activities beginning to start, we are going to begin the Holocaust Project again in January. Thursday evenings are especially booked this time of year, and everyone agreed the subject was not conducive during the joy of the season. Everyone has books to read, and this will give them a chance to catch up before the first meeting on January 25th at 6 PM. The Library will be closed on Friday, November 10th, for Veteran’s Day but open on Saturday. The Library will also be closed on November 23rd and 24th for Thanksgiving. W...
Fraud is a problem for everyone these days, but for our seniors who are not as tech-savvy, it can be devastating. Blair Stapleton, the Investor Education & Public Outreach Coordinator for the Office of the Montana State Auditor is coming to do a fun and educational program on how to protect yourself against fraud in the age of technology. The program will be held on Tuesday, November 14th from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM at the Library. There will be a free lunch served, a short educational presentation, and then a great time of Fraud Prevention...
Next week will be a busy week at the Library, with programs going on every day for young and old alike! Monday evening, October 23rd, at 5:30 PM the Rockhounding Group will be having their monthly meeting. Montana isn’t called the Treasure State for nothing, and this is a wonderful way to learn about local geology, fossils, and gemstones. Participants may hear guest speakers, take field trips, and share treasures they have found. There are always people there who really know their rocks and are happy to help identify any items people bring i...
