Thanks to the Presque Isle Garden Club

The Presque Isle Garden Club has donated two beautiful wreaths which now hang on the entrance doors of the library. The Garden Club provides the library with wreaths every year and their generous donation is greatly appreciated. The club also donates their time and expertise to tend the flower gardens around the library during the summer.

Holiday Ideas

We just received a beautiful book, Origami Jewelry by Ayako Brodek. The jewelry is so lovely that you'll want to learn how to make it as soon as possible.

The holiday season is here again, and if you want to give homemade gifts, you should come in and browse the Craft Section. The array of books and projects will astound you. You can learn to make a birdhouse, knit, crochet, quilt, and more. The Cookbook Section will give you hundreds of ideas for food gifts. Our Children's Collection has craft books for kids, too. The library even has a knitting group which meets on Thursday evenings from 5-7, and everyone is welcome.

Another way to reduce your holiday stress is to think of new and simple ways of gift giving:

• Donate to a local charity on someone's behalf
• Shop locally and give local gifts such as the Presque Isle Historical Society's 2008 Calendar (available at shops in town and at the library)
• Make a donation to the library for the purchase of a book in honor of someone special or purchase a non-resident membership for a friend or relative
  
• Browse the library's used book sale for gifts (many of the books are in perfect condition)

The Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance's new book, Eating Between the Lines: A Maine Writers' Cookbook, makes a great gift. The library owns a copy and you will have fun seeing what Stephen King, Tess Gerritsen, and many others have to say about cooking. You can even make an author's favorite recipe and enjoy it while reading one of their books.

Send a Maine postcard to a friend this holiday season - it's free!

Maine School of Science and Mathematics

Congratulations to the students, faculty, and staff at
Maine School of Science and Mathematics

U.S. News and World Report has ranked the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) in Limestone, Maine the 35th best in the nation, placing it in the top 100 high schools to earn a gold medal rating. MSSM is the only school from Maine to make the gold medal list. It is also the only magnet school in Maine.

Maine School of Science and Mathematics

US News and World Report Best High Schools

Maine Government News

Food for Fines and Upcoming events

Food for Fines
December is amnesty month. No fines will be charged during the month of December. Patrons are encouraged to bring in a non-perishable food item to be donated to Catholic Charities Food Bank.

Author visit at the Turner Library
Author and photographer, Ron Laing, will be visiting the library on December 15th and 16th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM to talk to patrons and sign copies of his book, An African Adventure: The Story of a Photographer's Visit to Kenya's Maasai Mara. Mr. Laing will be selling autographed copies of his book ($19.95) and note cards ($9.95). All funds raised will be used to purchase school uniforms for the Maasai children in Kenya's bushland.

Santa is coming to the Library
December 18th
10:00 - 11:00 in the Children's Department

Children's Books

These books aren't only for children.

If you haven't visited the Children's department lately, you'll be surprised at all the wonderful books on display. If you haven't read a children's book in while, treat yourself to some of the titles below. Better yet, stop in and locate a book from your own childhood and reread it. Children's books contain wonderful illustrations and beautiful stories. They are a treat to read at any age.

Be sure to look for award winning books such as Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, and many others.

Earmuffs & Chester Greenwood

It was 8 degrees this morning and the wind was blowing hard. Luckily for everyone in Maine, earmuffs were invented and can be used to keep us all warm. Better yet, they were invented by a Mainer from Farmington, Maine. Chester Greenwood was born in Farmington, Maine in 1858 and invented earmuffs in 1873 at the age of 15. Every year on the first Saturday of December, the town of Farmington celebrates their native son and his invention with a parade and other events.

The library is open today from 10-2 and if you stop in, we'll have a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you. Be sure to wear your earmuffs.

To read more about the invention of earmuffs and Chester Greenwood, click on the links below:

About.com

Visit Maine

Idea Finder

World AIDS Day December 1, 2007

United Nations World AIDS Day

World AIDS Campaign

US Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Maine CDC

Read Stephanie Nolen's book 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa.