February is...Love Your Library Month

Come to the library, grab a paper heart and a pen, and write why you love Spencer Public Library.

You can also post it on our facebook page, send us a tweet using the hashtag #ilovespl, or submit it to our tumblr page!

See this month's newsletter for other way you can love your library this February!
facebook.com/SpencerPublicLibrary - twitter.com/SpencerLibrary - spencerlibrary.tumblr.com

Anime & Japanese Culture Club

Anime and Japanese culture club at Spencer Public Library!
The AJCC is an open club for any and all fans of anime and manga, as well as any other facet of Japanese culture currently featuring an ever growing schedule of anime viewing, manga discussion, mini-manga, drawing workshops, food festivities, cosplay, anime movie marathons, and celebrations of Japanese culture. The club encourages fans both new and old to enjoy themselves alongside fellow fans.

For more details on the club, email kmiller@spencerlibrary.com, or inquire at the front desk.

All Spencer Reads 2013

The Year of Goodbyes by Debbie Levy.
The Spencer Public Library received a 720.00 mini-grant from Iowa Humanities for All Spencer Reads 2013. All Spencer Reads is a community-wide reading of one selected book that links the citizens of Spencer in a common conversation. All Spencer Reads encourages dialogue about a particular book, but also fosters lifelong learning and the development of a strong community identity.

This year the library is hosting an inter-generational read. We encourage young and old to read the book, The Year of Goodbyes and come to our final program on January 29th.

The Year of Goodbyes tells the true story of what happened to a 12 year-old girl named Jutta in 1938. Actual entries in a posiealbum (autograph book) serve as stepping stones in a crucial year in history, when people of Jewish ancestry in Germany and Austria were systematically stripped of their rights, subjected to violence and arrested without cause.

Jutta was one of the lucky ones who escaped to America before the rising tide of violence erupted into World War II and the tragedy of the Holocaust. Remembrances from Jutta's friends and relatives introduce chapters, written in verse form, that describe her experiences--many typical of any teenager anywhere--and report some of the history of the era.

Debbie wrote these verses in consulation with Jutta--her mother--to reflect her voice, feelings, and thoughts as she was living through this memorable year. The book includes exerpts from Jutta's diary. Together the poesie writings, verses and diary entries reflect a year of change and chance, confusion and cruelty. Most of all, they describe a year of goodbyes.

Check out the book The Year of Goodbyes and pick up your reading packet at the library. A free journal is also included! Join us as we Sykpe with the author of The Year of Goodbyes, Debbie Levy, and the reason for the book, Jutta Salzberg, January 29th at 7:00 pm.

Library Services SPOTLIGHT

Graphic Novel Collection for Adults
We chose to start a collection for adults because of our growing selection of graphic novels with content suited more towards that age group. We already had several graphic novels in our Adult Non-Fiction section and with growing adult interest in them we decided to expand and separate the collection.

Notable books in this new collection include a wonderful biography of Gandhi by Kazuki Ebine, stories about Abraham Lincoln as a young man called The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln by Noah Van Sciver, and Cats Are Weird by Jeffery Brown. Also in our collection are several graphic novels in The Walking Dead series by Robert Kirkman, which inspired the television series of the same name on AMC.

Stop in and check out all of our graphic novels today!

Plan Ahead!

February 2nd is Take Your Child to the Library Day!
The purpose of the day is to encourage families to introduce their children to the library, and to make families aware of library services and programs. An idea of Nadine Lipman, head of children's services at Waterford Public Library (WPL) in Waterford, CT, the event has already captured the attention of more that 120 libraries, which are rapidly joining the celebration--including ours!

From cool door prizes, a special kickoff event for our new Lego Club. the official start of our Fourth Annual Poetry Contest, and Come and Go Cookie Decorating available all day long, we have a little bit of something for everyone!

Storytime

Storytime occurs weekly at 10:30 am on Tuesdays. Baby Storytime for infants and young toddlers meets weekly at 6:30 pm on Mondays.

Storytime Themes for January:
January 22nd: Snowmen!
January 29th: Birthdays!