Ringing in 2011

     Another year has come and gone. I hope you are able to count more blessings in your life than anything else. My wish for 2011 is that it is a year of sharing. Sharing of our time, our gifts, our knowledge, our skills, our kindness…I could go on but I hope you understand and keep adding to the list yourselves as you share it with others.

     During times of financial strain, the one thing that rewards both the giver and the receiver is the sharing of human kindness in any form. The library is always here as a gift to the community. Our resources and services are here to benefit you.

     We hope that you continue to enjoy what your library can offer you and that you consider “paying it forward”. Would you consider being a reader during storytime? Do you have a craft for small children that you would volunteer to lead? Do you have a skill that you can teach or share with others? (Here you may surprise yourself by how simple the answer ‘yes’ really is.) Please give this some thought and contact the library soon.

We wish you all a safe and blessed New Year!!

Join us at the library!! Program Wednesday October 20th,

End of Season Horticulture Wrap-Up!

 Join UNL Extension Educator, John Wilson,

in the Oakland Public Library

Wednesday, October 20th from 7-8 pm.

We will be discussing care of your lawn, garden, perennials, shrubs and trees in preparation for winter. Join us!!

New Art Display by OC 3rd Grade Class "A Basket of Apples"

Nothing says Fall more than a basket of apples.  On display now in the library are Angie Meyer's 3rd grade students' creations!

New Art Display in the Library!





Oakland-Craig's new art teacher, Mrs. Angie Meyer, will begin bringing new art work created by students at O-C this year!! The displays can be seen on both of the library's large corkboards. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to view an ever-changing display of our students' creativity!  This week's feature is "sunflowers" by the 6th grade class.  Stop in soon to admire   their efforts!



Forts of Nebraska Presentation

       Jeff Barnes of Omaha will be our speaker for "The Forts of Nebraska" presentation Tuesday, August 17 at 7 pm in the library.  The event is sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council.
       "Nebraska forts were among the first and last on the Great Plains, built to promote trade, to protect travelers and settlers, to fight the Indian tribes and then to keep the peace.  Join author Jeff Barnes for 200 years of Nebraska military history!
       His book, " Forts of the Northern Plains" will be available for sale and signing after the presentation.

In the Good Ol' Summertime

Summer is here and the library shelves are filled with new summer reads. Everything from light summer fare such as : The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale, As Husbands Go by Susan Isaacs, Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton, Blonde Bombshell by Tom Holt and The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand, Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree by Susan Wittig Albert, Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner, Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards, The Island by Elin Hilderbrand, A Hopeful Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and The Penny Pinchers Club by Sarah Strohmeyer.




To books that will keep you reading long after the lightning bugs are out : Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran, Damaged by Alex Kava, The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke, A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff, Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen, The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman, In the Name of Honor by R. N. Patterson, Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner, Lowcountry Summer by D. B. Frank, Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross, Mrs Somebody Somebody by Tracy Winn, The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst, Private by James Patterson, The Search by Nora Roberts, My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliviera and Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews.



We also have something new for the young adult readers : Erak’s Ransom and The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan, The Zombie Chasers by John Klopfer, Theodore Boone: Kid Detective by John Grisham, After All, You’re Callie Boone by Winnie Mack, A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper, The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd, and Chasing Orion by Kathryn Lasky.



Don’t forget to have your camera handy during all these fun-in-the-sun summer days!! Your photos can preserve your summer vacation memories for generations to come! For our faithful scrapbookers, and those who dream of finding the time to scrapbook…you are never to young to begin! Given in memory of Connie Rennerfeldt Holbrook by Russell and Karen Grass : Scrapbooking Just for You!: How to Make Fun, Personal, Save-Them-Forever Keepsakes by Candace Ransom.



However you are spending your summer days and evenings, remember that your library always has something to add to the enjoyment!

Direct Meeting

The Eastern Library System, of which the Oakland Public Library belongs, meets approximately every other month to discuss current library topics and issues; to share information and provide support to those in our field. Our meetings are led by our Eastern Library System Administrator, Kathleen Tooker.

This month the Direct meeting was held in our library.  Attendance included, Francine Canfield of the Baright (Ralston) Library, Denise Lawver of Wahoo Public Library, Connie Manzer of Springfield Public Library, Frankie Kirkwood of Valley Public Library, Joyce Grass of Tekamah PL, Mary Jo Mack of John A Stahl (West Point) PL, Carol Duncan of Wisner PL, Lisa Flaxbeard of Bennington PL, Tammy Lorenz of Karlen (Beemer) Memorial Library, Guadulupe Mier of Bellevue PL, Rose Barcal of LaVista Pl, Laura England of Keene (Fremont) Memorial Library, Michael Heavrin of Lyons PL, Karla Shafer of Hooper PL, and Robin Clark of Sump (Papillion) Memorial Library.

Friends of the Library forms new name!!!

Would you like to be a Friend of the Oakland Public Library? The newly formed Friends group now meets every 3rd Monday at 6 pm in the library! Advocates of the Library, or AOL for short was chosen as the group's new moniker.  AOL is a non-profit, volunteer organization. Friends are people, like you, who take pride in their Library system and volunteer services to raise funds to support the Oakland Public Library's programs.

Book Club Updates

Monday Night Bookclub will meet Monday, June 28th at 7 pm to discuss "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. For more info:  http://www.mccallsmith.com/botswana.htm
Stop in to get your copy today!!

Thursday Afternoon Bookclub meets Thursday Afternoon at 2 on June 3rd to discuss the One Book One Nebraska selection, "The Home Place" by Wright Morris.  http://www.onebookonenebraska.org/

"Barrelhouse Boys"

What a wonderful evening it was! Our guest author, Joel Williamsen, presented a wonderfully entertaining and informative discussion of his first novel, "Barrelhouse Boys" to a standing-room only crowd on Monday evening.  Thirty-four copies of his book were sold, with Joel donating proceeds to the library.  If you have not had the opportunity to read "Barrelhouse Boys" the library has a copy for check out.  If you were wishing to have a copy of your very own (there is a buzz of movie interest) the library does have signed copies on hand for sale--though they are going fast! To learn more about Joel and his novel visit www.barrelhouseboys.com .

Romance Discussion!

Hope to see you all in the library Monday at 7 pm for a varied and interesting discussion of our "romance" books!! Maybe some hot chocolate should be in order also to fit the mood! See you then!

All is well!

"Everything should be back to normal now. Thanks for your patience."  Overdrive is up and running again!

Overdrive Users!!

This message arrived via email this morning: "We are having technical problems that will prevent Overdrive users from logging in to their accounts. We aren’t sure how long it will take to resolve, but are working on it and will keep you posted."  They are ontop of the problem, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you!!

This year I will....

The New Year can be that special time when we can take a step back and reevaluate our life, at least as far back as the previous year and then look ahead to the goals and dreams we hope for in the upcoming months.

What will you be doing this year? Your Oakland Public Library may have just the information you need to help you with your decisions.

If your goal is to spend more time with your family this year we would like to point out several books on games. Do you recall the games you may have played as a child? They can be just as fun today with your own children. Don’t forget to encourage your children to teach you some new games as well. There are trivia, riddles and puzzles to bring fun to the table. While camping, hiking, fishing and hunting are wonderful ways to share the out of doors.

Thinking of getting your finances in order this year? Try authors Suze Orman or Jane Bryant Quinn for some great advice. Pick up the “Complete Idiot’s guide to Wills & Estates” or Deb Knuckey’s “Ms Spent Money Guide” to create your financial plan.

Too much stress?? Relax and get crafty this year. Let your creativity come alive with anything from scrap booking to photography to knitting to jewelry making.  The possibilities are endless!  And the Fine Arts department at the Burt County Fair will be thrilled to have your creations on display!! 

Is your goal to really “get online” this year? Stop in and check out our selection of computer related reference materials in the library. If reading these creates even more questions for you, ask your librarian! She will schedule a time to sit down with you on one of the library computers for some one-on-one assistance!

Snow and more Snow!!