Fabulous February offers two author visits

Boozhoo! [“Greetings” in the Ojibwe language]


Browser the library cat here with news about February events. We could call this month fantastic February. First we have David Treuer at The Warehouse Friday, Feb. 17th at 6:30. He will talk about this book, “Rez Life”. Here are some excerpts from his biography on his website: (Well, the whole thing is interesting…)

“David Treuer is an Ojibwe Indian from Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, the 1996 Minnesota Book Award, and fellowships from the NEH, Bush Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation. He divides his time between his home on the Leech Lake Reservation and Minneapolis. He is the author of three novels and a book of criticism. His essays and stories have appeared in Esquire, TriQuarterly, The Washington Post, the LA Times, and Slate.com.

The son of Robert Treuer, an Austrian Jew and holocaust survivor and Margaret Seelye Treuer, a tribal court judge, David Treuer grew up on Leech Lake Reservation. After graduating from high school he attended Princeton University where he wrote two senior theses--one in anthropology and one in creative writing--and where he worked with Toni Morrison, Paul Muldoon, and Joanna Scott. Treuer graduated in 1992 and published his first novel, Little, in 1995. He received his PhD in anthropology and published his second novel, The Hiawatha, in 1999. His third novel The Translation of Dr Apelles and a book of criticism, Native American Fiction; A User's Manual appeared in 2006. The Translation of Dr Apelles was named a Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post,Time Out, and City Pages.

His novels have been translated into Norwegian, Finnish, French, and Greek.”

This is something you don’t want to miss. This is about our area and the people we meet every day. It could be you or your friend.

“During a houseboat vacation on the remote Lake of the Woods, a violent gale sweeps through unexpectedly, stranding cork and his daughter, Jenny, on a devastated island where the wind has ushered in a force far darker and more deadly than any storm…”

Entranced? Our second event is William Kent Krueger, Minnesota author who will speak to us about his latest book, “Northwest Angle”. Visit Mr. Krueger’s website for more information about his writings. He has written eleven books of suspense about Minnesota. This promises to be a super experience. Mr. Krueger is a man of great charm and humor. Do not miss him Tuesday, Feb 21st at Pine River/Backus Media Center (The Library) at 6:30 PM. Signs will be posted in the high school.

For more information on these and other events, contact Pine River Public Library at 218-587-4639.

Baamaapii, [“until later” in the Ojibwe language]

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 16 Feb 2012

Wine, beer tasting fund raiser Feb 10

Hello fellow patrons of the Pine River Public Library.

February isn’t just for Valentine’s Day anymore.

Our library has several events in this month of hearts and flowers. It is, it happens, also a month of wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres. On February 10th Friends of the Pine River Library are sponsoring a Wine and Beer Tasting featuring wines from around the world. These will be provided by Quality Wine and Spirits. Our own Friends will be preparing the Hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction. This wonderful event will take place Friday, 2/10/2012 from 6pm to 8pm at the VFW Post in Jenkins. Tickets are available at Pine River Library in advance for a mere $15 or $20 at the door. Friends of the Library receive $2.00 off. Being a friend has benefits! The proceeds from this event will help pay for the roof over my head - the one at the library.

Think of this as a preamble to Valentines Day. Bring your sweetheart or your favorite neighbor or anybody remotely close to you who likes a little something to drink from time to time and needs to get out of the house…Don’t drink? There is food and the silent auction to consider. Something for everyone except for me. I will be left behind to guard the library against miscreants. I really don’t mind at all. Just save some food for me.

I remain,
Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 2 February 2012

Stop hibernating and come to the library

Fellow hibernators and library lovers all,


Are we to spend our entire winter sleeping with the bears? It is tempting, but wishing or sleeping our lives away is wasteful in the extreme. I have been analyzing this and have a couple of solutions. First of all, of course, is taking this time to read, whether fiction or non-fiction. The process of reading is good for us all. Log on to krls.org and check all the features available to you, library patrons. The catalog is full of books on every subject. If you do not happen to have a home computer – some people don’t – call Pine River Public Library and reserve computer time or simply come into the library and look through the catalog computers and request reading material.

“Not active enough for me” you say? How about this: Start your garden now. What? You may ask. It’s cold and frozen outside. Yes it is, but that doesn’t need to stop you. Start some seeds growing inside. Peppers should be started now, anyway, but what about herbs? Start some and use them for house plants. My friend, Cora, at her website www.gardensbycora.com has a page under “calendar” that will help you to do this. The krls.org catalog lists 1087 printings under the search word “gardening”. Are you wondering what you might grow? There are untold numbers of seed companies, most of which have websites. Gurneys.com; burpee.com; gardensalive.com; jungseed.com; burgessseed.com; raintreenursery.com; parkseed.com; waysidegardens.com; kitchengardenseeds.com; dutchgardens.com. These are just a few of the sites that not only sell seeds but have information available on their sites.

Not for you? What about getting out all those boxes of photos and other keepsakes and do a little scrapbooking? krls.org lists 59 publications on this subject. Why not motivate yourself by inviting a few friends to join you. Bake something, make a pot of coffee or tea, get together a few simple supplies, and have some fun.

Winter won’t last forever. Make the most of it while you can.

Stop by Pine River Public Library and visit me.

I remain,

Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 26th January 2012

International Falls Library on the coldest morning of the year!

Hello Readers,

My latest visit was to the International Falls Library on the coldest morning of the year so far. I was very glad for my thick coat as the temperature was -23. But 14 children (only 9 were willing or interested in being photograhed) and their parents or grandparents came out for storytime! We heard stories about winter and then they wanted a picture with me and the storytime cat Tabitha.

I also got to spend a few minutes talking with the new American Girl doll McKenna. She is a door prize when the author Mary casanova, who lives in International falls, when she comes to talk at the library on January 24th.

And then I went and spent some time with all the animals in the comfy, cozy reading area in the junior room of the library. It was fun chatting with them about their favorite stories and who they like to have read them stories.

The Librarian said she was tempted to have me visit one of the second grade classes at the elementary school as they had just read Flat Stanley and created their own flat.

As always,

Browser

Visit to the Hoyt Lakes Library

Our snowy owl took Browser under his wing during Browser's visit. He showed him the Teen area where they joined in a game of Wii Resort.

They visited a couple of kids coloring in the children's area. They napped on the giant foof chairs and then said their goodbyes.

Sue at the Hoyt Lakes Library was nice to send these pictures along to me. I hope your enjoying my journeys. My next stop just happened to take place on the coldest day of the year. Will keep you posted....

As always,
Browser

Good afternoon from the Hibbing Public Library

Browser the Library Cat has come to us from the Pine River Public Library in Pine River, MN and has been traveling around to the different libraries within the Arrowhead Library System.On January 5th Browser made his way to the Hibbing Public Library and joined up with all the children at Story Time. Browser had a wonderful time playing with all the children in our indoor play park.

Attached are some pictures taken on his visit to the Hibbing Public Library.

Thank you for the wonderful visit Browser, we hope to see you again!

April

I would like to thank the Hibbing Public Library and April for having me at their library. I had great fun with all the kids!

Off to my next adventure,

Browser

'Snow Time' begins, WiFi available

Hello friends,
Okay, so it’s winter with no snow. For me this is a definite plus. I get around a lot more easily, plus I am less visible. This situation may prove temporary, however. It is, after all, north central Minnesota. For this reason, many of us may be inside a lot. Time to read! Snow Time to reading starts January 1st, 2012, and ends March 31st, 2012. Since it’s called “Snow Time”, my guess is it will soon snow. I’m not sure how this works. It may be a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Bet we get a swell new cup if we read enough books! I still have all of mine from past years.

The operative word this winter is “change”. I typed in this word in the KRLS.org catalog. There were 1895 results for this search. Here some interesting entries:
• Change anything: the new science of personal success by Kerry Patterson
• Small Change by Sheila Roberts
• Change your brain, change your body by Daniel G. Amen
Here are some changes coming to Pine River Public Library in January 2012:
• WiFi: We have secured this. Patrons who wish to use WiFi will now need to put in their library card number and PIN to connect to the Internet with their laptops or other wireless devices. If a person does not have a library card they can get a guest card that will only work with the WiFi and not be used for checking out items. An ID will be required to get the guest card the same as when using one of the computers in the library
• Request pickup: You will not have 7 days instead of 10 to pick up requested items.
• Overdue items: Notices for overdue items will be sent after items are 29 days overdue. If the item is not returned, a bill will follow 14 days later.

•Loan periods:
-DVD’s 1 week, 7 item limit
-Magazines: 2 weeks
-Books on CD: 2 weeks, 7 item limit
-Playaways: 2 weeks, 7 item limit
-eAudiobooks: up to 3 weeks. Patrons choose the loan period
-Books: 4 weeks.

We at your Pine River Public Library hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday, whatever it was for you and with whomever you spent it. We hope you will enjoy our library for the coming winter season.

Sincerely,
Browser, the library cat

Printed in the Pine River Journal 5th Jan 2012

Browser enjoyed his visit to the Carlton Library

Browser enjoyed his visit to the Carlton Library. He met Georgia the giraffe. They spent the week getting to know each other. They played by the videos and watched everyone go by. They took many journeys into all the different books they read together.

Our guest Browser also got to participate in the tour the 3rd grade classes from South Terrace. He helped to tell 40 students about everything you can do at the library such as researching, games, hanging with friends, and reading fun books!

We look forward to hearing about Browser’s other visits!


Jodie Johnson
Library Director
Carlton Area Public Library