Albert Lea Public Library

Tired of Carving a Pumpkin and Putting It in a Window or on an Outdoor Step?

Scarecrows: making harvest figures and other  yard folks

       by Felder Rushing        745.5 RUS

Using pumpkins, gourds and other materials, you can create imaginative, fun scarecrows to adorn your yard, steps or garden.  This book is full of ideas and has great illustrations and step-by-step instructions, in addition to facts and folklore about scarecrows.

Scotland Yard

On this day in 1829, one of the most popular fixtures in detective fiction, Scotland yard, opened for business.  While the initial reaction was jeering and abuse, public sentiment quickly turned to confidence and respect in the following years.  The Metropolitan Police had been established by an act of Parliament in June 1829 but Scotland Yard, the site of their first headquarters near Charing Cross, soon became the official name of the force.

Scotland Yard has been featured in crime fiction including Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries, P.D. James' Commander Adam Dalgliesh and Martha Grimes' Inspector Richard Jury to name a few.

Fall Poem

Leaving
By: Eileen Spinelli

"We are leaving," say the leaves.
I hear, "Goodbye!"
They twirl from branches,
           skip through sky,
           gather lightly at my feet,
           skitter brightly down the street:
                                      golden yellow, red and brown,
                                      swirling up and out of town.
                        The breezes sing an autumn song,
                                     and like the leaves,
                                      I dance along.
                        But I won't say goodbye!
                                      Oh, no.
                        Come winter, I will dance
                                      in the snow!

September 22

Today, September 22, is the first day of autumn...

     take a walk or drive to look at the changing leaves

     go on a hayride

     make homemade applesauce

     visit an apple orchard

     rake leaves

Are You A Fan of Rock and Roll?

Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll  921 Domino

The first-ever biography of Fats Domino, who was second in record sales only to Elvis Presley, tells a story of tragedy, survival and triumph, as well as a vivid re-creation of the New Orleans music scene, the rise of R&B and the birth of rock and roll.  After you read the book, try a Rock and Rock CD from our library collection.

                                 

Hobbit Day

Hobbit Day, celebrated by fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's books about middle earth worldwide, is scheduled to fall on Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' mutual birthday, the date of the Long Awaited Party (translated in text by Tolkien as September 22). 

In large part, Hobbit Day is usually taken up with the fun activities, feasts, games, costume events, fireworks and the like.  Hobbit Day is a virtually ideal holiday, incorporating attractive elements of several others: the masquerade fun of Halloween, the feast of Thanksgiving, the exchange of greeting cards and gifts associated with Christmas and birthdays, the picnic atmosphere of Labor Day and Memorial Day, the fireworks of Independence Day (or Guy Fawkes Day)... and the study and reflection associated with many commemorative days throughout the year.

Coincidentally, September 22 is also Dear Diary Day this year.  Honor the (fictional) memories of Bilbo and Frodo (who were quite prolific diarists in their own rights) by writing down the story of your life's adventures.

Need To Replenish Your Bookshelves?

The Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale

September 28   4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.    Presale for Friends members

September 29   10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Open to everyone

September 30   10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Open to everyone

Distinguished Women of the Past and Present

This site, www.distinguishedwomen.com, has biographies of women, known and unknown, who have contributed to our culture in many different ways.  There are writers, educators, scientists, heads of state, civil right crusaders, artists, entertainers and others.  Some were alive hundreds of years ago, and some are living today.

            

Read early and read often!!

The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading. It’s never too early to begin reading to your child!  The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.  Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.
*Read together every day.
Read to your child every day. Make this a warm and loving time when the two of you can cuddle close.
*Give everything a name.
Build your child’s vocabulary by talking about interesting words and objects.
*Say how much you enjoy reading.
Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Talk about “story time” as the favorite part of your day.
*Read with fun in your voice.
Read to your child with humor and expression. Use different voices. Ham it up!
*Know when to stop.
Put the book away for awhile if your child loses interest or is having trouble paying attention.
*Be interactive.
Discuss what’s happening in the book, point out things on the page, and ask questions.
*Read it again and again.
Go ahead and read your child’s favorite book for the 100th time!
*Talk about writing, too.
Mention to your child how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.
*Point out print everywhere.
Talk about the written words you see in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word on each outing.
*Get your child evaluated.
Please be sure to see your child’s pediatrician or teacher as soon as possible if you have concerns about your child’s language development, hearing, or sight.

Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.

Need Answers When Buying a Home?

Suzanne Whang's Guide to Happy Home Buying     843.12 Wha

Popular hostess of HGTV's hit show "House Hunters", Suzanne Whang has written  "Suzanne Whang's Guide to Happy Home Buying".  From deciding on a real estate agent to choosing a great location, she brings you many handy hints and ways to avoid costly mistakes.

Autumn in the Village

The Freeborn County Historical Museum will host "Autumn in the Village" from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 17.  Admission is $5 for adults, $1 for students ages 12-18 and free for members and children 11 and under.  It will be an afternoon filled with entertainment, fun and food for the family! "Autumn in the Village" is a fundraiser for the museum.

A Birthday is Announced

On September 15, 1890 Agatha Christie was born at Torquay, England.  The author of nearly a hundred books including mysteries, drama, poetry and nonficiton, she died at Wallingford, england on January 12, 1976.

Interested in Genealogy?

Pat Mulso, Director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, shares research she has done of her family history and provides hints and tips for beginning genealogists.  Come to the library on September 19 at 12:15 p.m.

Biography InfoPlease

Looking for a biography about a newsworthy person?  Try InfoPlease where 30,000 biographies are available.  You can search by name, category, race or ethnicity. Other fun and interesting links are found on this site.

Albert Lea Remembers

Albert Lea Remembers 977.6 Alb

Over the spring and summer of 2004, the Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library collected stories from citizens of Albert Lea and Freeborn County. Albert Lea Remembers is the result of that collection.  Containing true stories from the lives of local people, this charming volume gives a nice insight into local history.