Albert Lea Public Library

Top New Year's Resolutions

According to the USA.gov website, these are the most popular New Year's Resolutions. 
* Lose weight
* Manage debt
* Save money
* Get a better job
* Get fit
* Eat right
* Get a better education
* Drink less alcohol
* Quit smoking
* Reduce stress
* Take a trip
* Volunteer
Is your resolution on the list?  Visit the website above for helpful hints and links to other sites on how to meet your goals for the year.

LIBRARY CLOSING

The Albert Lea Public Library will be closed on Thursday, January 01, 2009 in observance of New Year's Day!!  The staff wishes all its patrons a very happy and prosperous 2009. 

Funny After-Christmas Poem

Twas the days after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurting - even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
I went to the cabinet for some aspirin for my head.

And I in my T-shirt, new shoes and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an over-sized mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S. POSTMAN."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.

Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Kohls, now Wal-Mart, now Target and Sears
Here's Visa, Mastercard and Discover--all here!!

To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway-chargeaway-chargeaway all!"

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT ... YOU'LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!"

Gross Books That Will Have Kids Laughing (and Reading)!

If it's seems like it's gross....then kids will love it. Beware!

• Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise (E Kot)

• Where's the Poop (E Mar)

• My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks (E Piv)

• Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (j Pil)

• The Day My Butt Went Psycho (j Gri)

• Tell a Lie and Your Butt Will Grow (j Gre)

• Let It Rip: David and Nick Have the Smelliest Plan of All (j Bit)

Books for the Movie Fans

Movie fans always enjoy looking at the visual dictionaries - we have very fun collections featuring:

• Star Wars
• Batman
• Lord of the Rings
• Spiderwick Chronicles
• Spiderman

We also have books covering: The Wizard of Oz, Buffy the Vamprire Slayer, Indiana Jones, Twilight and more.

Or, if you just don't know what to watch, why don't you check out Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide.

SOUP'S ON

Wintertime is soup season...a good,warm comfort food.  The Albert Lea Public Library has a great new soup cookbook, 300 Sensational Soups, by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds.  To name a few recipes: Roasted Cauliflower, Cheddar and Ham; Knock Your Socks Off Chipotle Chili Soup;  Broccoli, Bacon and Cheddar Chowder, Salmon Chowder with Chives; Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle; Wedding Soup.  A quote from the book "A good soup nourishes the soul as well as the stomach, spreading a feeling of safisfaction and contentment."

Library Closings

      
The Library will be closing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24th for Christmas Eve.
We will be closed Thursday, December 25th for Christmas Day.
We will be re-open regular hours on Friday, December 26th.
Happy Holidays from all the staff at the
Albert Lea Public Library!!

"In hard times, libraries are more important than ever. Human beings need what books give them better than any other medium. Since ancient nights around prehistoric campfires, we have needed myth. And heroes. And moral tales. And information about the world beyond the nearest mountains or oceans. Today, with books and movies more expensive than ever, and television entertainment in free fall to the lowest level of stupidity, free circulating books are an absolute necessity. They are quite simply another kind of food. For those without money, the road to the treasure house of the imagination begins at the public library." Columnist Pete Hamill, New York Daily News

Children's Reading Program

The Library will be having a Winter Reading Program beginning this week.  The program is similar to BINGO in that you fill out boxes up-and-down, across or diagonal.  In the boxes are activities like read a picture book, make a snowman, make up a story, go sledding and more.  When 4 boxes are filled out in a row- then you get a free book!!  Stop by the children's library and pick up a form for all the kids in your family.

Long Drive to Grandma's House this Christmas?

Do you have to go over the river and through the woods (or cross country) to get to Grandma's house for the holidays? Why not check out our collection of audio books! Audio books are a great way to pass the time on trips. Many families enjoy listening to them together - a local favorite is Hank the Cowdog series. Or, let kids pick out titles so they can enjoy their own favorites individually.

Playaways are also very handy. These are individual devices that do not require switching out tapes or CDs. Everything is contained in one unit.

Or, if your child uses an mp3 player or iPod try out our podcast Classics On-the-Go. You can download The Velvteen Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, Little Red Riding Hood and more.

Don't forget to check our holiday music selection as well for a fun sing-along in the car.

Workplace Woes & Joys

Getting a job, or surviving and thriving at the one you have . . . here are some resources:

• Fired, Laid Off or Forced-out: A Complete Guide to Severance, Benefits, and Your Rights When Starting Over (650.1 Bus)
• Working With You is Killing Me: Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work (650.13 Cro)
• The No Ass-hole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One that Isn't (650.13 Sut)
• Land Your Dream Job (650.14 Mid)
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Discovering Your Perfect Career (650.14 Car)
• Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) (650.1 Bla)
• The Butterfly Hunter: Adventures of People Who Found Their True Calling Off the Beaten Path (650.922 Bal)

FOR THE "TASTE OF HOME" FAN CLUB

Many people enjoy the Taste of Home magazine, but do you know they also publish wonderful cookbooks?  Several are published annually with the recipes for that year from the monthly magazines.  The Albert Lea Public Library has many of their cookbooks, some of which are listed below:

Taste of Home Annual Recipes
Taste of Home Contest Winning Annual Recipes
Taste of Home Light and Tasty Annual Recipes
Taste of Home Quick Cooking Annual Recipes
Taste of Home Annual Holiday and Celebrations
Taste of Home Grandma's Favorites
Taste of Home Guilt Free Cooking
Taste of Home Favorite Casseroles
Taste of Home Family Collection
Taste of Home Market Fresh Cookbook
Taste of Home Fast Fixes with Mixes

YA Vampire Series by Rachel Caine

If you like to read vampire books, you might like to try Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series:

Glass Houses

The Dead Girls' Dance

Midnight Alley

Feast of Fools

Missing something?

Have you visited the library recently and possibly left without something?  Maybe a pair of gloves, hat, scarf, sunglasses, necklace or your child's favorite toy?  If you think that you may own one of the many items in our lost and found, be sure to mention it at the 2nd floor circulation desk.  We will be happy to check for you, but please do so soon.  All items in lost and found are only kept for 30 days.

WINTER HAS ARRIVED......GET OUT AND ENJOY IT !!!

Looking for something fun to do in Minnesota's Winter Wonderland? Winter is fun, both indoors and out. The Minnesota Explorer Newspaper from the Minnesota Department of Tourism has arrived at the library and is free for the taking.  It is packed with places to go and things to do in the winter.  For further information, click on their website, http://www.exploreminnesota.com/home.aspx .