Winter Reading Club

Don't get the winter blahs. Sure, the cold might keep you inside but that's the perfect place for reading a good book. Need a little motivation? Join our Winter Reading Club!

The Winter Reading Club is like our summertime reading program, but for big people. Ages 18 and up can read or listen to 3 titles, fill out a form (available at our Reference desk or the Frenchtown & Seeley branches) and you'll automatically get a free small drink at eddie's coffee shop @ the Missoula Public Library or Grizzly Claw Trading Company. It's that easy. Keep reading and filling out forms, and be entered in our monthly raffles for lots more cool prizes.

But wait, there's more. We're having two fun-filled evenings of short stories read by local celebrities. Here's the info so you don't miss out:

Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. enjoy humorous stories read by Mayor John Engen, KECI's Mark Heyka, and Zed from MTRP.

Thursday, Mar. 11, at 7 p.m. share delectable tales read by Garden City Harvest's Josh Slotnick, KPAX's Angela Marshall, and Missoulian food writer Lori Grannis.

You don't have to be a member of the Winter Reading Club to come to the Celebrity Story Times, but why miss out on free stuff? The Club runs Jan. 15-Mar. 15. Special thanks to our Club sponsors: Montana Tea & Spice, eddie's coffee shop @ the Missoula Public Library, Grizzly Claw Trading Company, and artist Kayla Romberg.

Party like an Olympian

Looking forward to the release of The Lightning Thief in movie theaters on Feb. 12? So are we!!!

Join us for our "Be an Olympian" Percy Jackson Party on Thursday, Feb. 11, 3:30-5 p.m. for grades 4-6. Test your knowledge in Olympian Jeopardy, be a god in Olympian life-sized Monopoly, and eat like a god, too.

While you're waiting for Feb. 11 to roll around, see author Rick Riordan's website where you can enter Camp Half-Blood, take a quiz for the 10 signs that you're a demigod, and find some cool art projects and other links from Percy's scrapbook. And you can even find out about Riordan's new series the Kane Chronicles, about battling Egyptian gods.

Summertime reading

Summertime and the readin' is easy... (sung to the tune of Gershwin's "Summertime" - my apologies to Gershwin). We're getting into the groove of summer with lots of books, lots of activities, and lots of people signing up for our summer Family Reading Program.

For those few of you who haven't hear about our annual event, the Family Reading Program - lovingly referred to as FRP - is open for all ages to track their time spent reading this summer in exchange for very cool prizes donated by great local merchanst like Dairy Queen, the Good Food Store, Del's Place, and the Carousel. You can track the time you spend reading a book (and we have plenty of options), listening to an audio book (did I mention we offer downloadable audios right from our web site?), or being read to for the preschool and younger crowd.

On top of that, we have activities for kids entering first grade and older (see our list at http://bit.ly/91xvf). Plus, see our Teens Only page for info on the hip-hop, recycling, t-shirt, and anime events we have all summer (http://bit.ly/qJ9R8), and our "Page Turners" readers club for those in-between (entering grades 4-6) check our Events calendar at http://bit.ly/2ggbf3.

There's something to do all summer long at the library.

Gov 2.0

Ever wonder just what those lawmakers are thinking? Keep up with what's going on in your government, track votes, and let them know what's on your mind! You can collect all sorts of info from tracking spending to sending your comments to the White House. Learn how at "Government 2.0: Keep Up, Talk Back" this Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. UM's Government Documents Librarian Jennie Burroughs will share her insider knowledge, so don't miss out. This program is part of the Mansfield Library's Government Documents Depository Centennial Celebration.

The Dog Days of Winter

Winter really just started, but it's been so cold it seems like it will never end. We have just the thing for you tomorrow (December 20th) in the large meeting room. Celebrity pup Moritz will be here to give pawtographs and read from his new book with a little help from some guy named Barry (who will also be available for autographs).

In conjunction with the reading we'll be decorating cookies to get you in the Christmas spirit. The event will kick off at 2 pm.

Out at the Library

Out at the Library kicks off on April 17^th. Help us make it a success! Join us for six weeks of author readings, workshops, book discussions, forums, theater, poetry, and films.

So what do you think about this unique historical exhibit? Are you excited about a queer lit fest featuring Montana authors? Would you like to see more events like this in the future? Share your opinion here.

Alexander Hamilton Opening Reception

Last night we opened our Alexander Hamilton exhibit in style. The theme for the evening was a 19th Century Christmas, and almost 150 people showed up to celebrate with us. We had lots of great cookies and cheese, along with a spectacular hot cider. There was no coffee because, as all history enthusiasts know, coffee was a fairly rare commodity in Alexander Hamilton's time.

The room was decorated with spruce branches and pine cones, which made it smell great.



Don, our own ex-reference librarian and curator of the exhibit, kicked things off with a quick speech and then we enjoyed music from members of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra, including our very own Claire!


After a bit of music we were treated to a minuet performance by the Rocky Mountain Ballet. These girls did an amazing job, and even provided an impromptu history lesson between their pieces. I found out afterward this group will be traveling to China to dance in the opening ceremony of the Olympics when they come there. Wow. I guess we gave them a chance to warm up for the big dance.

A big thank you goes out to the opening reception committee who got everything set up: Vaun, Tove and Paulette. They spent the afternoon setting everything up, and it went off without a hitch.

New West + Missoula Public Library = Love

Missoula Public Library has happily joined forces with New West to bring our events into (hopefully) the public eye.

For the unaware, New West is an online magazine/blog/events calender for many large cities in the west. Along with Missoula, they serve the Flathead Valley, Bend, Boulder, Salt Lake City and more. We're happy to be a part of it.

Our list of events can be seen here, check back often, as we're just getting started and thus far only have two events listed (more coming very, very soon). But now, in addition to our web site and paper newsletter you can find our events listed at http://www.missoulaevents.net/MPL

And while you're there, check out their Missoula page right here.