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Beehive Collective of Maine Brings Innovative Picture Lecture to Hastings

Elissa Hillary of Local First Talks About Strengthening Community this Tuesday October 27 at 6:30

Local Future of Middleville offers Conference on Michigan's Future

The Conference on
Michigan's Future
Energy, Economy & Environment

Friday, Nov. 13 - Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009
Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa

The Conference on Michigan's Future: Energy, Economy & Environment 2009 explores visions of a sustainable future; current, critical challenges facing our economy; and strategies for developing a stable, enduring economic and environmental future.

Highlighted speakers include Robert Costanza, Thomas Greco, Richard Douthwaite, Patrick Moore, Richard Gilbert, Soji Adelaja, Joe Welsh, and Dan Scripps.

In depth speakers include Bryn Davidson, Chris Mi, Rainer Aringhoff, David Harwood, Dave Ball, Michael Klepinger, Rich Wells, Sally Talberg, Mark Wiitanen, Leslie Glustrom, Paul Gipe, Richard Barclay, Tom Stanton, David Ronk, Wayne Kuipers, Jeff Mayes, David Gard, Patty Cantrell, Lisa Dugdale, Chris Bedford, Peter Sinclair, Thaddeus Owen, Aaron Wissner, Megan Quinn Bachman, Michael Brownlee and Albert Bates.

House of Representativies to Decide Future of Library Services by September 11

Libraries in Michigan are in danger of losing Interlibrary Loan services and MeL databases.

As Hastings library patrons, you have already shown your support for us this summer by renewing our millages at the local level.

Without Cooperative services you will not be able to place holds across the region and get delivery for those items you want to read and watch.

Please contact Brian Calley and Patricia Birkholz to let them know that you value these library services. Information on how to do this easily is at the Information Desk or at milibrariesforthefuture.org

Speak out for Libraries at the Capitol September 10 at 10 a.m.

Join the Michigan Library Association and our supporters on the steps of the State Capitol, September 10 at 10 a.m. Help raise awareness of this important issue and let your legislators know library resources are important to you.
We will plan to meet on the capitol steps on the east side of the Capitol at 9:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 10 a.m. Please bring your friends, patrons, members and anyone else who is interested in protecting library funding.

Things to know:

This is an outdoor event, please plan to dress accordingly. If possible, please wear a red shirt to signify you are part of our group.

If you would like to make a sign showing your support, please do. The more attention we can attract, the better. Signs do not have to be elaborate, they can be simple and handmade. If you would like suggestions on what your sign should say, please contact us and we will be happy to assist with wording.

Please submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper before the rally, telling your community about this issue and inviting others to join us. If you would like a sample letter to the editor, or need help determining where to send it, please click here and we will be happy to assist you.

Take Advantage of Your Library

Hastings Public Library Cardholders can check out a Grand Rapids Children's Museum pass and get FREE admission for up to 6 people.

Book Club Author Bich Minh Nguyen to Read in Grand Rapids Tuesday August 18

If you want to get a jump on the Library Book Club's October selection, Bich Minh Nguyen, author of Stealing Buddha's Dinner, the 2009-10 Great Michigan Read, will read tonight from her new novel "Short Girls" at 7:00 PM tonight, Tuesday August 18th, at Schuler Books in Grand Rapids. The Hastings Public Library will take up "Stealing Buddha's Dinner" for discussion Thursday, October 1st at 6:30 in the Community Room.

Help Protect Michigan Libraries!

Every day more and more people walk into their public library to search for a job online, write a resume or file for unemployment. This is not only a reflection of our hard economic times but also an indication of Michigan moving forward. We are no longer a state that can rely on the manufacturing industry to support our residents, we are moving toward a knowledge-based economy and with that comes the necessity for access to technology for everyone.

And now, these services are at risk.



Library funding is currently less than half of what is required by law, any further cuts will be detrimental to the entire library system.
http://www.milibrariesforthefuture.org/

Hastings Public Library - The Movie

Here's a little information about the new Hastings Public Library. We're planning on making further informational videos in the future. We love to hear what subjects you like us to cover, so leave us a comment.

Life or Death after Twilight

If you like author Stephanie Meyer click on this link to Novelist and get some more ideas of what to read next.

Get more from your library with Mel (the Michigan E Library)

Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Stays on Shelf Overnight!

It may not be news to some, but those who have gotten sucked into the vampire world of Stephanie Meyer know the library hasn't actually reshelved "Twilight" in months. Interested patrons have had to wait for weeks to get their hands on a copy. Well, news of news, two copies of "Twilight" actually stayed on the shelf overnight. One of them went out already this morning, but one remains on the shelf waiting to be found. Like Harry Potter, the furor may finally be subsiding.

Update: Well, it lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. Check out time 12:45 pm.

Hastings Table Company and Barry County History in Old Postcards

More than once someone has called the library from out of state having just bought an antique table manufactured by the Hastings Table Company (example of Hastings Table with Tyden locking mechanism on left.) Up until now I haven't had much information to offer them. Then while looking at the Wikipedia entry for Hastings, MI I came across Debra J. Barlow's postcard collection. A couple of slides into the Hastings business postcards there was Hastings Table Company in all its glory. Nothing more at this point. But it's a start.

Ozone Action Day -- Wednesday June 24

Wait one more day to fill up the gas tank if you can. With this heat, ozone collects near the ground and makes it harder for people to breath. The more you can avoid burning gas the better it is for everyone.

Music Magazine "Paste" Struggles to Stay Afloat

We wanted to make our patrons aware that many of the magazines we carry in our collection are struggling in the recession. One in particular, "Paste," is expecially struggling and is asking its readers who are so moved to make a donation. Musicians have donated over 100 songs to give to donors in return. For those who don't know, "Paste" is described as "a magazine for people who still enjoy discovering new music, prize substance and songcraft over fads and manufactured attitude, and appreciate quality music across a broad stylistic spectrum--indie rock, Triple-A, Americana, folk, blues, jazz, and more."

Wednesday June 17 -- Singing Silly Stories and Telling Silly Songs

Storyteller Jenifer Strauss will be telling stories with songs and singing songs in stories. This is a fun-filled, silly show, engaging the audience with singing and laughter. Free storytelling handbook for all. Summer Reading programs happen at 2:00 every Wednesday now through July 29. Programs are free and open to all.

THINGS ARE HEATING UP AT THE LIBRARY

Hastings Public Library is celebrating Salsa on May 7th as their part in the Hastings’ Girls’ Night Out event. They will be hosting a Siete de Mayo Salsa Contest from 5:00-8:00.

All local salsa aficionados are invited to bring a sample of their favorite salsa recipe for the tasting delight of others. There will be two categories of salsa entries: hot and mild. Prospective entrants need to sign up at the library’s Information Desk.

Rules are simple. 1) Cooks are to prepare salsa in as sanitary a manner as possible. 2) Drop off salsa at the information desk between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7th. At the discretion of the library staff, cooks may be asked to taste their own salsa – and any contestant who refuses will be disqualified.

Any visitors to the library between 5:30 and 7:30 may vote on their favorite recipe. Chips and tasting cups will be provided.

Prizes will be awarded at 7:45 and contestants do not need to be present to win.
Call the library for more information at 945-4263.

Suffering from Cyberphobia?

Do you suffer from cyberphobia? Hastings Public Library has the cure!

Beginning April 27th the Hastings Public Library will begin a series of computer classes aimed at those just beginning to master computer skills. These beginning classes, which will be held throughout the spring, will focus on Word (Microsoft’s word processing software), E-mail skills, and Excel (Microsoft’s spreadsheet software for calculations).

The first set of classes will be aimed at those wanting to learn Word and will cover basic formatting skills for letters and reports. All of the classes will be held in the library’s Community Room and each participant will be assigned a laptop computer to use during the class.

One set of classes will be held on Mondays at 2:00 p.m. for three weeks: April 27th, May 4th and May 11th.

Another set of classes will take place on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (April 29th, May 6th, and May 13th).

A final set of classes will be held on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (May 1st, May 15th and May 22nd).

The class is limited to six; but a minimum of three must register for the class to be held. Registrants will be able to sign up for further classes in Word at the last session. Call the Hastings Public Library to register (945-4263) or sign up at the library today.

Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday April 17-18 at Library and Throughout Barry County!

Find the Best Hikes in Michigan this Thursday April 16th at 7:00 PM

Tom Funke, a local resident and author, will talk about hiking Michigan trails on Thursday, April 16th at the Hastings Public Library. The program begins at 7:00 in the library’s community room.

Bringing the library’s winter reading club to a close, Tom will speak about his recently published book and about local trails guests may be interested in hiking.

Tom has hiked over 1500 miles of the North Country Trail, including hiking the entire states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. He's also hiked hundreds of miles in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The North Country Trail is 4500 miles long, winding its way through NY, PA, OH, MI, WI, MN, and ND. He is currently in the process of writing the first guide to the trail.

He published his first book, "50 Hikes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula", in 2008 and has another book in process telling the story of his 6 week, 450 mile adventure across the UP in 1998.

Book Club for Adults

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield promises to provide a rich discussion for the Book Club's meeting Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 pm. This first novel pays tribute to the Gothic underpinnings of the Brontes and Daphne deMaurier while maintaining its own freshness. In this venture, Vida Winter is a renowned author who has decided to reveal her life's story to Margaret Lea an aspiring biographer. Separating tale from tale makes this storytelling at its best.

Earth Hour Gets Darker Every Year

Library patrons may have noticed the slide promoting Earth Hour on the monitors inside the library. While we're not sure what kind of action was taken locally, there was an immense response worldwide.

Follow this link to see Las Vegas and other international landmarks go dark.

According to sustainablebusiness.com:

"From an Antarctic research base and the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Empire State Building in New York, illuminated patches of the globe in eighty-eight countries and nearly 4,000 cities and towns joined in Earth Hour Saturday night from 8:30-9:30 p.m. , turning off lights in homes, businesses and public spaces to highlight the threat of climate change and its link to energy usage.

Earth Hour began in Australia two years ago and went global for the first time last year. According to organizers, enthusiasm for the event grew this year.

According to msn.com:

"Crowds in Times Square watched as many of the massive billboards, including the giant Coca-Cola display, darkened. Steps away, the Majestic Theater marquee at the home of "The Phantom of the Opera" went dark, along with the marquees at other Broadway shows.
In Chicago, one of 10 U.S. Earth Hour flagship cities, more than 200 buildings pledged to go dark in the city, including shops along the Magnificent Mile.

In the Chilean capital of Santiago, lights were turned off at banks, the city's communications tower and several government buildings, including the Presidential Palace where President Michelle Bachelet hosted a dinner for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

The two leaders and dozens of guests dined by candlelight.
In Mexico City, the city government and business owners turned off all "nonessential" lights at more than 100 buildings, including 31 city buildings and monuments and 17 hotels.

China participated for the first time, cutting the lights at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, the most prominent 2008 Olympic venues.

In Bangkok, the prime minister switched off the lights on Khao San Road, a haven for budget travelers packed with bars and outdoor cafes.

In Rio de Janeiro, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that watches over the city of 6 million was darkened, along with the beachfront of the famed Copacabana and a few other local sites.

McDonald's Corp. planned to dim its arches at 500 locations around the U.S. Midwest. The Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont hotel chains and Coca-Cola Co. also planned to participate."

can i'make a difference?

For our patrons who choose to use hotmail for their email I have recently learned that in the options menu of your hotmail account you can choose to give to one of 10 worthy charities with every email you send and it doesn't cost you a dime. Well, not directly anyway. The program is funded through the businesses who advertise with the "i'm" program. So if you buy products from those businesses, you're paying for the advertising. But if you believe in that business and their mission it might be worth it to you to make a difference and bring awareness to your cause. Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with the organization of your choice from a selection of some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes.

After one year, the i’m Initiative, which launched in March 2007, raised $1.3 million for 10 of the world’s most effective social causes, with each charity receiving a minimum of $100,000. No cap is set on the amount donated to each organization, so the more customers who communicate using Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail, the more money Microsoft donates toward addressing some of the world’s most urgent social issues.

Book Club for Adults April 2

April's book discussion of Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas will be on the 2nd at 6:30 pm in the library's Community Room. Ellis, Colorado, a small town bordering the Rockies, becomes the site of a relocation camp during World War II. Our narrator, a young teenager, notes that her first impression was not of the "yellow peril" of the newspaper cartoons but people who looked so ordinary. So begins, Tallgrass which, in the words of current author Gail Tsukiyama, "speaks to a time in our history when prejudice and fear fueled passions that divided family and friends." This book gives participants much to discuss about how our country reacted to wartime dangers and how we react today.

Government Assistance is Available to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure

Our patrons may be interested in knowing more about the programs available to help them avoid foreclosure. The following information is taken from http://www.financialstability.gov/:

The Obama Administration’s Making Home Affordable program will offer assistance to as many as 7 to 9 million homeowners making a good-faith effort to make their mortgage payments, while attempting to prevent the destructive impact of the housing crisis on families and communities. It will not provide money to speculators, and it will target support to the working homeowners who have made every possible effort to stay current on their mortgage payments. Just as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act works to save or create several million new jobs and the Financial Stability Plan works to get credit flowing, the Making Home Affordable program will support a recovery in the housing market and ensure that these workers can continue paying off their mortgages.

How much power does our 30 photovoltaic (PV) panels generate?

There's a constantly updated read out in the South lobby of The Hastings Public Library that shows how much power we generate.

MPSC Hopes to Streamline Netmetering

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will hold a public hearing to provide people with an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule changes that govern net metering and interconnection.

Net metering occurs when customers produce electric energy in excess of their needs, providing power back to the serving utility and permitting the customer to receive a credit for power they supply to the system. It is anticipated that most net metering customers will be using wind or solar generation equipment.

The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on March 3 at the MPSC's office, 6545 Mercantile Way, in Lansing. Click here to read the proposal in full.

Author Event and Booksigning March 5th

Diet (Deet) Eman, author of "Things We Couldn't Say," shares her personal story of risking everything to rescue Dutch Jews in Holland from the Nazis during World War II.

Thursday March 5th at 6:30 PM
in the Community Room.

Take our Green Building Tour

To learn more about the Hastings Public Library's green building, take our audio tour. You can pick up the tour at the Information Desk and start in the South lobby at Station One. The tour explains our green building's features at five stations around the library giving participants a better idea of the work that went into building a LEED certified Gold library in Hastings.

The process begins with our building site, a Brownfield, which required a plastic seal between our building and the ground and a set of venting pipes to provide excellent indoor air quality. In the South lobby, you will also see information on our latest green addition, our 30 roof mounted solar panels. The video display shows how much energy the panels are producing each day.

Enjoy the tour!

March Author Presentation

March 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the library's Community Room:

The Book Club for Adults welcomes everyone to a talk by Diet Eman, author of our March reading selection, Things We Couldn't Say. Her presentation does not require reading the book and books will be available for purchase and author signing at the program.

Diet Eman grew up in Holland, turning 18 in 1940 just as the Germans occupied her country. Living in The Hague, Diet was working in a bank and wanting to help her countrymen and women but fearful of approaching neighbors who were submitting to the German rule. Eventually, she is connected to the underground resistance movements and has successes and much suffering as she lives her conscience in a world gone mad.

Her presentation will educate us, challenge us and ultimately reward us as we come to understand war and resistance in very personal ways.

Book Club for Adults

April's book discussion of Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas will be on the 2nd at 6:30 pm in the library's Community Room. Ellis, Colorado, a small town bordering the Rockies, becomes the site of a relocation camp during World War II. Our narrator, a young teenager, notes that her first impression was not of the "yellow peril" of the newspaper cartoons but people who looked so ordinary. So begins, Tallgrass which, in the words of current author Gail Tsukiyama, "speaks to a time in our history when prejudice and fear fueled passions that divided family and friends." This book gives participants much to discuss about how our country reacted to wartime dangers and how we react today.

Wall Street Journal Offers Energy Options

While there are many expensive technological fixes to choose from when going green, a special Energy section in the February 9th Wall Street Journal offers a number of lower cost options for retrofitting your home with their payback times. Another article looks at finding ways to get utilities to promote energy efficiency. According to author, Rebecca Smith, "It isn't easy to get utilities to promote energy efficiency, and for good reason: When people use less electricity, utilities usually lose revenue." Governor Granholm spoke of this paradox in her State of the State Address last week. One solution being looked at is called decoupling. According to Smith's article, "States let the utilities make up some of the lost revenue if consumers use less power. For instance, states might let utilities raise rates if their revenue falls below a certain point, or charge a flat monthly fee to cover some of their costs." Perhaps some possibilities worth considering as climate change continues to come to a head. Check out the links for more information.

ALL LOGINS FOR THE PUBLIC COMPUTERS
WILL BE DELETED JANUARY 31ST
AS THE FILES ARE CORRUPTED.

PLEASE BE PREPARED TO RE-REGISTER
WITH PICTURE ID
AND YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS
ON FEBRUARY 2ND.

DOWNLOAD EBOOKS

Check out the Download ebooks button on our home page to access many books in print or audio formats. New titles added this quarter range from teen titles including Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin, and sci-fi like Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves, to Confident Public Speaking: Secrets for painless presentations.

Newly added authors cover current best sellers and long time favorites including Meg Cabot, Michael Crichton, Douglas Preston, Laura Schlessinger, Charlotte Bronte, James Patterson, Phillip Dick and many more.

To access these electronic resources start at the library's home page and click on the Download ebooks button. The interface will walk you through the process, letting you decide if the title is available in your format. You can even place holds on popular titles so that you'll receive and email when the title is available for your download. Please call the library for help with this feature or stop by for more information.

Check your junk drawer

If there is one thing that comes and goes here at the library, it is pens and rubber bands. So if you have an inkling to clean out your junk drawer we would be grateful for your extra ink pens, rubber bands, and good permanent markers.

USED BOOK SALE

Circle Wednesday, February 11th on your calendar!

The Friends of the Hastings Public Library are hosting their Used Book Sale from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room.

There will be lots of hard cover books and paperbacks, some audio books, movies, and CD's. GREAT prices.

Stock up on enough reading material to get you through the upcoming snowstorms!

Testing for Census Jobs Set for February

The US Census Bureau will be testing potential applicants for the 2010 census on Saturday February 7, 2009 in the Community Room.

The test is a multiple-choice test of basic skills. These basic skills include reading, following written instructions, basic arithmetic, and map reading. Applicants may retake the test to improve their score and only the highest score will be used for placement. In order to prepare potential applicants, practice tests are available at the Census 2010 JOBS Website or the JOBS Hotline number at 1-866-861-2010. TDD users should call the Federal relay service at 1-800-877-8339.

Reading Club for Adults

Discussion of Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening in the Library's Community Room (January 8). The book's subtitle, Awakening to your Life's Purpose, describes the transformation in consciousness Tolle sees for all who begin "to experience who we truly are, which is infinitely greater than anything we currently think we are."

Join the discussion as we consider the chapter two exercise "Am I the thoughts that are going through my head? Or, am I the one who is aware that these thoughts are going through my head?" What does this mean in light of Tolle's new earth..............

Changing directions somewhat, February's book is The View from Garden City by Carolyn Baugh. "Rich with the sights and sounds of modern Egypt, this book lifts the veil of privacy to explore the stunning inner strength of women torn between their dreams for the future and the sacrifices they must make in a world of harsh realities." (ReadingGroupGuides.com)

The book club returns to the first Thursday of the month meeting February 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library's Community Room.

Toddler Time new at library

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 6, the library will begin offering Toddler Time for 18-36 month olds and their parent/caregivers. The fun will go from 10:30-11:00 am and include music, movement and stories. This will be an interactive time that helps kids learn to enjoy books and language, while improving motor and verbal skills. It will take place in the round part of the children's area. Don't miss the fun!

Register Now for Free Investment Seminar

With all the investment options out there, who can you turn to for unbiased information on how to sort through the choices and to check out a financial professional? On January 24th at 10:00 am, the Hastings Public Library, in partnership with the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation, will host a free investor education seminar to help you better understand the whole investing process. Optional one-on-one non-commercial counseling sessions also will be offered to participants. Registration is required.

"Investing Fundamentals", presented by Mark Robinson, brings you a basic overview of some of the more popular elements that constitute the financial markets. More importantly, you’ll learn three fundamental concepts that when consistently applied, will help you build your wealth within the markets.
Attend this 90-minute presentation and you’ll know more about…

• The major exchanges:
The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Exchange

• Popular indexes and averages
The S&P 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average

• The fundamentals of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

• How to protect yourself from investment fraud:
Sales techniques, phrases and guarantees you should be suspicious of

• How to select a financial services provider:
Questions to ask yourself and questions to ask your advisor

• Where wealth comes from:
Three fundamental concepts for building your wealth over the long term

• Common investment terms – explained in plain English

If you are interested in gaining a broad-based introductory understanding of the markets, the securities that trade on them and about fundamental investment concepts for building your wealth, sign up for "Investing Fundamentals."

One-on-one investment counseling is available at the conclusion of the presentation and requires separate registration. Space is limited. Call the library at 945-4263 for details.

Monday Jan 12 WINTER READING CLUB FOR ADULTS BEGINS

Monday Jan 12 WINTER READING CLUB FOR ADULTS BEGINS
“Michigan Makes for a Good Book” – Jan. 12 – Apr. 18