Check it out! Flathead County Library System

BUCK the film

2011-10-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

The fall movies are rolling in at the library and one of the most anticipated is Buck, the compelling story of Buck Brannaman, American horseman. Place a hold today!
From the film's website:
BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse-whisperer”, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment.
Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, BUCK is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds. http://www.buckthefilm.com/

Do You Read Banned Books?

2011-09-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

For the next week, September 24 through October 1, FCLS will be celebrating Banned Books Week, an annual nationwide observance to raise awareness of book challenging and banning.

Have you read a banned or challenged book lately? Books challenged in Montana in recent decades include The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, Fools Crow by James Welch, and The Giver by Lois Lowry. Click here to see more lists of banned books.

Visit your local FCLS branch to learn more or read a banned book, and pick up a bookmark while supplies last.

Library Day Celebration a Success!

2011-09-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, September 14, Flathead County libraries and libraries across the state celebrated Montana Library Day. We asked for comments from library customers, took photos, and gathered statistics. There were many happy library visitors that day, and storytime at the Main Library was a big hit, featuring stories about gardens and a sunflower craft.

Some of our favorite survey comments finishing the phrase "I love my library because..."

"The staff are friendly. They smile!"
"It gets my son excited about reading."
"I’d be lost without it!"
"A great selection at a great value...free!"
"It has manga!"

Flathead County libraries had 1,368 visitors and 1,797 checkouts on September 14. Our libraries issued 23 new library cards and answered nearly 200 reference questions.

Statewide results will soon be available on the Montana State Library website.

Celebrate Montana Library Day With Us!

2011-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 14, is Montana Library Day!

Libraries across the state are taking the day to gather comments, photographs, and statistics chronicling a typical library day.

Stop by any Flathead County Library branch to take a quick survey and tell us why you use and love your library. If you can't make it to the library, you can take the survey online instead: http://www.msl.mt.gov/LibraryDay/survey.asp.

And don't forget storytime! There are three times and locations on September 14:

Bigfork preschool storytime, 10:00 am
Columbia Falls preschool storytime, 10:30 am
Columbia Falls after-school storytime, 3:00 pm

Montana Library Day is a project of the Montana Library Association, the Montana State Library, all 750 Montana libraries, and the Flathead County Library System. For more information about Montana Library Day, please contact the State Library at (406) 444-3115 or visit http://msl.mt.gov/LibraryDay.

Summer Reading Winners!

2011-08-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce the list of winners from our Summer Reading Program!

The following children won $25 gift certificates to the Imagination Station toy store. Congratulations and great job reading!

Jacob Cunningham, Bigfork
Arron Davis, Columbia Falls
Marianna Jouppe, Kalispell

In the Teen Program, the following participants won the grand prizes. Hooray! Good work and thanks for joining Summer Reading Program!

iPod Touch (2)
Casey Shea, Columbia Falls
Ashley Jones, Kalispell

Nook eReader
Lauren Christensen, Bigfork

Summer Reading Program Round Up!

2011-08-19T12:47:00.001-07:00

This week is our final week of summer reading program events. Kids and teens can still log hours and pick up prizes until the end of the day Saturday. What a great summer! Scroll down to see pictures from our adventures; highlights included reading stories from a Nook ereader, making sand paintings and yarn paintings, designing t-shirts in the teen program, enjoying our wonderful Park Side volunteers, and eating a celebratory snack of foods from around the world.

Special thanks to Park Side Federal Credit Union and the Friends of Flathead County Library for generously funding our program. We also received support from Kalispell Parks and Rec and Norm's News. Thank you so much!

Best Picture Books of 2011 . . . so far

2011-08-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

We recently stumbled across this very lovely list of best picture books of 2011 . . . so far. As the new Youth Services Librarian and the staff person newly in charge of picture book ordering, I am ever so VERY excited about picture books. And I am happy to tell you that FCLS has every single one of these fabulous books on order, on the shelf, or checked out and in some lucky child's hands. Visit our website and click on Library Catalog to place a hold.

Stay tuned this week for a Summer Reading Program photo round up!

Kalispell Library is "Bewitching"

2011-08-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Take a virtual tour of the Kalispell Library via "The Librarian Is In" blog. Justine Shaffner highlights public libraries worldwide, and she recently showcased our library.

In addition to raving about the historic building and interior features, she discusses the library branches, the many items available for checkout, programs for children and teens, and the Montana Shared Catalog.

Statistics can tell a story or two.

2011-08-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've taken a look at our web site statistics but found a couple of interesting trends popping up since my last peek. Williston, N.D. has cracked the top 10 list of cities visiting FCLS. I was a traveling road construction worker in a former life and spent some pretty boring evenings far from home. It makes me smile to think that those workers, who are driving across the state, are picking up some books to read or movies to watch while they are away from their families. Perhaps, a good audio book makes the long commute a little easier for them.

The other interesting trend is the amount of mobile devices that are accessing our web site. It comes as no surprise, as we have logged the most downloaded audio and ebooks throughout the state in the past few months. This data helps spark ideas on how to make a better experience while visiting our site on a mobile device.

In case you're a nerd like me- here is the order of mobile devices that have accessed our site.
- iPad
- Android
- iPhone/iPod
- Blackberry
- Windows

Megan Glidden Recieves Scholarship

2011-07-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Megan Glidden has been awarded a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in library and information science through the University of North Texas’s distance program. She will begin classes this fall with other students from the Rocky Mountain region. Glidden’s $14,400 scholarship will go toward the cost of tuition at the University of North Texas’s College of Information. She will attend most classes online and will also travel to meet with her cohort twice during the two-year program for in-person orientation and instruction.

After graduation, as part of the scholarship requirements, Glidden will work for at least two years as a professional librarian in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, or South Dakota. She also will continue her membership in the Montana Library Association and attend the annual conference. Glidden currently works at both the Columbia Falls Branch Library and in the Children’s Department at the Main Library in Kalispell. She is enthusiastic about helping our communities with literacy and learning, and is excited to explore the variety of experiences available as a librarian. When asked about specific career goals, Glidden answered, “Someday I would love to manage a branch library, which would allow me to do a little bit of everything.”

Glidden’s scholarship award is the result of an application she made in April 2010 to the SWIM Regional Collaborative Library Education Project, which is designed to increase the number of professional librarians working in the SWIM (South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana) region. At that time, she was selected by the SWIM Advisory Council as an alternate to receive a scholarship and was placed on a waiting list. The SWIM project received additional funding this month, which made it possible for Glidden to receive the scholarship. SWIM is funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program.

Grand Prize winners for session 1

2011-07-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

We drew our winners for the session 1 Summer Reading Program grand prizes in the Children's Department!

The following readers each won $25 to the Imagination Station.

Layne Potts-Wood of Kalispell
Eric Bott of Columbia Falls
Reid Barrows of Bigfork

Congratulations, and great job to all who have participated so far. Look for more winners during the week of August 22nd, which is when we will also draw our teen winners.

Summer Reading Nonfiction

2011-07-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

If you'd like a real page-turner to monopolize your day or evening, check out Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World's Richest Museum. Fascinating!

"In award-winning reporting for the Los Angeles Times, journalists Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino exposed the dramatic story of the Getty's underhanded art dealings led by their former antiquities curator, Marion True. From back alleys to basement bank vaults, True got her hands on beautiful objects, from an ancient gold wreath to the stone goddess in question — where Felch and Frammolino got the name of their new book: Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World's Richest Museum."

"True isn't the only guilty one, of course. The Getty and many other top American museums are part of a long history of illicit art trade. Looted art has been trafficked for as long as art has been in existence, and Frammolino says this is due to the overpowering effects of antiquity," excerpted from NPR.

SRP roundup

2011-06-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

We are heading into our 3rd week of Summer Reading Program activities and thought we would share some photos and details about what we are up to lately.

For our kick-off events, we were lucky to have Jack Gladstone perform songs with his daughter Mariah performing American Indian sign language alongside him. The audience loved them!

Last week we journeyed to Africa. The younger children created elephant masks, and the older children made lion masks. We also read stories and sang songs about Africa, and some of us even learned some Swahili.

We also had a great group of teens come and work on journaling projects. They decorated their own journals and then spent an hour writing about their hopes, dreams, selves, and futures.

Stay tuned for more news and pictures as we continue our adventures this summer!

Summer Reading Program is coming!

2011-06-07T14:39:00.001-07:00

“One World, Many Stories” is the theme for Flathead County Library System’s 2011 Summer Reading Program for children. Through stories, songs, and a variety of crafts, children will enjoy activities and stories that will take them on an extraordinary global journey. The 2011 Summer Reading Program is a free program that encourages all children from infants to those entering 5th grade to enjoy books all summer long.

Registration begins on June 13 at any Flathead County Library System branch. Those participating in the Summer Reading Program will receive a reading log to record time spent reading or listening to books. The program concludes on August 22.

Library locations will offer a variety of children’s programs all summer; no registration is required to attend the programs. Brochures listing program schedules are available at Flathead County Library System locations. In Kalispell, programs will be held Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. Columbia Falls will have programs at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Programs at Bigfork will be on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Visit the Summer Reading Program website for more details.

“You Are Here” is this year’s theme for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Area teens entering grades 6 through 12 are invited to sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens can keep track of their time spent reading and earn prizes; teens participating in the program will be entered for grand prizes that include an iPod Touch and a Nook eReader. Teens can also join fun events all summer long. Teen Summer Reading Program flyers are available at all library locations, or contact your library for a list of upcoming events and times.

Registration for the teen program begins on June 13 and the program concludes on August 22.

This year, the Friends of the Flathead County Library System will again sponsor Readers to the Rescue, an additional component of the Summer Reading Program. Any extra hours read by children and teen participants will go to the Readers to the Rescue fund and will be converted to a donation (up to $2000). This summer, Readers to the Rescue will support Literacy Volunteers of Flathead County, a community non-profit organization that improves people’s lives through reading and writing skills.

Special thanks to Park Side Federal Credit Union for their generous support in sponsoring FCLS’s Summer Reading Program.

Refresh Refresh

2011-05-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

"In a small town in rural Oregon, many husbands and fathers who enrolled as Marine Reserves have been shipped off to fight in the Iraq war. Left behind, three sons, boys on the verge of becoming men themselves, struggle to grow up fast enough to fill their father's shoes." (from book jacket)

Refresh, Refresh: a graphic novel by Danica Novgorodoff, is based on an award-winning short story by Benjamin Percy. Some called the original story a shortened version of a Tim O'Brien novel; and Novgorodoff's drawings give this retold version an immediacy that juxtaposes the beauty of the Oregon countryside with the brutality of fighting and war.

Expand your reading list with this excellent graphic novel!

TREME: the complete first season

2011-05-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

HBO's Treme is an outstanding new series set in New Orleans beginning three months after Hurricane Katrina. The show interweaves music, food, and several storylines of people struggling to rebuild their lives after the storm. "Treme" refers to one of the earliest neighborhoods, which early in the city's history was the main neighborhood for free people of color. Treme remains famous for its music and culture.

An excellent tie-in that is coming soon to the library collection is Spike Lee's documentary, If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise. Lee revisits New Orleans five years after his magesterial When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. Check out all these DVDs at your Flathead County Library!

check it out! (or put it on hold)

2011-03-15T13:45:00.001-07:00

Currently, your Flathead County friends (and you) have 29,030 holds placed on items owned by the library. And you may be surprised to find out which of FCLS titles have the most holds.

By far the number one title is
1. Unbroken: a World War II story of survival, resilience and redemption by Laura Hildebrand with 110 holds
2. Salt starring Angelina Jolie, with 92 holds
3. The Social Network, starring Jesse Eisenberg, with 88 holds
4. Red, starring Bruce Willis, with 79 holds
5. Life, by Keith Richards, with 71 holds
6. Cleopatra: a life, by Stacy Schiff; & Hells Corner, by David Baldacci, each with 64
7. Monk (TV show), starring Tony Shalhoub; & Tick Tock by James Patterson, each with 60
8. The Kings Speech, starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, with 58 holds
9. Toy Story 3, with 56 holds
10. Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, with 55 holds

Three nonfiction books, two works of fiction, six feature films, one TV show. Interesting.

check it out! books for Black History Month

2011-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

I just began the Pulitzer Prize winning, The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration. This is a perfect book to read during February, Black History month.

Tom Brokaw says: "The Warmth of Other Suns is a sweeping and yet deeply personal tale of America's hidden twentieth-century history--the long and difficult trek of southern blacks to the northern and western cities. This is an epic for all Americans who want to understand the making of our modern nation." Check it out!

Best Blog Post for Book Addicts

2010-12-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Calling all book nerds: here's a mammoth list of Best Books of the Year lists. In fact, this blog attempts to find ALL best books lists and put them in one long list. Great for browsing, especially if you have a special interest (i.e. art books, inspirational fiction, or middle grade fiction).

Enjoy!

Readers to the Rescue! Children and Teens Raised $1853 for DREAM

2010-10-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Over the summer, children and teens read for fun and for prizes in Flathead County Library System’s Summer Reading Program. As an added component to the program, participants were able to read above and beyond the minimum requirements, with extra hours raising funds for the local organization DREAM, which works to provide opportunities for skiing and other outdoor activities for children and adults with disabilities.

This year, children and teens combined read a total of 12,908 hours over the minimum number of hours required for a prize. Children raised $1 for every 5 hours read, and teens raised $1 for every 10 hours read. On behalf of the youth in the Summer Reading Program and our program funder the Friends of the Flathead County Library, we were thrilled to present a check today for $1853 to DREAM. We wish them well in all of their endeavors!

Montana Authors Celebration

2010-09-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Wednesday afternoon the Whitefish Branch Library had a Montana Aut hors Celebration hosted by the Whitefish Library Association. The event brought together over 75 authors and patrons. The informal gathering of authors hailing from in and around the Flathead Valley even included two teen authors. It was a nice opportunity for authors and patrons alike to get together and chat.

Many thanks to our volunteers!

2010-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

We had a delightful picnic on Friday evening to celebrate the contributions of our volunteers. The FCLS staff provided the food and drinks and it was quite a spread. We had a great turnout so the company was good and the conversation lovely.

The FCLS volunteers contributed over 5500 hours throughout our system and do many tasks that help all of us, including shelving, processing new materials, calling customers to let them know that holds have arrived, and helping with our events and the Summer Reading Program. We thank you and value your hard work!

Teen Summer Reading Winners!

2010-08-24T12:14:00.001-07:00

We have some winners for our grand prize drawings in the Teen Summer Reading Program!

$25 gift cards to Borders
Neva Lunday, Columbia Falls
Callie Ling, Whitefish
Eileen Crusta, Kalispell

Sony Portable DVD Player
Kendra Vogel, Kalispell

Congratulations, and thanks to all the teens who participated and made it a great year for summertime reading!

The Last (We Think) Summer Reading Message

2010-08-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

As we are wrapping up everything for the 2010 Summer Reading Program, we want to make sure that we announce the winners of the Session 2 Grand Prize. A drumroll please....
Columbia Falls: Coltin Griffith
Whitefish: Marilla Carlson
Kalispell: Jacob Currier

They have won a gift certificate to Imagination Station and we feel pretty confident that each one will find at least one cool thing to get! !!

We Made A Splash!

2010-08-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Summer Reading Program is almost over (all hours have to be turned in by the end of the day on Saturday, Aug. 21) and we want to share some memorable moments! We want to thank everyone who came to our programs! A very special thank you to all of our volunteers who set up craft stations, recorded hours, handed out prizes, and lent a hand in all kinds of ways.

This summer our libraries were a great place to hang out with old friends and even make some new ones. It seemed to go by fast as we heard stories about pirates, sharks, and other creatures that you find around water. We hope that you had as much fun as we did!

Summer Reading Still Going Strong!

2010-07-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

We just completed the first half of the 2010 summer reading program and all of the libraries have been jumpin'! We have had 431 children read enough hours to earn a prize. We know these kids love to read because they have reported reading over 4500 hours so far this summer. Keep up the good work, everyone!

We would like to announce the winners of our Session 1 grand prizes! The children won a $10 gift certificate to Imagination Station. Congratulations to all!

Bigfork/Kalispell: Henry McRae

Columbia Falls: Venessa Schmidt

Whitefish: Braya Hobson

"Boatloads" of Fun

2010-07-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Kids from around the Flathead Valley are hearing some interesting stories and creating some imaginative projects following the theme of "Making A Splash" @ Your Library! During the past week or so kids created some seaworthy sailboats in Kalispell, went fishin' after hearing some "whopper" fish stories in Columbia Falls, and frolicked with undersea creatures, including mermaids, in Whitefish. We even hear some sharks were spotted at the Bigfork library. Things are going "swimmingly" well for us this summer!!

"Making A Splash" at our libraries

2010-06-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

We made a splash at our libraries this week with the launch of our 2010 summer reading program. The kids in Kalispell heard stories about bubbles and a pirate who hijacked a school bus. You never saw so many bubbles when the littlest ones created their own bubble makers. The older kids did a science experiment about water quality.In Columbia Falls the kids used their imaginations to go to the beach, by listening to beach stories, making an ocean in a jar, and creating their own seashell bracelets.The Bigfork kids heard some great stories about frogs and made frog puppets. Our Whitefish kids heard a story about a goofy pirate and looking for buried treasure and cabbages! There were lots of sharks "swimming" around there. Many sharks gave up some of their teeth so that kids could also make shark tooth necklaces. It's only the beginning....

Recently spotted....

2010-06-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like these guys are headed to the Flathead County Libraries for the 2010 Summer Reading Program. We think they heard that this summer was going the perfect time to "Make A Splash" at our Children's programs. Or maybe they discovered that they could "Make Waves" with our teens! Why don't you join all of us for some fun?

check it out! Books

2010-06-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

April 30th marked the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and the end of the Vietnam War. The New York Times Book Review chose the cover of the April 4th issue to review two novels set in that particular time and place--The Lotus Eaters and Matterhorn. The latter is still on my holds list, but I just finished the former, Tatjana Soli's haunting first novel, of a female war photographer's journey through those war years. Helen's "ambition in the larger world had faded until there was only her and the camera and the war." Check it out! a striking first novel.

The Vietnam era was a huge cultural influence for those of us coming of age in the late 60s, early 70s. This fall, the Flathead County Library System will feature Tim O'Brien's classic novel of the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried. Look for a Big Read calendar of events later this summer; and in the meantime, check out these new novels of the Vietnam War.

Summer Reads!

2010-06-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Readers,
Check out NPR's list of summer reads handpicked by independent booksellers!

Stop by or give us a call for more suggestions. We'd also love to show you Novelist Plus, our database of recommended books! Check it out here (link is on the lower right). You'll need an active library card number to log in.

Teen Action

2010-05-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

HEY TEENS!

Do you like crafts? Are you interested in helping out the library and some little kids too? Come to our Teen Action event on Thursday for a paper cutting party. We'll eat popcorn, play Rock Band, and prepare craft projects for the library's littlest customers: the preschoolers who come to our storytimes! It'll be a fun time and a great way to relax after school. We'll meet in the Main Library's Meeting Room from 4:00-5:30pm this Thursday, May 20th. This event is open to ages 12-18.

image from flickr user spin spin

check it out! Books

2010-05-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life is a wonderful memoir by Kim Severson, the current food writer for the New York Times. As the book jacket describes "it took a series of encounters with female cooks to teach her the life lessons she had forgotten--and many she had never learned in the first place. Some were as small as a spoonful, and others were so big they saved her life. But the best lessons were delivered in the kitchen."

There are chapters on Alice Waters, Ruth Reichl (Garlic and Saphhires), Rachael Ray, Marion Cunningham, Edna Lewis, Leah Chase, Marcella Hazan, and Kim's mother Anne-Marie Zappa Severson. Michael Pollan writes, "Kim Severson has written a spicy, thoroughly delectable memoir about the cooks who changed her life. Her touch is light and humorous, yet by the end she has managed to get at something profound about the meanings of food in our lives."

Check it out!

How Green is an E-reader?

2010-04-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

We librarians tend to be quite interested in the e-reader phenomenon, wherein a single, electronic handheld device can store thousands of books. Recently we caught wind of an interesting article analyzing the environmental impacts of both books and e-readers in an attempt the answer this question:

Which option is more environmentally friendly and has fewer human impacts?

It's all very interesting, and happily (for us) the authors end the article this way: "All in all, the most ecologically virtuous way to read a book starts by walking to your local library."

photo from flickr user goXunuReviews.

Fiction readers, start (or rev) your engines!

2010-04-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

For all the fiction fans out there, next week is BIG in terms of fiction releases. Check out the list of books coming up here, and start placing those holds!

Study: A Third of Americans Use Computers in Libraries

2010-03-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

From the March 25th issue of The Daily Interlake, page A13

SEATTLE (AP) — A third of Americans— about 77 million people— use public library computers to look for jobs, connect with friends, do their homework and improve their lives, according to a new study released Thursday.

It confirms what public libraries have been saying as they compete for public dollars to expand their services and high-speed Internet access: library use by the general public is widespread and not just among poor people. But researchers found that those living below the federal poverty line— families of four with a household income of $22,000 or less— had the highest use of library computers. Among those households, 44 percent reported using public library computers and Internet access during the past year.

Among those aged 14 to 24 in poor households, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for education purposes, though young people were the biggest library computers among all demographic groups.

Nearly half of the nation’s 14- to 18-year-olds— about 11.8 million people— reported using a library last year and a quarter of teens used the library at least once a week. The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted by the University of Washington Information School, which gathered information three ways:

■ A random national telephone survey of 3,176 people from April to August.
■ In-person interviews with library patrons in Baltimore, Fayetteville, Ark., Marshalltown, Iowa, and Oakland, Calif.
■ An online survey that was answered by 45,000 people after they logged on to use a public library computer.

The most common uses for library computers included gaining access to government agencies,
searching for jobs and filling out applications, doing homework, communicating with friends and family, banking, seeking health advice, running a business, completing online courses and seeking financial aid for college.

Press Release

2010-03-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

KALISPELL-- The Main Library in Kalispell opened its doors almost an hour late yesterday due to a power outage. A squirrel caused the outage and delays throughout the downtown area. I tracked down a distant cousin of the perpetrator (pictured above) and questioned him as to the motive behind such an event. He stated, "Mmmmm, peanuts good." And there you have it folks.
The real news is that if you would like to learn more about Squirrels Gone Wild, come in to the library and check out what we've got. We will be opening the doors at 10am sharp.

Breaking the rules...

2010-03-16T09:34:00.001-07:00

Join us for an evening of Food, Drinks,
and Live Music by The Can’t Hardly Playboys.

For one evening, we're busting out of the norm and getting Loud at the Library.

Thursday, March 18 / 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Flathead County Library / Kalispell

The Flathead County Library Foundation is raising money to help with the Library's unique programs and services. We’ll have dozens of baskets for raffle as well as a special auction of library chairs and tables painted by local artists.

Tickets are just $25 each ($15 tax deductible) and are available at the Main Library Business Office. Call 758-5826 for more info.

Another birthday for Dr. Seuss

2010-03-02T11:43:00.001-08:00

With games, crafts, and a lot of birthday cake, the Main Library celebrated the 106th birthday of Dr. Seuss. Once again the Cat in the Hat helped us celebrate with special guests,Thing 1 and Thing 2. This joint was jumping!

Silver Roots Musical Performance

2010-02-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Flathead County Library System hosted two talented musicians last Thursday for a wonderful evening of music . Flutest Shawn Wyckoff and violinist Maria Millar performed classical pieces, Irish, American and folk numbers, as well as their own arrangements.

Approximately 70 enthusiastic audience members participated in the concert by asking questions of the two Julliard graduates, requesting songs, and laughing heartily at the repartee.

If you'd like to see more of this sort of programming at your Flathead County libraries, please let us know. And to learn more about Silver Roots, see their website.

Monthly Computer Classes

2010-02-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

In the past, we've offered computer classes in blocks and then taken some time off. Basic, free computer classes are now being offered monthly at Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Kalispell (2 classes) and Whitefish. The classes will all be held in the same week and each class will be of a different topic, including- Basic Windows, word processing and spreadsheets, Intro to Internet, Easy Email and how to navigate our catalog and web site. Each class is taught at the beginner level. If you know someone interested, there is no registration. There are events calendars in each library and also online at http://flatheadcountylibrary.org/events.htm. Call your local library or Brett at 758.5814 for more info.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2010-01-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

Today would have been the 81st birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Libraries, government offices, some schools, and other agencies will be closed on Monday, January 18th (the official holiday) to commemorate the incredible work he did in his shortened lifetime.

In the words of Corretta Scott King:

We commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.

I encourage each of you to get involved in some way over these next few days and to look at each other with understanding and the realization that we are all members of the human race, and all equal. Yes, we all have different viewpoints--political viewpoints, literary viewpoints, religious viewpoints, land-use viewpoints--you name it; we are a diverse country and a diverse world. But it is up to us work together and continue the legacy of Dr. King to make this a better world for all.

Miep Gies, protector of Anne Frank, dies at 100

2010-01-12T09:52:00.001-08:00

We caught wind of some sad news yesterday: Miep Gies, Nazi resister and protector of Anne Frank's family died at age 100. Without Gies, Anne Frank's diary would never have been published. She gathered and saved the the strewn papers after the family was arrested. Gies had hoped to give them back to Anne, but instead returned them to Otto Frank, Anne's father.

Read an obituary of Miep Gies here.

Winter Reading

2010-01-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

A few of my librarian friends sent their "Seasons Readings" lists out last week, with great lists of books they have read in 2009. Since I don't keep year-long lists, I'll just give a shout to those books read and listened to over my Holiday holiday this year.

Books on CD that burned up the miles between Bigfork, Flesher Pass, Helena, Bozeman and Livingston included David Sedaris's When You are Engulfed in Flames (laugh out loud funny!) and Kaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns (heart wrenching). The novels I read included Dangerous Angels: the Weetzie Bat books (delightful!); Rennie Airth's The Dead of Winter (mystery set in WWII England); and Stieg Larsson's The Girl Who Played with Fire (nicely reviewed by Joan Smith here).

But the book that had the most profound effect on me these last two weeks was Jon Krakauer's Where Men Win Glory: the odyssey of Pat Tillman. Krakauer is an incredibly compelling writer, especially when the subject is difficult at best. Reading his account of the life and untimely death of Pat Tillman, I learned a lot about the causes of the wars in which we are currently engaged, and even more about the tribulations our soldiers face every day. It was interesting to listen to A Thousand Splendid Suns in conjuction with Where Men Win Glory; both portraits of Afghanistan and its people from wildly different perspectives.

I hope you were able to get some reading and listening in over the holidays. If not, pick up one of these; you won't be disappointed!

Whitefish welcomes new snowpersons!

2009-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

The newest snowpeeps have made their way from the cold, lonely store shelves to the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the Whitefish branch library. All snowpeople afficianados are encouraged to come in to admire them. You may register your guess on how many snowpeople are in the library from Jan. 4th to Feb. 5th, the kickoff of the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

Oh yeah, we have books, DVD's, downloadable books and other goodies there, too- check it out!

Busting the doors down to get books!

2009-12-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, we had a minor incident at the Main Library in Kalispell. We have not confirmed that the perpetrator was indeed a library patron needing their book fix, although that is a rumor that I just started. In the future, please enter the building during library hours only. Fortunately, there was no vandalism inside of the library, so come on in and make a run on literature!

2009-12-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

If you like to follow Joan Smith's Book Reviews, I have added 7 new reviews this morning here. Don't forget to stop by to get some books, movies and music for the holidays.
All branches of the Flathead County Library will close at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. All locations will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Teen Action and ROCK BAND!

2009-12-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, local teens ages 12-18 are invited to come and play Rock Band on the big screen and help us plan events and choose new books, movies, and music. This event is free and there will be free food!

Rock Band and Teen Action
Thurs, Dec 17th
4:00-5:30pm
ages 12-18
Basement Meeting Room
Main Library, Kalispell

For more information, contact Martha at 758-5713 or mfurman@flathead.mt.gov.

Whitefish Library Teen Event

2009-12-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

The Whitefish Library invites teens ages 12-18 to an anime club meeting on Tuesday, December 15th from 4-5 pm. The anime show Moon Phase will be screened, and popcorn and other refreshments will be available. This is a free event and no registration is required. If you are unfamiliar with anime and you're just looking for something fun to do, come on over!

For more information, contact the Whitefish Library at 862-6657, or Teen Services Librarian Martha Furman at 758-5713.

Congratulations, Rita Shaw!

2009-12-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Our Bigfork Branch Manager, Rita Shaw, will be retiring December 5th. Rita has given 25 years of wonderful service to the residents of and visitors to the Bigfork community. Please join me in thanking Rita for all of her work on behalf of Flathead County residents and wishing her the very best in her retirement!

Yesterday at the Flathead County Library Board meeting the trustees recognized Rita with the following resolution:

WHEREAS, It has been brought to the attention of the Board of Trustees of the Flathead County Library System that Rita Shaw will retire from the Library on December 5th, 2009; and,

WHEREAS, Rita Shaw has devoted 25 years of dedicated and loyal service to the Flathead County Library System and the citizens of Flathead County, specifically at the Bigfork Branch Library; and,

WHEREAS, Rita has recommended thousands of books to her loyal customers in Bigfork, and has touched the lives of countless co-workers and customers during her tenure at the Flathead County Library System:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That the Board of Trustees of the Flathead County Library System does hereby congratulate Rita Shaw on her years of service to the Flathead County Library System and expresses publicly its sincere appreciation for that service and offers its best wishes for retirement.

check it out! books

2009-11-09T08:39:00.001-08:00

I am just finishing a dazzling first novel, Under this Unbroken Sky, by Shandi Mitchell. Set in the 1930s, the story is of a Ukrainian immigrant family and their struggle to survive on the brutal plains of Alberta. Mitchell beautifully captures the hopes and fears of all the family members while painting a vivid portait of the landscapes that hold them.

“This stunning first novel is powerful, tragic and utterly gripping.” —The Times (UK)

“Beautifully drawn characters, flawless descriptions of an unrelenting landscape and the intricate plot add to this harrowing, breathtaking novel... Not to be missed. —She (UK)

Braaiins

2009-10-28T13:14:00.001-07:00

Those in the know are already aware of this, but zombies are the new vampires. Goodbye Edward and Angel, hello brain-munchers. With Halloween just around the corner, it is the perfect time to catch up and check out some zombie books and movies.

In Marvel Zombies, all of the Earth’s superpowered beings are infected with a virus that changes them into flesh-eating zombies. Captain America, Spiderman, the Hulk, Wolverine – all out for brains.

The acclaimed graphic novel series, The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, stars Rick, a police officer from Kentucky who bands together with others to find a secure home in a world newly overrun by zombies.

You may be a Pride and Prejudice devotee, but have you ever stopped and thought that maybe it would be improved upon by the addition of some zombies? Maybe it would be a better story if Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were brought together because they were both highly skilled killers? If so, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the book for you.

When it comes to zombies, you can’t overlook movies. Night of the Living Dead (1968) changed horror movies forever and was the first major zombie movie. Its sequel, Dawn of the Dead (1978) might be even better; many zombie aficionados consider it the best zombie flick ever. For something more recent, try the darkly funny Shaun of the Dead or perhaps 28 Days later - a personal favorite of mine, directed by Slumdog Millionaire’s Danny Boyle (who said zombies move slow?)

What to do if a zombie uprising starts here in the Flathead? Try The Zombie Survival Guide series, by Max Brooks. It gives plans for defense and attacks against zombies, and tells what to consider when on the run. Brooks also wrote the popular novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, which tells the history of zombie wars through interviews with those who lived through them.

This is all good and fine for those uninfected, but if the worst case scenario happens, you’ll surely need Zombies for Zombies: advice and etiquette for the living dead. Chapters like “The 14 Habits of Highly Effective Zombies” and “You Are Who You Eat” will prevent you from committing any embarrassing faux pas.

All of these (and more!) available from FCLS.

Best Wishes to Sidney Johnson

2009-10-26T09:29:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, October 22nd, the Flathead County Library Board of Trustees honored Sidney Johnson with the following resolution:

WHEREAS, It has been brought to the attention of the Board of Trustees of the Flathead County Library System that Sidney Johnson will retire from the Library on October 27, 2009; and,

WHEREAS, Sidney Johnson has devoted 33 years of dedicated, loyal, and outstanding service to the Flathead County Library System and the citizens of Flathead County; and,

WHEREAS, She has cataloged thousands of library materials, made many contributions to the library profession, and has touched the lives of countless co-workers and customers during her tenure at the Flathead County Library System:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That the Board of Trustees of the Flathead County Library System does hereby congratulate Sidney Johnson on her years of service to the Flathead County Library System and expresses publicly its sincere appreciation for that service and offers its best wishes for retirement.

Teen Read Week begins!

2009-10-19T09:11:00.001-07:00

Teens across Flathead County are invited celebrate reading for the fun of it this week. Stop by your local library and pick up a good book! You can also register yourself to win a $10 gift card to Borders, just by telling us your favorite recent read. Teen Read Week is a national event and is sponsored by the American Library Association. Read more about it at ALA's site.

Readers to the Rescue

2009-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day for all of us as we presented our Readers to the Rescue donation to Human Therapy on Horseback. Remember all of that extra reading the kids and teens did this past summer? By reading an extra 16,000 hours, our children and teens were able to donate $2000 to this very worthy and helpful organization. We would like to thank our Friends of the Flathead County Library System for pledging the money for this project. Many thanks to all of you awesome readers out there!!!

Big Read Film: Prom Night in Mississippi

2009-10-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

In 1997, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at Charleston High School in Mississippi under one condition: the prom had to be racially integrated. His offer was ignored. In 2008, Freeman offered again. This time the school board accepted, and history was made. For more information, visit the film’s website.

Join us for an exclusive free screening of this award winning film tomorrow evening, October 8, at 7pm. The screening will take place in the Community Room of the Arts & Technology Building at FVCC.

Banned Books Week Begins

2009-09-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

This week, Flathead County Library System joins libraries across the country in celebrating intellectual freedom and our freedom to read. Stop in to any of our libraries this week and check out a banned or challenged book. Many thanks to the volunteers pictured above (Carly, Sara, Andrea, Cambrianna, and Amanda) who created the display at the Main Library. For more information about banned and challenged books, visit the American Library Association's website.

Harper Lee Biographer to visit FCLS on Thursday

2009-09-22T10:28:00.001-07:00

We are excited to welcome author Charles Shields to the Flathead as part of the Library's Big Read celebration.

While writing the New York Times bestselling Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles J. Shields spent four years interviewing the reclusive Harper Lee’s neighbors, friends, and classmates. As a result of Shields’ research, information never before known came to light about the Pulitzer prize-winning author. In this presentation, Charles Shields will tell why he chose to write a biography of the enigmatic author, the surprises he encountered along the way (including her efforts to discourage friends from speaking with him), the parallels between To Kill a Mockingbird and Ms. Lee's life, and the reasons why she never published a second book.

Mr. Shields' presentation will be this Thursday, September 24 at 7pm, in the meeting room of the Main Library in Kalispell. The event is free and all are invited.

For a more information on this and other Big Read events, see here.

The BIG READ: To Kill A Mockingbird

2009-09-14T08:41:00.001-07:00

The Big Read is upon us and we invite you all to read (or re-read) Harper Lee's 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning, To Kill A Mockingbird. Told from the point of view of eight-year-old Scout, this coming of age novel addresses race, class and gender issues with warmth and humor. Atticus Finch, father to Scout and Jem, has become a moral hero and model of integrity to readers worldwide.

We'll also be screening the Gregory Peck-as-Atticus film in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell; as well as other films and lectures over the next two months. Please see the complete calendar of events on the library webpage.

Another summer reading program behind us!

2009-09-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

The summer reading program for 2009 came to an end on August 22. Children and teens at all of our libraries had a lot of fun "being creative" and "expressing themselves" with clay, paint, paper, yoga, and even food. The Children's Department staff would like to share this video with you that shows some of the projects and activities that our kids did. Those creative juices were really flowing!

We are almost finished counting up the hours spent reading. It sure looks like some records may set..It is great to see so many kids excited about books of all kinds! Well done, everyone!

Newspaper Index

2009-08-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Newspaper Index is back up on the web site under the Database and Resources link. For those of you that didn't know it was there or didn't miss it, the Whitefish Pilot is indexed for easier searching, thanks to dedicated volunteers Larry and Buddie Rooney. There are also some years of the Daily Interlake indexed. The direct link is http://fclnewsindex.silverbow.org/

Book Reviews

2009-08-20T13:23:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the work of our volunteer, Joan Smith, we have a new batch of book reviews that we've added to our web site. Take a peek at http://flatheadcountylibrary.org/reviews.htm and keep an eye on the blog when more reviews are posted.

Three days of Peace and Music

2009-08-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Forty years ago today, early in the morning, Jimi Hendrix was headlining Woodstock. 400,000 muddy concert-goers celebrated one of the defining moments of a generation and one of the most important events in music history.

To celebrate this anniversary, there is a new crop of Woodstock books showing up on the shelves at FCLS. Check out these new ones:

Elliot Tibor had no idea what he was in for when he convinced his parents and neighbors in the quiet town of Woodstock, NY that they could drum up some business for the community by hosting a weekend-long music festival. Taking Woodstock is his account of what happened. A movie version of this tale, directed by Ang Lee, is hitting the big screen at the end of the month.

The Road to Woodstock, by Michael Lang, with Holly George-Warren. Woodstock coproducer and copromoter Lang gives a behind-the-scenes look at what went in to making the festival happen - everything from port-a-potties to Pete Townshend.

Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock, by author and DJ Pete Fornatale, includes original interviews with Roger Daltry, David Crosby, and dozens of headliners, organizers, and fans.

Also at FCLS, on DVD: Woodstock - 3 days of peace and music. The classic concert film has been re-released for the 4oth anniversary with extra songs and new footage. Or check out a music CD by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, CSNY, Grateful Dead, or many of the other Woodstock rockers.

Babcocks to visit the library

2009-07-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Former Montana Governor Tim Babcock and his wife Betty will be visiting FCLS this Friday afternoon for a book signing. Their biography, Challenges: Above and Beyond, co-authored by Linda Grosskopf, tells of their personal and public lives. The book covers the governor’s years in office, experiences at the Battle of the Bulge, his involvement in Watergate and business successes and failures.

The signing will take place on Friday, July 31st at 3pm at the Main Library in Kalispell.

Men on the Moon

2009-07-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

The artwork on Google's homepage today just reminded me that it is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. I am sure it is no coincidence that a couple of new books on the topic have been published this summer.

Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon, by Craig Nelson, is the tale of events leading up to the Apollo landing. Nelson introduces the astronauts, the turmoil the mission caused for the their families, and how it would change their lives forever. The book tells of the greater politics surrounding the mission (this was dead in the midst of the American-Soviet space race, remember), and also the harrowing details surrounding how, with only minutes of fuel left, the astronauts frantically rushed to find a place on the moon to land.

The other side of the journey is told in Buzz Aldrin's Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon. A more intimate account than than Rocket Men, this memoir is an account of Aldrin's life upon return to earth. Suddenly a celebrity and unable to maintain a regular career, Aldrin struggled with depression and alcoholism. This is the story of his journey towards finding love, direction for his life and satisfaction in becoming the space advocate he is today.

If you are a fan of these topics and want more to read, head to the nonfiction shelves in your library and browse from 520-524 (astronomy) and 629.4 (space travel).

check it out! books

2009-07-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

I took some much needed relaxation this weekend and finished a graphic novel, picked up on Friday because I liked the cover images. Tamara Drew is a beautifully drawn fiction about a writer's retreat in the British countryside. As the Scotsman wrote, "Anyone who still thinks that comic books aren't for grownups should have a look at Tamara Drewe. Tamara Drewe might be easy to read but it is a rich, complex work that commands full attention." If you haven't yet delved into the world of graphic novels, this would be a great starting point. Enjoy!

Summer Reading!

2009-07-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Kira Shanks playing the violin at the Instrument Petting Zoo Storytime in Columbia Falls.

Don't forget that the Summer Reading Program is in full swing at the Flathead County Library System! The theme this year is BE CREATIVE, so we have been doing all sorts of art, theater, music (see above!), and other creative activities. See here for the full scoop on all of the summer's festivities.

Most Requested Youth Fiction for Summer 2009 (so far)

2009-07-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

We have had a LOT of kids coming into all of the Flathead County Libraries this summer asking for all kinds of books. Here is an interesting list of our most requested (in no particular order):

1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
2. Warriors series by Erin Hunter
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
4. Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson
5. Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
6. Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Are there any other favorites being read in the Flathead this summer? Let us know!

Another round of computer grads

2009-06-30T07:13:00.001-07:00

Please share with us the most important/interesting thing you learned throughout the course of the classes. Is there anything we missed or should have covered more in depth? Thanks again for your interest and attendance!

Stroller Central

2009-06-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

School's out and Summer Reading Program activities are in full gear. Check out our kids' page for all the latest events, resources, games and more. We've switched our activities calendar to an embedded Google calendar for easier viewing.

http://www.flatheadcountylibrary.org/kids.htm

Working Smarter

2009-06-19T10:47:00.001-07:00

Main Library Circulation staff, Julie, Joann, Sharon, Lisa, and Kat gather around their hero Mr. Brett. Brett has configured the automated library system to print out hold slips for self-service holds. We used to handwrite each slip, which was time consuming and sometimes not so tidy. Now, the self-service holds have easy-to-read labels for our customers. "Circ loves Brett!" is the rousing cheer.

After Brett worked his magic, Kat streamlined processes in the backroom so that all holds immediately go to the self-service shelf, making it easier for our customers to quickly get requested materials. Theses are just two examples of our fantastic Flathead County Library staff members working smarter to benefit our communities.

Oprah's Summer Reading Calendar

2009-06-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Need help finding some good reads for the summer? Check out the summer reading calendar on Oprah's website. She even has a bookmark checklist you can print out to keep track of what you've read.

Six days and counting....

2009-06-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation is right around the corner for a lot of the kids and teens in the valley and that means we are getting ready to launch the 2009 Summer Reading Program. You can visit any of our libraries to register, beginning next Monday, June 15. If you have any creative juices flowing, this summer's program will be perfect for you! "Be Creative @ your library" is the theme for children and the teen theme is "Express Yourself @ your library." After you read enough to get a prize, extra hours will go toward our Readers to the Rescue program. This year we will be supporting an organization in the valley called "Human Therapy on Horseback" .

In addition to tracking the amount of reading you do, we will also offer many programs this summer. You can pick up a schedule at your library or check out the summer reading link on our website. Just go to the Kids page of the library website, click on "Summer Reading", and then click on the "Programs" or "Teens" link. In addition to activities like painting, dancing, and playing with clay, we will have a program about a form of storytelling from Japan called kamishibai. There will be some special guests popping in once in a while, too. Teens will get a chance to practice their origami skills or see who is the Guitar Hero champion! There will be lots of things going for kids of all ages so please join us!

Digital Camera Class

2009-06-02T13:56:00.001-07:00

Day after Father's Day Camera Extravaganza! Come to our digital camera class on June 22nd at 6:00 pm in the basement meeting room of the Main Library in Kalispell. We will go over helpful tips and necessary knowledge. This will be a hands-on class, please bring your camera with you. If you don't have one yet but want to learn more about them- this class is for you, as well!

We are also teaching another round of computer classes- sign up or send a friend. Any questions can be posted here or contact Brett directly at 758.5814.

Bringing home the hardware!

2009-05-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

Two of our most dedicated volunteers, Jenni and Dennis, recently came home with a combined 5 medals from the Special Olympics Montana 2009 State Summer Games. Jenni competed in swimming events and Dennis competed in bicycling events.

We thank them for all their efforts in the library and congratulate them on their athletic achievements! Keep up the great work!

2009-05-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

We have added a Return on Investment Calculator on our home page that allows patrons to calculate the value of the library to them individually. The library receives $1.49 per capita per month to operate. With increasing economic difficulties, it just makes sense to borrow instead of buy books, movies and electronic resources. C'mon in, our computers and wifi are free.

Summer Book Calendar

2009-05-07T13:13:00.001-07:00

It's not too early to start planning for your summer reading! Check out USA Today's Summer Book Calendar to see new books that are coming out soon, and then start placing those holds . . .

photo by Ellen Munro on flickr.

check it out! Montana Book Awards

2009-04-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday evening saw the Montana Books Awards reception at the Flathead County Library. (The Flathead Beacon did a nice photo slideshow to document this exciting event.) The award winner, Full-Court Quest by Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, documents "the girls from Fort Shaw Indian School, basketball champions of the world." The time was the turn of the last century, and the girls from Fort Shaw travelled Montana playing basketball and then changing into costume for dramatic renditions and musical performances. They were all multi-talented. In 1904 they were invited to attend the World's Fair in St. Louis, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, where they spent several months playing basketball (and winning every time) and performing. Peavy and Smith bring these girls to life through their extensive research and collaboration with the girls' descendents.

At the reception last Thursday Young Grey Horse, a drumming and singing group from Browning, honored the book with several songs. And several generations of Emma Sansaver's family (she was called "little one" by her teammates) were also on hand to honor their grandmother.

Here's A Good One...

2009-04-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

One of funniest books I have read recently is by Bill Bryson, usually known for writing travelogues. Life and Times of the The Thunderbolt Kid is Bryson's memoir about his childhood in Iowa. This book is as much about a time and place as it is about Bryson's quirky family. As you read this book, you might be reminded of Jean Shepard (In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash) or David Sedearis (Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim)By the way, the title comes from Bryson's childhood alter ego, a superhero who has the power to vaporize all adults who interfere and annoy children. Prepare to laugh out loud!

FCLS--Responding to the Economic Downturn

2009-04-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

During this tough economic time, residents are turning to their local library for assistance. Our libraries are busier than ever these days. In March alone, Flathead County Library staff checked out 54,515 items to our users. This represents a nearly 23% increase in business over March 2007. People are borrowing, not buying, books and DVDs. Libraries have always been "green" in this respect--recylcing books and other materials by allowing them to be used over and over again.

Traffic is up in all of our facilities also. Last month alone, over 40,000 people visited our Main Library and Branches; and to date (July '08 to March '09) we've had 273,299 people walk through our doors! Our Bigfork Branch has the highest percentage increase at 21% over last fiscal year.

Flathead County citizens are using their libraries to access the Internet using either library computers or their own laptops on the libraries' wireless networks. People are looking for jobs, completing job applications and resumes, and taking our free computer classes to help them better navigate the tough job market. And well trained staff are always available to help!

Storytime visits are also up across the board. Flathead County Libraries offer 5 storyhours each week to pre-schoolers from every corner of the valley. Our storytimes include early literacy skill development so that children will be prepared to read once they reach kindergarden and first grade.

Has the library been a help to you lately? If so we'd love to hear your story. Send an email to kcrowley@flathead.mt.gov and let us know how the library has helped you.

special display: Created Equal

2009-04-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

The Flathead County Library System received a "Created Equal" Bookshelf Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The grant included 21 books for display and checkout from our libraries.

As the program's website states, "The “Created Equal” Bookshelf provides opportunities for young people to explore what the Revolutionary generation meant when it declared that “all men are created equal.” What challenges has America faced, and where has it shown progress, in its efforts to live up to the ideal of universal human equality? How did Abraham Lincoln, whose bicentennial we celebrate in 2009, contribute to the idea and the reality of human equality in America?"

Books will be on display at all FCLS libraries until May 15th. Come and check it out!

check it out! movies

2009-03-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

Not wanting to venture too far out into the lingering winter this weekend, I stayed in and watched a few videos. One, KENNY, was delightful! It's probably not for everyone (nothing ever is) and you might want to view it with the subtitles turned on because it takes place in Australia and the english can be hard to decifer at times. Kenny Smyth delivers porta-potties to events all over Melbourne and this is his story.

From the DVD case: "Hailed by critics as 'The Citizen Kane of romantic comedies about sewage'..., KENNY lifts the lid on one of Australia's roughest diamonds as he juggles family tensions, fatherhood and sewage with charm, humor and unflinching dignity. Part philosopher, part comedian and all heart, Kenny is living proof that in sewage, like life, the best will always rise to the top." One can't help but love this oversized "knight in shining overalls."

Columbia Falls Branch Library is going to the dogs!

2009-03-31T15:36:00.001-07:00

Columbia Falls Branch Library is expecting some special storytime guests during the next two weeks! Puppies! Come on out on April 1st and 8th and meet them.

Preschool Storytime at the Flathead County Library System is always a good time, and you never know who is going to show up! If you have a preschooler in your life, we hope you'll join us for one soon.

Bigfork: Wednesdays @ 10:00am

Columbia Falls: Wednesdays @ 10:30am

Kalispell: Tuesdays @ 11:00am

Wednesdays @ 11:00am

Marion: Wednesdays @ 3:30pm

Whitefish: Thursdays @ 1:00pm

Need computer help, call these guys...

2009-03-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

Starting the week of March 30th, we will have the largest group ever to finish the sessions of computer classes that we offer at the library. We have had an amazing turnout. The purpose of these classes is to familiarize beginner users with some basic programs and functions of the computer. We had a great group this time around!

For you graduates, your homework during the last class is to post the most important thing you learned and any other comments or concerns. You don't need to include your name.

THANKS!

New Book Reviews

2009-03-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our volunteer, Joan Smith, we have some more book reviews available on our website. Take a few minutes to check out what you may have missed!

Columbia Falls Library Association Gardening Workshop

2009-03-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

The Columbia Falls Library Association hosted a Gardening Workshop last night to an audience of 45 people at the Columbia Falls Branch Library. Local gardeners presented on worm composting, growing heirloom corn, soil amendments and growing herbs. Participants had lots of questions about the red wiggler worms and home ground cornmeal that were passed around.

It was great to see beginning gardeners come together with experts to get some tips on how to grow food on their own.

Celebrating Dr. Seuss!

2009-03-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

There was quite a party going on at the Main Library in Kalispell as The Cat in the Hat joined us on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Many thanks to everyone who came to join us as we ate birthday cake, played some games and heard the Cat in the Hat himself read a very famous story. Thing One and Thing Two didn't make it this year but we heard that maybe they will be able to celebrate with us next year! We did see Fox in Socks hanging around...you never know who will be at the library, especially when we are having a party. You can see pictures from the party at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fclchildrensdept/ and you can also enjoy this movie.

Need a cheerful, uplifting read?

2009-03-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of books for those readers who like to read books that are literary, but not depressing.

In other words, "feel-good fiction with substance," from the website Positively Good Reads.

Enjoy!

Click here for the list.

For more information about Positively Good Reads, see the main page here.

(Photo from flickr commons by user mmcdonnell.)

Anime and Manga Club: Fruits Basket!

2009-02-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

Anime and Manga Fans ages 12 and up are invited to come and watch Fruits Basket: A Great Transformation? on Monday, March 2 in the Main Library's basement meeting room. Free snacks!

Not familiar with Fruits Basket? Here's an introduction:

Under unusual circumstances, Tohru Honda is taken in by members of the Sohma family. Guess what? The family is cursed. When they are touched by members of the opposite sex, they turn into animals of the Chinese zodiac, plus the cat. What happens when Tohru discovers the family secret? Well, you've got to watch to find out.

Monday, March 2
4:30-5:30pm
Library Basement Meeting Room
Main Library, Kalispell

Contact Martha Furman, 758-5713 with questions.

Offline Technology Conference

2009-02-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Geeks from across Montana descended upon Anaconda and the Hearst Free Library this past weekend. Of course, I was not one of the geeks, but wanted to report that we have a wonderful connection between libraries and are constantly trying to provide the best digital services to our patrons, statewide. The Hearst Free Library was a gift from Mrs. Phoebe Hearst after she had sold her interest in the copper mining company based in Anaconda. While nobody has donated a building in Flathead County, each of us pays into the library via taxes and can take pride in the community that we support.

We also had the opportunity to tour the magnificent Washoe theater and its silver screen. If you ever make it to Anaconda, be sure to check it out.

Picnic Time for Teddy Bears

2009-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the day for a lot of teddy bears (and their owners) to have a picnic at the Main Library in Kalispell. Teddy bears and kids of all sizes had a lovely time with wonderful things to eat provided by the Friends of the Library. The kids (and their teddy bears) visited different tables where they got to make a bookmark, decorate a teddy bear cookie, make their own set of teddy bear ears, and even make a teddy bear bead bracelet. We heard that all of the teddy bears went back into the woods to wait for next year's picnic!

check it out! films

2009-02-03T08:47:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I went to see the new feature film Milk, starring Sean Penn. What an amazing performance (Penn has already garnered the SAG award for best actor); and such a poignant story. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay supervisor in the city of San Francisco, was a community organizer, gay rights activist, and caring human being. He and mayor George Mosconi were murdered in 1978 by Dan White, another city supervisor, who was disgruntled with them both. Harvey Milk's story was first told in a documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, available here @ your Flathead County Library. The film won an oscar for best documentary at the 1985 Academy Awards and is mentioned as a contributing source for the new Gus Van Sant film, playing now in Kalispell. Milk is nominated for 8 academy awards and I highly recommend it; it is a timely film. But you might want to check out the source material in The Times of Harvey Milk, also timely.

check it out! books

2009-01-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Susie (who can frequently be spotted at the library), recommended a novel to me that she said was one of the "best books ever" for her. I'm a fan of almost any novel that is set in the west, and that can transport me to the place it describes.

Five Skies by Ron Carlson is just that type of book. While reading, I could almost feel the wind howling on that high mesa teetering on the canyon edge.

From the book jacket:

"A beautiful novel, as unique and insular as the quiet and powerful landscape it inhabits, and as braided with hope and despair, and hope again, as are the lives of the three men at its center."—Rick Bass

"In Five Skies Ron Carlson has fashioned such a moving and elemental meditation on every man's struggle toward family, toward the embrace of his individual soul, that, by its end, I found my appreciation for both grief and redemption to be profoundly altered. Here is a fine and gracefully rendered novel."—Mark Spragg, author of An Unfinished Life

The Word on Birds

2009-01-24T12:32:00.000-08:00

The Main Library in Kalispell was the place to be on this cold Saturday in January. We had a guest speaker from the Flathead Audubon Society, Nancy Zapotocki, who explained how we can help our feathered friends during the winter. The families who attended practiced identifying birds with a scavenger hunt. We had a messy but delightful time making bird feeders out of pine cones, peanut butter, and bird seed. There are a lot of birds in the Flathead who will get a special treat today.

A Commonality of Days

2009-01-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

I had finally gotten the computers off to bed, dreaming of tomorrow's currents. The lights had dimmed, and I was reminded of a humming by its cessation. The library floor had an obscure look to it, as if a fireside waited around every shelf.

Then it was that I heard the familiar calling. I walked softly, oh so quietly, so to see the dust gathering upon the old and rarely read. Here I found mirrors to my passion upheld by an age of whispers. Photographed faces ravaged by a time unseen in their eyes.

These patient teachers awaited, all silent but for the leaves turning to the passion of my curiosity. My eye was long held by these lavishly illustrated pages from the Flathead Herald-Journal of January, 1894.

With this evidence of time's passage, I began to realize a commonality of days. Records of births and deaths, accomplishments and misdeeds. Ideas and events bound in hope against ineluctable dissipation. Whatever the morals of the writer, time shows that this will be what we said.

As I walked home past the slumbering citizens of today's Kalispell, I thought back over all those yesterdays, and asked with wonder what it means to be human.

Bigfork Branch receives another donation!

2009-01-13T14:48:00.001-08:00

You may have seen the post last month that showcased our Bigfork Branch Library and the new slatwall/display shelving that was recently installed, with a generous donation from the Community Fund for a Better Bigfork. One of our friends, an annual donor to the Flathead County Library Foundation, saw the photos and asked what else needed to be done at the Bigfork Branch. Well, short of an entirely new building, I answered that new furniture would be a great improvement. The donors immediately wrote a check for $1,000 and would like to challenge others to step up to help purchase new furniture in Bigfork.

Interested in helping out? You can call me at (406) 758-5826 for more information; or simply write a check to the Flathead County Library Foundation, 247 First Avenue East, Kalispell, MT. 59901 and note that you want the funds to go the Bigfork Branch Library.

Predictions, anyone?

2009-01-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone! If you’re not too tired of seeing predictions for 2009, check out this list. The author, Tom Asacker, is a management consultant and author who speaks and writes about customer service. Have a look…it’s not what you think and you might be a bit surprised:

http://www.acleareye.com/thoughts/Article_Nine_Predictions_for_2009.pdf

Holiday Hours

2008-12-23T16:22:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that both Christmas & New Year's Eve, we'll be closing down at 5:00pm. We'll also be closed Christmas & New Year's Day. The Flathead County Library staff wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008-12-22T09:12:00.001-08:00

If you've never been to the Whitefish branch library to see the snowmen and snowwomen, you haven't been living! Annually, the librarians decorate the building with over 200 snowpeople. They will be on the shelves guarding the books until the Whitefish Winter Carnival in February.

2008-12-16T15:29:00.001-08:00

It was a busy day in Bigfork today and the fun is not completely over. The Bigfork library branch is a cozy space tucked away downtown. To better display materials, we have installed some slat wall shelving. This cleared space to make a more inviting reading area. Stop in and check it out!