February Adult Header
  2013
In This Issue
Travelogue: Africa
Linn Area Reads
February Events
Lock-In
Tax Forms
Author Fair
FREE Financial Advice
Read to Lead
Coffeehouse Fiction
SCORE Roundtable
Travelogue: Africa

Local adventurer Vic Klopfenstein will be at the library on Thursday evening, February 28 starting at 7 pm to regale his audience with a great program for armchair travelers! Vic will share details of his family's adventures traveling in Africa. This program is presented by Friends of the Marion Public Library. 

Linn Area Reads Announces 2013 Selection
LAR 2013
The planning committee for the annual community reading program known as Linn Area Reads has selected Pride and Prejudice by author Jane Austen for the 2013 edition of the program. Pride and Prejudice celebrated the 200th anniversary of its publication on January 27, 2013. The story is set in the turn of the 19th century and deals with issues of morality, education, marriage and class. Linn Area Reads programs include:

 

  • Weekly Book Discussions: 6:30 pm,  March 7, 14, and 21 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 333 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids
  • Pride and Prejudice on the Big Screen: 7:30 pm on March 28 at Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids 
  • Afternoon Tea and Scones with Jane-A Portrait of Jane Austen by Melissa Sodeman: 2:00 pm on March 9 at the Granger House, 970 10th Street, Marion.  Registration is required for this event.; click here to register or contact a metro library.

PrideAndPrejudiceCover

Visit the project's website for additional information.  

What Else is Happening This Month?

February 7, 14, 21, 28 - Knit Wits

February 7, 14, 21, 28 - Scrabble Club

February 11 - Library Board of Trustees Meeting

February 14 - History Book Club (Team of Rivals)

February 15 - Reading logs due by 5:00 for winter reading program

February 26 - Friends of the Library meeting

February 26 - Food for Thought book discussion

 

See Our Website Calendar for Additional Details

 

Preview of March at the Library 
See Our Website Calendar for Additional Details

 

March 6, 20 - Financial Education Series

March 7, 21 - SCORE Small Business Workshop

March 7, 14, 21, 28 - Scrabble Club

March 7, 14, 21, 28 - Knit Wits

March 11 - Library Board of Trustees Meeting

March 12 - Reading Assistance Dogs

March 14 - History Book Club

March 19 - Coffeehouse Fiction

March 26 - Food for Thought Book Discussion

March 26 - Friends of the Marion Library Board Meeting

Greetings!

Hello and happy winter! No, tax forms haven't arrived yet. But we do have other things going on to amuse and educate! Find out about our author fair to celebrate writing, our lock-in for adults (total fun!), Vic Klopfenstein's upcoming visit, and get information about our book groups and our SCORE and Principal workshops. We look forward to welcoming you; stop in and get warmed up with us.  

 

--The Staff at the Marion Library
Special Lock-In Event for Adults

As our New Reads - New Ideas winter reading program winds down, we invite everyone (ages 18+) to a lock-in on Friday evening, February 8 from 7-10 pm! You do

Lock-In

 not have to participate in winter reading to come. We've got some great things planned. Come in after hours and we'll have the library all to ourselves. Learn how to get started on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Pinterest; bring your eReaders and ask questions about how to download books from the library; share what YOU have enjoyed reading and learn about online sharing sites such as Good Reads and Library Thing; get advice on what to read next from Nancy, our own personal readers' adviser; get some tips on using our new catalog . Plus, spend some quiet down time -- you know you can never get this at home -- in your favorite library spot just reading and enjoying the evening. We'll have treats, too! Doors open at 6:45 and close at 7:10.

Iowa Department of Revenue

Tax Time

While we will once again provide federal tax forms, at this writing, we have not received any of the 1040 forms or instruction books. We're all just as anxious as you for their arrival, and we promise to get them out in the lobby as soon as we can. Once again, the State of Iowa will not provide libraries with ANY tax forms or booklets: the State encourages residents to file online. They do not automatically mail tax forms and instruction books to individuals anymore. If you will need Iowa tax forms, we suggest you plan ahead and order early. (We will be able to print forms for you, but we will have to charge you per page.) You can get any necessary Iowa tax forms and instructions in various ways:

  • Online at http://iowa.gov/tax (fill the forms out online)
  • Call the Department of Revenue's order line at 800-532-1531
  • Email to [email protected]
  • By mail: Iowa Department of Revenue; P.O. Box 10460; Des Moines, IA 50306-0460
Celebrate Writing @ MPL's 
Author Fair

 

Do you aspire to be an author? Love reading? Want to learn from others' successes? Plan to spend your Saturday, February 16 at the Library for our fantastic author fair! Nineteen authors join us that day to share their love of reading, writing, and literacy with everyone. We'll have several concurrent panel sessions in the morning (you pick the ones in which you're most interested!), lunch with the authors (only $5 to reserve yours - email [email protected]), and an afternoon filled with author readings and meet-and-greets. Books by all will be on sale in the library lobby throughout the day. Thanks to Huntington's for lunches and to Barnes & Noble for helping with book sales. We'll be drawing for gift certificates throughout the day, and we'll have the drawing for our winter reading grand prize Kindle Fire at the end of the afternoon sessions. Check out our poster for all the details: http://bit.ly/UOxkH3.

 

FREE Series Benefits Your Bottom Line

 

Personal financial representatives Steve and Vince from Principal Financial continue their financial education series this winter. These great FREE financial advice classes are generally held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, beginning at 7 p.m. Check our website calendar for exceptions. Come on February 6 for Get Frank With Your Money, and on February 20 for Your Path to Financial Security. Remember, there's no charge for these classes - come and join us to learn how to manage your finances effectively. 

Read to Lead
Business Book Group Enjoying Comics

Our business book discussion group, Read to Lead, a collaborative project of the Library and the Marion Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to introduce a new season of insightful business and management books to the community! This discussion group is geared toward Marion business people, but anyone interested in the topics is very welcome to join us for our discussions. We're meeting at Ramsey's Metro Market (1120 7th Ave) at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, February 6 and 13 to talk about Economix: How Our Economy Works (and Doesn't Work) in Words and Pictures, by Michael Goodwin, illustrated by Dan E. Burr. This is a graphic novel version of an economics book - economics in comics! It's probably a format most of you haven't tried, and offers a fun perspective on a serious topic. 

Coffeehouse Fiction
Coffeehouse Fiction

 

The Library partners with Witte's End Coffeehouse on a new fiction book club, Coffeehouse Fiction. We meet at the Coffeehouse (630 10th St), just across from the library and Marion Square Park, on the third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. 

 

The book selected for our February 19 meeting is The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, by Ayana Mathis (this is the new Oprah book); if there is no copy available when you stop in, be sure to place a reserve! The book is also available from any popular book retailer if you'd like to purchase your own copy. 

 

The library buys treats for all from Witte's End; beverages will be available to purchase. Out of respect for the proprietor, please do not bring in your own food or drinks. Cathy's shop is a fun, casual, and comfy place to talk books! We hope you'll join us for this great discussion group. 

Popular SCORE Roundtables Continue
SCORE Logo

 

 

SCORE continues its series of free sessions for entrepreneurs in 2013. Class dates are generally the first and third Thursdays of each month; watch our website calendar for exceptions. These roundtables begin at 6:30 and have become very popular with lively Q&A following each presentation. Sessions are guided by professional mentors who have experienced success in their fields. 

 

Join us on February 7 for "Maximizing Sales Efforts," presented by J.R. Wright, and on February 21 for "Sizing Your Market," presented by Greg Tomsic. 

 

For additional details about class content and to learn about our professional presenters, visit SCORE's local workshops website. All sessions are free and everyone is welcome. 
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