|
Learn About Your Family History
|
Join us at the library on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. when Eileen Kozman, a volunteer at the Linn County Genealogical Society, will share strategies for using the library's Ancestry.com resource to trace your family history. Bring a laptop or tablet computer if you've got one, and the name of an ancestor for whom you'd like to search.
|
|
Red Cedar Chamber Music Offers FREE Concert
|
Red Cedar Chamber Music will present "Woody Woodpecker." music for flute, guitar, and string quartet, at the library on Friday, October 4 at 12:30 p.m. Please join us for this free concert by our area's premier chamber music ensemble. Take your lunch break or bring the family for this enchanting program.
|
|
Friends Present Author Haines at Annual Dinner
|
This annual Friends fundraiser features author Kathryn Miller Haines. A limited number of tickets are available from the Information Desk or the Friends Bookstore; cost is $25 and includes social time, catered dinner, and a program by Ms Haines. The dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at the Campbell Steele Gallery (1064 7th Ave) beginning at 6 p.m.
|
|
Lost Linn County
|
Come and enjoy an evening with historian Linda Betsinger McCann on Tuesday, October 29 starting at 6:30 p.m. Linda will share stories from her newest book, Lost Linn County.
|
|
SCORE Workshops Begin Fall Series
|
Professionals from SCORE join us again this fall for their popular series of workshops for entrepreneurs. Mark your calendars for the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. for these interactive roundtables. Each begins with a brief lecture and is followed by engaging Q&A and discussion. October sessions will be "Creating a Winning Website" on Thursday, October 3, presented by Scott Loggins; and "Computer Security" on Thursday, October 17, presented by Greg Probst. There is no charge for workshops in this series.
|
|
eReader Learning Sessions
|
We have scheduled two sessions this month to help you learn how to download library ebooks to your ereader. Just come to either; bring your ereader, any cords you have for it, and your questions. We'll do our best to get you set up and comfortable with the process.
Wednesday, October 9 - 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22 - 3:00 p.m.
|
|
Blindness Awareness
|
October is Blindness Awareness Month. Stop in on Tuesday, October 8 between 2:00 and 4:00 and meet Dolores Reisinger. Reisinger has been blind since birth and is active in the National Federation of the Blind. She will have literature to share, and will bring her Braille typewriter so those who stop to speak with her can get their names typed in Braille if they like. Stop in the lobby to say hello.
|
|
Preview of November
|
November 4 - Laura Ingalls Wilder Program (Humanities Iowa)
November 5 - ELECTION DAY - Don't forget to VOTE!
November 7, 14, 21 - Scrabble Club
November 7, 14, 21 - Knit Wits
November 7, 21 - SCORE Small Business Series
November 11 - Library closed for Veteran's Day
November 11 - Marion Library Board of Trustees Meeting
November 12 - Club Read Fall Book Discussion
November 12 - Remembering Iowa's Buffalo Bill (Friends Program)
November 14 - The History Club
November 14 - Principal's Personal Finance Series presents "Retirement Readiness"
November 19 - Coffeehouse Fiction
November 26 - Friends of the Marion Library Board Meeting
November 27 - Library closes at 5:30 for holiday
November 28 - Library closed for Thanksgiving
|
|
Greetings!
We'd like to draw your attention this month most particularly to the informational article just below about the upcoming vote to increase the library's levy, and that to renew the local option sales tax. We encourage you to become informed about these issues and to vote on November 5.
Fall at the library is shaping up to be just as busy as summer! We are confident you'll find something happening here that will be fun and fresh! We'll look forward to having you join us.
--The Staff at the Marion Library |
|
|
Marion Public Library Levy and
Local Option Sales Tax
On November 5, the citizens of Marion will have the opportunity to vote on two measures that will have a tremendous impact on the future of the city's library services. One measure asks voters to increase the library levy and the other asks them to renew the current one cent local option sales tax.
Marion is a growing community whose population is expected to reach 40,000 by 2020; possibly 57,000 in twenty years. This growth challenges the capacity of the current library staff and facility to keep up.
Of the 10 busiest libraries in the state, including those in the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport, the Marion Public Library has the highest circulation per person; it ranks fourth in overall circulation in the state.
Among libraries serving cities like Marion, our Library ranks second in circulation, but seventh in staff size and last in building size.
Q: How much is the levy increase?
A: 23 cents, from the current four cents to 27 cents; on a home valued at $100,000 the increase will be $23, which is less than the average price of a hardcover book.
Q: What's it for?
A: The increase will be used for operating expenses, including more staff and materials to maintain our level of personal service, and architectural design for the library renovation.
Q: Why do you need it?
A: In 1996, when the library moved to its current location, it had a staff of 22 and a circulation of 206,000. By 2012, staff size was 28 but circulation was over 900,000. Since 1996, Marion's population has grown by 56%. The population we actually serve, including Cedar Rapids and Linn County residents, increased by 160%.
Q: What is the Local Option Sales Tax vote about and how does it affect the library?
A: The ballot question asks for a 10 year renewal of the current one cent local option sales tax. 70% of the revenue will go toward street, sanitary, and storm sewer improvements. The other 30% will be used for general and essential corporate purpose projects, including the library expansion and renovation.
Q: Won't people just use the new Cedar Rapids library?
A: In the long run, no. People tend to frequent the library they live closest to. As Marion and the greater Cedar Rapids areas grow, more people live closer to us than to the downtown library. People also like the personal customer service offered in Marion. In response to the Marion Citizen Survey in 2011, almost 94% said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of library service.
For more information about the library levy, go to our website. For more information about the Local Option Sales Tax go to the city's website.
|
|
Adult Writing Group
Schedules Next Meeting
The Marion Library is happy to offer a writing group open to aspiring authors. Meetings will be opportunities to associate with other writers in a variety of ways including fellowship, advice and sharing, and accountability. Participants will do different things such as writing prompts, discussing readings, and critiques.
The next meeting is Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m. Writers should bring a writing activity, a reading, or a piece for critique or discussion. For further information or if you can't make it and wish to be informed of future meetings, contact Rachel Cochran, the group coordinator, at reikrc@gmail.com.
|
FREE Personal Finance Workshops
Professional financial advisers from Principal Financial offer free no-obligation financial literacy classes here at the library on some of the tough personal finance issues you face. Please join them for these great monthly sessions and learn how to manage your money better to meet your own personal goals. Come on Thursday, October 10 at 6 p.m. for "Saving for College 101."
|
Calling All Nancy Drew Fans!
Nancy Drew is the most popular female detective in fiction. Few know, however, that Nancy is an Iowa heroine and that her creator was Mildred Augustine of Ladora. Celebrate the first Nancy Drew mystery (The Secret of the Old Clock, published in 1930) and Mildred Augustine with Barbara Lounsberry's multi-media presentation on Monday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. This program is made possible by a grant from Humanities Iowa and takes the place of the October 14 Family Time, so bring your family and enjoy the show.
|
Two Miles an Hour
Armchair Travel Series
Local author Robert Buckley will share stories of some of his favorite walks, recently published in Buckley's third book, Two Miles An Hour. Bob's book includes tales of walks on the Appalachian Trail, and across England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. He'll have copies of his book available to purchase. Join us at the library for Bob's program on Tuesday, October 15 at 7 p.m.
|
Friends Book Sale
This fall's semi-annual book sale is scheduled for October 11-13 here at the library. Our Friends group will have the best-ever selection of gently used books, music, and movies for your shopping pleasure. Book sale hours are 4-6 p.m. on Friday, October 11 (Friends members only: purchase a membership at the door for just $10!); 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, October 12; and 3:30-5 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, when can pick up a bag of books for just $2.
|
Don't Miss These Additional October Activities
October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Scrabble Club
October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 - Knit Wits
October 3, 17 - SCORE Small Business Series
October 4 - Red Cedar Chamber Music presents "Woody Woodpecker"
October 8 - Meet the Blind (Blind Awareness Month), Delores Reisinger will greet visitors
October 8 - Friend's Annual Author Dinner presents Kathryn Miller Haines
October 8 - Ancestry.com Workshop
October 9, 22 - eReader Learning Sessions
October 10 - The History Club
October 10 - Principal's Personal Finance Series presents "Saving for College 101"
October 14 - Nancy Drew: An Iowa Heroine
October 14 - Marion Library Board of Trustees Meeting
October 15 - Coffeehouse Fiction (Home, by Marilynne Robinson)
October 15 - Two Miles An Hour with Bob Buckley
October 15 - Club Read Fall Book Discussion
October 16 - Writing Group
October 22 - Food for Thought book discussion
October 22 - What You Need to Know About the Library Levy Vote
October 22 - Friends of the Marion Library Board Meeting
October 29 - Lost Linn County presented by Linda McCann
October 26 - Learn About the Local Option Sales Tax Vote
|
|
|
|
|
