May is Paranormal Month: Two Great Programs

Program: UFOs of the Midwest

Date: Thursday, May 8

Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

We're pleased to welcome Terry Fisk, co-author of The Iowa Road Guide to Haunted Locations, to the library for this fascinating free program. Humans have witnessed UFOs in the skies for thousands of years. Today, UFO websites are the second-most visited sites on the Internet. Each year, on average, there are approximately 5,000 UFO sightings reported to the National UFO Reporting Center. About 95% of these can be easily explained as natural phenomena, which leaves 250 UFO encounters annually which cannot be explained by science or the known laws of physics. Terry Fisk discusses the top UFO sightings of Iowa, the Midwest, and the world. He will share photos, case histories, and eyewitness accounts, talk about some of the cases he has personally investigated, and address some of the arguments typically offered by UFO skeptics and debunkers. We invite you to join us!

Program: An Evening with the Angels

Date: Friday, May 23

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Everyone has angels -- come meet Maria Gurney Peth and see what yours has to say. Have you experienced the loss of a loved one and yearned for one more conversation? Do you want to learn how the angelic realm communicates through messages, symbols, numbers, and colors? Do you wish for a richer and more meaningful life? We are happy to welcome Peth for this free program here at the library. Peth will sell and sign copies of her book, Angel Decoding, and give personal angel readings following her two-hour program. Because we anticipate a large crowd and have limited space, we are requesting that you pre-register by completing the short registration form.

Silent Auction for Book Cover Birdhouses

We've had 10 lovely and creative birdhouses (for indoor use, not outdoor) donated to the library recently. We've decided to offer these pretty houses, which are made from discarded book covers, to the public in a silent auction. You can see photos of the houses in the Book Cover Birdhouses album at our Facebook page, or stop in to look at the houses in our display at the Circulation Desk. If you'd like to own one of them, you can place a bid by writing your library card number and the amount of your bid on our bid sheets. Check back throughout the month to make sure your bid stays at the top of the list! If yours is the winning bid on May 31, we'll contact you using the information in your library account, so check that your contact information is up-to-date. Bidding runs throughout May and we'll announce the winners on Monday, June 2.

Registration Requested for Out Loud! Author Programs

Program: Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series

Dates: June 27, July 11, July 18

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series is thrilled to present three of the nations' most well-known authors this summer. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Sarah Vowell (June 27), Wally Lamb (July 11), and Elizabeth Berg (July 18) in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center; all programs begin at 7 p.m. While no tickets are required, series organizers are requesting preregistration. To register, visit http://bit.ly/OutLoud and navigate to the event dates. Alternately, patrons may contact any of the Metro Libraries or send an email to events@crlibrary.org. All Out Loud! authors will take questions from the audience and sign books following their presentations. More information about the Out Loud! Author Series is available at www.metrolibrarynetwork.org/outloud. Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series is supported by the Giacoletto Foundation with media support from The Gazette and event book sales provided by Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Volunteering During the War

Program: The North Platte Canteen

Date: Thursday, May 22

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Presenter Rosalie Lippincott volunteered in the North Platte Canteen in Nebraska during World War II. The North Platte Canteen was a railroad stop along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad manned by local citizens of North Platte, Nebraska. It was operated from Christmas Day 1941 to April 1, 1946. Lippincott was one of those citizens. More than 6 million servicemen and women who traveled through Nebraska during World War II fondly remember the hospitality of the North Platte Canteen where every troop train was met by volunteers who prepared homemade meals and other 'goodies' for them to enjoy during their 10-15 minute stopovers. Rosalie will tell us about her experience being a part of that wonderful show of humanity toward these servicemen and women, many of whom never returned home or did return home and recall years later with much emotion, the wonderful hospitality of those women (totaling nearly 55,000) in North Platte, Nebraska. This free program is offered by the Friends of the Marion Library.

Spring Used Book Sale

Program: Friends Book Sale

Date: May 16-18

Time: Various, see article

Join us for the Friends of the Library Spring Used Book Sale the weekend of May 16-18. Explore a super collection of gently used books, movies, and music and get the best prices in town. Hours on Friday are 4:00-6:00 p.m. and the sale is open to Friends members only; however, you can purchase a membership at the door for just $10. Extra bonus this year for Friends members! Choose one FREE book of equal or lesser value for any book you purchase at the sale on Friday night only. Book sale hours on Saturday are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Sunday, stop in between 2:00 and 3:30 for all the best deals everyone else missed all weekend and get a bag of books for just $2.00! Proceeds from the Friends' sales go to support the Marion Library.

Check out eBooks or Audio Books for your Reader Device from the Library

Program: eReader Help Sessions

Dates: Various

Times: Various

Need help downloading library books to your eReader? Come to our free help sessions; bring your eReader device (and cords) and your questions - we'll do our best to get you up and reading! Check our website calendar for free classes in May, or stop in and pick up a handout with dates and times. Classes in May will be:

Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21 at 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m.

Special Programs for Entrepreneurs

Program: Small Business Series

Date: Thursdays, May 1 and 15

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Professionals from SCORE continue their popular series of workshops for entrepreneurs through this month before taking a break for the summer. The program on May 1 is "So You Want to Open a Restaurant," presented by Lee Belfield. Topic for May 15 is "Crowdfunding for Business," presented by Dennis Carpenter. Each begins with a brief lecture and is followed by engaging Q&A and discussion. There is no charge for workshops in this series. Contact Jo at jpearson@cityofmarion.org with facility questions; visit the SCORE local workshops webpage at http://eastcentraliowa.score.org/localworkshops to pre-register and with class questions.

Medicare Monday

Program: Medicare Monday - Basics of Medicare

Date: Monday, May 19

Time: 6:30

Confused by Medicare? Join us for Medicare Mondays! Retirement Insurance Specialist (RIS) representative Jill deLaubenfels presents an educational program on Medicare Parts A, B, C, D and supplements, and describes how the health care landscape is changing. There is no obligation for attending, and light refreshments will be served. A session will also be offered on Monday, June 16 -- come to either of the two sessions.