It's been a few years since this blog was written in... I'll see what I can do to get it up to date!

My name is Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt, and I'm the new director of Colfax Public Library, following Lisa Ludwig's retirement in December 2015. If you've been a patron in recent years we've probably met, since I worked as Circulation Librarian several years.

People, books, and lifelong learning are subjects I am passionate about. A public library can do a lot of good in a community, and it is my intention to make sure the good work keeps happening. Whether through children's programs, community involvement, technological progress, cultural resources, historical archives, and our membership in the MORE library system, we will help you to connect to a world full of ideas and information.

We serve EVERYONE. One of my goals is to make this library welcoming to all and accessible to as many people as possible. If you have trouble attending our programs, making it up the steps or ramp, or otherwise accessing our resources, please call and we will see what can be done to help you. We are happy to pick up or deliver materials to home-bound individuals who live in or around the village.

I welcome your ideas! If you haven't already, please come in and say hello!

Starry Night - Isabel Suppe, Author

Isabel Suppé - Author Program

Monday October 28, 2013 @ 6:30 pm.

Event is free and open to the public

Starry Night, is based on the story of a real life experience involving a 1,100 ft fall while ice-climbing in the Bolivian Andes where Isabel Suppé spent two days and nights dragging herself over the ice in order to be rescued.  Suppé s book, Starry Night ,tells the story of her survival and her passion of climbing.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 28 at 10:30. That's when professional storyteller Tracy Chipman will be here to entertain and engage people of all ages. Free and open to the public! She'll perform in the park, unless it rains, in which case we'll open the theater upstairs.

What You Need to Know About Tick Borne Diseases

Tick Borne Diseases

Thursday July 11 @ 6:30-7:30 pm

Deb Benoit and Dianne Robertson, RN's from the Dunn County Health Department, will present a program on tick borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis.  Information will be provided about the signs and symptoms to watch for and prevention of tick borne illnesses.  Plan on attending this free program.  No registration is necessary.

100 Before Kindergarten

 

 100 Before Kindergarten is a program we're running to encourage parents of preschoolers to read to their children. Check in here at the library for a check list of 100 books to read to your child. When you're finished, exchange the completed list for a prize!

DIG INTO READING THIS SUMMER!

Hey kids! It's that time of year again ... we're only two months away from the start of our Summer Reading Program! This year's theme is "DIG INTO READING" and we'll be enjoying performances by Mad Science, Professor Marvel, Tracy Chipman and Jim Gerholdt and his Remarkable Reptiles. The programs are geared for 5 - 10 year olds and will run Wednesdays from 10:30 - Noon, July 10 - 31. You can sign up and get all of the necessary registration materials starting today at the Colfax Public Library! Free and open to the public.

Skinny On Fat

Skinny On Fat - Program

Thursday June 6, 2013 @ 6:30-7:30 pm

FREE event!

Fat has been labeled as a food bandit since the 1980s and 90s. Now there are words in the media like trans fat, mono and poly-unsaturates to describe fats, not to mention other fats like omega 3s. Discover the meaning of this cryptic language and which fats are best to take in and how to incorporate for a healthy lifestyle. Everyone is invited to come and listen to our speaker & Dietitian, Sarah Teele.

Sarah Teele was always drawn to how food affects the human body.  She earned her Bachelor's degree at UW-Platteville (Biology-2005) and later her Master's degree at UW-Stout (Human Nutritional Sciences-2009).  Using what she had learned in a formal learning settings and some extra curricular studies in holistic natural medicine, Sarah worked as a Clinincal Dietitian @ Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.  For three years, she has taught people how to better care for themselves via a holistic healthy diet and lifestyle practices in both inpatient and outpatient settings as it related to existing diagnosis and preventitive maintenance specific to each individual need.  Now, a mother of two, she works from home as she balances family and staying current in the world of nutrition!

National Library Week

Remember to visit the Colfax Public Library and help celebrate National Library Week. Pssst.....we have treats!!!

Do You Woo?

We offered a great morning seminar today in our newly refurbished municipal auditorium.  Shelly Cedarblade, Woo! Social Media Marketing owner, presented a seminar on using all forms of social media to enhance your small business, or in our case, to reach out to our library customers.  We covered topics such as using free services like Hootsuite to schedule Facebook posts.....a real time saver, to using video clips, tweets and emails to give your customers the information that they want.  So many good suggestions and tips today from Shelly, that the 1 1/2 program just blew by so fast!

Watch for another seminar in the future about using Facebook specifically....how to set it up, how to handle maintenance and how to reach your customers.  Again, this seminar would be excellent for small businesses, and non-profit groups.  

One of My Favorite Books; The Complete Tightwad Gazette

I wanted to share one of my favorite books of all time, Amy Dacyczyn's The Complete Tightwad Gazette. I love this book. This book is full of ideas to save money. There are ideas I'm sure you have thought of but also many you probably haven't. The book was published in the 1990's but many of the ideas are still good today. This book is more timely than ever given the state of our economy. Pinching pennies is becoming downright popular. Check out this book and become the next tightwad! ~Lynne 

Meet Jolene!

She's one of the hardest working people I know!  Jolene was hired last year as our library sub and fills in when we need her.  I admire Jolene and in one year's time, she has continued to work on her computer skills in order to learn the Circ Desk position.  Keep up the good work Jolene and thanks for all your dedication to our little library!

Lisa

FoodShare Wisconsin

FoodShare Wisconsin

Thursday September 13th 1:30 pm

Monday September 24th @ 1-3 pm

Ann Kohanek, a Food Share Representative, is scheduled to be at the Colfax Public during the month of September.  The Food Share program helps families purchase nutritious food.  For more information about the Food Share program, call Ann @ 715-514-9719.  No appointments necessary.  Walk-ins are encouraged to stop by the library. 

Dunn Energy Grant

Lisa L. Ludwig, Library Director

The Colfax Public Library recently was awarded a $1,000 Dunn Energy grant through Operation Round Up.  Lisa Ludwig, Library Director, applied for the grant in order to purchase an iPad, apps (computer application) and educational games to help children with special needs.  Ludwig especially wanted to help local families of children with autism spectrum.  After speaking with the coordinator of a parent’s group through the local school district, Ludwig realized that many families do not have access to new technologies that can help their children learn language and communication skills, along with social or behavioral skills. 

Since the Colfax Public Library began offering eBook classes this year, the desire of library patrons to learn about eReaders, eBooks and how to use iPads has been phenomenal said Ludwig. One year ago, Ludwig made a promise to her Library Board that she was committed to helping her local community learn new technologies and to embrace it, rather than be fearful of e-content.  By receiving the Dunn Energy grant, Ludwig can now proceed with helping special needs families to improve their child’s learning skills.  Since the development of devices such as the iPhone, iPod and iPad, children with autism now have access to alternative communication apps, which can give families a new learning tool.  These tools can dramatically change a child’s life!  “Personally, Ludwig indicated, I find this very exciting, and this is what sparked my interest in applying for a grant to help children with special needs. 

The iPad should be ready for check-out in September or October.  For more information about the iPad and the checkout guidelines, please call (715-962-4334) the Colfax Public Library during open hours or visit their webpage (www.colfaxpubliclibrary.org).      

Dream Big - Read!

Hi Everyone! As of today, you may come in and register your child for this year's Summer Reading Program at the Colfax Library ... this year's theme is "Dream Big - Read!" and will run Wednesdays, July 11 - August 1 from 10:30 - Noon. Stop on by and get signed up! The program is geared toward children ages 5 - 10.

Our Youth Services Librarian

Charis Collins was recently featured in this meet-your-librarian interview: http://keepingupwithkidsifls.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-librarian.html

Would You Like To Learn About eBooks?

Kindles, Nooks & iPads, Oh My!

Tuesday April 10, 2012 @ 10 am

@ the Colfax Public Library

Presenters: Lisa Ludwig & Kathy Maves

I will be teaching another eBook class on the basics to using an eReader device. My helper and volunteer, Kathy Maves, will be available to answer your questions. My class is designed to help the individual decide which eReader is best for them. There are many eReader devices out on the market, but our library has decided to show you the most popular devices: Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, and the Nook Color. I will also briefly speak about the iPad 2 and how you can download reading materials to a tablet. Kathy and I will also demonstrate how to download library eBooks onto each eReader device. I've compiled a eReader handout, which will explain all the specs and highlights of each device. My goal was to make it easier for an individual to choose which eReader they would like to purchase. If you have questions, this is the time to attend my class and learn about e-content and eBooks. No registration is necessary.....just come to listen and learn!

Next eBook class will be held Thursday April 26 @ 6:30 pm.

We LOVE reading!

Last week we celebrated Valentine's Day by creating special crafts for our Valentines, decorating heart-shaped cookies made by our own Kris, and of COURSE reading!

Then earlier this month we read about the circus and were clowns for the morning! We have all kinds of fun at story time.

Book Club

Need to get out of the house and have some adult conversation? Like or should we say love to read? Then why not come down to the library and check the book club out?

We meet every third Thursday of the month at 5pm here at the library. We are a friendly bunch of fellow readers and would love to have a fresh voice to discuss books with.

We just finished reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot and the next book we will be reading is "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.

So come join us for some adult lively conversation.

If you have question, please call us here at the Colfax Public Library and speak with us.

Galloping Into Story Time

Wednesday mornings always bring lively kids and big, bright picture books here to the Colfax Library. We have a great time reading stories and flexing our creative muscles doing crafts of all kinds. Some of our recent masterpieces have included marshmallow snowmen, paper plate angel Christmas tree toppers, dream catchers, and this little equine. Each Wednesday we follow a theme, and last Wednesday it was all about horses. Families with small children are welcome to join us - we start at 10 a.m. and we'd love to have you join us!

Food For Fines

November 1 - December 1, 2011

During the entire month of November, a library customers can have their library fines waived by donating one non-perishable food item for every one dollar in fines.

Please consider taking part of this wonderful program. Food will be donated to the Caring Ministries of Colfax.

Thank you to the Colfax Elementary School 5th Graders for making this wonderful 3-D poster!