Book Club Chat

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

December’s book for The Bremen Readers was Christmas Jars, by Jason F. Wright. The book follows a reporter, Holly Jensen, on a quest to find the origin of the Christmas Jars.

When Holly’s apartment is robbed on a bleak Christmas Eve, someone leaves a jar full of money. The anonymous jar has the label: “Christmas Jar.” This act of kindness leads Holly down a path that eventually leads her to the remarkable story of the beginning of the jars. It also brings her joy, sadness, and of course, answers.

The Readers rated this book a 3.25 out of 5. It was a quick, but happy read for the Holidays. They felt that it was wrapped up a bit too neatly in the end, but it had an inspiring message that left all wanting to do more for those in need.

I Have a Confession to Make

By Brenda Anderson, Children's Librarian

I have a confession to make. I used to pull books off the library shelf and then cram them back on the shelf willy-nilly. Sometimes not even in the general area I had found the book in the first place. In my defense, I wasn’t aware each book had a specific place on a library shelf, its own address, a place it calls home. In the library world this address is referred to as a call number. It’s the letters and sometimes numbers on the spine sticker of the book.

When a book is put back on the shelf somewhere it doesn’t belong, that book is lost. It will be missing when someone else wants it because the book isn’t in its spot. The book longs to be in the spot where it calls home. So please don’t put library books back on the shelf . It’s all right to leave a book next to the shelf instead of trying to put it away. We’ll make sure the book gets back home where it belongs. And that concludes the public service announcement of this blog post.

Speaking of the address of a book, the children’s department has been trying to make it easier to find where a book is located. The picture books about particular Holiday, Season, or Concept such as the Alphabet, Counting, Colors and so forth are grouped together in their own section. No more searching the entire collection for the books about a certain character, say Curious George. These are now on the shelf under “Cur” instead of the first three letters of the author’s last name. This means that all the Curious George books are located together instead of four different places under four different authors.

We plan to use shelf labels with pictures as well as the name of the topic or book character written out. These will be like street signs to direct you to the address you seek. The holidays, seasons, concepts, book characters, series name of the chapter books as well as the topics in the non-fiction area will be marked with shelf labels that stand up like a book. I think we should make a map of where items are now located. This would be helpful to not only the patrons but also to us librarians who automatically go to where the book used to be.

I also would love to have signs above the aisles marked like a grocery store stating what is located on the shelves in that area. Why not? We already have shopping carts. I welcome any feedback or suggestions. Our goal is to make the books easier to find and check out. But please don’t try to put them back on the shelf.

Giving Thanks

The staff of Bremen Public Library took some time to reflect on what they appreciate most about working at the library. Each staff member shared his or her thoughts below. 

What are you grateful for today?

Kyle Burkett

I am thankful that when I go to work, I’m going to a hub for all of the world’s aggregated knowledge. I am surrounded by incredible works of art and literature and music, and information about millions of different subjects is, quite literally, at my fingertips.  I am thankful that I get to work for an organization whose mission I am passionate about, and that I get to work with other people who are dedicated to that mission as well.  Most of all, I am thankful that the work we do at the library has a real, tangible effect on people’s lives—and that we can see, firsthand, how they are better for the work that we do. 

Lisa Bixel

Timeless Classics
Helpful Coworkers
Artistic Webpages
Never Ending Books
Kind Words
Faithful Patrons
Unique Staff
Laughter

Chris Scandling

Although a native Hoosier, I’d been living in Las Vegas for several years when dreaded news arrived via a simple phone call. My mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and a planned brief visit to Indiana turned in to an indefinite stay. It was during this time that a permanent return to my native home was contemplated, and Bremen Public Library played a considerable role in making that happen. An offering of this job not only meant being closer for family purposes, it brought me, career wise, back in to the library fold.

A previous earlier stop on my career path, it’s been like putting on a pair of comfortable slippers. I’d thoroughly enjoyed the work before, and absolutely adore it now. This is largely in part to such an amazing community to be a part of. From patrons who I’ve become so invested with, staff that brings wisdom, laughs and a sharing of occupational passion, and the joy in contributing to all our library represents in this area. I am thankful that my mom is doing so much better these days. I am thankful to you, Bremen, for embracing me as one of your own.

Brenda Anderson

I feel blessed to work in such a great community. Bremen is not where I grew up and I did not have any ties here when I started work at the Bremen Public Library eighteen years ago. The friendly hometown atmosphere has been a great place to meet people. I’ve crossed paths with some wonderful people here who inspire me to be a better person. I’ve seen such kindness when tragedy has struck in the community and people have stepped up to try to lessen the burden of someone else or just let them know they are not alone or forgotten. I’m thankful for all of you.

Violet Gunter

I am thankful for all the kids, who come through and use our imagination station. I love listening to them have fun and be silly. Some of my top favorite things that I have heard are, a "customer" who wanted an apple pie without apples, a little girl who could not take her pet shark on the plane with her, because it would make the plane smelly, and a boy who was playing house with some girls and then proceeded to claim that he was a millionaire and that he could do whatever he wanted and that they have to listen to him. Thank you to all the children, who have unknowingly made me smile and even laugh out loud. 

Cindy Hartman

I am thankful for the parents and children who take part in our weekly Preschool Story Hour and weekly Wiggle Worms Family Story Times. I think that I sometimes get as much enjoyment out of the sessions as the children do! It brings a smile to my face when a child really gets into a song we are singing or playing for an activity and they put their whole body into it. When a little one is wiggling with excitement waiting for their turn to get a shaker egg, it is a blessing that we get to provide these children with this opportunity in our community. When a child really enjoys a book that we are reading and asks to take it home with them, it is a blessing for my soul. When the preschoolers call out for another puppet show, this, too, is something that I am thankful for. Each week I get to do something that I love doing and am thankful I get to make a difference in a child's life here at Bremen Public Library.

Holly Heller

I am thankful how our library serves as a community hub for people from so many different backgrounds. We have people learning to play the Chinese tile game, Mahjong. We have homeschool students who use the library as their classroom. We have people working on their resumes at our public computers. We have people using our copy and fax service for a variety personal and business reasons. We have college students seeking a quiet place to study and plug in their laptops. We have families in crisis who use our space for scheduled visitations. We have school-age kids playing chess, checkers, LEGOs, and the Wii. We have parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers who value early literacy and introduce their children to the library at young ages. We have people researching their family genealogy. We have artists in bloom who learn to paint at our monthly Create-UR-Canvas event. We have movie buffs who stay up to date on the latest DVDs from our collection. And, of course, last but not least, we have our avid readers who visit the library regularly to restock their supply of reading material. I am thankful for each and every patron, and for being able to work in a place that meets each of their needs in a comfortable, safe, friendly and accepting environment.

Melissa Nunez

Working at the library has been such a season of joy. The three things in my life that I'm passionate about are my faith, my grandchildren and my books and I cannot remember a time in my life that I did not have a love of reading. But the joy I find within the walls of our library has very little to do with the written word. I am thankful, grateful and blessed in the relationships I’ve formed with the people of this community. It has been such a blessing to pause for a chat about the weather; to see the excitement  in a patron’s eyes when a favorite author is placed in their hands; to give a smile and receive one in return; to offer an ear when someone clearly needs to talk. I’m am grateful for our community.

Terrie Bickel

I have been at BPL now for almost 19 years. I have met many wonderful people, both in the community, and on the job. I am grateful for each and every one of them, as they have made my world a happier place. I have gotten to read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to each of my children, act in numerous Tea Parties, hang my art work, play Monopoly, and even play football! How could I not be grateful for this place?

Book Club Chat

By Terrie Bickel, Leader of the Bremen Readers Book Club

The Bremen Readers met November 15 to discuss The Blue Bottle Club by Penelope J. Stokes. This inspirational book tells the story of four friends and how grace came to play in each of their lives.

The book begins with a reporter, Brenden Delaney, who is doing a small story about an historic home that is being torn down. After she is given a blue bottle that was found in the attic before demolition, she discovers four papers inside the bottle. Upon further investigation, she finds that the papers are actually dreams, written down by four teenage friends on a Christmas day in 1929. The dreams describe what each girl hopes the future holds for her. When Brenden reads these papers, she sets out on a mission to see if the girls are still alive these 65 years later, and if so, how have their lives turned out. The book follows the reporter on this quest to find four old friends, as well as herself.

The Readers rated this book a 3.88 out of 5. They liked how each friend’s story was revealed, as well as the grace each girl discovered along the way.  It is an uplifting and enjoyable story that teaches us “The dream itself is the gift, not necessarily the fulfillment.”

Christmas is Coming!

By Lisa Bixel, Bremen Public Library Adult Assistant

The calendar may show the end of October but the new arrivals at the Bremen Public Library indicate that December is not far behind. The Christmas inventory is rolling in! Books by your favorite authors are quickly making their way to the shelves. Looking for holiday reads, music or DVDs? Look no further! 

Some of my past favorites include, A Dog Named Christmas by Gregory Kincaid, The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans, A Choice To Cherish by Alan Maki, Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber, Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. 

A Dog Named Christmas, which was made into a Hallmark Movie, chronicles the life of a developmentally challenged boy named Todd and his dog as he sets out to convince his family the importance of caring for animals in need by participating in a local shelter’s inaugural “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.” George McCray, Todd’s father, is opposed to the idea because of his experiences with the love and loss of his past canines and does not want Todd to go through what he experienced. Todd’s mother, Mary Ann, knows how deep George’s wounds are but feels that bringing a dog into their home could promote the gift of healing.

The Christmas List is inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Business Executive, James Kier, who causes misery and suffering wherever he goes, gets the scare of his life when an identity mix-up causes him to read his own obituary and sees the realization of what his friends, family and colleagues really think of him. This book has you digging deep to think about your impact on others.
A Choice to Cherish will tug at your heartstrings and have you evaluating your choices in this life!  How well do you know the people in your life? This story  tells the tale of Alan and his dying grandfather, George. It’s Christmas in Montana, and Alan cuts down and decorates a Christmas tree for himself and his grandfather.  As his present, Alan may choose one of eight keepsakes of his grandfathers. Yet before he can choose, he must read a story George wrote about each keepsake. Through these stories, Alan learns the secrets of his grandfather's life. A short read about love and reconciliation that will forever stay in your heart!

Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle is a light and uplifting story about Emily Merkle, or Mrs. Miracle as she is fondly known, and her magical ways to ensure a Merry Christmas for all in the toy department of the financially troubled Finley’s Department Store. Just when it seemed Christmas might not come at all this year, Finley's favorite employee proves they don't call her Mrs. Miracle for nothing!

Get your tissues out for The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere. Two couples will find their lives turned upside down and transformed in VanLiere’s debut novel. Robert Layton, who specializes in bankruptcy law, is very ambitious and wants to climb the company ladder. His life is turned upside down when his wife, Kate, tells her absentee husband that she wants a divorce right before Christmas. Meanwhile, another family is facing tragedy as Maggie Andrews is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Maggie’s son sets out to  buy a pair of shoes for his mother as a going-away present. When Robert and Maggie’s son cross paths in the department store, both of their lives are transformed forever.

On a lighter note, the Christmas classic, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will have you laughing whole-heartedly, as you fall  in love with the hilarious Herdman siblings! The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the three wise men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are a mean bunch! They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. Everyone is in disbelief when the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant. This group of siblings set out to make life miserable for everyone but in the end the transformation of the Christmas Story is one the reader will never forget. This year’s pageant is definitely like no other, but maybe that’s exactly what makes it so special.

Christmas is a season of great joy, healing and renewed strength! Reading soothes the soul! Happy Reading!

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting. 
~Henry David Thoreau

Book Club Chat

By Terrie Bickel, Leader of the Bremen Readers

The Bremen Readers' latest discussion was about The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, by Kim Edwards. The book follows two families whose lives are intertwined by the same secret, a secret that began with the birth of a child.

It is 1964 and Dr. David Henry is a happily married man whose wife, Norah is pregnant with their first child. As she goes into labor, they drive through the snow to Henry’s clinic. There they are joined by Caroline Gill, Dr. Henry’s nurse. Norah gives birth to a healthy baby boy, and then his twin sister. When Dr. Henry realizes his daughter has Down’s Syndrome, he gives the baby to Nurse Gill and instructs her to take the baby to an institution. He then tells Norah that their daughter was stillborn. When Nurse Gill gets to the institution, she realizes that she cannot leave the infant there, and instead raises her as her own.

Edwards leads us through the lives of these two families, one of which unravels as the book progresses. The story made for an interesting book discussion as the Readers were both saddened by the demise of Dr. Henry’s immediate family, and uplifted by the turnout of his daughter. While no one agreed with Dr. Henry’s decision, all could understand how such a thing could happen, particularly in the 1960s. And of course, had Dr. Henry not given his infant up, there would be no book. The book did have a pleasing ending, which helped make up for its often sad storyline. The Readers ended up giving The Memory Keeper’s Daughter a rating of 3.125.

Book Club Chat

By Chris O'Brien, Leader of Questers Book Club

The Questers Book Club met Wednesday, Oct. 11 to discuss The Paris Wife by Paula McClain. The Questers rated this book a 3.1, with much lively discussion, including some honest criticism. However, those of us who have never read any of Hemingway’s works left the discussion with serious intention of doing so. 

The author writes on her website that when she began to research her book, beginning with biographies of Hemingway and Hadley, and with their delicious correspondence, she knew the actual story of the Hemingway’s marriage was near perfect.  It was a ready-made novel, ripe for the picking. She did not have to invent a plot for them, nor did she want to. She used the framework of historical documentation to push into the characters’ hearts and minds, discovering their motivations, their deepest wishes.

The most important step for the author was getting Hadley’s voice. She has very little dialogue in A Moveable Feast, but what there is, is so evocative. It led the author to seek out the letters Hadley wrote to Ernest during their courtship, and that’s when she knew she could write the book. Her speech rhythms, her intelligence and charm and sense of humor all come through with clarity and effervescence. She says she fell in love with them both.

Then things began to unravel. Hadley lost a briefcase that contained four years of Hemingway’s work. McLain says that Hemingway never really forgave her for that. It was symbolic of how different they were.

Hemingway was single-minded about his writing. Hadley was the homemaker and mother, taking care of the child they nicknamed “Bumby.” Finally, Hemingway began having an affair with one of Hadley’s friends, a glamorous young journalist named Pauline Pfeiffer.

During the time Pauline was pursuing Ernest, she never lost this pretense that she was also Hadley’s best friend --- she was sending letters to them both. The letters to Ernest were letters to a lover. And the letters to Hadley were sort of eerily asking for approval.

The marriage finally fell apart after one disastrous summer, when the three members of the love triangle vacationed together on the Riviera. They spent the trip in the company of the rich and sophisticated Sara and Gerald Murphy, who loved to entertain talented artists and writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Many years later, Hadley, who by then had been happily remarried for many years, told an interviewer how glad she was when the marriage finally ended.

“Ernest was a terrific responsibility. And when he was not happy, when he was leading a double life and everything, it was just awfully hard. I just didn’t care for it.”

But Hadley also told the interviewer that she still cared for Hemingway and thought he was a great man. For his part, Hemingway seemed to regret what had happened to their marriage in Paris.

Hemingway was married four times, and Pfeiffer became his second wife. Yet he seemed to have a great affection for Hadley Richardson until the end of his life.  Neither of them ever seemed to forget what it was like to be young and in love in beautiful Paris.

Yes, We Have a Book for That

By Cindy Hartman, Children's Department Assistant at Bremen Public Library

Yes, we have a book on that. As an assistant to the children's librarian, I get asked a variety of questions every day and my usual answer is, “Yes, we have a book on that." With the development of the Wiggle Worms story time for children birth through age five, we now have a program for babies and toddlers. With this younger age group, comes a different set of needs, and yes we have a book on that.

One of the recent themes in the question-field, that I have gotten recently, is do we have any books on potty-training? We have a variety of books for the parent or caregiver, but we also have several books that are specifically written for children. Since I primarily deal with children’s books, that is what we will cover today.

Books for Children on Potty Training:

Princess of the Potty by Nora Gaydos

Prince of the Potty by Nora Gaydos

It’s Potty Time by Tracey Corderoy

Potty Superhero - Get Ready for Big Boy Pants by Mabel Forsyth

Dinosaur vs. the Potty by Bob Shea

Duck Goes Potty by Michael Dahl

Have You Seen My Potty? By Mij Kelly

Potty Time by Guido van Genechten

On Your Potty by Virginia Miller

Potty by Leslie Patricelli

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

In a previous life, I was director of various preschools and daycare facilities for about 25 years. Here are some tips that I would suggest in beginning this process:

1. Make sure that your child is ready. They should be having several dry diapers each day, be able to communicate that they need to go to the restroom, or that they need to be changed, be able to take off their own clothing and be able to follow simple directions. If you make sure that they are ready, it will be a much quicker, and less stressful for all.

2. Make sure that you are ready. It is important that you are consistent in this process. Do not confuse the child because it is not convenient for you to do potty-training today, so you don’t work on it. Be positive and be proactive. Have underwear, potty seat, and possibly a timer to remind them to go potty ready. Have some books to read while practicing will make it easier for your child to handle the waiting process.

3. Go shopping together and buy special underwear that has meaning to your child and put this on your child each morning and as long as they stay dry, they get to wear the special underwear. When they have an accident, they then change into plain training underwear. If you are concerned about accidents, I would suggest to buy some old fashioned rubber pants like those used for cloth diapers to put on over their training pants. Do not rely on disposable products such as Pull-ups for every day usage as they are designed to wick away moisture and your child will not be able to tell that they are wet. These type of products are fine for special events that you need to make sure that your child does not have an accident, but not for daily use.

4. Have a small treat ready that they really love that they can immediately have when you have success. After you have success for several days, you can then move on to a longer term that that they have to wait to get after several times of success. Example: do M&M’s for using the potty and staying dry. Your child has been dry for a couple of weeks with only one or two accidents. Move on to a special thing that your child really wants to do.

We also have books on other topics that parents may need some assistance with. Breaking your child from their pacifier? We have a book on that! No More Pacifiers by Michael Dahl. Transitioning to a big bed? We have a book on that! Big Bed For Giraffe by Michael Dahl.

Take advantage of your library, because we have a book on that!

Exciting Week Ahead

This is going to be an exciting week at Bremen Public Library! Not only do we have two book club discussions and our regularly-scheduled Wiggle Worms and Preschool Story Hour, but we have two well-known authors coming to visit, a Halloween-themed Brick Club AND it's the final week to enter the Flash Fiction Challenge!

Here are some highlights for October 9-14:

MONDAY, 7:30-8:30 PM

The Night Owls Book Club meets on the second Monday of every month in the Upper Level Meeting Room of Bremen Public Library. Discussion leaders are Jill Byrd and Melissa Nunez. 

New members are always welcome! Stop by the Adult Desk at Bremen Public Library to request a copy of next month's book.

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, 10-10:45 AM

Wiggle Worms (an interactive story time for little ones age 0-5 and their parents, grandparents or caregivers) features early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. 

Registration is required. Please call or stop by the Children's Department to inquire about openings.

TUESDAY, 6-7 PM

Bremen Public Library welcomes Tracy Korn, author of The Elements series, as the headline event of Teen Read Week. Korn will lead the audience in an interactive game about storytelling, followed by a Q & A time and a book signing. She will give away posters and bookmarks. Her books will be available for purchase and signing and she will be accompanied by live character representations from her books! Korn is an Indiana resident who holds three master's degrees from Indiana University. She has taught high school English for 17 years. Her students inspired her to write her debut novel, AQUA, which is the first book in The Elements series. The sequel, TERRA, was released Aug. 27, 2016. The third book in the series, AER, was just released in September. 

Everyone is invited to attend this free event!

WEDNESDAY, 2:15-3:15 PM

The Questers Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the Lower Level Meeting Room of Bremen Public Library. Discussion leader for the Questers is Chris O'Brien. 

New members are always welcome! Stop by the Adult Desk at Bremen Public Library to request a copy of next month's book.

THURSDAY, 9:30-10:30 AM

Preschool Story Hour features stories, songs, puppets and more that encourage development of early literacy skills in young children ages 3-5. Children attend independently. 

Registration is required. Please call or stop by the Children's Department to inquire about openings.

FRIDAY, 2-4 PM

What could be a more perfect blend than books and coffee? Join us at Bremen Public Library on Friday, Oct. 13 for The Perfect Blend -- a coffee tasting featuring Mean Bean's full line of fall flavors combined with a book signing featuring author Sarah Price. Starting at 2 p.m., you can sample the following coffee flavors from our local Mean Bean Bistro and Brew: Sweet Potato Pie, Pumpkin Spice, Jazzy Jack-o-Lantern, Harvest Spice, Molasses Spiced Cookie, Caramel Candy Apple, Regular Mean Bean Brew. Small cups will be available for the coffee tasting. Fill out a rating card on the fall flavors to help us determine the most-liked blend of the day and you will be entered to win a book by author Sarah Price! From 3 to 4 p.m., Sarah Price will be available to sign books and mingle with patrons. Bring your own copy of one of her many titles or purchase one during the signing. Learn more about Sarah and her novels at sarahpriceauthor.com. 

Everyone is invited to attend this free event!

SATURDAY, 11-12:30 AM

Get in the Halloween spirit (pun intended) with a spooky design! Will your creation be a trick or treat? Young adults, children and families are encouraged to join us for this time of imagination. We will use LEGO bricks to study concepts via themes, develop math and science skills, work in teams and have fun! 

Everyone is invited to attend this free event!

SATURDAY @ MIDNIGHT

Saturday is the final day to submit your entry into the Flash Fiction Challenge. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to finish the following writing prompt using between 500 and 1,000 words: "It was a dark and stormy night when I found myself trapped in Bremen Public Library." Submit entries via e-mail to Chris Scandling at cscandling@bremen.lib.in.us or deliver a printed copy to the library. Ten winners will be chosen and notified on Friday, Oct. 20. Each winner will receive a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card and the top 10 stories will be featured on Bremen Public Library's YA Blog, "A Series of Fortunate Events," during the last week of October.

Book Club Chat

By Terrie Bickel, Co-Leader of the Readers Book Club

The Readers Book Club met Wednesday, Sept. 20 to discuss A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir about growing up in small-town, Indiana, and was given a rating of 3.6 by the members.

“Zippy,” as she is nicknamed, is a small, spitfire of a girl who was born in 1965 in Mooreland, Indiana, population 300. As with most small towns, this one is populated with quirky and eccentric characters. We learn about the evil Edythe, who lives across the street, and Doc Holiday, the grouchy drugstore owner who is married to the Wicked Witch of the West. We are introduced to a group of friends who touch Zippy’s life, like the silent farm girl, Julie. There is also Rose, her left-handed Catholic friend, and Dana, with her black leather biker jacket. Haven has a fun time describing them to us, as well as the way each one affected her childhood. We also learn about Haven’s family and the animals who left their mark on her. She has a beautiful older brother Daniel, who doesn’t like anyone, Zippy included. There’s her sister, Melinda, who became Fair Queen by default. Her well-read mother, and gambling, drinking, gun-toting father round out the immediate cast.

Haven has a way of describing the adventures of her childhood in a witty and amusing voice. The book took the group back to growing up in small farming communities where life was simpler and slower. While some didn’t like how the stories left the reader with unanswered questions, it was agreed upon that the book was a funny and enjoyable read. If you happen to pick up A Girl Named Zippy and enjoy it, you may also want to try the sequel, She Got Up Off the Couch.

Prize Winners

Congratulations to the 149 adults who participated in our Adult Summer Reading Incentive Program! Together, they read a total of 1,587 books this summer. And for every book they reported to us, they earned an entry into our prize drawing.

Drumroll, please ... and the winners are ...

Michael Maynard
Kindle

Anita Eichinger
Kindle

Kathy Schnitz
Kindle

Karen Fisher
Library-themed scarf, socks, tote bag, coffee mug and The Librarians DVD

Jolene Grebe
$25 Amazon gift card, book

Sara Culp
Bourbon Street Pizza gift certificate, travel mug, pen, car charger

Richard Coffel
Bourbon Street Pizza gift certificate, travel bottle, pen, mouse pad

Merle Sarber
Bourbon Street Pizza gift certificate, travel bottle, pen

Tricia Graverson
$10 DQ gift card, water bottle, car charger and lighted key chain with tools, pen

The following winners are not pictured:

Kalynn Mast
$10 Subway gift card, Create-UR-Canvas gift certificate, travel bottle, pen

Lisa Scott
$10 Subway gift card, pen, two books

Recommended Read

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Staff Review by Melissa Nunez, Adult Department Assistant at Bremen Public Library

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is the sentimental, tender story of a first   generation Chinese American named Henry Lee. It's a tale of love and loss, fathers and sons, friendships and racial differences. Shifting seamlessly between the 1940s World War II era and 1986 Seattle, we follow 12-year-old Henry as he forms a forbidden friendship with Keiko, a young Japanese-American girl. As Henry and Keiko grow closer, so also does WWII. Henry and Keiko face ridicule, discrimination, distrust, the disapproval of Henry's father, and then ultimately, the Japanese internment. Yet amidst all the trials, a heartwarming kindness comes to them from an unexpected source. Going forward into 1986, the Panama Hotel has been reopened and memories of love and heartache are stirred as hundreds of stored belongings are unearthed belonging to Japanese families that never returned. Luggage and letters, photos and artwork, all left unclaimed are brought to light. Henry, now in the autumn of his life, embarks on a quest of love.

While the author took some artistic license with minor time frame details, I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story and would rate it a 3.75. If you like historical fiction, women's lit, or even romance, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a choice to consider. 

Click here to see if this title is currently available for check-out.

Wiggle Worms on Tuesdays, Too!

Bremen Public Library's new Wiggle Worms interactive story time for children ages 0-5 and their parents is a hit! In fact, the Wednesday morning class is now full and the library has added a Tuesday morning option.

To register for the Tuesday Wiggle Worms, stop by the Children's Department at Bremen Public Library, 304 N. Jackson St. or call 574-546-2849.

If you would prefer the Wednesday Wiggle Worms, you can ask to be placed on the waiting list for that class. 

Questions? Contact Children's Librarian Brenda Anderson at 574-546-2849 or banderson@bremen.lib.in.us.

Staff Pick

Movie Review of The Case For Christ

By Lisa Bixel, Adult Department Assistant at Bremen Public Library

For all of the skeptics out there, this movie may have you reassessing your beliefs and how you choose to live in this crazy, complicated, yet completely wonderful world. In the words of Lee Strobel, “The only way to truth is through facts.”

The Case For Christ is a factual account of Strobel’s life as an atheist and how he came to the realization that Christ does exist. He and his wife share a skeptical life. “We are atheists,” he tells his young daughter, Alison. “We believe in what’s real and what we can see and touch.”

His personal revelation is a powerful one that begins with an incident at a restaurant where he sees before his very eyes the kindness of a stranger, a nurse, saving his daughter and all the while telling him that she believes that it was not by accident that she was in the restaurant that night. She believed it was all part of God’s perfect plan.

Strobel’s wife, Leslie, is intrigued by the words of the nurse and after tracking her down starts going to church with her and develops a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Strobel wants nothing to do with his wife’s new found faith and takes out his frustration abusing alcohol and becoming very angry. He begins a quest to disprove that Jesus Christ ever existed and that His resurrection never happened. The outcome of Strobel’s research helps him reach a conclusion that he had never expected.

Strobel paints a very persuasive argument. But what about others who, like Lee, are skeptical. Can The Case For Christ influence them?

This true account of Strobel’s conversion is followed by the book that bears the same name as the movie, The Case For Christ. After his journalism career, he went on to become a pastor at the Willow Creek Church where he continues to share his faith and his story.

Click here to see if this DVD is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

The Lunar Chronicles

By Violet Gunter, Children's Department Assistant at Bremen Public Library

Sci-Fi meets Brothers Grimm in Marissa Meyer’s spellbinding series, The Lunar Chronicles. While spin-offs have been done before, none like hers. With a cyborg Cinderella, a wary Red Riding Hood, a hacker Rapunzel, and an eccentric Snow White, you will meet these famous princesses like never before.

Marissa Meyer is a talented author, who does an amazing job of making old stories new. With her wonderful writing you will quickly become engrossed in her books. While some may not think sci-fi and fairytales go together Meyer can prove you wrong. So sit back and read, as the main character, Cinder, escapes a ruthless Queen, makes unlikely friends, discovers a life changing secret, and attempts to save the world.

Introducing Wiggle Worms

Bremen Public Library is introducing a new story time format for little ones (ages 0-5) and their parents, grandparents or caregivers. Join us for Wiggle Worms on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 10:45 a.m. This interactive story time includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. Expect plenty of hands-on activities in a relaxed environment.

This program replaces the previously planned story times on Wednesdays. If you were already registered for either Wednesday program, there is no need to re-register. Just join us at 10 a.m. next Wednesday! If you haven’t registered yet, you can still do so at the Children’s Desk.

Meanwhile on Thursdays, Preschool Story Hour will continue as planned from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. featuring stories, songs, puppets and more. Preschool Story Hour encourages development of early literacy skills in young children ages 3-5. Children attend independently.

Questions? Call Children's Librarian Brenda Anderson or Children's Assistant Cindy Hartman at 574-546-2849. 

Book Club Chat

By Shelli Kauffman, Leader of the Readers Book Club

When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards received a 4.06 rating from the Bremen Readers book discussion group. This harsh view into the American foster care system gave us plenty to discuss.

The main characters, Cecelia and Robin, met as children in foster care and remain as close as any biological sisters could be. Now an adult, Cecelia is a rich and famous singer who seemingly has the life everyone wants. However, she’s still haunted by the secrets she kept while growing up, and to deal with these demons, she agrees to be the subject of a documentary recounting the childhood she shared with Robin. Robin, who is dealing with her own personal upheaval and spiraling marriage, agrees to be part of the documentary, and the two sisters start down a path that will either heal them or destroy them.

The discussion meandered from the fractured foster care system to the roles of fathers in the family. The group agreed that, while the book is quite lengthy at over 400 pages, it was an interesting and worthwhile read. It’s not long on action, but for readers who enjoy books that focus on character development, this will be a thought provoking treat.

To see if this book is currently available for check-out, click here.

Community Partners

The Friends of the Library Art & Book Sale kicks off this Thursday at 5 p.m. with more than 5,000 books and 200 art prints, along with miscellaneous furniture.

Books are 50 cents each. Books on CD are $1.00 each. Art prints start out at $25 on opening day, then decrease each day as follows: 

Thursday, Aug. 10 $25

Friday, Aug. 11 $20

Saturday, Aug. 12 $15

Monday, Aug. 14 $10

Tuesday, Aug. 15 $10

Hours:

Thursday, Aug. 10 5:00-8:00

Friday, Aug. 11 9:00-5:30

Saturday, Aug. 12 9:00-5:00

Monday, Aug. 14 9:00-8:00

Tuesday, Aug. 15 9:00-8:00

We are very grateful to the Bremen High School Boys' Soccer Team for helping set up the sale. They set up tables, carried boxes full of thousands of books, and relocated 200 art prints. Coach Mark Yoder and his team were a tremendous help and we are unsure how we would have accomplished this without their efforts! Thank you so much! 

HAPPEE BIRTHDAE HARRY

By Brenda Anderson, Children's Librarian

We can’t let July 31st go by and not celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday! All that day we will have Harry Potter themed games going on, a Harry Potter scavenger hunt, Harry Potter crafts and other opportunities to step out of the muggle world into the wizarding world of Hogwarts.

Refreshments will be served from 3 to 4 p.m. Harry Potter costumes are encouraged. Attendance of house elves would be appreciated.

Even though your acceptance letter to Hogwarts has not arrived don’t miss out on the Harry Potter festivities on Monday, July 31 at the Bremen Public Library.

Recommended Read

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

By Violet Gunter, Children's Department Assistant

Kit Tyler has just lost her grandfather and can no longer live on her plantation in Barbados. Traveling to Connecticut Colony, Kit moves in with her aunt and uncle and their two daughters. Life in this Puritan community is entirely different than the one Kit used to lead, but if she is to fit in, she must learn to follow their strict rules. Kit struggles to conform to the Puritan ways and often feels like an outsider, but soon she meets Hannah Tupper, the acclaimed witch, who lives a solitary life on Blackbird Pond. Through her friendship, Kit finds life is not quite as lonely as she originally thought. Just when it seems Kit has found a rhythm, things are turned upside-down, and she now faces the noose.

Elizabeth George Speare,a two-time Newberry medalist, writes a sensational story about living to one’s true self and standing up for what is right. The excellent story is undoubtedly, one to add to your to-read-list and is a wonderful choice for all ages.

Click here to see if this title is currently available to check out.

Book Club Chat

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

By Shelli Kauffman

The Bremen Readers gave the American classic, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald at 2.93 rating. The classic novel set in the roaring twenties revolves around several egotistical and self-centered characters in New York City. Jay Gatsby is obsessed with recapturing his past with the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Unfortunately, Daisy is married and rather shallow. She loves Gatsby, but is very comfortable with the lifestyle her philandering husband provides her.

Most of the book discussion centered on how unlikable all of the characters were. How did Fitzgerald’s novel become a classic with a group of characters who seem to have no redeemable traits? Why do readers, decades after the first printing, still flock to this classic? Well, the novel certainly does evoke conversation. There’s greed, romance, suspense, and murder. Then there’s the rhythm Fitzgerald uses with the English language that makes the reader fall in love with Gatsby while at the same time disapproving of all he does. When describing Gatsby’s smile, the narrator expounds, “It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.” Ah, if only we could all ask Fitzgerald to describe our smile in that way. Overall, this is a novel definitely worth the read, but don’t expect to feel light hearted exuberance when you’re finished with it. 

To join the Bremen Readers' next discussion on Aug. 16, stop by the Adult Desk to request a copy of the next book, "When We Were Sisters" by Emilie Richards. 

To see if this item is currently available for check-out, click here.

Book Club Chat

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

By Holly Heller, Communications Coordinator

Who reads a book about attempted suicide and depression in July? The Night Owls, that's "hoo."

(Pardon my lame attempt at humor, but we need to lighten the mood after reading this book.)

The Bell Jar chronicles a young woman's descent into clinical depression while highlighting many of her failed suicide attempts along the way. While the book is obviously not an uplifting read, many Night Owls were still able to look past the downer topic and appreciate Plath's writing style.

Others found the novel difficult to follow. The story line jumped from topic to topic, guided by the thoughts of the mentally-ill main character, Esther Greenwood.

The Bell Jar is semi-autobiographical and parallels Plath's own descent into clinical depression. As you probably know, Plath was deeply troubled and ended her own life at the age of 30. This interesting fact intrigued almost everyone and naturally, the discussion gravitated toward Sylvia's story, rather than Esther's. Most members were in agreement that they found the author's true life story much more interesting than this novel.

The overall rating was 3.2 out of 5 stars.

To see if this book is currently available for check-out, click here.

Next month, the Night Owls will read and discuss "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford. To join in the discussion, inquire at the Adult Desk.

Friends of the Library

By Holly Heller, Communications Coordinator

Have you heard the exciting news? A group of library supporters have gathered to launch the inaugural Friends of the Library group for Bremen Public Library!


The Friends is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the library through philanthropy and advocacy. Pictured are the leaders of the Friends group, the executive board members, from left: Colleen Maynard, president; Michaele Barts, secretary; Sheila Reed, vice president; and Tami Hudson, treasurer.

This executive board will be working hard in many different areas in the months ahead.

Their first project is an Art/Book Sale set for Aug. 10-15 in the lower level meeting room of Bremen Public Library. During this sale, the library's entire collection of art prints will be for sale. For a sneak peek at our massive art print sale, please visit our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/BremenFriends/

The Art/Book Sale will open at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10 and continue during regular library hours through Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Hours are as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 10:    5:00-8:00

Friday, Aug. 11:         9:00-5:30

Saturday, Aug. 12:    9:00-5:00

Monday, Aug. 14:    9:00-8:00

Tuesday, Aug. 15:     9:00-8:00

Pricing information will be coming soon!

If you are interested in being a Friend of the Library, watch for coming details on membership and volunteer opportunities. 

Recommended Read

Pennyroyal Academy

By Brenda Anderson, Children's Librarian

Set in Grimm’s fairy-tale world, Pennyroyal Academy is recruiting courageous young people to be trained to become tomorrow’s knights and princesses. Reese Witherspoon recommends this series with the words: “M. A. Larson has created a magical world of adventure -- a world that shows who princesses truly are: people of character and courage and strength. No one rescues Pennyroyal princesses; they rescue themselves.”

This trilogy is even better than Princess Academy by Shannon Hale and is reminiscent of my favorite, Runaway Princess by Patricia Coombs. The setting of Pennyroyal Academy is a generation or two after the famous fairy tales have taken place and a war is being waged by the menaces of the day, witches and dragons. The plot is suspenseful and not predictable by any means.

The third and final book in this series, The Warrior Princess of Pennyroyal Academy, comes out in August 2017.

Click here to see if this book is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

By Violet Gunter, Children's Department Assistant

Mara is an Egyptian slave, who detests her lot in life and will do anything to gain freedom, even become a spy.

                

One day a mysterious man comes to the home of Mara’s master and offers to buy her, no matter the cost. It is in this moment that Mara’s life is forever changed. The man makes her a deal; spy for him and once his enemy has fallen he will set her free or she can say no and be sold to someone else. She readily agrees to go undercover and discover who is leading the rebellion. 

         

While on her way to Queen Hatshepsut, under the guise of an interpreter, she is caught eavesdropping on Lord Sheftu by none other than Sheftu himself. He also makes her a bargain; spy for him or die. 

Mara, Daughter of the Nile is a captivating story full of witty remarks, excitement, near death experiences, betrayal and a pinch of romance that will transport you to ancient Egypt. The story takes off, as Mara starts her new life as a double spy. Read as Mara becomes a key component to the rising rebellion, but will she be its downfall or will she help it conquer? Who will she help gain the throne and become Pharaoh?

Click here to see if this title is currently available for check-out. 

Book Club Chat

To Kill A Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

By Chris O'Brien, Leader of the Book Questers Discussion Group

Last month, Questers read To Kill A Mockingbird, a classic. We rated it almost a perfect 5 across the board, although one person rated it a 4.5, so the average came out to 4.9. The conversation was, indeed, lively, mostly talking about our reminiscences of that time frame within our own lives, and making comparisons to happenings, and actions and reactions as told in the book.

Fast forward to our June pick, Go Set A Watchman, the treasure found after Harper Lee’s death, which was actually written first. Even knowing this, all agreed it fell short in so many ways. One plus, we all agreed, was that we read To Kill A Mockingbird first. Still and all, we hemmed and hawed when it came to a rating. Some of us went higher, some did not hesitate to go as low as a 2, bringing the average to a 3. Safe to say, it probably sated our curiosity to read both books, one right after the other, keeping all details from one book fresh in our minds, thus aiding us in making our own decision. If you’ve read To Kill A Mockingbird, and are any kind of an avid reader, you simply must read Go Set A Watchman. You’ll love it or you’ll hate it, but it will satisfy your curiosity, and you will enjoy analyzing the good and the not-so-good in each book.

A serious reader is always on a Quest for the rest of the story. Our Quest continues, as we move on to our pick for next month, entitled The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate, which I eagerly anticipate.

To join the Questers, stop by the Adult Desk!

Book Club Chat

George by Alex Gino

By Holly Heller, Leader of the Night Owls Book Discussion Group

A middle-grade contemporary fiction novel, George tells the story of a 10-year-old transgender child coming to terms with gender identity. Born a boy, George identifies as a girl and calls herself Melissa. More than anything, she wants to play the role of Charlotte in her fourth grade production of "Charlotte's Web." As the story unfolds, we watch George open up to her closest friends and family and we feel the pain of being different and the joy/freedom that comes with being true to yourself.

The Night Owls varied dramatically in viewpoints regarding this book. Some thought it was inappropriate for children to read, while others thought it should be required classroom reading. Ratings ranged from 2 to 4, with the average coming in at 3.2.

To join the Night Owls, stop by the Adult Desk!

Click here to see if this title is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

By Lisa Bixel, Adult Department Assistant

Whether it is a homerun or a touchdown you are looking for, the book, Know Who You Are, Live Like It Matters:  A Homeschooler’s Interactive Guide to Discovering Your True Identity by Tim Tebow, will definitely score big for many readers.  Although this book is a devotional guide for homeschoolers, it can be beneficial for any age. Tebow shares what he has learned about how to live when the going gets rough and when you are looking for answers to the tough questions.

Tim Tebow, who was homeschooled himself, shares his life lessons about his joys, disappointments and hopes. 

Featuring lessons on family, bullying and integrity, Tebow gives the reader insight on how to deal with these topics and how to grow in your faith by realizing that every experience in life molds the person you are becoming.

Biblically based, each chapter features a verse from the Bible and encourages the reader to journal his/her thoughts.

Tim boldly states that “There is only one thing, one person, who defines your identity.  His name is Jesus Christ.”

“Expressive writing in a personal and meaningful way positively impacts health, well-being, and self-development.  It can help us process tough situations and challenge us to make good changes.  It can pave the way for a more impactful future.”

When looking for an encouraging, uplifting book, I would recommend Tebow’s creative and relevant book.  It will hopefully brighten and enrich your day! 

To check current availability of this book, click here! 

Under Construction

Summer Update

By Matt Williams, Facilities Manager

Summer is officially here! Our air conditioners are working double-time and somewhere in the fight against the heat and humidity we sprung a leak! With some help from the fine folks at Facilities Mechanical Services in Mishawaka we’re back and running at full power, so the library will stay nice and cool during the upcoming warm months. Believe me, we’re just as happy as you are.

Speaking of summer, the water bottle filling bubblers we installed a few months ago have now saved 500+ bottles from going into the trash! So if you need a bottle of cool water and a place to beat the heat, BPL has you covered.

While the inside is coming together at a steady pace, most of the entrances and halls have been painted, so I won’t be in everyone’s way so much while continuing to paint and modernize the interior of the library. Good news for everyone with small children with little hands that like to explore the world around them.

With the weather as beautiful as it has been, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve spent more time outside than inside, with good reason! We’re looking into a few things to help the accessibility of the library for all of our patrons. We recently added an accessible parking spot to the front of the library, making it easier for our all patrons to park right up front to return a book or come in and get a new one. Hopefully before the summer is in full swing we will also have a small area outside to sit and enjoy a book as well as a bike rack for all of the kids to use in the front of the building.

We are currently looking into making some changes to the back parking lot as well, including a new exit onto Center Street and a few additional spots to accommodate our ever growing group of friends. There may be a few days of closures in the back lot at some point in the next couple of months, but it will be announced on social media with plenty of warning. Same can be said for the elevator – with the modernization coming up, it may be down for a few days, but we’ll try to have it up and running as quickly as possible.

Again, I would like to take the time to personally thank everyone in Bremen for being so friendly and patient during this time. Yoder’s Hardware has been invaluable for both materials and advice. The ladies at the Post Office always have a nice word to start the day off right. Trend Weldy with the Town of Bremen has been spot-on responding to any questions or requests I’ve made. While I’m sure the construction has been an inconvenience, our patrons have been very understanding. Almost every day someone has a kind word or a joke for me when I’m laying mulch in one-hundred degree weather or painting what seems like the 100th day in a row, and it’s made both these projects and this job a total joy that doesn’t seem like work at all. I did not grow in a small tight-knit community and it’s really wonderful to see that a place like Bremen still exists.

Book Club Chat

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

By Shelli Kauffman, Leader of the Bremen Readers Book Discussion Group

The Bremen Readers gave Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid a 3.11 in the June 21^st book discussion. On the surface the novel seemed like another quick summer love story, but the discussion became very lively as we debated the complex themes involving personal responsibility versus predestined fate.

Hannah Martin is the main character who has bounced around several cities, never finding one to call home. The novel begins with her moving back to Los Angeles to be near her best friend, Gabby. They attend a party one night and then the book splits into two narratives. One follows Hannah when she leaves the party with Gabby, while the other follows Hannah when she leaves the party with her high school sweetheart, Ethan.

The author did a great job, vividly detailing a believable life following either scenario, and it gave the reader a lot to think about when making what seem like mundane, everyday choices. Could your entire future really be altered by one decision? 

To join the Readers, stop by the Adult Desk!

Click here to see if this item is currently available for check-out.