Genre Sampler: TV Series

By Shelli Kauffman, Head of Adult Services at BPL

While summer is a great time for outdoor activities, television buffs often go into mourning over the sabbatical their favorite program takes for several months. This is a perfect opportunity to peruse the library's television series collection. Whether you're a fan of The Walking Dead or Downton Abbey, we have something for every fan. Here are some lesser known titles that I still consider worth a good series marathon while you're waiting for the next season of Blue Bloods to start in the fall.

For the Family-Friendly Fan:

When Calls the Heart: Set in a small Canadian coal mining town during the early 1900s, this is a clean view that is still packed with plenty of angst, romance, and drama. The viewer immediately feels invested in the lives of the townspeople who are recovering from a devastating coal mining explosion, killing most of the husbands in town. Lori Loughlin is charming as the matriarch of this little burg, and Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing have great chemistry as the show's love story developes between the local school teacher and the Canadian Mountie assigned to keep the peace.
Check availability by clicking here.

For the Sentimental Fan:

Everwood: When a New York City doctor loses his wife, he moves his two children to a small Colorado town. The viewer quickly gets emotionally attached to this family and their new friends, but you should be aware that mature themes are addressed in this series. Episodes deal with teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and childhood illnesses. There are always lessons to be learned and the characters develop in a touching, thoughtful way. The series was cancelled with enough warning that the writers were able to wrap up the story arcs nicely. Treat Williams leads this cast, but the series was also a springboard for Emily VanCamp and Chris Pratt.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

For the Book-to-Screen Fan:

Cedar Cove: Fans of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove bestselling novels will love this Hallmark Channel original series. The plot follows Judge Olivia Lockhart as she compassionately hands out justice to the townspeople, while balancing her newfound love life with Jack Griffith. The scenery of the beautiful coastal Washington setting is worth more than a passing glance in this series that stays true to the themes of the original novels.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

For the Deep-Thinking, Second-Guessing, Suspense-Loving Fan:

Lie to Me: Dr. Cal Lightman and his team specialize in reading people’s facial expressions to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying in this psychological drama. Tim Roth and Kelli Williams have an electrifying chemistry as the two lead actors, mixing just enough human emotion into a scientific show to make us really care about the characters. I will warn you, after watching a few of these episodes, you might become a little paranoid the next time you raise your left eyebrow or tug on your earlobe. There’s a lot to be learned from this series, that bases its premise on the actual work of Dr. Paul Ekman.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

For the Socially Conscious, Yet Sappy Fan:

Life Goes On: This was a television milestone in 1989 because the main character, Corky, and the actor who plays him, Chris Burke, has Down Syndrome. As Corky navigates his mainstream school, he makes friends who learn as much from his as they do from their teachers. The series follows the entire Thatcher family, chronicling the parents’ career struggles and the children’s teenage angst, wrapping it up in a heartfelt bow for the viewer who is looking for some feel-good television.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

Announcement from the Director

Art Prints No Longer Circulating

We regret to announce that as of today, May 26, 2017, BPL will no longer be circulating our collection of art prints to the public. As custodians of your tax dollars, in a time of increased uncertainty concerning funding for libraries, we have to look at all of the services we provide to our patrons and evaluate them honestly. As of this writing, the total circulation of our art prints in 2017—that is, the number of times a patron has checked out an item from the collection—amounts to .15% of our total circulation. Add in the cost of art prints, which is often more than 10 times that of books or DVDs, and it becomes apparent that the cost-benefit ratio does not support a sustained collection. Simply stated, BPL feels that the money allocated for the purchase of art prints, and the space that the art prints occupy, could be put to better use.

For those of you wondering what will happen to our current collection of art prints, the library is planning to host an art and book sale at a currently unspecified date later this summer. For an opportunity to purchase your favorite prints, please check back with this blog, or follow us on social media for updates.

If you are currently in possession of one of our art prints, you may keep it until its current due date as usual.

Thank you,

Kyle Burkett
Director, BPL

Program Highlight

Summer Reading for Kids

By Children's Librarian Brenda Anderson

The Bremen Public Library is the place to be this summer! We will have activities to keep you from being bored during the 76 days of summer vacation.

Children who have not been to kindergarten yet have a program on Wednesdays in June and July from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Stories will be told using puppets, songs and skits designed to entertain and enlighten.

School-age children have a program on Thursdays in June and July at 1 to 2 p.m. designed to stimulate curiosity and combat boredom with hands-on activities such as giant marble runs, blanket forts, spaghetti noodle and marshmallow towers. If you’re unable to come to the programs, it’s okay! There will activities to do in the Children’s Department every day this summer. And you can still read!

Reading is the main objective this summer. We have lots of new series, fun picture books, and graphic novels that are just waiting to be checked out. The goal is read (or have read to you) 20 picture books or 7 chapter books by mid-July. If possible, you want to read even more because we’ll assign you to one of four teams competing to see which team can read the most this summer. The four teams this year are: Ants, Beavers, Hornets and Prairie Dogs.

Accelerated Reader tests can be taken at the Bremen Public Library this summer for students who have just finished grades 2-5. These will count for the school’s summer AR program. And you can read whatever book level you want during the summer.

Barnes and Noble has a summer reading journal that you can pick up at the library when you sign up for our reading program. Take the completed journal to Barnes and Noble and pick out a free book. That means the books you read can count for three different reading programs -- bonus!

The town-wide scavenger hunt this summer will find us looking for a polar bear with a blue Hawaiian shirt. His name is Larry the Traveling Library Bear. He will be in window of a business in Bremen during the months of June and July. Each week he will be in different window of a restaurant, bank, store, or office. Remember where you see him and tell us where you found him. If you are correct, we will give you a piece of candy.

Since our theme this summer is “Build a Better World,” we will have passports for everyone who signs up. Participating in programs and completing a variety of activities listed earns a stamp in your passport. So don’t forget to bring your passport with you to the library.

Another fun activity this summer is our version of Flat Stanley. We flattened Larry the Traveling Library Bear -- just kidding -- we took his picture and you can check him out and take him with you on adventures. Post photos of yourself with him on social media using #FlatLarry.

Library Service

Homebound Delivery Brings the Library to You!

By Melissa Nunez, Adult Department Assistant

Love to read but can't come to the library? Did you know that the library will come to you?  Bremen residents who are physically unable to make the trip to the library due to age, disability, or infirmity are eligible for free, direct-to-your-door deliveries every two weeks! At Bremen Public Library we value our community and strive to make sure every resident has access to books, as well as audio books and music.

Whether you're under short term restrictions or permanently unable to travel, we are happy to deliver directly to you, totally free of charge, for as long as you need our homebound services.  Those who are able to access the Bremen Public Library website can browse the online catalog to reserve their own materials or our staff are happy to make selections for you based on your preferences.

If you or someone you care for lives in Bremen, Indiana and needs this service, give us a call today to get started. The only requirement is a library card and we can help with that, too. Let us serve you!

Book Club Chat

Digging to America by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler’s Digging to America was the chosen title for the Bremen Reader’s May 17 book discussion. Tyler introduces two vastly different families at an airport as they each await the arrival of their adopted Korean daughters. As the babies grow older, we see the changing dynamics of these families and the stereotypes they face that are not only inflicted by outsiders, but by themselves as well. The Donaldsons, a typical white American family, are insistent on keeping their daughter’s Korean heritage and traditions at the forefront of her life, while the Yazdans, an Iranian American family encourages the American assimilation of their daughter. The matriarch of the Yazdan family, Maryam, offers a unique prospective of an immigrant who neither feels truly American nor fully Iranian. As she embarks on a romantic relationship with the patriarch of the Donaldson family, their cultural differences cause just enough conflicts to keep the reader turning the pages. As the Donaldsons and Yazdans grow closer over the years, Tyler provides an interesting glimpse into the insecurities of motherhood, friendship, and family.

The Bremen Readers gave this novel 3.5 out of 5 stars. There were definitely some humorous passages and it was agreed that Maryam was probably the most interesting and complex character. Watching the two mothers as they competed with each other and supported each other was an interesting way to highlight the cultural differences Tyler was addressing. Overall, this was worth a quick summer read.

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

Program Highlight

Build a Better Career at BPL this Summer!

By Shelli Kauffman, head of adult services at Bremen Public Library

Has it been awhile since you’ve had to fine tune your resume? Are you wondering what to say in your next job interview that will set you apart from the other candidates? Maybe you’re looking in your closet, wondering what to wear to that interview. Bremen Public Library wants to help you with our Build a Better Career program during the month of June!

On June 6 at 9:30, a representative from Work One will be at the library to help you build your resume. This is a hands-on work session that will end with you walking out of the building with a completed resume that is ready for you to hand to potential employers.

We will follow up the resume building workshop with an interview workshop on June 13 at 9:30. There will be mock interview questions presented to you and tips on how to make yourself memorable and impressive.

Once you are feeling confident about your potential interviews, we will end the month with a clothing give away, providing professional, interview appropriate clothing to those in need. This will take place June 29, 30, and July 1 in the meeting room. We have been collecting clothes over the last few months from community members and will continue to do so throughout the month of June.

Recommended Title

Hidden Figures

By Lisa Bixel, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

Taking you on a roller coaster of emotions, the movie Hidden Figures, which is based on the inspiring true story of three African American women, delves into the racism of the 1960s and the dedication of the lives of three women striving to fit in and make their marks at NASA.

Hidden Figures follows the lives of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson, who are some of the greatest minds to grace NASA. They can outthink most—if not all—of the men in this NASA think tank but still have to sprint a half a mile to use the designated bathroom and make coffee in a pot labeled "Colored."

From WWII through the Civil Rights movement, these ladies worked for NASA, crunching numbers to help launch astronauts into space. These exceptionally talented women were utilized during the labor shortages of WWII. Their talents helped them climb the ladder of success at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory. Rising above their persecutions and trials, such as gender and bathroom discrimination and family plights, these women showed NASA and the world that they had the Right Stuff.

This uplifting movie showcases the undeniable benefits of friendship, dedication and teamwork and sends a positive message of hope.

The Bremen Public Library has this not only in DVD, but we also have the book, e-book and e-audiobook! Come and check out any format to be enlightened, educated and entertained!

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

Click here to see if this BOOK is currently available for check-out!