Tax Forms and Tax Help Available

Taxpayers can pick up copies of many common state and federal individual tax forms (including IRS 1040, IRS 1040-EZ, IT-40 Booklets and IT-40EZ Booklets) on the second floor of the Zionsville Library.

IRS Forms and Publications are also available online.

Indiana forms can be found at http://www.in.gov/dor/3489.htm. The Indiana Department of Revenue is encouraging Hoosier taxpayers to visit INfreefile to see if they qualify for free federal and Indiana tax preparation and e-filing.

Free AARP Tax-Aid for taxpayers with low and middle incomes (with special attention to those aged 60 and older) will be offered at the Library on Thursdays, 11:30 AM - 4 PM, starting February 9 and continuing through April 5. Registration is required. Call 317-873-8341 or register online.

Another Teen Book Review

With so much to do over the past few weeks, I have not managed to read a lot of books, but I was able to squeeze in some quality reading with Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising by Jason Henderson. If we have talked, then you know I am a big fan of conflict in books. Why? Because conflict is what makes books interesting. The more, the better! I figured a book with the name Van Helsing (there’s a movie with the same name) would have tons of action in it, and I was right!

Alex is 14 and has no idea he’s a descendant of a famous vampire hunter. Alex attends programs that teach folks how to survive a night on a mountain without food and rescue skiing in the Alps. He is kicked out of more than one boarding school until he lands in a school on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. That’s the same lake Percy and Mary Shelley, along with Lord Byron, vacationed at when Mary wrote Frankenstein! This book satisfies the need for action and to tie a pretty little ribbon around it, Jason even managed to work in zombies. Yup, the slow and not very smart ones that will stop at nothing to eat your brains. Gone are the sparkling, irresistible vampires of today’s modern teen writing (Twilight by Stephenie Meyer) and in come the hardcore, violent, scary, bloodsucking vampires complete with a lesson on Lord Byron and Mary Shelley. This is the first of the series with the second to hit the library shelves in a few months. If Van Helsing is not on the shelves, you may want to scare yourself with Darren Shan’s books or perhaps give graphic novels a try with Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer or Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer and the Great Puppet Theater by writer Van Jensen and artist Dusty Higgins.

Year of the Dragon

2012 is the Year of the Dragon. Dragons (people born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) are passionate, brave, enthusiastic, shrewd, tenacious and artistic, but they can also be vindictive, resentful and foolhardy with money.

Below are 6 lucky ways to celebrate.

Watch one of the Library's 9 new DVDs in Chinese (with English subtitles). Titles include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Red Cliff, and Raise the Red Lantern.

Learn some simple Chinese words and phrases. Rocket Languages offers online instruction in 11 different languages (including Chinese), and it's all free to Library cardholders.

Download an eBook from the Indiana Digital Consortium using Overdrive and your Library Card. A Heart for Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissident, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free China's Daughters by Chai Ling, commander-in-chief of the student protesters in Tianamen Square, and The Foremost Good Fortune by Susan Conley are two good choices.

Serve a traditional Chinese meal. Kylie Kwong's Simple Chinese Cooking (641.5951) has mouth-watering pictures, recipes and step-by-step instructions. Helen Chen's Chinese Home Cooking (641.5954) while longer, is no less luscious.

Read and digest On China by former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.

Laugh-out-loud over J. Maarten Troost's comic misadventures in Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Squid.

2012 Caldecott Winners!

I am so excited about this year's Caldecott winner! Having looked at this title a couple of months ago, I have it slated for an upcoming preschool storytime here at the library. I love the way the facial expressions and body language communicate emotion in this wordless picture book. The illustrations are just fun & attractive, too. So, it's with great enjoyment that I post the cover of this year's Caldecott winner and announce that HMMPL owns this lovely title! You'll want to check it out.

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka

Three honors were also named :

Blackout by John Rocco, author and  illustrator:

 



A unique picture book, Grandpa Green written and illustrated by Lane Smith






And finally, Me ... Jane by Patrick McDonnell, a story about Jane Goodall.

And the Newbery Goes to....

 Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos!

 Click here to find out about the other awards given.

Last November our Mayfield Pics/Mock Newbery group reviewed books published in 2011 that we had read and that could possibly be chosen for the Newbery award.  We decided that most of the books we had read were not contenders. Many were not appropriate for the age level of our group of 3rd through 5th graders.  

The only book I confessed to reading was "Dead End in Norvelt".  I was not sure how it would go over since the main character had  dysfunctional feuding parents and the premise of the story revolved around a boy with nose bleeds avoiding being grounded by taking notes and typing for an old woman who prepares obituaries for the local newspaper. I thought it was a great book for guys who need a lot of twisted tails to keep one's attention.

I screamed when I found out that it won. First because I had read it and second because we have it at our library in the Youth Services department (it is currently check out). It also won the Scott O'Dell award for Historical Fiction . Last year we had read dozens of possible contenders and the winner, "Moon Over Manifest" written by Clare Vanderpool, was not even on our radar. It turned out to be a great book.  How do they find these books and how do they get on all the Mock Newbery lists?

One of the Newbery Honor books was "Inside Out & Back Again" written by Thanhha Lai. I love this book. It was written in verse and very easy to read.  It details the challenges of growing up both as a foreigner learning English  and living in a culture difficult to understand. Many of the challenges with peers are universal regardless of culture.  It would be and interesting book discussion. The other Honor book, "Breaking Stalin's Nose" written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin I have not read. All these books have something in common,  history through the eyes of youth.  Great choices.

Congrats to the Newbery winning author Jack Gantos! 

Friday Fun

As you wind down to the weekend, pause for some book appreciation.
 

First, it's just about new Newbery time. The 2012 Newbery Award winner (and the Caldecott and the Sibert and the Coretta Scott King and the Geisel and ...) will be announced from the ALA Midwinter Conference this coming Monday, January 23rd, starting at the early hour of 7:45am. You won't want to miss this webcast!

Second. In the meantime and for random enjoyment, Travis over at the 100 Scopes Notes blog is in the process of giving past Newbery winner covers a new look. While you wait for the new, you can re-appreciate the old. 



Third and finally ... there's actual evidence of what we've all suspected happens at libraries and bookstores when they close for night. Lisa & Sean Ohlenkamp of Type Bookstore in Toronto along with a crew of volunteers caught the action on a video that is worthy of celebrating the old and rich medium we know as the printed book. (Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for linking.) Enjoy!

Open for MLK Day, and Honoring Him!

Yes, we are open our regular hours on Monday, January 16, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

In observance, we are having a Leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. program for Grades K-3 from 2-3pm. Register online (www.zionsville.lib.in.us) or come in and join us in the youth services department.

Also, check out our many adult and youth materials on Dr. King, his life and legacy (pictured, Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport).

Getting Organized in the New Year: A New Look for Youth Music CDs

After we pack away the holiday decorations, it's always nice to do a little cleaning out, a little re-thinking about how we organize ourselves. No different here at the library!

On your next visit, check out our new display for the youth department music CDs, thanks to a grant from our Friends of the Library! The CDs have moved into the Audio Visual section of the 1st floor, across from the Blu-Ray DVDs, and are more prominently displayed. We are excited!

New fitness gear? We can help

Did you receive a fitness gift that you have no idea how to use? Your library can help!

We have instructional books and DVDs on all types of fitness equipment.

A Fitness Ball is a great piece of equipment. Just by sitting on it, the unstable surface of the ball makes you recruit core muscles. We have books, such as the series by Colleen Craig that will help you explore the uses of the ball. Our DVD collection includes a great one by Karen Voight – Slim Toning on a Ball.

An Exercise Band is a sheet of latex material (non-latex is also available) that is made in different thicknesses. The thicker the band, the more resistance it will provide. We have the Powerband Workout, and Tone Trouble Zones DVD that use these portable devices to add resistance without using bulky equipment. If you are a frequent traveler, an exercise band is a great little tool to throw in your suit case.

You may have never seen a Magic Circle before. It sounds rather mystical, but it is a fitness apparatus invented by Joseph Pilates, creator of the Pilates technique. It is a circle of flexible metal that is padded on two sides. By squeezing the circle between your legs or hands you work your thigh, chest or upper arm muscles to develop strength and muscle tone. Pilates by Rael Isacowitz has a section that explains several uses for the magic circle. Also look for Classic Pilates Technique: The Magic Circle Mat series DVD.


The Kettlebell is a hand weight that is shaped like a cannonball with a handle. This tool is effective in toning the whole body. It is used to perform explosive moves that combine strength training, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility training. It provides a shorter workout, because you are exercising multiple parts of the body at once. Learn about them in Kettlebells for Dummies and Kettlebell Goddess.

Good luck using your new equipment. We hope that our resources will help you meet your fitness goals for 2012.

SAT and ACT Test Prep

Your parents keep talking to you about your future and college. It’s their job. Your job, along with homework, cleaning your room, and an array of other assorted chores, is to take either the SAT or the ACT and do well. Here at the library, we also want you to do well on these exams. One of the best things for you to do is to practice. I mean, you don’t run a marathon without warming up and stretching first, right? This is the same thing. If you haven’t already, high schoolers and some middle schoolers should start taking practice tests, looking at sample questions, and becoming familiar with the format of the SAT and ACT. You’ll take the big exam during a four hour chunk on a Saturday. Four hours of testing! You’ll have to get there early to check in, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get ready and eat a good breakfast. You might even be waking up earlier on your scheduled test day than you would for a normal school day. Let the library help prepare you for your test. During our SAT/ACT Test Prep Program on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m., the teen librarian will show you how to use Inspire, one of our online databases, to assist you in preparing yourself for your big day. Plus, we’ll even show you how to find the college or university that is right for you and cruise a website to get you cash for college. Hurry! Registration is required and spaces are limited.

Awesome Anime Event

Candy sushi! Now that I have your attention… creating and eating candy sushi is the activity we did last year for our Anime the Day Away event. This year, there will be drinks and popcorn along with the highly acclaimed, Japan Media Arts Festival grand prize winning movie, “Millennium Actress.” The movie takes a television camera crew through the life of famed actress Chiyoko Fuhiwara, who has been in recluse for more than 30 years after ending her acting career. Now, if you have talked to me about anime or manga, you know they are not my strong points. Since we only offer this program once a year, I wanted to bring anime lovers more than candy sushi, so I made a phone call to the experts. The Anime Club of IUPUI is coming in to take over the reins after the movie. The Anime Club will provide a one-of-a-kind, Jeopardy-style board featuring manga and anime trivia, complete with a set of Jeopardy-style buzzers! I don’t know about you, but I think this is really exciting! No one wants me to create trivia for manga and anime (because I have very limited knowledge of the subjects), but Courtney from the Anime Club has a range of knowledge that will blow your mind. Teens in grades six and up won’t want to miss our Anime the Day Away event. It’s on Monday, January 16 (a no-school day) from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Registration is recommended (so I don’t run out of popcorn and drinks). See you Monday!

As 2012 begins, the Youth Services Department is exploring and traveling around the world with our One World, Many Stories Winter Reading Program! Read aloud or listen for at least 15 minutes a day for 21 days, and the first 200 to complete their 21 days will receive either an Inflatable World Globe or a Holographic Friendship Ruler. The program runs from January 3rd through February 29th.

You can stop by the library for a log sheet and to register OR ... if you care to, register and keep track of your time online! Parents, you can easily keep track of your children's participation when you sign up using the "Adult or Family Winter Reading" link.

Then check out our new display area of global reads! You'll find some great material for reading aloud!


Also in honor of One World, Many Stories and winter reading, we're exploring geography with this month's I Spy. You don't want to miss it!

And that's not all! Are you or do you have a first through fifth grader? Join us this Thursday, January 12th from 4:30 to 5:30 for an Around the World program of games, crafts, and stories from all over the world! To register, you can go online, give us a call (317-873-8342), or sign up at the Youth Services Reference Desk!


If you're not, alas, able to make it to the library or if you want to experience a fantastic, free, online global reading resource, head over to the International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) website. A group effort, the ICDL has full text children's books available to read online.

You can browse by age, length, language, type, and even cover color! Many of the books come from other countries and are available in multiple languages. ICDL is a treasure trove of culture & story.


Whatever your age or reading preferences, we can help you expand your horizons and imagination in the new year! 

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

To commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library is proud to present Indiana author and historian Ray Boomhower on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Lora Hussey Room. Mr. Boomhower will talk about his book, "Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary," and how Kennedy's unplanned speech upon hearing of Dr. King's death on the evening of April 4, 1968 is credited with helping to keep Indianapolis free from the violent riots that erupted in other cities that night. To learn more about Robert F. Kennedy, visit the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

“It is the ideal of freedom which underlines our great concern for civil rights. Nations around the world look to us for leadership not merely by strength of arms, but by the strength of our convictions. We not only want, but we need, the free exercise of rights by every American. We need the strength and talent of every American. We need, in short, to set an example of freedom for the world- and for ourselves.”

-Robert F. Kennedy

On Monday, January 16, 2012, from 2-3pm, bring your kindergarten- through third-graders to the Mayfield North and South Rooms at the Library for the program, “Leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”, where they will learn about the leadership of Dr. King through activities and stories focused on the pivotal events of his life. Registration is required.

After the program, continue to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by doing something helpful for your community and your fellow man. The Corporation for National and Community Service MLK Day of Service encourages you to “make it a day on, not a day off.” United We Serve offers an online resource for finding as well as creating volunteer opportunities in your community. The Library offers many volunteer opportunities, too.

Now through April 15, 2012, you can watch and listen to a holographic recreation of Robert F. Kennedy’s famous 1968 speech in Indianapolis when you go to the “You Are There” exhibit at Indiana State Historical Society. I attended this exhibit and found it remarkable and moving.

Visit the The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change to learn more about “…one of the most important figures of the 20th century, not only for African-Americans but for all those seeking freedom, justice, equality and peace.” Visit the Library to see book displays in support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and related topics. The books are here year-round, of course, so you can continue to learn about the leadership and vision of Dr. King every day as you nurture your own and offer your skills to your community.

RECYCLED CELL PHONES = HAPPY SOLDIERS

It’s that time of year when many people get new cell phones…and what do you do with your old one?
RECYCLE IT at the library!!!!

Recycling Fact #1) An estimated 100 to 130 million cell phones are
no longer being used, many just sitting in storage.*

Thanks to YOU, our customers, the library donated 227 phones this past summer to Cell Phones for Soldiers. Those donations then generated 13,620 minutes of free international calling time for our troops. The opportunity for soldiers to talk to their loved ones is priceless, so please continue supporting this wonderful organization…and tell your friends!!!

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to continue its mission to provide troops with FREE calls home through generous monetary contributions and the recycling of used mobile phones. Used mobile phones from all service providers are accepted. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes 12,000 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

Recycling Fact #2) According to the EPA, if Americans recycled
100 million phones, we could save enough upstream energy to power
more than 194,000 U.S. households for a year.*

This program is a great extension of the library’s green initiative. For additional Hussey Mayfield Memorial Public Library green information and materials, please check out our Green Spot display in the non-fiction area on the 2nd floor, where we often highlight green library programs and materials like these in our catalog.

We will continue to accept donations year round. Please make your donation at the display in the 5th Street lobby and remember the following before you recycle your cellular phone:

1) Terminate your service
2) Clear the phone’s memory of contacts and other stored information. Go to www.recyclewirelessphones.com to learn how to do this;
3) Remove your phone’s SIM card, if it has one. Phones that operate on GSM networks use SIM cards. If you are not sure if your phone uses a SIM card or if you need assistance removing your SIM card, contact your wireless provider.

Recycling Fact #3) If consumers were able to reuse those 100 million
cell phones, the environmental savings would be even greater, saving
enough energy to power more than 370,000 U.S. homes each year.*

Donated phones are sent to Michigan-based ReCellular for recycling. For every donated phone valued at just $5, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to deployed troops. In seven years, the registered 501(c)(3) has provided troops with more than 2 million pre-paid calling cards, which equals 114 million minutes of FREE talk time. The organization has raised more than $7 million in donations and collected more than 8.3 million cellular devices.

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS, INC.
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military. Based in Norwell, Mass., CPFS was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. From the recycling of used mobile phones and cash donations, the organization has raised more than $7 million, collected more than 8.3 million cell phones and provided troops overseas with more than 114 million minutes of free talk time. For more information, visit Cell Phones for Soldiers

*All information from Cell Phones for Soldiers