Do You Want to Help Set a World Record?

Has it been your deepest desire to set a world record?  Or be part of a team that challenges a Guinness World Record?  If so, then the Hancock County Public Library in Greenfield, IN has an offer you don't want to miss!  HCPL is trying to set a new World Record for the most people balancing a book on their heads at the same time!  The current record is 998 people so they are looking for at least 999 people to help them break the record!  What a great goal for a public library – do you want to help them set a new World Record?

Join others at the Greenfield Central High School football field at 810 North Broadway in Greenfield on Saturday, May 30th at 10 AM and plan to stay a couple of hours as the attempt to break the record comes together.  Check out the flyer for details about registering and what to bring with you to help set a new World Record and be recorded in the next edition of the Guinness Book of Records!  

Friends of the Library Debut The Secret Snowflake Shop

The holidays are on their way and it’s time to shop for gifts!  Sometimes it’s hard for children to shop for the special adults in their lives.  Our Friends of the Library have that covered!  But shh!  It’s a SECRET!  Parents, grandparents, teachers, and daycare providers, cover your eyes and ears!  This is for kids!  

The Friends of the Library are hosting The Secret Snowflake Shop, a wonderful, magical place where children can, all on their own [NO related adults allowed!], purchase holiday gifts for the significant adults in their lives:  parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 AM to 4 PM.  At a bargain cost of $3 each, there will be a variety of gift options available for children to select from. Children may bring their list of recipients for whom they want to buy gifts, come into The Secret Snowflake Shop, located in the Hoffman Room on the 1st Floor, select gifts with the help of some wonderful Friends, have them wrapped and pay for them on their way out, simple and fun!  Please register children ages 2 to 12 to reserve a spot for them:  http://www.zionsville.lib.in.us/hmmpl/page/events 

Parents will receive a phone call to confirm the child's registration, find out how many gifts the child plans to buy and for what gender adult so the Friends can plan to have enough gifts available. 
 
While the kids are shopping in The Secret Snowflake Shop, parents and others may visit the Friends of the Library’s Holiday Boutique right nearby where they will find well-priced, quality holiday books, other items and handmade crafts for their children and other friends and family.  

Holiday Boutique Books and Handmade Crafts

Fun handmade tutus for children

Silent Auction Items

There will also be a Silent Auction with great items to bid on that will begin on Dec. 6 and run for a week! Highest bids by Friday, Dec. 12 at 5 PM will win the items. Some of the items include a couple of Italian leather purses, AMC Theater gift cards, autographed novels, golf balls & tees, a leather travel wallet, a set of all 7 hardcover Harry Potter novels, and a "Frozen"-inspired pure silver necklace.

Pure Silver Necklace in Silent Auction

All of the Silent Auction items and a sample of the items for sale in the Holiday Boutique are currently on display in the large display cases at the Main Fifth Street entrance to the Library.
 
Finally, visit the Scholastic Book Sale set up near the Youth Services Reference Desk through Sunday, Dec. 7th.  Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, proceeds from this sale help our Youth Services Department receive hundreds of free books to add to the Library’s collection and to use as reading program prizes.

Scholastic Book Fair

You’ll Look Amazing at Brick St. Market!

Just like Youth Librarian Jessica, you too can don silly glasses and a fabulous hat at the Library’s You Look Amazing booth at Brick Street Market Saturday, May 17. Stop by the children’s area from 10 AM to 5 PM at the corner of Pine and Main Streets and start dressing up!

What fun you can have at our booth this year! Even if shopping for unique handmade items is not for you, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to look #ZPLAmazing and have your photo taken with your friends and family! Plus, you could win our Family Gift Basket featuring a little dress-up fun and $50 Zionsville Chamber of Commerce gift certificate! Plus, lots of other goodies too (AKA: books), of course!

We have costumes for kids of all ages, including kids at heart! Drop by anytime during Brick St. Market from 10 AM to 5 PM. Look for our green canopy and our tower of costumes! Then, use our #ZPLAmazing hashtag to share your experience and encourage your friends to join you!

We’ll also have information about Summer Reading, how to get a Library Card, and the Friends Book, Craft and Bake Sale – taking place at the Library that day from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, May 18 from 1 to 5 PM. 

Wow! There’s a lot happening at the Library!

We’ll print out all of your #ZPLAmazing pictures next week and make them available for you to pick up at the Library. While you’re here, make sure your Library card is up-to-date and find out more about Summer Reading! It starts June 2 and that’s just around the corner.

We're Upgrading to Better Serve You!

The Library’s Evergreen Indiana catalog will receive a makeover this weekend that will bring new features to our online catalog.

To complete the upgrade, our online catalog, self-check stations, and all personal online Library accounts will be unavailable between 5 PM Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17.

The Library will remain open during our three-day upgrade. All materials may be checked out in-person at either of our Circulation Desks Saturday, February 15; Sunday, February 16; and Monday, February 17. Holds will also be available for pickup.

Our downloadable audio book and eBook service will continue without interruption during this time. If you haven't tried this online feature yet, now might be the time to log-in and explore our digital collection!

Items returned during our upgrade time may not be checked in until Tuesday, February 18, but our staff will treat everything as if they were returned Friday, February 14. A small bonus!

Thank you for your understanding during this short break in our Evergreen Indiana online service.

We look forward to providing you with a better Library experience!

It’s Food for Fines Time!

February 1 – 28 is a great time at the Library, it's the month our customers can erase their overdue fines and benefit local families in need.

During the month of February, each non-perishable food item donated at one of our Circulation Desks can be used to erase $1 in overdue fines* owed to Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library.  *Please read our small print below!   

All donations will benefit the Zionsville Food Pantry at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, 4775 W. 116th St. 

Launched by the Library in 1997, our Food for Fines event can’t help but make everyone involved smile. The generosity of Zionsville residents is demonstrated each year, and mounds of food are donated for the needy! 

Over 600 families seek assistance from the food pantry annually, and Zionsville residents play a key role in providing some of the thousands of bags of food used to fill that need.  Now is the best time to donate. 

With numerous food drives occurring in the fall and spring, pantry shelves can become bare during February when donations drop off.  Yet, pantry volunteers must plan ahead for the Spring Break holiday when requests for assistance increase from families who normally receive some meals at school. 

Needed items include canned meats, boxed dinner mixes, canned meals, cereal, peanut butter, rice mixes, fruit juices, and baking supplies including oil, flour and sugar. Consideration is also given to families with food allergies, so any items that are gluten free, or do not contain nuts or dairy are also welcome. Click here for a full list of suggested donations. 

All area residents are invited to drop off donations at the Library, erase their overdue fines, and help the numerous families within our community who need assistance feeding their families! 

*Here's our small print: Only overdue fines owed to Hussey-Mayfield Public Library can be erased during this program.  Lost, damaged and collection fees are not eligible.  Fines owed to other Evergreen libraries cannot be paid with food donations. We cannot accept expired food, sample sizes or items in glass containers.  Please check expiration dates before donating any food items. 

Library Welcomes New Director

Slipping into the Director’s role at Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library is something Kerry Green looked forward to from the moment he heard the position was open.

“I’m excited about coming here to this Library,” Green said. “It’s considered a very good library.”

The former assistant director at Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library spent 21 years preparing for his new role.  Moving up through the ranks at the Plainfield Library taught Green the importance of customer service. “My belief about what makes a library great is that it provides great customer service, and that comes from a great staff,” Green said.

Successfully leading an established, well-respected library like Hussey-Mayfield will have to begin with getting to know the staff and the community they serve he explained. “I’m coming in at the beginning to learn and to understand,” said Green. To start, he plans to get to know the Library staff and how they serve the community. “I’m excited about getting to know the staff. When you have a library this good, you have to have an enthusiastic staff; and this seems like a very happy place,” said Green.

Since Green and his wife of 30 years are looking forward to relocating to Zionsville, he plans to begin attending as many community events as possible so he can become more familiar with the community and local residents. ZionsvilleChamber of Commerce meetings are at the top of his agenda. He would like to introduce himself to local business owners and managers, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Assistant Director Mary Rueff, who served as acting director the past few months, is looking forward to getting to working with Green. Over her tenure, she has worked with him in several capacities and respected the man and his ideas. “I think we’ll make a great team and he will enjoy his new community,” said Rueff.

Green comes to Zionsville with a breadth of experience having held positions in several library departments including circulation, adult reference and information technology. “I have a knack for troubleshooting,” Green said.

He is also a member of Indiana Library Federation, a state library association, past president of Indiana Online Users Group, a group dedicated to promoting technology innovations at local libraries, and a former teacher at several Indiana colleges and universities. Green’s first day as Hussey-Mayfield’s Director was January 2.

Silent Auction at the Library!!

Today - May 4

Are you ready for Mother’s Day, graduation parties, upcoming birthdays or just want to treat yourself to something special?  Allow the Library's Relay for Life Team to simplify your shopping this year with our silent auction of four magnificent gift packages. Stop by the second floor circulation desk to take a look at the items and place your bid.  The items featured range from a handmade tote bag and books, to a dozen cupcakes from Confectioneiress.  I have my eye on the assortment of gift cards (yes, Starbucks is one of them!) or maybe those beautiful pearl earrings are just what I need!  Don’t take my word for it, stop in and see for yourself all the goodies these packages contain!

All money raised from the auction will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Winners will be notified by Monday, May 6.

Relay for Life is such a fantastic community event and we are proud to have been a part of it for more than 5 years.   Anyone is welcome to join our team – you do not have to be a library employee!

Please visit our Relay website for more information about joining and other upcoming fundraising events. 

Donations can be made online to the team or an individual team member. 

So, while you are checking out that book, check out our silent auction as well! 

By Jackie J.