Adult & Teen Services News

In April, as poets have for centuries, we’ll celebrate poetry. For our next Books Plus discussion program, we’ll be highlighting sonnets—one of the shortest and most versatile of poetric forms. Did you know what King James I, Prime Minister William Gladstone, American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, President John Quincy Adams, and Edith Wharton all had in common? They loved to write sonnets!

Now you don’t need to compose any of your own, but if you have a favorite that you’d love to read aloud, please come and share. Or sit back and let language flow around you.  We’ll explore this little song’s history, discuss its variations, how contemporary poets have made it their own, and why a sonnet is still a sonnet even if it doesn’t rhyme.

We hope you can join us this coming Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. in discovering anew one of our best creations--the sonnet.  All are welcome and refreshments are provided. More information about this and upcoming Books Plus discussions below.

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Are you in the market for a new washing machine or maybe even a new car?  Not sure which model will be the better buy?  The library offers a powerful consumer research tool by providing you access to the Consumer Reports website.  ConsumerReports.org provides members with access to expert, unbiased ratings of over 5,000 products.  The website also provides product reviews, expert buying advice, product comparisons, and reviews from other users like you.  ConsumerReports.org reviews include cars, household appliances, electronics, home and garden products, and products for your kids and babies.  

Do you want to keep up on the latest consumer product news such as recalls and safety tips?   ConsumerReports.org has the most current relevant news always displayed on its homepage.  You can also sign up for the free email newsletter.  Consumer Reports operates the world’s largest product testing and research lab.  On the website you can read or watch videos of how they conduct their many different tests.  ConsumerReports.org also includes a home remodeling and improvement guide that offers expert advice on keeping your project on schedule and on budget. Read more »

Adult, high school and middle school readers are encouraged to participate in our annual Winter Reading Program. It's easy to enter - read a book, submit an entry. Every week, winning names will be drawn to receive prizes, and a final prize will be given at the end. The more books you read, the more chances you'll have to win.

Enter anytime between January 2 and February 25 at any library location - Main, Ellettsville or the Bookmobile - or online.

Need help finding a great winter read? If you haven't already, check out MCPL's online book lists. Whether you are craving contemporary British novels, non-fiction about cold places or for a little of everything try a book that library staff loved in 2012. Check out a book today and escape!

MCPL is experimenting with a self-service scanning station that provides an easy way to convert paper documents, photos and drawings into a digital format.

The "Simple Scan" station is an easy to use touch-screen scanning device that scans, saves, and sends all your documents, photos, magazines and more. The Simple Scan Station can automatically auto-crop, auto-straighten and auto-orient each page scanned.

You can save your scanned item in the following formats:

• PDF's
• Searchable PDF
• Word
• TIFF
• JPEG

After you decide how you want your scanned item saved, Simple Scan's touch screen guides you through several ways to save or send it including:

• Save to USB
• Send to email
• Send to Google Docs

We would like library patrons to try it out and help us decide whether we should keep the stations. Stop by the Elletsville Branch or the Main Library (second floor Reference Desk) to try one out today.