Resolve to Take Advantage of My Library

By Georgia Mergler

Community Relations Manager

The recent descent of festive decorations upon every major retailer has me thinking about the holiday season, and more specifically the New Year. I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. We all know by the first week of February most people have long misplaced their shiny new gym membership cards and well-intentioned diets have gone by the boards. What I am a proponent of, however is year-end resolutions. The logic goes like this. If I can resolve to make a positive life change and am able to sustain that change through the stressful and fattening goodie-filled months of November and December, then that change is probably one that will stick.

This year, I’m feeling pretty good about my health, so I’m going to focus on my mind and try to learn something new. But what? Luckily the Washington-Centerville Public Library provides a vast array of possible learning opportunities. In fact, a quick scan of our website wwww.wclibrary.info turned up several opportunities in just the next week. If I wanted to, I could learn to:

• Use MS Office – I’ve got this one covered, but highly recommend it for the beginning computer user.

• Download an eAudiobook – A great skill for anyone who’s feeling tapped out by iTunes and wants to access some free digital content via the Library’s Digital Collection.

• Use MS Powerpoint – I consider this learning opportunity a gift to anyone who has sat through a boring, non-visual lecture on any topic.

• Plan for retirement – Retirement seems like a long way off, but I’d like to envision myself retired on a beach somewhere and since that is going to take some cash, planning does seem like an important step.

• Raise a reader – These early literacy workshops show parents how to select books that can help prepare their kids for school.

• Bully-proof my child – A quick self-defense course taught by a local martial arts studio teaches kids how to assertively hold their own. I’m definitely reserving a spot for my two kids in that one!

The best news is that all these learning opportunities are free, so I can save my money for holiday shopping! With all these possibilities, I should have no problem learning something new before the New Year and I invite you to join me.

For more information on Washington-Centerville Library visit www.wclibrary.info.