Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Call for Entries

Writers around the world are encouraged to capture the spirit of famed Dayton columnist Erma Bombeck by submitting an entry in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition, sponsored by Washington-Centerville Public Library in conjunction with the University of Dayton. The contest, now held every two years, was established in 1997 and pays tribute to hometown writer Erma Bombeck, one of the greatest humorists of the 20th Century. The contest opens for online entries ($15 entry fee) at 8 AM (EST) Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and closes at 7:30 AM (EST) Tuesday, February 14, 2012. Entries should be 450 words or fewer and cannot be published (either print or online) more than once in the calendar year 2011 (personal blog posts are allowed).
One Dayton, Ohio-area winner and one global winner will be awarded a $500 prize in each of two categories – “Humor” and “Human Interest” for a total of four prizes. One entry per person will be accepted and there is no age restriction. All winning essays will be published on the library’s website,
as well as in the Dayton Daily News. The top prize will also include a free registration to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop to be held April 19-21, 2012 (value of $375), at the University of Dayton. The panel of judges includes authors, syndicated columnists, and experienced writers and some entries will receive feedback. Winners will be announced in mid-March with a Celebration event set for April 18, 7 PM, at Centerville Library featuring syndicated columnist and author Tracy Beckerman.

The Procrastinators Shopping Club

By Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager

Washington-Centerville Public Library

       Quick, what’s the biggest shopping day of the year? Black Friday, of course! Wrong. Black Friday doesn’t even make the top five. The biggest shopping day of the year is usually the Saturday before Christmas, unless Christmas falls on a weekend (like this year) and then the biggest shopping day is the Thursday before. You’ve got it, that’s today. So, if you’ve put off your holiday shopping, chances are you’ll be in good company at the mall. Don’t get all Ebenezer Scrooge on me. With the help of resources I found on the Washington-Centerville Public Library’s website, I’ve amassed a procrastinator’s guide to shopping. These sure-fire tips will help you accomplish the task at hand with minimal stress and maximum success. Consider it my gift to you!

1. Give everyone a book – Holiday stress-busting experts say the easiest way to simplify holiday shopping is to get everyone on your list the same thing. And while gray mittens for everyone seem impersonal, you can definitely get a book for everyone that reflects their personal interests. Visit the library’s Fine print blog and online reading lists to find reviews of titles that are hot right now. And for the little ones on your list, our children’s librarians have prepared a great ‘books for kids’ gift list accessible at www.wclibrary.info

2. Do your homework – Before setting out to the mall, spend some time using resources like Consumer Reports online to compare prices, features and reviews of all kinds of products. Doing so will cut down on the time you spend at the mall and you’ll get more objective, credible information than you will from the college-aged seasonal employee helping you at the store. Access Consumer Reports online from the comfort of your own home by visiting www.wclibrary.info/databases/index.asp. Access is free to library cardholders.

3. Go high tech – Nooks, Kindles, iPads, smartphones, oh my. All the “top 10 gifts” lists include one or more of these geeked out gadgets, so I’m thinking you can’t go wrong. They are equally desired by women and men, and have cross generational appeal. That said they can be an intimidating purchase. If you are buying a device for an avid reader, be sure to check out the list of devices compatible with the Library’s collection of free digital books and audios. Our librarians have not only compiled a list of reviews but also tutorials to help the gift receiver get started with their new toy.

There you go. Easy as 1-2-3. For more details on all of the suggestions listed here visit Washington-Centerville Public Library online at www.wclibrary.info . Happy Holidays!

School Closings Don't Always Mean Library Closings

Patrons often assume that the Centerville and Woodbourne Libraries are closed for school holidays like Martin Luther King Day or Presidents Day. Actually, your libraries only close for major holidays. We always try to let patrons know those dates well ahead of time, and holiday closings are always listed on our website.

School closings for inclement weather don't automatically close the library, either! There are several ways to discover if the library is closed due to emergency conditions such as severe weather or power outages.

•The first is to simply call the library at 433-8091 (Centerville) or 435-3700 (Woodbourne) for a recorded message.
•The second way is to check the library's Web site at http://www.wclibrary.info/ where closing information will be posted on the main page.
•And, finally, we also report to WHIO (channel 7), WKEF (channel 22/45), and WDTN (channel 2). If they don't list us on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, we should be included in the closings listed on the station websites--if we're closed.

When the "weather outside is frightful" and the library really is closed, patrons may still enjoy many online services such as 24/7 research assistance and homework help, data bases, and downloading selections from the digital collection!

Library Adds New Play & Learn Stations

Thanks to grants and donations, the library has added two Early Literacy Stations (Play &Learn) each to Woodbourne Library and Centerville Library. These stations are a complete educational solution loaded with 50 educational games for kids ages 2-10. The games reinforce core curricular areas inlcuding reading, math, science, social studies, writing, art and music. The Play &Learn stations offer children a safe, stand-alone computer, not connected to the Internet, that is age-appropriate, engaging, and academically relevant for children.

The stations made their debut at the December 12th "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" program. Drop in and have your kids try their hand at educational games such as:

• Dora's World Adventure
• Giggles Toddler My Musical World
• Kid Works Deluxe
• Math Doodles
• Photo Kit Jr.
• Sesame Street
• Stationery Studio
• World of Goo

The Art of Gift Giving

By Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager 

According to a poll conducted this November by the American Research Group, the average shopper will spend about $650 this holiday season on gifts. Those who have already started their shopping (versus procrastinators like me) will spend slightly more ($714 to be exact). I wish I could say I was simply being budget conscious by waiting until the last minute to start my shopping, but the truth is that my hesitation is more likely the result of not knowing what to get the people on my shopping list.

Each October my parents and in-laws start sending in their requests for ideas of what to get my husband, myself and our kids for Christmas. As good, obedient children (who also loathe post-holiday returns), we comply. There is no reciprocity however. We are left to wrestle with finding the perfect gift for four individuals who insist “Oh, you don’t need to get me anything.” And while I appreciate the “out”, something doesn’t seem quite right about giving your mailman a token present but leaving your own mother high and dry.

I read somewhere you can significantly reduce your holiday shopping stress by getting everyone the same gift. It’s a strategy I might try this year. In fact, Washington-Centerville Public Library has a really nice way to give a gift that lasts, to anyone (or everyone) on your list. On your next library visit, simply take an ornament tag off our Giving Tree, fill it out, and return it with a $25 donation. Kids can also participate with a smaller donation of $1 or $5. Giving Tree tags are also available on the website at www.wclibrary.info. The donation is used to purchase an adult, teen or children’s book for the library’s collection. We will even include a nice name plate for you so each person who checks out this particular book, will know it was purchased in honor of a special someone. Sure, it’s not a present you can wrap and put under the tree, but unlike traditional gifts, this one will serve as a lasting gift that can be enjoyed by not only the one for which you intended, but for an entire community of readers. And that my friend, is gift that keeps on giving long after the holiday hustle and bustle has past.

Our Library Supports the Blue Star Mothers

This story about honoring our veterans was shared by Sue Shay, the library's Adult Programming Coordinator.

"This past week I bundled up our Veterans thank you cards written by kids during our special exhibit last week and delivered them to the site where the Blue Star Mothers are assembling stockings and Christmas packages for our military in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our cards are now nestled in with stockings and other special gifts and are going to an isolated Marine outpost where the men are tasked with finding and detonating buried IEDs, the improvised explosive devices which have caused such horrific damage and injury. How neat is that?

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 19^th, the mothers and other volunteers formed a huge working force in their donated space at the Town & Country Shopping Center. Perhaps 50 helpers worked to stuff more than 2500 stockings which by now are heading across the ocean. My granddaughter Regan went with me to watch the volunteers in action, and she personally helped stuff more than 20 stockings. By the end of her session, they encouraged her to give each stocking a kiss – so I can personally attest that a whole lot of stockings do indeed get sent with kisses and best wishes for our military who are serving so far away."

Sue mentioned that the woman who helped them with the Thank You cards was an Erma Bombeck Writing Contest winner from 1999. She was thrilled to have our library be involved with the efforts of the Blue Star mothers. Sue assured her that the library would continue to promote their work with our future programs.