Message to the community from Luren E. Dickinson:

February may be the shortest and coldest month of the year, but we have planned a variety of interesting programs to warm up your winter. Our award-winning Friends of the Shaker Library thought that February would be good month to promote membership in their organization and they are "sweetening" the deal with chocolate at their Friends Feast-ival of Chocolate Friends-raiser from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, February 4 at the Main Library. Members get in free and can sample a variety of chocolate goodies. Not a member? You can join at the door for the special price of $10. Everyone can taste the chocolate treats and vote on the best chocolate recipe. There will also be opportunities to win gift baskets of chocolates.

If you're looking to beat the winter blues, be sure to view the latest exhibit, From Winter Blues to Winter Hues, in the Shaker Art Gallery on the second floor of the Main Library. Artists can pick up applications for the Library's 12th Annual Barbara Luton Art Competition at the service desks and online at www.shakerlibrary.org. Entries will be accepted on March 5 and 6.

Is a larger tax return of interest to you? If so, consider attending the Friends of the Shaker Library Tax Talk from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 10 at Bertram Woods Branch. H. & R. Block’s Chris Fuller will talk about such things as the new Making Work Pay and Government Retiree credits, as well as deductions for sales tax paid on new vehicle purchases, to help put more of your money back in your pocket!

If you want to keep you hands busy, come to our regular Knit Night from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday, February 11 at Woods Branch or come to Game Girlz, new program for girls from 8 to 108 who want to learn how to play video games. The next session meets from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, February 18 at the Main Library.

Want to learn more about your community? Our Shaker Works in Progress series features authors speaking about their work in progress. Former Shaker Historical Society Director Sabine Kretzschmar begins the series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 at Woods Branch when she speaks about the history of the proposed Clark-Lee Freeway and the events that led to the founding of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes.

Looking for work? Come to Getting Your Foot in the Door from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 17 at the Main Library and get tips on job hunting strategies from local Society of Human Resources Management member Giannoula Harris. If you're thinking of starting your own business, consider attending The ABCs of Starting a Business from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m Tuesday, February 23 at the Main Library

Share the Library with a little one! Bing them to Pajama Storytime at 7:15 p.m. Monday, February 15 at Woods Branch. Older children can read stories to a real Therapy Dog at our Paws for Reading program at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 20 at the Main Library. The Children's department continues it popular American Girl series with Meet American Girl Doll Rebecca at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 6 at Woods Branch.

Teens can enjoy Candy Making in the Teen Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 11 and an Altered Book Workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m Tuesday, February 9 at Woods Branch. Teens can also take advantage of the Free SAT Practice Test and Score Booster program from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, February 20.

February is a month for lovers and poetry lovers won’t want to miss our program at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 25 at Bertram Woods Branch when Nina Freedlander Gibans, Ari Lesser, and Suzanne Savickas read their poetry.

Luren E. Dickinson, Director

dickinson@shakerlibary.org