Bridges
November/December
National Novel Writing Month Comes to Converse County
Have you ever thought, “I should
write a novel,” and then shrugged off
the idea? Have you ever wanted to
try your hand at putting together a
story? Think a novel takes forever to
write? Well, every November, across
the world, hundreds of thousands of
would-be-novelists try their hand at
writing a novel in 30 days.
Yes, 30 days.
National Novel Writing Month was
started in 1999 by Chris Batty and
20 of his friends. They just wanted
to write novels, and they found that
writing with friends was a lot more fun
than writing alone. Since that humble
beginning, National Novel Writing
Month
(NaNoWriMo for short) has grown.
This year, they expect two million
participants.
The challenge is to write 50,000
words in 30 days. (That’s 1,667 a day.)
You start on November 1st and end on
the 30th. The NaNoWriMo site (www.
nanowrimo.org) will verify your word
count if you upload your document,
Inside this Issue:
Kids Teens
Adults
Book Discussion
One Book What’s Hot
Movie Marathon
Building Update
WY Snapshot Day
Glenrock News
IndieFlix
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
and you can earn a shiny certificate to
show off to friends and family.
Our own PR Manager, Sara Doyle, has
participated in NaNoWriMo six times,
with a successful “win” all six times. She
also served as a local leader for the event
for five years in Colorado Springs. Doyle
is excited to help writers in Converse
County realize their dreams of writing
(and completing!) a novel.
between finishing your novel and just
tossing it away. The NaNoWriMo
website has a lot of great online help-from forums to help generate plot
ideas, dares to get you out of those stuck
moments, and word count trackers so
you can track your progress. There is a
“Wyoming: Elsewhere” forum where you
can connect with writers from our area
and around the state.
Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month
The Converse County Library will
be hosting “Come Write-In” events
throughout the month of November
to give writers a place where they can
gather as they pound out the words.
Writing “en mass” is a great way to keep
going. Having others around to help you
through the plot twists and corners you
find yourself in can mean the difference
So, want to write a novel? Join us in
November as we reach for our dreams
one word at a time.
For more information, contact Sara
Doyle at the library, and check the
website (www.conversecountylibrary.org)
for event dates and times. Sign up with
the official NaNoWriMo website and then
join us for write-ins!
Murder, Mystery, Mayhem...and Dinner
On October 18th, Converse County Teens descended on the
library to participate in a little mayhem, a touch of mystery, and a
murder, all while enjoying a four-course dinner. We had fourteen
teens join us for playing a murder mystery game (we promise, no
one REALLY died!). The meal included a skeleton made of veggies,
“rat” meat on a stick, marshmallow bones, and even a kitty litter
cake. The event was part of Teen Read Week. The mystery element
fit in with the theme of “Seeking the Unknown @ Your Library”. The
teens had a great time figuring out “who dun it” while munching
on their spooky dinner. Be watching for more fun activities in the
months to come!
Bridges
Kid’s Cozy Corner
Gobble, Gobble! It’s turkey
time. Come join us at the library
in November for some fun and
exciting programs. We continue
our StoryTime on Weds and
Thurs at 10:30 AM. We usually
read a book and finish with a
craft and/or snack. We will also
start up Pajamarama again! The
first one will be Nov 16th at 6
PM. Put your PJ’s on and come
listen to some stories. All ages are
welcome. Nov 11th is Origami
Day and Nov 14th is National
Teen Scene
Bored with the snow? Come
in the library for some fun and to
get ready for the holidays!
On Nov 6th and 7th, we will
be making clothespin collages.
This is the perfect wreath for
the season—a wreath of all your
favorite pictures and favorite
people! Nov 20th and 21st we
will prepare for Thanksgiving by
making a pumpkin cheesecake,
which looks delicious, if I do say
so myself.
International Gaming Day is
Adult Services
With colder weather here to
greet us most of us start thinking
of things to do inside. How
about a good book or a movie
while you’re cuddled up under
a blanket with the family? The
Converse County Library has
both plus so much more.
Be sure to check out the story
on page 3 about the Christmas
Break Movie Marathon and join
us for lots of fun.
Do you have fines that might
have built up on your card? Well
here’s your chance to take care
of those! From November 1st
through December 14th, the
2
Shelly Schmitt-Children’s Librarian
Pickle Day, so on Nov 15th we
are going to have a program
for grades 2-5 to learn origami
and eat pickles! The library
will be closed Nov 28-30 for
Thanksgiving, so we will not have
StoryTime that week.
“Snow is falling and books are
calling” says our bulletin board
this year. So in December, when
you are cold and just want to curl
up with a book, please come see
us. We have lots of programs for
your children while you browse
on Nov 16th, so come play board
games, video games, and reality
games all day.
The library is also here to
get you ready for Christmas. If
you need cheap presents that
your friends will like, we will be
making mini photo albums on
Dec 4th and 5th. And for those
with a sweet tooth, we will make
chocolate truffles on Dec 11th
and 12th.
The new books shelf is
brimming! House of Hades by
for a new book to read.
The Dec Pajamarama is on the
17th at 6pm. Also, anytime in
December pick up a crossword
puzzle for the kiddos to do and
return by Crossword Puzzle Day
on Dec 21st for a special gift.
There will be no StoryTime
the week of Christmas as the
library will be closed the 24th
and 25th.
Remember you can stop by
anytime and pick up a calendar
for a full list of events.
Maria Ricks-Teen Librarian
Rick Riordan, Smoke by Ellen
Hopkins, Allegiant by Veronica
Roth, All Our Yesterdays by
Cristin Terrill, and Unsouled by
Neal Shusterman are just some
of the great titles coming in
November and December.
No matter if you are looking
for the next book in a great series
or starting a new one, or reading
a standalone, we have something
for you.
So come warm up, read, create,
and hang out at your library!
Cinnamon Johnson-Adult Librarian
library will be collecting canned
goods and non-perishable
food items in exchange for fine
forgiveness. Each item will
be worth $2 in fines, and we’ll
forgive up to a total of $25 per
card. The collected food will
be donated to Father Hubbard’s
Cupboard here in Douglas, so
your donation stays local!
Also, during the two weeks
of Christmas Break we will be
offering trivia for fine forgiveness
and free replacement cards.
Come in from Dec 23rd – Jan 4th
and answer some simple trivia
and get a replacement card or
get rid of those pesky fines $2 at
a time, up to $25 per card (card
holder must be present to answer
trivia and clear fines.) Please
note for both for both events,
Lost Item, Processing Fees and
Referral amounts do not qualify.
DON’T FORGET! Nov 7th
will be the final class in a 3-part
computer course that covers
internet searching, setting up
email accounts and Facebook
basics. Sign up now. Computer
classes will return after the first of
the year.
Book Discussion 2013-2014 Wyoming One Book
This year’s theme for book discussion is “From
Page to Screen.” We have six different titles (from
six genres) that have been made into movies. We
read the book, watch the movie, and then discuss.
It’s a great way to interact with story on multiple
levels. Join us in November for “The Silver Linings
Playbook,” and then in January for “These Foolish
Things”/”The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Movie
viewing is the third Tuesday evening at 6 PM, and
the discussion is the third Wednesday at 7. Check
the website for dates.
Most of us read alone, but when we get the chance
to read a book and then discuss it with others, the
experience is broader and more complete. And
what happens when people across an entire state
read and discuss the same book? Well, that’s what
we want to find out! Wyoming One Book is here
to help people across the state read and engage with the same book. The
2014 selection is Craig Johnson’s “Spirit of Steamboat.” The Wyoming State
Library, along with our local library, will be encouraging people to read
this book, help people get together to discuss it, and host events to bring
us together over “one book.” We hope you’ll join us!
What’s Hot
Douglas
Body Work, by Sara Paretsky
Blood’s Pride, by Evie Manieri
Mistress, by James Patterson
Robert B. Parker’s Damned If You Do, by Michael Brandman
Swimming at Night, by Lucy Clarke
The Highway, by C. J. Box
Looking for something fun to do over Christmas
Break? Well, what better way to pass the time than
watching a movie together? During the break, the library
will show a different “family friendly” feature every day
that young and old can enjoy together.
We’ll have showtimes from December 23rd through
January 4th on all days except Christmas Eve, Christmas,
and New Year’s Day (the library is closed on those three
days). Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will have a 10
AM, 1PM, & 4 PM showing, Tuesday and Thursdays will
also have a 6 PM showing. Saturday will have two shows
at 10 AM and 12PM (noon). Bring a pillow or blanket to
curl up with, and we’ll provide the popcorn!
Here is a list of the movies:
Glenrock
Breaking Point, by C. J. Box
Compound Fractures, by Stephen White
Never Go Back, by Lee Child
Scepters, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Curtis Creek Manifesto, by Sheridan Anderson
The Highway, by C. J. Box
Things are moving forward on our new
buildings. Because of soil quality in
Glenrock, the new building there will be a
separate unit instead of an addition. The
current building will be remodeled and
used as a meeting room for the library.
Staff are excited about how this space will
allow for bigger programs and also offer the
community a much-needed space for events.
Our architects are working with the staff to
make sure that all the needs are met, and final
floor plans should be agreed up soon. The
Glenrock Town Council will be meeting on
November 11th to vote on the parking issues
at the Glenrock location.
Building Update
"Books are the plane,
and the train,
and the road.
They are the
destination,
and the journey.
They are home.
Anna Quindlen
Christmas Break Movie Marathon
Wyoming Libraries Endowment Fund Goal: $348,913
Converse County Total to date: $74,169
Contact us to find out how to triple your gift!
The Rising, by Kelley Armstrong
Bridges
Mon, Dec 23rd: Arthur Christmas
Thur, Dec 26th: The Croods
Fri, Dec 27th: Mighty Ducks
Sat, Dec 28th: Wreck-It Ralph
Mon, Dec 30th: Epic
Tue, Dec 31st: Happy Feet Two
Thur, Jan 2nd: Rise of the Guardians
Fri, Jan 3rd: Monsters University
Sat, Jan 4th: 101 Dalmatians
Everything is on track for the project to
go to bid mid-January to early February, with
ground breaking to follow in Spring.
As the project moves forward, there will
be a need to shrink the on-site collection
at Douglas in order to allow for the two
structures to be joined. Don’t worry, we will
still be able to access the collection, it may
just take a little more effort to get your title.
So if you are looking for something in the
coming months, please don’t hesitate to ask us
for help in locating it! We want to make sure
you still get the resources you need while we
are building. Thank you for your support and
understanding.
3
Bridges
News from the Rock in the Glen
Been having a quiet fall so far this
year. StoryTime this fall is Numbers!
Come join Rita in counting our way
through fall and into the winter! We
had a wonderful turnout for our
Winnie the Pooh birthday celebration
on October 5th and everyone is
looking forward to the Halloween/Fall
party on Wednesday, October 30th.
Looking forward, we have a small,
one week break from StoryTime
Have you liked us on
Facebook? Search for
Converse County Library
or
Glenrock Branch Library.
on November 27th, the day before
Thanksgiving. There will not be
a StoryTime session that day as
a lot of families are preparing for
Thanksgiving. Getting into December,
we will be having a Donation Mitten
Tree. Saturday, December 6th, is
Mitten Day! Donations will go to the
Senior Center Golden Aires second
hand shop to be distributed to needy
individuals. Saturday, December
14th, is our annual Christmas party.
We hope you all can join us for a
jolly session of yuletide cheer and
camaraderie. StoryTime’s last session
this year will be December 11th when
we learn about the number Ten!
StoryTime will start back up on
Wednesday, January 8th, 2014.
In November, we have some fun
events. First, we have Popcorn and
a Movie on Saturday, Nov 9th with
The Hobbit! And on Saturday, Nov
16th, we have our celebration of
International Gaming Day! Stop in
and enjoy a game or two and enjoy the
festive get together!
Have a wonderful fall, and hope to
see you in the library enjoying a good
book or movie or even just to say “Hi!”
Wyoming Libraries Snapshot Day
A patron browses the
shelves on Snapshot Day.
IndieFlix
Every year, Wyoming libraries participate
in “Snapshot Day.” This day helps to take
a snapshot of an average day in libraries
across the nation. It is a chance for patrons
to share feedback and comments about their
library, what they love, what they might like
to see, etc. Both Converse County Library
and Glenrock Branch participated this year
on October 15th. Here are some of the
comments we received.
• “It gives everyone a chance to expand
their reading, knowledge, vocabulary
and imagination!”
Do you love independent movies?
Or the quirky, off the beaten path
short films? Well you are in luck,
because IndieFlix offers a treasure
trove of independent and shorts, and
you have access to it FREE through
WyLDcat. WyLDcat is the Wyoming
Libraries Database. Wyoming library
patrons can use any of the databases
and programs by using their library
card and pin.
4
•
“I like to be able to “window shop” the
shelves for interesting titles.”
• “The people that work there genuinely
care about us and we care about them.”
• “I like to come down to the library and
meet up with friends.”
• “It has tons of books I love.”
Thank you for all our patrons who shared
comments and had photos taken. If you
missed Snapshot Day this year, don’t hesitate
to stop in and let us know what you love
about the library, and how we can continue
to make our library great!
Draw your own cartoon here!
IndieFlix is easy to use. Just set up
an account and start viewing. There
are documentaries, full-length feature
films, shorts, and a lot of fun gems.
To access IndieFlix, go to our
website, click on the “IndieFlix” logo
for new users. The site will walk you
through setting up an account. Then,
just bookmark the site for returning
users, and start you movie watching
adventure!