Behind the Cover
The Monthly Newsletter of Bemis Public Library
City of Littleton
December, 2008 Volume 12, Issue 12
Festive Musical Moments at Sophie’s Place
Relax while listening to music in Sophie’s Place. Monthly performances feature a variety of musical talent from Littleton and the Denver metro area.
Take a step back in time and enjoy Victorian carolers as they share a bit of history behind each carol that they sing, all in beautiful four-part harmony.
Enjoy songs and dances performed by Columbine High School’s most elite show choir, featuring 24 juniors and seniors.
Humbug! An Evening of Holiday Humor
Enjoy a sampler of short, original plays with a humorous non-traditional twist on the holiday season, Tuesday, December 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m. The three comedies, written by award-winning Colorado playwrights, will be directed by Sarah Roshan and performed by prominent Denver actors.
The Bemis performance, a program for adults, is a preview of the show, Humbug! A Comedy Alternative to Traditional Holiday Shows. Humbug! will run at the Vintage Theatre in Denver starting December 19.
All Aboard for The Polar Express
Please join us for our annual celebration: a reading of The Polar Express accompanied by cookies, cocoa and a wintry ride aboard an imaginary train. Tasty treats and a special visitor await! The train departs Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. This program is for families with children ages 3 and up. Reservations required. Please call 303-795-3961 to reserve a spot.
Two Family Film Events: WALL-E and Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Bring the family and enjoy two exciting film events this month, both shown on the library’s big screen:
After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future. WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative animated comedy adventures ever. Rated G.
One year after the events of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the Pevensie children find themselves back in the realm of Narnia, where they discover more than 1,000 years have passed. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has become extinct. The four children have been summoned back to Narnia by Caspian, the young heir to the throne, whose life is in danger. Together they embark on a remarkable journey to restore magic and glory to the land. Free popcorn and refreshments will be provided. Rated PG.
Check It Out . . .Yourself!
Bemis patrons can now check out library materials themselves at our new self-check machine. “Early reaction to the self-check station from staff and patrons has been very positive with many comments about how easy the machine is to use,” said Margery Smith, Library Director. Books and media can be checked out at the machine. Staff is available at the Checkout Desk to assist patrons if they prefer manual check out.
Food For Fines
Bemis, in cooperation with Inter-Faith Community Services, will be sponsoring the annual Food for Fines program through December 22. Simply bring in a non-perishable food item and have a late book fine removed from your Bemis library record. This offer does not apply to lost books. Inter-Faith Community Services helps people living in western Arapahoe County and northern Douglas County as well as unincorporated areas of Arapahoe County.
Buy a Gift Book at Bemis!
Looking for that unique book for a holiday gift this year? The Friends of the Library and Museum is offering a special sale of “like new” used books at low prices through Wednesday, December 24 at the library. Choose from bestsellers, classics, cookbooks, children’s books, and more. Bring the whole family in to find great presents!
Share Memories with Bi-Folkal Remembering Kits
Discover a valuable new resource available for checkout at the library! Bi-Folkal Remembering Kits are a whole series of programs in a bag designed to stimulate memories on a particular time or topic. Each Bi-Folkal Remembering Kit encourages seniors to share their experiences and memories by unlocking remarkable stories, humorous anecdotes, and first-person accounts of history, experience and life. The kits contain slides, videos or both, cassette tapes, large print booklets of sing-along songs, poetry and photographs, activities, skits, textures, scents, and objects, all reminiscent of a selected theme. The kits are shelved near the Large Print book collection on the main level of the library. The kits may be checked out for three weeks. If you would like a demonstration or need additional information about the Bi-Folkal Remembering Kits, stop by the Information Desk.
Russian Language & Literature Group
If you would like to learn Russian or practice speaking Russian, come to the Russian Language & Literature Group. We meet each month at the library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on the following days:
In addition to improving language skills and learning about Russian culture, the group reads and discusses a book about Russia each month. For additional information, call Zoya Doennebrink at the library, 303-795-3961.
Multicultural Dialogue & Film Series
We invite you to join us in celebrating the diversity of Littleton with our monthly Multicultural Dialogue & Film Series held on the last Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Join us on:
Monday, December 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m. for Sweet Land. Rated PG
For more information please call Daiga Keller at 720-891-3273.
Book Groups at Bemis
We have a variety of Book Groups that meet throughout the month. Choose a group that suits your interests and schedule. Then, join us for some stimulating discussions.
Senior Book Club
Meets the first Monday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Thousands of impoverished Northern European immigrants were promised that the prairie offered "land, freedom, and hope." The disastrous blizzard of 1888 revealed that their free homestead was not a paradise but a hard, unforgiving place.
In 1886, piano tuner Edgar Drake leaves London for the jungles of Burma, where he has been asked to repair a grand piano belonging to a British army officer who uses the piano and music to help keep the peace among warring local Burmese princes.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, the author reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables.
Monday Evening Book Discussion Group
Meets the third Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. Join us for:
· Dec. 15: No book scheduled for discussion. We will meet for dinner and a book planning
session for the coming year. Please bring book suggestions with you.
· Jan. 26*: Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk
Set over a single day, the novel follows a group of young mothers who feel both anger at the husbands who seemingly imprisoned them in a world of minivans and coffee klatches, and resignation about the fates they seem destined to fulfill.
* We will meet on the fourth Monday in January due to the MLK holiday.
· Feb. 23: The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble
After reading the two-hundred-year-old memoir of a Korean crown princess, an Oxford student becomes obsessed with the story and goes to Seoul where she has several love affairs.
· Mar. 16: Falling Man by Don DeLillo
DeLillo traces the way the events of 9/11 kindled or rekindled relationships and reconfigured America’s perceptions of the world.
Teen Central
For more information, call teen/outreach librarian Mark Decker at the library, 303-795-3961 or check the Bemis teen blog site online at http://bemisteen.blogspot.com. Join other teens for the following activities:
Anime Club - First Sat. of the month @ Noon
Naota is attacked one day by a mysterious guitar-wielding woman on a Vespa, which releases a mysterious power within him. The result of this power is an inter-dimensional portal in his forehead capable of summoning forth all manner of robots, ranging from helpful to violently psychotic.
Light Yagami is a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L.
As young boys, Edward & Alphonse Elric once dabbled in the forbidden art of human alchemy to try to resurrect their dead mother. As a result, Ed lost one arm and one leg, while Al lost his entire body and had his spirit sealed inside a suit of armor. Now, both boys are searching for the fabled Philosopher's Stone to restore what they've lost.
Wii - Third Thursdays @ 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy this popular interactive video game featuring a different game each month.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG) - Fridays @ 3:30 p.m.
Special Teen Event
Bemis will host an American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Course on Monday, December 29. The class is from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is limited to 12 participants between the ages of 11-17. The course fee is $60. To register, call the American Red Cross directly at 303-722-7474.
Children’s Programs
Special Children’s Programs
· Kids’ Book Club - The Hobbit by Tolkien
Escape with us to the Shire on Sunday, December 7, 2:00 p.m., when we’ll discuss The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do Hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return. Please read the book in advance, then come for snacks, discussion, and fun! Call 303-795-3961 to register. The Kids’ Book Club is for 4th & 5th graders.
· Annual December Event
All Aboard! Join us for our annual celebration: a reading of The Polar Express and a wintry ride on an imaginary train. The train departs on Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. For families with children ages 3 and up. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Please call 303-795-3961 to reserve your seats.
· The Thunderbirds!
Peek inside a rain forest and experience the multiple talents of parrots, the Einstein of Birds, on Monday, December 29, 3:00 p.m. These brilliantly-colored birds take breath-taking flights over the audience with their four-foot wing span. They race on roller skates, ride scooters, do impressions, climb, swing, flip and hang as they present, for your viewing enjoyment, "The Parrot Olympics!" And wait until you hear their stand up comic, Toot. He sings, he laughs, he talks up a storm. Toot is unstoppable. The sky's the limit with The Thunderbirds! They're amazing. They're funny. They're outrageous! A family show for all ages. Space is limited for this free program. Please plan to arrive early.
· “Noon” Year’s Eve Party
A family celebration with crafts, stories, treats and dancing on Wednesday,
December 31, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. We’ll drop the ball at twelve-o-clock noon, so don’t be late!
Please call 303-795-3961 for reservations beginning December 8.
· Winter Weather Reading
Snuggle up with a great book this winter and perhaps you’ll uncover a prize-winning story. Beginning December 15th in the Children’s Room, we will display books published in 2008 that are contenders for literary awards. This year Denver will host the American Library Association’s winter conference, attracting librarians from across the country. One conference highlight is the selection of books for the Caldecott Medal (best illustrated book by an American) and the Newbery Medal (best story/novel by an American.) We want to share our list of contenders with you. You’ll also be able vote for your favorites. Visit the Children’s Room for more details.
· January Movie: Horton Hears a Who
Watch the movie based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who, featuring the voice of Jim Carrey as Horton on Fri., Jan. 2, 2:00 p.m. Snacks will be provided. For families with children of all ages. Rated G. Length: 87 minutes
Story Times and Ongoing Activities
Story Times end December 19 and resume January 6.
· Story Box
Ages infant - 36 months
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 9:30 & 10:30 am.
A thirty minute session for children and a caring adult to introduce the joy of rhythm and reading. Space is limited; free tickets are available one week in advance.
· Preschool Story Time
Ages 3 - Kindergarten
Thursdays at 10:30 am & 1:30 pm.
Fridays at 10:30 am.
Thirty minutes of stories, songs, and activities with a puppet show the first week of the month.
· Saturday Stories
Ages 3-Kingergarten
Saturdays, January 10 & 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Thirty minutes of stories, songs and other fun stuff on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Older siblings and parents are welcome too.
· Art in the Children’s Room
Artwork by students from Holy Trinity Preschool will be on display in December.
Upcoming Programs at Bemis
Mark your calendars now for these library events coming next month:
Friday, January 2, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 10, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 13, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
January 24, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, January 26, 2:00 p.m.
Free Medical Services Offered
If you do not have medical insurance and need to see a doctor, take advantage of the free medical services being offered by Adventist Community Services (ACS) and Littleton Adventist Hospital. ACS is providing a van equipped as a medical office and staffed with a medical doctor and a nurse. It will be in the Bemis parking lot on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Services offered include exams, checkups, screenings, and treatment of chronic conditions. Arrangements for this service were negotiated by the Health Care Committee of the Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative. For more information, please call ACS at 303-935-7389.
Bemis Knitting Group
Knitters of all ages are invited to the library’s knitting group which meets on Friday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. in Sophie’s Place. Bring a pair of needles and a skein of yarn and get ready to knit! Beginners will learn skills such as casting on, knitting, purling, and casting off, while experienced knitters will get project ideas and provide hints and tips for the rest of the group. The group is working on creating gloves, scarves and hats for people who use the free medical van services at the library.
Homebound Delivery Service
Bemis offers a free delivery service to City of Littleton residents who are unable to visit the library due to physical limitations. If you are temporarily or permanently confined to your home because of illness, age or physical disability, we will deliver library materials to you. Available materials include books (even Braille), magazines, CDs, audio books, and videos. If you are interested in this service, please contact librarian Pam Child at 303-795-3961 and let us know what materials you are interested in having delivered to your home once a month by library staff or a wonderful volunteer. Volunteers are needed for this program. Call the library at 303-795-3961 to volunteer.
Volunteer at Bemis!
Bemis is seeking volunteers who are willing to make a three hour per week commitment for at least three months. We have openings for volunteers to perform the following tasks: shelving, delivering books to homebound patrons, processing materials, mending, and assisting with programs for both Adult and Children’s Services. Training will be provided. Please call the library at 303-795-3961 for more details.
We Can Meet Your Computer & Internet Needs
Bemis has 22 Internet access computers on the lower level of the library, plus another six located in the Children’s Room for use by our patrons in 5th grade and younger. Also, wireless Internet access is available in Sophie’s Place for patrons with wireless-enabled laptop computers.
Our computers use Microsoft operating systems and software that includes Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. All of our PCs are linked to printers. Printing costs are $0.10 a page for black only or $0.25 a page for color. Our computer lab has 12 PCs and may be scheduled for group use. We are happy to assist patrons individually at any time if you need help using the computers or the Internet.
We also offer free computer and Internet classes on a regular basis. To find out about group use of our computer lab, upcoming classes, or to place your name on a call list for notification when future classes are scheduled, call the library at 303-795-3961 or stop by the Information Desk.
Currently, space is available in the following classes:
Wednesday, February 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, February 14, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 10, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Saturday, January 3, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 6, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 7, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, December 13, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Class Descriptions:
Schedule of Library Events
Dec. Art Exhibit Paint Box Guild Winter Show
Monday, Dec. 1 Senior Book Club, 2:00 p.m.
Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 2 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Library Board Meeting. 7:00 p.m.
Beginner Russian Language &
Literature Group, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 Keyword & Boolean Search Strategies, 9:00-10:30 a.m., Space Available
Teen Anime Club, 12:00 noon
Musical Moments @ Sophie’s Place, 4-Ever More Victorian Caroling Quartet,
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 Kids’ Book Club, 2:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 8 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Humbug! An Evening of Holiday Humor, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 10 Computer Comfort, Class Full, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Intermediate Russian Language & Literature Group, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Friday, ec.12 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 Mousercise, Space Available, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
All Aboard for The Polar Express, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 15 Monday Evening Book Group, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 16 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Musical Moments @ Sophie’s Place, Columbine High School Chorus, 3:30-4:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 18 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Teen Games: Wii, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec.19 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20 Family Film Event: WALL-E, (G) 2:00-3:45 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec.24 Christmas Eve - LIBRARY CLOSES AT 5 p.m.
Thursday Dec.25 Christmas Day - LIBRARY CLOSED
Friday, Dec. 26 Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29 American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Course, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
The Thunderbirds, 3:00 p.m.
Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Multicultural Dialogue & Film Series, Sweet Land, (PG), 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 30 Family Film Event: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, (PG), 2:00-4:40 p.m.
Wednesday Dec.31 “Noon” Year’s Eve Party, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
New Year’s Eve - LIBRARY CLOSES AT 5 p.m.
Thursday Jan. 1 New Year’s Day - LIBRARY CLOSED
Friday, Jan. 2 Family Film Event: Horton Hears a Who (G), 2:00 p.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 3 Introduction to Microsoft Word, Space Available, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Find specific program details elsewhere in this newsletter.
Bemis Public Library
City of Littleton
6014 South Datura Street
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-795-3961
Fax: 303-795-3996
TDD: 303-795-3913
E-Mail: bemislib@earthlink.net
Web Site: http://www.littletongov.org/bemis/default.asp
Online Catalog:
Phone Renewal: 303-797-0566
Dial-a-Story: 303-795-3960
LIBRARY HOURS: M-Th 9-9; F-Sa 9-5; Su 1-5
If you are disabled and seeking an accommodation
to participate in a Library program, please notify the Library
one week in advance in writing or by calling 303-795-3961 or TDD 303-795-3913.
Behind the Cover is published monthly by Bemis Public Library.
Behind the Cover Designer/Editor: Julie Clark Kingery
Contributors: Bemis Library Staff