Behind the Cover
The Monthly Newsletter of Bemis Public Library
City of Littleton
March, 2009 Volume 13, Issue 3
Creating Artist Trading Cards
Enjoy a demonstration on how to create artist trading cards on Sunday, March 1, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Sophie’s Place at the library. Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as baseball cards and thin enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. Harriet Tiger, artist and card collector, will show you how to put an artist trading card together and talk about trading cards with other collectors.
An Afternoon with Abraham Lincoln
Meet Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by John Voehl, Saturday, March 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Sophie’s Place at the library. Hear about Lincoln’s early life, his political career and lifelong passion for learning, honesty and hard work. The person and character of our country’s 16th president will come alive as you listen to his life story as well as the Gettysburg address and Lincoln’s second Inaugural Address. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Voehl is one of the country’s leading Lincoln performers and has given over 400 presentations throughout the United States. This year is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.
Special Senior Event:
Learn How to Play Wii Games
The Wii gaming system is an interactive video game that uses wireless controllers. Since research has shown that trying new activities can help maintain a healthy brain, Wii is being used and recommended for seniors by physical therapists and senior centers across the country. Register to receive one-on-one training the week of March 8-14 in how to bowl, golf, or even play tennis on the Wii system. Use your new-found skills in our senior Wii bowling league! The Wii is a great way to get some light exercise, have some fun, and even connect with your grandkids. If you can hold a TV remote, you can play Wii! Call the library at 303-795-3961 to register for your short (15-minute) training session, which can take place anytime during the week of March 8.
Family Film Event: Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Bring the family to see the popular comedy, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, on the library’s big screen, Saturday, March 14, 2:00-3:45 p.m. Chloe, a diamond-clad Chihuahua living in Beverly Hills, hardly notices Papi, a tough Chihuahua who is fond of her. When Chloe gets lost in the streets of Mexico with only a street-wise German shepherd to guide her, Papi heads south of the border with a motley crew, including a sly rat and a nervous iguana, to rescue his true love. The film features the voices of Drew Barrymore, George Lopez and Andy Garcia. Free refreshments will be provided.
Musical Moments @ Sophie’s Place
Relax while listening to music in Sophie’s Place at the library. Monthly performances feature a variety of musical talent from Littleton and the Denver metro area.
Saturday, March 21, 2:00-3:00 p.m. - Mile High Banjo will present a toe-tapping performance of great ragtime and bluegrass music. For this event, they will add some “Irish” flavor to their normal repertoire.
Getting the Most Out of Your Digital Camera
Professional photographer Don Mammoser will share tips on taking perfect digital photos of landscapes, places and people on Monday, March 23, 2:00 p.m. Mammoser is the author of The Photographer’s Guide to the Colorado Rockies and has written articles for many national magazines, including National Geographic Adventure, Audubon and Popular Photography. In addition to providing photography advice, he will show some of his best digital photos.
Children’s Spring Break Programs
Join us for several special Spring Break programs during the last week in March. We’ll be learning about science and technology with Science Magic plus sharing Stories with a Craft. Please see Children’s Programs below for dates, times and program details.
Healthcare in America and Around the World
Can the U.S. learn anything from the rest of the world about how to run a healthcare system? PBS Frontline correspondent T.R. Reid will talk about the five countries he visited to evaluate their healthcare systems, Tuesday, March 24, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Reid was the correspondent for the recent Frontline special, Sick Around the World; he also is the correspondent for an upcoming Frontline program, Sick Around America. Reid has lived in Britain and Japan and is very familiar with how illness is treated in these countries; Taiwan, Switzerland and Canada also have developed healthcare systems that are cheap and fair. Ideas that may help the U.S. reform its broken healthcare system will be discussed. T.R. Reid is a veteran foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, a commentator for National Public Radio and the author of nine books. He is currently working on his tenth book, titled We're Number 37!, in which he compares America's healthcare system to others around the world.
Free Tax Help!
Bemis is providing free tax return preparation for taxpayers who cannot afford professional assistance. IRS-trained volunteers will be available in the study rooms on the lower level of the library through April 11 on Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from Noon-4:00 p.m. No pre-registration is required to receive assistance.
The AARP will provide tax preparation help on the upper level of the library through April 14, Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:15 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Pre-registration is required for this assistance, which is provided for low and middle-income seniors aged 60 and over. To register for AARP tax assistance at the library, please call the senior volunteer at the Buck Recreation Center, 303-730-4605.
English as a Second Language Classes
Learn English at the library! The spring session of English as a Second Language (ESL) is underway. Beginning English classes take place from 9:00-10:30 a.m., Monday-Thursday and 5:30-6:50 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Intermediate English classes take place from 10:30 a.m.-Noon, Monday-Thursday, and 7:00-8:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. These classes are open to teens age seventeen and over and adults who want to learn English or improve their English. There is a registration fee of $25.00 each semester for adults 21 and older and a $20.00 charge for a textbook the first semester. You may register for the classes at the library’s main floor Information Desk anytime during the year. The ESL classes are held in conjunction with Littleton School District Six and an instructor is provided by the District. For more information call Phyllis Larison or Dawn Munson, ESL instructor, at the library, 303-795-3961.
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.
On an ill-fated art expedition, 11 Americans find themselves deep in the Burmese jungle, where they encounter a tribe awaiting a leader and the mystical book of wisdom that will protect them from the Myanmar military regime.
The murder of a world-famous physicist raises fears that the Illuminati are operating again after centuries of silence, and religion professor Robert Langdon is called in to assist with the case.
The descent into madness of sixty-one-year-old George Hall goes largely unnoticed due to his family members' preoccupations with their own individual relationship crises.
Monday Evening Book Discussion Group
Meets the third Monday of each month from 7-8 p.m. Join us for:
· 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.
When her health begins to fail, the mysterious author Vida Winter decides to let Margaret Lea, a biographer, write the truth about her life, but Margaret needs to verify the facts since Vida has a history of telling outlandish tales.
Ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski remembers his time in the circus as a young man during the Great Depression, his friendship with Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, and Rosie, the elephant who gave them hope.
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:
Mar. 7: Invader Zim
Apr. 4: Howl’s Moving Castle
Enjoy popular interactive video games featuring a different game each month.
Mar. 19: Shaun White Snowboarding
Apr. 16: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Mar. 27: Summer Programs
Apr. 24: Open Agenda
Special Teen Events
Press Play @ Your Library
Sign up to be a volunteer Wii instructor and you could win a gift certificate to Best Buy. Volunteers will be teaching seniors how to bowl, golf, and play tennis on the Wii system. Contact Mark, the teen librarian, for details and to register. Check the teen blog at http://bemisteen.blogspot.com/ to learn about other activities and contests during Teen Tech Week—you could win a cool prize!
Saturday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.
Are you a scrapping guru or a novice just getting started? Either way, this program is for you! Learn the fundamentals of scrapbooking and create a really cool project you can keep for yourself or give as a gift. Bring pictures to use during the workshop or add them later—all other supplies will be provided. Space is limited for this program! Please call the library at 303-795-3961 or email Mark, the teen librarian, at mdecker@littletongov.org to register for this event.
Tuesday, March 24, 2:00 p.m.
The quest for the Holy Grail is retold in the unique and hilarious Python fashion.
Upcoming Teen Events
Don’t miss these teen events coming next month. Contact the library for details.
Twilight - Sat., April 4, 2 p.m.
The Devil’s Arithmetic - Sat., Apr. 18, 2 p.m.
For poetry fans in 6th-12th grade.
Children’s Programs
Special Spring Break Programs
Take Time to Tie-dye! Everyone gets a notebook to keep for drawing, scrap-booking, or keeping a journal. We’ll make a tie-dye cover for you to take home too. The fun continues with stories and a prize drawing. Please register to join the fun by calling 303-795-3961.
Is it science or is it magic? Learn about science and technology in a fun, fact-filled show. A variety of sensational scientific demonstrations appear to be magical, but the science behind them will reveal if it is truly magic or science! Young scientists in grades K-5, please join us for an exciting hands-on program. Space is limited; please plan to arrive early.
Learn About Quilling (paper rolling)! Roll paper to make a lion or a lamb that is also a note holder. We will share stories and have a prize drawing too. “Quill” have lots of fun, so be sure to register by calling 303-795-3961.
Bemis Bookmark Contest
Summer Reading is just around the corner, which means it is time for our annual Bemis Library Bookmark Contest. Break out your crayons, paint, color pencils and markers to create an awesome picture that might be reproduced on a Children’s bookmark. Kids in grades K-5 are encouraged to create a picture that represents our theme, Be Creative @ Bemis. We will choose one picture from each age category to publish on our bookmarks. Stop by the reference desk in the Children’s Room to pick up your entry form. All entries must be submitted by 9 p.m., April 30.
Weekly Story Times & Ongoing Activities
· 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, March 14 & 28 at 10:30 a.m.
Thirty minutes of stories, songs and other fun stuff on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month. Siblings and parents are welcome too.
Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. - noon
Kids in grades 1-5 are able to practice reading to a visiting pet pal. Please call 303-795-3961 to register for a twenty-minute spot. Presented by R.E.A.D. Reading Education Assistance Dogs & Denver Pet Partners.
Artwork by students from The Village at Ames Preschool will be on display in the Children’s Room in March.
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:
· How to Search on the Internet
Wednesday, April 8, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
· Introduction to Microsoft Word
Saturday, April 4, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
· Mousercise
Wednesday, March 4, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
· Travel Websites
Saturday, March 14, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
· Yahoo Email Basics
Wednesday, April 1, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Class Descriptions:
· How to Search on the Internet - Learn how to search for information on the Internet using search engines and subscription databases.
· Introduction to Microsoft Word - Learn to write, edit and save documents using this word processing program.
· Mousercise - Exercises help users develop skills needed to maneuver a mouse.
· Travel Websites - Find the best travel deals online! This session will cover a variety of travel resources on the Web, including trip planning sites and online guidebooks.
· Yahoo Email Basics - Learn how to set up a free Yahoo email account.
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.
Upcoming Programs at Bemis
Mark your calendars now for these library events coming next month:
Schedule of Library Events
Sunday, Mar. 1 Creating Artist Trading Cards, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 2 Senior Book Club, 2:00 p.m.
Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Senior Book Club, 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 3 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 4 Mousercise, Space Available, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Mar. 5 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 6 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 7 Computer Comfort, Class Full, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Teen Anime Club, 12:00 noon
An Afternoon with Abraham Lincoln, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 9 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 10 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 11 Learn Internet Explorer, Class Full, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Mar. 12 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar.13 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 14 Travel Websites, Space Available, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Saturday Stories, 10:30 a.m.
Family Film Event: Beverly Hills Chihuahua, 2:00-3:45 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 16 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monday Evening Book Group, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 17 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 18 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Mar. 19 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Teen Games: Wii, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar.20 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m.
Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 21 Paws to Read, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Ready, Set...Scrap!, Teen Scrapbooking Workshop, 1:00 p.m.
Musical Moments @ Sophie’s Place with Mile High Banjo, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 23 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 24 Stories with a Craft: Take Time to Tie-Dye!,2:00-3:00 p.m., Grades 3-5
Teen Movie: Monty Python & the Holy Grail, 2:00 p.m.
Healthcare in America & Around the World, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 25 Science Magic with Science Matters, 2:00 p.m., Grades K-5
Thursday, Mar. 26 Stories with a Craft: Learn About Quilling! 2:00-3:00 p.m., Grades K-2
Friday, Mar. 27 Bemis Knitting Group, 2:00 p.m.
Teen Advisory Group, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 28 Saturday Stories, 10:30 a.m.
Monday, Mar. 30 Free Medical Services Van, Bemis Parking Lot, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 31 Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 1 Yahoo Email Basics, Space Available, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Story Box, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Library Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Introduction to Microsoft Word, Space Available, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Thursday, Apr. 5 Preschool Story Time, 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.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