Book Sale

Our semi-annual book sale is coming up September 27 through October 2nd during regular library hours. If you have books you would like to donate to our sale, you may bring them to the library. DO NOT bring us any damaged, yellowed, water stained, smelly books. We also cannot use Readers Digest Condensed Books. Please make sure a staff member okays your contributions before you leave.

Bus Tour #5

Tour #5 is a Naturalist Narrated Tour. follow the route Ozawindib & Schoolcraft did in 1832 when they recorded the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Wildlife interpretation of Bald Eagles, Common Loons, Indian & Logging History. Two hour boat cruise on the Chester Charles II.

Bus Tour #4

Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life. We are looking at two different special events they host. The first one is on October 31st and is called Old-Time Halloween. In the mid-1800's, especially Irish immigrants, brought their Halloween traditions to America. Carve a turnip to put in your window to ward off evil spirts; Trick-or-Treat at Jane Gibbs' house; make popcorn balls in the Red Barn and enjoy a cup of cider!
The other event is calle "A Gibbs' Pioneer Christmas" This is held on December 4 and 5th. A two-hour program. Join them in an old-fashioned mid-1800's Minnesota Christmas. Step back in time when you visit the summer kitchen and see how pioneer women prepared special foods for Christmas; tour the original Gibbs' home and the Victorian parlor where costumed interpreters reveal how Christmas practices changed over time. Enjoy Christmas carols and activities, hot chocolate and Christmas treasts. Visit our gift shop for old-time stocking stuffers.

Bus Tour #3

This tour is of the Oliver H. Kelley Farm near Elk River, MN. You will step onto a working 1860's farm. Pick heirloom vegtables from the garden, visit the farmhands and animals at the barn, or churn butter and see what's cooking in the farmhouse. Costumed guides work the fields with oxen and horses. At different times throughout the season, you'll see plowing with oxen, horse-powered threshing, haymaking and other harvest activites. The garden and fields are filled with many of the same plants the kelley farm grew over 130 years ago. IN the house, try your hand at domestic crafts like making straw hats and soap.

Tour #2 Hjemkomst Center

On November 13 the event being held is called Pangea - Cultivate our Cultures. This is an indoor celebration of ethnic, racial and cultural diversity in the Red River Valley with exhibits, performances and foods to sample. There will be 10 food vendors from various cultures. Visitors can buy food tickets at 50 cents per ticket. The food is very affordable and there will be meal offerings, not just samplings. there will be Danish, Sri Lankan, Mexican, and other food options. There is also a church tour. For the children they have a Passport Activity. There will be signs for the children to go to different areas and see and learn something of that country or do an activity. When they complete it, they will get their "Passport" stamped. They even take the child's picture to put in the Passport. There is also a new exhibit called "150 Years of Immigration to Clay County". You can also visit this exhibit. the hours are from 10-4 p.m. in Moorhead, MN.

Bus Tour #1 Oktoberfest

We would go on a Saturday, either October 2 or 9th. The event starts at noon. 2 stages of continuous entertainment (variety of music), German food court (other food also available at the restaurant in the Holiday Inn); German vendors. Everything is held indoors.

Upcoming Bus Tour

We are looking at doing another bus tour for Big Stone County residents. Following the last tour, I was given a number of ideas of places to go. I narrowed it down to five locations, which you get to vote on. The one receiving the most votes will be followed up on as far as costs, transportation, meals, etc. See other posts for a description of the five: 1) Okotberfest in New Ulm; 2) Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead; 3) Olvier H. Kelley Farm in Elk River; 4) Gibbs Museum in St. Paul; 5) Itasca State Park. Votes need to be in no later than September 1st. For more information contact the Ortonville Library at 320-839-2494 and the Graceville Library at 320-748-7332.

Children's Saturday Reading Program

There will NOT be a Saturday Children's reading program this fall. Due to budget constraints, we cannot afford to offer this program.

August 28th Back to School Event

Due to an illness and subsequent death in the family and being away from work so much, we will not be having this event. I only had two people volunteer to help with it and I just cannot get it all together in time to do justice for the event and for the children to have one. We will be looking at doing this at a later time. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

August 28th Back to School Event

I am trying to pull together an afternoon event on August 28th for a Back to School theme for the children. I have a storyteller, Bob Gasch, a puppeteer, Dianne Gasch, Emily from Sibley State Park to do a craft with the children and some other possiblities. I would like to have this as an afternoon event, concluding with Bob Gasch telling us scary stories around a campfire with hot dogs and smores. I need help! Anyone who would like to work with me on this, or can do a craft or a sing along, anything, please contact me so we can get the date set and the contracts sent out. 839-2494.

Indiana Bones is coming to Ortonville!

Yes, Indiana Bones will be at the Ortonville Public Library on Saturday, July 17th at 1:00 p.m. Indiana Bones is a storyteller froom New Mexico. He has one an Emmy Award for his Storytelling.
Indiana bones will spark your imagination and help ignite the flames of exploration through reading with his unique approach to Storytelling!
the titles of the stories he will be performing are: "Thor and the Land of Giants"; "The Runestone of Minnesota"; and "Dragons From an Ancient Land".
The theme of his program is : "Treasures of North Mythology and More! Stories for the Whole Family."
Following his storytelling, he will allow photographs to be taken of him with children, etc. Don't miss this Emmy Award Winning Storyteller! A once in a lifetime chance.

Life in Big Stone & Swift County During World War II

Marlys Gallagher, Swift County Historical Society, will offer us a snapshot back in time...in Big Stone and Swift County. She will have items and talk about these two counties during World War II...on the homoefront. Marlys will be at Northridge Residence on Thursday, July 15 at 7:00 p.m. She will also be at Grace Home on Thursday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m. Feel free to attend either or both presentations. Marlys has a wealth of knowledge to share with all. This project is funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Sibley State Park

Emily Lorenzen from the Sibley State park is a part of MinnAqua/Naturalist Corps. She will be at the Ortonville Public Library for the Summer Reading Program on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. She will be doing different water projects with the children. Possibilities include Food Chain Tag; Fish Sense; Pop can Casting, and others. The programs will be held during the regular times of the summer reading program. This program will be at 1:00 for 1-4th grades and at 2:30 for preschool through kindergarten.

Senior Surf Day

Senior Surf Day will be held at the Ortonville Public Library on July 28, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You will have the opportunity to learn computer and Internet basics. The class is open to all SENIORS who are interested in learning more about computers and the Internet. The cost is FREE!!!!! You will learn computer basics, Internet searching, and how to access websites of interest to seniors. These services are being provided by: Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
If you would like more information, please contact Ashley Ellingson, Senior Outreach Specialist, 320-235-8504, Extension 252 or you can email Ashely at ashley.ellingson@mmrdc.org

New Databases

Check out our new databases that are available for you to use from your home. the first one is Powerspeak Languages. Whether you want to learn for personal enrichment, for business or to get ready to travel abroad, powerspeak languages is an online resource to learn: Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and English for Spanish speakers. There is a guided tutorial to help you get started.
The second one is Chilton's Database. All you need here is the kind of vehicle you are looking for and all the information will be there, just as if you had the printed Chilton's manual in front of you.

Summer Reading Program

We will start the summer reading program off with registration the week of June 7. On June 16th, we will be having Curtis Allan Hed's Magic Show at the Ortonville Public Library at 1:00 p.m. This is open to everyone, not just summer reading participants. We also are asking that an adult accompanies the child/ren to the program. The reason is we are trying to promote more family activities. Many of you work, so if a grandparent or someone else can come along that would be great. First program will be 23rd. 1st - 4th grade will meet at 1:00 p.m.; preschool - kindergarten will meet at 2:30 p.m. and 5th - 12th grade (teens) will meet at 4:00 p.m. This year's theme is Make a Splash @ Your Library! We have lots of fun water projects; pirate projects, etc. Lots of prizes will be available again for you to purchase with your library dollars. The programs will be held every Wednesday with the last program being on July 28th.

World War II

If you click on the website noted, there is a slideshow of WW II which I think you will find very interesting. this following our great bus tour to the exhibit of Minnesota's Greatest Generation in St. Paul. Please watch the slideshow.

Jill Kalz visit

Jill Kalz visited our library on Saturday, May 1st. We had about 15 people in attendance. The presentation was wonderful! Her book "Farmer Cap" was a big hit with young and old alike.

Bus Trip to MN History Center

We still have room on the buses for the MN History Center Trip. The bus ride and ticket into the exhibit is free to you. All you are responsible for is your meals. There is over 6,000 square feet of exhibits of World War II, The Depression and The Boom Years. We will have a guided tour of the exhibit as well as looking on your own. Call the library and sign up today. The trip is open to anyone who wants to go. 320-839-2494 or 320-748-7332.

Douglas Wood

Douglas Wood, author, compose, speaker, singer and wilderness guide will be at the Ortonville Public Library on Thursday, May 13th at 4 p.m.
Douglas Wood is the creator of 26 books, with over two million copies in print. "Old Turtle" and "Gradad's Prayers of the Earth" are well-known classics along with the "What Grown-Ups Can't Do" series.
In his books and programs, Doug leads young people on a lively journey of discovery, helping them to understand themselves and the antural world around them.
Not only an author-illustrator, Douglas Wood is also an accomplished musician and composer. He performs his compelling songs of nature's beauty and the human experience on 6 and 12 string guitars, banjo, and mandolin.
Douglas Wood performs across the country, reaching audiences of all ages with a superb blend of story-telling and music, highlighted by light-hearted humor and the rare ability to lift the human spirit.
This project was funded in part or in whole throught the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment, by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, to preserve Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage.

Bus Tour to History Center

The Big Stone and Swift County Libraries are joinging together to provide a FREE bus tour to the Minnesota History Museum to see the "Minnesota's Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom" exhibit on Tuesday, May 11 and Saturday, May 15th. The Libraries will be paying for your bus ride and for your admition ticket into the exhibit. Seating is limited to 100 people per day. This will be on a first come, first seated basis. To reserve your seat, contact the Ortonville Public Library at 320-839-2494; Graceville at 320-748-7332; Appleton at 320-289-1681; Benson at 320-842-7981; and Kerkhoven at 320-264-2141. The bus will leave Graceville at 7:15; Ortonville 7:45; Appleton 8:15; Benson 9:15, and Kerkhoven at 9:45. We should arrive home at Kerkhoven at 6:30; Benson at 7:00; appleton at 7:45; Ortonville at 8:15 and Graceville at 8:45.
The project was funded in part or in whole through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment, by a vote of the people of Minensota on November 4, 2008, to preserve Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage.

Jill Kalz

Jill Kalz is the author of nearly 50 children's books and works as a children's book editor in Mankato, MN. As a resident of New Ulm, the small German town where she was born and raised, kalz has a fondness for sauerkraut and an unusually high tolerance for polks. She lives with her dog Rum Tum Tuckerbean, a handsome bichon who shows up as a character in some of her books. Her recent books include: "Henry Shortbull Swallows the Sun" , part of the Pfeffernut County series; "The Boy Who Loved Trains" and "Tuckerbean in the Kitchen".

Brian Freeman

Brian Freeman, psychological suspense writer, will be at the Ortonville Public Library on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10:30 to 12:00. Brian Freeman is coming to Ortonville as part of the collaboration between Pioneerland Library System, Plum Creek Library System and SAMMIE Library System as part of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment, by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, to preserve Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage.
Brian has ben nominated for multiple literary awards, and his Duluth-based novels have been published in more than a dozen languages. He is an engaging and humorous speaker who will share anecdotes about the mystery genre, the creative process, and the ups and downs of the writer's life. Don't miss the fun, inspiring look inside the world of publishing. His latest thriller is "The Burying Place". He has also written "Stripped", "Immoral" "The Agency", "Stalked"; and "In the Dark".

Media Center

If you want to book time in the Media Center, please call the library at 320-839-2494 or send an email to ortonvillemediacenter@gmail.com
We will need to know how many people you are planning on, equipment you will need, any assistance you will need, time needed.
We have available 10 laptops, 3 desk computers, LCD projector, Smartboard, DVD player, 2 TV's, VCR.

Satruday Children's reading program

The Saturday Children's reading program has been cancelled for Saturday's starting 2-1-10. Due to the lack of interest, we just cannot afford to have a staff member here to do the program. We are sorry to have to cancel, as we have done this program for 8 years.

Adult Reading Program

The Adult Reading Program is now underway. Any adult who enjoys reading may sign up for the program. The only requirement of the program is to read books! No Reports! The program will run until April 30, 2010. Many prizes have been donated by local businesses. Stop in and sign up for the program now.

Media Center Open House

The Media Center will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, February 3 from 12 to 5 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting at 12:15. KDIO Radio will be doing a live broadcast from the Media Center from noon to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served by the friends of the Ortonville Public Library Foundation.
A powerpoint presentation will be running and demonstrations on equipment will be done.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, in conjunction with State Library Services, a division of the Minnesoat Department of Education, which administers federal LSTA grants supports the LSTA project sponsored by the Ortonville Public Library.