Library Page

Summer can be a hectic time for all and it can be difficult to allot time for every activity, pass time, and event that you may want to participate in.

If you'd like to join a book club or have been in a book club previously and wish to come back, look no further than the Hales Corners Library.


While not everyone has been able to find time for the Monday Afternoon Book Discussion Group during this busy summer season, have no fear because the book group will continue through the fall and winter months allowing those with numerous summer commitments to join in when the days begin to calm down.
The group meets one Monday a month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the board room of the library.

Most of the sessions are led by Adult Services Librarian, Jenny Fridl. Jenny has a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Library and Information Science and has enjoyed the previous book groups she has led. It also goes without saying that Jenny loves to read and is eager to read and share more great books with the group.


Upcoming titles are Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, to be read for August 27th, Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazer, to be read for September 24th, and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, to be read for October 22nd. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the library at 414-529-6150 ext. 10. We cannot wait to read with you!

There was a bevy of animals at the Hales Corners library this week.

The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center visited us on Wednesday morning for Ms. Susie's program, "Animals Great and Small". Children were shown a frog, snake, tadpole, tarantula and a rat, and were able to actually touch the rat.


The next day, Thursday, another animal visited the library. Library staff member Janice kindly brought in her White-bellied Caigue Parrot Kiwi to share with the children of Hales Corner Library (though the adults enjoyed Kiwi too).
Kiwi was friendly and social with everyone he met and didn't hesitate to climb onto the shoulders or arms of anyone he saw. The six-year old parrot entertained patrons with his cat calls and his rendition of the Charge call often heard at sporting events.

After the animal program on Wednesday, the Whitnall Middle School band set up their instruments outside on the lower level of the library and gave a 30-minute performance.

The band has been playing at a few other community locations in preparation for the upcoming fall band season.
The school's band director, Lynn LeRoy, contacted the library and expressed interest in setting up a performance.

The concert was a success and drew a large audience. We're optimistic that there will be more concerts in the future!

You'd almost have to be living in a cave not to know that the newest, and last, book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is being released at midnight tonight. Rowling's final Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is the seventh in the series and is on high demand at all Milwaukee County libraries and, presumably, all libraries around the country.

If you have requested a copy of this hot item, do not fret. Most libraries have ordered multiple copies of the book. The Hales Corners Library has ordered three books and two audio books for the seventh Potter title. We received the books on Wednesday but, of course, they cannot and will not be opened, read, or checked out until after the book officially hits the bookstore shelves.

The staff members at Hales Corners, both those who follow the series and those who do not, agree that the increased interest and excitement J.K. Rowling has sparked in readers and non-readers of all ages is fantastic. We hope all of those readers continue to read after they've finished the final chapter in Harry's tale.

Any Potter fans looking for another series to pick up may be interested in Phillip Pullman's trilogy, labeled His Dark Materials. The three books in the trilogy include The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. The Hales Corners Library owns two copies of each book as well as the audio versions. You may have already seen a preview for the movie version of The Golden Compass (the first book in the series) which will be released in theaters December 7, 2007.

Additionally, if your thirst for all things Harry Potter is not quenched after finishing the final book, join Ms. Susie on Thursday, August 2nd from 2-3:30 p.m. for a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book discussion. This discussion is open to fans of all ages, but please do not attend if you haven't finished the book. The ending will be discussed!

On Wednesday, July 18th Ms. Susie coordinated a spectacular program at the Hales Corners library called "Magnificent Machines". Members of the community and community businesses offered up their vehicles, both old and new, to be displayed on the lawn of the library.



Seven magnificent machines in total were featured, including a Hales Corners fire engine, a 1957 Farmall Cub lawn tractor, a 1958 Bantam lawn tractor, a John Deere front end loader, and a 1951 black Chevrolet. Additionally, M-W Marine of Hales Corners brought a blue boat labeled Fisherman with a seven foot tall outboard motor, and Holz Chevrolet, also of Hales Corners, lent the library a 2007 black Chevrolet pick-up truck for the night.

Adults and children alike had a great time inspecting the machines (the boat transformed into a pirate ship and a shark diving ship throughout the evening). The program was definitely a highlight at the library this week!

An exciting new program called Read to Wilson has started at the library this week. Read to Wilson is a program in which children are given the opportunity to have two 15 minute sessions with Wilson, a docile Dalmatian. In these sessions, the children read stories to Wilson as he eagerly listens.




The goal of this program is to make children, who may feel shy when reading to their peers, more comfortable with reading aloud. The children are usually less stressed when reading to a dog as the dog will not judge their reading ability. Programs like this one have helped many children reduce their apprehension when it comes to reading.

Wilson and his handler, Mary Jo Cardenas, have achieved the Handler/PetTeam Accreditation through Pets Helping People. Additionally, Wilson is insured and has passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Exam. When he's not listening to stories at the library, Wilson can be found donating his time in schools and hospitals.

The Hales Corners Library is putting out a call to all artists. Did you know that you can have your artwork displayed in the library for an entire month? The library features the work of a different artist each month in the library's alcoves.

As it stands now, we do not have an artist for August or September and would love the community's creative minds to step forward and bring in their astounding creations. If you are interested in being the Artist of the Month, contact Janice at 414-529-6150 ext. 11.

Call soon and allow your masterpieces the glory and admiration they deserve!

Book Squad volunteer Robert is helping to care for Dash this summer. Every day, Monday through Saturday, Robert prepares Dash’s food and gives Dash a bath in the workroom sink.

Dash eats a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit. He really likes asparagus, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, watermelon and strawberries. Unfortunately, we’ve never seen Dash eat because he only eats at night after the library is closed. In the morning this huge mound of food will be reduced to just a few bits and pieces.

Though it may be hard for many of you to believe, this Fourth of July week marks the one year anniversary of the naming of the library's turtle, Dash. Last summer, children at the library were given the chance to vote for one of six names. Dash, who patiently went without a name for nearly a month, was officially named on July 4, 2006. So, has Dash lived up to his name? We think so. He is certainly dashing and, while he may not be a speed demon inside the walls of his home, you'd better keep up with him when he's let out of the tank. Dash, who was given to us by the Corners Pet Store in Hales Corners, has had a good year. He receives extra special attention from Ms. Susie every day. This summer, Ms. Susie has also enlisted the help of Book Squad member Robert to take care of Dash while she is on vacation. Ms. Susie takes Dash outside to get some fresh air when the weather is nice and he enjoys a daily diet of delicious fruits and vegetables. Most importantly, he greets many eager visitors each day. If it has been a while since you've visited Dash, or if you've never visited Dash, come in to the library soon. He would love to see you!