ADULT WINTER READING PROGRAM
This is the fifth year for our adult winter reading program which is scheduled for January 15 – March 15, 2013. We think it is a lot of fun for our adult readers, but participation is totally optional. Every time you check out a book, magazine, audio book, or book on CD, you can fill out an entry slip for a chance to win one of the weekly prizes which will be given away. The library staff would like to thank the following businesses for donating prizes to the program: Bay Theatre-Caseville, Co-op Elevator Company-Pigeon, Elkton Hardware, Har-Jo’s Ben Franklin-Pigeon, McCormick Motors-Pigeon, and Eicher’s Cleaner-Pigeon.

Adult patrons who are downloading OverDrive audio books and e-books can also participate in the Winter Reading Program. Simply call the library within seven days of the date you have downloaded a book from OverDrive and the staff will fill out an entry slip for you after verifying the date of checkout.

LAP-SIT STORY TIME AND PRE-SCHOOL STORY HOUR
“Manners” will be the theme for Tuesday, January 22, 2013. A half-hour Lap-Sit Story Time is held for toddlers at 10:00 AM with parent and child attending the story time and Pre-School Story Hour is held at 10:30 AM. In both sessions, children listen to stories and participate in finger plays, songs, and crafts. There is no cost for this service and new families are always welcome. For more information, please call the library at 453-2341 and ask for Jane Himmel.

LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
The Pigeon District Library Board of Trustees will meet Thursday, January 24 at 4:30 PM in the library’s Community Room. The meeting is open to the public.

LOOKING FOR CLASS LEADERS
During the months of February and March, the library will be offering a variety of free classes and workshops. If you have a hobby or talent that you are willing to share with others, please call the library at 453-2341 and speak with Jeanette Bach about your willingness to lead a class or workshop.

TAIL WAGGIN’ TUTORS
Last year, the library started a program using therapy dogs called “Tail Waggin’ Tutors”. Children in grades K-4 are encouraged to come to the library and read to one of three therapy dogs. Bella is owned by Sandy Chalou, Paddy is owned by Bernie Dezenski, and Reese is owned by Jerry & Yvonne Greer. The goal is to encourage children to read by providing a relaxed, non-judgmental environment where children can feel comfortable reading aloud to a furry friend. The dogs are licensed, certified and insured – one through Therapy Dogs, Inc. and two through Therapy Dogs, International.

Pre-registration is required for the program which, during the winter, is offered on the second Thursday of each month between 4:00 PM and 500 PM. A child who signs up for the program will spend ten minutes reading aloud to one of the therapy dogs (and its handler). Bella, Paddy and Reese will be at the library on Thursday, February 14th from 4 PM – 5 PM. If your child is interested in reading to one of our “Tail Waggin’ Tutors” please call the library at 453-2341 to sign-up for an available time slot.

COFFEE TIME AT THE LIBRARY
Hot coffee, cocoa, and tea are available on Thursdays in the Reference Room of the library. Come and relax with a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea while reading the newspaper or visiting with fellow readers.

TITLES ADDED TO OVERDRIVE ADVANTAGE COLLECTION
The library has recently purchased thirty-seven e-book titles to add to its OverDrive Advantage Collection, bringing the library’s Advantage E-book Collection total to eighty-three. These titles are only visible to and available for check out to PDL patrons and are identified with an “a” and “checkmark” when one clicks on the “Download eBooks” link from the library’s home page and signs in to access the “FuelYourMind Digital Collection”. As always, patrons can browse this “Virtual Branch” website to see titles that are available to patrons of all the member libraries.

WRITING WORKSHOP
Pigeon District Library is hosting a free six-week “Words Work Writing Workshop” beginning January 14, 2013 from 7:00-9:00pm. Class dates are: Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4, 11, and 18 with Mon., Feb. 25th for makeup in case a regular date is canceled due to weather or other emergency.

This FREE workshop is open to any teen or adult with an interest in writing. No prior writing or publishing experience is required. There is no cost to participate but donations to the Pigeon Library are encouraged.

Leading the workshop is instructor Kathy Henderson-Sturtz, of Pigeon who is an award-winning book author with over 30 years professional experience writing, editing, publishing, speaking, and marketing in a wide variety of publications and fields.

For more information, contact: Kathy Henderson-Sturtz, kat@katsturtz.com or 989-545-5351.
To register: call Pigeon District Library at 989-453-2341.

CIRCULATION
Circulation for December 2012 was 2,336 items including 1,085 Books, 10 Toys, 1 Discovery Pack, 327 DVD Rentals, 180 Video Checkouts, 163 Audio, Books on CD and Playaways, 59 Magazines, 144 Internet Users, 15 Puzzles, 442 New Materials, and 63 NF Videos and DVDs. Inter-loan statistics included 168 items borrowed and 256 items loaned to other libraries through the Valley Library Consortium and 39 items borrowed and 21 items loaned to other libraries through MelCat. Statistics included 29 OverDrive Audio Books and 197 E-books. Income received included $140.30 from Copier, $110.60 from Fines, and $61.00 from Faxes. Nine registrations for the month included: Caseville 1, Chandler 1, City of Caseville 5, and Oliver 2.