Look Inside for Upcoming Programs and Events! Chat from the Chair

Winter 2016
Chat from the Chair
The Belleville Area District Library Board has been working on our next attempt
at an improved version of the current downtown library. I would like to thank
those who took the time to complete the survey to let the board know what
types of library services and amenities were important to them.
Based on the survey results, the board has reduced the size of the main library
building by approximately one-third of the 2014 proposal. Also, as a result of survey input, some
amenities to the main and satellite locations will either be eliminated or scaled back.
Look Inside for
Upcoming Programs
and Events!
Belleville Area District Library
167 Fourth Street
699-3291
www.belleville.lib.mi.us
Hours:
Mon.-Thurs. 10 am-9 pm
Fri. & Sat. 10 am-5 pm
Library Board
Michael Boelter
LaChelle Reed Caver
Joy Cichewicz
Mary Jane Dawson
John Juriga
Sharon C. Peters
Tanya Stoudemire
The library board meets on the second
Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm.
The library will be closed on the
following days:
Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday, January 18 –
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Friday, March 25 – Good Friday
24/7 Library Services @
www.belleville.lib.mi.us
At their December meeting, the board voted to explore building a new two story library
downtown, in the general location of the current library. A newly constructed library will be
the most user friendly and energy efficient of the options that the board considered.
The Building Committee has met informally with City officials in anticipation of working together
for a downtown site. The Marketing and Building Committees look forward to providing more
information to voters as plans progress. Please check the BADL web site often for more
information regarding plans for meeting with local residents: http://www.belleville.lib.mi.us/.
The BADL Board welcomes public comments at our monthly board meetings. The meetings
are held in the Program Room at the library on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm.
Information regarding the regular monthly board meetings are posted at the library and on the
BADL web site. Occasionally, a need may arise for a Special Board Meeting to be held. Notices
and agendas are posted at the library and on the BADL web site at least 18 hours prior to any
Special Board Meetings.
On behalf of the Belleville Area District Library Board, I would like to thank you for supporting
the Belleville Area District Library.
MJ Dawson, Chair
Belleville Area District Library Board
Featured Collection: Teen
Start your quest for page-turning mythology at the library!
Our Teen Collection has full sets of Rick Riordan’s books, including
The Sword of Summer the first book of his new Norse mythology
series about Magnus Chase. Looking for more myths set in
modern times? Why not try Neil Gaiman’s Odd and the Frost
Giants or West of the Moon by Margi Preus. Or, go straight to the
ancient source with books like the Treasury of Egyptian Mythology
by Donna Jo Napoli or Gilgamesh the Hero as retold by Geraldine
McCaughrean. The librarians are always ready to lead you on a
new quest for great reads!
Stay Tuned!
The Belleville Area District Library Board is working to fulfill its civic commitment to
create library facilities that will meet the needs of our community for many years to
come, and your vision is needed. The board is planning activities in the new year to
get your ideas and help.
Children’s Programs
Friends of the Library
Story Times
Register at the library starting Monday, January 4.
Family Story Time
Mondays
January 11 – February 22
(ages 5-10)
6:30 pm
March 14 – April 25
(No Family Story Time on Monday, January 18, in observance of MLK, Jr. Day)
Tuesday Toddler Time
(ages 2-4)
Tuesdays
11 am
January 12 – February 23
March 15 – April 26
Thursday Toddler Time
(ages 2-4)
Thursdays
11 am
January 14 – February 25
March 17 – April 28
Science Kidz!
Our hands-on science program for children ages 6-12 plus a parent are fun
and educational! Programs are on Wednesdays at 7 pm, March 9 – 30, and
May 4 – 25. Registration starts February 15.
Join the Friends!
Meetings are open to members and the
public, so all are encouraged to attend.
FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, January 23, 1-3 pm
Friends 2016 Meetings (10-11:30 am)
Saturday, January 9
Saturday, February 13
Saturday, March 12
Saturday, April 9
Used Book Sale
Saturday, February 6 and May 7
11 am – Noon, Friends only
Noon – 3 pm, General Public
March 9 Marshmallow Engineering!
Let’s see how high we can build towers with spaghetti and marshmallows!
March 16 Owl Pellets!
Learn about what owls eat and decorate a pair of binoculars to take home.
March 23 Hunters of the Night!
The Leslie Science Center will be here to do a live bird program.
March 30 Slime!
Use chemistry to see how many types of slime we can make. A messy good time!
May 4 Bacteria!
Learn about the bacteria around us with some fun experiments and have a
tasty yogurt snack.
May 11 Boats!
Build boats out of recycled materials and see how much weight they can carry.
May 18 Spy Science!
Make a cipher wheel and write a secret code with invisible ink.
May 25 Insects!
Learn about the wonderful world of insects and make a butterfly net to take home.
Ellie the Reading Therapy Dog and Madison Samotis
enjoyed a great book together.
2015 Annual Report
2014-2015 Statistics
Number of Library visits Items checked out
Book collections
Number of audios/videos/CD’s
Periodical Subscriptions
eBooks / eAudios
Reference questions answered
Program participants
Interlibrary loans
– items borrowed
Interlibrary loans
– items loaned
Library card holders
Public Internet users
2015-2016 Approved Budget
124,000
196,728
82,967
8,631
171
13,989
29,705
10,106
24,820
Revenues
Millage$865,000
State and Federal
Contributions$30,000
Local Fines and Fees
Penal Fines
$30,000
Library Fees
$35,000
Donations$5,000
TOTAL$965,080
16,388
17,419
39,608
Expenditures
Personnel$597,190
Books and Materials
$125,000
Supplies$15,000
Professional Fees,
Services, and Charges
$112,480
Utilities, Repairs,
Building Insurance
$65,000
Printing, Postage, and
Publications$24,000
Computer Hardware/
Software
$13,500
Miscellaneous $12,500
TOTAL$964,670
Contribution to Fund Balance
Visit www.belleville.lib.mi.us
2
$410
Adult Programs
Gadget Gurus
Did you get a new phone, tablet, or digital camera for the holidays? We can help you
learn how to use it! Forty-five minute individual tutoring sessions are available throughout the week. Call the library to set up an appointment.
Write Stuff Writers’ Group
All local, aspiring authors are welcome! We meet in the tutoring room of the library
from 1-3 pm, on the last Saturday of every month.
Homegrown Knowledge Series
This monthly series showcases the talents, knowledge, and experiences of your
neighbors. Stop by on the second Thursday of the month for snacks and hometown
stories. January 14 – Dave Wilson
Isha Kriya Meditation Workshop
Thursday, January 28, 7 pm
In this free, 1-hour Isha Kriya meditation class, participants will learn a simple yet
powerful 15-minute daily practice which offers enhanced feelings of peace, calm, and
clarity. No previous meditation experience is necessary, and it can be done seated in
a chair.
Join us for some fiber crafting fun!
Beginning Thursday, February 4, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Join librarians Amy and Hilary every other Thursday for fiber arts fun.
All crafts welcome! Beginning knitters and crocheters: we have supplies and expertise
to get you started.
DIY Fizzy Bath Bombs
Wednesday, February 10, 7 pm
Make your own relaxing, scented fizzy bath bombs to pamper yourself, or to give as
gifts for Valentine’s Day. Participants must register in person and pay $3.00 material
fee to reserve their space in the program. Registration opens Tuesday, January 26,
and closes when class is full.
Spring Computer Classes
March 22-29
Introductory computer classes offered on a variety of topics! Classes are free, but
registration and a $5.00 deposit per class are required. (Deposits are returned to you
in class.) Some classes require basic computer skills. Participants must register in
person, beginning February 29. Registration is open until classes are full.
Landscaping with Native Plants
Tuesday, April 26, 7 pm
Drew Lathin, the General Manager of Creating Sustainable Landscapes LLC, will
be joining us to talk about using native plants in your home landscape. When you
plant native species, you can dramatically increase caterpillar, butterfly, bee, and
insect populations which bring in birds, amphibians, and other wildlife that are either
directly or indirectly dependent on insects. Additionally, you can eliminate the use of
potable water and other chemical inputs, thus making your landscapes healthier and
less expensive to maintain.
Michael Lynch about to
perform the tablecloth trick
at a Mythbusters edition of
Science Kidz!
3
Quilters and Homegrown Knowledge speakers
Elaine Gutierrez, Bertha Vandercook, Marilyn Locke,
Jackie Copeland, and Kathleen Miller at the
10th anniversary of the Belleville Centennial Quilt.
Book Groups
Science Fiction and Fantasy Book
Group meets at the library the first
Monday of every month at 7 pm.
• January 4 – Ringworld by Larry Niven
• February 1 – Sunshine by
Robin McKinley
• March 7 – Ancillary Justice by
Ann Leckie
• April 4 – A Canticle for Leibowitz
by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
The Evening Book Group meets at
the library the first Thursday of every month
at 7 pm.
• January 7 – Daughter of Smoke and
Bone by Laini Taylor
• February 4 – Beatrice and Virgil by
Yann Martel
• March 3 – Their Eyes Were Watching
God by Zora Neale Hurston
• April 7 – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• May 5 – Without You, There is No Us by
Suki Kim
The Other Book Group meets at
restaurants throughout the community on
the third Thursday of every month at 7 pm.
Ask at the library for the next meeting place!
• January 21 – There’s Something I Want
You to Do by Charles Baxter
• February 18 – The Crystal Cave
by Mary Stewart
• March 17 – The Absolutely True Diary of
a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
• April 21 – Droidmaker: George Lucas and
the Digital Revolution by Michael Rubin
African American Literature
Book Group meets at the library on the
last Thursday of the month at 7 pm.
• January 28 – Blessings by
Sheneska Jackson
• February 25 – The Misadventures of
Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
• March 31 – Jazz by Toni Morrison
• April 28 – Between the World and Me by
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Visit www.belleville.lib.mi.us
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
Serving Belleville, Sumpter and Van Buren
167 Fourth St.
Belleville, MI 48111
Mark Your Calendars!
2016 Garden Walk:
Dally Down the Alley!
Sunday, July 10, 2015
11 am – 4 pm
This year’s Garden Walk is different! Our
10th walk features gardens in one special
neighborhood in the City of Belleville.
Libraries
Transform
Celebrate
National Library Week
with us
April 10-16!
Digital Collections
Can’t make it in? We have tons of free resources you can
access online. All you need is an internet connection and
library card. Visit www.belleville.lib.mi.us to login.
Michigan eLibrary: academic articles, homework
help, and study guides
Odilo: Our new small press eBook Collection
OverDrive: 5,000 eBooks and downloadable Audiobooks
Pronunciator: Learn 80 languages online
Tumblebooks: Interactive eBooks for kids
Zinio: More than 200 eMagazines, including back issues
Attendance at Library events constitutes consent to be and/or
electronic publicity for the Belleville Area District Library.
Do you know an adult who needs help reading? The Belleville Area District Library offers FREE 1-on-1
tutoring with trained literacy volunteers. Learners must commit to meeting with their tutor once a week
for two hours. This service is completely confidential. For more information, stop by the library or call us
at 699-3291.
Printer out of ink? Need 50 color copies? Don’t want to drive out of town?
Your library can help with all this and more!
Visit www.belleville.lib.mi.us
PAID
Belleville, MI
Permit No. 103