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Ransom Book Discussion
Join us the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM for an hour of intellectual and entertaining conversation served up with snacks.
February 9:
The Time Traveler's Wife
By: Audrey Niffenegger
March 9:
Stealing Buddha's Dinner
By: Bich Minh Nguyen
April 13:
Sea of Poppies
By: Amitav Ghosh
May 11:
Flower for Algernon
By: Daniel Keyes
June 8:
Snow Falling on Cedars
By: David Guterson
July 13:
The Prince of Frogtown
By: Rick Bragg
All titles we have read are available in the discussion kit bags for circulation.
Book Club Kits To Go!
Area book clubs don't forget: Get your book club kits at Ransom Library! Everything you need to have a great discussion packed in a handy bag. Now 45 great titles guaranteed to please your readers.
Tax Time Help
Frequently used federal forms are already at Ransom
for patrons to pick up while Michigan forms will be available
mid-January.
Free Electronics Recycling @ Ransom
Ransom has now partnered with The Recycling Team to offer free recycling! We now accept: computers, monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, toners, cell phones, any type of batteries and more! No large appliances, please. TVs are accepted for a $10 fee. Please drop off items during regular library hours.
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Book Your Winter Escape Kick Off With Author Kristina Riggle
Thursday, February 11 @ 7 PM
According to Booklist magazine Riggle's debut novel Real Life & Liars “...crafts a moving and accomplished first novel about a family coming to terms with change. The characters are familiar but not stereotypical, and the quaint setting of Charlevoix, Michigan, a beachfront town, adds to the nostalgic feel.” Escape with the book and then meet her during our kick off for our 4th annual adult reading contest.
Have You Considered Longterm Care?
Presented by
Alicia Junghans of
ComForcare Senior Services
Thursday, February 18 @ 7 PM
No one wants to think about a time when they might need long-term care, but the reality is by planning ahead individuals can be knowledgeable of the resources available to them, have a plan in place to pay for it and gain control over their future. Patrons are invited to learn about several long term care options including assisted living; skilled nursing and homecare nursing in this free presentation.
Registration is required.
Making Money Online
Thursday, February 25 @ 7PM
Presented by Rod Janes
As they say ‘one man's junk is another man's treasure' and the easiest way to sell your unneeded “treasures” these days is online. Learn about some of the best sites to move your merchandise online including: Amazon.com, eBay and Craigslist.
Upcoming Computer Classes
Intro to Computers/Senior Computer Class
2nd Session
Dates: Wednesday: March 3, 10, 17, & 24 @ 7 PM
Students will start with computer terms and concepts, followed by an introduction to the Internet. We will help you sign up for a FREE Participant Account at Yahoo.com, learn about messages and attachments, and how to read and save an email. The course will conclude with basic computer maintenance.
Meet Microsoft Office Publisher
Date: Thursday: March 25 @ 7 PM
Join us for a quick overview of what Microsoft Office's latest desktop publishing application can do for you.
Ace Your Job Interview
Thursday, March 4 @ 7PM
Presented by: Michele Finch,
MI Works! Employment Counselor
Make the most of your interview and learn how to avoid the mistakes that make interviews memorable for all the wrong reasons. Mock interviews will be held if time allows. Registration is required.
Friends of Ransom Library Upcoming Book Sales
Save money and help the library at the same time by shopping at one of these upcoming book sales:
Saturday March 20, 2010
from 10-3 PM
Saturday May 15, 2010
from 10-3 PM
All money made is used for future book purchases and special programs. Most books are a $1 or less!
Book donations needed! If you are cleaning house and have CD's, books or DVD's consider donating them to Ransom.
Don't forget: Donations are tax deductable, too!
Power of the Mind
Jill Neese of Energy Within
Thursday, March 25 @ 2010
Jill , a Usui Reiki and Urevia
Master, will discuss how thoughts affect our lives on many levels. Come learn ways of attracting and manifesting your
Master, will discuss how thoughts affect our lives on many levels. Come learn ways of attracting and manifesting your
desires.
Book Your Winter Escape @ Ransom Library 2010
Adult & Teen Reading Contest February 11-March 18
It’s time again for Ransom’s fourth annual adult reading contest! This year we will be starting the "Escape" with local author Kristina Riggle on February 11 at 7 PM and concluding the journey on Thursday, March 18th at 7 PM with the humor of Crawlspace Eviction, comedy club food and the awarding of our top readers and raffle winners. Plus, one lucky attendee will win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble as a door prize!
For the weeks in between, simply read or listen to the latest and best fiction or nonfiction offered by Ransom Library. Fill out a brief review form and return it to Ransom to get in on our weekly drawings for great books along with a drawing for three $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards to be awarded during our Finale. Our top reader will once again be presented a $75 gift card to Barnes & Noble while our top teen reader will win a $25 gift card. Yes, this year teens are invited to participate, so parents, the challenge is on… who reads more: you or your kids?
Ransom is once again partnering with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra to offer participant’s tickets to Harvey’s Hideaway, so enjoy a night at the symphony on us! And if that’s not enough we will even start participants on the road to winning by entering them into the drawings just for signing up for the "Escape" during our kick-off featuring local author Kristina Riggle.
Riggle lives and writes in West Michigan. Besides her debut novel, Real Life & Liars, Riggle has published short stories in the Cimarron Review, Literary Mama, Espresso Fiction, and elsewhere. She is also a freelance journalist writing primarily for The Grand Rapids Press, and co-editor for fiction at Literary Mama.
Riggle lives and writes in West Michigan. Besides her debut novel, Real Life & Liars, Riggle has published short stories in the Cimarron Review, Literary Mama, Espresso Fiction, and elsewhere. She is also a freelance journalist writing primarily for The Grand Rapids Press, and co-editor for fiction at Literary Mama.
Crawlspace Eviction Concludes BYWE Reading Contest
March 18 @ 7 PM
After four weeks of turning pages, Ransom's adult reading contest concludes with the unpredictable and hilarious humor of Kalamazoo's premiere improv and comedy sketch group, Crawlspace Eviction on March 18 at 7 PM. The team is known for instantly exploring whatever subject is thrown at them through traditional
short-form improv games along with digging deeper by way of long-form
improv comedy. The focus for this evening will of course be on what patrons have been reading.
The fun doesn't stop there though, patrons will be treated to comedy club food and our top readers will be awarded. We will also have the drawing for the three $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards and some lucky soul will win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble as a door prize!
According to Dann Sytsma, founder of Crawlspace Eviction, the audience can expect a customized show that will be geared toward the whole family. He added that audience participation will be a big part of the show.
Systma said, "the team started with a group of us working together on play called "Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding", at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre." He added that they all had a fondness for improv comedy and that, based on his experiences working improv in Grand Rapids, he decided to get a group together.
"Six years later, we're still going strong and doing new stuff. We're all very good friends." And added, "That's a good recipe for longevity." The average life span of an improv group is 18 months.
So if you want to see Kalamazoo's longest lasting improv group perform make plans to join us for our Finale to Book Your Winter Escape @ Ransom Adult Reading Contest.
Systma said, "the team started with a group of us working together on play called "Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding", at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre." He added that they all had a fondness for improv comedy and that, based on his experiences working improv in Grand Rapids, he decided to get a group together.
"Six years later, we're still going strong and doing new stuff. We're all very good friends." And added, "That's a good recipe for longevity." The average life span of an improv group is 18 months.
So if you want to see Kalamazoo's longest lasting improv group perform make plans to join us for our Finale to Book Your Winter Escape @ Ransom Adult Reading Contest.
8 Resolutions Ransom Can Help You Keep
1.) Relax & Spend Quality Time with Family and Friends @ Ransom!
2.) Tame the bulge with our great selection of diet & health books.
3.) Fit in fitness with an exercise DVD.
4.) Reduce stress with a bestseller. Reading is relaxing!
5.) Learn something new at one of our free programs!
6.) Volunteer and help others by joining our Friends' group or learning about other community volunteer needs.
7.) Find information to help you: Get a new job; get organized or even quit smoking.
8.) Save money by using Ransom as a one stop place for books, movies, music, copies, faxes and WiFi.
Send Us Your Email Address
So We Can Serve You Better
Patrons: By sending us your e-mail address we can quicklyalert you to reserves, MEL books,new titlesyou may be interested in checking out or even libraryprograms youmaywant toattend.
Still not sure about sharing your e-mail?
Remember library records are considered private and confidential. Ransom will not sell, lease, or otherwise distribute or disclose your e-mail address for non-library purposes to outside parties unless required court order.
To add your email address to your account just click on Contact Us ; fill in your e-mail address & and in the comments area put "add my e-mail address."
MyLibraryDV @ Ransom Library
Free Movies & Free TV Shows -
Need an escape without leaving your living room? How about a quick way to entertain the kids when the weather doesn't cooperate this summer? What about a tip from Julia Child on how to make a great meal? All this and more is now available! Ransom Library is now offering our patrons the free downloadable DVD service MyLibraryDV.
Now Available! Check it Out!
United States Census 2010 is Almost Here
It's in Our Hands
The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. The 2010 Census will help communities receive over $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like: Hospitals, Job training centers, Schools,
Senior centers, Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects and
Emergency services.
The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
We can't move forward until you mail it back.
In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form.