Winter connect web by Omaha Public Library

Connect Volume 20 • Issue 4 • Winter 2013-2014

News from Omaha Public Library • OPL Foundation • Friends of OPL

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Director’s Note Fall Recap

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New Year, New You Recommended Reads

Michael Phipps Gallery W. Dale Clark Main Library 215 S. 15th St. | 1st Floor

Available free of charge to local artists and art groups for exhibitions throughout the year. Exhibits are displayed for approximately one month and are scheduled 12 months in advance.

Dec — The works of Marilyn Beig Mixed media artist Marilyn Beig will present a sampling of her work. Beig is active with the Associated Artists of Omaha, Duchesne Academy, and various public art projects.

Jan — Black History Exhibit The Great Plains Black History Museum will present an exhibit of Baseball and Negro Leagues in Omaha.

Feb — Trans-Mississippi Exposition Travel back in time and visit the 1898 TransMississippi World’s Fair in Omaha. This exhibit will feature memorabilia from OPL’s collection, as well as contributions from The Durham Museum and private collectors.

Opening reception & book signing Fri | Feb 7 | 6 pm Local author Timothy Schaffert will sign copies of his latest novel The Swan Gondola, set amid the 1898 World’s Fair.

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Holiday Gift Guide KidSpot & TeenSpace

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Friends of OPL OPL Foundation

Winter Reading Club January — February Brrr! It’s that time of year when nothing sounds better than staying cozy and curling up with a good book and a warm beverage. Why not earn rewards while you’re at it by participating in the Winter Reading Club? All ages are encouraged to participate. This is not your typical club. There are no meetings, membership dues, or long lists of rules. All you need to do is read and/or attend OPL programs to earn online badges in January and February. Five badges will earn you a prize and automatically enter you into a drawing for more prizes. Winners of the drawing will be announced in the first week of March. Need book suggestions? Review staff picks from the OPL catalog, request a customized reading list, or read staff book reviews at booknook.omahalibrary.org. Here’s how to participate: • • •

Author Fair

Discover, meet and greet local authors, and buy their books! Writers are welcome to participate and may register at

authorfair2014.eventbrite.com.

The event will also feature a panel of local experts who will discuss various aspects of publishing.

Register at any OPL location or online at Sat | Feb 22 | 1-4 pm omahalibrary.org. W. Dale Clark Main Library Read or listen to materials, attend programs and more to earn badges. Track your progress online. Receive a prize when you’ve earned five badges and be automatically entered into a drawing to win additional prizes.

WRC is sponsored by the Omaha Public Library Foundation and Friends of Omaha Public Library.

Director’s Note Celebrate the Season It’s hard to believe that another year is coming to a close. As a child, time seemed to drag and a year felt like an eternity. Now I’m trying to figure out how it can already be winding down. Regardless, Omaha Public Library (OPL) certainly accomplished much this year, including a record number of visits to our libraries and an ever-increasing demand for more materials. It’s exciting to see people discovering OPL each week and learning the many rewards of being a library member. Several OPL locations increased hours of service this year. Staff found creative ways to operate more efficiently, and as a result, libraries are open an additional 69 hours a week across the system. This increase ensures that libraries are accessible at convenient hours so that you and your family can take advantage of the many resources available. In the spirit of the holiday season, we wish to thank so many people for making this a terrific year. Thank you to: •

Mayor Stothert and Omaha City Council for their leadership and support in keeping your libraries open and available to all;

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The Library Board of Trustees for their insight and guidance as we continue to develop an innovative and growing library system;

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The Friends of OPL and OPL Foundation for many years of dedication and passion for the library and its mission;

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Those in the Omaha philanthropic community whose generosity helps OPL to expand its reach to those who need it most;

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The Omaha community who support OPL’s work with monetary gifts, volunteering time, and being engaged;

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OPL staff who greet you with a smile when you visit and help you find what you need. On behalf of all of us at Omaha Public Library, a very happy holiday season to you and yours, and best wishes for a fruitful New Year!

Fall Recap Omaha Reads During the ninth annual Omaha Reads campaign, OPL encouraged the community to join together in reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. The title was selected through an online public vote and the pioneer true-crime story of the 1959 Clutter family murder in Holcomb, Kansas, sparked much conversation and had many people asking what Capote was hoping to accomplish with this work. Several book talks and movie showings took place throughout September, as well as a forensics program presented by the Omaha Police Department Crime Lab. OPL welcomed Capote expert, author and Random House editor-at-large David Ebershoff to discuss Capote’s work and life. In Cold Blood was checked out more than 600 times during the Omaha David Ebershoff Reads campaign.

Author Visits OPL welcomed several visiting authors this fall. The events provided an opportunity for individuals of all ages and interests to meet authors and learn more about the inspiration behind their work, as well as have copies of their books personally signed. Visiting authors represented a wide variety of writing styles and audiences. Leo Adam Biga, Broughton Coburn, Gayle Forman, Joy Johnson, Lisa McMann, Mike Mullin, Kathy Nash, Stephanie Perkins and Rainbow Rowell made appearances at OPL.

Leo Adam Biga

L to R: Gerri Williams, Kathy Nash & Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh

Culinary Conference More than 125 people attended the third annual Read It & Eat Culinary Conference at W. Dale Clark Main Library on November 2, 2013. Participants enjoyed a day filled with food demonstrations, local culinary favorites, samples, a cookbook exchange and more. The event focused on culinary items that help to enhance a tasting experience, such as sauces, dips, oils and vinegars. A variety of prizes were also up for grabs including several cookbooks, cookware and other kitchen essentials. Special thanks to the conference presenters, and Edible Omaha and the Omaha Public Library Foundation for their support.

Gary Wasdin, Executive Director

Marina Marchese of Red Bee® Honey

Food demo by Patty Trebbien of Chef^2 Oils, Vinegars & More

Thank you, Sarah Watson When a career spans more than 40 years and 35 of those years were spent in service to OPL and the City of Omaha, there are no words adequate enough to express the gratitude of those whose lives were touched along the way. In October, the Nebraska Library Association (NLA) honored W. Dale Clark Main Library Manager Sarah Watson with the Public Library and Trustee Section’s Excalibur Award for Outstanding Public Librarian. This award was received on the heels of Watson’s retirement announcement. Colleagues from OPL and around the country eagerly shared all the reasons why Watson was so worthy of this award given to a public librarian who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to her local library and the library profession.

New Year, New You Sarah Watson

Watson’s career is certainly impressive. She received her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Southern California and returned to Omaha to begin her career as a school librarian at Brownell-Talbot School. After six years, she accepted a position with OPL as a children’s librarian. Since then, she has worked in several different positions at locations throughout the city, and has held her position as manager of the W. Dale Clark Main Library for the past seven years. She officially retired on December 6, 2013. “I will miss the people that I work with the most,” said Watson. “I’ve truly loved every job I’ve had while working with OPL.” After retiring, Watson plans to take a few months to relax, and then has plans to travel, visit family and friends, and possibly work on some volunteer projects. On behalf of all of those who have worked with Watson throughout her career, we are grateful for her constant leadership, passion for the profession, and compassion for her employees, colleagues and the people served by OPL. Thank you to OPL’s other 2013 retirees: Gloria Sorensen (38 years), Judy Brick (31 years), Susan Thurman (31 years), John Schmitt (18 years), Phyllis Reeves (16 years) and Joan Churchill (7 years).

Recommended Reads

New Year’s resolutions have a tendency to fall by the wayside early in the year (or never even get off the ground). Find the tools to succeed by attending “New Year, New You” programs at OPL. Learn how to reach organizational, business and nutritional goals, and so much more! Get Moving! Sat | Jan 4 & 11 | Noon | Abrahams Branch Tackle Your Projects the Simple Way Tues | Jan 7 | 6 pm | Florence Branch Create a Family Budget Tues | Jan 14 | 6 pm | Florence Branch Organize the Kitchen Sat | Jan 18 | 10:30 am | Swanson Branch Successful Meal Planning Tues | Jan 21 | 6 pm | Florence Branch Reclaim Your Space Mon | Jan 27 | 4:30 pm | South Omaha Library Tues | Jan 28 | 6:30 pm | Millard Branch For complete schedule, visit omahalibrary.org.

by Judy Anghelescu & Teresa Shane, Readers Advisory Specialists

The Go Red for Women Cookbook: Cook Your Way to a Heart-Healthy Weight and Good Nutrition by American Heart Association Enjoy recipes designed for busy women on-the-go who don’t want to relinquish socializing to achieve health goals.

Pioneer Girl by Bich Minh Nguyen

Bread and Butter by Michelle Wildgen

A jobless grad student investigates how a goldleaf brooch purportedly owned by Laura Ingalls Wilder ended up with her mother as a child in Vietnam.

The best restaurant in town is run by a duo of brothers, but is thrown off-kilter when their younger brother decides to compete by opening a trendy new restaurant of his own.

Maureen O’Hara: The Biography by Aubrey Malone

The Martian by Andy Weir

This breakthrough biography offers the first look at the woman behind the largerthan-life persona, sorting through the myths to present a balanced assessment of one of the greatest stars of the silver screen.

Mark Watney is one of the first humans to walk on Mars, and one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after another nearly assures he will be the first person to die there.

Get a customized book list with recommended reads just for you! Request your list at omahalibrary.org and select Custom Reading List under the Catalog tab.

Costume Characters Enjoy stories & activities with visiting children’s book characters. Don’t forget your camera!

Dec 6 Dec 7 Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 14 Dec 17 Dec 18

Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 6 Jan 7 Jan 8 Jan 9 Jan 10 Jan 11

10:30 am . . . . . . . . . Willa Cather 10:45 am . . . . . . . . . Washington 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Sorensen 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . Florence 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Abrahams 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . Swanson 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . Saddlebrook 10:30 am . . . . . . . . Main Library

10:30 am . . . . . . . . Main Library Noon . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millard 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Abrahams 6:30 pm . . . . . . . . . Saddlebrook 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Sorensen 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elkhorn 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . Willa Cather 11:00 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benson

KidSpot Early Literacy Calendar

Get your free 2014 calendar at your local branch today.

Holiday Gift Guide Books for Children & Teens For Babies & Toddlers Now I’m Big! by Karen Katz This bright and bouncy big-kid book celebrates the steps from being a baby to becoming a toddler. Growing up can be lots of fun!

For Preschoolers The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems Ask and you shall receive. Is that really all there is to it? Duckling shares the importance of being polite.

For Children Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson

Feb 7 Feb 8 Feb 10 Feb 11 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 13 Feb 14 Feb 15

10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millard 10:00 am . . . . . . . . . Saddlebrook 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Abrahams 10:00 am . . . . . . . . . Washington 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . Sorensen 6:30 pm . . . . . . . . . . . . Florence 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benson 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . Willa Cather 10:30 am . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elkhorn

Schedules subject to change; visit omahalibrary.org for updates.

Follow Moomintroll and his friends on a fantastic adventure involving the Hobgoblin’s top hat and its unexpected powers. Locomotive by Brian Floca Ride the rails by following the first riders of the transcontinental railroad as they travel from the plains to the ocean.

For Teens Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs Fiction and photography come together in this unforgettable story. A mysterious letter following his grandfather’s tragic death sets 16-year-old Jacob on a strange and eerie adventure.

Holiday Happenings Celebrate the holidays with crafts, DIY gifts, music, activities, Santa visits and more! 4

Visit omahalibrary.org for a complete schedule of events.

TeenSpace

Beat the Winter Blues Hey tweens and teens! Looking for something fun to do this winter? Look no further! Join us for teen movies, hangouts, cooking, clubs, crafts and games, special presenters and more. These programs are just some of what you’ll find at OPL. Teen Hangout Wed | Dec 4, 11 & 18 | 4-6 pm South Omaha Library Teen Lock-ins Fri | Dec 6 | 6-9:30 pm Abrahams Branch Sat | Dec 28 | 6-10 pm Swanson Branch Sat | Dec 28 | 6:15-9:15 pm Millard Branch Teen Gaming Sat | Dec 7 | 2 pm Millard Branch Fri | Dec 20 | 6 pm South Omaha Library Sat | Dec 21 | 2 pm Benson Branch Fri | Dec 27 | 1 pm Main Library Sat | Dec 28 | 2 pm Sorensen Branch Winter Terrarium Craft Sat | Dec 7 | 2 pm Florence Branch

Re < Art Sat | Dec 7 | 4 pm Florence Branch Creative Sewn & No-Bake Holiday Gifts Wed | Dec 11 | 4 pm Sat | Dec 14 | Noon Elkhorn Branch Teen Manga Club Wed | Dec 11 | 6:30 pm Benson Branch Cooking For Teens: Edible Snowflakes Sat | Dec 14 | 2 pm Sorensen Branch Holiday Crafts Wed | Dec 18 | 4:30 pm Sorensen Branch A YouTube Christmas Wed | Dec 18 | 6:30 pm Benson Branch Gingerbread House Sat | Dec 21 | 3 pm Main Library

CA$H teen poetry

a uder Than Featuring Lo s from he Bomb coac ctive riters Colle Nebraska W d emcees. as judges an

-for-your-words

BASH for 8th- thru 12th-graders

Sat | Dec 14

1 pm (doors open 12:30 pm) w. dale clark main library | 215 s. 15th st. to register call 402.444.4800 or visit omahalibrary.org

THE BASH

Bring TWO of your original poems to perform or read aloud at the Poetry Bash. Pass the first round to be eligible to read your second poem. 1st place $100 2nd place $50 3rd place $25 Registration is required. Limited space available.

Teen Job Fair Writing Contest Flex your typing fingers… The Virginia Frank Memorial Writing Contest is underway! The Friends of Omaha Public Library (FOPL) will accept essays through March 1. Winners will be honored at a spring celebration. The contest, named in memory of longtime University of Nebraska at Omaha English professor and FOPL volunteer Virginia Frank, invites youth in 5th-8th grades to write stories (up to 750 words) with the

2013 Winners

library playing a role—whether as the setting, part of a plot twist, or a character. The more creative and surprising the tale, the better.

Sat | March 8 10 am - 2 pm

Save the date!

Mutual of Omaha Dome | 3301 Dodge St. Find a part-time or summer job! Employers from a variety of fields will be present to connect with students and offer them hands-on experience through jobs and internships. Visit omahalibrary.org for details and list of participating employers.

The top three writers from each grade will receive cash awards of $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. The school library of the winning students will be recognized with matching cash prizes. For contest requirements, visit omahalibrary.org/teenspace. 5

Be a FRIEND! Libraries cannot be built or maintained by today’s tax dollars alone. To ensure the continued excellence and growth of OPL, become a Friend today! Please complete the form below and mail it to: FRIENDS of Omaha Public Library, PO Box 6032, Omaha, NE 68106 2014

Outstanding Volunteer Carol McCarthy’s life by the numbers: She left small town Nebraska for Omaha 56 years ago, was a nurse for 28 years before retiring, and has been an OPL volunteer for nearly 20 years. She is 85 years old. Upon retirement, McCarthy found herself on a quest for knowledge and with time to spare. After ruling out garden work (“I didn’t like the hot sun”) and caring for family (“it got to be too much”), she arrived at the Library, and two decades later, is still here. “Yes, it’s true, I have volunteered here for a long time,” McCarthy reflected.

Questions? Email us at omahalibraryfriends@gmail.com

Book Sales

W. Clarke Swanson Branch | 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Weekly Sales Thursdays | 10 am - 3 pm Monthly Sales 1st Saturday | 10 am - 3 pm

Annual Meeting Membership Kick-off January 11, 2014 | 1-3 pm

W. Dale Clark Main Library | 215 S. 15th St. | 4th Floor

Open to the public Jeff Koterba, Omaha’s political cartoonist and author, is the featured guest speaker. Light refreshments will be served.

• • •

Brief business meeting Election of officers & board members Special Friend of the Year Award

2014 memberships and renewals will be available at the meeting. All funds raised directly contribute to the quality of OPL and our community.

McCarthy’s volunteer duties have ranged from creating, filing and maintaining obituary cards (a massive endeavor), to placing historical pictures in archival envelopes. Her favorite part of volunteering has been helping people research their family history, a passion that stems from her own family research. “[Volunteering] keeps me out of trouble,” she chuckled. “Carol has been absolutely dedicated,” raved library specialist Lynn Sullivan. “She’s quiet but has a wicked sense of humor. She’s always got a good upbeat attitude.” McCarthy has also become knowledgeable in the area of genealogy. “I’ve occasionally picked her brain,” Sullivan confessed. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, contact Jody duRand at 402.444.4807 or jdurand@omahalibrary.org.

Staff Spotlight The Dewey Decimators

Wanted: Softball players, no experience (or skill) necessary – it’s just for fun! One might expect to find this plea on the bulletin board of a college dorm, but it’s not a typical appeal made to OPL staff. “My husband and I were interested in starting a team, and a few staff had expressed a desire to do more fun activities together outside of work. It seemed like a good fit,” said library assistant director Manya Shorr. The response was overwhelming and The Dewey Decimators were born. The team consisted of library staff, family and friends, and represented a variety of experience levels. On Sunday evenings in September and October, the team assembled at Seymour Smith Park in their neon green “I  My Library” t-shirts and challenged their competitors to a battle. The season ended with a 2-5 record, but overall, team members were grateful for the experience. “I loved the chance to socialize with staff from other branches and their wonderful family and friends,” said W. Clarke Swanson Branch interim manager Beth Pakiz. A.V. Sorensen Branch library specialist Kris Cram agreed. “Everyone played to have a good time and didn’t take things too seriously.”

The team hopes to reunite for the summer league in 2014. Special thanks to the Friends of OPL for helping support this activity.

Thank You for Your Continued Support Each year, we share many of the exciting ways Omaha Public Library is working to improve our community. As a library member, you know that the library helps to keep young people reading during the summer, ensuring they perform well when they return to school in the fall. You may be aware of the annual Teen Job Fair to help youth find summer and part-time employment while developing valuable life skills and earning their first paycheck. You may also know that the youngest residents in our community often get their first book at the Library through the Baby Reads program or at one of the many engaging storytimes held throughout the city. As the year comes to an end, it is natural to reflect on all that has happened in the past 12 months. In 2013, more than 2 million visits were made to the libraries, and the lives of many of those individuals are better because of that simple step. Many are taking advantage of the programs already mentioned, some are seeking employment, and others are enjoying seeing a spark in their children’s eyes as

they read their first chapter book. New immigrants improved their English language skills and learned about their new government and country, while others found an escape from a busy and hectic world. Jacob Houser, Development Director OPLF Our community is stronger because of Omaha Public Library and the Library is stronger because of people like you. Your financial support ensures that programs and services will continue to grow and serve the needs of Omaha and Douglas County well into the future. As the holiday season approaches, please consider a tax-deductible gift to the OPL Foundation. Make a secure donation online at omahalibraryfoundation.org or call 402.444.4589. Your gift, no matter what size, will help open someone’s world in ways unimaginable. Please accept our gratitude, and have a safe and happy holiday season.

Financial Gifts $50,000+ Anonymous The Sherwood Foundation Richard D. Holland William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation

(Sustainer) $1,000+ Anonymous (2) Arun Agarwal Cindy & Mogens Bay Berger & O’Toole CPAs (Bob & Shary Berger) Benson Plant Rescue $25,000+ Barbara J. Bock-Mavis Cox Communications John K. & Lynne D. Boyer Family Foundation Ethel Flannigan (Bequest) Anne & Stephen Bruckner Ramona & Deryl Hamann Julie & Scott Cobb Lozier Foundation Terri & John Diesing Martha & D. David Slosburg Friedland Family Foundation $15,000+ Dawn & James Hammel Dorothy Peters Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Sokolof Foundation in honor of Rick Rosinsky Helen & Richard Kelley Kari & Dan Kinsella (Director Level) $10,000+ Susan & Michael Lebens Criss Foundation Rochelle & Jim Mullen McGowan Family Foundation National Everything Wholesale Amy L. Scott Family Foundation Sharee & Murray Newman Eve & Fred Simon Omaha Steaks International Ann & Ken Stinson Harriet Otis Weitz Family Foundation Winifred & Lewis Pinch (Conservator) $5,000+ Sandra Price Kathleen & N.P. “Sandy” Dodge Ann Rinne Paul & Oscar Giger Foundation Ruth & John Sage Gilbert M. & Martha H. Hitchcock Security National Bank Foundation Teddi Slattery Mary A. Holland Annette & Paul Smith Meyer Foundation for Disabilities Margaret & Vale Sorensen Humanities Nebraska Stephen Swartz Runza Mark Terhune Betiana & Todd Simon Dorothy & Stanley Truhlsen Union Pacific Foundation Gary Wasdin Julie & Mark Wilson (Advocate) $2,000+ Nancy & Philip Wolf America First Foundation Bellevue Offutt Homeschool Group (Page Turner) $500+ Bluestem Prairie Foundation Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, P.C. First National Bank of Omaha Lynn & Thomas Ashby Joan Gibson & Don Wurster BNSF Foundation James P. Kineen Cerian Bearl Stephanie & John “Jack” Koraleski Rhonda & Sandor Chomos RBC Wealth Management Cora & Maurice Conner William R. Patrick Foundation Lisa & Stewart Dale Target Stores Nancy Darst Beth & Kelvin Whited Carol Ebdon Ann Edmunds Ruth & Joe Erman

Fraser Stryker Julie & Lance Fritz Peg & John Heck Catharine & Neil Holstein Leona & Bill Kernen Sally Kjelson Marsha & Milton Kleinberg Vicki & David Krecek Mary & Rodrigo Lopez Deborah & Michael McLarney Maggie & Mike McMeekin Dana & Michael Meyer Mid Month Book Club Bobbie & James Montequin George Morrissey Mary Anne & Bruce Ramge Ann Rinne Barb & Ron Schaefer Molly & Tobin Schropp Gloria Sorensen Christine Swerczek Gayla Thal Jann & L.B. “Red” Thomas Judith Vann (Collector) $250+ Anonymous (6) Trent Allen BCDM Architects Elizabeth Becker Verda Bialac Carol & Richard Britten Ellie & Henry Clure Teri & Mark D’Agostino Mary & Hal Daub Joseph Drugmand Eclectic Book Club Colleen & Jim Fogarty Wanda & Mike Gottschalk Amy Haddad Sarah Haddad Janis & Dr. John Haggstrom David Harding & Sarah Newman Jean & John Hartwell Mary Helms Dr. Kristen & Gary Hoffman Clara & Harold Hoover Jacob Houser Geraldine & Jack King

Jean & Roland Mariucci Sigrid & Mike Moylan Diana Nevins Peggy Payne Prairie Ventures Kathleen & John Ransom Rotary of Omaha - North Club Rotary of Omaha - Northwest Club Rotary of Omaha - Suburban Club Carol & Rick Russell Amy & Michael Ryan Saddlebrook Elementary School PTA Shirley Siebler Leslie & Bryan Slone Sarah Watson Eileen Wirth

Honorarium / Memorial Gifts

Received July 23 - Oct 25, 2013 In Memory of Marcia Backer Book & Study Club In Memory of Monica J. Bergin Eclectic Book Club In Memory of Joseph Claus Mary T. Griffin Sarah Watson In Memory of Virginia Davis Barbara J. Bock-Mavis In Memory of Robert T. Griffin Maggie Tarelli-Falcon In Memory of Kathleen Maxey Mary T. Griffin In Memory of John Picken Lynn & John Covert Carol & Jeffrey Dale In Memory of John Picken & parents, Beverly & Roger Picken Mary Kaiman In Memory of Elaine M. Riensche Mary T. Griffin Sarah Watson In Memory of Rita M. Rosen Marilyn & Kenneth Knox

HOURS & LOCATIONS

215 S. 15th St. Omaha, NE 68102

W. DALE CLARK MAIN LIBRARY

215 S. 15th St. / 402.444.4800 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . 7:30 AM - 8 PM * FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 AM - 6 PM * SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 6 PM * 7:30 AM - 10 AM Limited services, first floor only

MILTON R. ABRAHAMS BRANCH

5111 N. 90th St. / 402.444.6284 ______________________________________ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 9 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 6 PM

BENSON BRANCH

6015 Binney St. / 402.444.4846 ______________________________________ _______ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

BESS JOHNSON ELKHORN BRANCH

2100 Reading Plz. / 402.289.4367 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

FLORENCE BRANCH

2920 Bondesson St. / 402.444.5299 ______________________________________ _______ TU & WE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM TH, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

MILLARD BRANCH

13214 Westwood Ln. / 402.444.4848 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 9 PM FR, SA, & SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage

PAID Omaha, NE Permit No. 1818

Don’t forget! Walter Dean Myers National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Tues | Dec 10 5:30 pm Book Signing 6:30 pm Presentation Joslyn Art Museum Witherspoon Concert Hall 2200 Dodge Street

SADDLEBROOK BRANCH

14850 Laurel Ave. / 402.884.7473 ______________________________________ _______ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 8 PM FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 5 PM SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 AM - 4 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

Use your OPL card to gain access to Consumer Reports for FREE. Visit omahalibrary.org/resource-center

A.V. SORENSEN BRANCH

4808 Cass St. / 402.444.5274 ______________________________________ TU & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM WE, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

SOUTH OMAHA LIBRARY

2808 Q St. / 402.444.4850 (call for hours during MCC quarter breaks) ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . 7:30 AM - 9 PM FR, SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

W. CLARKE SWANSON BRANCH

9101 W. Dodge Rd. / 402.444.4852 ______________________________________ _________ TU, WE & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 8 PM FR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AM - 6 PM SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

CHARLES B. WASHINGTON BRANCH

2868 Ames Ave. / 402.444.4849 ______________________________________ _______ MO, TU & WE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 8 PM TH, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AM - 6 PM SU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

WILLA CATHER BRANCH

1905 S. 44th St. / 402.444.4851 ______________________________________ _______ TU & TH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 8 PM WE, FR & SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 AM - 6 PM SU & MO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED

Hours subject to change.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Tue | Dec 31 | 7 pm

open 6-8 pm W. Dale Clark Main Library | 215 S. 15th St. Watch the show from the Library’s east windows.

Jane Austen Tea Speed Dating Sat | Dec 14 | 2-4 pm Millard Branch 13214 Westwood Ln.

Celebrate Jane Austen’s 238th birthday with music, dance and food at the tenth annual Jane Austen Tea. Guest speaker Laura Mooneyham White will present “Under the Hood: Data-Mining and Austen’s Habits of Speech,” and explain how computing can decipher the specific choices Austen made to express thought and speech in her novels. Register for this free event at omahalibary.org or by calling 402.444.3399.

Fri | Feb 14 | 7 pm

W. Dale Clark Main Library 215 S. 15th St.

Can you find love at the library? Calling all singles to join us for our fifth annual Speed Dating event on Valentine’s Day! The event will be in a new location to accommodate more participants, allowing for a bigger dating pool and including new age brackets. Speed dating is a fun and easy way for singles to meet many potential dates in one evening. Participants will each have three minutes to chat with a potential match. If two people indicate interest in each other, they are given information to schedule a real date on their own. At least one couple found forever love at OPL (bit.ly/opllove). Will you be next? Register online at omahalibrary.org, or contact Amy Mather at amather@omahalibrary.org or 402.444.3399.