It's Paperback Book Day!

Everyday is a great day to read a book, but today is Paperback Book Day. So celebrate by reaching for some floppy pages. Stop by the library and checkout one of our new paperbacks. There's a little of something for everyone.

Remember To Claim Your Prizes!

This Summer Reading Program and our Mini-Scientists rolled to a stop yesterday with the RAGBRAI riders here in Independence. But don't panic if you still need to claim prizes. You may not be able to fit in anymore days of reading, but you can claim the prizes and drawing slips until August 2nd. We'll draw for the Baskets and Grand Prize on the following Monday (August 4th). You can also send in your Mini-Scientist Photos (taken before 8pm on July 25th) until then too. Remember to claim your candy bars or drawing slips.

Catch Dr. Fizz and Prof. Boom Live in Independence Today!

The IPL's resident scientists will be biking around Riverwalk Parks and the Fair Grounds. They'll head out from the Library at 4pm and get back in time for the program featuring David Hale Sylvester (one of this year's RAGBRAI participants) at 6pm. If you see them, let us know in the comments or post a picture to Facebook.

Tell A Librarian What To Read

Usually readers come to the library to find something to read, and any librarian would be happy to help you find it. But once in a while the tables turn and a patron sends a librarian on their way to a great story. Such is the case with our young patron, Nora, who suggested Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol.

This graphic novel is about a ghost with a dark history and a girl trying to find a balance between fitting in and being herself. A mystery for reluctant readers and bookworms alike.

Take a look at Nora's Summary and Review below. (WARNING: SPOLIER ALERT)

Anya's Ghost
By Vera Brosgol
Review By Nora C.
It starts out with a girl named Anya who goes to a private school. She was walking through the park, and she fell in a well. In that well she finds a skeleton. She screams, then she hears a voice. It's a ghost named Emily. Emily told her that she can't go far from her bones, so Anya breaks one off and takes Emily home.
At home Anya asks Emily how she died. Emily answered that her parents were Roamans so when people were passing through they would let them sleep in the barn. Then one night Emily went down stairs and found someone that they let sleep in the barn over her dead parent's bodies, and he was ready to come up and kill her. So she ran all the way to the park and fell in the hole; and fell a certain way so she couldn't move. But it turns out she lied. That's not what happened at all. Anya found that out when she said Emily could not come to school with her.
Emily would always help Anya cheat, but instead of going to school, she went to the library and saw her friend. He helped her, and she found out that Emily started her house on fire. So Anya went home and Emily wanted to kill...
For more, read the book. I think this is a really good book. You should definitely read this book.

Have you read a book from the IPL that everyone just has to know about? Bring your review into the library, or E-Mail it to us. We might highlight your favorite read next.

RAGBRAI In Independence!

If you've been around town lately, you might have noticed the extra wheels popping up on light poles and store fronts. RAGBRAI is coming, and the library is ready. Our Mini-Scientists have been biking around to find readers everywhere they go, and between the two of them have racked up almost a thousand miles. That's enough to do this years RAGBRAI race twice, and then some. Be sure to stop in at the IPL this Friday, when the Mini-Scientists come back home and the Summer Reading Program wraps up. Remember to log your reading until July 25th (and claim your prizes by August 2nd).

July 25th is going to be a big day so we'll have extended hours that day (open until 8 PM) so everyone can have a chance to drop by, and shortened computer times (20 Minutes) so everyone has a chance to get online. (See the library for full details) Hope to see you there!

45 Years Since The 1st Lunar Landing!

You may have missed it, but 8:32 AM (Local Time) marked the 45th Anniversary of the liftoff for the Apollo 11 Mission. In 1969 Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and "Buzz" Aldrin took-off for the moon and would not land back on Earth (in the ocean, that is) for eight days. If you'd like to keep up with the many firsts, like the first step on the moon (9:56 PM, Local Time on July 20th) or the mission's splashdown return (11:50 AM, Local Time on July 24th), you can see the very detailed Mission Timeline here. And don't forget all the great things you can learn at the library about the moon landing and other space adventures. You can even read magazine and newspaper articles from 1969 about the Apollo 11 Mission by using EBSCO Host, just ask us at the circulation desk.

Mini-Scientists Sightings!

Dr. Fizz and Prof. Boom have been zooming around the area...

...and since they left the IPL on June 19th...

...readers have been sighted everywhere they go.

Dr. Fizz caught up
with Clair at Laree's

Prof. Boom Found Linda's Latchkey at
the Independence Jr./Sr. High School

Be sure to report your sightings and collect your prizes.

You never know where the Mini-Scientists will show up next.

Dr. Fizz
Last Known Location
The Laundry Stop

Prof. Boom
Last Known Location
Old Iron Bridge

Checkout Magazines With Zinio!

Want free magazines? Want them on the go? Ask us about Zinio at the IPL! This services allows you to checkout any issues the Library has available with no due dates. We have over 40 magazines available, and some come with digital content you can't see in the paper copies. You can see the full list of titles HERE. If you want to learn more feel free to stop in at the Independence Public Library or give us a call at 334-2470. You can also read more about it HERE, on the IPL website.