Book Discussion: The Light Between Oceans

The November Book Discussion book is The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. Join the IPL next Tuesday night (November 25th) at 6:30 PM. If you haven't read the book yet, stop in at the library and pick up a copy, or read it on one of the IPL's NOOKs also available for checkout.

Next month's Book Discussion book will be Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou.

TIPLINE: Award Winners

The Independence Public Library's Interesting Nuggets of Exploration: Award Winners

Each year books of every genre, style, and age group are selected for a variety of awards. Those titles are picked for a number of reasons, but you can safely assume that if they have managed to pass muster there's do doubt it's a good read. The IPL carries a wide variety of these books with many different awards. Check out some winners of these awards, or search out some awards on your own.

Teens Top Ten
National Book
The Goldfinch Award
Iowa Children's Choice Award
Iowa Teen Award
Iowa High School Book Award
Benjamin F. Shambaugh Award
Caldecott Award
Newbery Medal Award

You can also see if your favorite book has won an award by clicking on its title in the IPL's online catalog, or search for winners of your favorite award by typing the name of the award in the search box.

More Zen Doodle!

If you missed the first Zen Doodle Workshop, or want to give it a try again, mark your calendars for November 22nd! The IPL will be holding another open workshop next Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, no registration  is required and all the supplies you need will be provided. The workshop is open to all ages, but is best suited for those 12 and up, so be sure to stop in and create with the Independence Public Library.

Minecraft After Hours @ The IPL

Join other Teens and Tweens who love Minecraft tomorrow night at the Independence Public Library. Be sure to register with your username at the IPL. (You can also call us at 334-2470) All the fun starts tomorrow night (Nov. 14th) at 5:00 PM after the library closes.

Please Note: Minecraft After Hours is a free program offered by the IPL, but registration is required. Please contact the library for more information, and to register.

Game Day At The Library For No School Monday!

Be sure to head over to the IPL on the 17th for No School Monday. This time we have games of all kinds. Bring a friend and challenge them to one of our games or bring your own. We'll have board games, card games, and Wii games. No registration is required. Kindergarten through 2nd grade can come between 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM. 3rd Grade through 5th grade can come between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM. 6th grade through 12th grade can come between 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM.

Explore History with EBSCO Host

This weekend marked the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the end of the Berlin Wall  between East and West Germany. The wall that stood for almost thirty years was a physical representation of the Iron Curtain. The Berlin Wall had ties to over fifty years of our world history. So much history, in fact, that there is no way to fit it all into one blog post. But you can easily learn more (for free) with the Independence Public Library and EBSCO Host.
With EBSCO Host you can search through thousands of print sources in digital format, and all for free at the library. To give it a try contact the library for the user name and password. Once you can log in, you'll be able to search from anywhere you have an internet connection.

Adventures in Nature is Back!

Join Alexia Hamlett for another great Adventures in Nature program. "Our Feathered Friends" will teach us about a wide variety of birds and the foods they eat. This program is free and open to the public of all ages, although it is best suited for children in K-3 grades. No registration is required, come ready to have fun learning (and making a craft.)

Meet The Writers!

Stop in today and you may catch a glimpse of some of our Resident Writers for NaNoWriMo and the Young Writers Program.
If you still want to get in on the fun of writing a novel in the month of November, it's not too late. Just ask up at the Circulation Desk and we'll get you started.
If you want to get some tips and tricks to get you going try our IPL NaNo Padlet Page.

Watercolors & Ceramics at The Independence Public Library

This weekend the IPL will host an Artist Showcase for the work of Myrtle Miller Lake Dusman. Please join us for for original Watercolor and Ceramic artwork, supplied by the family for display.

The display will be available for viewing on Saturday (Nov. 8th) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday (Nov. 9th) from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The reception will be held on Sunday, and family of the late artist will be available to discuss the artwork and the artist.

iPad Help @ The IPL

iPad users with questions are welcome to come to the iPad Q&A courses at the Independence Public Library for answers. We have two sessions for patrons to register for. One to night (Nov. 5th) and another on November 20th. Both run from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. If interested, you can register by contacting the library by phone (334-2470) or e-mail.

Write A Story With Your Fellow Patrons

November is National Novel Writers Month. Some of your fellow library patron have taken up the challenge of writing a full novel in the thirty days of November, but if that's not for you give the library's Continuous Story a try.
How is it done? The first paragraph is provided, then each person takes their turn at the typewriter to continue where the last left off. Ask at the Circulation Desk to add to the story here at the Independence Public Library

Tonight: Warrior Woman Within

Miyoko Hikiji presents "Warrior Woman Within: Lessons From The Iraq War For The Battlefield of Life" in the Community Room tonight (Nov. 3rd, 2014) at 6:00 PM.

Meet the author of All I Could Be: My Story As A Woman Warrior In Iraq, and discover the lessons she learned during her nine years of service in the Army and Iowa National Guard.
Books will be available for sale, and signing will take place after the presentation.
Program is free and open to the public.

November Is Ready, Are You?

Get Ready to write, November 1st is coming!
If you haven't signed up yet, head to the NaNoWriMo or the Young Writers Program websites and get started. Then connect with the IPL by adding "Vanillafire" as a writing buddy (on NaNoWriMo) or joining the "IPL Young Writers" classroom (on the Young Writers Program.)
You can also register on November 1st, at the library's Kick-Off Party (Noon to 1:30 PM for NaNoWriMo participants, and 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM for Young Writers Program participants). Participants will be getting to know each other, posting their first word counts, and maybe challenging each other to some friendly word wars.
Looking for a little help getting started? checkout the IPL NaNo Tips page for tip, tools, and other writer friendly fun.

Plot Party

November is inching our way, and usually that thought would keep our brains busy with holiday plans. But this year we invite you to try something different. November 1st kicks off NaNoWriMo, a month long event that pops up every November for ambitious individuals willing to take on the challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. If you love to write, or just need and excuse to get started, this just may be the challenge for you.
Join other writers at the library on October 15th at 6:00 PM for the IPL's NaNoWriMo Plot Party. We'll learn writing tips to keep us motivated during the month, exchange prompts to get the creative juices flowing, and get registered for the November challenge. Don't forget to cage you Inner Editor and vanquish you Inner Critic: NaNoWriMo is coming!

P.S. If you're a young writer, and think 50,000 words sounds a bit deep. Don't sweat it. You can give the Young Writers Program a try. It's NaNoWriMo for those of us not quite ready for the 50,000 word plunge. You can set your own word goal, and connect with writers your own age. Stop in at the Plot Party to learn more.

TIPLINE! (NaNoWriMo)

The Independence Public Library's Interesting Nuggets of Exploration: NaNoWriMo

Ever think about writing a book? How about writing a 50,000 word book in 30 days? Well, whether the idea thrills you, or chills you to the bone, you can still enjoy the results of the crazy writing event known as NaNoWriMo. Head to the IPL and checkout one of the books written during NaNoWriMo. And if you're interested in giving the 50,000 word challenge a try in November, let the library help you out. There are programs coming up just for the writer in you.