We have a big week at the library this week. Milford’s Holiday Fantasy is happening this coming weekend and we have a lot of great events planned.

Join us on Friday, November 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., for the Festival of Trees featuring live music from Allison Antoine. The Friends of the Library will serve refreshments at that time. Festival of Trees will be held entirely in the library. Enjoy dimmed lights while you wander through aisles of books and decorated trees, sample refreshments, and enjoy music from Allison Antoine beginning at 5:30 p.m. This event is free and open to all. We’ll see you at the library!

Stop by the library Saturday, December 1, for an open house, refreshments, pictures with Santa, free holiday crafts for kids, and stories with Mrs. Claus!

Saturday’s Event Schedule:

* 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday and 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Saturday, Voting on Trees

* 10:00-1:00 p.m. Open House with refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library Foundation Volunteers

* 11:30-1:00 p.m. Visit with Santa (bring your own camera)

* 11:30-1:00 p.m. Free Holiday Crafts for Kids

* 11:30-1:00 p.m. Stories with Mrs. Claus
 
It is not too late to enter a tree in our Festival of Trees. We will take trees until Friday, November 30, and trees must be left up through December 3. Trees must be out of the library by noon on January 5. This event is free to all and anyone is welcome to bring a tree to the library to decorate it. The awards this year are for best personal/family tree, best organization tree, best business tree, most creative, and librarian's choice. All winners will receive both a $10 gift certificate to Perkins and $20 in Milford Bucks from the Friends of the Milford Memorial Library. The winner of the best business tree award will also receive a trophy. Contact the library for more information. 
 
​Stop by the library to check out all we have to offer.

Paint Night will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25, at the Arnolds Park Public Library.  This month’s painting features a nighttime theme so we hope all of the participants are able to wear their pajamas.  All of the various steps for the painting will be shown, and the supplies will be provided by the three local libraries.  Pre-registration is required with the cost being $7.50 or $15.00.  Please note that you will need to secure your spot through payment by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the painting.

MML will have another Friday Playdate at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 28.  This is a time when children and families can interact, have fun, and use their imaginations with a variety of toys, puppets, games, and puzzles, and more.  All of the items will be provided by the library, and there is no pre-registration or cost to join this discovery time.

The local libraries will be hosting an informational program entitled “The Cow War” by Iowa historian, Michael Luick-Thrams.  This program will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, in the Milford Community Center.  There is no registration and no cost to the participants.  “The Cow War” details when Iowa dairy farmers blocked Federal Agents from TB-testing their herds.

Lastly, keep in touch through our website, programming calendars, and social media.  We would love to see you all in our library!

The Milford Memorial Library has a four exciting programs next week for every member of the family.  Please check out our social media and calendars for all of the fun things.

Open Book Discussion Group will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18, at the Milford Community Center.  This month’s book is entitled A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett.  It is not necessary to attend all of the meetings, and you can come and go throughout the discussion.

Adult Craft Series will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, at the Milford Community Center.  MML’s Library Director, Gillian, will teach adults how to make their own rug using a variety of pom poms.  All of the supplies will be provided by the library.  Pre-registration is required with the cost of the activity being $2.00.

Public Storytime is at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 21, at MML.  This week’s theme will be Pirates, and it will be led by Assistant Library Director, Miss Becca.  There will be stories, movement, and a simple craft.  Storytime is open to all families and children with no registration and no cost to the participants.

Lastly, we will be having Video Games Day at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 21, at MML.  This activity is for all 5th through 8th Grade gamers who are interested in some video game fun and competition.  MML and Exile Gaming will provide all of the games and gaming consoles (Wii and Xbox).  There is no cost and no registration for this Young Adults program. 

The Milford Memorial Library is one of the many sponsors of the informational program entitled “With a Cup of Sugar.”  This program will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.  It will feature a screening and discussion on the unique Iowa Sister State relationship with Kosovo.  There is no charge, and it is open to the public.

MML will have its Monthly Afterschool Activity at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, in the Milford Community Center.  We will being playing a variety of board games, as well as the kids can enjoy some snacks.  This activity is geared for Preschool through 4th Grade children.  There is no cost, no registration, and all of the materials will be provided by the library.

We will have our first Friday Playdate at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 14, at MML.  This is a time when children and families can interact, have fun, and use their imaginations with a variety of toys, puppets, games, and puzzles, and more.  All of the items will be provided by the library, and there is no pre-registration or cost to join this discovery time. 
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Caroline and her dog, Hank, will be available at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, at MML.  Hank is licensed by the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, and he loves to meet children and listen to their stories.  Please don’t miss this opportunity to meet, pet, and read to this beautiful and calm dog.

The Milford Memorial Library will be having Public Storytime at 11:00 a.m. every Friday during the school year.  We will be offering opportunities to play with various items (Playdate), interact with local area presenters, read great stories, and create simple crafts.  Public Storytime is open to all families and children.  There is no registration with everything being provided by the library at no cost to the participants.  On September 7, the theme will be Bees, Bears, and Honey with our Library Director, Miss Gillian.

MML just got some great books for young adults and children through the Iowa Great Lakes Kindness Project.  This organization is comprised of citizens who believe in spreading love and kindness throughout Dickinson County.  Look for the red sticker with a heart on the inside cover of the books.

The Milford Memorial Library offers a lot of services outside of books, magazines, movies, and audiobooks.  We have free WiFi and six computers, as well as faxing, scanning, and copying at a reasonable price.  Please let us know how we can help and support your needs.
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Lastly, MML will be having the following programs so please include them on your schedule: Afterschool Craft Party, Public Storytime, Read with Hank, Book Club, Adult Craft Series, Video Games Day, and Paint Night.

The Milford Memorial Library’s newsletter will be coming out in September.  It is full of important information and dates for the next couple of months.  It is available to all of the donating members of the Friends of MML, as well as our library has a few print copies.

The Friends of the Spirit Lake Public Library, Arnolds Park Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Milford Memorial Library will be hosting the informational program called “Alice’s Ordinary People” at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at the Spirit Lake Public Library.  Alice Tregay’s life and contribution is unique in American history, and an hour program can only tell so much.

MML will be closed on Monday, September 3, in observance of Labor Day so please plan to get your books before the long weekend.  An open meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Milford Memorial Library will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, in the Community Room.  The agenda will be posted on MML’s website and front bulletin board at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. 

Lastly, MML has a new September calendar.  Please check it out on our website, any of our social media, and print copies at the library.  We have a lot of fun programs and activities planned throughout the upcoming school year.

Open Book Discussion Group will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, in the Milford Community Center.  This month’s book is entitled The Future She Left Behind by Marin Thomas, and it can be found at MML.  Any interested individuals are welcome to come to this program, and it is not necessary to attend all of the book meetings.

Miss Betty will be leaving MML after 16 years as the Children’s Librarian, and we will be celebrating her from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 24, at the Milford Memorial Library.  Everyone is welcome to attend and share in the memories.  There will be refreshments provided by the Friends of MML.
   
Caroline and her wonderful dog, Hank, will be back at MML at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 25.  Hank is licensed by the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, and he loves to meet children and listen to their stories.  Please don’t miss this opportunity to meet, pet, and read to this beautiful and calm dog.

Paint Night will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28, at the Arnolds Park Public Library.  Library Director, Gillian Anderson, will be taking participants through the various steps to make this month’s painting.  All of the supplies will be provided by the three local libraries.  Pre-registration is required with the cost being $7.50 or $15.00 depending on the day.  Please call any of the libraries for more information.

MML’s quarterly newsletter will be coming out in September.  It is full of important information and dates.  It is available to all of the donating members of the Friends of MML.  There are also a few copies at the library.  Please consider being a part of the Friends group at MML.  We appreciate everyone’s donation and support.
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Lastly, please don’t forget that Adult SRP BINGO sheets are due on Friday, August 31, and STEAM Backpacks are available for checkout to anyone who is with a guardian that is at least 16 years of age.

MML’s STEAM Backpacks are ready to be checked out for lots of family fun.  We have four different backpacks highlighting Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math themes (Curious Coding, BeeBot, Five Senses, and Super Slinky).  They can be checked out for two weeks with a parent/guardian/babysitter who is at least 16 years of age.  Backpack surveys can be returned to MML’s Front Desk.

The Friends of the Spirit Lake Public Library, Arnolds Park Public Library, and Milford Memorial Library will be hosting a program entitled D-Day Landings in Normandy by Michael Eckers.  This program will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14, at the Spirit Lake Public Library (Community Room).

Adult Craft Series will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15, at MML.  Participants will be making jewelry using a variety of beads, wire, and extra touches.  The cost of the program will be $2.00, and all of the supplies will be provided by the library.  Please contact MML to register and with any questions.

Miss Betty will have her last summer Stories and Crafts at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17.  The theme will be focused on ‘Rainbow Fish and the Big Whale.’  All of the supplies for this craft will be provided by MML at no charge and with no registration.

The 2018 Children’s and Young Adult’s Summer Reading Programs: Libraries Rock! have come to an end.  MML extends their deepest gratitude and appreciation for all of the participants, donators, and supporters.  Please don’t forget that the Adult Summer Reading Program (BINGO sheets) ends on Friday, August 31.

Even though the school year is right around the corner, the Milford Memorial Library has some fun events still planned in August.  All of the events are located at MML with the exception of the D-Day presentation (SL Library) and Paint Night (AP Library).  We look forward to sharing these events with everyone.
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• Jump Start to Reading: 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 10
• Stories and Crafts-Tickly Octopus: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 10
• D-Day Landings in Normandy-Michael Eckers: 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14
• Adult Craft Series-Jewelry Making: 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15
• Stories and Crafts-Rainbow Fish and the Big Whale: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17
• Open Book Discussion Group (Book Club)-The Future She Left Behind: 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21
• Read With Hank: 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 25
• Paint Night at the Library: 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28

Also, please don’t forget that MML gets new and popular books each week for children, young adults, and adults.  Check out our website (http://www.milford.lib.ia.us) under ‘Use Our Library’ for all of the latest titles on our shelves.

An open meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Milford Memorial Library will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 1, in the Community Room.  The agenda will be posted on MML’s website and front bulletin board at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. 

Participants for the 2018 Children’s and Young Adult’s Summer Reading Programs need to have all of their books read and logged by the first week of August in order to receive different incentives.  The Young Adult’s deadline is Wednesday, August 1, and the Children’s deadline is Friday, August 3.  Any information and the forms can be found at MML or on our website (http://www.milford.lib.ia.us).

The last day of the Young Adult’s Summer Reading Program will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2, at MML.  Students will discuss how to make rock candy.  Then they can take everything home in order to grow a yummy treat.  Students will also be able to play different music related games on the Wii.  Lastly, large and small incentives will be given away to all of the participants of this activity and for those that read throughout the program.  All of the materials for this free program are provided by the library.
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MML has a new calendar for the month of August.  Please check it out on our website, any of our social media, and print copies at the library.  We hope to see everyone at our activities.