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  • Beavercreek Adult Take-and-Make: Washcloth Travel Roll

    To grab your kit, click here:  https://greenelibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/series/624c94039c2426280028c494/

    Spring is officially upon us, which means I’m already looking toward summer!  Something my kids have always enjoyed in the summer is attending summer camps with the scouts.  We also like to travel around the country in our RV, which sometimes means having to use shower houses.  When I saw this idea on Pinterest, I thought it would be great for kids or adults who need a quick way to carry their toiletries when they travel.  This is a super simple pattern and the best part is, the washcloth can be just thrown in the washer when it gets dirty or in between trips!

    While the original intended use for this was toiletries, I’ve since had several suggestions of other things you could hold in this including crochet hooks, crayons, eating utensils for a picnic, etc.  The sky’s the limit!

    Included in your kit:

    1 washcloth

    1 12″ piece of ribbon

    1 18″ piece of ribbon

    You will also need:

    sewing machine (optional)

    thread

    scissors

    The first step is to decide how big you want your pockets to be.  It might be helpful to decide what items you want to put in the roll before sewing.

    Next, fold the bottom of the washcloth up about 2/3 of the way and pin where you want to sew the dividers.Next, sew the left side of the washcloth closed and then sew all the pocket dividers.  Stop when you have everything sewn but the right side of the washcloth.

    Place the longer ribbon (design side down) on top of the shorter ribbon (design side up) and pin inside the right side of the washcloth (like in below image).

    Sew the right side of the washcloth closed attaching the ribbon while doing so.

    Attaching the ribbon like this ensures there’s enough ribbon to wrap around the roll and then tie with the shorter ribbon.

    The last thing I did was take a lighter and lightly singe the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying.  You could also fold down the end and sew to make a nice finished edge to the ribbon.

    Ta-Da!  You’re done!

    As always, I’d love to see your finished products!  You can post them to our Facebook page at facebook.com/beavercreekcommunitylibrary

    Happy Crafting!

    -Morgan

  • Tutoring Session Achievements Lead to Leveling Up in the Classroom!

    Cindy and student Dallas during Level Up tutoring at the Xenia Community Library.

    The Level Up tutoring program has seen success across all 7 community libraries at GCPL, and we’re so happy to see so many students’ achievements happening at the library! The real work happens with the students and their tutors at each Level Up session, so who are these tutors helping your students?

    Meet Cindy Mash! Cindy tutors at the Xenia and Jamestown community libraries and recently retired after teaching history and English for 32 years. She mainly taught grades 7-12 at Greeneview High School in Jamestown.

    I had the opportunity to chat with Cindy about Level Up.

    —

    What made you want to tutor at GCPL?

    I have always enjoyed helping students do their best. Level Up seemed like the perfect opportunity to connect with students and help them improve their study skills and knowledge base.

    To you, what makes Level Up tutoring such an important library program for the community?

    Level Up is set up to meet the specific needs of each student. One-on-one tutoring such as this allows students to catch up or move forward at their own pace. 

    What are some student success stories you’ve seen through Level Up?

    Small daily successes add up! Here are some successes I’ve had:

    • A Greeneview second grader got an A on a spelling test after practicing his toughest words at Level Up.
    • A Xenia freshman made up several missed assignments in one session, with the goal of getting a passing grade in English.
    • A private school 2nd grade student is learning Spanish vocabulary.
    • A Greeneview 3rd grader practiced math facts for better speed in solving problems.
    • I am learning American Sign Language with a Xenia area private school student. We work together each week to learn new signs.
    • Several Xenia students of all grades complete homework assignments every week, mostly on their own, getting tips and encouragement from the level up tutoring team.

    —

    If you have a student who needs academic help, come out to the Xenia or Jamestown community libraries and work with Cindy, or any of our other amazing tutors!

    When it comes to academic success, your library is here to help you LEVEL UP! Find tutoring times at your community library at https://greenelibrary.info/levelup/. This program is supported by the State Library of Ohio with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

     

  • Atonement, Week 1

    Welcome to April’s Online Book Club. This month, we’re reading Atonement by Ian McEwan. 

    The Online Book Club, if you’ve never joined us before, is a book discussion group that takes place entirely online. Each week, I write a new blog post that talks about different aspects of the book, and you can interact directly with me and other readers by leaving your comments. Check back each week and see what new topics we’re talking about.

    Atonement is the story of the Tallis family and their life right before the beginning of World War II. The youngest Tallis, Briony, makes a choice early in the book, and this choice affects the rest of the family for decades to come. The story moves through World War II and concludes at the end of the 20th century, and each scene and time period is expertly written. 

    If you want to follow along with us but you aren’t interested in reading the book, you can always watch the movie version starring Kiera Knightley. Check out the trailer above if you want to get a feel for the movie. Feel free to still leave comments on the blog posts, even if you’re only watching the movie and not reading the book.

    This book is split up into three parts, so we’re going to read Part 1 for next week. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about Part 1 in the comments section!

  • Little Women, Week 4

    Welcome to the final week of the Online Book Club discussion of Little Women.

    Did you enjoy reading the end of the book? Are you excited to read the next part of the book now that you’ve read the first part? Have you decided which character is your favorite character? Did your favorite character change from the beginning of the book to the end of the book? 

    At the beginning of this section, Beth gets really sick with scarlet fever. Did you think she was going to pull through? I was very nervous, and I just didn’t know if she was going to recover. I was really scared when the doctor said to call Marmee. That seemed like the end. And, I was nervous when Beth was delirious and offering her possessions to everyone. Didn’t you think it was ironic that Amy decided to write a will for herself, even though she wasn’t sick? And, she had no knowledge that Beth was giving away her possessions. I wonder what put the idea for a will in Amy’s head? 

    While Beth is sick, Amy spends time with Aunt March, and she forms a connection with her. Why do you think Amy had such success with Aunt March but Jo didn’t? Do you think Amy is more sweet? Do you think she was less stubborn than Jo? I was a little confused by the shrine and chapel that Amy created in this chapter. It seemed to me like she was just praying so she could receive something from Aunt March. I think she just wanted the turquoise ring, and by the end of the chapter, she got it. 

    Meg and Mr. Brooke definitely progressed in their relationship in this last section. At first, it seemed like Meg wasn’t interested, but then she was really interested, especially after she had to defend him to Aunt March. What did you think of the part where Laurie plays a prank on Meg and Jo by writing those love letters? I was sad that Meg had to endure that kind of stress and humiliation, but I was really glad that Laurie was the only one who saw the letters, and Mr. Brooke had no knowledge of them.  At the end of this section, it’s agreed that Meg and Mr. Brooke will eventually marry. Do you think Meg will regret not marrying a more wealthy man? What do you think Jo will do when the actual marriage arrives? I think she will have a really hard time, and I think she will try to convince Meg to stay at home in the years between the proposal and the marriage. 

    So, what were your impressions of this first part of the book? Do you think you’ll want to read the second part? Let me know in the comments section if you end up reading more! And, let me know what your favorite chapters were. What scenes did you like reading the most? I liked the scenes where the girls were imagining and playing together. That sounds really fun to have a sibling relationship like that. 

    I hope you enjoyed reading with us this month! If you liked reading this book, you might enjoy some titles on this list I created. Make sure to let me know if you check anything out from the list!

    If you’d like to read some facts about Louisa May Alcott, check out this article. Do any of the facts surprise you? 

    Before you go, check out the video clip below in which the director of the latest movie version talks about why she wanted to make a Little Women movie. 

    Thanks for following along with us this month! I hope you’ll join us again next month as we read Atonement by Ian McEwan. I can’t wait to hear all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section!

  • Leveling Up Your Academic Success!

    At GCPL, we try to provide you with free access to as many resources as possible; the library is a champion of all pastimes, hobbies, and endeavors you wish to take on! We strive to have all the things you want and need, and that didn’t stop when the pandemic began in 2020, it only made us more determined to provide help where you need it – like expanding a program that prioritizes our students in Greene County and their academic success. According to the Ohio Department of Education, remote learning had a significant impact on third grade proficiency in fall of 2020, falling as low as 12 percentage points in fully remote schools compared to falling 8 points for the schools with hybrid schedules.

    When it became clear there were students in our community struggling academically and needed the face-to-face academic help, Elizabeth Cusack, Deputy Director of the Greene County Public Library, implemented Level Up after school homework help at all 7 community libraries.

    I had the chance to speak with Elizabeth about Level Up, and why it’s such an important program at our community libraries.

    —

    I know Level Up was inspired by a similar program done in Fairborn. What about the Fairborn tutoring program made you think it could be something GCPL could do on a system-wide level?

    When I applied for the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grant, federal funds meant to assist libraries and their communities as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, I reached out to each of our community libraries and asked what needs they see in their community. There was a common theme of an increase in kids struggling with schoolwork. So, I thought about the successful tutoring program already happening at the Fairborn Community Library through a generous donation – a program that’s been going on for nearly a decade and is very successful in their community – and proposed that we use the grant money to implement one-on-one, in-person academic tutoring at a system-wide level. Once we were awarded the grant, it was so exciting to green light the Level Up program, as it had been in the works for months. It’s great to see so much student success happening in the library!

    How do you find tutors and what do you look for when bringing a tutor on for Level Up?

    Our tutors are mostly retired teachers, current teachers, and Cedarville University education students. All our Level Up tutors are enthusiastic and happy to help students any way possible. When they were onboarded, we told them that since these are walk-in appointments, they needed to be able to quickly assess needs and adapt to each student. They could see a kindergarten student needing help with reading then a high school student with a geometry assignment back-to-back.  The tutors are able to use resources we have for parents and educators, such as Scholastic Teachables, to identify learning activities and worksheets based on a student’s specific need. Our tutors are seeing students from all grades, academic levels, and walks of life.

    Will Level Up be returning for the 2022-2023 school year?

    So, this year, we’ve had 129 tutoring sessions with 449 attendees and 25 students have completed 10 sessions or more. Due to the current success of Level Up, GCPL is happy to say that we’re already making plans to continue the program for the entire 22-23 school year. We know for sure that Level Up homework help is happening Fall of 2022!

    —

    It’s no secret COVID has been hard on all of us, but we’re not letting that get us down and neither should you. Your kids are our kids, and GCPL will try our hardest to make sure your students have what they need to succeed.

    Throughout our conversation, Elizabeth explained that Level Up is meant to level the playing field when it comes to academic success. Traditional tutoring services can be costly, so the library is here to fill the gap and provide accessible, free tutoring for all students in Greene County.

    We also discussed how tutoring can sometimes have a negative connotation, but students at all academic levels may need a little extra help occasionally, and that’s okay! The library is a safe place for all students, and Elizabeth encourages them to utilize this library resource whether they need help with a homework assignment, an essay, or need helpful study tips for an upcoming chapter test.

    When it comes to academic success, your library is here to help you LEVEL UP! Find tutoring times at your community library at https://greenelibrary.info/levelup/.

  • Little Women, Week 3

    Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of Little Women.

    Did you enjoy reading this section this week? I thought it was fun to get a little bit more information about each of the girls this week. 

    At the beginning of this section, Meg attends a fancy party and gets in over her head. I really did not like the way the other girls were treating her. It was ridiculous that they were treating her like she was a person to be pitied just because she didn’t have as much money as everyone else. One of the confusing things for me throughout the book is the fact that the March family wasconsidered poor, but from my perspective, it seemed like they had a good amount of money. Maybe they didn’t have as much money as everyone else, but they seemed to be comfortable. What do you think? Do you think the people around them were more in the upper crust, and the March family was more of a middle class family? What did you think of Laurie and Meg in this section? He was very brotherly towards her. I felt like he was really trying to protect her, and he wanted her to make good decisions. 

    Another very exciting thing in this section was the fact that Jo had one of her stories published in the newspaper. I thought it was interesting that she was so proud to have published because she hoped it would lead to her being able to support herself and help her sisters. Do you think she believes that if she is a good enough writer, she can stop her sisters from marrying and leaving the house? She seems to hope that no one will leave the family. She definitely didn’t like the fact that Mr. Brooke has a crush on Meg. Do you think, considering the time period, that Jo would be able to fully support herself without the help of a man? Is that an attainable dream for her? Do you think it’s fair that she wants all of her sisters to stay with her forever? 

    In the last two chapters, Marmee leaves the family to go tend to her ill husband, and the family is thrown into chaos. Jo decides to cut off all of her hair to raise money for the family, and the Laurences come together to help Marmee travel. Mr. Brooke decides to accompany Marmee–do you think he is doing this for Marmee or because he thinks it will make Meg like him more? It seems like his offer to travel with Marmee made Meg very thankful, and I think it made her look at him differently. What did you think of everyone’s letters in the last chapter? I thought it was funny how each letter was so different in tone and matched each character so well. Jo’s letter was very dramatic, Meg’s was serious, and Amy’s was mostly about herself. I liked Mr. Laurence’s letter the best. He is so kind. I’m glad the March women have him around. 

    What do you think will happen to Mr. March? It seems that he’s getting better, but do you think this sickness will be the thing that brings him home? What do you think will happen with Mr. Brooke and Meg? How long do you think it will take Jo to grow her hair out? 

    What parts of this section did you enjoy the most? Did you have a favorite chapter or scene that I didn’t mention? 

    Did you know that you can visit Louisa May Alcott’s house? Check out the website to learn more and check out the Digital Discoveries page to see some artifacts from the house. Does it look like a place you would like to visit? 

    Check out the video link before you go to see how well the stars of the latest movie version know the characters from the book!

    I hope you’ll join us next week as we finish the book! I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section. 

  • Little Women, Week 2

    Welcome to Week 2 of the Online Book Club discussion of Little Women. 

    Did you enjoy reading the first section this week? I really did. It’s such a warm and cozy story. There’s something about reading about a close-knit family that is just so comforting. 

    Do you feel an affinity for any of the girls yet? It’s interesting that they are all so different from each other. It was easy to see Jo, Beth, and Amy’s passions, but I found it a little harder to understand Meg and her interests. She seems so mature and good. How would you describe Meg? What did you think of Amy in this first section? It’s so hard for me to think of nice things to say about Amy–she just isn’t a likeable character to me. But, she was only 12 at the beginning of the book, so it makes sense that she acted immaturely throughout. I’ve always felt like Jo is the most interesting character just because she is so creative and bold. I like how feisty she is. 

    At the very beginning of the book, we see that the March family has fallen on hard times, but they are still willing to give up their meal for a family that is less fortunate. Did that scene at the beginning endear you to the girls? I felt like it served to show readers that even if they girls make mistakes and are cruel to each other at times throughout the book, they are all good at heart. What did you think? 

    I feel like the family dynamic changed once Laurie came on the scene. What do you think of Laurie? Do you think he’s good for the girls? I always think about Jo and Laurie together when I think about the book, and I never really think about him interacting with any of the other girls. So, it was nice to see him be tender to Beth when she came to his house to play the piano, and he is so kind to Amy throughout the first section. What was your favorite interaction with Laurie? 

    I found myself feeling really emotional when Beth was given the new piano. She just seems so meek and tender–it was nice to read about someone being tender to her. And, it was fun to see her be brave and kind to Mr. Laurence. Did you enjoy this section? Did you like seeing Beth recognized? 

    What did you think of Amy’s pickled limes incident? I found the whole situation to be over the top. I thought Amy’s punishment was too much. I could have understood if the teacher just had her throw away the limes. That seems perfectly reasonable. But, the fact that he hit her hand and made her stand in front of everyone was a little much. However, I felt that it was an overreaction to have Amy pull out of school after the punishment. I think corporal punishment was really common at school back then, so I’m not sure why Amy pulled out of school completely afterwards. WHat did you think? 

    At the end of this section, Amy and Jo have an intense fight, and Amy ends up falling in the frozen pond. Luckily, she’s not hurt, but still, it was a scary situation. Were you surprised that the pair had such an intense fight? I don’t blame Jo for being angry at Amy–it was really harsh that Amy burned up Jo’s manuscript. But, I did feel disappointed that Jo ignored Amy on the pond, especially since she knew the pond could be really dangerous. 

    What was your favorite part of this first section? Are you excited to keep reading? 

    Before you go, check out this clip in which the actors and director of the latest movie adaptation discuss the creation of a scene. It’s really interesting!

    I hope you’ll join us again next week as we read through chapter 16. I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments section. 

  • Women in Country Music: Shaping the Genre’s Past and Present

    Real Roots Radio’s Daniel Mullins Celebrates Iconic Women Country Artists

    Today’s country music scene boasts many leading ladies with powerhouse vocals and incredible stories to tell, but it’s important to remember how much women from the past have shaped the genre. Xenia’s own Real Roots Radio (WBZI) teamed up the Greene County Public library to highlight some amazing women country artists every day this month, with a weekly spotlight on the one and only Dolly Parton.

    Real Roots Radio, Xenia’s only locally owned and operated radio station, has always been a champion for country music and sharing the country music sound with the Greene County Community. DJ Daniel Mullins compiled this month’s list of women artists and is thrilled to be showcasing them on his show The Daniel Mullins Midday Music Spectacular. A Greene County native, Daniel said that he’s grown up around Real Roots his entire life, as his dad (Joe Mullins) took over the station in 1995, when Daniel was only 4 years old. During high school, Daniel helped around the station, and by the time he was a sophomore in college, he spent his weekends on air doing a show centered around connecting the new roots music he heard in his college dorm with the traditional bluegrass he heard growing up. The rest is history; you can now listen to Daniel every weekday from 10 a.m. to noon.

    I had the chance to sit and talk with Daniel about Real Roots Radio and the women of country music.

    What excites you about the music you play and the community you’re able to reach here in Greene County and beyond?

    I really get excited when folks tell me that they discovered a song or artist that they were previously unaware of, by listening to Real Roots Radio. It is my goal to take listeners on a journey through roots music, past and present. Whether it’s highlighting new artists that are making great music like Charley Crockett or Mike & The Moonpies, or digging deep to showcase a forgotten gem from Johnny Cash or Dolly Parton, I really enjoy getting folks’ ears perked up by hearing something that is new to them. It has always been a goal of mine as well to use roots music to build bridges. We are all more alike than different, and nothing highlights that like the universal language of music.

    Why do you think it’s important to spotlight the work and music that women have done in the country music scene?

    It’s not just important – it’s vital! Since the beginning, women have played a huge role in shaping country music. Their voices and songs help paint a fuller, richer, and more vibrant history of country music. Country music is at its best when it covers all aspects of the human condition, and a big part of what it means to be human is dealing with sadness and loss, struggling to get by, and dealing with troubles that you feel no one else can relate to. With the power of music, especially something that pulls on the heartstrings like country music, we call all can gain a better understanding of what women deal with, and women can connect with a song or artist that reaches them on a personal level during their life. That’s the power of real country music.

    Who are some of the lesser-known artists that you’re excited to feature this month? Why did you pick them?

    This month, I am trying to showcase a wide variety of women in country and roots music. I will be covering household names like Loretta Lynn and Reba McEntire, bluegrass stars like Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss, and several artists with which many folks may not be as familiar with. One of those artists is Patsy Montana. She was a huge radio star in Chicago during the Depression on WLS’s National Barn Dance. Her song, “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” was the first million-selling country song by a female artist. It was an absolute smash hit back in 1935!

    It’s Dolly’s World, We All Just Live in it

    Here at the library, it’s no secret that we love Dolly! Her Imagination Library has changed the game for so many young children on their path to literacy. Daniel and I chatted some more about Dolly and what she means to the country music community.

    What is it about Dolly Parton’s music that you think has resonated with us for so long?

    First of all, there is NO ONE like Dolly Parton. She broke the mold in every way. Her talent as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, etc., is simply hard to fathom! Heck, the Moderna vaccine I had put in my arm last spring so I could safely celebrate my wedding with friends in family is due to Dolly!

    One of the biggest reasons Dolly’s music has touched so many of us for so long is due to her honesty and sincerity. She has that rare ability to speak to you directly on a personal level. I have seen her in concert twice – most recently in 2016 in Cincinnati. When she is speaking or singing, you honestly feel that she is communicating with only YOU! It’s so hard to explain, but even in a crowd of thousands and thousands of people, you just feel like your ol’ pal Dolly is talking to you from across the kitchen table.

    Tune into WBZI Real Roots Radio weekdays 10 a.m. to noon for The Daniel Mullins Midday Music Spectacular, and make sure to listen on Wednesdays to hear GCPL’s Head of Youth Services Kim Bautz chime in on all things Dolly and the Imagination Library! 

  • Christi Cox: Building Community Through Giving

    We all know community service is a good thing, but what is the true meaning of community service and how it impacts ourselves and each other? The Greene County Public Library’s very own Community Engagement Officer Christi Cox answers this question through her diligence, compassion, and friendship she offers our community day in and day out.

    Saturday, Christi received the S.L. Stephan Award from the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce. This award is presented to a person who has worked unselfishly, through voluntary services, to promote the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce and our community for at least the past two years.

    Community Service for the Community

    During her time in the Chamber, Christi has shown immense commitment to her community. Mathew Bennett, owner of Anderson-Williams Insurance and immediate past Chamber Board Chair, speaks to Christi’s involvement in Women in Business, the Professional Outreach Committee, Kiwanis and so much more. “Christi consistently exceeds expectations whether it be hosting Zoom meetings for WIB to increase engagement during the pandemic or adding a little free library at Shawnee park through Kiwanis Club, which she refills weekly with donated books. She’s a rockstar and an inspiration to our community,” Bennett said.

    Christi’s nominator Tarija Hubbard, Administrator of New Beginnings Group Home, notes that Christi’s participation in uplifting New Beginnings has been wonderful. “Christi is the board secretary and helped keep the group organized and on task. She researched and wrote the bylaws for the board and helped me with getting the home C.A.R.F. certified (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Through Kiwanis Club, she organized Christmas gifts for our residents,” Hubbard shared.

    Community Service for the Soul

    It doesn’t stop there. Christi went generously above and beyond by stepping up and giving the gift of life when her friend and fellow Fairborn Rotary member needed a kidney transplant. “They were not a match with each other, so Christi agreed to donate to a stranger for her friend to receive a kidney. Both her Rotary friend and the person who received Christi’s kidney are doing well,” said Hubbard.

    Hubbard says amidst all her hard work and community service, Christi was diagnosed with a brain tumor seven years ago and uses her journey to help others. “She has been sharing her brain tumor journey helping the freshman medical students in the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine learn to interview patients for the past 4 years.”

    Christi continuously shows up for her community and selflessly serves others, making her more than worthy of this award. During the ceremony when Christi accepted the S.L. Stephan Award, she thanked everyone and said, “I’m honored to be awarded the Stephan award. I can do all these things because I have a job I love. I want to thank the library and specifically Karl Colón, my boss, for letting me be me.”

    Karl Colón, GCPL’s Executive Director, later shared, “We are so lucky to have Christi as the Community Engagement Officer at the Greene County Public Library. I’m incredibly proud of her and how she has contributed to our amazing community. I will always support Christi in her community endeavors as her boss and as her friend.”

    Christi ended her acceptance speech with a thoughtful reminder, “While you never know what you say or do will make an impact on your community or a person’s life, we just hope that, in the end, we have been and done enough. Thank you.”

    Christi is an inspiration to us all, and her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Community service goes beyond just joining a few committees; it’s what you do to positively impact your community and make it a better place. Thank you, Christi, for all that you do – from your GCPL family!

  • Beavercreek Adult Take-and-Make: Soothing Eye Mask

    Sign up for your kit here:  

    HELLO CRAFTERS!

    This month we’re making an eye mask that can be put in the freezer and used for headaches or puffy eyes. I’ve been a migraine sufferer for most of my life, so I always have a collection of ice packs and cold eye masks in my freezer.  This pattern was super easy to make and can be reused over and over.  So let’s get started!

    Included in your kit:

    2 – 7.5″ x 4.5″ pieces of fabric

    mung beans

    elastic (optional)

    mask template  

    Not included in your kit:

    Sewing maching

    thread

    scissors

    pins

    I used the following website for step-by-step instructions.  

    Eye Mask Sewing Pattern

    Here are some pictures of my process:

    As always, I love to see your finished projects!  Post them on our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/BeavercreekCommunityLibrary

    Happy Crafting!

    -Morgan