Upcoming Events

Pipestone County Star 09-26-2013

Meinders Library tries very hard to bring in programming that we think will be meaningful and well-received by the community.  We enjoy having local authors come and speak, as well as more famous authors from around the state, such as John Coy and Mary Logue.  We also work hard to have programs that benefit the children of the community and enrich the learning process, such as 1000 Books Before Kindergarten and the Summer Reading Program. 

Tune in below to some of the upcoming programs offered at the library!

1000 Books Before Kindergarten!

1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a program that encourages children who are not in school to get reading!  Meinders Library is a participant in the program and we will be having a kick-off party on September 28^th from 1 until 4 PM.

Stop in any time during those hours and sign up for the program – the child will receive a special bag and reading log and be able to do a few crafts!  We will be decorating paper crowns and making birdfeeders out of toilet paper rolls and peanut butter, which should be a huge amount of fun.

This program is open to all children, ages 0 – 5, who are not yet enrolled in school.  We look forward to seeing you!

Caryl and Ed Crozier

Join us October 5^th at 2:00 PM for an awesome documentary and book talk! 

Ed (Sherm) Crozier and his wife Caryl will be coming to talk about their books, Dream Hunter and Waking to Mourning Doves, and show their 20 minute award-winning film to attendees.  The couple will discuss their childhood in southwestern MN and talk about their journey into film-making. 

Please come and hear them speak – the movie is excellent!

PAFL  Fundraiser

Pipestone Area Friends of the Library will be having a fundraiser at the Pipestone Pizza Ranch on Wednesday, October 30^th, from 4:30 until 8:00 PM.  From 4:30 until 5:00, the library will be having a craft activity for any interested children to celebrate the season.  Come join us for great food and a spooky fun craft to take home with you!

In addition to these exciting events, there are several more speakers in the works for November and December and we are even planning for next year.  Do you have any ideas?  Let us know!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

Banned Books Week 2013

Pipestone County Star 09-12-2013

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.  This year, the dates of Banned Books Week are from September 22 until September 28^th and it highlights the value of free and open access to information.  Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.  

  

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. 

What is the difference between a challenge and banning?

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.  A banning is the removal of those materials.  Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.  Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

Why are books challenged?

Books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information.   Censorship can be subtle, almost imperceptible, as well as blatant and overt, but, nonetheless, harmful.  

Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” sexual content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:

·         the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"

·         the material contained "offensive language"

·         the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (ALA's basic policy concerning access to information) states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.

If we are to continue to protect our First Amendment, we would do well to keep in mind these words of Noam Chomsky:

“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”

Who Challenges Books?

Throughout history, more and different kinds of people and groups of all persuasions than you might first suppose, who, for all sorts of reasons, have attempted—and continue to attempt—to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who disagrees with their own beliefs.

According to the Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year, parents challenge materials more often than any other group.

Top Ten Challenged books of 2012:

Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James
And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Looking for Alaska, by John Green
Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
Beloved, by Toni Morrison

If you would like to know the reasons for the challenges, come in to the library and we can show you on our Banned Books Flyer.  Or better yet, check one of them out and read it for yourself!!

Upcoming Events: I will be doing a travelogue about my trip to Kilimanjaro on September 21^st at 2:00 PM at the library.  The event is free and open to everyone, so come and join us!  I will be doing a powerpoint presentation of pictures and have some maps, other items, and gear on hand as props.

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

Back to School Drama

Pipestone County Star  - 08-29-2013

It’s almost time.  The kids go back to school in less than a week, which means that school supplies are probably scattered all over your house and the realization has suddenly hit you that none of their clothes fit anymore.  My daughter had ONE pair of pants that still fit her and my son only had a few, so we made a trip to Once Upon a Child to stock up.  It’s amazing, those growth spurts.

To satisfy your need for high school drama (I know you have an urge to read these and even if you’re an adult, that’s okay!), here are some books to tide you over.  They are young adult fiction, but the plots and characters are just as well developed as most adult fiction and they are great reads!  Check one out today!

Academy 7, by Anne Osterlund

Aerin Renning and Dane Madousin have nothing in common.  The two most competitive freshman at Academy 7 both have secrets and their safety depends on them staying apart.  Of course, since this is dramatic, they can’t quite manage that and their friendship turns into a romance that could cost them both their lives.  But what’s the secret?  You’ll have to read it to find out!

Kiss and Blog, by Alyson Noel

This is an old story told a new way: two nerdy girls make a pact to do whatever it takes to become cool their sophomore year in high school.  The one who becomes cool first will help the other one along.  But Sloane likes being cool more than she likes Winter and she leaves the other girl behind when she gets in with the popular crowd.  Winter, as revenge, starts an anonymous blog and reveals all of Sloane’s best-kept secrets.  Will vengeance mean more the friendship in the end?

The List, by Siobhan Vivian

Eight girls, with very different reactions to a list that is posted just before homecoming.  Not an official list, but it gets posted every year – one girl from each grade is the “prettiest” and one is the “ugliest.”  Abby, Danielle, Lauren, Candace, Bridget, Sarah, Margo, and Jennifer all have a story to tell and this book goes in deep into the relationships that are formed and broken because of the List.

A Match Made in High School, by Kristin Walker

A class to practice marriage?  You’ve got to be kidding…Fiona has been paired with jock Todd Harding and her best friend has been paired with a very goofy Johnny Mercer.  How will they survive an entire year “hitched” to boys they can’t stand?  Todd even has a girlfriend, who quickly becomes Fiona’s arch-enemy.  A series of pranks leaves all the kids wondering if there’s more to their partners than meets the eye…very well-written, very funny.  A good end of summer read.

Prom and Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg

A re-write, yes, but a good one.  If you enjoy Jane Austen, you will probably really enjoy this retelling of her classic story Pride and Prejudice, set at a very prestigious school where all the girls become obsessed with prom after winter break.  Who will take who?  Are there other plots that will get in the way of romance?

A Tale of Two Centuries, by Rachel Harris

The sixteenth century can be boring for a teenager.  Very, very boring.  And when a girl has a teenage cousin who can travel through time, why wouldn’t she want to try that, too?  Alessandra casts a spell that takes her to modern day Beverly Hills, right to her cousin Cat’s doorstep.  And what a world it is – the clothing is scandalous, the technology is confusing, and Less can hardly keep her head on straight.  And to top it all off, there’s a SURFER boy that’s really infuriating…and strangely attractive.  How can she go back to her time when she wants to stay here??

So that’s it for me today – I think I need to go buy more folders, spiral tablets, and a year long supply of pencils.  If I’m not out of Target in five minutes, send a search party.  Have a great first day of school!!

Upcoming Events: I will be doing a travelogue about my trip to Kilimanjaro on September 21^st at 2:00 PM at the library.  The event is free and open to everyone, so come and join us!  I will be doing a powerpoint presentation of pictures and have some maps, other items, and gear on hand as props.

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10AM to Noon.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

Useful Swahili

Pipestone County Star  - 08-15-2013

Some of you are aware that I just came back from Tanzania on July 27^th after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with my husband.  There is no way I would be able to write a column about the trip considering there’s just not enough space, BUT I thought I’d pass off a few words in Swahili that might be vaguely useful.  All right, they’re not even remotely useful around here, but they are interesting!

Jambo! (JAM-bow): Hello!!

Hakuna Matata (Ha-KUN-ah Ma-TA-ta): Sorry, now you’re probably singing the song from the Lion King and you probably already got to the part “It means no worries…”  Hakuna Matata is a good phrase to remember – stop worrying about everything.  Worrying doesn’t help fix anything at all – try telling that to a professional worrier like myself.  I think this was the biggest lesson the mountain had to teach me.

Trende Sasa!  (TREN-day SA-sa): Might actually be useful for you – it means Let’s go NOW! and was a phrase used to get us moving if we stopped too long.  Stopping was fine, but when it was time to move, sometimes we needed a little extra boost to get us going.  Try saying it, it’s fun!  You can, of course, just say Trende (let’s go), but it’s not nearly as fun as adding the NOW.

Asante Sana (a-SAN-tay SA-na): Thank you very much.  Asante is thank you, but it sounds better if you use the whole phrase.

Maji (MAH-gee):  Water.  Since we were drinking three to five liters of water a day while we were hiking, this was a good word to know!

Pole pole (POE-lee POE-lee): Slowly!  You can try using this on people walking faster than you, but if they don’t speak Swahili, it might be useless.  We were told this time and time again on the mountain since we had to walk very slowly (like a mile an hour) to allow our bodies time to acclimate to the altitude.  Try it on the treadmill sometime – it’s really hard to walk that slow.

Words for farm animals:  We saw a lot of cows, sheep, goats, and donkeys on our trip, being herded and overseen by younger boys usually, and I couldn’t resist learning all the words.

Ng’ombe (n-GOM-bay): Cow (if you can do the glottal stop, you’re amazing)

Mbuzi (m-BOO-zee): Goat

Kondoo (KON-doo): Sheep

Punda (POON-dah): Donkey

Words for Animals on Safari: And more animal words – try teaching these to small children.  The words are very fun to say!

                Twiga (TWEEG-ah): Giraffe

                Tembo (TEM-bow): Elephant

                Simba (SIM-bah): Lion (Disney totally cheated naming the Lion King “Lion”)

                Tumbili (toom-BEE-lee): Vervet monkey

                Sokwe (SOCK-wee): Chimpanzee

                Kiboko (Key-BOW-koe): Hippopotamus

Mbuzu (m-BOO-zoo): The final word is a good one for me.  It means white person.  You may feel free to refer to me as Crazy Mbuzu for writing this article.

I will be speaking about the trip in a travelogue at the library in September – stay tuned for more details on that as we get closer.  I’ll have some of my 485 pictures and some of my equipment with me for a laugh.

Hope you’re having an awesome summer!!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10AM to Noon.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

That Darned Dewey

Pipestone County Star - 07-04-2013

The summer heat has finally arrived and once again it feels good to sit outside on the porch with a really good book.  Sometimes, instead of fiction, it feels nice to read something a little more grounded in reality, so for this article, I am going to give a breakdown of the Dewey Decimal system.  Yes, I know, it sounds confusing, but it’s really not that bad.  Once you get used to it (or have a cheat sheet), it’s pretty easy to find the subjects you are looking for.

Dewey Decimal uses a series of numbers from 0 -999.99 to organize books into similar subjects.  Inside the number values, the books are organized by author’s last name.

000 – 099.99 Information: At the beginning of the numbers, you will find books on computers, library science, books of facts (Guinness World Record books are very popular here!) , journalism and the media, quotation books, and any rare books.  We don’t have rare books and manuscripts at the Pipestone Library, but other libraries in bigger communities might have some.

100 – 199.99 Philosophy and Psychology: These numbers contain philosophy, metaphysics, astrology and the occult, psychology, logic, and ethics – all the things for light summer reading, right?  I know, I know…very few people actually want anything out of this section, but some of the material in there is really fun.

200 – 299.99 Religion: Here we get a little more interesting.  Religion, religious theory, Bibles (found in the 220s), the history and organization of the Christian church, and all other religious denominations can be found in these numbers.  Spiritual counseling also falls into this area, as well as the other holy books from other religions.

300 – 399.99 Social Sciences: Anthropology (my major in college) is found here, as well as statistics, political science, economics, law, public administration and military science, education, commerce, etiquette, and folklore.  Some great stuff if you enjoy thinking while you read (sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t!).

400 – 499.99 Language: Language and linguistics make up the 400s.  English and Old English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, and many others are found in this section, both learning to speak those languages and books written in those languages.

500 – 599.99 Science:  Just what you were waiting for, right?? Science, mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, fossils (DINOSAURS!!) biology, plants, and animals are all found in this area.  Kids LOVE these books, especially the dinosaurs and animals.  Plant and bird lovers are BOUND to find something that excites them, as well as gardeners.

600 – 699.99 Technology: Medical science, technology, engineering, agriculture, home and family management, business, chemical engineering, and building and construction are found here.  If you have a remodeling project or are keen on reorganizing your home, this is the place for you.  Cookbooks are also found here (641.5).

700 – 799.99 Arts and Recreation: Landscaping, architecture, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, painting, graphic arts, photography, music and sports are all found in the 700s.  Comic collections (Calvin and Hobbes, the Far Side, for example) are in the 740s and sports and game occupy the 790s.  Young and old sports fans alike will find things to make them happy, as will anyone working on a major outside renovation!

800 – 899.99 Literature: When you want to find the classics, look no further.  The 800s hold American literature, rhetoric, Old English literature (Shakespeare), classic and modern Greek literature (the plays), and poetry.  Literature in other languages such as French and Italian is also found here – some beautiful reading if you have the patience for it.

900 – 999.99 History and Geography: Really, what is more fun than history?  Geography, travel guides, biographies, genealogy, and the history of the world are found in the 900s. The biographies are my favorite, but if you are interested in the history and customs of other countries, this is the section for you.

And there you have it – an easy cheat sheet for searching the non-fiction.  Of course, there will always be books that are placed where it makes no sense, nothing is ever perfect.  And, as always, the librarians are happy to help you!  Come by and see us.

The next two articles will be reprints from earlier editions as I will be out of the country for the rest of July – stay tuned for new articles in the middle of August!  Have a great summer!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10AM to Noon.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

Summer Events at the Library

Pipestone County Star  - 06-20-2013

The sun is finally shining.  My children can go outside in tank-tops and I don’t feel guilty about them possibly being a bit chilly.  My plants have exploded in happiness.  And it’s time for SUMMER at the library!!

Readers of all ages will explore all things underground this summer as Meinders Community Library presents “Dig Into Reading” during their summer library program. Activities may include programs on dinosaurs or construc­tion vehicles, animals that live underground or Ancient Egypt, caves, rocks and more.  We may even be panning for gold and making our own cave paintings!!

The 2013 Summer Reading Program is open to young people, ages 5 through 12, with programs, story hours, and more.   Activity days will be Tuesdays, beginning on June 11 and ending on July 23^rd.  All activities will be at 2:00 PM and are free and fun!!  We ask that any child younger than 8 be accompanied by a parent (or guardian or older sibling) when attending activities – they might need a little extra help.

Kids do not need to attend the activities to participate! Prizes will be awarded for a certain number of books read (we’re still determining how many) and kids can earn more than one prize!  Keeping active in reading throughout the summer is a great way to keep your skills up to snuff for the coming school year.  And besides, reading is awesome!!

There is also a teen program based around the theme BENEATH THE SURFACE.  While the teens will not have special activity days, there will be special prizes just for them to be rewarded for a certain number of books read (which we are still determining).  Stop in to sign up and get a reading log!  We’ve got loads of ideas for books to keep you busy during the summer!

In addition to the kids and teens, we are once again having an Adult Summer Reading contest!  While it may not be as exciting as the kids’ activities, it’s still fun!!  The theme of the Adult Program is GROUNDBREAKING READS and the packet has some silly quizzes and activities as well as a reading log and an answer sheet, in case you need them.  Stop by and pick one up today!!  Prizes will be awarded through a drawing of book reviews submitted by readers and the prizes are great, I promise.

We also have a great event coming up on June 29^th at 10:00 AM – “My Family Tree” is a scrapbook workshop designed for families interested in their history and participants will take a frame-worthy family tree home with them at the end of the two hour event.   Families can bring their own photographs to use, or can simply bring their creative talents and add photographs later if they would prefer.  Minnesota Historical Society staff will assist with the creation of the family trees and everyone will have a great time.  Children and teens are welcome to join with parents in order to make it a true family activity.

Susan Hoskins, director of the Pipestone County Historical Museum will also be on hand to talk about the museum’s resources for genealogists, to help families get a jump start on researching some of their ancestors.

All programs are FREE and open to the public.  Come and join the library for FUN this summer!!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10AM to Noon.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.

Spring Has Sprung? Weather Records in MN

Pipestone County Star 06-06-2013

Wait, someone told me spring was coming.  Better yet, isn’t summer supposed to start in three weeks?  So where is the nice warm weather – so far all we’ve seen is copious amounts of rain.  Don’t get me wrong, we’re not complaining.  For the second month in a row, we’ve succeeded in getting above average rainfall, and not so far above that we are flooding.  That’s great news for the soil, but there’s very little growth out there for us gardeners who like to see our seeds burst forth with enthusiasm.  Everything simply seems to be waiting for the sun, kind of like me.

So what are some of the weather records set in the State of Minnesota?

Warmest temp: On both July 29, 1917 and July 6, 1936, the ambient air temperature reached 114 degrees Fahrenheit in Beardsley and Moorhead, respectively.   Talk about warm!  And trust me, kids, it’s NOT a dry heat!

Coldest Temp:  In a state that, in my opinion, is usually always cold, Minnesota set their record in 1996 at the Embarrass Tower of -60 degrees Fahrenheit.  Wow.  And that doesn’t include the windchill.

Most Rainfall: St. Francis had 53.52 inches of precipitation in 1991 – that’s more than one inch a week!  The statewide record (averaged with everyone) was set in 1977 and we had 33.92 (average) inches that year.

Least Rainfall: Our driest place in the state was Ortonville in 1976.  The poor town only had 6.37 inches of precipitation over the entire year.  The longest dry spell in our state’s history was recorded in Marshall, lasting 79 days, from November 9, 1943 until January 26, 1944.

Snow records: The earliest recorded trace of snow happened in Duluth  on August 31, 1949.  Since that was only a trace, International Falls has the record for the earliest measurable snowfall - .3 inches on September 14, 1964.  The latest recorded snowfall happened on June 4, 1935 in Mizpah.  As for snow amounts, Lake County gets the honors of having the largest amount of snow within 24 hours – 36 inches on January 7, 1994.  Collegeville got 66 inches of snow during the month of March, 1965, giving it the record for most snow within a 31 day period.  And the deepest snow ever recorded in Minnesota? Meadowlands was measured at 88 inches on February 21, 1962.

Tornadoes: The most tornadoes the state had in one month was in June of 2010.  71 tornadoes ripped through the state during those four weeks.  In fact, 48 of them hit on June 17^th.  During the course of the entire year of 2010, we actually had 110 tornadoes.

Largest Hailstone:  Our marvelous neighbor, Edgerton, has the dubious record (tied with Reading) of the state’s largest hailstone: 6 inches in diameter on July 4, 1968.

On that note, hopefully by the time this is published, the sun will be out and my little seeds will be basking in the warmth of a good late spring day.  It will be nice to see growth! 

Have a great spring and enjoy whatever you have planned for the summer!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

Book Club Reminder: The book club takes a break during the summer months and they are currently on hiatus until September.  Their meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month and over the summer, they read what they want to and report back to the club on those tomes during their first meeting.  If you enjoy reading, you should try it out!  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 10AM to Noon.  Summer hours are in effect from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day Weekend.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.