BRISTOL LIBRARY

505 W. Vistula St., P.O. Box 789, 848-7458, fax 848-4391,

www.youseemore.com/bristolwash

The library will close at 3 p.m. Wednesday and be closed Thursday and Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Normal hours will resume Saturday.

Those interested in forming a Friends of the Library Organization are asked to call for details.

The book club will not meet in December. The next meeting will be at noon Jan. 8. Come to discuss "Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani.

Register now for "Christmas Cheer" Storytime. Three sessions of Christmas stories and gifts for others will start Monday and Tuesday. Each week children will listen to Christmas stories and songs and make a gift for someone else. Call to enroll your preschooler now.

BPL has partnered with Mr. Hunnings, a sixth-grade teacher from Riverview Elementary School, in reaching a goal of collecting 6 million paper clips. This long-term project is in memory of the 6 million Holocaust victims of World War ll. Stop in to donate your paper clips and learn more about this worthwhile project.

Calling All Knitters will meet at 6 p.m. today. If you're experienced, bring your current project. Experienced people will be on hand to help first-timers get started. The club meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month to knit or crochet in the library. Call LaVonne for more information.

Phil Monteith, a local artist of note, has some of his artwork on display at the library for the month of November. In the past Monteith taught music at some of the elementary schools in the area, Bristol Elementary School being one of them. He is currently teaching classes through the Art League at High Dive Park. Stop in and enjoy his wonderful works of art.

A homebound program is available for the ill or elderly who cannot access the library on their own. Call for more information.

ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY

myepl.org

The library will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving and will reopen Friday for regular business hours.

Due to high demand EPL has set up special computer work stations for the use of those who need to sign up for benefits with Workforce Development. One computer at each branch and four at the main library are dedicated for this use and are available first-come first-served. Users do not need to have a library card. The library's Web page includes a direct link to resources for job hunters. Special note for Sunday branch users: Pierre Moran is open from noon to 1 p.m. on Sundays for filing only, with Workforce Development assistance from noon to 2. Normal hours for other services are still 1 to 5 on Sundays. There is high computer traffic at the branches from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays because of Workforce Development filing. If you are having trouble getting onto one of the computers at the library, consider waiting until 3. Branches are open until 5 p.m. and are ready to serve you with this and all of your needs.

Homework assistance at the library is offered at the following times: Main from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Pierre Moran from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Cleveland from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesdays and Osolo from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Homework Hotline provides free math and science homework help to Indiana students in grades 6-12. Students may contact the Homework Hotline from 7 to 10 p.m. September-May toll free at (877) ASK-ROSE or online at www.AskRose.org.

The library is reaching out to help those in need during the holiday season and is asking you to join in this year's food drive with Church Community Services. Contributions of non-perishable food items and personal-care items are needed. CCS is also accepting gifts of pet food. Collection barrels will be at all locations, and a list of items needed will be available. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 21.

Thank you to all who donated towards the purchase of more "Goodnight Moon" books during the Books for Babies donation drive. These will be placed in welcome baby bags given to all new babies born in Elkhart County. Your help in this worthy cause is appreciated.

MAIN BRANCH

300 S. Second St., 522-BOOK

CHILDREN'S

A Computer Safety and Use for Young People class for ages 7-12 years is from 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 1 in the computer training center on the second floor. Anyone taking any of the other computer classes offered to children at the library must first attend one of these sessions, which discusses rules for using the computers at the library, Internet safety and features of the Web site. Advance registration and a resident EPL card are required. If you are unable to attend your scheduled class, please contact the library because registration is limited.

A Beginning Internet for Young People Computer class for ages 7-12 is from 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 in the computer training center on the second floor. These classes cover some basic vocabulary, using the toolbar, making and organizing favorites, and printing. Advance registration, a resident EPL card and previous attendance at Computer Safety and Use for Young People are required. If you are unable to attend your scheduled class please contact the library because registration is limited.

YOUNG ADULT

Talent Time for ages 11-17 is from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday. Can you sing or dance, give a dramatic poetry reading, sing your own song, do some great magic tricks or jam with the best of them on your electric guitar? All performances will appear on the EPL blog and can be seen by millions. No registration is required.

Batman Villain Contest for ages 11-17 is Dec. 1-31. December 31 is Val Kilmer's birthday and there is a contest to honor his part in the movie "Batman Forever." Enter the name of your new villain and their superpower (drawings will be accepted too). Winners will be announced by Jan. 10. The winner will appear on the library blog and can be seen by millions. Registration is required.

CLEVELAND BRANCH

53715 C.R. 1, Elkhart, 266-2030

Saturday Special: Christmas Ornament is for all ages from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Make a Christmas ornament to keep or give as a gift. Materials will be provided. Registration and accompaniment by an adult are required for younger children.

Time Out for Teens: Repurposing Your Old Jeans for ages 12-18 is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday. Join the denim revolution and discover new ways to repurpose your old blue jeans. Bring old jeans, sharp scissors and your imagination. Workshop size is limited. Registration is required.

A Recycled Christmas Card Contest for grades 4-12 is Dec. 1-18. Design an original Christmas card from recycled materials and enter it in the contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top two in each age division. Rules and guidelines are available at the desk. Entries will be displayed in the library until the end of the month. All entries with a completed registration form are due by Dec. 18.

DUNLAP BRANCH

58485 C.R. 13, 875-3100

An After-School Special for grades 3-6 is from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. today. It's almost time for Thanksgiving. Sample some traditional (and some not so traditional) Thanksgiving Day food and create some one-of-a-kind decorations. Registration is required.

OSOLO BRANCH

3429 E. Bristol, Elkhart, 264-7234

An After-School Special for grades K-6 is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Make two holiday ornaments from used light bulbs. This craft will take two days to complete due to drying time. Bring two light bulbs for the craft. Registration is required.

GOSHEN LIBRARY

601 S. Fifth St., 533-9531, www.goshenpl.lib.in.us/

GPL will be closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no Storytime Express on Wednesday or Thursday due to the holiday.

Take part in GPL's First and Last Words Contest for Teens. The young adult display will feature the first and last lines of your favorite classics and YA books. The first five participants who match the correct title with the correct lines will win a free book.

Parents, if you're looking for a place to socialize with other families and receive parenting support and information, come to the library's Schrock Auditorium and participate in "learning through play" activities. This group is offered in both English and Spanish from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Friday of each month September through May. Beyond Baby Play Group is sponsored by Goshen General Hospital, CAPS and GPL.

Mother Goose Baby Lapsit for ages infant-2 years is at 10:30 a.m. Mondays. No advance registration is necessary; just bring your baby and enjoy a fun and special morning together at the library.

Raine and Ice from the Delta Society will take a break for the holiday season. Starting again in January, the "PAWS" to Read program will again be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Sunday. Bring your favorite book or choose a special book from the library's collection. Stop by the children's services desk or call 537-0241 for more information.

MIDDLEBURY LIBRARY

101 E. Winslow, 825-5601, www.mdylib.in.us

The library will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, be closed for Thanksgiving and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

The library is starting a new Story Time for school-aged kids K-2. The next session is at 4 p.m. Monday. The theme is dinosaurs. Sign up at the children's desk.

State Sen. Carlin Yoder and State Rep. Wes Culver will be at the library at 7 p.m. Dec. 3. Come for coffee and conversation.

Stop by to pick up the last book, "Boom," by Tom Brokaw for the Dec. 8 Let's Talk About It lecture and discussion. See the Web site for this fall's LTAI schedule.

The last 2009 Toddler Time is today.

There will be no Story Time sessions this week. The last 2009 sessions are Dec. 2 and 3.

See episode 3 of "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency: The Boy with the African Heart" and episode 4, "Problems in Moral Philosophy" at 1 p.m. Dec. 1 The series is based on Alexander McCall Smith's best-selling book.

NAPPANEE LIBRARY

157 N. Main St., 773-7919; Dial-A-Story information, computer access, 773-7920; www.nappanee.lib.in.us

The Super Science Saturday Club heats up at the library on Nov. 28. Kids will meet at 10 a.m. for fun hands-on experiments exploring microwave science. This program for curious kids in grades 1-5 is led by Jim Myers and meets at NPL monthly during the school year. Register by Wednesday by calling before 5 p.m., or go to the Web site. Space is limited, and all registered participants will be entered in a prize drawing.

The evening chapter of TOPS in Nappanee meets at the library from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. every Tuesday. It's a non-profit, non-commercial weight-loss support organization, "Take Off Pounds Sensibly" was founded in 1948 and has chapters worldwide. Visitors are always welcome to attend and learn more about the group before joining. Call or go to the Web site for more information.

WAKARUSA LIBRARY

124 N. Elkhart St., 862-2454, Dial-A-Story 862-4441, www.wakarusa.lib.in.us

Story Hour will be at 10:15 a.m. Dec. 1. This program is for children ages 3-6, not attending school. Children must be registered to attend.

Lapsit will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 2. This class is for children ages 18-24 months accompanied by a parent or caregiver. This will be the last session for 2009.

Toys for Tots has placed a box in the entryway of the library. Please bring new unwrapped toys to place in the collection box. These donations will help create a merry Christmas for boys and girls in the community. Gifts will be accepted until Dec. 10.

Dial-A-Story is "The Golden Cobwebs," a delightful Christmas story about the spiders who spun cobwebs all over a Christmas tree. Hear this tale at 862-4441.