Waterford Library APR 2024 Newsletter

April 2024

Join us Saturday, May 4th, 2024 for the Book It! 5K and Mile Fun Run/Walk in support of the Waterford Township Public Library. 5K will start at 10:00 AM. Entry fee includes a commemorative event t-shirt, finisher medal and chance to win gifts from our sponsors. The 5K will feature timing and results!

*Register by April 24 to guarantee a t-shirt.

Packet pick-up will start at 9:00 am on race morning. 5K will start at 10:00 AM. Check in will be at The Warming House, 5050 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI 48329 on the Civic Center Campus by the pond.

Thank you very much for your support of the Waterford Friends of the Library and the vital role played by this organization within our community.

Eclipse Glasses Giveaway (while supplies last)

There will be a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th around 3:15pm, and Waterford will be near the path of totality. The Library will have a supply of eclipse glasses at the Children’s desk and at the Adult & Teen Services desk starting on Monday, April 1st (while supplies last). The glasses are courtesy of the Friends of the Waterford Township Public Library and the STAR Library Network. The limit is one pair per person. Patrons must be present to pick up a pair of glasses. These are the safe, ISO-compliant glasses. Please visit one of those service desks to pick up your pair of viewing glasses.

Glasses are first come, first served. If you're planning on getting glasses for family or friends, be sure to bring them with you because patrons must be present to pick up glasses. We cannot hold glasses for people. Since the eclipse is over two hours long, we're strongly encouraging members of a household to share glasses.

Seed Library

Take some. Leave some. Grow some. Check out our seed library managed by the Waterford Garden Club and the Friends of the Library and hosted by the Waterford Township Public Library. It is now located in a file cabinet in the Adult Department by the map and atlas cases. More information about taking, sharing, and growing seeds is available on and in the file cabinet. The Seed Library is open to everyone.

Get our WTPL to Go Library App

Would you like a convenient way to check your library account, see when your books are due, search our catalog, and place holds? If you have a tablet or smartphone, try our new WTPL To Go app! Search for Waterford Library in the Apple app store or Google Play store and download it for free. One nice feature: it will keep you logged in to your account.

It’s Tax Season!

For those still using paper forms, a limited supply of tax forms are available at the library in the circulation lobby. We have the Federal 1040 instructions and forms and Michigan instructions and forms.

Free COVID-19 Tests

The library is now distributing free COVID-19 tests through a program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Kits – each containing 2 tests – can be picked up at the circulation desk. One kit per person per day while supplies last.

PROGRAMS

Library Calendar of Events

Children's Programs

Weekly Storytimes

April 2nd through May 1st

Drop-in storytimes are 30 minutes long and include a variety of stories, songs, fingerplays, and other activities. Choose the age-appropriate session from those listed below. NOTE: Children must be accompanied by a parent or a caregiver. No registration required.

Babytime Storytime

Tuesdays, 10:00 am – 10:30 am, Storytime/Craft Room

Recommended ages 6 months to 15 months

Toddlertime Storytime

Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 10:30 am, Storytime/Craft Room

Recommended ages 16 to 23 months

Two-Year-Old Storytime

Tuesdays, 11:00 am – 11:30 am, Storytime/Craft Room

Recommended age two years old

Three-Year-Old Storytime

Wednesdays, 11:00 am – 11:30 am, Storytime/Craft Room

Recommended age three years old

Saturday Story Time: Money Bunny

Saturday, April 6th, 10:30 am - 11:15 am - Storytime/Craft Room

It's $mart Money Michigan Kids Month, so we are featuring our "Money Bunny" storytime. Students are invited to join us for money related stories, games, and a craft project. Free book for each family. Recommended for ages 4-8. No registration required.

Saturday Special: Poetry Art in Magnets

Saturday, April 13th, 10:30 am - 11:30 am - Storytime/Craft Room

Raise your refrigerator art to a new level with poetry magnets. Glue words on magnetic strips, then create poetry! Recommended for ages 8-12. No registration required.

Lego Club

Saturday, April 27th, 10:15 am - 11:00 am OR 11:30 am - 12:15 pm - Storytime/Craft Room

Recommended ages 5 and up. Students meet to create their own Lego structure. No registration required.

Children's Services

Teens' Programs (kids going into 6^th – 12^th grades)

Teen Take & Make Kit - Blackout Poetry

April 20th - April 27th - Pick up at Adult Reference Desk

Celebrate Poetry Month with some poetry of your own. Pick up a kit with the necessary supplies to do Blackout Poetry – a form of poetry where you create poems by blacking out words from a page of text. Kits are first come, first served and for 6th through 12th graders only. No registration required.

Teens Services

Adults' Programs

Waterford Genealogical Society (WGS)

Afternoon meeting: Wednesday, April 3rd, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Community Room

Genealogy is the study of family ancestries and histories. The (WGS) meets on the 1st Wednesday afternoon of the month in the Library’s Community Room. All are welcome to attend.

Evening meeting: Tuesday, April 9th, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm via Zoom

A meeting of The Waterford Genealogical Society online via Zoom. All are welcome to attend. If you wish to attend you must register and enter your email address so we can send you the zoom link. Please register before 5pm of the day of the meeting. Julia Hanneman-Schoenbach moderates the meetings. Meets online the second Tuesday of each month except in July and August.

Genealogy Seminar (formerly Genealogy Lock-in) Saturday, April 20th, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Genealogists take over the library for a full afternoon of genealogy classes, discussion, and camaraderie. Registration forms are available in the library now or print your own. The Waterford Genealogical Society handles the registration. Form and fee must be mailed in to the Waterford Genealogical Society. Registration fee for WGS members is $25, non-members of the WGS: $30.

Programs will include:

Using DNA in Genealogy-- Kim Smith, presenter.
Using Land Records in Genealogy-- Dave Decker, presenter.
Beginning Irish Genealogy-- Cathy Cottone, presenter.
Organizing your Data-- Barbara Frye and Barbara Hofmann, presenters.
Coming to America: research with ship passenger lists-- Kris Rzepczynski, Senior Archivist at the Archives of Michigan, presenter.

Library Garden Club

Wednesday, April 10th, 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Conference Room

Both beginners and experienced gardeners welcome.

During the growing season, March through November, work bees are held to keep up with gardening tasks required in the beds in front of the library, usually followed by educational seminars.

This month's topic: Wild Mammals in Your Backyard: This is information to help you identify your local mammals, learn their signs and natural history, and enjoy their presence. Presented by Tim Nowicki, naturalist, resident of Livonia and author of "Awake to Wildlife" (c1994).

No registration required.

EBooks Help

Saturday, April 6th, 30-minute timeslots 10:00 am - noon - Group Study Room

Do you need help accessing all the free digital content the library has to offer? Bring your device and questions for help with downloading books, audiobooks, movies, music and magazines to your smartphone or tablet. Register for one-on-one help in a 30-minute session. Registration required.

Evening Book Discussion Group

Thursday, April 11th, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Conference Room

Title: Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson. Copies of the book, including large print and book on CD (when available), will be available at the Adult Reference Desk a month prior to the meeting. No registration required.

Matinee Movie: Belfast (2022)

Thursday, April 18th, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Community Room

Join us for free afternoon movie matinees. Most titles run between 90 to 120 minutes. Popcorn and beverages will be provided, but you may also bring your own snacks and drinks. No alcoholic or uncovered beverages. No registration required.

Movie trailer

UFOs Over Michigan Thursday, April 25th, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Community Room

Did you know that Michigan has some of the biggest UFO cases on record? The 1966 sightings over Southeast Michigan and 1994 sightings over Grand Rapids each had literally hundreds of eyewitnesses to them, including law enforcement and radar returns. Find out more from Bill Konkolesky, state director for the Michigan Chapter of MUFON (Mutual UFO Network). Registration required.

Jigsaw Puzzle Competition Saturday, April 27th, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm - Community Room

Teams will compete to be the fastest at assembling a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle! Can you lead your team to victory? Register as a team of 2-4 people. A prize will be awarded to the quickest team. Teams have three hours to complete their puzzle. Puzzle-building begins promptly at 10:30 a.m.

Waterford Writers Workshop Poetry Open Mic Event

Saturday, May 4th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Community Room

Everyone is invited to join the Waterford Writers Workshop for a fun-filled event. Do a reading or enjoy the work of other local writers and share the joy of the written word. Registration is not required.