What happened to the power?

On Friday, June 19 the library lost power in the late morning. The emergengy generator was able to supply emergency power but main lights and all the computers were down. The library was forced to close for the afternoon. We are up and running again (Monday morning) and I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our patrons. Fines will not be charged for items due on Friday, and please report any problems with your library accounts to the Circulation staff to have them corrected. Thank you.

Congratulations Joan!

Joan Clark was awarded a Individual Achievement Award in the Employee Recognitions Award Ceremony on June 11, 2009 by First Selectman Tom Buzi. Congratulations Joan for your excellent service to the library and the community of Monroe! Joan started working at the library in 2004 as a part-time library aide. She received her Master of Library Science Degree in 2007 and began working as a Reference Librarian at that time. Joan is a very dedicated librarian and she helps everyone who comes to the Reference Desk find what they need. No matter how long it takes or how hard the job, Joan will do it. She, like all members of the library staff, is totally dedicated to excellent service with a smile :>)
She totally deserves this award and we are all so proud of her!

Congratulations to Bill Ehlers

Bill Ehlers, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, was honored by the Rotary Club of Monroe on June 7, 2009 at their annual "Service Above Self Breakfast". Bill was one of three people honored who exemplify the rotary motto, "Service Above Self". The three categories of awards include awards in Education, awarded to Carl Bodnar; Business, awarded to Paul Moyse; and Community, awarded to Bill Ehlers.

Bill Ehlers has been involved for over 20 years with the library and he played a significant role in obtaining the new building named in honor of Edith Wheeler. A Monroe resident since 1968, Bill has been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, served on the school bus committee and been involved with flag football. He served with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico and he volunteers at St. Stephens Church. He loves boating, golf,and reading (of course!).

Thank you Bill for your service to the community and especially to the library.

Teen Photo Contest Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of our Teen Photo Contest! You may see them by linking to:
http://www.ewml.org/teenphotos.htm

A big thank you also to Eph Tobin and Jon Aspinwall of the Greater Bridgeport Camera Club for judging; and to Pat Grabarz for framing the winners.
Lorna Rhyins organized the photo contest and she was so impressed with all of the entries that she is planning to run it again next year so save your photos.

Library Elf & overdue notices

I't almost April and time to stop mailing overdue notices!
Please sign up for Library Elf. Library Elf's premium service is available to all Monroe library patrons free of charge. EWML subscribes to this service to help our patrons keep track of their library items. Go to www.libraryelf.com to subscribe.
Happy Spring everyone!

"EWML at Night"

On behalf of Bob and Antoinette Cargill, Cargill Photo of Monroe recently donated the photographic print "EWML at Night" to the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library. This print shows the front entrance of the library at sunset with the interior lighting of the library in striking contrast to the darkening sky. Bob and Antoinette "feel this image shows the inner glow of knowledge that permeates this beautiful building and will provide a place for learning and sharing knowledge for generations to come". Framing for the photo is the gift of Eric Peterson and Kosal Eang of Creative Framing, 150 Main St. Monroe.

The Cargills have two sons and six grandchildren. Mr. Cargill is active in the community and serves, or has served on, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Monroe Business Directory Committee, Monroe Rotary Club, Monroe Health Dept., St. Peter's Vestry, Boy Scout Troop 62 committeeman and Photo Merit Badge councilor. Cargill Photo provides services in aerial, advertising, commercial and industrial photography with specialties in glass, bright metal, close-up photography and plane-to-plane photography.

As Library Director I am very pleased to accept this handsome gift. The area I have chosen to hang it also includes the oil painting of the first library, built of brick and dedicated in 1958, it stood adjacent to the old Monroe Town Hall. With these two images close together, our patrons can see the history of library service in Monroe and be proud of the commitment of this community to learning, knowledge, and freedom of information. Bob and Antionette are good friends to the library and Monroe as evidenced by this gift.

Library Elf -what is this?

Library Elf is a free service that allows library users to:
Receive email notices of items BEFORE they are due
Be notified of reserves as they become available
View the due dates of various items in a calendar format

Many of our EWML patrons use library elf and they love it! So does the library staff, because users of library elf are less likely to have overdue books. The email reminders are sent out before your books & movies are overdue. You can then go online and renew them yourself, or give the library a call and we will do that for you. Library Elf saves the staff from having to make phone calls about reserves and overdues. We love it.

Please give it a try. Their website, if you want to sign up, is: www.libraryelf.com