September 9, 2021
The following is a selection of books written by authors featured in the 2021 Central Wisconsin Book Festival (CWBF)! From fiction to nonfiction to poetry, this year's CWBF will be a great opportunity for members of the community to hear from notable writers with diverse backgrounds. Check out the following items before or after the festival to explore their creations:
August 25, 2021
Next month is the Central Wisconsin Book Festival! This year, 11 fabulous children’s authors will be speaking at the festival. The majority of these events will be conducted virtually through Zoom, which means you can attend from anywhere! The following books are my recommended pre-festival reads for kids. The good news? They're all available for checkout from your local Marathon County Public Library! On Friday, September 17, via Zoom, Canadian artist Matthew Forsythe will read from his entertaining picture book Pokko and the Drum and also show participants how he created the illustrations. Forsythe’s artwork has been exhibited in Los Angeles, Japan, Italy, and Germany. A few of my...
July 7, 2021
The fifth annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival (CWBF) takes place September 17–26, 2021! Even though summer is officially upon us, the committee behind the Central Wisconsin Book Festival have their eyes on the fall as we plan our annual fest!The festival, an initiative of the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL), has grown in several exciting ways since its humble beginnings in 2017: The number of authors hosted, the number of people who attend, and the reach of the festival beyond Central Wisconsin to other states and even countries!The biggest way we’re growing this year is geographically: For the first time, MCPL is collaborating with the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point and the...
October 1, 2020
It’s a natural fit for the Marathon County Historical Society (MCHS) and the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) to work together to bring information and events to the public. They share some of the same goals to keep history — and local history in particular — alive and accessible. With both locations either being closed or offering only limited access due the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve partnered to adapt and reorganize our joint programming for a virtual environment. Virtual talks are broadcast simultaneously via the platform Zoom, and live streamed on MCHS’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Each presentation is archived on the MCHS Facebook page and...
September 2, 2020
The fourth annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival (CWBF) takes place September 21–27, 2020, with events happening each of the six days, bringing authors and literature lovers together in exciting, creative and introspective ways! Although organizers felt it was necessary to make this year’s festival all-virtual, we’re still really excited about this year’s lineup and hope you will be, too. About a dozen volunteers have met monthly — first in person, then virtually — since the end of the 2019 festival to set up this year’s events. It’s been a challenge to reorganize the whole festival to take place online, due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ll certainly miss the opportunity to gather together and...
September 1, 2020
The following is a selection of books written by authors featured in the 2020 Central Wisconsin Book Festival (CWBF)! From fiction to nonfiction to poetry, this year's "virtual" CWBF will be a great opportunity for members of the community to hear from notable writers with diverse backgrounds. Check out the following items before or after the festival to explore their creations:
August 27, 2020
The Central Wisconsin Book Festival will take place Sept. 21-27, 2020. Before it happens, we want to share a bit about some of the guests so we've asked a few to answer some questions that festival organizers have. Below is a back-and-forth between CWBF committee member Danielle Hale and Tiffany Midge, who will appear during two virtual events, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27. Quarantine Questions with Tiffany Midge I have a confession to make. I’m a bit of a fangirl when it comes to Tiffany Midge. I first heard about her just after I finished grad school in 2017. I was looking up Native American women writers because I wanted to read more from authors I could identify with. (Midge is a member of the...
July 1, 2020
The Marathon County Public Library, on behalf of all its partners, is happy to share that the Central Wisconsin Book Festival will return to the Wausau area for its fourth year. The first event of this year's festival is Monday, Sept. 21 and we'll follow that with SIX more days of events and finish the festival on Sunday, Sept. 27. As Central Wisconsin (and the rest of the world) continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, we will err on the side of caution and host an all-virtual festival this year. Although virtual events have a different feel than in-person readings, we hope our audience will enjoy not only the lineup of authors we've booked, but also being able to watch events from the comfort and...
May 14, 2020
In light of the recent news that the Wisconsin State Supreme Court has overturned Governor Evers' "Safer at Home" order, the library is gathering information and resources to determine our next steps. As a county agency, we will be guided by our County Administration and County Health Officer. Keep watching the library's website and social media channels for updates. UPDATE (5/15): Marathon County has published "MARATHON COUNTY COVID-19 ORDER #1." Thank you for your support during these unusual times! In the meantime, we are still happy to provide a variety of services during our COVID-19 (coronavirus) closure, including the following: Patrons may...
May 8, 2020
In March and April, we asked patrons in our communities to submit original works they wrote related to thoughts, feelings and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. We received submissions from four people, and we are very happy to share three of them – two poems and one piece of short fiction - with the public. (The fourth submission is not included because it didn’t match up with the intent of the community writing project.) Thank you to those who submitted their work, and we hope the rest of you enjoy what they came up with! “COVID-19 Stinks” by Atia Kampstra (Age 7) The sun has gone down and the curtains have closed I sit in a graveyard sobbing so much I might not be able to cry again...
April 22, 2020
The week of April 19–25, 2020, is National Library Week — a time when libraries across the country typically celebrate their myriad offerings and show appreciation for the patrons they serve. However, that celebration is drastically different this year due to precautions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Marathon County Public Library’s (MCPL) Board of Trustees voted to close all 9 MCPL locations to the public beginning March 17, 2020. A "Safer at Home" order from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers went into effect on March 25 stating, “Libraries shall close for all in-person services, but may continue to provide on-line services and programming.” The order was originally...
November 21, 2019
In an effort to provide more consistency and uniformity across its 9 locations, the Marathon County Public Library will change its hours of operation starting January 12, 2020, to include a balance of morning, afternoon and evening hours. The library’s Board of Trustees in October 2019 unanimously approved the changes, which were based on factors such as hourly circulation and door counts, staffing and safety issues, public and staff surveys, and comparisons with other libraries in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the United States. See below for a full breakdown of the hours by location, but here are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re wondering about your next trip to the library after January 12...
October 22, 2019
As libraries evolve in the 21st century to meet the changing needs of their communities and maintain relevance as community hubs, more and more are carving out spaces for their patrons to create through so-called “makerspaces.” What are they making there? The answers are as varied as the books on the shelves… They’re making: Screenprinted posters and clothing Music, videos, and podcasts Codes for computer programs and apps 3-D figurines Laser-engraved woodblocks …and much more! Some libraries also incorporate sewing machines, basic circuitry gadgets for kids, and virtual or augmented reality equipment into their makerspaces. The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL)...
September 24, 2019
An award-winning graphic novelist, a highly acclaimed poet and essayist whose career is skyrocketing, and one of Wisconsin’s most popular authors are but a few of the guests who will take part in the Central Wisconsin Book Festival (CWBF) this weekend throughout the Wausau area! Started in 2017, the festival aims to bring in writers from across the country — with some extra attention on Wisconsin authors — for a series of events celebrating the written word in its various forms and genres: poetry, fiction, nonfiction (and local writers who dabble in all of the above forms), comics & graphic novels. The motivation behind the festival is to celebrate the literary arts in...
May 21, 2019
Space may be “the final frontier,” but staff at the Marathon County Public Library are preparing to share a universe of events throughout the 2019 summer (or at least a really small part of the universe)! Although libraries across the country organize programming throughout the entire year, many of them (including MCPL) put a little extra effort into their summer programs. The kids are out of school . . . The days are longer . . . Libraries have air conditioning, so many people visit us as a relaxing way to beat the summer heat. Each year, the Collaborative Summer Library Program — a grassroots group made up of a consortium of states — chooses a theme and provide resources to libraries across...
April 26, 2019
This year, MCPL will transport kids into the cosmos with its Summer Library Program! This year’s theme is “A Universe of Stories,” and we’ve planned three months of fun, entertaining and educational events for kids, tweens and teens! May 28 through August 30, kids, tweens and teens can read books and submit reviews containing their thoughts about what they read. (Adults can do this, too!) Participants will receive a reward for each review they turn in. Younger children (pre-K) can instead complete a reading and activity sheet with their parent/caregiver and receive a prize once their sheet is complete! We also have a ton of great events scheduled at all nine MCPL locations, including visits...
December 19, 2018
Are you looking to become more savvy with your personal computer, iPhone or iPad? Is there something you want to sell on Craigslist, but you don’t know where to start? Beginning in January, MCPL Wausau will begin hosting a series of technology-related classes on an almost-weekly basis. Included in the lineup of classes are returning favorites, including Intro to Microsoft Excel, Intro to Libby & E-books, and Facebook Fundamentals. But new classes with a different focus will also be offered, including Intro to Microsoft Word and Resume Building, Basics of the iPhone and iPad, The Wide World of Google Resources and the Basics of Craigslist. Whether you want to get more comfortable with Google, buy and...
December 6, 2018
It’s the holidays once again, and that means an annual visit from the Spencer High School Handbell Choir! This talented group of teens visited our Spencer Branch on the morning of December 4 to spread holiday cheer to a large group of community members who attended. The choir performed for nearly an hour, and performed a wide variety of holiday music, free of charge. A visit from the handbell choir has become an annual tradition, with the group visiting the Spencer Branch every December for the last few years. If you missed the concert, you can get a feel for what it was like by watching the video below, in which the group performs “We Three Kings,” for a delighted audience!
November 22, 2018
Due to the winter holidays, we'll be taking a break from our regularly-scheduled story times at most MCPL locations. Please note the "will not meet" dates in the schedule copied below. For the most up-to-date story time information, please visit www.mcpl.us/story-times. For a listing of library's holiday hours and special closings, visit www.mcpl.us/holidays. Happy holidays, everyone! Family Story Time MCPL Wausau — Weekly on Saturdays, 10:30am (year-round) (will not meet 12/22, 12/29) MCPL Athens — Weekly on Tuesdays, 10:00am (year-round) (will not meet 12/25, 1/1) MCPL Edgar — Weekly on Thursdays, 9:30am (Sept.-May) (will not meet 11/22, 12/27...
September 26, 2018
From September 24 through September 28, the Marathon County Public Library is honoring Wisconsin veterans with a temporary exhibit at its Spencer Branch. The exhibit, called Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name is a traveling exhibit that features the name and photo of over 1,600 Wisconsin veterans who served in the Vietnam War. The photos featured on the traveling memorial wall also appear on the official Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. “Sometimes, it is more than just doing a program. This one hits home to many,” said Audrey Kohlbeck, Spencer Branch Coordinator, who arranged for the traveling wall to come to Spencer. To commemorate this weeklong tribute, the...
September 25, 2018
Would you like to hear about Wisconsin politics from an author receiving national attention? Ask an award-winning mystery writer a question? Want to learn how to start your own blog or create your own podcast? Maybe you’d like to hear Wausau-area writers — teenagers to senior citizens — read their own, original work? Over the course of 4 days, a person has a chance to do any of that — maybe ALL of that — and much more during the 2nd annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival, taking place around the Wausau area September 27–30, 2018. The festival began in 2017 as a way to connect authors of all stripes with fans of the written word around Central Wisconsin. At the same time, it was meant to...
August 27, 2018
A Community Writing Competition open to all patrons of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service took place earlier this year, January through May. Judging of the entries by library staff commenced, and the winners were selected in June. There were just over 25 entries to consider in the three categories of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and the ages of participants ranged from 13 to 85. In the interest of sharing local writing with the community, winners’ entries were printed in the Record Review, a weekly newspaper that serves the areas around Athens, Edgar, Marathon, Stratford, and Spencer. The goal of the competition was to promote creative writing. It provided an incentive for writers to...
August 24, 2018
This summer, several MCPL locations offered a Summer Craft Day, where kids and families could make a variety of crafts based on popular children’s songs to coincide with our Summer Library Program theme of “Libraries Rock!” If you and your family missed this craft day, you can still make one of the crafts using a few things found around your home! Provided below are the instructions for making your very own monkey hat, in celebration of the song “Five Little Monkeys.” Supplies: 2 pieces of brown construction paper 1 piece of tan construction paper 2 googly eyes glue stapler black marker Cut one of the brown pieces of construction paper in half. Place the...
August 22, 2018
This summer, the Marathon County Public Library once again encouraged kids and families to donate money to help animals in need with its Pennies for Animals program, which ran June 11-August 11. Throughout the summer, kids donated their spare change and other monetary donations, raising a total of $100! Along with donating money, kids could also vote for which animal-focused organization they wanted to receive the funds, and the winner of the vote was the Humane Society of Marathon County! MCPL wants to thank everyone who donated money -- and the animals want to thank you, too!
July 27, 2018
From recently published books to vintage classics, puzzles, DVDs, children’s books, and so much more, the Friends of the Marathon County book sale is back once again! Our dedicated group of Friends, who volunteer their time to sift through hundreds if not thousands of items for each new sale, has been working pretty close to feverishly to be ready for their next quarterly sale, which begins on Thursday, August 2, 2018, and continues through Sunday, August 5. If you haven’t stopped by the library’s Wausau Headquarters to check out our sale, what are you waiting for? The August sale marks the third in their newer space in the basement area of the building, which is accessible either through the...
July 24, 2018
Organizers behind the second annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival are hard at work setting up a wide variety of free community events, and this year’s festival is already shaping up to be bigger— and hopefully as good or better — than last year’s festival! What started as a two-day book festival in 2017 with about 10 events has grown to at least 15 events (with more still to be added) over the course of four days, featuring fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, and maybe even you! The festival begins Thursday, September 27, 2018, and continues through Sunday, September 30. Visit www.mcpl.us/cwbf for more information! One of the goals of the festival — besides bringing in well-known, lesser-known...
July 7, 2018
Next weekend finds us smack dab in the middle of summer and time for Wausau’s annual “Big Weekend,” consisting of Wausau Events’ Balloon & Rib Fest and Chalkfest. This event has been held every year for the past 15 years and has become a staple of summertime in Wausau. Hundreds of artists will work tirelessly in the heat (and sometimes in some rain showers) to work on their creations, adorning downtown Wausau’s 400 Block with cartoon characters, celebrity portraits, inspiring messages and more. Registration for this year’s Chalkfest has already sold out, as it often does. But if you want to work on your skills for next year’s event (or just see what you can do on your own driveway or sidewalk), check...
February 5, 2018
Our Athens Branch's Fiber Arts group recently collaborated on an art blanket to be donated to Aid Africa's Children charity. Local resident Darlene Strack crocheted the blanket and her fellow Fiber Arts group members supplied the yarn and inspired the theme "Four Seasons Farm Field." Every week, the group and other library patrons looked forward to having input on the progress of the design. In addition, Athens Branch Library Coordinator and poet, Dawn Anderson, supported the effort by writing a poem to showcase the symbolism of each row and color in the blanket. The poem is as follows: Four Seasons Farm Field It begins. Spring earth Rich as...
January 24, 2018
The end is in sight for an effort that’s been months in the making — and years in planning — to move the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library into a new space. More than a dozen volunteers who work with the Friends of the Library spent the last several months moving thousands of books, audiobooks, movies, and other materials from the 3rd floor of the Wausau location to its new home on the ground level, located on the west side of the building and facing the river. While moving all of the existing materials, the Friends also still sift through items recently donated to the library to add to the collection. They will celebrate the move and welcome the public into the new space with their first...
August 10, 2017
The Marathon County Public Library is working with other community partners to present the first-ever Central Wisconsin Book Festival, starting Friday, September 29, and continuing through September 30 with a diverse lineup of events. The festival begins Friday night with “Fact or Fiction,” a live and interactive storytelling event at the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) in Wausau. Other events include, but aren’t limited to, a presentation on early childhood literacy from Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a conversation with comic writer and artist Tim Seeley and a discussion about Alzheimer’s disease with former Wisconsin governor Martin Schreiber, who recently co-authored a book on Alzheimer’s care and whose wife is...
August 7, 2017
If you’re like us, you’ve been eagerly anticipating the total solar eclipse that will happen on August 21, 2017. This out-of-this-world event is something that’s a long time coming, with the last total eclipse to be visible across the entire contiguous United States having happened in 1918 (and not since 1979 has a total eclipse been visible from the mainland United States). The next one will not occur until 2024, and who wants to wait that long to see one again? We here at MCPL have been talking about and planning our own Solar Eclipse Viewing Party for over a year and have tons of fun activities planned for patrons of all ages! Beginning at 11 a.m. on August 21 at our Wausau Headquarters, we’ll show...
July 12, 2017
This summer, children can brush up on their reading skills by attending our weekly Paws to Read events, happening at our Wausau Headquarters, Mosinee Branch and Rothschild Branch. During these sessions, kids have the opportunity to read to very relaxed and well-behaved therapy dogs, courtesy Therapy Dogs of Central Wisconsin. They can sit with their parent, guardian or caretaker as well as the dog’s handler and read from a book of their choosing. Reading to a therapy dog can be a great benefit for a child because it gets them to read out loud without fear of being ridiculed. Some children don’t have a sibling, parent or friend willing to listen to them, or may have been teased in the past for mispronouncing...
July 6, 2017
Escape rooms are all the rage these days and the Marathon County Public Library is getting on board by offering its very own escape room for teens and adults! Will you be able to stop a zombie virus outbreak before it's too late?? Join us and find out! Dr. Johnson (who has been briefing you and your group about the important scientific experiments she's been conducting), has left her office to speak with a colleague. After snooping through the doctor’s files, you discover that Dr. Johnson has something more nefarious up her sleeve—a full-on zombie virus that she’s planning to unleash on the unsuspecting public! Worse yet…it’s airborne, and anyone who comes in contact with this virus is guaranteed to...
June 24, 2017
If your family enjoys nature and reading, you’re in luck! MCPL and Monk Botanical Gardens are teaming up again to present the second annual StoryWalk® Weekend July 15 and 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Monk Gardens, located at 1800 N. First Ave., Wausau. The pages of eight children’s storybooks will be mounted page-by-page along scenic walking trails, and children and their families can read these pages while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. This year’s featured books include “The Pout-Pout Fish” by Deborah Diesen, “Creepy Carrots” by Aaron Reynolds and “Katie and the Sunflowers” by James Mayhew, among others. Attendees can also participate in a variety of activities at the end of each trail,...
June 23, 2017
What better way to beat the heat than to escape to your local (air-conditioned) library for a few hours of crafting? Throughout June and July, multiple MCPL locations will host crafting events for children of all ages. Crafts will include making sparkling dragonflies, dazzling suns, salt paintings and more! Examples of some of these crafts are shown in this article. Visit www.mcpl.us/crafts for the complete schedule of forthcoming craft events!
June 16, 2017
The kids are out of school, the temperatures are rising and summer is finally upon us! June, July and August are always busy months here at the Marathon County Public Library (and just about everywhere else), with a full calendar of events and activities to attend throughout the summer. We have plenty on our plate with our annual Summer Library Program offerings, with many of our events corresponding with other events and holidays happening across Marathon County. While it’s far from a complete guide, take a look at some of the crossover events we have planned for the coming months in relation to other popular events happening this summer in your community! Celebrate the USA Story Time Tue., 6/27/17...
April 1, 2017
With spring nearly here, the Marathon County Public Library is getting ready to celebrate National Library Week (NLW)! This year’s NLW will be held April 9-15 and all nine MCPL locations (as well as thousands of libraries across the country) will be participating with a variety of events for all ages! To go along with this year’s theme of “Libraries Transform,” kids can create traditional bookmarks all week long at our Wausau Headquarters and Rothschild, Spencer, and Stratford Branches. Our Mosinee Branch will also “Drop Everything and Read” on April 12 with a special event focused crafts related to characters created by children’s author Beverly Cleary, like Ramona Quimby! Adults can look forward to...
February 21, 2017
So, let’s say you’re a teen and you need a place to work on a poster or on a group project. Someplace where you can chat while you work or can take a break to do something else when you just can’t look at your homework one more second. The Marathon County Public Library knows that teens need a place all their own to hang out and be, well, teens! Enter Teen Time. With our Wausau Headquarters’ current second floor remodel, our TeenZone was relocated and lost a bit of space, but don’t let that stop you from coming to the library! Twice monthly, we’ll offer teens a place to do whatever they need to do – work on homework and projects, socialize, learn new hobbies and skills, and more. Every two weeks we...
January 26, 2017
Last week, we held a program for teens and adults at our Mosinee Branch focused on making two homemade relaxation products: a coconut oil salt scrub and a stress-relieving foot soak. If you missed that program, you can now make the items yourself using the provided instructions below! Both items seemed to go over well to those who came to the event. The process of making both the salt scrub and the foot soak were a bit messy, and scented our library for a while (in a good way!) Everyone had a great time and appreciated the safe, homemade items they got to take home with them. Homemade Coconut Oil Salt Scrub Ingredients: 2 cups coconut oil 1 cup Epsom salt 20 drops of...
July 24, 2016
Last month, MCPL partnered with the Monk Botanical Gardens in Wausau to offer a two-part class focused on growing and cooking with your own herbs. During part one of the class, a local Master Gardener volunteer helped folks at our Wausau Headquarters plant their own herb container gardens. A week later, during part two, participants descended upon the Gardens' newly-completed outdoor kitchen garden to learn how to cook with the herbs they planted. Local chef Brian Freund led part two of the class and taught attendees how to make three different recipes using the herbs that will eventually grow in their container gardens. The first is for chimichurri, a sauce or marinade made from fresh herbs and typically...
March 1, 2016
On Feb. 25, MCPL Wausau hosted author and folklorist James P. Leary for an entertaining musical lecture on folksongs recorded in the Midwest in the 1930s and 1940s. Leary spoke about his book "Folksongs of Another America: Field Recordings from the Upper Midwest, 1937-1946," published by the University of Wisconsin Press. Leary was even nominated for a 2016 Grammy in the Best Album Notes category, though he lost out to none other than Joni Mitchell! Below is the video of the entire program, and we're thankful to James for sharing his musical knowledge (and a few tunes from the book) with us!
March 1, 2016
We were very fortunate to host Jeff Wood, senior lecturer of English at UW-Marshfield/Wood County, in January for a program on the history of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Enjoy!
December 15, 2015
Each month, library staff make efforts to provide hands-on craft activities for children at all nine MCPL locations. But in 2016, we’re planning to give adults more opportunities to get creative as well! In Wausau, this includes our monthly “Knit Night” and “Inside the Lines” coloring parties, as well as other, one-time craft activities. Many of our branches are offering craft events for adults as well, such as Hatley’s “Needle Arts Night,” Stratford’s “Quilting in the Afternoon,” Spencer’s “Crocheting 101” and additional “Inside the Lines” events at Mosinee and Stratford. We will, of course, continue to offer craft events for kids, and we don’t expect anything at these adult craft events to be...
November 28, 2015
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Marathon County Public Library, with 10 holiday-themed events scheduled between now and December 21 at the Wausau Headquarters and its eight branches. Running now through December 14, MCPL is kicking off the holiday season with “Letters to Santa,” during which time children of any age can visit the Wausau headquarters to drop off a letter in Santa’s gingerbread house mailbox, located in the Children’s Department. After the library staff sends the letters up to the North Pole, children will receive a reply in the mail from Santa Claus himself starting the week of December 14. The holiday fun in Wausau continues with two craft events held back-to-back. “...
November 27, 2015
On Nov. 4, 2015, I was fortunate to attend one day of the annual Wisconsin Library Association conference, held this year in Middleton. These conferences are a great chance to network, but more importantly, librarians and library staff from across the state come together to discuss different aspects of library operations – including sessions this year on programming, library design, collection development and engaging teens through technology, among other topics. Since MCPL covered the cost of attending the conference, I thought I would share with you, the public, some of the things I saw and learned during this beneficial excursion. The morning keynote address was from Mita Williams, a librarian at...
October 28, 2015
If you missed our Oct. 8, 2015 inspirational program with author and motivational speaker Gary Beyer, you can watch the video below. We enjoyed hosting Gary and his wife, Julie, as both of them exude positivity in light of difficult life circumstances.
June 29, 2015
We were very happy to collaborate recently with Marathon County UW-Extension on a program at MCPL Wausau about chickens! Heather Schlesser, dairy and livestock agent with Extension, provided our audience with a primer on all that's involved with raising a clutch of chickens - the variety of breeds, diet, shelter, diseases to keep an eye out for and more! If you missed the June 9 program, you can watch the whole program below. Or, if you'd like to catch the program in person, Heather will present similar programs Sept. 3 at the MCPL Athens branch and Sept. 23 in Marathon City. A very special thanks to Heather for sharing her knowledge of chickens with those who came to the program. And one fun fact...
June 18, 2014
Next Tuesday night, the Wausau headquarters is offering something for everyone at the library. All of these great events start at 6:30 p.m. and are free! Tween Science: Kids grades 3-5 are invited to watch and try some science experiments during out Tween Science program. Art with Heat: Teens can experiment with heat to create melted crayon art and ice candles. Teens also have a chance to try Flame Painter, a free computer program! Canning and Preservation: Adults will learn the science behind canning and preservation of various fruits and vegetables in this presentation by Jackie Carattini from the UW-Extension. 7 Days of Harryhausen Film Festival: In celebration of the late...
June 5, 2014
This year’s Summer Program has a science theme! We’ve planned a variety of fun and educational events for all ages — children, teens and adults — at MCPL locations throughout the county! For complete details, visit www.mcpl.us/slp or pick up a Summer Program brochure at your local Marathon County Public Library. We look forward to seeing you at the library! (from the MCPL Newsletter, May-Jul., 2014)
May 5, 2014
How many times have you picked up your smart phone, tablet, laptop, or another electronic device today? Perhaps you feel like you are always online because of work or school, plus all of the time you spend online at home. Can you imagine spending a week without using your devices for entertainment? This May, consider participating in Screen-Free Week. Screen-Free Week is an annual event where participants pledge to spend seven days without using screens for entertainment. You do not need to stop using your computer or device for work or school, but the point of the pledge is to find other sources of entertainment for you and your family. Take the pledge, and see what activities you can discover, or perhaps...
April 23, 2014
Summer is fast approaching, and as usual, there will be some changes to the regular story time schedules at most MCPL locations. Most branches will take a break from their story times to focus on Summer Library Program events. At MCPL Wausau, we'll be taking a break from story times in May to focus on school tours, and we've added a unique, summer-only story time ("Sweet Dreams"). Additionally, special children's events will supersede concurrent story times (particularly "Tales for Tots" at Wausau), but don't let that stop you from visiting the library -- there will be plenty of fun and learning for your child in either case. As always, the story time schedule is viewable at www.mcpl.us/storytimes,...
March 25, 2014
National Library Week (NLW) is upon us, and it’s more than a chance to celebrate all that your library means to you (although we are grateful for your appreciation). This year’s NLW theme is “Lives Change @ Your Library,” and we’ve scheduled a number of events through the week, which runs April 13 to April 19. From something as simple as obtaining a passport to hearing about environmentally friendly travel to Randy Peterson’s “Big Dreams Begin with Books,” we have programs that could change your life. We know that’s a bold statement, but part of our mission is to provide materials, programming and assistance that make a big difference in the lives of our patrons and in our communities. Maybe we’ve...
February 24, 2014
March 31st is the deadline for signing up for an A.C.A. healthcare plan. Bridge Clinic staff will be offering sign-up assistance at the Marathon County Public Library, 300 N. 1st Street, next week March 3-7 from 9:00 to 5:00. Call 715-261-2141 to schedule an appointment. {{2014
February 10, 2014
Wading through a Wisconsin stream in springtime, fly-fishing for trout is one of the most challenging yet blissful of all outdoor activities. The air is fresh and clean, the water cold to the touch and the graceful trout elusive and wily. The all-encompassing quiet is broken only by the burbling brook and occasional birdcall. Join us on Saturday February 15th as author Kevin Searock presents a fascinating, insightful guided tour "celebrating the art of fly-fishing and the sublime beauty of a day in a trout stream." Searock will also be autographing copies of his TROUTSMITH book. Time: 1:00; Location: 3rd Floor Wausau Room.
January 23, 2014
Fifty years ago, four cheeky, talented, mop-topped English musicians landed in New York City and the world changed forever. In short order, the Beatles conquered the hearts and minds of many young Americans and Beatlemania swept the country and the world. On Tuesday February 4, Marathon County Public Library will be celebrating Beatlemania as Lawrence University music instructor Carl Rath presents BEATLES INVASION, a program that charts the early days of the Beatles and their historic journey to America. The program starts at 6:30 and will be held in the Wausau Room (3rd floor) of the library's Wausau Headquarters. All are welcome. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!
January 20, 2014
Starting in February, several Marathon County Public Library locations will host programs aimed at promoting positive parenting skills, Internet safety and encouraging quality family time. Our MCPL Parenting Series begins with a presentation by Aaron Ruff of the Marathon County Health Department about The Real Happy Hour, a multi-agency effort to share resources and ideas that promote and encourage families to spend quality time together. Other programs cover safety, both online and at home. The “Raising Safe Kids” program, held at both the Rothschild and Wausau MCPL locations and presented by staff from Marathon County Social Services, covers personal and traffic safety, and tips on how to stay safe...
November 18, 2013
In January, The Marathon County Public Library Wausau Headquarters will host a traveling historical exhibit about the White Rose, a student resistance group in Germany who rebelled against the Nazis. Through photos and text, the exhibit tells the story of how the students and one of their professors quietly produced a series of leaflets that urged others in Germany to rise up against the tyranny of the regime. The White Rose group risked certain arrest – and possible death – to produce the anti-Nazi propaganda that was covertly distributed throughout Munich, Hamburg and beyond. In 1943, several members of the group – including siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, who helped form the group – were caught. After...
October 23, 2013
The final Pushback Against Drug Abuse program will be held Tuesday October 29th from 5:30 to 7:00 and then repeated Wednesday October 30th from 12:00 to 1:30. The topic of this week's program will be It Takes a Village. Local drug experts will discussing the drug abuse problem in Wausau and how the community can play a role in tackling this growing, dangerous threat. Remember: drug abuse can strike any neighborhood, any household. It can happen to you and yours! Plan on attending It Takes a Village to learn about what you can do to Push back against drug abuse. The program will be held in the 3rd Floor Wausau Room. All are welcome.
October 17, 2013
Hundreds of Marathon County residents have attended the first two programs in the Pushback Against Drug Abuse sessions being held at the Marathon County Public Library. Each week local drug experts have shared valuable information on AOD issues and what role individuals can play in fighting the local drug problem. The Week 3 program is entitled The"A" Word. In this case, "A" stands for Addiction. Marathon Coutny drug experts will be discussing drug and alcohol addiction, the various local treatment options available to abusers and what role individuals can play in recovery. The "A" Word program will be given Tuesday Oct. 22nd at 5:30 and repeated Wednesday Oct. 23 at 12:00 in the 3rd Floor Wausau Room...
October 10, 2013
Dozens of people attended the opening Pushback Against Drug Abuse sessions held Tuesday October 8th and Wednesday October 9th at the Wausau Library. Wausau Police Department Officer Melinda Pauls' presentation dealt with current drug trends in the Wausau/Marathon County area, especially those impacting young adults. The next program in the four-week series is entitled I Think We Have a Problem? Participants will learn how to identify if someone is using - or dealing - drugs and your options if you suspect someone is involved with drugs. I Think We Have a Problem? will be presented Tuesday October 15th at 5:30 and Wednesday October 16th at 12:00 in the Wausau Room of the Headquarters...
October 1, 2013
The sale, manufacture and use of illegal drugs continues to be a growing problem in Marathon County. Such drug use is a clear threat to our family, friends and society in general. Beginning the week of October 7th, the Marathon County Public Library and the Marathon County AOD Partnership will be presenting a series of programs detailing drug use in Marathon County and the county-wide response to that abuse. Tuesday October 8th from 5:30-7:00pm a program will be given on What's Hot Now? which will cover current drug trends impacting area young adults. The What's Hot Now? program will be repeated on Wednesday October 9th from 12:00-1:30pm. The programs are free to the public and will...
September 23, 2013
Over the past three years, drug abuse has become a major problem in Marathon County. The library has partnered with the Marathon County Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Partnership to host an educational series to raise awareness of the scope of the problem and how each us can play a part in the solution. Sessions will be offered at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters in the Wausau Room (third floor). Interested parties can attend either the daytime sessions, Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., or evening sessions, Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. What’s Hot Now? / Oct. 8 & 9 — Learn about current drug trends that are affecting young adults in Marathon County. I Think We...
August 29, 2013
Over the past three years, drug abuse has become a major problem in Marathon County. Accordingly, the Marathon County Public Library has partnered with the Marathon County Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Partnership and the Pushback Against Drug Abuse campaign to host an educational series of programs in October to raise awareness of the scope of the problem and detail how each us can play a part in the solution. The following sessions will be offered at the Marathon County Public Library in the 3rd Floor Wausau Room. Interested parties can attend either the daytime (Wednesdays 12-1:30pm) or evening (Tuesdays 5:30-7pm) sessions on a given week. Session 1 – What’s Hot Now? – Current drug...
July 31, 2013
Exploration Station is a new program being offered for children at the Wausau Headquarters Library beginning this September. It is a hands-on curriculum based class for preschool children ages 4-6 that features rotating lab activities in the core areas of math, science, reading, and writing. It is a participatory class where a child and his/her parent/caregiver work together as a team. It is not a storytime. Each class begins with a discussion and stories about the theme and then breaks into smaller groups that rotate to lab stations to complete activities at each of the 5 stations. Children spend 5-6 minutes at each station. Caregivers are given the tools that they need to create a dialogue with the child...
May 2, 2012
Children's Book Week is May 7-13. We are celebrating @MCPL Wausau with a special "Mother Goose is on the Loose" program and some of the earliest children's literature-nursery rhymes, on Saturday May 12 at 10:30am. We will have stories and rhymes, crafts, food and other activities for children and their families. Mother Goose and her goose may also make an appearance. Children's Book Week began in 1919 to celebrate literacy, books for children, and the joy of reading. It was founded with the belief that literacy and children's books are life-changers. Regular storytimes are held @ all MCPL locations and are an excellent way to build early literacy, social skills, and help develop a love of books, reading...
November 22, 2011
On Saturday morning, December 10 at 10:30, at MCPL Wausau, join us for a free surprise birthday party for Frosty the Snowman. The whole family is invited. Frosty’s Magic Birthday Party is guaranteed to have everyone rolling with laughter as they help our presenter, Bob Halbrook get ready for this fun-filled winter event. Magic, story-telling, comedy, and songs will all combine to bring this very magical birthday party come to life. During this highly interactive show, lots of kids will be chosen to help Bob Halbrook with his silly tricks and crazy antics, and all of the kids will help make this Frosty’s best birthday ever. Watch for a couple of very magical creatures who are sure to be dropping by....
October 27, 2011
We want your LEGO® and Duplo® blocks! Please consider donating building blocks in all shapes and sizes to the library at Wausau. We promise that we will be kind to them and let lots of children play and learn with them. A regular Lego Club and other special events for children with Lego and Duplo blocks is in the planning. Unfortunately we have one rather big problem; we have no blocks. Lego and Duplo blocks can be dropped off at the main desk, in Children's, or at the library drive-thru all hours that the library is open. Please help us out and donate some today. We, and the kids in Marathon County thank you.
April 25, 2011
How did the Hmong become embroiled in a war not of their own making? What role did they serve during the Vietnam War? What forces propelled them from their homeland to the refugee camps of Thailand and ultimately here to the United States? Dr. Paul Hillmer, author of A People’s History of the Hmong, will discuss these and other topics during a free presentation this Thursday, April 28, 6:30pm @MCPL Wausau. Hillmer is a professor of American History at Concordia University in St Paul, MN and Director of the Hmong Oral History Project. He and his students interviewed and recorded stories from over 200 Hmong individuals. These interviews form the foundation of...
December 5, 2010
More free library movies are headed your way to temper the January chill! Bring your own tub of popcorn, cheesy nachos and a thermos of hot apple cider - sit back and watch these coming attractions! Tuesday, January 4 (6:30 p.m.) we'll feature a foreign film with English subtitles rated PG-13 about two young Palestinian men who are hours away from becoming suicide bombers in Tel Aviv. On Saturday, January 8 we'll offer a kids' 10:30 a.m. matinee with your favorite green ogre who lands in an alternate version of Far Far Away. He must undo mischief and evil in the hopes of restoring his world and saving his friends. Wednesday, January 12th's showing (6:30...
October 7, 2010
A Pearson Foundation survey found that 95% of Americans felt that the development of early childhood literacy skills is an important issue receiving too little priority in our society. Yet one in three children enter kindergarten without the skills they need to learn to read, which can lead to life-long consequences for their future success. Today we are participating in Read for the Record, an event to increase awareness of the importance of reading aloud to young children, the best way to develop pre-reading skills. Children everywhere will be gathering today to listen to a reading of THE SNOWY DAY. Come and join us at these MCPL locations today for our readings of THE SNOWY DAY: Wausau...
August 9, 2010
I can't think of a better way to wrap up our "Make a Splash" summer reading program than with a pool party on one of the hottest days of the year! The pool party will be held Tuesday, August 10 at Memorial Park pool in Wausau. Kids received a free family admission pass in their "goody bags" when they turned in their first completed reading ticket. Teens also received free admission with their first completed reading ticket. These admission passes may be used for Memorial Park Pool anytime between 1:00 and 7:50 pm Tuesday. You can also show your library card for free admission that day. Children's craft activities will be featured from 1:00 to 3:00. I also have a few prizes to give...
July 6, 2010
We had a blast at last year's talent show! David (pictured here) presented a karate demonstration with Escrima sticks; other kids performed dances, and instrumental and vocal solos. It was so much fun, we have decided to have another Talent Show this year--Tuesday, July 27 at 2:00 pm at the library in Wausau. I have five acts signed up to perform so far--but we need more! School age children may perform a solo or group act. Performances must be four minutes or less in length, and will be presented to an all-ages audience (toddlers through grandparents). Every performer will receive a "thank you" gift for their participation. So come on and do your thing--Sing...
May 16, 2010
It really feels like summer today! With the change in seasons comes changes to our storytime schedule: Our last Family Storytime at the Wausau Headquarters will be held Saturday, May 22. Family Storytimes are not held during the summer months; they will resume again in the fall. Book Babies, Tales for Twos and Preschool Storytimes at the Wausau Headquarters are going on hiatus for three weeks, May 17-June 4. During those three weeks, the staff will be visiting over 2000 students at their schools to give presentations about the summer reading program. Another 600 students will be visiting the library for tours. Book Babies and Preschool Storytimes in Wausau will resume their...
March 20, 2010
Clare Norelle presented a wonderful program in both Spanish and English at the library in Wausau this morning. Parents and children had fun singing, moving, and helping to tell the stories. Clare will also be performing at the Woodson Art Museum this afternoon. Thank you to the Friends of the Library for funding this special program, presented in conjunction with the wonderful exhibition at the Woodson, "Las Artes de Mexico." The exhibition will be on display until April 11. Come and check out the nice Children's and Adult Spanish Language collections at the library in Wausau. Many of the books are bilingual, while some are exclusively in Spanish. We always welcome suggestions...
December 21, 2009
Our regular storytime schedule--Book Babies, Tales for Twos, Preschool Storytimes and Family Fun--will be suspended for two weeks over the holiday season. Storytimes will resume after the holidays, beginning with Book Babies Monday morning, January 4. However, we will be showing "School's Out" movies on two days, in our Wausau Room Theater on the downtown library's third floor: Tuesday, December 29 at 10:30--a movie featuring the Care Bears. Tuesday, December 29 at 2:00--a movie featuring the Chipmunks. Wednesday, December 30 at 10:30--a movie featuring the Muppets. Wednesday, December 30 at 2:00--a movie featuring animals in the Ice Age. All ages are welcome to attend!
November 10, 2009
You may know Stevens Point native Kathy Kinney best for her role as the flamboyant Mimi on the Drew Carey Show. Kinney’s latest venture is a storytelling website, www.mrsp.com, which is celebrating its first anniversary today. In her role as Mrs. P, Kinney sits in an armchair in a cozy room, filled with items to click on for interactive fun. Clicking on the bookcase causes the bookcase to roll out into the room. Each shelf contains a different category of classic stories—bedtime stories, stories about girls, scary stories, “knee huggers,” and more. Children can click on a shelf to see the titles, and pull out individual books to see a description and a rating system to help children...
October 19, 2009
Looking for some deer hunting tips and techniques? If you are, you won’t want to miss Jeffrey Foytek’s free program on whitetail deer hunting at the Library in Wausau this Thursday night (10/22) at 6:30pm. Foytek, who has never missed an opening day, will share some of the wisdom that he has acquired during over 40 years experience successfully hunting deer. He will be talking about his deer hunting strategies and tracking techniques, demonstrating hunting aids, and sharing some hunting stories. Jeffrey Foytek has written a book detailing his hunting experience titled True Adventure Stories of a Whitetail Deer Hunter: 40 years of Successful Hunting. His book will...
September 30, 2009
Read for the Record is a campaign sponsored by Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation. Last year, 688,000 people gathered at locations around the world to read and listen to the same book on the same day. This year, they hope to break that record--and you can help them reach their goal of one million readers and listeners by participating in programs at four libraries in Marathon County. This year's featured book is Eric Carle's classic picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Read for the Record programs will be held Thursday, October 8 at these MCPL locations and times: Edgar Library: Preschool Storytime at 9:30 am and a special Family Storytime at 7:00 pm Spencer Library...
September 28, 2009
Marathon County Public Library is pleased to announce this year’s title for Marathon County Reads is Marley and Me by John Grogan. This touching story about a typical American family and their a-typical dog has touched millions of readers across the country. Join us in celebrating this great book by reading it along with us in October and attending some of the great events we’ve planned. We have events planned at many of our locations: Training - How it prevents dogs from going to the shelter presented by: Heidi Drengler-Goethel Thu., 10/1, 6:30pm @ MCPL Spencer Tue., 10/6, 6pm @ MCPL Wausau Thu., 10/8, 6pm @ MCPL Wausau Thu., 10/15, 4pm @ MCPL Edgar Tue., 10/20, 6:30pm @...
September 8, 2009
Kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to turn, and that means it’s time for storytimes to kick into high gear again at all Marathon County Public Library locations. Storytimes are a fun way for your child to develop several vital early literacy skills*: Print Motivation: Excitement for books and reading. Phonological Awareness: Having fun with the sounds that words make. Enriched Vocabulary: Learning the specific names for lots of things, as well as an increased vocabulary of descriptive adjectives and adverbs. Narrative Skills: The ability to tell a story in their own words. Letter Knowledge: Recognition of letter shapes and the sounds that the letters represent....
August 19, 2009
We had a wonderful talent show to conclude our "Be Creative" programs at the library this summer. David (pictured here) had feet tapping and heads bobbing all over the library as he performed his drum solo. Who says the library has to be quiet all the time? Our Talent Extravaganza also featured karate, keyboards, singing and dancing. You can see other pictures of our creative performers on the library's Facebook photo album.. Thanks to all the performers for a great show--and thanks to our enthusiastic audience who cheered them on! Saturday, August 22 is the last day to turn in your reading tickets--it's not too late to get that first ticket in and have a chance to win some fun...
July 8, 2009
Our Summer Library Program theme is "Be Creative," and over 250 people had lots of opportunities to explore their creativity at our Art Extravaganza yesterday. Special thanks to Mort McBain who helped kids collaborate to create Scooby Doo and Shrek chalk paintings on the library's patio. Scooby is pictured here. The kids did a great job! Remember that you can see Mort in action on the 400 block at Chalkfest this weekend. Thanks also to Jayna Hintz and the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, who helped kids make fabulous sculptures out of pipe cleaners and foam--this project gave kids a chance to create some really awesome sculptures. Also--thanks to the volunteers...
July 6, 2009
Lots of kids are finding cool, free entertainment at the library this summer. Our Art Extravaganza will be held at the Wausau library tomorrow--Tuesday, July 7. This is an open house-style craft and art program, so come anytime between 1:00 and 3:30 in the afternoon. We will have special guests participating in this year's art program! Mort McBain, well-known artist from the Downtown Sidewalk Chalkfest, will be helping kids create a cartoon mural with chalk on the sidewalk. Mort will be here rain or shine--but keep your fingers crossed for shine! If the weather is nice, he will be out on the raised patio by the library's front entrance. If the weather is...
October 3, 2007
October is a big month for us here at the Marathon County Public Library! Take a moment to check out our events calendar to see what's going on in your area. This week we have the Athens Almost Beyond Description Program at 12:00pm on Thursday October 4th in the Athens Fire Hall meeting room. At this program you will get firsthand accounts of people who have passed through Wisconsin. Next week on October 10th in Edgar you have the opportunity to attend "Fighting the Flames," a re-creation of firefighting as it was shown at the World's Fair and midways from 1904-1907. This event starts at 2:00pm at the Edgar branch of the library. October 14-20 is Teen Read Week! ...
March 26, 2007
The Marathon County Public Library in Wausau Wisconsin is 100 Years old on April 3rd, 2007. Come to the birthday party and celebrate with us on April 15, 1:30–4:00 at 300 N. First Street in Wausau. We have heard childhood memories of people dancing up the stairs to the 1916 building (pictured above). Others have told us how much they enjoyed the fish pond that graced the library’s grounds. We want to hear your memories of the Wausau location or any of of the branch libraries or bookmobiles that are an important part of the history and future of the Marathon County Public Library. Please share your memories by clicking on Comments below. Thank you.
February 9, 2007
The Marathon County Public Library will be 100 Years old on April 3. Come and help us celebrate on April 15, 1:30-4:00 at the Wausau location. Listen to the music of Andy Z. and the Spankin' Monkeys Band,the Golden Glow Barbershop Quartet and storybook characters telling stories to families. Hop aboard the trolley for a fun ride and view of the city, have some birthday cake and treats, and join in the other fun activities for the whole family.
