April 13, 2020

Today's craft comes from an event we originally had scheduled for March 26 at our Rothschild Branch, where kids could make their own rubber band or yarn stamps. This craft requires simple supplies found in most homes. Just follow the steps below and your family will be making art in no time! Rubber Band Stamping Supplies needed: Cardboard tubes Rubber bands Paper Paint/paint daubers Steps: Wrap rubber bands around tubes Apply paint to the rubber bands Roll tubes on paper to make different designs   Yarn Stamping Supplies needed: Cardboard Yarn Glue Paper Paint   Steps: In pencil, outline any design you choose for your stamp image onto a piece of cardboard...

Arts and Crafts

April 11, 2020

This week, the Marathon County Public Library continued offering its daily Virtual Story Time to help encourage kids and parents to read and tell stories at home! A roster of our staff members took turns singing songs and reading stories each morning, and will continue doing so for the next several weeks as all MCPL locations continue to be closed. If you or your family missed these story times, which are typically broadcast live on our Facebook page, we've collected them all for you here. You can also hop over to our YouTube channel to watch these story times and many other videos that we've posted!                    

Story Times Children Books

April 11, 2020

If you are anything like me, the unknown is a fascinating subject. Ghosts, UFOs, weird animals and weird experiences are all part of the supernatural. Below is a list of nonfiction books that deal with the supernatural; all are available from Wisconsin’s Digital Library. This is just a starting point, the digital library has many other books that deal with the supernatural.  Enjoy!  

Reading Recommendations

April 10, 2020

If you are anything like me, baking is an outlet for stress during the best of times. I love looking at beautiful baking cookbooks, checking out my favorite bakers and bloggers on Instagram, and bookmarking new recipes. During this period of self-isolation, I am leaning in and baking even more than I normally do. I have already made my favorite chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, artisan bread, and even tried my hand at macarons. The macarons were not successful, but it was a fun experiment! I will be making my second attempt this weekend! Here is a list of some of my favorite baking cookbooks. I have also included links to these chef’s blogs and social media accocunts so you can find some baking...

Books Food Reading Recommendations

April 9, 2020

Spring is finally here!  Take advantage of the beautiful days ahead and get a break from being cooped up at home by going for a walk in one of our local parks while also practicing safe social distancing. While you are out, watch for some colorful rocks that are hidden around town. When you find a decorated rock, take a picture of it and then hide it in a different spot so others can find it. There are even some local Facebook groups where you can post your picture of the rock you found, including “Wausau Rocks,” “Wausau Area Rocks” and “Wisconsin Rocks!” If you're feeling inspired to create your own painted rocks, there are a couple of books available through Wisconsin's Digital Library via the free...

Arts and Crafts

April 8, 2020

Over a century ago, Melvil Dewey decided that libraries were too disorganized, so he set out to organize all the world’s knowledge into ten categories. While many librarians discuss the continued use of these categories to organize knowledge, many public libraries still use them today. If you're looking for a nonfiction book to read but aren't sure what you're in the mood for, I’ve picked 10 titles; one each from each of the subject areas. While one title doesn’t completely cover all the topics included in that one category, this will give you a taste of what each one contains. All of these books are available for free checkout and download in Wisconsin's Digital Library via the Overdrive or Libby apps.

Books Reading Recommendations

April 7, 2020

If you've got some yarn, straws, scissors and tape laying around the house, you're in luck! That's all you need to make a cool, colorful bracelet of your own design! Supplies: •  At least 3 straws (can use more than three for wider bracelet) •  Scissors •  Masking Tape •  Yarn   Steps: 1. Tape the ends of three straws together. 2. Cut three pieces of yarn, each three times longer than the straws in length (about 22 inches each). 3. Thread yarn through each straw. A wooden skewer or knitting needle is helpful to push the yarn through the straws. Knot the ends of the three pieces of yarn together. Leave extra yarn (2-3 inches) after your knot so you will be able to tie the...

Arts and Crafts

April 4, 2020

This week, the Marathon County Public Library continued offering its daily Virtual Story Time to help encourage kids and parents to read and tell stories at home! A roster of our staff members took turns singing songs and reading stories each morning, and will continue doing so for the next several weeks as all MCPL locations continue to be closed. If you or your family missed these story times, which are typically broadcast live on our Facebook page, we've collected them all for you here. You can also hop over to our YouTube channel to watch these story times and many other videos that we've posted!   Monday - Story Time with MJ     Tuesday- Story Time with Chad...

Story Times Children Books

April 4, 2020

Hundreds of free, instructor-led courses on a variety of subjects are available to patrons of the Marathon County Public Library! New classes start April 15! If, as you read this, you are one of the many folks currently at home due to precautions over the COVID-19 pandemic, you're probably looking for options for keeping yourself occupied and keeping your brain active. Through the Wisconsin Valley Library Service consortium, MCPL patrons have access to hundreds of online courses with Gale Courses. These are instructor-led, six-week classes on subjects ranging from business and finance to computer programming and law to writing and photography. In 2019, I gave the screenwriting course a try...

Technology Learning Online Resources Education

April 2, 2020

Springtime is a time when bunnies and pastels come to mind, and we have the perfect craft that adults and kids alike can make, no matter their artistic skill level. Best of all, this craft is pretty flexible in terms of what you can use for materials, and nearly everything required can be found in your home! This craft can be done as a collage, crayon drawing, or with spare strings of yarn. Take a look at the step-by-step video we've created for you below, or refer to the included list of instructions.      Supplies This craft will require... - Printable bunny template - Scissors - Pencil - Paper or cardstock - Scotch tape - Scrap pieces of yarn, crayons, or scrapbook paper, or other...

Arts and Crafts