June 8, 2020

It's the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Let's pull back the curtain and take a behind-the-scenes look at one of the best shows (objectively, definitely)...The Office! In the new book The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, author Andy Greene chronicles how The Office got off the ground and shares tales from the show, as told by the creators, writers and actors who worked on the program. Many of the actors from the series also wrote and/or directed episodes of the show including but not limited to, Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, and B.J. Novak. A few of the actors have also written clever and comedic books, which I think are...

Adults Books Reading Recommendations

June 5, 2020

The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while in police custody, has sparked worldwide outrage, protests and calls for systemic reform within the U.S. criminal justice system and its police departments. No list of books and resources that addresses police brutality, inequality and injustice, and similar and important topics can ever be complete, so we thought we’d pick out just a few. If we’ve left out a book or resource you think is important, feel free to comment!

Adults Books Community Movies Reading Recommendations

May 29, 2020

In mid-March 2020, MCPL closed its doors to the public. By the time the Marathon County Public Library re-opens, at least three months will have passed. First, let me just say: We miss you! But as a public institution that sees hundreds of people walk through the doors of our nine locations each day, six days a week, we hope you understand that the closure is necessary as our communities aim to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Re-opening Plans On May 18, the library’s Board of Trustees voted to extend the closure of our nine locations through at least June 15, 2020, when the Board has its next meeting. In the meantime, we are working with County officials, statewide...

COVID-19

May 22, 2020

Are you looking for a way to liven up your writing? Many writers use prompts to get started on a story. Writing from a prompt can lead you to ideas and feelings you would not otherwise have discovered. Here’s a creative project to try at home! Supplies needed: A block of wood Sandpaper Antique picture books, catalogs or magazines Scissors Glue or Mod Podge Small paintbrush   Steps: Take your block of wood and sand off the rough edges using sandpaper.You can work with any size block (perhaps you have pieces left over from a birdhouse or furniture project.) Often lumber mills will give away odd ends for free 2. Cut out interesting-looking pictures from older picture books, catalogs or...

Adults Writing

May 21, 2020

As many are during this time, I am cooking more homemade food than ever! I’ve always loved cooking and baking, but now that I have a bit more time at home and am trying to keep my immune system in tip-top shape, I’ve been focusing even more on healthy, homemade meals (but still as tasty as ever!) As someone born with food intolerances to soy, dairy, and egg, (who outgrew them, only to have them reappear after a semester abroad back in college), I’ve always had to be conscious of what I eat and learned early on how to cook most of my meals at home due to safety concerns at restaurants. A few years ago, I was researching nutrition while going through a severe case of mononucleosis and went plant-based to try to...

Adults Books Catalogs and Collections Food Health Resources Websites

May 20, 2020

You want to collage - but where to start? Collage can be a great artistic medium to experiment with because it can be anything you want it to be! Collage affords you the ability to be messy, be creative, have fun and not have to focus too much on how “nice” your project looks. The very nature of collage also allows you to more easily cover up any parts of your project that you are unhappy with. There are a few different ways to approach your collage projects, which I'll briefly cover below. Intuitive With intuitive collage, you pull pieces that you’re drawn to, gather them all, and determine if there’s a pattern or a way to bring them all together. To do this, flip through magazines...

Adults Arts and Crafts

May 19, 2020

In order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and its impact on members of the community and our staff, the Marathon County Public Library’s headquarters in Wausau and its branches throughout the county will remain closed to the public through June 15, 2020. We will continue to provide important library services such as contact-free curbside pickup, free Wi-Fi outside of our buildings, online programming and reference phone calls and emails. In addition, due dates and fines are suspended during this time. We are working with county officials, statewide library leadership, and our library system on developing a multi-phase reopening plan that prioritizes public health....

Community COVID-19 Director's Report Government Information Health Resources Library Board Library Branches

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...

COVID-19 Director's Report Government Information Laws And Legal Issues Libraries Library Branches Community Events On-Site Services Wisconsin

May 13, 2020

A fun craft to do while at home with the family, these egg carton animals are an adorable and a cute way to use empty cardboard egg cartons. Since the craft requires a lot of cutting, it is best for older kids, teens and adults, or smaller children wtih adult supervision and assistance.  We'll show you how to make both a rabbit and a chick, though with a little imagination and ingenuity, you can improvise and make a variety of different animals. For this craft, you'll need...  Supplies: •  1 cardboard egg carton •  Scissors •  Acrylic paints and paintbrushes •  Glue •  1 white Pom Pom •  Other decorations or details you want to add to your animals (feathers, buttons, etc.)   Steps...

Arts and Crafts

May 11, 2020

Schools, libraries and other educational institutions have been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but some Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) staff members found a way to get much-needed books into the hands of area students during the closure. Over the past several weeks, Stephanie M., a library assistant at MCPL’s Wausau Headquarters, has arranged for children’s books to be donated to local school districts, as well as to the United Way of Marathon County. The donated books were removed from the library’s collection and would normally have been donated to the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library to be sold at one of the group’s quarterly book sales. But since those sales won’t be...

Books Children Community COVID-19 Early Literacy Education Library Staff