Friends of the Howard Lake Library

Author Barbara Sommer was in Howard Lake on July 15, 2009 and spoke to a small but appreciative crowd about her book Hard Work and A Good Deal.  After supporting her Powerpoint presentation with fascinating  dialog, Ms. Sommer answered questions from the audience.

Coffee, lemonade and bars were served by the Friends of the Howard Lake Library.

The 6th annual Book/Food Sale, held on June 27th, was a great success.  Even though the morning started out rainy, the eager shoppers filled the vestibule of the Howard Lake Community Room waiting until the 9 AM starting time to scoop up bargains and treasures.   The food staff had the coffee perked, the sloppy joes bubbling and the strawberries chilled in the silver punch bowl ready to serve our guests.

Shoppers were greeted by table after table of books carefully sorted into categories by the Friends.  If the boxes and bags full of books, tapes, magazines and puzzles leaving the building were any indication, we had many happy customers.

A heartfelt thank you  to the Wright County Chapter of Thrivent for providing  matching funds, and another thank you to everyone who dined and shopped with us allowing us to make our goal.

The 2010 sale will again be held during Good Neighbor Days.  Watch this website for more information.   And remember, you may always drop donated materials at the Howard Lake City Offices.

Check out the photos from our 2009 sale.

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Penny & Sara, the reading therapy dogs, along with their owners will be back at the Howard Lake Library on June 20th, from 11:30 to 12:45.  If you have school aged children, why not let them share a story with the dogs.  Sara & Penny have never heard a story they didn’t like.

For more information, contact one of the librarians at 320.543.2020.

Photos from June 20, 2009

The Friends of the Howard Lake Library are pleased to invite you save money on great books, enjoy a sloppy joe sandwich & top it all off with a dish of strawberry shortcake.  Coffee & Kool Aid for just a quarter.  Join us on June 27th, starting at 9 AM.  This event runs until 1 PM.  From 12:30 to 1 PM, get one of our bags and fill it with books for just $1.   This event is held in the Howard Lake Community Room, above theLibrary.

Most paperback & children’s books are .25; hardcover fiction .50 and others as priced.  We will also have VHS movies, DVDs & music CDs for sale.  We are again offering jig saw puzzles.  Stock up–winter is long.

This sale is the major fundraiser for the Friends of the Library and we are happy to be provided matching funds through the Wright County Chapter of Thrivent.    If you have items you would like to donate, please drop them in the entryway of the Howard Lake City Offices or at the Howard Lake Drug Store.   For more information, contact the library at 320.543.2020.  See you at the sale!!

The following scenes are from last year’s event.  Don’t miss the fun.

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Award winning author, Barbara Sommer,  will be in Howard Lake on Wednesday July 15.  Ms. Sommer will present a slide show and speak about her book, “Hard Work and a Good Deal:  The Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota”.   Ms Sommer conducted hundreds of interviews with some of the more than 77,000 Minnesotans who worked for the CCC during the Great Depression.   Many examples of their handiwork are visible in Minnesota’s state parks &  forests.

This program will start at 6 :45 PM at the Howard Lake Community Room and is scheduled to run until 8 PM.   Refreshments will be served by the Friends of the Howard Lake Library.  For more information, please contact the library at 320.543.02020.

Story time will be held Thursday mornings at 10:15 at the Howard Lake Library.  Storyteller Mary Wherry has set her themes for each of the dates:

• June 11 — Pets
• June 18 — Summertime
• June 25 — Alligators
• July    2 — Teddy Bears
• July    9 — Bugs, bugs, bugs
• July 16  — Ocean
• July 23  — Down on the Farm

For more information, please contact the library at 320.543.2020.

As a kick off for the summer reading program, GRRL presents “The Great Brodini”.  His award winning comedy-magic show is all about audience participation.  His act is decscribed as “hilarious, wholesome entertainment” for the entire family.

The Great Brodini will be at the Howard Lake Library on Saturday, June 13 from 10 AM to 10:40 AM.

If you have any questions, please contact the library at 320.543.2020.

“Be Creative @ Your Library” is the theme for the 2009 GRRL Summer Reading Program.  This program runs from June 8 to August 8.  Sign up is free.   There are programs for ages 0 to 3 & 3 to 12.  There is a separate program for teens.  NEW this year:  sign up and receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone at the Howard Lake Drug Store.

There will be programs & prizes.  Check this site for more information, or contact the helpful librarians at the library or call 320.543.2020.

Birdie Johnson is a Howard Lake resident. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the author, have your questions answered and purchase her book.

Two very special dogs, Penny and Sara, like listening to stories and area children are doing the reading.  Both dogs, along with their owners Carol & Neil Sideen and Pete Sargent, are members of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.).  Besides providing a ready ear at the Howard Lake Library, the dogs  also go to area elementary schools.

More photos of happy readers and happy dogs on the following page. [Read more →]