President ~ Barb Konopacky Vice-President ~ Wendy Wimberger Secretary ~ Patty Earnest Treasurer ~ Jane Lapacz Board Representative ~ Phyllis Edge

Dear Friends of the Library, Fall is here and the leaves are falling. I suppose everyone is busy raking and getting the yard ready for winter. Just think, we get to settle in and rest for the winter, too. I'm looking forward to that! The annual Fall Craft Show is just around the corner, and Jodi tells us that everything is under control. Most of the booths in the town halls are booked and advertising has begun. The craft show will be held Saturday, November 29, 2003, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If anyone wants a booth, please call Jodi at 715-276-1518. To make this year's sale a success, be sure to come and shop - and bring your friends! Anyone who is available to set up at the town halls, please call Barb at 715-276-6712. It doesn't take long and is just a matter of setting up some tables and taking them down on Sunday. Please volunteer. There will be a special Friends meeting on February 10, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. We will be planning the annual meeting, held in June, and we would like to have many members attend. We want to have entertainment and eats. If you know of anyone or any group that entertains we would appreciate their names and phone numbers. We need more input at this meeting and more involvement from our members. This newsletter wishes all of you a happy Thanksgiving and a safe and joyous Christmas. See you at the Craft Show! --- Barb Konopacky, President

Shop For Christmas at the FRIEND'S CRAFT FAIR Saturday, November 29 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Mountain Community Building Lakewood Town Hall Townsend Town Hall Many new vendors and a door prize drawing at each location - so "visit all 3 townhalls" Come to an Open House at the LAKES COUNTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY Saturday, November 29 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Enjoy cookies and hot cider!!! Sponsored by the Friends of the Lakes Country Public Library

What's New at the Lakes Country Public Library?
Be sure to check out the "New Titles" notebook and use the request forms to place your reserves for the new bestsellers. You can also go "online" to request books. If you need help ask the library staff.

Bell, Book, and Scandal by Jill Churchill
Holly by Jude Deveraux
Perfect Day by Richard Paul Evans
Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber
Christmas Present by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Before and Again by Doris Mortman
Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson
Hanged Man's Song by John Sandford
Safe Harbour by Danielle Steel
Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere
Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods

http://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/lak
Have you checked out the library's web page?!! If not, you could be missing out on a great source for finding quality information on the Internet and for ordering library materials. If you need computer/Internet access, use one of the 5 free stations at the library.

Message from the President of the Library Board of Trustees:

2003 has been a very busy year at the Lakes Country Public Library, with a 17% increase in circulation over 2002. The continued increase in circulation each year, along with a 3% reduction in financial support for 2004 from Oconto County puts added pressure on the Library Board to continue providing for the needs of the community.

We will need to ask each town to pay their fair share of financial support to the library. Included with this letter is a colored bar graph summarizing the financial support per town as well as the yearly growth in circulation.

The Lakes Country Public Library Board is in the process of developing a long-range plan for the future which includes expansion of our building facilities to meet the needs of the community. In order to provide for the needs of the community, we need to explore alternate financial funding. One method is to establish an Endowment Fund. This will allow friends, citizens, and/or organizations of the community to donate moneys from time to time to the Lakes Country Public Library, either as gifts or bequests. These resources, at the stipulation of the donor, then become part of what is known as the Endowment Fund.

With the support of the Friends of the Library, along with our excellent employees and volunteer staff, the Lakes Country Library Board pledge their support to make "our" library the very best it can be.

We invite you to visit and use the library facilities. If you need a library card please feel free to request one.

--Ron Lahnala