Online Collection Offers eBooks for Kids 

Brown County Library is pleased to announce the addition of TumbleBookLibrary to its digital resources.  
 
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated storybooks and eBooks for children. They are a great way to encourage kids to enjoy reading in a fun format. Families can access the TumbleBookLibrary from home. Use is unlimited and free! Visit browncountylibrary.org/kids to get started.   
 
Select from over 1400 titles for a variety of ages and reading levels. The site also features Spanish and French books, read-along chapter books, non-fiction books, graphic novels, National Geographic videos, and exciting games and puzzles. 
 
Access the collection using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with an internet connection. There are no downloads - books are streamed right to the device at the click of a button. 
 
For other library information, visit browncountylibrary.org, or call 920-448-4400 to speak to a staff person. ​

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) has today awarded Brown County Library a grant of $1,000 as part of the new East Asia in Wisconsin Library Program.

​CEAS, a federally-funded National Resource Center for the study of East Asia, created the program to encourage Wisconsin libraries to augment their collections with East Asia-related materials, and to design new book clubs and other programing with an East Asian theme. This program is part of the center’s focus on promoting understanding of East Asian histories and cultures, and also aligns with the Wisconsin Idea mission of service to Wisconsin citizens beyond the boundaries of the classroom. CEAS partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Library Association, and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center to plan and promote the new program, which was launched in August.

​Brown County Library’s grant was one of 38 awarded to libraries across Wisconsin, totaling $32,765 is awards. The grants will be used to purchase books and films about China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also to host book clubs, speakers and other related library programs. 

Green Bay, WI – The Friends of the Brown County Library and honorary chair, Green Bay Packers wife Molly (Mason) Crosby, announce the launch of the 32nd annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book with a virtual twist.  
 
The annual book collection invites individuals, families, businesses, churches, schools, clubs and organizations to donate new, unwrapped books that will be given as gifts to local children, babies through age 18, in low-income families.  Books are distributed through the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program in Green Bay just in time for the holidays. 
 
Give-A-Kid-A-Book kicks-off virtually the week of November 2 and runs through December 10 with social media posts on the Friends’ Give-A-Kid-A-Book (@GiveAKidABookBrownCounty) and Friends of the Brown County Library (@FoBCL) Facebook pages and www.browncountylibraryfriends.org/gakab. Posts feature many of the same elements of the in-person kick-off including a message from Meg, Deem, coordinator of Give-A-Kid-A-Book, Molly Crosby’s public service announcement, essays from elementary students at Fort Howard School, and recognition of major financial supporters - Nicolet National Bank, Brown County Community Women’s Club and Green Bay Packers Give Back.  
 
The Friends are making it easy to shop from where you are and in-person! Purchase books from the Friends’ Amazon Wish List; Lion’s Mouth Bookstore, 401 N. Washington Street in downtown Green Bay; and during the Book Fair at Barnes & Noble November 21-27 using code 12590972. Shoppers can ship books purchased online directly to the library or donated books can be dropped in collection boxes located at Nicolet National Banks in the greater Green Bay area and all Brown County Libraries through December 10.  
 
Financial donations are also accepted and will be used to purchase additional books. Checks should be made payable to “Friends of the Brown County Library: GAKAB,” and mailed to 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI 54301-5194.   

“This campaign has always been vital, but the urgency felt during pandemic times cannot be ignored. Let’s all make room this year to give more to the campaign than we ever have before. Pick the best books you possibly can ...because “kids who read, succeed!”  --Molly Crosby, 2020 

Contacts:  
Meg Deem, Give- A-Kid-A-Book Coordinator, mmdeem0135@gmail.com  
Sue Lagerman, Communications & Program Manager, Brown County Library, susan.lagerman@browncountywi.gov, 920-448-5806  

Beginning Thursday, October 15, 2020, Brown County Library card holders can access hoopla, a free digital media service that offers thousands of movies from major Hollywood studios, music albums, audiobooks, eBooks, comics, and TV shows.
​
Download the hoopla app (available in the Apple and Google Play app stores) or visit hoopladigital.com to get started.  Access is with a Brown County Library card. To apply for a library card online, go to browncountylibrary.org/apply or visit any library location in person. ​

Libraries Across the County Open for Pickup Service
 
Starting Monday, June 1st libraries across the county will open for pickup service, as part of Phase 1 of the gradual expansion of library service. Each branch will have different hours for calling in orders, picking up items, and returning materials that were previously checked out.
 
“We are excited to get back to work inside the branches and sharing our collections again,” stated Morgan Mann, Community Relations Library Assistant. “We’ve been working hard at getting processes down to best serve our communities and opening access safely.” 
 
There are no interlibrary loans at this time, but patrons must call individual branches to request items from an individual library’s collection, which then will be scheduled for pickup. Ordering hours and return times vary across branches. Buildings remain closed to the public, and social distancing is stressed when coming to the libraries to pickup or return items.
 
Door County Libraries are located in Forestville, Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, Baileys Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, and Washington Island.
 
Visit www.DoorCountyLibrary.org to see individual branch hours and follow the library on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest updates.​

U.S. Census Bureau Press Release May 22, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau, in coordination with federal, state and local health officials, will begin to drop off 2020 Census questionnaire packets at front doors of households in Wisconsin in the week of May 25. This is done in areas where the majority of households do not receive mail at their physical address. The Census Bureau began hand-delivering census materials on March 15, but suspended all fieldwork for this operation on March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here for more details about this release.

“InfoSoup digital services are open to you even while (libraries) are closed,” said Evan Bend, Library Services Manager with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS). Individuals that don’t have a library card with InfoSoup can sign up for one online and library staff will contact them with a temporary card number and pin that will allow access to all the InfoSoup digital resources.

An InfoSoup library card grants patrons access to digital resources for all ages such as ebooks, audiobooks, digitized magazines, newspaper archives and genealogy research. All resources are absolutely free with a library card. Learn more at www.infosoup.info/digital.
​
To register for a card, simply complete an online application at www.InfoSoup.org/selfreg. Library staff will follow up with each applicant with a library card number and PIN to access the library’s online resources.

​
For Immediate Release
 
Thursday, March 19, 2020
 
NICOLET FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM TO OFFER INCREASED SUPPORT TO SYSTEM LIBRARIES AS MORE MOVE TO ONLINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS
 
GREEN BAY –  With the majority of its system member libraries turning to online services and closing their physical locations in accordance with federal, state and local orders to reduce the spread of the pandemic coronavirus, Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS), Bellevue, WI, will temporarily suspend its delivery services to member libraries.
 
In addition, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, NFLS offices in Bellevue, WI will close Friday, March 20, 2020, until further notice. Employees will work from home, monitoring the situation closely while providing the highest level of service to its member libraries.
 
These decisions were made in consideration of, and in accordance with, Emergency Order #5 issued by Governor Tony Evers that, among other things, prohibits mass gatherings of 10 or more people. The Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) has determined that libraries fall within this Emergency Order.
 
NFLS is the facilitator of inter-library loan and delivery services for borrowed books and library materials to and between its 42 member libraries in Northeast Wisconsin.  At present, most of these libraries have closed their physical locations.  According to Tracy Vreeke, Director of NFLS, "It is important at this time of uncertainty for NFLS to offer increased support to our member libraries as they make the decision to provide online versions of these materials and resources available through a variety of different mediums.”
 
“In a time when all must do their part to reduce the spread of a global pandemic, NFLS staff is ready and willing to help librarians with continuing education, and provide member libraries with the resources they need to help them meet the increased demand for online materials in a timely and effective manner,” Vreeke said.
 
As more information becomes available, NFLS will work with member libraries to determine the best course of action for implementation of a proper time frame for restoration of inter-library delivery services.
 
NFLS libraries will remain open online: Please contact your local library for current library services. A list of NFLS libraries can be found online at https://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/libraries.html. Future announcements will be posted on the libraries’ web and social media sites.
 
About the Nicolet Federated Library System:
The Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) is a state-funded organization assisting 42 member public libraries in providing better services to the people of northeastern Wisconsin since 1976. NFLS' public libraries span eight counties: Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto and Shawano.
 
NFLS is third largest of the 16 public library systems in the state and is organized under the WI Dept. of Public Instruction. Each system is governed by an independent board of trustees and funded by state aids to carry out the service requirements set forth in Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  For more information, go to:  https://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/
 
Media and other inquiries, please contact: Tracy Vreeke, Nicolet Federated Library System Director at tvreeke@nflsoffice.org

The following is a news release from Door County Library.

​NFLS is very proud to announce that one of our own has been awarded the Wisconsin Library Association Trustee of the Year Award! Following is an excerpt from the WLA press release:

WLA Trustee of the Year: Kathy Pletcher 
 
Kathy Pletcher has consistently been a strong advocate for all types of libraries and serves on the Brown County Library Board and Nicolet Federated Library System Board. She also recently completed her term on the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND). Building upon her years as a professional librarian, she has become a model trustee and now provides training for new trustees around the state. Through her mentoring work, she has contributed to a new generation of advocates dedicated to supporting libraries. Kathy’s visionary work has statewide impact and she is deserving of the 2019 Trustee of the Year Award.
 
There will be a reception for Kathy, and other award winners, at the upcoming WLA annual conference in October.  Please join us in celebrating Kathy at the reception if you are able. 

Following is a press release about an online fundraising platform called 100 Extraordinary Women (100EW). 100EW helps nonprofits meet their needs as it empowers women to join together to support causes they believe in and create a bigger impact than they could do on their own. 

​Learn how two Wisconsin public libraries used 100EW to exceed their fundraising goals.

Pop Art Experience
 
Michael Albert brings his nationally-known Cereal Box Collage Art to Brown County Library on July 30-31
 
American Pop Artist/Author Michael Albert brings his “Modern Pop Art Experience” to Brown County Library this summer as part of his Summer Pop Art Tour. New York-based Albert, author of an artist autobiography titled, “An Artist’s America” (published by Henry Holt in 2008), is known for making detailed and colorful collages out of cereal boxes and other printed cardboard consumer packages including crackers, cookies, soda cartons, frozen pizza boxes, etc. He is taking his art on the road and bringing his unique program for kids, teens and families to over 100 libraries, museums & festivals in 18 states from June-August including a series of programs around the state. This will be his first visit to Wisconsin.
 
Albert will be visiting the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine Street, downtown Green Bay, on Tuesday, July 30 and the Brown County East Branch Library, 2255 Main Street, on Wednesday July 31 for two art making sessions with kids and teens (ages 6-12) and their parents. Both programs will take place from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Participants will listen to a short presentation by the artist about his life and work and have a chance to create their own collage using the same materials he uses to create his masterpieces. All those who make a collage will receive a free signed limited edition poster (choosing from a selection of over 14 different prints), compliments of the artist. 
 
For more information about the artist & this special program, please visit www.michaelalbert.com or call the Central Library’s Youth Services Department at 920-448-5846 for more details.
 
These and other library events are available online at www.browncountylibrary.org/calendar.

​The Brown County Library’s Bookmobile is teaming up with fellow county departments this summer and is hitting the road! The Neville Public Museum, Aging Disability and Resource Center (ADRC) and Extension Brown County will be traveling to Bookmobile stops so residents can learn about available programs and services, participate in a program, listen to a presentation, ask questions and get answers!
 
A news conference introducing, “Brown County on the Go,” will take place at the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine Street, downtown Green Bay, on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:15 am.  Weather permitting, the event will take place in front of the library on the Pine Street plaza. The event will move indoors if necessary.

​April 18, 2019

Library’s Food for Fines to Support Local Food Pantry
 
Join the Brown County Library in its 2019 “Food for Fines” program.  This program allows library cardholders who donate food items to clear overdue fines from their library account and also help stock the shelves at Paul’s Pantry in Green Bay.
 
All Brown County Library cardholders can donate food items from April 29 through May 5 at any library location.

The Brown County Library announces Her Story, a four-part series that explores U.S. history from the female perspective on Tuesdays, April 16 and 23, and Thursdays, May 9 and 23, at the Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St., downtown Green Bay. 

​All programs begin at 6:15 pm in the library’s auditorium.