Library notes [December 02, 2013]  Tuesday With Santa Santa Claus will visit the Lincoln Public Library for Tuesday With Santa again this year. He will be at the library from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Visitors can talk with Santa, receive a candy cane, make a craft to take home and write a follow-up letter to be mailed to the North Pole if you like. Parents, please remember to bring your camera. Call 732-5732 to register so the library can have adequate supplies on hand. Upcoming events Family Lego Day at the library will be on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Bring your own Legos or use the library's Legos. The whole family can build a creation and see what ideas other families have for their masterpieces. It's always fun and quite impressive. Please call 732-5732 by noon on Friday, Jan. 17, to register, as table space is limited.

The Lincoln Public Library is located at 725 Pekin St., with adult nonfiction and reference materials in the historic Carnegie Building. The Annex directly behind houses adult fiction and the Youth Services Department. All library events are free and open to the public. Online, visit www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Phone [phone] for adult services and 217-732-5732 for youth services.

Grab and go

The Youth Services Department has a convenient way for busy people to select children's picture books. Look for the rubber-banded groups of books, selected with a coordinating theme. Each grouping contains four to five books, and the stories center around a particular animal or activity. Just "grab and go" to the circulation desk and you're on your way!

Miss Lou's blog

Louella Moreland, youth services librarian, has a blog that can be accessed by linking through the library website. She lists the library's new children's and young adult books and introduces library programs. Tell her your ideas and suggestions. You can also view videos and pictures of library programs.

Closing dates

The library will be closed the following dates:

• Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve

• Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

• Jan. 1 – New Year's Day

Also, the library will be open on Dec. 31 but will close early at 5 p.m.

Circulation news

Zinio — Electronic magazines have arrived. The library has a selection of over 95 titles, and more will be added. Create your account with Zinio from the library website and start reading. Stop by the circulation desk for more information.

Emails and text messages — The library's new computer program allows patrons to receive texts or emails for notification of reserved items and overdue notices. If you are interested in this service, talk to a member of the circulation staff.

PINs — Don't forget to take advantage of a PIN number (password) for your account. With a PIN, you can search the entire Polaris system, see what items you have out, and request and renew books from home.

Gift certificates — Need a gift idea? You can purchase a one-year library card for an individual or family living outside the library district. The library will provide a gift certificate for presenting, and the recipient can bring it in, along with a photo ID and proof of address, to receive their very own library card.

Book clubs — The circulation desk in the Annex collects reading lists for all the book clubs in the area. So if you can't remember what you read or what you are supposed to read, you're covered. Drop off your lists at the circulation desk or email April Jensen, circulation manager, at [e-mail].

Going on a trip? — The circulation staff can put a hold on any outstanding requests you may have so you will get them when you return. Just stop by and let the staff know your travel dates.

Links on the library website

The library website has links to many free services, such as Library on the Go, WorldCat, Khan Academy, the improved World Book Web and the Ask a Librarian service, as well as various downloadable forms. Check out what's new.

[Text from file received from Marlene Perry, Lincoln Public Library]