Library Services & Programs
The Friends of the Library Readers' Group hosts book discussions throughout the year. The discussions are open to the public and are held on the third Tuesday, every other month from September through May at 7:00 pm. The books are available at the library. Everyone is welcome!
| Library Reader's Group |
| Date |
Presenter |
Book |
Author |
| September 20, 2011 |
Jim Elliot |
Point Counter Point |
Aldous Huxley |
| Point Counter Point was first published in 1938, It is Huxley's longest novel, ranked 44th on the Modern Library list of the 100 best English language novels of the 20th century. It is a number of interlinked story lines and recurring themes. |
| November 8, 2011 |
Ron Shiffler |
The Judgement of Paris - The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism |
Ross King |
| |
| January 10, 2012 |
Jim Elliott |
The Awakening |
Kate Chopin |
| Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" is the classic novel about women that "Madame Bovary" purports to be but isn't. It's not just a "woman's" novel, though; it perfectly (and poetically) captures the inner life of a solitary person who is forced to live for the sake of others. This is a twentieth-century tale of discomfort with and reaction to antagonistic surroundings. |
| March 13, 2012 |
Cathy Mauer |
Dark Green Religion: Nature, Spirituality and the Planetary Future |
Bron Taylor |
| In this innovative and deeply felt work, Bron Taylor examines the evolution of "green religions" in North America and beyond: spiritual practices that hold nature as sacred and have in many cases replaced traditional religions. Tracing a wide range of groups, Taylor addresses a central theoretical question: How can environmentally oriented, spiritually motivated individuals and movements be understood as religious when many of them reject religious and supernatural worldviews? |
| May 2012 |
|
To be selected later |
|
| |
Top of Page
Storytime Fridays
Storytime Fridays are for children ages 2 through 5 years old. It is the mission of Storytime to provide a high quality, developmental and age-appropriate, literature-based, group story time for preschool children in a library. Please select the program best suited to your child(ren)'s age(s).
Storytime activities are held during the school year. If there is no school, there is no storytime.
Little Bears: 10:30 am in the big conference room
This 20-minute program is designed for two and three year olds. The program brings young children and their parents or caregivers together in a library setting. For many, this is a new experience. Some children may participate, while others may be content to just observe. All adults are expected to participate and encourage the children to join in the fun.
The program will feature picture books, songs, finger plays, puppets, and flannel boards. Since attention spans are short for kids this age, the stories are short and simple.
The storytime theme this Winter is Jungle!
| Dates | Little Bears Programs |
| September 9 | Parrot |
| September 16 | Hippo |
| September 23 | Rhino |
| September 30 | Monkey |
| October 7 | Tiger |
| October 14 | Warthog |
| October 21 | Zebra |
| October 28 | Harvest Days Event |
| November 4 | Giraffe |
| November 11 | Elephant |
| November 18 | Boa |
| November 25 | NO STORYTIME |
| December 2 | Lion |
| December 9 | Storytime with Santa |
Big Bears: 10:30 am in the small conference room
This 30 minute program is designed for BIG KIDS four and five years old as they attend storytime on their own. By this age, children can do more things by themselves, such as listen to stories quietly, participate in activities, follow directions and complete crafts. Parents and caregivers do not accompany their preschoolers in the story room, but are asked to remain in the library during the session.
Storytime features picture books, songs, finger plays, puppets, flannel boards, games and craft activities.
The storytime theme this Winter is Jungle Animals!
| Dates | Big Bears Programs |
| September 9 | Hippo |
| September 16 | Parrot |
| September 23 | Monkey |
| September 30 | Rhino |
| October 7 | Warthog |
| October 14 | Tiger |
| October 21 | Giraffe |
| October 28 | Harvest Days Event |
| November 4 | Zebra |
| November 11 | Boa |
| November 18 | Lion |
| November 25 | NO STORYTIME |
| December 2 | Elephant |
| December 10 | Storytime with Santa |
Remember that storytimes are just an introduction to the exciting world of books and reading. Take time to read to your child every day. Help your child choose books to take home from the library. Your example will show your child that reading is a worthwhile and enjoyable activity.
Top of Page
2011 Summer Reading Program
Each summer, the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library, Medford, and the Jean M. Thomson Memorial Library in Stetsonville host the Summer Library Programs in cooperation with the Medford Area Public Schools. The hour-long sessions include stories and crafts.
We hope that the 2011 Summer Reading Program was an enjoyable and educational experience for all and we look forward to seeing you as you come to the library to discover more book adventures on our shelves throughout the year!
Top of Page
E-mail Notification Service
Patrons are now able to receive their notifications from the library of items on hold or overdue by e-mail. If you are interested in this service, please inquire during our regular business hours at 715-748-2505 or by e-mail at: medref@wvls.lib.wi.us or stop in at the library circulation desk.
Top of Page
Order Books From Your Home Computer
Now you can order books from home using your personal computer. The library participates in a database of more than 400,000 items which are available for check out. Patrons can browse through the database from the convenience of their home computer, place holds on titles from remote locations without staff assistance, and pick up the items at the library when they are received. Remember you need to have filled out our Patron Registration Form in order to check out an item from the library.
The web address is http://vcat.wvls.lib.wi.us
The new system will do away with the traditional card catalog and greatly simplify record-keeping for the library staff. Bar-coding on items being checked out will be scanned by a computer - making it easier and faster to check out books and other items.
Top of Page
Library Meeting Rooms

There are two conference rooms that are available for use by groups or organizations needing a location to meet. The large meeting room entrance is just inside the first set of doors at the library's main entrance.

The smaller meeting room is located to the right after passing through the second set of doors of the main library entrance. Make arrangements to use either of the meeting rooms for your organization's meetings with the library staff.
Top of Page
