Happy Groundhog's Day!

Brutus has never actually seen one of these creatures, but he did ask the staff for a picture. Now he wants to know why groundhogs have a holiday, but dogs don't. (Did you know that according to Wikipedia in some ancient European weather lore the prognosticator is a badger or a bear?) He feels that dogs(and especially himself) are better looking and more personable. Brutus doesn't believe that groundhogs can predict the weather either: Michigan always has at least 6 more weeks of winter. Brutus is hoping for an early spring so that he can visit outside the library ocassionally (and he vows to chase any emerging groundhogs out of the library).

Craft Programs for Kids

Brutus had a fun time at the craft program last week at the Durand Memorial Branch when he helped the kids decorate fleece scarves. Some of the kids decorated their scarves with snowflake and mitten patterns, and because the scarves were blue and white, some decorated them with D's for Durand. The kids had to explain to Brutus that the D's didn't stand for dogs. Mostly Brutus was happy being wrapped up in a warm, fleece scarf.

The next craft program in Durand will be held during Presidents' Day weekend, on Friday, Feb. 12 from 2-5 p.m. Brutus is hoping Brenda comes up with a craft to make dog beds but she is thinking of a Valentine's Day craft.

Where's the Chocolate?

Brutus saw the flyers in the library about the "For the Love of Chocolate" program to be held on February 1st. He then decided to sniff around the library in search of candy. He wasn't successful, but he did find a cake in celebration of Steve's second anniversary with the library. It was white, but almost as good, in Brutus' eyes (and nose), as chocolate. The library staff keep telling him that chocolate isn't good for dogs, but Brutus finds this hard to believe. He thinks that it is just a ploy to keep all the chocolate for humans instead of sharing it with dogs. If he wants the real facts on chocolate he'll have to join the program on February 1st at 7 p.m. when Barb and Vic Spagnuolo from Owosso's Spagnuolo's Chocolate Company share their wisdom.

Brutus Goes to a Puppet Show

Brutus made a new friend this week--the Little Red Hen. He was even a good dog and didn't chase or try to eat her! Little Red Hen was the star of a puppet show held in the Children's Department which was enjoyed by both Brutus and a number of kids. There were even other animals present (which made Brutus even happier). Brutus is now looking forward to story hours beginning again on January 5. This is always a good way to meet, and get lots of hugs, from the kids.

First Scholarship Recipient

Brutus was thrilled to congratulate Chicaro Napier-Hoffman on being the first recipient of an award from the Ken and Suzanne Uptigrove Scholarship Fund. Chicaro was selected because she is both a current SDL employee and enrolled in Wayne State University's library science program. This was a nice early Christmas present for Chicaro who hopes to be an archivist some day. She presently works in the Adult Department of the Owosso Branch as a part-time professional. In addition to helping people who use the library, she also assists with interlibrary loan (MeLCat) and works on special projects to benefit both the library and community.

Brutus was interested in becoming a librarian until he learned how much work is involved. With only an obedience school education, he would first have to finish high school, earn a bachelor's degree, and then complete a master's degree in library or information science. This was just too much for a little dog to comprehend. He thinks he'll leave this for the humans. In the meantime, he'll just do a little more tail-wagging in celebration of Chicaro's accomplishments.

Brutus Wears a New Hat

Brutus was trying on hats Brenda made up for the kids Thanksgiving craft program on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at the Durand branch. Kids are invited to stop by anytime between 3 and 6 to make a fun hat. Brutus's favorite hat was the turkey, but Brenda told him she was going to wear it for the craft program so he had to share.

Brutus Meets Lucy the Therapy Dog

Brutus was at bedtime story hour Friday night at Durand, and was surprised when Lucy, a therapy dog, showed up. Lucy brought her owner, Marie Holloway, to listen to storyteller Grandma Parks with all of the kids. Lucy was well behaved during story hour but very disappointed when Brutus told her only people cookies are served afterwards. Lucy is planning to come back to the library this winter to listen to children practice reading aloud. Brutus plans to be there too.

Sorting a MeL Delivery

The Owosso Branch received an unusually large MeL (interlibrary loan) delivery this afternoon. Brutus was soon involved. At first, he wanted to play in the pile, but Barb and Margaret weren't very happy about his King (Dog) of the Mountain game. They quickly gave him a job--sniffing out the incorrectly delivered packages. When he was done, they had an entire bag of items which needed to go to other libraries, and the staff were thankful for his help.

Brutus the Ghost

Brutus is getting ready for the library's Halloween programs by trying on his ghost costume. He's especially excited about the "Night with Ghost Hunter Brad Mikulka" at the Owosso branch on Fri., Oct. 23 @ 7 p.m. , and at the Durand Memorial Branch on Fri., Oct. 30 @ 7 p.m. He's hoping Brad will mistake him for a real ghost.

Brutus will also be at the Durand branch for a trick-or-treat bag craft program for kids on Wed., Oct. 21 from 4-7 p.m., and Halloween bedtime story hour on Fri., Oct. 23 @ 7 p.m. Kids who want to come to the craft program should register ahead by calling 288-3743.

The Owosso branch is having a Murder Mystery Party for teens on Sat., Oct. 24 @ 2 p.m. Actors are needed for the program so Brutus has been practicing his acting skill at playing dead. He'll also be at Owosso's costume party for families with preschoolers on Fri., Oct. 30 from 3-4:30.

Where the Wild Things Are

Brutus romped with the wild things at a puppet show based on Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are yesterday. He joined right in when Max announced "Let the wild rumpus start," and proved that he could also be a wild thing. This was the first of a series of Family Fun Fridays. The next one will be held on October 16 from 2-4 p.m. and will feature a fall craft program.

Find Brutus

Brutus has been sniffing around the library's website (www.sdl.lib.mi.us) and is now lost. Have fun finding him during October, click on his picture, and print out a coupon for a free DVD rental. A valid library card is required to borrow the DVD and there is a limit of one free rental per card.

Brutus helps Caleb with his homework

Because school is underway, Brutus is helping Caleb with his homework on the computer. The library has many sources to help kids with their homework, both in the library and online. If the library doesn't have the book a student needs, library staff will be glad to try and get it from another library through MelCat. Students can also find lots of good information such as Kids InfoBits on the Mel.org databases

Brutus wanted to use the World Book Encyclopedia online to look at all the dog pictures, but Caleb needed to work on math problems. Brutus's favorite problem was: If you have 5 cats and give 5 away, how many cats do you have left?

Library Carnival

Brutus had lots of fun at Saturday's Library Carnival. He was involved with almost everything at some point in the afternoon. The wrecking ball game was his favorite. (If he missed the house with the ball, he could always use his tail). There were lots of prizes to choose from, and some of them looked like lots of fun--the only thing missing was a good bone to chew one. He hoped to win the dog cake, but, alas, it went to one of the kids. He also had to put his nose to the grindstone for part of the afternoon and help Harriet sell tickets. Staff wouldn't let him near the food booth, to his dismay; but he's still not too sure about eating "hot" dogs.

Brutus and the Create a Library Contest Winner

Brutus is looking over the Pony Express Library, the grand prize winner in the Durand Branch's Create a Library contest that was held over the summer. The library was built by Samantha Bukovick and her parents Becky and John. Brutus sniffed all of the detail in Samantha's library which includes over 300 miniature books, but all he could find were horse books, no dog books.

He checked the other library entries in the contest, but couldn't find any dog books there either. He did growl at the library that had a library cat, Dewey. Brutus wanted to bark and chase after the horses in front of Samantha's library, but they were well behaved and refused to run around the library and make noise.

Rally in Lansing

Brutus was a bit in a hurry today. He didn't want to be late for the rally in Lansing being sponsored by the Michigan Library Association. He fears that the state is going to the dogs with the proposed cuts to the Library of Michigan and state aid to public libraries. How can humans be so short-sighted? He wasn't too sure about MeLCat until Barb explained to him that this did not involve cats; it is the statewide interlibrary loan system and catalog which is in jeopardy. Brutus enjoys MeLCat, especially playing in the blue bags and reading dog stories (although he'd like to see the "cat" part changed). Margaret and Steve have calmed him down for today with promises that they will be attending Thursday morning's rally on the Capitol steps at 10 a.m. They hope to see many librarians and library users there in support of Michigan's libraries; everyone is encouraged to write to their state legislators.

Pre-School Winners in the Summer Reading Program

Brutus joined a group of pre-schoolers for a picture yesterday. He loves kids and was thrilled to learn that this group represented the top "readers" (or in their case, probably listeners) in this summer's reading program for their age group. He was so excited with the hugs and pats on the head from the kids, that his tail didn't quit wagging for several hours. He is just as anxious as the children, to see them spend their library dollars at the carnival on September 12th. The children pictured are Charles DeWeese, Charlotte DeWeese, Omaleigh McVay, Sophia Wellman, Everett McVay, and Savannah McVay. Congratulations to all the children who read this summer! You're all winners in Brutus' book.

Brutus Looks for More Books to Read

Brutus is using Bookletters to find more books to read. Margaret is too busy with a desk schedule and helping people in the library this afternoon for him to pick her brain right now, but he has discovered in the Good Reads section of the library's website a past "If You Like . . . Lilian Braun" newsletter. He is not interested in any of the cat mysteries, but thinks that he may try one of Laurien Bernson' s poodle mysteries or Carol Lea Benjamin's books featuring dogs next. He is going to sign up to receive via e-mail some of the newsletters each time they are published.

Hands Around the Library of Michigan

Dog gone it! Brutus can't believe the news that the Library of Michigan may close. He found out that Steve and Margaret had taken the morning off to attend the Hands Around the Library rally in Lansing; he would have gone, too, if dogs had been invited! With less than a year at SDL, he has all ready learned about the great things the Library of Michigan does for many people--lots of books for genealogists, MeL databases, and MeLCat to name just a few. What will he do if there are no more blue bags to climb in and out of or a way to get more dog stories from other libraries? He was glad to hear that over 500 people attended the rally, and Margaret even let him hold on to part of her piece of green ribbon to show his support. He is hoping to help some of the staff write letters to their legislators, after all even dogs know how important libraries are even if they can't vote. He also heard that the librarians will be holding another rally on September 10th, and is hoping that even more people can attend that one.

Brutus Visits Curwood Castle

Brutus had another opportunity to leave the library and visit some of the local sites. Recently he went to Curwood Castle in Owosso to learn more about James Oliver Curwood. He found out that the Castle was used as a writing studio and has been named as a literary landmark by the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Brutus has seen some of Curwood's books in the library and was excited to visit the place where Curwood worked and see the Shiawassee River. (Staff was grateful to learn that Brutus wasn't interested in swimming in the river). And you should have seen his tail wag when found out that several of these books (Kazan and Baree) were about dogs!

Library Board Picnic

Brutus was all ready to go to the Library Board picnic on Wednesday evening; he was drooling over the good food which was going to be there--especially the desserts (apple pie, cookies, chocolate cake, and more). Then he heard that the main course was to to be hot dogs and he decided to stay in Owosso. He was worried that after he messed up Margaret's desk a week ago, that he might become the "hot" dog. No one could convince him that hot dogs were not made from real dogs. Everyone else had a good time.