Why Women Should Rule The World Overcoming adversity, making history, showing grace under pressure, writing classic novels that forever affect us and raising children to be productive citizens – Kirkwood Public Library joins the nation this month in celebrating all that women have done and continue to do for our county. Pay homage to women whose political aspirations and knowledge shape the future of our nation by reading such tomes as former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers’ Why Women Should Rule The World (the title of which served as a great headline!), Sonia Sotomayor’s My …

Why we have libraries: Early Literacy Station Computers. There are lots of reasons why a community wants a library.  Public libraries provide a gathering space, programs and activities that create community, resources to educate and entertain and specialized services and internet access to the public. Recently, I was in our library’s children’s section and had the opportunity to spend a few minutes watching a group of 3 years olds using our Early Literacy Station computers.  It became instantly clear to me: THIS is one of the best reasons why a community wants a library. The Early Literacy …

Kirkwood Public Library is excited to present best-selling author Timothy Schaffert Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the library. Mr. Schaffert is the author of The Coffins of Little Hope, the library's 2012 One Book, One Kirkwood selection. Mr. Schaffert teaches in the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has won many awards for his writing including the New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice and the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award. Books will be available for purchase and signing via Main Street Books.One Book, One Kirkwood is an annual community-wide event that creates …

Kirkwood Public Library is taking storytime on the road again this summer. Join us in a different Kirkwood Park every Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. We are so fortunate to have such a wide variety of parks in Kirkwood. The Kirkwood Park District generously lets us enjoy a different venue every Tuesday night.   Bring the kids for a fun, interactive storytime filled with songs, games, books and crafts and discover a new park! Our park schedule for the remainder of the summer is: June 19, Fireman's Memorial Park June 26, Emmenegger Nature Park July 3, Green Tree Park July 10, Fillmore Park July 17, …

Kirkwood Public Library's Summer Reading Kickoff Party is Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Easy summer reading sign up all day long from home or the library, beginning at 9 a.m.  If you and your family are out and about on Saturday, drop by for some fun activities featuring: The Magic House Bubble Exhibit Make a Jump Rope Decorate or Tie Dye a Pillow Case Face Paining Ice Cream from Cold Stone Creamery Video Games in Teen Room Ruffy the River City Rascals Mascot Hope to see you on Saturday, but remember to count your reading time beginning on Saturday and sign up from home if you can't get to …

The Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library is sponsoring a fundraiser for the library: an interactive murder mystery dinner theater, “The Sound of Murder” May 15. The fundraiser will be at the Greenbriar Hills Country Club, 12665 Big Bend Boulevard in Glendale. The cost is $60 per person, with a cash bar at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner and theater at 7 p.m. The play, which will be performed by The Murder Mystery Players, combines the familiar story of the musical Austrian family that escaped the Nazis in World War II with an iconic TV situation comedy. The rather convoluted plot is that in …

The Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library announce its annual Book Fair at 10722 Sunset Plaza Drive, immediately south of the Burger King on S. Lindbergh, on the west side of the road. This new location is directly across Lindbergh from the site of last year’s sale. The sale runs Wednesday through Sunday. The sale will offer fiction and nonfiction books at bargain prices in a wide variety of categories. All proceeds benefit the Kirkwood Public Library. Payment can be made with cash or check, but not credit cards.  There will be an entry fee of $5 only on Wednesday, when the hours will be 1-9…

Join Kirkwood Public Library and Shakespeare Festival St. Louis on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., at the Robert Reim Theater in the Kirkwood Community Center, for Othello in a Breath. The 50-minute adaptation of the Shakespeare classic is free and open to the public. Five remarkably talented and versatile actors play 15 roles in the production which is part of the Festival's Education Tour. This year, the tour will reach more than 40,000 students. "Award-winning playwright Elizabeth Birkenmeir has done a tremendous job of capturing the heart and full story of Shakespeare’s play in 50 minutes," says …

Food for Fines Kirkwood Public Library and Kirk Care are working together to help the hungry. Help celebrate National Library Week, April 8-14, with KPL and Kirk Care Food Pantry with "Food for Fines." Bring in canned and boxed food to offset fines, and get $1 taken off for each item donated. Donations up to $15 per library card will be accepted. No credit for lost or damaged items, or fines for inter library loans. Thanks in advance for your help and support!Rotary Ramble The library is thrilled to be involved with Kirkwood Rotary Club's first Rotary Ramble May 12. This certified 10k run, 5k…

Many Civil War battles in Missouri resulted from intense guerrilla activity which was exacerbated by Missouri's division over slavery. First-time Kirkwood novelist Jim Erwin explores the dynamic in Guerrillas in Civil War Missouri. The Kirkwood Public Library is hosting the launch of Guerrillas in Civil War Missouri Tuesday at 7 p.m. Erwin will discuss the work of historical non-fiction and copies will be available for purchase from Main Street Books. Refreshments and food will be served. While researching the violent time in America's history, Erwin was most fascinated by how small of a …

Books & Beyond, the Friends Gift Shop in Kirkwood Public Library, is offering several new items that hearken back to simpler times. We hope you'll find them interesting and will come in to browse our full line of merchandise, crafts and books. Personalized Note Cards These wonderful 4-1/2 by 6-inch note cards, printed on a quality stock, include personalized linen finish envelopes. They come in four designs: two with color and two in black only. We also offer a fill-in-the-blanks thank you note for youngsters. A set of 10 cards costs $10. An order form is attached. Just complete one form for …

Learn How to Style Your Resume and More The Kirkwood Public Library is presenting two programs this week featuring our online resources. On Thursday at 2 p.m., learn how to use the Optimal Resume database with our "Styling Your Resume" webinar. On Friday at 10 a.m., the library's reference staff is featuring  the first in it's series of "Searching for Reliable Health Information" and will provide instruction on searching for "Good Heart Health." Registration is limited. Please contact the Reference Desk at 314-821-5770 x1012. Both classes will be held in the library's computer lab. Pioneer …

As eBooks grow in popularity and availability, local libraries are seeing a dramatic jump in the number of digital media checkouts. The Kirkwood Public Library (KPL) offers patrons the ability to check out eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive, the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County's delivery service for digital content. According to KPL, OverDrive checkouts rose from about 8,000 in 2010 to 15,000 in 2011. A contributing factor to the spike is that in September OverDrive became Kindle compatible. Here are a look at the most popular OverDrive eBooks available for checkout. …

Thank you to Deb Barry, assistant director of Youth Services and Programs at Kirkwood Public Library, for submitting this article. Titles are linked to the library's catalog. Picture Books A Perfect Square by Michael Hall.  Press Here by Herve Tullet.  Hooray For Amada and Her Alligator by Mo Willems.  The Green Mother Goose by Jan Peck and David Davis.  Goldie and the Three Hares by Margie Palatini.  Woof Meow Tweet-Tweet by Cecile Boyer.  How To Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson. Grandpa Green by Lane Smith. I Want Hat Back by Jon Klassen. Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld.  Chapter Books …

We return with our weekly look at what's happening at the Kirkwood Public Library (KPL). This week we step inside Books & Beyond, the library's book store to bring you fun finds for kids and adults. Thank you to Deb Barry, assistant director of Youth Services & Programs at KPL, for submitting the following article. No winter doldrums at Kirkwood Public Library! Visit Books & Beyond, Friends of KPL gift shop, next time you are in the library. A few new things you may want to know about Books & Beyond: PERSONALIZED NOTE CARDS We now offer a line of personalized note cards -- and a "fill in the …

Don’t have Netflix? Don’t want to pay for Blockbuster? Then try the Kirkwood Public Library. The library is currently having a three-day check-out of “hot holiday DVDs.” Bundle up in covers, put some popcorn in the microwave, get the hot cocoa off the stove and enjoy in family, or alone, some holiday classics. Here are some of the “Hot DVDs” available at KPL: The Christmas Toy Bad Santa Santa Baby Samantha:  An American Girl Holiday Miracle on 34th Street Deck the Halls A Christmas Story A Christmas Tale Little House on the Prairie - Christmas at Plum Creek It's a Wonderful Life Dear Santa …

Kirkwood residents can't get enough of certain newly released books. The Kirkwood Public Library has ordered multiple copies of the titles that are flying off its shelves. The following is a list of "Holiday Hots," located in the Hot Reads section of the library which is located to the right of the circulation desk. Hot copies are not listed in the catalog and are catch as you can. The library encourages residents to swing by to see if they can grab a copy of what their neighbors can't stop reading. Hot Reads at KPL: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney V is for Vengeance by Sue …

In this week's In the Stacks, you're weekly dose of what's happening at the Kirkwood Public Library (KPL), we spot light free can't-miss events, including unique historical explorations and a story of personal strength. As always, Kirkwood Patch extends a sincere thank you to Deb Barry, assistant director of Youth Services & Programs at KPL, for sharing library information with our readers. Need to Know Hours KPL will be closed early on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 5 p.m., and will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24, for Thanksgiving. The library will reopen Friday, Nov. 26, and resume regular Friday …

In our fourth edition of In the Stacks, our weekly look at what's going on at the Kirkwood Public Library (KPL), we bring you holiday happenings and more. As always, Kirkwood Patch extends a sincere thank you to Deb Barry, assistant director of Youth Services & Programs at KPL, for sharing library information with our readers. Holidays Kick Off With Help From The Friends Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library is sponsoring it second annual Holiday Kick Off Event on Sunday, Nov. 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will offer discounts on special items in the Books & Beyond gift shop only that…

In our third edition of In the Stacks, our weekly look at what's going on at the Kirkwood Public Library (KPL), we serve up a very special opportunity for parents, an NFL guest and holiday happenings. As always, Kirkwood Patch extends a sincere thank you to Deb Barry, assistant director of Youth Services & Programs at KPL, for sharing library information with our readers. Preschool Fair Brings Schools to You KPL is thrilled to offer the public its first preschool fair Monday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  This program is for parents of prospective preschoolers and will provide an …