While we are a very family-oriented library, with various well-known children's and teen's programs, we also have free clubs and programs for adults, where anyone 18 or older may join! No dues or mandatory meetings are required - just friendly gatherings between people who want to make a difference. Why not try one of these staples?
Book Club: The Book Club meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm to comment on and discuss a designated novel with others. The library posts flyers that list the Book Club choices for each month. The books read by the Club range from classics to biographies, pop fiction to historical novels. Anyone who reads the monthly Book Club pick may come to the meeting!
Garden Club: These folks meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm to plan summer weedings in the community, plant exchanges, fundraisers, and picnics! The club even has special informational speakers at every meeting, covering topics from composting to invasive plants. From "master gardeners" to "weed-keepers," you're welcome to join!
Knitting Club: From beginners to "old pros," this knitting circle is for everyone! The Knitting Club meets every other Tuesday from 10am - noon; check the flyers in the library for specific dates. While the Club sometimes works together on special projects, you are encouraged to bring your own knitting. Whether for help or for friendly company, if you like to knit, the Knitting Club is for you!
We also have other special adult programs and clubs, such as:
Computer Classes & Programs: These classes and programs cover basic to moderate computer skills, from learning about using a mouse to navigating the Internet and creating formulas in Excel. Classes are taught in the Community Room throughout the year on various topics; keep an eye on the bulletin window for class offerings!
Comfort Keepers: These helpful meetings are for those with aging parents. These speakers point out warning signs, suggest plans for lifestyle changes, and reference reliable local services for adults that want information about caring for their elderly parents. These meetings are great resources, so if you fall into this category, watch for the Comfort Keepers flyers!
Community Room Events: From art classes and insurance help in summer to Santa visits and special speakers in winter, various fun and informative events are scheduled at the library throughout the year! Event dates will be posted in advance in the library and around town to keep you posted!
Also, if you are part of a non-profit group or club that needs a meeting place, you can apply to use our Community Room at the front desk. You can view the Community Room Application here!
Both men and women enjoy these events, so if you're interested in any of these clubs or meetings, feel free to call the desk for more information, or just drop in and give them a try! See you here!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Getting a Passport @ your library!
What do winter vacations to Bermuda, summer cruises to the Caribbean, viewing the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, school trips to Germany, and studying abroad have in common? You need a U.S. Passport!
Did you know that you can apply for one right here at our library? The library processes applications by appointment only, so please call first!
When calling to schedule an appointment, the librarian will go over the list of things you need to bring before asking when you'd like to schedule. Please keep in mind - Minors aged 16 or 17 only need one parent in attendance, while children under 16 need to have both parents in attendance. If one parent absolutely cannot attend (ie, they're out of state or country), they must fill out a DS-3053 Statement of Consent form and have it notarized in advance. Adults 18 and older may apply on their own.
Please procure the following items for each applicant:
1) Your original birth certificate, issued by the state, with a raised seal, and both of your parent's names listed as well as yours. (We cannot take photocopies, hospital or baptismal certificates, "registration of birth" certificates, or birth certificates that do not have your parent's names listed, according to Agency rules. If you need a new birth certificate, visit the Department of Health website of the state where you were born to request a new one. You can visit the PA website here.) If you are over 18, you may use your expired U.S. Passport in place of a birth certificate.
2) Your valid Driver's License, Government, or Military ID if you are 16 or older. You can use a PA State ID, issued by the DMV, but you'll also need to bring a second form of identification. Driving permits cannot be accepted. For minors under 16, both parents must be in attendance and have their valid driver's license; no ID for the child is required.
3) A recent passport photo. These photos have very specific requirements, so it is best if you have your photo taken at CVS, a AAA agency, or any number of other places. Wear items you normally wear, keep a straight face, and if you have polarized or progressive glasses, remove them for your picture. Taking your picture at home or using a school photo is strongly discouraged.
4) A completed DS-11 Passport Application Form. This form must be filled out in black ink, whether you fill it out online and print it, or if you fill it out by hand. (If you bring a form filled out in pencil or any other ink, you will be asked to fill it out again using black ink.) Read the directions and the form itself, then fill it out as carefully and completely as possible. Whatever you leave blank will have to be researched by the Agency, and could delay processing. If you make a mistake, do not use whiteout - simply draw a line through the error and write the correct answer next to the error.
5) Two checks or money orders per application. One check or money order will be mailed with your passport application. This amount varies according to your age, what type of passport you'd like, and how soon you need the passport. You can check current prices here.
The other check or money order is for the $25 processing fee, which helps to support the library. If needed, you may pay cash for the processing fee, or combine the processing fees for multiple people, but you must use a separate check or money order for each passport application fee. In other words, a family of four would need at least 5 checks: one for each person's application fee, and one for their combined $25 processing fees. We cannot accept starter checks.
Before you come to the library for your appointment, please make sure that you have all of these things with you! Bring your things to the front desk upon arrival and inform the library ladies that you're here for a passport appointment. We'll take it from there!
*NOTE: You can renew your passport by yourself if it expires soon or if it has expired within 15 years of its issue date. (If it's been more than 15 years since your passport was issued, or if you never had one before, you need to fill out the DS-11 form and make an appointment with the library.) Pick up a DS-82 form, make sure you can say "yes" to all of the questions on the checklist, then fill out and mail the form yourself according to the directions. The library cannot process these renewals, though we can answer questions about them!
You can view all of the specific requirements and the complete list of other accepted forms of citizenship, IDs, and special circumstances here.
If you have any questions, feel free to call the library, or visit the Official Passport Website, travel.state.gov. See you here!
Did you know that you can apply for one right here at our library? The library processes applications by appointment only, so please call first!
When calling to schedule an appointment, the librarian will go over the list of things you need to bring before asking when you'd like to schedule. Please keep in mind - Minors aged 16 or 17 only need one parent in attendance, while children under 16 need to have both parents in attendance. If one parent absolutely cannot attend (ie, they're out of state or country), they must fill out a DS-3053 Statement of Consent form and have it notarized in advance. Adults 18 and older may apply on their own.
Please procure the following items for each applicant:
1) Your original birth certificate, issued by the state, with a raised seal, and both of your parent's names listed as well as yours. (We cannot take photocopies, hospital or baptismal certificates, "registration of birth" certificates, or birth certificates that do not have your parent's names listed, according to Agency rules. If you need a new birth certificate, visit the Department of Health website of the state where you were born to request a new one. You can visit the PA website here.) If you are over 18, you may use your expired U.S. Passport in place of a birth certificate.
2) Your valid Driver's License, Government, or Military ID if you are 16 or older. You can use a PA State ID, issued by the DMV, but you'll also need to bring a second form of identification. Driving permits cannot be accepted. For minors under 16, both parents must be in attendance and have their valid driver's license; no ID for the child is required.
3) A recent passport photo. These photos have very specific requirements, so it is best if you have your photo taken at CVS, a AAA agency, or any number of other places. Wear items you normally wear, keep a straight face, and if you have polarized or progressive glasses, remove them for your picture. Taking your picture at home or using a school photo is strongly discouraged.
4) A completed DS-11 Passport Application Form. This form must be filled out in black ink, whether you fill it out online and print it, or if you fill it out by hand. (If you bring a form filled out in pencil or any other ink, you will be asked to fill it out again using black ink.) Read the directions and the form itself, then fill it out as carefully and completely as possible. Whatever you leave blank will have to be researched by the Agency, and could delay processing. If you make a mistake, do not use whiteout - simply draw a line through the error and write the correct answer next to the error.
5) Two checks or money orders per application. One check or money order will be mailed with your passport application. This amount varies according to your age, what type of passport you'd like, and how soon you need the passport. You can check current prices here.
The other check or money order is for the $25 processing fee, which helps to support the library. If needed, you may pay cash for the processing fee, or combine the processing fees for multiple people, but you must use a separate check or money order for each passport application fee. In other words, a family of four would need at least 5 checks: one for each person's application fee, and one for their combined $25 processing fees. We cannot accept starter checks.
Before you come to the library for your appointment, please make sure that you have all of these things with you! Bring your things to the front desk upon arrival and inform the library ladies that you're here for a passport appointment. We'll take it from there!
*NOTE: You can renew your passport by yourself if it expires soon or if it has expired within 15 years of its issue date. (If it's been more than 15 years since your passport was issued, or if you never had one before, you need to fill out the DS-11 form and make an appointment with the library.) Pick up a DS-82 form, make sure you can say "yes" to all of the questions on the checklist, then fill out and mail the form yourself according to the directions. The library cannot process these renewals, though we can answer questions about them!
You can view all of the specific requirements and the complete list of other accepted forms of citizenship, IDs, and special circumstances here.
If you have any questions, feel free to call the library, or visit the Official Passport Website, travel.state.gov. See you here!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
A Real Hotspot!
Did you know that our library has free Wi-Fi as well as Internet-accessible computers? If your Wi-Fi is on the blink, or if you just happened to be stopping by and want to check your email, you can use your iPad, Kindle, Nook, or laptop to access the Internet!
No matter the device or laptop, when you bring it in to the library, there are few steps to take before you can browse the Internet. First you need to connect to our Wi-Fi. Double click on your Wi-Fi or wireless icon, then click on our Wi-Fi name, "Kutztown Community Library."
Once you're connected to our Wi-Fi, open your browser of choice on your device (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc) and type where you want to go into the address bar. The Wi-Fi will stop you from going to the site, briefly showing a "You're not connected to the Internet" message, before showing you a page titled the "Louisa Gonser Internet Policy," which lists the details of our current Internet policy. Carefully read through our Internet policy before clicking on the "Accept" button at the bottom. After that, you're free to browse the Internet to do what you need to do!
Please note: We are a public library and therefore any websites or images that endorse adult themes will be blocked, according to state law and our own policy. Also, our printers are not connected to the Wi-Fi, so if you need to print, you'll need to be on one of our computers.
If you need help accessing the Internet while you're here, or if you have any questions about connecting to our Wi-Fi with your specific device, feel free to ask one of the library ladies for help! We hope you'll stop by soon!
No matter the device or laptop, when you bring it in to the library, there are few steps to take before you can browse the Internet. First you need to connect to our Wi-Fi. Double click on your Wi-Fi or wireless icon, then click on our Wi-Fi name, "Kutztown Community Library."
Once you're connected to our Wi-Fi, open your browser of choice on your device (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc) and type where you want to go into the address bar. The Wi-Fi will stop you from going to the site, briefly showing a "You're not connected to the Internet" message, before showing you a page titled the "Louisa Gonser Internet Policy," which lists the details of our current Internet policy. Carefully read through our Internet policy before clicking on the "Accept" button at the bottom. After that, you're free to browse the Internet to do what you need to do!
Please note: We are a public library and therefore any websites or images that endorse adult themes will be blocked, according to state law and our own policy. Also, our printers are not connected to the Wi-Fi, so if you need to print, you'll need to be on one of our computers.
If you need help accessing the Internet while you're here, or if you have any questions about connecting to our Wi-Fi with your specific device, feel free to ask one of the library ladies for help! We hope you'll stop by soon!
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