By Judy Woodward
Every month, the reference librarians at the Roseville Library receive dozens of questions from the public. Here are a couple of interesting queries we received recently:
Q. What reading activities can you suggest for kids this summer?
A. Any child who comes into the library this summer can pick out a brand new free book and a string backpack.
A few great reading programs for families include:
• 1000 Books Before Kindergarten: Families end up with five brand new free books by the time they complete the program!
• Dial-A-Story: Kids can use a standard phone to call in and hear a story read by one of our children’s librarians!
• Storytimes at our Regional Parks: Attend a story time at one of our regional parks, then explore our great Minnesota outdoors!
You can learn more about these and other family activities by calling the Library at 651-724-6001.
Q. Do you have any graphic design software for public use?
A. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Roseville Library offers a variety of hands-on software applications, including Corel Photo Studio and Corel Draw, at our Maker Adult events. The sessions are held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in our Community Program Room and offer access to many different types of equipment, both by appointment and on a drop-in basis.
You can bring your laptop to make use of the available software free of charge. For more information, ask our staff.
Q. How can I find Young Adult books written in German? My German is better than preschool bedtime reading; not good enough for adult literature. I need something with a storyline so that I can work on my foreign language reading skills. But I’m probably not ready for anything too challenging.
A. Most of the German language materials we own in book format are intended for language learning rather than language practice.
We have mostly grammars and dictionaries in our foreign language section. However, have you considered e-books? Our Libby downloadable e-book service has an advanced search function which allows you to search by language and reading level.
We have at least 30 Young Adult fiction titles in German in our online collection. If you have questions about Libby or e-books in general, you can contact our staff at 651-724-6001. Or stop by the Roseville Library on Tuesday afternoons for our Drop-in E-Book & E-Reader Help Sessions from 2 to 4 p.m.
Judy Woodward, who lives in St. Anthony Park, is a reference librarian at the Roseville Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave. The library’s general phone number is 651-724-6001.
