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Hawkins Memorial Library
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
Santa Claus zooms to the library riding on a fire truck at 11:30 AM on Saturday, December 4. Children are encouraged to meet Santa in front of the library and take a turn visiting with him from 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Parents can take pictures during the visit. There will be coloring and games to keep kids busy while waiting to see the Jolly Old Elf, and Christmas craft and ornament kits are available between 9 AM and 1 PM to pick up for making at home.
Thank you to the Prairie Rapids Audubon Society!
Hawkins Memorial Library is a 2021 grant recipient from Prairie Rapids Audubon Society (PRAS). The money they received will be used to purchase children’s books, games and puppets pertaining to birds. These items will be used in future children’s programs. It is never too early to educate children about our avian friends.
brainfuse HelpNow is Available Now to Learners
Live online tutoring for all learners
Patrons access real-time assistance through the intuitive Brainfuse online classroom. Brainfuse tutors are trained to not provide answers, but to help users master a problem’s underlying academic concepts. Brainfuse offers tutoring and homework help services in Spanish for all subjects offered in English.
Expert writing guidance at every step
Patrons can access writing assistance in a way that works best for them. Through live writing help, patrons work in real-time with a tutor on brainstorming, revising, or more. Our intensive writing lab allows patrons to submit a paper to receive instructive and thoughtful analysis in 24 hours.
Academic and standardized test prep
SkillSurfer contains a comprehensive library of proprietary practice tests. When a user takes a SkillSurfer test, our system instantly prepares a skill-by-skill learning plan, including recommendations for targeted tutoring.
Learn more with lessons, videos, and tests
SkillSurfer is an extensive library of lessons, videos, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects, all created by the Brainfuse team. SkillSurfer includes state-aligned skills building, practice tests, college application assistance, ESL services, parent resources, and more.
Foundational and career-enhancing skills
Adult Learning Center is the adult learners’ version of HelpNow. Patrons can access high school equivalency prep, US Citizenship test prep, resume assistance, and Microsoft Office support. The writing lab and skills building are also included in the Adult Learning Center.
Click on the brainfuse icon to access all these learning services and more...
Reserve library materials online for pickup. Go to https://www.laportecity.lib.ia.us/, open the catalog tab, login to your account, search the catalog or browse the What’s Hot section, click on titles you’re interested in and place your reserves. Pick up is during regular library hours, with items placed in the library’s front entry. Make sure your contact information is correct. Please promptly return items you are finished with in the book drop.
Check out and download ebooks, audiobooks, and videos for free with Bridges - Iowa's eLibrary! There are thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and videos available with new titles added all the time. Click on the BRIDGES icon above and start checking out titles with your library card. Items are automatically returned when the checkout period has expired, so there are never any overdue fines to worry about. Call the library if you have any questions.
Always Available Materials on BRIDGES:The Iowa State Library has added several subscriptions of Simultaneous Use licensed materials to Bridges.To make it easier for patrons to find available titles, these always available materials are being highlighted on the main page of each Bridges site - Main, Kids and Teens. Magazines have always been simultaneous use.
To help patrons feel more secure in having enough to read, checkout limits have been temporarily raised to five. Like toilet paper books should not be hoarded. Check books in when they are finished. The next person in line will appreciate it.
You Can Search La Porte City's Local History Through Newspaper Digitization
Just click on the above "Welcome To Our Community History Archive" icon to view digitized copies of The Progress Review. Years from the 1870s through June of 2019 are available. You can search using key words or by date. Later issues of the newspaper will be added to this site when the issues are available. Click on the Community History Archive link above to try it out!
Hawkins Memorial Library and The Progress Review have undertaken this local history project that includes converting back issues of The Progress Review, housed in the library on microfilm that date back to the 1870s, to digital content that can be searched online by anyone with an internet connection.
The process of converting nearly 150 years of newspapers to digital format is a costly one. Each reel of microfilm, approximately 18 months of La Porte City history, costs $125 to digitize. Total cost of the project so far, which includes the creation of this searchable website to house all of The Progress Review’s archives and an up-to-date microfilm collection at the library, has cost more than $11,000. For additional information about the project, contact Library Director Jolene Kronschnabel at 319-342-3025.
Aureon Charity Grant Awarded
Aureon is pleased to announce that an Aureon Charity Grant has been awarded to Hawkins Memorial Library. Aureon presented Hawkins Memorial Library with a check for purchasing new outdoor furniture consisting of cafe tables and chairs, and a bench that will provide outdoor seating. The grant was presented in conjunction with LPC Connect who sponsored the grant application.
Check out these free sites for tracing your ancestry:
Family Search: familysearch.org
National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy
Iowa Historical Newspapers: http://guides.lib.uni.edu/c.php?g=668054&p=4696290
Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/
