Big Sky Community Library News
September 2022
Letter from the Director
What an eventful summer! Thank you to everyone who participated in our Page to Screen movie nights - either outside or at The Independent, enjoyed the Summer Reading Program, joined us for storytime, or came to the library despite the everchanging landscape. We are here for you!
For those of you who have been to the library in the past few weeks, you experienced the impact the school's construction is going to have on us for the next few months. A portion of the parking lot is gone and so there are a lot of cars parked near the entrance to the library. We are open, but you will have to walk a bit to get to us. There is one handicapped spot still available right in front of the library for those who need it. We are sorry for the challenges this is making for everyone. The good news is, the challenges should be different for the winter. As soon as we know what those will be, we will let you know.
We would like to hear from you. We are working on a plan for the library for the next 5 years and we want to include your feedback. What does Big Sky need from the library? What would you like to see us do? What books do you love reading? How can we better serve the community we love? You can either send your thoughts to me - director@bigskylibrary.com - or come in and talk to one of the librarians. We want to know what you need and want.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all soon!
Amy
"One Book Big Sky"
Don't miss out on the "One Book Big Sky" book, And It Will Be a Beautiful Life by Craig Lancaster.
Several books are available in the library and books are available in ebook and audio versions in Sora. So....you still have some time!
The visit from Craig Lancaster is scheduled for September 27th at 6:30 in the library. We hope you'll join us for this fun book club!
September is Library Card Sign-up Month!
Tony Award-winning performer, actress, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist Idina Menzel and her sister, author and educator Cara Mentzel, have been named honorary chairs of Library Card Sign-Up Month. This September, Idina and Cara will join the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to sing the praises of a library card. Also in September, the sisters’ debut picture book, Loud Mouse, about a little mouse named Dee who loves to sing very loudly, will be released by Disney Hyperion.
As honorary chairs, Idina and Cara will remind everyone that one of the best places to find your voice is at the library. And during Library Card Sign-Up Month, they want you to explore all the library has to offer, like new children’s books, access to technology, and educational programming. "It's a little card that goes a loud way. Let your imagination sing at the library," says Idina. Cara adds, “The library is where your imagination sings. Get your library card and 'check it out' today."
Do you have friends who don't have library cards? Invite them to sign up during September.
Join Beanstack!
You can use Beanstack to track all of your reading, not just the library books you read. You can join our local reading challenges, write book reviews, and share your reading with friends. We also use Beanstack for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.
IF YOU ARE A PARENT/CAREGIVER REGISTERING YOUR FAMILY:
- Go to bigskylibrary.beanstack.com and select Register an Individual or Family.
- Click on No when asked if you have previously used Beanstack with Big Sky Community Library.
- Select I am an adult registering a child (or click on registering self if you are not registering for a family) when asked who you would like to register.
- Complete all the required fields. Keep track of your email and password.
- Depending on the age, you and your children will be automatically pre-registered or registered for any reading challenges available for preschool, school-age, teens or adults.
- Add more children, if needed.
- You will be asked if you would like to register. If you say Yes complete the required fields.
- You will be asked if you wish to register other adults. If you say Yes, complete the required fields.
- Once you are registered, you will be taken to a Reader Dashboard page. This is where you will track your reading and participation in current reading challenges.
NOTES:
- It is possible to access and use Beanstack in other languages. Scroll down to the bottom of any screen and click Select Language.
- Keep track of your email and password.
The students in BSSD72 use Beanstack and can link their school account with the community library so they can participate with both libraries.
School Year Hours
This is a reminder that the library hours have changed. Please refer to the image below for the current hours.
Summer Library Programs Done
We had fun watching movies that were first books outside and in The Independent this summer - thank you to FunFlicks Montana, BSCO, The Independent, and Moonlight Community Foundation for your support!
We also had great turnout for our Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Program. We had wonderful guest presenters and the kids had a lot of fun - thank you to the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation and BASE for your support!
We are busy planning more programs for the fall and winter - stay tuned to see what we do!
Big Sky Besties at Library begins Friday, September 16th
We are going to host an opportunity for multiple generations in Big Sky to interact and get to know each other. We know that many families don't have grandparents close and many grandparents don't have grandchildren close.
Fridays at 3:00 pm beginning September 16th will be the time to come to the library, get to know each other, and enjoy library activities together.
This program is open to everyone, but is focused on families with young children and retired folks. Think of it as a sort of adoptive grandparent/grandchild program.
Please email us with any questions. We look forward to having multiple generations in the library having fun together on Fridays!
Banned Books Week Sept. 18th-24th
The ALA promotes the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who wish to read them.
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice. The following books were the top 10 challenged books in 2021:
- Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images.
- Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. Banned and challenged for LBGTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
- All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. Banned and challenged for LBGTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
- Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda.
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and use of a derogatory term.
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women.
- The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit.
- This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson. Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.
- Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin. Banned and challenged for providing LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.
Check out the Banned Books Display in our library in the next couple of weeks. How many have you read?
To find out more about Banned Books Week, click on either link.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
If you haven't signed up with your baby or toddler, join Beanstack and begin the challenge!
Way to go readers!
New Releases
Limited Book Donations Update
Moving forward, we will accept donations of books in like new condition that have been published in the past 3 years only. We also only accept book donations inside the library during library hours.
Please do not leave any book donations outside or anywhere else. It makes a mess and causes other problems. Make sure you talk to a librarian to confirm that we can take your donation.
Thank you.
Thank you Resort Tax Board for your continued support!
Big Sky Community Library
Mondays 4-8, Tuesdays 4-8, Wednesdays 4-8, Fridays 3-7, and Saturdays 12-6.
Closed Thursday and Sunday.
Email: librarian@bigskylibrary.com
Website: www.bigskylibrary.com
Location: 45465 Gallatin Road, Gallatin Gateway, MT, USA
Phone: 406.995.4281 2