The next libary board meeting will take place via conference call on Monday, March 30th at 6pm.

The public can participate by calling +1 631 248 2093 and entering this key: 101 863 7165, or just by clicking on this link: https://meetinglab.zoho.com/meeting/join?key=1018637165. 

Agenda:
Approve library bills.
Vote on whether to pay staff normally while they are not working.
Vote on whether to open the library or keep it closed in April. 

The Library Board held a special meeting on 3/14/20 in order to address the Coronavirus issue. 
For the health and safety of patrons and staff, it was decided to close the library until at least April 6th.
This means that all programming is cancelled as well.

We will be extending due dates on all currently checked out items. No library items will be due until April 7th.
We will be waiving all fines during this period.
The library board will meet again in April to determine future plans for the library.

We deeply regret not being able to serve you fully during this time. However, the library board believes that public health and safety must be our number one priority.

Looking for online books, education, and entertainment?

First of all, remember to download the Libby app. We just spent some more money to ensure there are more ebooks and audiobooks on there for all ages to keep you reading. All you need to do is sign in with your library card number and PIN. Your library card number is all the numbers on the back of your library card, with no spaces. Your PIN is four numbers, the last four numbers of the phone number you gave us when you signed up.

Here's a HUGE List of at-home educational entertainment resources, including live webcams, activities and more: https://virtualschoolactivities.com/

Library Blog recommended programs for families: https://yssevents.blogspot.com/2020/03/library-closed-online-programmin…

Call for Art: Wisconsin Wild Bird Art Show

The Princeton Whooping Crane and Nature Festival, the Princeton Public Library, and Marsh Haven Nature Center are working together to hold a juried art contest and show featuring art inspired by the conservation of wild Wisconsin birds. It is hoped that this art show will inspire artists and the general public to become interested in bird and nature conservation. We also seek to promote the wonderful learning opportunities associated with each of the three organizations. Last, but not least, we want to promote local artists. We are seeking submissions from Wisconsin adults and high school students, whose work will be shown extensively in the local area. 

All art pieces must be turned in to the Princeton Public Library by Friday, May 29th at 5pm. After submission, art pieces will be displayed locally, including at the Princeton Public Library, Marsh Haven Nature Center, and other public locations. Art will be rotated between locations during June, July, and August. Finally, all art submissions will be displayed at the Princeton Whooping Crane and Nature Festival at the Princeton High School on Saturday, September 12th, where prizes will be presented. 

Complete Details & Rules for the Wisconsin Wild Bird Art Show:

Prizes

Judges will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age category (Adult and High School Students).
These prizes will be announced on stage at the Princeton High School. Prizes consist of:

1st Place in each category: $25 gift card for Hobby Lobby or a similar art supply store, AND a personal, up-close raptor experience at Marsh Haven Nature Center. Each winner and two guests of their choice will be invited to Marsh Haven (located in Waupun), where they will have an opportunity to attend a Hawk Talk program, which offers a close-up, casual setting to talk about all things raptors. Participants will be invited to sit in a roundtable format for a Q & A with our animal caretaker and one of Marsh Haven Nature Center’s educational raptors. This is an opportunity to ask those questions you’ve always wondered about, delve into the philosophy of working with raptors, gain an insight into the care and training of the birds, and just be in the presence of these magnificent birds of prey. Scheduling this event will be discussed with Marsh Haven and the winners.

2nd Place in each category: $25 gift card for Hobby Lobby or a similar art supply store.

3rd Place in each category: $15 gift card for Hobby Lobby or a similar art supply store.

Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. After 1 week, prizes not claimed by the winners are forfeited.

How to Submit

All art pieces must be turned in to the Princeton Public Library by Friday, May 29th at 5pm.
The Princeton Public Library is located at 424 W. Water St, Princeton, WI 54968. 

Art must be ready for wall mounting, with bracket or wire hangers. All art must be stable and secure enough to be moved to and from public locations.  Protective materials such as plastic sleeves and bubble wrap are encouraged in order to prevent damage during transport.

All art pieces MUST have a label affixed to the back of the art piece with the information below. Other than the artist's name and the title of the art piece, this information will not be shared with the public. It will only be used for art show organization and to ensure that art is returned.

Title of the Piece:  _____________________________
Artist’s  Name: _____________________________
Date Created: __________
Age Category: _____________________________
Address: _________________________________________
Phone Number: _____________________________
Email: _____________________________

After submission, art pieces will be displayed locally, including at the Princeton Public Library, Marsh Haven Nature Center, and other public locations. Art will be rotated between locations during June, July, and August. Finally, all art submissions will be displayed at the Princeton Whooping Crane and Nature Festival at the Princeton High School on Saturday, September 12th

Deadlines

All art pieces must be turned in to the Princeton Public Library by Friday, May 29th at 5pm.
The Princeton Public Library is located at 424 W. Water St, Princeton, WI 54968. 

Awards will be announced at the Princeton Whooping Crane and Nature Festival at the Princeton High School, 604 Old Green Lake Rd, Princeton, WI 54968, on Saturday, September 12th.

Artists may take their art home immediately after the art show ends. If artists do not take their pieces home after the show, they will be transported to the Princeton Public Library. Remaining art MUST be picked up from the Princeton Library by 5pm on Friday, September 19th unless previously arranged. Any art not picked up before the deadline will be discarded or donated.

Rules

All art must somehow include the theme of wild Wisconsin bird conservation. This could include, but is not limited to, art featuring birds, bird watching, bird habitat, nests, migration, feathers, volunteer and professional people working to help birds, eggs, and symbolic representations of themes like migration, nature preservation, flight, endangered species protection, and the science of ornithology. 

All participants must be living in Wisconsin.

All participants must be either an adult, or of high school age. Each participant must enter their art in the appropriate age category.

Each artist may only submit one piece of art.

Photography is not accepted in this contest. We may hold a separate show for photography at a later date.

All art must be 2D. Sculptural, 3D, fiber arts, ceramics, video, and performance arts are not accepted in this contest. Examples of accepted mediums include charcoal drawings, paintings (oil, watercolor, or acrylic), pencil drawings, oil pastels, ink, colored pencil, chalk, marker, scratchboard, mixed media, etc. 

Absolutely no plagiarism will be tolerated. Any art found to be direct or partial plagiarism will be disqualified. When photographs are used for reference, the art should not simply be a reproduction of the photo in another medium.

All submissions must not have been previously exhibited at an art show. This rule is intended to keep the art show fresh, as well as accessible for amateur artists. It does not preclude art shown at high school or college events.

No sales are allowed during the show, but artists may give out business cards or brochures at the show and sell work privately. 

Judges are not allowed to submit art in the show.

Art must be ready for wall mounting, with bracket or wire hangers. All art must be stable and secure enough to be moved by library staff.  Protective materials such as plastic sleeves and bubble wrap are encouraged in order to prevent damage during transport.

Guidelines

Creativity combined with research is strongly encouraged. Various birds hunt, wade, swim, fly, dance, chase predators, and raise offspring. They have unique behaviors, personalities, and adaptations. Birds can be representative of wisdom, intelligence, freedom, and other qualities. They are found in many environments, in many weathers, in pairs or flocks. Birds have unique feather types and markings. Art which includes several of these elements will be judged as higher quality than a single bird sitting still on a plain background.

While we recognize that hunters and hunting play an important role, we hope that participants will chose to focus on other aspects of conservation.

We are looking for wild Wisconsin birds. This does not include peacocks, chickens, flamingos, parrots, etc. Artists are encouraged to research bird species. This does not mean that artistic interpretations aren't allowed, merely that some effort to portray a Wisconsin species is requested.  Example: a rainbow-colored Ruffed Grouse is preferred over a realistically colored Emperor Penguin.

To minimize the risk of damage, artists are encouraged to frame their work in a wood and glass frame, or at least to protect surfaces with an acrylic sealant. 

Attendance

Contributing artists are highly encouraged to attend the art show during the Whooping Crane & Nature Festival on Saturday, September 12th at the Princeton High School. Showing up to the event demonstrates respect for the sponsoring organizations and your fellow artists. 

Disclaimer

While all staff and volunteers will do their utmost to care for all art entries, none of the art show organizers or sponsoring organizations are responsible for any loss or damage before, during, or after the art show.