November 20, 2020

In my opinion, everyone should read The Lord of the Rings at least once in their life. Or, at the very least, watch the extended edition of the movies. Why, you ask? It’ll make you feel a lot of things (AKA, it’ll make you cry) Many of the parts not included in the movies are the funnest parts In the age of easily digestible books (and shorter attention spans), modern readers have a harder time putting in the time that a trilogy requires. The way Tolkien writes is rich and dense, and every detail seems important Personal relationships are very important in the books There are 5 million different types of fear in the books, with just as many reactions to that fear or ways of handling it. It’s...

Adults Books Movies Reading Recommendations Teens Tweens

November 17, 2020

As winter approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many folks are focusing on mental health. Journaling has been shown to have really positive mental health benefits, and can be a positive outlet for getting out your thoughts and feelings. Plus, with a new year approaching, it’s also a great time to get organized and think about goals going forward. Here are two options to make your own homemade journal or notebook, using common household materials:   Basic Homemade Journal: Supplies: Plain paper or cardstock Patterned scrapbook paper or cardstock Scissors or paper cutter Hole punch Twine, string, or yarn Steps: 1. Cut pieces of regular printer paper or cardstock...

Adults Arts and Crafts Teens Tweens

September 30, 2020

In recent weeks, the Marathon County Health Department has reported a record number of positive COVID-19 cases. With the number of positive cases continuing to rise locally, and out of an abundance of caution, the Marathon County Public Library has decided to postpone the opening of its Student Learning Lab until further notice. The lab was originally set to open October 5. Students in need of high-speed Internet access can still make an appointment to use a computer at any of the nine MCPL locations across the county. For more information on making a computer appointment, click here. Do you have a child that needs a quiet place to study? Or do you have an unpredictable internet connection...

Community COVID-19 Education Learning Libraries On-Site Services Technology Teens Tweens Wausau Headquarters

July 25, 2020

July 31st is Harry Potter’s Birthday, and if you’re a fan like me, it’s a great excuse to celebrate all things Harry Potter! Since I became the Mosinee Branch Coordinator, I’ve tried to bring my love of the Harry Potter series to our branch. At the end of the July, we typically host a week-long celebration of crafts and activities (with costumes very welcome!) including a crowd favorite, wand making! While we can’t do our usual in-person programming this year, below are instructions on how to make your very own wand at home, along with some links for other activities to celebrate! Instructions for Younger Children (No Hot Glue Involved!) Supplies needed: Short stick, chopstick or unsharpened...

Adults Children Teens Tweens

July 17, 2020

Are you or your child running out of fun and engaging titles to read during the COVID-19 pandemic? Then call any of the nine Marathon County Public Library locations and we will hand-pick titles for you and your children! Need new read-alouds before bed for your baby or preschooler? We would love to prepare a stack of our story time favorites and new books for you by request via curbside pick-up! Have a tween that loves fantasy, or the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and they've run out of books? We have a bunch of new titles we can pull and have ready for your child! Or maybe you need a good mystery or thriller for yourself? The great thing about the library is, books are free to check-out...

Books Children COVID-19 Libraries Reading Recommendations Tweens

July 8, 2020

A few weeks back, we posted a list of fairy tail retellings for teens. These novels retold the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and other famous tales in modern times, or with new twists to the stories. Since there were so many good recommendations to share, we had to split the list into two parts. Below, you'll find the second list, which features retellings for such tales as Little Red Riding Hood, The Frog Prince, Rumpelstiltskin, and others.  Enjoy these young adult and middle-grade (MG) novels that use fairy tales as the basis for the story, and let us know - what's your favorite fairy tale adaptation or retelling?​

Audiobooks Books E-books Reading Recommendations Teens Tweens

June 26, 2020

Most everyone has a favorite fairy tale, whether it’s from a picture book or from a Disney film. Fairy tales are ripe for retelling and reimagining, whether envisioning Cinderella in a science fiction setting, or a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood where the wolves are really men. We get to hear the story of the evil stepmother (Spoiler: they aren’t all mean and evil,) and the drama and curse of the Beast. Sometimes, an author will combine two stories and create a new story as a result. And sometimes the frog stays a frog, even after a kiss. Enjoy these young adult and middle-grade (MG) novels that use fairy tales as the basis for the story! It was so hard to pick our favorites, and there were so...

Books Reading Recommendations Summer Library Program Tweens

April 16, 2020

Everyone needs something new to read from time to time, even tweens!  Occasionally, we'll post tween book talks right here on www.mcpl.us. The talks will cover a wide range of novels aimed at late elementary and middle school-age kids. The talks can be experienced in two different ways. Tweens can either watch the YouTube video discussion associated with each book below, or can download an MP3 file of the talk to their computer, tablet or smartphone and listen to it podcast-style! Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz, Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Andres Vera Martinez and Na Liu, and Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis All three are available from the library as...

Books Reading Recommendations Tweens

April 26, 2017

Earlier this year, we acquired a new Wii U gaming console for in-house use by children and tweens at MCPL Wausau! The Wii U was purchased using funds generously provided by the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library. Not only is this system more up-to-date than the standard Wii console that came before it, but it also allows youngsters to play a wider array of games, including titles for the standard console and ones made specifically for Wii U. Additionally, MCPL offers a wide array of video games for systems like the Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and more for checkout! These games can be requested from any of the nine MCPL locations and can be borrowed for 14 days at a time. For more...

Newsletter Video Games Children Tweens Friends Of The Library