The short story must begin with the line:

“Maybe it was my imagination but yesterday I looked through the library window and I thought I saw …”

The contest is open to Uxbridge Township students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry from each of the following categories: JK-SK, Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9-12.

Winning entries will be published on our website (www.uxlib.com) and be prominently displayed in the library. The short story can be no longer than two double spaced pages and must be accompanied by an entry form. Entry forms are available at both the Uxbridge and Zephyr branches or online.

The short story contest ends at 5:00 pm on Friday March 19, 2010. Entries may be dropped off at your local library branch beginning Monday March 1, 2010. Winners will be announced on Wednesday March 30, 2010.

What a great opportunity for young writers to use their imaginations and story-telling skills over the March Break.

We now have four computers upstairs running Windows 7 at the Uxbridge Public Library, so if you prefer 7 over XP, you can now use 7 when you use the computers here!
The laptops are running 7 and the desktops are running XP, so if you have a preference of one over the other, you should specify when you sign in.

Meet Me @ the Library

By Alexandra Hartmann

The Auto Repair Reference Center database is now available in the library and remotely from the Library’s website (www.uxlib.com). Home mechanics with Internet access are able to access repair information for current and vintage automobiles from the comfort of your own home. Auto Repair Reference Center contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes from as far back as 1945.

Database content includes more than 33,800 vehicles covered from 1945 to present, nearly 800,000 drawings and step-by-step photographs, approximately 83,200 technical service bulletins & recalls issued by the original equipment vehicle manufacturer, over 99,800 enhanced wiring diagrams for easy viewing and printing, specifications and maintenance schedules, a complete guide to vehicle ownership and maintenance, and much more. New repair procedures and updates are continually added to the product. All of the content in Auto Repair Reference has been created by ASE certified technicians.

This database is available, free of charge, to all library members. It can be found at www.uxlib.com. Select the <Internet and Genealogy Research> menu and choose <Online Databases> and then <Auto Repair Reference Centre>.

What’s Happening @ the Library

Friday, February 12, PA Day Program for Grades 3-6, 10am-11:30am, $3.00 per child

Tuesday, February 16, Spring Break Programs Pre-registration for Uxbridge Residents

Saturday, February 13, Page Turners Reading Club, 1:15pm-2:30pm

What’s New @ the Library

New Items in the Past Week – There is a Tab at www.uxlib.com

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay

Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin

Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope

Dead and Kicking by Wendy Roberts

Last year the Uxbridge Public Library, in partnership with the Uxbridge Youth Centre and Rotary Club of Uxbridge ran a successful literacy initiative. Grade seven students attended after school 3 times per week for less than an hour and every one gained at least one grade in reading ability.

We would like to repeat the program, but we need volunteers. Volunteers will need to spend roughly one hour familiarizing themselves with the computer based program that the students will be using. They would then supervise classes after school three days per week. The specific days have not been determined but would likely be Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. A start date has not been finalized.

The program is simple to administer and we are looking for volunteers willing to invest 1 – 3 hours per week in a child’s future. If this is of interest please contact Alex at 905-852-9747 ext. 26 or ahartmann@uxlib.com by November 15, 2009.

The Uxbridge Genealogy Group was founded by local genealogists to share a common interest and to assist those that are trying to trace their roots. The aim of the Group is to provide genealogy expertise and, in partnership with the Uxbridge Public Library, support to the public in the Uxbridge, Ontario area. The Group welcomes those that are new to genealogy and seasoned veterans to their monthly meetings.  Visit their site.

Local Uxbridge, Ontario, newspapers are being transcribed in an effort to preserve local history and make it available to the public. They hope that history and genealogy researchers will find this information helpful.  Members of the Uxbridge Genealogy Group are making great progress.  They are manually transcribing five area newspapers spanning  1861 to the present. Check out their newspaper index.