April 29, 2026
Summer Reading 2026 planning is underway! This year’s theme is “Unearth a Story” with dinosaurs, fossils, and paleontologists featured. Activities and programs are being planned for all ages. We will once again hold a contest between the adults and the children to see who will read more this summer. Which means we are in need of team mascots. Stop in and vote for your team Mascot starting May 1. Choose between Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, or Diplodocus. This year there will be weekly drop-in activities to participate in any time during our regular open hours. There will be five weeks of programming for children under age 5 and for children in first through fifth grades. Reading points may start getting recorded on June first. Stay tuned for more updates to come.
Jerelyn Koosmann will be presenting a program about CPR-Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Friday, May 1 at 9:30am at the Library/Senior Center. This program is an informational overview of the process. And is free for the public to attend.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the CLICK (Connecting Lives Through Internet and Community Knowledge) & Learn Program dates. Jake Koval, our Digital Navigator, will only be here once in May, as his regular day falls on Memorial Day. He is here to help with your phone, tablet, and laptop questions, and his help is available, free of charge. He will be here, 10am-2pm, May 11, June 8, and June 22. If you are interested in borrowing a laptop to use at home, Jake will also have them available for checkout. His help is sponsored through grant monies that The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board received.
In search of stories and/or pictures about the early years of the Bellringer, formation of the Friends of the Library, the Bookmobile, play productions on the museum stage, cake walks, ice cream making or anything that you remember and have a story to tell about the library. You may drop off pictures, and we can scan and return them to you, or you may email pictures or stories to [email protected].
The Bellringer Run will be held on the 4th of July. It will consist of a 2-mile fun run which will start at 8:30am. $100 sponsorships are arriving, and the Friends of the Library are so thankful for your support. We have received sponsorships from: The Mellen Lions Club, The Kochel Family, O’Dovero Farms, Tom Lazorik Electric, Mountain Funeral Home, Kretzschmar Holsteins, Ashland County Housing Authority, The Reader Family, Northern Lights Electrical, Dusty’s Saloon, Tamarack Health and the Town of Morse. We added four more sponsors this week: Fisher Sand & Gravel, North Country Lumber, Northern Highlights and The Mellen Rod & Gun Club. Thank you so much. It is because of our generous sponsors that we are able to keep the cost of participation in the race low. So please when shopping or visiting these locations, thank them and let them know you use the library and appreciate their support. Sponsors names are printed on the back of the Bellringer t-shirt each year. We are accepting sponsorships through the month of May.
Calendar of Library Events
April 30th at 9am Storytime
April 30th at 3:30 pm Lego Club
May 1st at 9:30am CPR Information Presentation a free program at the library
May 6th at 4pm Asahi Nordic Exercise
May 7th at 9am Storytime
May 7th at 3:30pm Lego Club
May 7th at 5pm Friends of the Library meeting
May 7th at 6pm Movie, “Housemaid” bring your comfy camp chairs, snacks & beverage. This movie is based on Frieda McFadden’s book by the same name.