School is back in session, which means homework is sure to follow, right? Snap, you just remembered you have a paper due next week. Want to get the jump on some awesome research?

Middle school students would be wise to visit Infotrac Junior, a click away from the under Assignment Help on the KPL website. (If you’re at home, that’s KPL to Teen to Assignment Help.)

Here you’ll find a periodical database that covers current events, the arts, science, pop culture, health, people, government, history, sports and more. Go figure, it’s the very same topics that pop up on term papers and school essays.

You can cross-search with e-books, magazines, newspapers and reference books. Bottom line, you’ll find everything you need to make your paper the best it can be.

Of course, you still have to come up with your own ideas and use your own words. But now you can score all the information to come up with those ideas and words. Give it a try, and you might even watch your grades improve.

Now that the demolition phase is over, you might think of the library like an iceberg. That is, there’s a lot going on underground even though you can’t see much at all above the surface.

That’s about to change, according to Randy Miltenberger, president of the Kirkwood Public Library Board of Trustees. “We’ve built 28 feet; you just can’t see it yet. We now have all of the piers dug and filled with concrete. That’s 31 piers with an average depth of 28 feet,” he says with the matter-of-factness of an architect who’s been at this stage many times before.

“The goal is to get everything enclosed,” Miltenberger says, to meet a timeline that has everything finished next May.

So, for Kirkwoodians who enjoy walking by or driving by to check on progress, what can they start to look for next? It gets exciting now as the building begins to rise above the piers.

Miltenberger tells us, “The floor slab will go in sometime around the middle of September. And by the end of the month, you’ll see columns coming up.” Keep your eyes open as the building begins to emerge.

Budding artists shall report immediately – or at least before the deadline of Monday, September 14 at 9 pm – to the library. We want your artwork.

Specifically, we’re looking for you to design a 4”x4” tile that will be part of the desk in the Youth Services Department inside the renovated Kirkwood Public Library.

Here’s how it works: Pick up an entry form in the Youth Services Department at the library or at Paint Me Pottery. Submit a line art drawing and return the entry form by September 14. Only one entry per child, so do your best work. Winners will be contacted on or before September 22, and will create their tile at Paint Me Pottery before the end of October. Ultimately, your tile will adorn the exterior of the Youth Services desk.

Kids under age six can enter the contest to make a handprint or a footprint on their tile. All winners will be randomly chosen.

Hurry! Don’t miss this chance to show off your artistic flair!

Get ready for some hand-clappin’, hip-shakin’, foot-stompin’, belly-achin’ – wait, there’ll be no bellyaching at this show. Jim Gill bangs out energetic rhythms on his banjo while the whole family claps, jumps, dances and sneezes along. This is one rollicking concert you won’t want to miss. It’ll be filled with Jim’s award-winning recordings, and it’ll be filled with singing and dancing from the audience that might not win awards but sure will be fun anyway.

Sparky the Fire Dog warms the crowd up at 10am and Jim takes over at 11. Remember, Jim Gill isn’t just performing for children and parents. He leads the audience to sing and play together!

And now we interrupt this newsletter for a shameless plug: His most recent CD, Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times received a 2007 Notable Children’s Recording Award from the fine folks at the American Library Association. He’s also the author of two picture books, most recently A Soup Opera, and they’re all available at your library. Now, back to your regularly scheduled newsletter…

KPL marches in the Greentree Parade, and the Friends will host a booth at Greentree Festival

The 2009 Greentree parade theme is Making Music in Kirkwood, and the library isn't going to miss a beat! Be sure to tune in Saturday, September 19 at 10am as we give a Shout Out to all our wonderful patrons. This year we face the music with our interpretation on the theme. KPL Takes Note will move and groove as we ease on down the road. You may never see the library in the same light again.

The fun doesn’t stop there!

Friends of the Kirkwood Library will again sponsor a booth at the Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Look for them in Booth #34, the same as previous years. And when you get there, look for some beautiful handmade items, including delightful jewelry made by the talented ladies in the Friends craft group. You’ll also find a fantastic collection of children’s books, along with free balloons for the kids. Stop by and say hello to our dedicated volunteers while you take advantage of a great opportunity to start your holiday shopping. All proceeds benefit Kirkwood Public Library.

We love getting your comments – complimentary, constructive or critical – and do our best to act on them.

You:
“Can you please start a subscription to Sauce magazine?”

Us:
Here’s the sauce on Sauce: The monthly periodical is now available in two places at the library. You can pick up a free current copy to take with you and keep. Plus, we will have one copy and delicious back issues just like other periodicals that patrons can check out.

For those of you unfamiliar, Sauce celebrates the restaurant scene in St. Louis and promotes the art of eating well. Its pages are filled with features, reviews, recipes and interviews.

Check out our online calendar for lots of upcoming events at your Library. Here are a few to keep in mind:

October 3: Jim Gill at Station Plaza

October 6: The Jill Raiser Memorial Author Fund presents Author Anna Dewdney

October 7: Radio personality Charlie Brennan

October 24: Jo A. Hiestand and Detective Paul Hornung, authors of the Taylor & Graham mystery series, sign at Kirkwood Park