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Plant for the pollinators

Lifestyle Columns

June is National Pollinator Month. Please consider planting pollinator-friendly plants as you plan your gardens. Not only are they beautiful flowering plants, they attract birds, bees, butterflies and many other insects that pollinate. According to the National Wildlife Federation, pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we take. Wow, that’s amazing! If you need some guidance about pollinator-friendly plants, the library can help. We have the following books on that very subject. “Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and ...

The monetary value of Stop Look and Listen

Lifestyle Columns

The words “Stop, Look, Listen” might evoke song titles, childhood lessons or everyday common sense. The phrase comes from the 1800s; specifically, from the advent of railroads. Railroad travel was revolutionary, but, like most emerging technologies, brought new dangers along with its advantages. It quickly became clear that some safety measures had to be taken to avoid collisions at crossings. The first safety precautions were simple signs. Today, the familiar design is an X-shaped sign reading “Railroad Crossing” and usually accompanied by flashing lights and alarms. Earlier ...

Behind the stacks

Lifestyle Columns

about how we manage the mountains of books, movies, and other resources you see lining the New Ulm Public Library shelves. It’s a complex balancing act, but one that ensures our collections stay relevant, engaging, and well-maintained. Let me give you a peek behind the curtain! First, there’s collection development. We consider what our patrons are interested in – from the latest bestsellers to local histories for New Ulm buffs. We analyze usage data, consider patron suggestions, and keep an eye on trends. It’s a constant conversation, ensuring our shelves reflect our community ...

Eibner’s hot rod lives on

Lifestyle Feature

Willibald “Willie” Aloysius Joseph Eibner II of New Ulm was a man of many talents. Among of passions was motor vehicles. Fortunately, Eibner could write very well too, describing his vehicle passion in 1956, when he was 18. “At the age of 18, I got the hot rod bug. After three ...

Adventure begins at your library

Lifestyle Columns

New Ulm Public Library’s summer reading program, “Adventure Begins at Your Library” begins on Monday, June 3, 2024 and runs through July 28, 2024. The summer reading program is open to ages from birth to those entering their high school senior year. This year reading logs will be available for pick up in the library starting Tuesday, May 28. Children up to the age of eleven can pick up a reading log in the children’s room. Read at least 20 minutes a day for six days of the week to fulfill the reading goal. Each week they can stop by the children’s desk to check in with their ...

Who wouldn’t want this gnome in their garden?

Lifestyle Columns

This time of the year, many of us have gardens on our minds, whether plans involve planting, pruning or decorating. Garden gnomes are some of the most popular garden decorations, and have been since the 1800s. They were first made in Thuringia, Germany, a region known for its ceramics. In German folklore, gnomes were said to guard against evil and sometimes help with garden tasks like digging and weeding when no one was looking. In fairy tales, gnomes often guarded treasure, so maybe there was a little wishful thinking along with the whimsy of keeping them in the garden. Today, ...