It's 709 and joining me right now is Shae King and Shae's title at the Racine Public
Library is head of business development and it's good to have you here again.
Yeah.
And you arrange all the guests for us too, which is nice.
I do.
Now, watching over you today, the mayor is here and just making sure everything's on
the up and up with the library.
He's here.
He's here to offer support.
He wanted to make sure the city money was going to a good cause and it is.
And we're going to prove it is right now because we got a lot of things going on at the
Racine Public Library and now you need authors, local authors, local authors.
We got a couple of guests.
I went there that day.
You have a local authors and other business cards and all their, you know, stuff and
we've had some on the air already.
That's awesome.
Good because there are a lot of local authors around here.
Yeah.
We get a lot of interest in showcasing our authors locally.
So every April we host a local author showcase and that is an excellent way for authors to
come meet each other for fans to come meet their favorite local authors to buy some new
books to learn about some new writers.
It's really great time.
Next author showcases going to be April 25th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and right now we are holding
signups for authors to come and participate.
You can submit your application at RacineLibrary.info slash author signup 2026, deadline is Sunday, January
4th.
Everybody's got a book in them.
Yep.
That's right.
Everybody's life has a book.
Even my life has a book.
I'm too lazy to write it.
But it's got a book in there somewhere.
I wrote mine.
Did you really?
When I was 12.
It's not good.
You want to hear a, you want to hear an autobiography in, I guess it was second grade.
We had a writer autobiography.
I still have it.
It's the most embarrassing thing that I want to read.
It starts off, I was born in the Bronx and I remember the doctor picking me up and slapping
me to get me to cry.
You remember being poor?
You got to, you got to read this on the way.
I remember that.
It was the worst.
I got to have it made into a whole more movie.
It's just terrible.
So I obviously, that's not the book that I have in me.
We got a lot of closures coming up because of coming around Christmas and New Year's,
let's go over the closures.
So our book mobile is going to be closed starting Monday, December 22nd through Friday,
January 2nd.
It's regular school year schedule resumes Saturday, January 3rd.
If you are a book mobile patron, your holds are going to be routed to the main library
building starting on Saturday, December 20th until the book mobile is back in service.
So you'll be able to start picking up any holds directly at the library building beginning
Monday, December 22nd.
And keep an eye on our website if you're a regular book mobile patron.
The snowy season is the time of year when we see the most unexpected closures due to
weather or unforeseen maintenance.
So keep an eye on our website, racinglibrary.info.
If there's ever a book mobile cancellation, you will see it at the top of the website in
a big red banner.
Library building is going to be closed on Wednesday, December 24th, Thursday, December 25th for
Christmas.
And again, Wednesday, December 31st and Thursday, January 1st for New Year's.
And then finally, our bus pass hours are going to be unavailable Tuesday, December 23rd
through Thursday, January 1st.
So you guys aren't going to work for the next several weeks.
Oh, yeah, basically.
Well, book mobile is going to be enjoying a nice little vacation, but we'll still have
people staffing the building other than Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, New
Zee Eve.
I remember the book won't be when I was a kid, and it basically looks exactly the same as
it is today.
I mean, nothing's changed in the book mobile.
There are some pictures of one of the very first models of a book mobile that we had locally,
and that thing looked like a tin can.
They've really updated the design, but that would have been like back in the library
first launched, basically.
Let's talk about free bus passes, something I didn't know about.
Yeah, so free bus passes are one of the resources we've been offering to patrons for a couple
of years.
These are here as basically a social service to assist patrons who need help with transportation
to doctor's appointments or job interviews, things like that.
This can come get up to five bus passes per person per month, the only way, yes.
When did this start?
It was back in 2022, I want to say, so was I on a coma?
When did this happen?
I've never heard of this before.
So we've been pretty quiet on the advertising because we were getting such demand for it
just through word of mouth that we weren't able to keep up with it, but the study, the
service is much steadier now.
So we're able to start talking about it on the air, putting it on our website, things
like that.
Wow, I never knew about it.
That's kind of a need service.
Yes, and there's no income requirement.
The only thing you need to do to get a bus pass is come in and say, look, I have here
on my phone, I'm going to be going to the doctor like January 1st.
Can you give me a bus pass?
So our social worker will verify your name, and that's pretty much it.
Never heard of that before.
That's pretty neat.
All right.
Let's talk about the study rooms.
I never heard of this either.
What's the study room?
So our study rooms are, we have five rooms up on our second floor.
And you can use them for whatever you want.
So you've got people use them to study, to do research projects, people use them to get
tests proctored.
That's another service we offer.
And you can either, there's a couple of different ways you can get your hands on a study
room.
We do always recommend calling it advance if you need one at a specific time, because
there's not every day, but there's times of day when they get pretty booked up.
And that's the best way to make sure that you can guarantee yourself a spot.
But you were also always welcome to walk in and ask at the central desk on the second
floor if we have one available.
When I went to college, we had a, we had the regular library, then we had the quiet
library room.
Yes.
And since I worked overnight and I was a janitor in the late late evening, early evening,
I'd go into school.
I was dead tired.
So I used to sleep in that study room at the library at the, at the college.
And I had it, all the librarians had my schedule, and they knew when to wake me up.
And I used to tip them by getting them some of the cafeteria.
And so that's, that was my life going to college.
And you know, it's not against our policy to sleep in the library.
As long as you don't do it right in the middle of the aisle, all right, that's good.
We're talking to the Shade King, head of business development for the Racine public library.
Got a lot of programs for the rest of the year.
Years not over yet.
It's not.
And we are still posting programs and activities for you.
So I'm going to run through these pretty quickly.
So as I'm going, remember, all of the details are online at racinglibrary.info slash calendar.
So Thursday, December 18th, we have a breed, a disability coming in chat about whatever
movies you're watching, whatever books you're reading.
That's 6 p.m. in the martin room, and that is an adult program.
Friday, December 19th, be of senior games, UNO.
So come have some friendly competition.
The person with the highest score by the end of the session is the winner.
winners are always welcome.
That'll be noon to 2 p.m. in the community room.
And that is for anyone who is 50 years of age or older.
Drop in movies.
We have it every other Friday.
This time it's falling on December 19th.
That's 2 to 4 p.m.
You can drop in whenever you like.
There's always going to be movies listed outside of the community room, which is the room
where the movies are playing.
We do recommend an adult audience for this one, but youngsters are welcome with parental
permission.
And then we have Minecraft Building Club coming up Monday, December 22nd, 4.30 to 5.30.
That one's in the innovation lab.
It is a tween program.
For this one, registration is required, so definitely make sure you check the website
in advance.
That's where you'll find our registration link.
Come build in the Minecraft server that the library hosts, join other players.
You don't need to bring your own computer, your own software.
All of that will be set up for you when you get here.
Who comes up with all this stuff?
All kinds of people.
Like 15 people on our programming committee.
I think you just take a book out and you return it, and it's all done.
No, we're here to give you things to do too.
Wow.
Okay, so that's all that's for the rest of the year.
There's a couple more.
Okay.
You want to go through that?
Sure.
I'll be quick.
So senior art create with Ken, that is Tuesday, December 23rd, noon to 2 p.m.
Make sure for this one as well, registration is required, so check the website.
This one fills up fast, so don't get your hopes up.
But if you are interested in getting in the earlier, the better.
That one is also for adults 50 years of age or older, that'll be in the community room.
Teen hang out hour.
We're having a holiday party on Tuesday, December 23rd, 5 to 6 p.m.
We are celebrating all holidays, not just Christmas season or any other holidays around
this time of year.
So we've got Halloween will be celebrated Valentine's Day, Arbor Day, and there'll be snacks.
Earth Day.
Earth Day, that's right.
Over holiday, you can imagine, it'll be here waiting for you.
Last two for the year, Stitch and Vitch is Tuesday, December 23rd, 5 p.m. in the business
center.
That one's for adults and teens, no registration required.
Bring your craft, come hang out, enjoy some good conversation.
And then last program of the year is the Scribblers in Adult Coloring Club Friday,
December 26th, the 11 a.m. in the community room.
That's for adults, no registration.
Wow.
And that's just this year, the end of this year.
Yeah.
2020, I still see you can't say 2026 yet, it's not rolling off now, it doesn't feel
right.
So new to 2026, you came over the whole bunch of new ones, huh?
Yes.
So first starting off with our highlighted partner programs that are new to 2026.
We are going to be hosting a quarterly community resource fair.
The first one of the year is Friday, February 6th, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
That's going to be upstairs on the second floor of the building.
So if you're coming as an attendee, it'll be a great chance to explore local options
for support and social services all in one place.
And if you are somebody who might be interested in tabling, you can apply to table at racinglibrary.info slash calendar, search for the event, there will be an application form embedded.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, 9 30 to 11 30 a.m., we have rent smart.
This one's a totally new program.
We have not to my memory hosted one of these before.
This is for adults in the leave room registration is required.
It is basically a way to learn how you can make renting the best experience possible for you.
It's hosted by UW Madison and they're going to teach you the responsibilities and rights that landlords and tenants have, ways that landlords can screen renters, how you can build relationships with landlords and neighbors, and all kinds of other helpful tips for just making the experience work for you, understanding what's legal, understanding what you can do to make it work out well for you.
And then our final new partner program coming up so far is cocoa crafts and sexual health chats.
This is hosted in partnership with the city of Racine Public Health Department and with Clario.
So that'll be Thursday, January 15th, 6 to 7 30 p.m. in the community room.
It's for adults, registration is required.
Obviously, there's going to be cocoa work on crafts, learn something new.
There's also going to be free confidential HIV testing.
Anybody who does receive a test that day will also get a $10 gift card.
Have the cocoa first. If you get bad news, you're not going to want that cocoa, are you?
Yeah.
Yeah, enjoy your cocoa first.
And we're keeping our fingers crossed for good news for you.
Yeah.
Okay, so and that's everything that's a new ones for 2026 so far.
Yes, so far new partner programs and that's not even counting all of the returning programs we have for 2026.
So you can see everything online at RacineLibrary.info slash calendar.
Let's get to the important thing here now. This is very important.
I put on the hold list down there, be the finale on DVD or Blu-ray whenever it comes to first.
Oh, that's popular one.
Yeah, I think there's like 300 people ahead of me.
So I'm on the list.
Now I could call and can I check on it to see where if I moved up the list at all?
Yeah, we can tell you like what place in line you are.
Again, this is not for me.
This is for my wife. She loves Downton Abbey.
That's fair. That's fair.
I mean, I'm not denying.
I watched some of the PBS series.
It was pretty good.
I feel like you're a covert enjoyer.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
I'll tell you what happened when Downton Abbey, one of the first movie that came to the theaters,
I didn't want to sit in the theater.
Oh, no, no, these ladies with red hats and everything.
I want to go see it.
And I didn't want to sit in the theater.
Godzilla was playing next door.
Oh, the new Godzilla movie.
I said, I'll say what?
I'll see Godzilla.
You see this.
Well, both, you know, compared disasters and see which was worse.
Oh my God.
But yeah, so my problem is, you go to see a movie like that in theaters.
There were people yelling at the screen.
Oh, no, no, I know it shouldn't be at late and, you know, because they're getting into
it.
They're rabbit fans of that.
Yeah, we're talking during the whole thing and they're pointing out things to each
other.
Oh, see with this.
I remember when he did this and they weren't there with, oh, my goodness, it's annoying
when you're watching a movie.
Yeah, I feel how are you going to enjoy the movie?
Well, maybe they are enjoying the movie.
Now, I have a library wish list on my phone.
Oh, wonderful.
I keep it here and it talks about the, let's see where I got it here.
It lists the things that I want to get out of the library next time I come in because
my wife just got a whole bunch of DVDs and we watch it.
Yeah.
People say, and when I say DVD, they say, really?
Do you rub two sticks together to get, you know, five of your house to, I mean, how far
back are we going here?
They make them folks.
They still have all the current movies right on DVD.
I still prefer DVDs.
Yeah.
What's going on there?
So we got a list here of the movies I want to get out.
One of them is not on there.
One of them you don't have.
Who'll stop the rain with Nick melty?
You should have requested if you want to.
I know I can, but I just, you know, I don't want to have some guy schlepping out the
balloy to get me a movie.
So we can, it's, we have people who are already going to be coming from boy to the library.
Anyway, look, we've got delivery people.
So you might as well put your DVD on their car, you know?
So may or to have you, you go to the library a lot, you just three yesterday and back.
Oh, good.
Yeah.
All right.
Get booked movie meeting or meeting, but still I was meeting with the library director
just yesterday.
Now, I still want to know when you go into the elevator at the Racine Public Library,
there were three buttons.
First floor, second floor, and the third button doesn't have a floor number on it.
Now, it's like a twilight zone episode when they went into the department store and
they went into the mysterious ninth floor where all the mannequins came to life.
What's going on on that third button?
That's what I want to know.
I'm going to push it next time I get in there, see what happens.
Well, we don't like to tell people about this, but there is a secret pocket dimension with
all of the books that have ever been thrown out.
You can find them all there.
No, that's where you keep the people who never return to post tied up.
Oh, you can find them there too.
I'm going to hit that button next time.
I just don't want to think crashing to like the basement or something.
No, I don't think anything's going to happen because the clock tower has a third floor,
but the building doesn't.
There's a roof.
There's a button in that elevator, they put it there for a reason.
All right.
Shaking head of business development for the Racine Public Library.
Now, we're going to get a new schedule of people from the library coming in soon, right?
That's right.
Starting in January, we'll have some new folks coming back in to say, hey, and chat about
the library.
All right.
Thank you, Shay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Have a nice new year.
Yes.
Happy holidays.
See you soon.
Keep those programs cranking out of the library.
Oh, we will.
You know we will.
And you've got the new author's thing coming up.
Racine author's thing.
That's right.
So that's going to be good.
I'm going to go see that pick up some interviews.
Awesome.
We're going to see you there.
