Happy Holidays and On to Drexler

This past couple of weeks has been a blur.  There is lots going on at Dubuque County Library.  Children's staff are doing holiday crafts and parties along with movie showings.  Be sure to check our web calendar to find out what is happening in your community. 

We just finished our first round of budget preparation.  Guess what?  It takes money to provide library services and more money to provide quality library services and programs.  In the budget proposal approved by the Board of Trustees for the next fiscal year which begins July 2012, we are requesting more money for materials and more money for programming and promotion.  We want to provide multiple copies of popular, best selling, titles so that customers don't have to wait for books and DVDs to be transferred between branches and don't have to wait on long hold lists for those great new items.  We need support for publicity to let people know we are here and to tell them what great services and programs we have.  I want everyone to know that Dubuque County Library, with its five, convenient branches, is a place to use the Internet, check out books and DVDs, and attend programs for all ages.  We have a great staff that is eager to serve you.  On January 12th, 2012 we will be presenting our budget to the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors.  We would love your support.  You can call or email any of the supervisors and tell them that you want them to fully fund library services.  In these economic times, library service is a bargain.  If you have questions or comments about the budget process or talking with the supervisors, just give me a call at 563-582-0008. 

We are also in the midst of the move from our 1st St. location in Farley to Drexler Middle School.  Next week we will start loading carts and the current location will be closed at the end of business on Monday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m.  The Farley branch will re-open at Drexler on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.  The new address is 405 3rd Avenue N.E. in Farley.  We will be moving and re-shelving books and equipment while the students are on holiday break.  If you want to help load and unload carts, the actual moving days are December 27-29.  We will start at the old location on the 27th and the next two days we will be unloading materials at Drexler.  Many hands make light work.

This will be our first Christmas in Dubuque.  My husband and I are looking forward to hosting all of the family at our house.  We have put up the tree and decorated the mantle in anticipation of our grandson arriving next Wednesday.  He is three and just getting the hang of this Santa thing.  We took him to see the jolly old elf last weekend and he promptly asked for a monster truck.  Children put real joy into the holidays.  If only I had my shopping done . . .

The Board and staff of Dubuque County Library wishes you happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.  There are great things to look forward to at the library in 2012, and I am honored and proud to be a part of it all.

Dawn