Good Corn Growing Weather

When I was a child and I complained about the hot, sultry days of late July, my father always said it was "good corn growing weather."  That didn't seem to help much when I couldn't sleep and no one had air conditioning.  My escape was to find a shady spot and dive into a book.  It was too hot to play baseball and Mom wouldn't let you go to the pool everyday, so reading was my hot weather distraction. 

If summer is a time for you to get a little more reading done, then visit us at your local library and find your own hot weather escape.  Currently, I'm reading "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant.  It is the July selection for the library's GAB (Girls and Books) discussion group.  We will be talking about the book next Thursday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta Branch.  If you would like to join us, copies of the book are available for check out at all our locations. 

Published over ten years ago, Diamant's debut novel opened up a whole new literary sub-genre.  She wrote about a biblical story from the woman's point of view and explored the cultural underpinings and relationships between women in that long ago era.  It is fascinating to have an inside look at these women who preserved their heritage and all its rituals.  These customs bound them together.  You really should give this a try if you like historical fiction and women's issues. 

This coming week is our series of Real Science programs.  There is one at your branch.  All of them are at 1:30 and they are designed for elementary and middle school students.  Parents are encouraged to attend with their children to learn about the new science kits the library have availabe for check out.  The kits are designed so that you can take them home and do experiments together.  David Christ, NICC graduate, is leading the programs and he is a true science geek!  He loves to talk about atoms, circuits, waves, and all that stuff.  Every student who attends a program will make their own project to take home. The series and the kits are made possible by a grant from the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers/Chicago Section.  For more information, call me at 582-0008. 

Don't forget to keep encouraging your child to read everyday and mark it on their library calendar.  Each child who returns their completed calendar at the end of July will receive a new book courtesy of the Friends of Dubuque County Library.  And turn in your drawing slips for the books you check out.  Each branch will give one lucky child a new color NOOK.  We will also award one NOOK to an adult for the whole library system.  Adults can enter by turning in quilt squares at any branch.  The drawings are the first week in August. 

Have a great weekend and stop by and visit us at your local community library.

Dawn