'Tis the Season

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday.  Ours was quiet.  Our daughters usually desert us for Turkey Day.  My eldest and her family went to the Wisconsin Dells for an indoor waterpark getaway with her husband's family.  My youngest went to Chicago to be with friends.  So the old folks were all alone with turkey drumsticks and cranberry relish.  That's okay, though.  We have everybody at Christmas.

It may be looking a lot like Christmas, but at the library it's budget season.  The last few weeks we have been preparing our annual budget.  My head is swimming with numbers.  Though it is easy to hate doing the budget, the budget is really important.  The budget speaks to our priorities and what library service is all about.  For the Dubuque County Library, our budget priorities are materials, programming, and staff.  The library needs additional funding to build its collections to better meet the needs of our library customers.  We want to purchase more copies of popular titles so that you don't have to wait for a book to be transferred from another branch.  We want to greatly expand our ebook collection.  Usage of our downloadables went from 800 to nearly 3,000 in the last year!!  The library needs to increase our visibility in our service area.    The most frequent comment we receive is, "I didn't know there was a county library."  That has to change.  We have begun to advertise our programs but we must do more. And staff is so important to our quality of service.  We must provide sufficient staff to serve you and continue to provide educational opportunties to keep staff learning and growing.

There are lots of activities coming up at the Library.  This Saturday is the rescheduled Civil War program at Asbury beginning at 3:00 pm.  Join us to hear local historian John Preglar talk about Dubuque and its involvement in the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. Mr. Pregler will discuss Iowa's unique position leading up to and during the Civil War and will focus on the personal stories of Dubuque citizens who supported both the North and the South during the war.  Mr. Pregler will discuss major battles, Iowa regiments and key Dubuque citizens who make the American Civil War a compelling story 150 years after its start.  No registration required.

Our series of holiday craft programs begin this week.  Children are invited to come and make a craft and enjoy a treat.  Check our website for the program in your area. 

Have you ever wondered what Hanukkah is all about?  What is a dreidel?  What is a Menorah?  Then plan to attend our Traditions Around the World series beginning December 7th at Holy Cross.  The program is planned for parents and children of all ages.  If you have questions, please call Jill Doyle, our Children's Librarian, at 582-0008 for details.

So, 'tis the season for budget, and shopping, and decorating, and baking, and . . .  Have a great weekend.  Dawn