So Long 2012

We have come to the end of another year.  As we get older, they seem to go pretty fast.  My grandson is growing up, much to his mother's and my chagrin.  But he is so fun.  He is learning to read and loves musical instruments.  We think he is destined for a life on the stage.  My father passed away.  He was 91 and lived a very good life.  My youngest daughter finished her residency and is now a full-time hospice chaplain at Iowa Health in Waterloo.  She loves her work.  The rest of the family is well and so overall we had an good year.

2012 was a good year for Dubuque County Library.  In January we opened our Farley Branch in Drexler Middle School.  Programming across the system is increasing and attendance is up.  We have checked out at least 8% more items so far this year over last year.  Our materials budget was increased and so we are getting more new books and DVDs out for your selection.  The Library also received two grants.  One from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) to provide science kits for students and teachers.  We had a series of great programs to debut the materials.  They are now in the collection and available for checkout.  The other grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation provided for new DVDs and books on health and wellness.  We added items on exercise, nutrition, bullying, depression, and a host of other diseases.  My favorite anectdote about the project is when my youngest daughter came to visit and stopped by the library.  She looked at the processing shelves and saw a children's book titled, "It's Called Dyslexia."  She said, "Mom, it would have been great to have this book when I was little and struggling with my learning disorder."  That's what it's all about sometimes.

Our staff grew with the addition of Sam Sporer and Alyssa Davidshofer to help us cover the additional hours at Drexler and begin twice-weekly deliveries to get your materials out to you faster.  Elisha Blakeman, our Children's Programmer, finished her teaching degree!  Congrats!  Jenny Parker's hours were increased to full-time.  Jenny does teen and adult programming as well as publicity for the library.

We have lots to look forward to in 2013.  Our Holy Cross branch will be moving to new space on Main Street this winter.  You will love the new furniture and the big windows.  The City of Asbury continues to plan for a community campus building which will house city hall offices, police and the library.  It will nearly double our space.  We are in the fundraising stage and busy with grants and constructing a capital campaign.  The new building will be just on the other side of Asbury Park which is a beautiful setting with lots of parking and programming space.

As the new year begins, there is much to do.  There are e-reader workshops the first and second week of January.  If there was a Kindle or Nook under your Christmas tree, this is your opportunity to learn how to download ebooks for free from the Library.

GAB, our Library book discussion group, is reading "The Persian Pickle Club," for our January meeting.  In February, we will be discussing the 2013 All Iowa Reads selection, "The Year We Left Home."  The novel centers on the trials and tribulations of an Iowa family.  Stop by and pick up a copy of both books so you can join us.

Don't forget to read "The Great Gatsby" which is the next book/movie program in our Page to Screen series funded by Humanities Iowa.  This is a joint project with the community college library at NICC in Peosta. 

Check the website for times and locations for all of our fabulous programs. 

The staff and Board of the Dubuque County Library wish you a very happy new year.  We look forward to serving you in 2013.