I can't believe we are coming to the end of July. I celebrated my birthday this week and that signals the beginning of the end of summer for me. We are also coming to the close of summer reading at the library. Now is the time for everyone to bring in their reading calendars and get in their last grand prize entries. Don't forget that the prize for your children reaching their reading goals for July is a free paperback book, graciously provided by the Friends of Dubuque County Library. And our grand prizes are new color NOOKs! You don't want to miss out on that. The drawing is the first week of August.
Speaking of summer programs, we had a very successful Real Science series last week. Over 100 students participated in programs throughout the county. David Christ, NICC graduate and 2012 NASA scholar, did a great job getting everyone (parents and students) excited about science. You should have seen the kids working together with their parents to put together their flashlight project. The series attracted upper elementary and middle school students which is sometimes a hard audience to bring into the library. The six Real Science kits are now being cataloged and will be ready for check out in a week or so. Soon families will have the opportunity to try hundreds of experiments together at home. There will be a kit at each branch, but just place a hold on the kit you want and we will bring it to you. David will be continuing his education at UW Platteville this fall studying electrical engineering. We wish him all the best!
Looking ahead to fall, the Library is reaching out to ask you what kind of programming you would like us to provide for children and what times are best for you to bring your young ones to library programs. Staff have been distributing a programming survey this past week. But for the first time, we have an online version of the survey that you can complete from home. Just go to the library's website www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us and on the front page there is a link to the survey. In the middle of the page it says, "Click here to take a quick survey that will help DCL plan for children's programming events next year!" That will take you to a short survey asking you about what branch you use, the ages of your children, what times are best for you, and the kinds of programming you would like to attend. The survey is completely confidential and we will use it to help us meet your needs. We hope lots of people respond and we plan to do more surveys on a variety of topics in the future.
I have to end with some Shakespeare. Last weekend, as a birthday present, my daughter took our whole family to the American Players Theater production of "Twelfth Night" in Spring Green, Wisconsin. If you haven't been there yet, you should plan to go. It's only about an hour from Dubuque. The amphitheater is just across the road from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. The grounds are lovely and every seat in the house is perfect. The actors are top notch. It is mesmerizing to experience live outdoor theater even though the actors had to dodge a bat and a wasp during the performance. As Malvolio says, "Be not afraid of greatness, some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." Act II, Scene V
Have a "great" week, Dawn.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Fair Time
I remember that the height of every summer growing up was going to the All-Iowa Fair in Cedar Rapids. We would get up really early one morning and take the "long, long" drive out to the fairgrounds on the south edge of town. Both my husband and I remember it took FOREVER to get there (about 20 minutes). My mother was always the brave one who took us to the fair. Dad was working and no desire to spend more time in the hot sun after working all day in a sweltering factory. The fair marked a lot of milestones--first pony ride, first fair after braces (no sticky foods), date nights, taking our children. Everyone went to the fair--babies, kids, teens, business types, farmers, and older folks. We spent long days in hot stalls looking at prize chickens, winning pickles, watching the mesmerizing sales pitches for new kitchen gadgets, and then staying until the lights came up on the midway. These are truly American institutions and part of our collective memory. Next week is fair week in Dubuque County. I hope you go out and have a really good time. Make some family memories of your own.
The library may be quieter next week because of all the fair goers, but that's okay. Summer reading is winding down and programs are ending. We have had a fantastic summer. Thank you so much for coming and for bringing your children to our events. We petted bats, canoed, tie-dyed, listened to stories, ate pizza, built flashlights, talked about books, and much more. This is truly the heart of the public library. We reach out to you in and you take our hand and join us. Another part of the American story.
Don't forget that your students and little ones need to keep reading through the end of the month. Keep checking out books, logging your reading time, and turn in your slips for the grand prizes. The drawing will be the first week of August.
Pack lots of sunscreen, stay hydrated, forget the calorie count, and enjoy the fair!
The library may be quieter next week because of all the fair goers, but that's okay. Summer reading is winding down and programs are ending. We have had a fantastic summer. Thank you so much for coming and for bringing your children to our events. We petted bats, canoed, tie-dyed, listened to stories, ate pizza, built flashlights, talked about books, and much more. This is truly the heart of the public library. We reach out to you in and you take our hand and join us. Another part of the American story.
Don't forget that your students and little ones need to keep reading through the end of the month. Keep checking out books, logging your reading time, and turn in your slips for the grand prizes. The drawing will be the first week of August.
Pack lots of sunscreen, stay hydrated, forget the calorie count, and enjoy the fair!
Friday, July 13, 2012
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
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
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Dear Reader
I trust that everyone had a good 4th of July holiday. Boy, was it hot!! I did not have a bbq or go to the pool. My husband and I went to the movies. We saw a well-done, horror movie "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" based on Seth Grahame-Smith's novel. Grahame-Smith also wrote the very popular "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Both are humorous spoofs that are fun to read. Never heard of these? Well, the library now has a service to let you learn about all kinds of books in all kinds of categories.
Dear Reader Online Book Clubs entice you sign up for one, or several book clubs, depending on what you like to read. Immediately, you'll receive a welcome message and the next morning, you will receive a daily "dose of book." On Monday, the Online Book Club starts a new book for each club. Each day you will receive a little more of the featured book. By the end of the week, you will have sampled 2-3 chapters, enough to know if you "just-have-to" finish the book.
To begin, all you have to do is go the Dubuque County Library's website http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ and click on the Online Book Clubs icon on the left side of the page. Select the club, or clubs, for the type of books you like to read, enter your email address and each day you will receive an email with a short 5-minute excerpt from a book for those clubs. You can enjoy your daily excerpts with your morning cup of coffee and before long you'll be hooked on a book.
You can choose from the following categories:
Business
Fiction
Good News
Mystery
Teen
Classics
Science Fiction
Nonfiction
Romance
Thriller
Audiobooks
Pre-Publication and
Author Buzz.
For example, this week the romance club is reading "A Place Called Home" by Jo Goodman. The mystery club is reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell. If you like to see what's new, sign up for the pre-publication club that features recently released novels. Join AuthorBuzz where you'll meet 3 to 6 authors a week. It's a way to get to know all several of writers and their novels. Kind of like a sampler.
This is a service provided by the Dubuque County Library and we hope it will broaden your reading experience. If you get hooked on a book, call us and if we don't own it, we will order it to add to our collection. We want to develop our collection to meet your wants and needs. So go on, sign up today!!
If you have questions, call your local branch. With the heat wave, it's a perfect time to read. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool.
Dawn
Dear Reader Online Book Clubs entice you sign up for one, or several book clubs, depending on what you like to read. Immediately, you'll receive a welcome message and the next morning, you will receive a daily "dose of book." On Monday, the Online Book Club starts a new book for each club. Each day you will receive a little more of the featured book. By the end of the week, you will have sampled 2-3 chapters, enough to know if you "just-have-to" finish the book.
To begin, all you have to do is go the Dubuque County Library's website http://www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us/ and click on the Online Book Clubs icon on the left side of the page. Select the club, or clubs, for the type of books you like to read, enter your email address and each day you will receive an email with a short 5-minute excerpt from a book for those clubs. You can enjoy your daily excerpts with your morning cup of coffee and before long you'll be hooked on a book.
You can choose from the following categories:
Business
Fiction
Good News
Mystery
Teen
Classics
Science Fiction
Nonfiction
Romance
Thriller
Audiobooks
Pre-Publication and
Author Buzz.
For example, this week the romance club is reading "A Place Called Home" by Jo Goodman. The mystery club is reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell. If you like to see what's new, sign up for the pre-publication club that features recently released novels. Join AuthorBuzz where you'll meet 3 to 6 authors a week. It's a way to get to know all several of writers and their novels. Kind of like a sampler.
This is a service provided by the Dubuque County Library and we hope it will broaden your reading experience. If you get hooked on a book, call us and if we don't own it, we will order it to add to our collection. We want to develop our collection to meet your wants and needs. So go on, sign up today!!
If you have questions, call your local branch. With the heat wave, it's a perfect time to read. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool.
Dawn
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