Happy Easter

Reading a classic tale is a great way to celebrate Easter with your family.  After the egg dyeing, the egg hunt, and the delicious dinner;  settle down and share a great book.  "The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes" is one of my very favorite books of all time.  My mom read it to me, I read to my girls, and I have read it to my grandson.  It is the story of Cottontail who wants to become the Easter bunny.  But how can a small brown rabbit, mother of twenty little bunnies, have a chance against the big and brawny jackrabbits?  Wise Grandfather Bunny chooses her for a very difficult task.  Will she be swift enough, strong enough, and clever enough to become the Easter bunny?  I was always struck by the fact that this feminist tale was first published in 1939!  The language and pictures are gorgeous.  This is a must read for everyone.

All our branches are closed on Friday, March 29th.  We will be open regular hours on Saturday except for NICC/Peosta.  The college is on spring break and closed until Monday. 

If you haven't taken the opportunity to bring your little ones to one of our Lego programs, you can join the other Lego enthusiasts on Tuesday, April 2nd from 3:30 to 5:00 at our NICC/Peosta branch.  Children can build and have a photo taken of their creation. Board games will also be available. 

The next Page to Screen event is a double bonus.  You can read "True Grit" by Charles Portis and then watch both of the movie versions.  If you don't normally read Westerns, give this a try.  The heroine is a plucky girl and the dialog is very fun to read.  Check our website for details.

After you turn in your taxes, come join us for a fun program--"Meet Mary Clare," on Monday, April 15th at 6:30 at NICC/Peosta.  Elizabeth Fixmer, Wisconsin author, will share the story of her debut novel, "Saint Training."  Copies of the book are available in our collection.  Bring your own copy for a signature Monday night, or purchase a copy after the presentation.  Fixmer will also be making appearances in Dyersville.

I wish everyone safe travel and a very Happy Easter!

Dawn



It's Spring?

Hurray!  The last couple of days have actually been sunny.  And hopefully, the next snow storm will be heading south of us this weekend.  Everyone is ready for spring!!  We were so spoiled last year.  Will this mean a milder summer?  Don't bet on it.

All branches of Dubuque County Library will be closed on Friday, March 29th. 

Things are moving along here at the Library.  Staff members are busy planning for summer reading.  We will have a great line-up of presenters and nice prizes for our eager readers.  Watch for details next month.  The library has several ongoing programs in April and some special events:

Peosta's Northeast Iowa Community College has teamed up with the Dubuque County Library and Humanities Iowa to present the From Page to Screen series.  Patrons are welcome to visit the NICC/Peosta Branch of the Dubuque County Library to view FREE movie showings and participate in book discussions on various works of literature and their film adaptations.  Join us for our next From Page to Screen program on April 10 and 11.  We will read "True Grit" by Charles Portis and watch both versions of the film:  the 1969 adaptation starring John Wayne and the 2010 movie with Jeff Bridges.  The films are very different and you can come to the discussion and talk about which is more or less like the book and which one you enjoyed more.  Check the Programs tab on our website for details.  You may check out a copy of the book at any of our branches.

Mark your calendar for an exciting author visit.  Elizabeth Fixmer author of "Saint Training" will be presenting a program and signing books on Monday evening, April 15th at our NICC/Peosta branch.  If you haven't read the story of Mary Clare, a young girl waiting for a miracle, you need to.  It's a delightful read.

The Library's ongoing book discussion group will meet on Thursday, April 18th to discuss "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich.  Here's what Amazon has to say about this remarkable book, "Millions of Americans work full time, year round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that a job -- any job -- can be the ticket to a better life. But how does anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich left her home, took the cheapest lodgings she could find, and accepted whatever jobs she was offered. Moving from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, she worked as a waitress, a hotel maid, a cleaning woman, a nursing-home aide, and a Wal-Mart sales clerk. She lived in trailer parks and crumbling residential motels. Very quickly, she discovered that no job is truly 'unskilled,' that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and muscular effort. She also learned that one job is not enough; you need at least two if you want to live indoors."  Copies of the book are available at your local branch.

On Saturday, April 20th there will be a grand opening at the Holy Cross Library.  We moved into the front of the fire department building on Main Street last month.  Come join us to coffee and treats at 10:00 and take a look around at the new space. 

The Friends of Dubuque County Library is having a spring book sale the weekend of April 25-27 at our Epworth branch.  You won't want to miss getting in on the bargains.  Lots of weeded and donated books will be on sale at rock botton prices.
Let's hope the weather continues to improve and spring will finally arrive.  Have a great weekend.         Dawn

Happy St. Patrick's Day

There are McNultys on my mother's side of the family.  They immigrated during the famine times landing in New York and moving west with the generations.  I think all I have left of my heritage is Irish good humor and sometimes a wee bit of a temper.

It's going to be a chilly St. Patrick's Day this year.  Chowing down on corned beef and cabbage will take off some of the shivers.  Last year it was nearly 70 degrees and sunny for the Dyersville parade.  Regardless, I hope everyone has a safe and happy celebration. 

Last evening was our monthly Friends of the Library meeting.  What a wonderful supportive bunch of library lovers!!  They drew for the door prizes from their series of open houses.  Here are the lucky winners:

Ed Wille - Color Nook (Holy Cross)
Holly Kress - Iowa Places book (Asbury)
Owen Welter - Monopoly game (Holy Cross)
Scott Ellerbach - Scrabble game (Asbury)
Will Bergfeld - Clue game (Peosta).

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who attended.  Thanks to the Friends for providing treats and the prizes. 

The budget process is over.  The County scrutinized every line item for every department.  The result will be a very tight budget for the current year with reductions to books, programming, and office supplies.  We may have to count paper clips by the end of June.  Next year a little money is restored to books and programming but we will continue to watch our pennies while providing quality service to our customers.

Upcoming Events:

Reading with the 'Rents - a new Kid/Parent Book Club...read a book with your parent then join us once a month for a relaxing book club at our NEW HOLY CROSS location...895 Main Street!

Before we meet:

• Read from the Iowa Children's Choice List.
• Books are available for check out at the Holy Cross library.
• Choose any book or multiple books to read with a parent.
• Then come and share your favorite or least favorite books from this year's list.
• By sharing we will all find some new, good books to read.
• Read 2 or more by the end of March then vote for your favorite on the Iowa list. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!  
• Call your local branch to register

Mark your calendar for an exciting author visit.  Elizabeth Fixmer author of "Saint Training" will be presenting a program and signing books on Monday evening, April 15th at our NICC/Peosta branch.  If you haven't read the story of Mary Clare, a young girl waiting for a miracle, you need to.  It's a delightful read.

The Friends of Dubuque County Library is having a spring book sale the weekend of April 25-27 at our Epworth branch.  You won't want to miss getting in on the bargains.  Lots of weeded and donated books will be on sale at rock botton prices.

Next week is our GAB (Girls and Books) meeting on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch.  Up for discussion is Fanny Flagg's "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe."  This has become a contemporary classic about a sprawling Southern family.  It was made into a movie starring Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy.  If you would like to join us, just pick up a book at your local branch. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!  See you at the Library.

Dawn

No more snow

I know this is Iowa.  And it's northern Iowa.  I grew up just an hour and a half away from here.  But really, do we need all this snow?  I don't mind the cold, but I hate having to cancel meetings, programs, and close the library because it just isn't safe to travel.  Hopefully, winter is on its way out.  Today it is beautiful and maybe we will have more days like this.

This weekend if you feel like a drive, why not tour on up to Holy Cross?  It's a great drive with wonderful scenery and then you can visit the new Holy Cross branch of the Dubuque County Library.  The Friends are hosting an open house on Saturday from 10:00 until noon.  Our new address is 895 Main Street just kitty corner from the Market grocery store.  We are sharing space in the fire department building.  Stop by for some lemonade and a cookie and see our fantastic new digs.

We are planning a grand opening later in April when we can hope for better weather.

Tonight if you are in the mood for a movie, the library is showing "Wreck-It Ralph" at our Epworth branch beginning at 6:30.  We always provide the popcorn.

On Saturday, there is an American Girl program from 10:30 until noon.  Our young readers are loving this series of discussions on the very popular book series.  Also next week is a full line-up on storytimes.  Check the website for all of our programs:  www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us.

Next week will be busy.  On Monday evening, there is the public hearing on the county budget at 5:30.  We hope for no surprises and we will work with the budget as proposed.  Despite some cutbacks, we will provide quality library service at each of our locations.

On Tuesday evening at 5:15 at the Meadows, there will be a work session with the Asbury City Council concerning the building project.  We hope that they approve the plans and that we can get busy with the fundraising and planning for the community campus concept that will include the library, police, and city hall.  The proposed location is on Asbury road adjacent to the Village Commons.  The plans would nearly double the library space and provide a programming room that we so desperately need.  Asbury branch is a very busy branch and it will only be busier if we have space for storytimes and other events.  If you are an Asbury user, we would love your support.

Enjoy the weather while it lasts, have a great weekend.

Dawn