Welcome to the Board

It may be spring.  I say that quietly and cautiously, but it sure feels like spring.  Spring was so early last year that this must be payback.  But my mood has improved and I hope yours has as well.

The Dubuque County Library Board has several new members and I want to introduce them to you.

Jeff Goldsmith--Jeff is a retired minister who recently retired again from the Dubuque Symphony as their Executive Director.  Jeff lives near Peosta and was elected Chair of the Board at our April meeting.

Tim Wilgenbusch-Tim works for Tricon which is construction contracting firm.  They worked on the gorgeous new library space at NICC/Peosta.  Tim lives near Centralia and was elected Vice Chair at the April meeting.

Jamie Splinter - Jamie is a family lawyer who lives near Asbury.  Jamie and her family are huge library users.

Jim McCoy - Jim retired from John Deere.  He was a manufacturing engineer and lives near Peosta.  Both he and Jeff love golf, and of course, libraries.

I want to say thank you to all these volunteers who are willing to give their time and talents to our Library.  If you are interested in joining the Library Board, applications are available at every branch.  We are always looking for interested people who want to help us grow the Dubuque County Library.

Tomorrow is your chance to get great bargains at the Friends of the Library Epworth used book sale.  The sale is open 9 am to 1 pm.  If you miss this opportunity, the Friends are holding another used book sale in Asbury.  The sale will be from 9 am to noon on Saturday, May 4th at the Wagner pavillion in Asbury Park.  If you are a friends member, you can get a jump on the crowd with the pre-sale event from 5 pm to 8 pm on Thursday.

Speaking of Friends, now is the time to fill out your membership form and join the Friends.  Memberships start at only $5.00 for an individual.  Applications are available at all our branches or from our website.  The dues go toward library projects such as books for the summer reading program.  Recently Friends sponsored our author visit from Elizabeth Fixmer, author of "Saint Training."  Friends work in all of our library communities.  They helped with the move to our new location at Holy Cross.  So, if you want to support the library and lend a hand to library events, join the Friends!!

I wanted to share a couple of books with you.  I read "Saint Training" in preparation for our author visit.  It is a delight.  After meeting and listening to the author, Elizabeth Fixmer, I realize how much research she did for the novel.  The story of a young girl in small-town Wisconsin reflects the major changes that were taking place in our country and in Catholic Church in the mid-60s.  She captures the era so well.  Currently, I'm reading Elizabeth Berg's new novel, "Tapestry of Fortunes."  It is women's fiction, but a cut way above your average chick lit book.  Berg has a gentle, engaging writng style that draws you into the mind and world of the narrator and she makes all the characters so vivid.  They are women you know from church or school or the neighborhood.  If you haven't read Berg, there are plenty of titles to choose from.  My past favorite is, "Talk Before Sleep."  She captures the deep bonds between women.

After you stop by the Epworth book sale, enjoy the rest of the weekend's nice weather.

Happy reading, Dawn.

All Quiet on the Library Front

It has been a difficult and sad time for our nation this week.  All our thoughts are with the runners, spectators, and their families in Boston and the entire town of West, Texas.  

On the library front, things are much calmer.  We are preparing for summer reading which is the programming highlight of our year.

The program flyers for 2013 "Dig Into Reading" are on their way to the press and all the programs will be posted on our website next week.

Sign up for the individual reading program begins May 29th.  There are prizes for every one who reaches their reading goals.

Tonight our GAB (Girls and Books) discussion group is talking about "Nickel and Dimed."  Our selection for next month on May 16th is "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler.  If you haven't read Anne Tyler, this is a good book to start with.  It's full of humor and family drama.  I loved it.  Copies are available at all branch locations.  GAB meets the 3rd Thurs. of each month at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch.

Saturday at 10:00 we are celebrating the Grand Opening of our new location on Main St. in Holy Cross.  Come join us for light refreshments and see our new digs!

Mark your calendars to go to the Friends used book sale in Epworth on Thurs. April 25 and on Saturday, April 27th.  The sale is at the library with lots of bargains.

Speaking of the Friends, check out their newsletter on our website:  www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us.
It is full of news and good reads.  You can click on the newsletter link or check out the Friends page which is listed on the left side of the screen.  Thanks go to Liz Meehan of Asbury who is our newsletter editor and producer.  The look is great!

While you are perusing the Friends page, take a moment to join the Friends group.  Membership dues are used to pay for author visits, programming supplies, advertising, and books.  We need you as a Friend.

Well, the weather is dreary but spring must be on the way.  Right?

Have a good weekend, Dawn.

Big Asbury News!!

The Asbury City Council has approved the plans for the Community Services Campus which will include City Hall, the Police Department, and the Library!!!  I am so excited that we are going to have almost 8,000 square feet (including the multi-purpose programming room).  The new library will have a children's storytime and play area, more room for the collection to grow, more computers, study rooms, and access to an outdoor amphitheatre.  The new Community Services Campus will be located on Asbury Road east of the park.  It will be across the street from the Village Coop building.  There will be adequate parking, handicapped accessibility, and room for staff to work in.

Now all we need is a little money.:)  The Asbury City Council has given the community one year to conduct a capital campaign to raise as much money as possible towards the cost of the building.  The estimated cost is $1,6000,000 for the entire project.  Right now we are seeking community-minded, library loving people to join the capital campaign committee.  We need all the ideas out there to make this a success.  If you are interested, please call me at 563-582-0008.  We will need people to brainstorm ideas, distribute flyers, help with events, and raise awareness in the community.

The goal is to open the Asbury Community Services Campus in May 2015.  Let's make it happen!!

Remember this coming week there are lots of library events:

Tonight, we are showing "Rise of the Guardians" at our Holy Cross branch at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday is our Baby and U storytime at 9:00 at our NICC/Peosta Branch followed by a Family storytime and at Farley there is our Lego building program at 9:00 a.m. followed by our American Girl book club beginning at 10:30.

Monday is our author visit with Elizabeth Fixmer, Wisconsin author of "Saint Training" at 6:30 p.m. at the NICC/Peosta branch.  This program is funded by the Friends of Dubuque County Library.

Thursday is our regular monthly book discussion at NICC/Peosta branch beginning at 6:00 p.m.  We will be discussing "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich.  After finishing the book, I think everyone should read it.  It has implications for workers and employers.  Come join us for a lively discussion.

Please check the calendar on our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for regular story times and upcoming events.

Well, we all thought spring was here.  Suprise!  So this weekend, stop by your local branch and pick up a good read or a new movie because we can't be outside just yet.  Pick up a book to plan your garden or your summer vacation.

Have a great weekend.   Dawn

We have lots to discuss --

I am one of the luddites who believes that books will be with us for a long time.  E-readers are great and they still load up with books.  I have a Kindle.  But my preferred delivery device is still a good, old-fashioned book.  And you know what is so great about books whether you read them on a screen or on paper?  Talking about them!!  The Dubuque County Library has several options for you to join us in sharing about books.  

Elizabeth Fixmer, Wisconsin author, is coming to our NICC/Peosta Branch on Monday, April 15th at 6:30 p.m.  She will share the story of her debut novel by talking about her young protagonist.  "Mary Clare O'Brian is on the lookout for a miracle. She is determined to be a saint when she grows up (the halo will help cover her frizzy hair). But lately none of her prayers seem to be working the way she wants them to: her mother is losing her faith, her parents can't pay all the bills, and her brother receives a draft notice for the war in Vietnam. Mary Clare has a plan to help, but it just doesn't seem to be working. How is she supposed to become a saint when her world is falling apart?"

Bring in your copy for an autograph or purchase a copy for Elizabeth to sign.  Copies are also available in the library's collection.  This author visit is brought to you by the Friends of Dubuque County Library.

On April 10th and 11th, join us for Page to Screen, a program series co-sponsored by NICC and the Dubuque County Library funded by Humanities Iowa.  "True Grit" tells the story of fourteen year-old Mattie Ross and her overpowering effort to avenge the murder of her father amid the lawlessness of the Old West.  After reading the novel, come see both the 1969 and 2010 film versions of the story.  See how differently Rooster Cogburn, the "hero" of the tale, is portrayed by John Wayne vs. Jeff Bridges.  Stay for the discussion and talk about which movie you liked better and which was more like the book.  Check the Programs tab on our website: www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us for details.

Our monthly book discussion group will meet on Thursday, April 18th at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch to discuss Barbara Ehrenreich's manifesto on how tough it is to make it in America earning minimum wage.  Ehrenreich was a journalist who decided that to really know what it was like to live with the 99% of us, she would have to put herself in those shoes.  She tries to make a go of it in several U.S. cities and towns finding that one job is not enough, and that even then you can't get tired, and you can't get sick because the "social safety net" just isn't there for lots of American workers.  Barbara has a very conversational writing style that captures the reader and makes you want to find out what happens next.  Copies of the book are available at all of our branches.  Pick one up and come talk with us about this study of the "other America."



I hope you decide to join us for one or all of these programs.  We are all about books at Dubuque County Library.  Happy Reading!  Dawn