Bring on summer!

Schools are out and it's officially summer.  Hopefully, the rain will taper off and the flooding creeks and rivers will return to their banks. 

My thoughts go out to those who are dealing with intrusive water.  My husband and I lived through the Texas flood in Austin on Memorial Day in 1981.  Our home which had a tiny creek in the backyard had about 6 inches of water rush through it.  Creek flooding is fast and furious.  We just had time to grab our 4-month-old daughter and the dog and hightail it out of there.  When we returned from staying at a friend's house for the night, we saw the water had created huge holes in our front yard and we had to scrub and clean every inch of the house.  It's very weird to hose out your house on the inside to get rid of the mud and rocks.  In San Antonio, the water was so high that people found snakes in their second floor apartments.  Technically, we didn't lose a lot:  some clothes, books, and records, but it sure was a mess.  Let's hope most folks don't have to go through that.

Summer reading is off and running.  Be sure to either stop in and register for the Read @ Home program or register online at our website:  www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us.  This week on Tuesday is a Legos program and a book club and movie on Friday at our Epworth branch. Preschool story times resume June 11th.  Check the flyer on our website for times and to sign-up for all the exciting events.

The last of our Page to Screen programs is on Thursday, June 13th.  We will be discussing "Seabiscuit" and watching the movie at our NICC/Peosta branch.  The program is funded by a grant from Humanities Iowa in partnership with NICC. 

The movie stars Tobey Macguire and Jeff Bridges.  The discussion begins at 5:30 and the movie will follow.  There will be free pizza for those who register for the discussion.  Just call 563-556-5110 ext. 224.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  See you at the Library.  Dawn





Remembering

Memorial Day for me is a time for remembering.  The past few days I have been thinking about love ones lost and concentrating on the happy moments we shared.  I think of cooking with my mom; preparing big family dinners when we all were together.  I fondly remember my dad teaching me to drive.  We would go on long drives out the river road and talk.  We discussed everything from boys to the Vietnam War.  I loved those drives.  I remember my Aunt Lorraine who could fold a diaper and make it look like it had been ironed.  I don't know how she did that, but I was impressed.  I hope this weekend you have lots of good memories and share good times with family.

Remember in honor of the holiday, all the library branches will be closed on Monday, May 27th.  We will be ready for business on Tuesday.

Summer reading registration begins on Wednesday.  Don't forget to stop in and register your children for our Read @ Home program.  They can earn prizes for reading each week.  You can enter for the grand prize drawing by completing your reading calendar each week and checking out books from your local branch.  New this year, you may register online beginning May 29th from our website:  www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us. 

I know I am planning my summer reading now.  My family is gathering at a lakeside cabin north of Madison for a week later in June.  The boys will go fishing (all three generations) and I get to read.  Here are a couple titles that are going to Wisconsin:

The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman is an historical thriller set in England in 1831 during the cholera epidemic. 

Wine of Violence by Priscilla Royal is the first in a series of Medieval mysteries set in 1270 in the small priory of Tyndal in a remote part of England.  The order is led by a young prioress with a talent for detective work.      

The Queen's Man by Sharon Penman is also the first in a series of Medievel mysteries.  This one is set in 1193 amid the intrigue and treachery of Eleanor of Aquitaine's court.  Where is her son Richard and is her son John going to take the crown?

I will be whisked away to other times and places which is what I like best about reading.  I learn so much while I'm following a great story.

Have a peaceful Memorial Day weekend and we will see you next week.

Dawn

Dig into Reading

May is going very quickly.  I know that many of you are busy with high school and college graduations and making plans for what younger children are going to do this summer. Think about the library when you are scheduling for summer. 

On the library's website, www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us, right in the middle of the homepage, is our information on programs for toddlers through teens.  The Read @ Home program begins May 29th.  You can sign up at your local branch library or beginning this year, you can register online.  If you can't make it to the library, your kids don't have to wait to begin earning prizes.  Check out the website on May 29th for details. 

The theme for preschool through 5th grade is "Dig into Reading" and the teen theme is "Beneath the Surface" so we have programs about earth movers, caves, worms, rocks, conservation, rain water, plants, dinosaurs, and even snakes.  Check out the program flyer for all the details.  We have planned fun things for everyone all around the county.  All of the programs are free and open to the public.  Come join us for a busy summer.

Last evening we had a great discussion with our GAB (Girls and Books) discussion group at NICC/Peosta.  We talked about "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler.  The consensus was that Tyler really captured the trials and tribulations of international adoption.  For June, we will be reading Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson.  Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about the novel,

"Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to discover the life you were meant to live.  Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband--yet still feels miserable inside?  When Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty nun running a downtown homeless shelter, she finds herself at a crossroads. Life turns upside down for Heather in a Quaker Summer. 'Lisa Samson is one of the most powerful voices in Christian fiction, Samson delivers …a staggering examination of the Christian conscience."

Pick up a copy at any branch library and join us at 6:00 on June 27th at NICC/Peosta for the discussion.  We welcome new members!!

Bea Ellerbach is leaving the library after this Saturday.  The Library staff and Board want to say thank you to Bea for 14 years of outstanding service to the Holy Cross community.  She says, "I am ready to move on to the next chapter in my life and see where the bus takes me."   We all wish her well.

Have a great weekend and keep reading!!  Dawn

Happy Mother's Day

This Sunday is Mother's Day and I hope you remember to say thank you to your mom, grandmother, aunt, or that special someone who helped you along the way to adulthood.  My mom is gone and I miss her very much, but I will celebrate this year with my two daughters.  It will also be special because my oldest daughter is expecting and we can't wait to meet our granddaughter. 

I was thinking about books that explore the mother-daughter relationship.  There are so many.  Some are lighter like the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood  or Practical Magic while others are more serious.  One of my favorites is The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.  Her novel delves into the rivalries and deep secrets that can keep mothers and daughters apart. It is an immigrant story but, at its heart, it is about trusting enough to share yourself with another person, especially when that person is your daughter.

The book that spoke to me about the sometimes difficult relationship between mothers and daughters is One True Thing by Anna Quindlen.   On the surface it is about an adult daughter, Ellen, who returns home to care for her dying mother.  But it is really about a daughter learning about her parents as people and discovering before it's too late, that her childhood perceptions may not be all together accurate.  Ellen finds that learning as an adult is difficult and painful.  Quindlen is remarkable at capturing inner turmoil and placing it among typical, everyday scenes.  I read the book not too long after my mother died and so I sobbed through much of the book, but it made me appreciate my mom even more. 

So, remember to say thanks to Mom!

Tonight we are showing The Neverending Story" at our Epworth branch beginning at 6:30.  This is a contemporary classic for the whole family.

Next week is Children's Book Week.  Join the celebration.  Check out three or more Dubuque County Library books from your local branch and receive a prize of your choice!  Reading and a prize, you can't beat that.

Regular storytimes continue next week.  Check out our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for places and times.  While you are at our website, take a look at our summer reading flyer, Dig Into Reading, and information on the teen program as well.  You can see all the great programs and events we have planned. 

Have a great weekend!  Dawn

Spring?

It's May, but it sure feels like March.  This is spring?  Really?  Last week it was beautiful, but at least we have avoided the snow, so far.  The tulips in my yard are very confused.  They came out and basked in the sun and now they are closed and shivering in the wind.  Graduations are being planned and who knows what the weather will be like? 

My son-in-law is receiving his Master's degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison this month.  According to the UW-Madison description, "The Water Resources Management Program (WRM) prepares students to face the complexities of meeting the increasing human demand for water while ensuring its future availability and quality."  He is hoping to work in community planning or research.  We have a big party planned for that weekend to wish him success!

The Library is also busy planning.  Summer reading begins on May 29th.  Stay tuned for all the fun events and be sure to register for the Read at Home program to earn prizes! 

Tomorrow is the Friends of Dubuque County Library used book sale at Asbury Branch.  We were planning for a lovely event in the park, but due to the weather forecast; the book sale will be held from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Asbury Library.  There is a great selection of books, DVDs, and videos at very low prices.  Come out of the rain and scoop up some great bargains.  While you're here, join the Friends and you will get to attend future pre-sale events. 

Our library book group has decided to continue to meet during the summer.  The May book is "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler.  We will be talking about it on Thursday, May 16th beginning at 6:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta Branch.  Copies of the book are available at all branch locations.  I love this book.  It is so uplifting and funny compared to Tyler's other novels. 

For June we are reading "Quaker Summer" by Lisa Samson.  Here's what Amazon has to say, "Sometimes you have to go a little bit crazy to discover the life you were meant to live.  Heather Curridge is coming unhinged. And people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything--a mansion on a lake, a loving son, a heart-surgeon husband--yet still feels miserable inside?  When Heather spends the summer with two ancient Quaker sisters and a crusty nun running a downtown homeless shelter, she finds herself at a crossroads. Life turns upside down for Heather in a Quaker Summer."  Come join us.

On a bittersweet note, this is Sam Sporer's last day with the library.  Sam has been with us for over seven years.  She started as a shelver in high school and worked as our delivery person all during her college years.  Sam has been working at our Drexler/Farley branch for the past year.  But Sam studied conservation in school and she has finally secured a position with the Department of Natural Resources.  She will be studying invasive species which is a really hot area right now.  We are so pleased that Sam will be working in her field, literally crawling the river banks.  Congratulations Sam, we will miss your bright, smiley face. 

Have a great weekend and think spring thoughts.  Happy reading, Dawn.