Summer Vacation

Whoever thought of vacation should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.  What a great idea!!  I had a wonderful vacation last week--lots of time with family and friends; miniature golf, spa day when others went to the Chula Vista Resort water park, Army duck ride, circus museum and show, outdoor performance of "Hamlet" (the unabridged, 4-hour version), a visit to the International Crane Foundation (birds from all over the world), plus lots of time reading with my grandson, Leif, and I finished my book, "The Dress Lodger" by Sheri Holman.  It is a very well-written, but very grisly, novel about the 1830 cholera epidemic in England.  Holman takes on the deplorable working conditions, child labor, efforts to push medical science forward, and body snatching.  Don't attempt it unless you have a very strong stomach and don't mind some pretty graphic descriptions.  I thought it was awesome!! 

Last evening our library book group discussed Lisa Samson's "Quaker Summer."  The novel was listed on Publisher's Weekly's top books of 2008 and won the Christian Fiction Book of the Year Award.  So much for the critics, our group was not thrilled with it.  Our group seemed to think there was not enough action to move the plot along, that the dialog was confusing, and that Samson's heroine, Heather Curridge, was mostly making mountains out of molehills.  Insecurity and low self-esteem ruled, and almost ruined, her life.  We liked the resolution, but we won't be turning to another Samson novel anytime soon.

I love these discussions!  You need to join us.  Our next book is "A Thousand Acres" by Jane Smiley.  It is the story of an Iowa farm family with parallels to King Lear.  The novel was made into a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer.  We meet the third Thursday of each month at our NICC/Peosta branch beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The next date is July 18th.  Copies of the books are available at your local branch.  All readers are welcome!

Conservation Station is coming to Dubuque County Library on Monday, July 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at our NICC/Peosta branch.  Iowa Learning Farms will be driving into the NICC campus parking lot with their mobile learning classrooms.  These classrooms are designed to educate audiences of all ages on different conservation aspects using learning modules about soil and water quality.  See up close the effects of rainfall on a variety of soil surfaces. Learn how you can preserve and protect Iowa's landscape with the rainfall simulator and hands-on activities. The program is free and open to the public.  Come join in the fun! 

All branches of the Dubuque County Library will be closed for the 4th of July holiday this coming Thursday.  The NICC/Peosta branch will also be closed on Friday, July 5th and open on Saturday from 9:00-1:00 as usual. 

Remember to keep reading and logging time on those Read@Home calendars.  Have a happy and safe 4th of July.    Dawn

Jul 01, 2013 from 10:00 am to 01:00 pm
Where	Peosta/NICC

Jul 01, 2013 from 10:00 am to 01:00 pm
Where	Peosta/NICC

Summer Reading Oops!

Dear Readers, I goofed.  The 2013 Teen Summer Reading theme is "Beneath the Surface" hence all the references to ecology, caving, sharks, etc.  This coming week will be the Geocaching program at NICC/Peosta Branch at 10:00 a.m.  Jenny from Dubuque County Conservation will teach participants about how to use a GPS and then find hidden treasures.  The program is free.


The 2013 Adult Summer Reading theme is "Groundbreaking Reads."  I love the double entendre.  Groundbreaking can literally be putting a spade to earth or something new and exciting.  We hope this summer we can introduce adult readers to new authors, new titles, and new genres.  Stop by and sign up.   As you read over the summer, you can fill out "stones" and be eligible for prizes.

 
I'm happy to report that summer reading is off to a great start.  Lots of little ones and students are coming in and signing up.  We are seeing many new faces and issuing lots of new library cards.  This is fantastic!  Aside from the prizes, summer reading is so important to maintaining a student's reading level over the summer and, more often, improving their reading skills. 

This morning our children's librarian, Jill Doyle, had 105 children and adults in the Epworth Branch Library parking lot looking at and learning about construction equipment!!  Who doesn't love watching backhoes, dump trucks, and excavators at work?  A big thanks to the Dubuque County Secondary Roads Department for bringing the vehicles to us and talking to the kids about how they operate.

You won't want to miss any of our upcoming events, so call your local branch to sign up for all the fun programs like "Rockin' Reptiles," "Snakes Alive," "Conservation Station," plus crafts, books discussions, and movies.  The children's and adult flyers describing the programs are available at our website:  www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us.  Check it out!

 I have to tell you that I am enjoying the first in the Tyndal series by Priscilla Royal, "The Wine of Violence."  You can tell it is the first in a series because there is a tremendous amount of set up and introducing principle characters, but that will pay off as the series continues.  If you appreciate strong, women characters, a setting in a very different place and time, and a murder mystery, this  is a good one. 

Next week I am going on vacation, so you won't see a new blog next Friday.  I will be sitting by the lake reading and watching my grandson fish. Have a great week.  On Wisconsin!!   Dawn

Groundbreaking Reads

Although the weather may not feel like it, summer is here.  All the schools are out and it's time for family vacations and activities.  The Library is ready to be part of your summer fun.

Summer reading is not only for the little ones.  Dubuque County Library has programs for all ages.  The teen theme this year is "Groundbreaking Reads."  We are interpreting the theme to mean ecology, conservation, earth science, caving, dinosaurs, and much more.  Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to join the Read @ Home Program.  Teens have a special BINGO card to win prizes.  Returned cards earn chances for the grand prize giveaways. 

The first teen program is on Friday, June 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at our NICC/Peosta Branch.  We will be exploring Geocaching with Jenny from Dubuque County Conservation.  You will learn how to use a GPS and then use your skills to locate a cache and leave a cache for others to find.  

On Monday the 17th, join our Ecological Paper Pot Workshop at our Drexler/Farley Branch from 1-2 p.m.  Learn how to use yesterday's news to start tomorrow's flower and vegetable seeds with recycled materials.  This workshop will be repeated on Saturday, June 22nd at our Epworth Branch and on Tuesday, June 25th at our Holy Cross Branch.  Please call your local branch to register.

Stop by the library to register for your BINGO cards and to sign up for great events!  Remember to check the website for event information and to register online.

As I kid, I loved summer--no school, staying up late, and sleeping in late.  Paradise!  In my neighborhood, when we were little, we ran around outside all day until we were called in to dinner and then back out until we were called for bed.  I remember catching grasshoppers in a jar on really hot days and scooping up lightning bugs as it grew dark.  But as I grew older, I wasn't as interested in exploring the woods or playing softball.  We spent some time at the pool in Ellis Park, but Mom didn't let us go every day.  We biked to the bookmobile once a week and I remember lots of summers spent wrapped up in books.  My mom would threaten me with chores until I did spend some time outdoors, but I really preferred to read.  I clearly remember reading Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly published in 1967.  It was my first exposure to romance (not counting kissing Barry Jelinek on his front porch when I was five.)  I still heave a sigh remembering that lovely innocence.  I wish all kids had that. 

I think I told you that I love Medieval mysteries.  Well, I just finished a good one.  The Midwife's Tale by Samuel Thomas.  The setting is York under siege during England's 1644 Parliamentary rebellion  Our heroine, Lady Hodgson, is a highly respected midwife of the city.  She is quite a brave and independent widow who aims to solve several murders that town officials wish she wouldn't.  Thomas is a great successor to Arianna Franklin who was one of my favorite authors.  This is his debut novel and I hope more are coming.

Happy Reading.  Dawn