Boundaries

Okay, I just have one simple request:

DO NOT walk behind the desk and into our work room when you need help. The desk is there for a reason. Seriously.

Cool Things

Oh, so much to tell! Where to start?

Cool Thing #1: We are fortunate to be welcoming our next OutLoud! Author to Theatre Cedar Rapids, this Saturday, May 1st at 7pm. And who is this mystery author? Well, it's the wonderful and talented Lisa Scottoline, of course! Ms. Scottoline will read from her latest book Think Twice, take audience questions, and sign books. Now, here's a really cool deal. If you hurry and stop into the Hiawatha library by tomorrow, you could enter your name into a drawing to win a copy of her latest book! And the coolest part? You could take it with you and have her sign it on Saturday! It doesn't get much better than this kids! Hope to see you all there!

Cool Thing #2: We have partnered with the Cedar Rapids Public Library to bring all you lovely patrons an amazing program called "The Relativity of Albert Einstein." Watch as Broadway and film veteran Duffy Hudson brings Albert Einstein to life! Watch as Albert Einstein explains the Theory of Relativity in a fun and exciting way! Also, learn about his life, the speed of light, time travel, gravity and just exactly what E=MC^2 is. This show is certain to excite children and adults alike to look at the workings of the universe with new eyes!


Cool Thing #3: Wait until you get a chance to see the really, really, really cool prizes that I've managed to grovel and beg to get for Adult Summer Reading Program! I hate to brag (actually I don't...), but they are super awesome this year, and if all goes according to plan, I should have even more on the way! Don't forget, Summer Reading Programs start on June 1st!

They...are...outta here!!

The VHS collection at the Hiawatha Public Library is no more! I have officially weeded 303 VHS tapes as of tonight and any others that come through will be gone! If you are interested in purchasing them, we will have them for sale at our Friends of the Hiawatha Library booksale this weekend.

Ahhh...spring cleaning at the library! :)

Down and Out...

Most days I love my job.

I really do.

But there truly are days that I question my capability to handle this job. Right now I am trying desperately to get everything ready for the 2010 season of Adult Summer Reading Program. And although this is my third year doing it, I still find myself worrying incessantly that it won't be good enough or successful enough.

I think some of this fear stems from some recent failures I've had with programs. I had a series of programs in March as part of a "Spring Cleaning Series" and almost quite literally no one showed up! It was such an embarrassment to me as a program coordinator to look at the speaker and say "well, I'm really sorry, but it doesn't look like anyone is going to show." Thankfully, all of the speakers were kind enough to not be offended by it, but it still made me feel awful.

And so, I find myself at a crossroads. Where do I go from here? Do I need to readjust my expectations as to what makes a successful program? I know I can't throw in the towel. But I know that what happened in March is simply unacceptable to me. What's a girl to do?

One more thing...

For those of you who have already read OutLoud! Author, Allan Guranus' book Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, jump in and join the online discussion with others at: http://outloudauthorseries.blogspot.com/

Holy programs, Batman!

Oh, so much to tell you all about! First off, we were fortunate enough to have our wonderful Hiawatha Firefighters out to our library last Saturday to give a fire safety demonstration. I have to give my sincerest thanks to Fire Chief Mike Nesslage for helping me to arrange and present this program. He and the guys did a fantastic job of presenting very important information to all (both kids and adults) who attended this program.

This program was part of a larger series of programs connected to our Linn Area Reads selection called Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry. The book chronicles the life of a volunteer firefighter/EMS service in a small town called New Auburn in Wisconsin. Perry also mixes his tales of heroic rescues with stories of small-town life. I can personally promise you that it is a read that you will definitely enjoy!

Our own Fire Chief, Mike Nesslage will again be participating in another Linn Area Reads event on April 28th at 7pm. This event will be an EMT/Firefighter panel at the Marion Public Library and will offer those attending the chance to hear about our local EMTs and firefighters and the jobs they do. They will also share their reflections on the book and how it relates to their everyday lives.

Finally, we will be having the author of Population 485, Michael Perry, visiting on May 15th at 2pm. This event will be held at Theatre Cedar Rapids and will be a chance to hear the author read from his work, as well as a book signing. Don't miss your chance to hear this wonderful author and humorist in person!

The OutLoud! Author Series is back! Hooray! This year brings a wide variety of authors with an even wider array of genres! Our first author this year is Allan Gurganus. He will be reading from his novel-in-progress The Erotic History of a Southern Baptist Church which is a companion to his classic Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, which spent eight months atop the New York Times Bestseller List. Mr. Gurganus is also a graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop and is a visiting faculty member of the program for the 2010 spring semester. He will be presenting his work on Saturday, April 17th at 2pm at Theatre Cedar Rapids. This program is open to the public and there will be a book signing following his presentation. Again, don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to meet a fantastic author!