Beccy Tanner, of the Kansas Humanities Speaker’s Bureau, will be at Hoisington Public Library at 1 p.m. July 31, speaking on “How we survived the Great Depression – Dirt, Grit and Jello-Salad.” Tanner is from the area and is a former Great Bend Tribune and Wichita Eagle reporter. The library received a $300 grant from Kansas Humanities for this event.

The library will change its hours on Saturday to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. after Aug. 1st.

Hoisington Library has added a Sensory Shelf for those children with dyslexia or autism. The books in this area are geared for those kids, using the Dyslexie Font, for easier reading, and topics that are of interest. Please stop by and see them!

Other upcoming activities include Children’s Story Hour 10:30 a.m. July 26, a Children’s Movie at 3:30 p.m. July 28, and an Adult Movie 6 p.m. Aug. 3.

We have many new books at the library. Here are a few:

“Stalin’s War” - Sean McMeekin. McMeekin takes a new look at World War II, calling it Stalin’s Wear instead of Hitler’s. Stalin wanted to encourage the spread of communism, which the war did in China, Eastern Europe (until 1989), North Korea and North Vietnam. Whereas Germany ended up with a smaller portion of land, the spread of Communism was huge. WWII is reexamined in a whole new light with new literature released from Russia.

“American Quilt Treasures” - Historic Quilts from the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. Quilting has been an historic pastime for women who created works of art for utility and beauty. This book shows a history of quilts from the 1800s on.

“Franklin D. Roosevelt. A political Life” - Robert Dallek. This book takes a look at how a man so privileged became such a champion to the needy. Many believe his diagnosis of polio at the age of 39 endowed him a sense of humanity. In his four terms, he brought the nation from isolationism to becoming an international superpower.

“My Dearest Julia. The Wartime ALetters of Ulysses S. Grant to his wife” - Ron Chernow. During the dreariness of military service and war, Grant wrote home to his wife Julia of the hope she gave him and of the desire to see her.

“American Sign Language for Beginners” - Rochelle Barlow. This book is a 30-day beginner’s guide for learning American Sign Language. Using photos with actual hands this book is a good start in learning to sign.

Karen La Pierre is the director at the Hoisington Public Library. She can be reached by email at library@hoisingtonks.org