Editor’s note: Starting today, Gerry Hildebrand, head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library, and the staff, Denise Dickson and Sandy Gere, will provide a weekly column to the Great Bend Tribune.
I think our article has found at least one if not two ways to be printed.
Great Bend Tribune will print our article on Thursday along with the Great Bend Public Library and Ellinwood Public Library’s articles. The Great Bend Tribune also has our school and county news. It is published Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They are hoping to set up a news-stand at Ampride and Main Street Market.
The second way of our article being printed is in The Tri-County Tribune based in Pratt. They have said they would print one of our articles in the second and fourth week of the month. I am still posting to Facebook every Monday.
A patron called with a question that sent me researching - Why didn’t Margaret Mitchell write a sequel to “Gone With The Wind?” I googled the question and according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Mrs. Mitchell was overwhelmed with the success of her book (50,000 copies sold in one day. 30 Million copies by the beginning of the 21st century). She didn’t feel comfortable with how it threw her into the celebrity spotlight and disrupted her life. She vowed to never write again. She remained busy answering fan letters and running her publishing company. In the late 1940s she began to think of writing another novel, but in 1949 she was struck by a speeding car as she was crossing a street and died within five days. Decades after Mitchell’s death, her estate authorized novelist Alexandra Ripley to write “Scarlett: The Sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind” (1991) and later authorized two additional derivative novels: “Rhett Butler’s People” (2007) and “Ruth’s Journey” (2014), both of which were written by historical novelist Donald McCaig. I have “Scarlett” and “Rhett Butler’s People” and will bring both to the library if anyone is interested in hearing “The Rest of the Story.” “Ruth’s Journey” is a prequel to “Gone With the Wind” and is the story of Mammy. I was unaware of this book so I ordered it and will bring it to the library soon. I wonder why the estate authorized the second sequel? I know McCaig’s sequel resonated better with my wishes for Scarlett than Ripley’s.
This week I have finished reading two Pepper Basham books and started another one. Finished are, “Hope Between the Pages” and “The Red Ribbon.” I am currently reading the sequel to “Mistletoe Countess,” “The Cairo Curse.” I enjoy Basham’s sense of humor the characters show and the historical settings she uses. Good light reading. For heavier reading I am still reading “The Brother’s Keeper.” It is the story of how Jesus’s ministry might have affected his earthly family. Another book I am starting this weekend is “Demon Copperhead.” It is said to be the modern day equivalent to Dickens’ “David Copperfield.” It must be good, because the audio version on the Kansas Library Card isn’t available for four months!
I can’t get our Colleen Hoover’s books completely processed, because they are in such high demand! They certainly are great reads! Come see for yourself or use your Kansas Library Card to get instant access to all her titles.
Upcoming events
Oct. 31 at 4-6 p.m.: Sandy and I will be participating in “Trunk or Treat” at the Stafford County Hospital. The kids of Stafford look forward to this yearly event! Thank you Stafford County Hospital for sponsoring this fun and safe Halloween event.
November is the month of “Giving.” The Library will be collecting the following items for the school this year - underwear, socks, and gloves of all sizes, self-care products, deodorant, shampoo, bodywash, female products. We are asking people to drop off the above items to the Library during the month of November. Thank you!
Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Don’t forget to sign-up for Medicare Part D information appointment. Staying informed could save you time and money monthly.
Nov. 10, 2-6 p.m.: We will celebrate Veterans Day at the library a day early by having pictures of Stafford County Veterans scrolling on our television screen.
Nov. 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: We will be reading to Parents as Teachers Preschoolers “I Thought I Saw a Penguin.” I hear Penguins might be hiding in the library??
We have recently received from The State Library of Kansas, “My Heart Fills With Happiness,” written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett. This is the selected book to read to preschoolers during the month of November. They feel reading to preschoolers is so important they encourage us to do so, by sending all public libraries in Kansas this free book. I hope this helps people realize it is never too early to read to a child. I know of many who read to their unborn child and start the life enriching habit of reading really early.
Nov. 28, 2-6 p.m.:, Is “Giving Tuesday” for the Golden Belt Community Foundation(GBCF). The Library will be accepting donations on this day, which will receive additional matching funds from GBCF.
We are very pleased to be reaching a wider readership and would love to have you come visit our beautiful and historic library. Also stay till dark and see our beautifully restored RITZ sign, new murals, and enjoy a bite to eat. Restaurants vary on times and days they are open, but I feel we are privileged to have a variety of great food available. Stafford has it all!
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, The Ritz has first run movies at the unbelievable price of $5! A BIG Bucket of popcorn $3! Check out movies, events and food specials on, City of Stafford Kansas Community Forum. It’s a pleasant time of year to drive through the countryside and have an adventure in Stafford!
Come see us at Nora’s Place! Our address is 108 N. Union, Stafford. Next Board Meeting: Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.
By Gerry Hildebrand, head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library. Phone 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.com or visit the at Nora Larabee Memorial Library here.
