I am declaring the rest of January and February “Inside - Out Days.”
We are tired of the cold and tired of staying in! Come OUT to the library and enjoy INSIDE activities at your convenience. It can be a family excursion or maybe you need to relax on your own. Sandy has many fun things to craft, we have magazines and the Great Bend Tribune, maybe we can help you make some fun valentines before Feb. 14th! We have chess and checkers, puzzles, Yahtzee, and my all time favorite, Skip-Bo! Come join the fun! Come “Inside - Out” with us! Don’t be surprised if you find inside-out clothing style!
Our friend Adam, has been hard at work processing the Kansas Section in the East Room. He is new to Stafford, moving recently from Vermont, and so he has been fascinated by all the Kansas information! Each day he finds new and interesting stories, places to see, and facts about Kansas. It has been good for us to view Kansas through his eyes. Remember, Kansas’s 163rd birthday will be Jan. 29th!
Kansas has many ways of celebrating our state’s birthday. Go to: https://www.travelks.com/kansas-day/ for entertaining videos of former years’ celebrations and the soon-to-be posted 2024 celebration. Make plans to attend a local event in our area or tour some of the great local museums. If you want to see videos of Kansas there are many, many of them and we will be playing some on our TV in Nora’s window room. Come join us and enjoy Kansas in our comfort.
I am reading, “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict. This story is a historical fiction based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, JP Morgan’s personal librarian. Not only was she a powerful very young woman, but a woman of color forced to pass as white during the turn of the 20th century. It has been an eye-opening book about this time in our history with lessons for our time. I have also read a four-book series, “Amish Vines and Orchards,” by Cindy Woodsmall. It is a great series following two Amish families through the seasons of starting a new Amish community and the romance and many twists of fate for these young Amish members. These books are available to me with the Kansas Library Card, which we can get for anyone free! All the free books you can want at your fingertips. I read them on my laptop, while others use their smartphones or kindles. I like that I can make the print so big I don’t need my glasses and I literally read in the dark with the light from the computer screen. From our library shelves I am reading “Motive” by Jonathan Kellerman, a serial murder mystery. At first I didn’t like the narrative style, but I stuck with it and am enjoying how the plot has thickened. That is three different genres of books in just one week. I would like to encourage readers to not get stuck in just one genre or author, change up your reads with:
• Our New Book Challenge - “Read Everyday - Live a Better Life.” We encourage all of you to join, read, increase your brain activity and make these cold winter days more enjoyable.
• Our 400 new books have arrived from South Central Kansas rotating library and are on the shelf ready for your reading pleasure. (Thank You Sandy for all your hard work shelving.)
The Nora’s Gathering Committee needs some new members! Please contact us if you are a person or couple that would like to be involved in this great community showcase. Plans are already falling in place for an April gathering.
• T-Shirt Quilt class will be Feb. 24 at 1-3 p.m. at the Library. The cost will be $20. Everyone should bring one or two T-shirts with them to practice the technique and start their own quilt. Call to reserve a spot in the class.
• Other classes that are going to be scheduled hopefully soon! Do you have any ideas for programs you would like the Library to provide?
Our next Board meeting is Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.
Our library hours are: Monday morning 8 a.m. to noon; and Tuesday through Friday 2-6 p.m. Call 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.com. Visit Facebook at Nora Larabee Memorial Library.
By Gerry Hildebrand, head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library. Phone 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.com or visit Facebook at Nora Larabee Memorial Library.
