The Preserving Nora’s Legacy committee is starting out the new year with major restoration projects coming to a close. 

• We have beautiful and safer steps leading to the front door and a new sidewalk to provide safer access for our patrons. Our thanks go to Chris and his crew from Mansel Concrete Construction and the City of Stafford for the great completion of this much needed project. Thank you also goes to our community for their great financial support.

• Scott Hoefer of Hoefer’s Custom Stained Glass will be finishing up his portion of restoring our windows this week. The windows are looking great inside and out and hopefully we will be able to get a grant to restore the rest of the decorative glass “surrounds” this year.

 This week our new book challenge “Read Everyday - Live a Better Life” has begun. If you read at least five books before May 1st you will qualify for a prize. Call or stop by the library for more information. If you

google how reading improves your life, you will find that there has been a lot of research on this subject with reading enhancing your life in more ways than I can cover in this little article. Google it! You will be amazed!

 Do you have trouble finding books that you love? This is the time of year when many, many, many book lists are posted to help you find the book you can’t put down. Google - Book Lists and you will find lists from Goodreads to Reader’s Digest. Some of our “twenty something” readers found a book list they like on the tiktok app. I am amazed when visiting with young people how many have joined a “Book of the Month” club. It makes me think books are more in demand than ever before. A thought for next Christmas’ gifts, wrap a book for each month and then package them all together in a present that keeps giving all year! Start buying a book a month and be done by December!

 I have read many books during this “staying inside weather”. Books from our library shelf, books from the State Library Card and books from our Rotating Books collection. We will be sending back 400 books Jan. 17 and getting 400 new books. Come enjoy the new titles! I have been reading a variety of genres:

• Christian Inspirational with Kim Vogel Sawyer who writes books of Hope. Did you know she is a Kansas Girl? She also has an inspirational website that has daily devotionals.

• Nicholas Sparks, “The Wish” and “Dear John”

• A Junior fiction, “365 Days to Alaska” by Cathy Carr

• “Sherlock Holmes & the Ripper of Whitechapel” by M.K. Wiseman

• Many others by Ellen Marie Wiseman

 Through books this month, I have lived the circus life, discovered the horrors of living in an insane asylum in the early 1900s, solved who was Jack the Ripper, lived in the wilds of Alaska, suffered heartbreak, and explored the tunnels of Mammoth Cave and learned how it became a National Park. All from the comfort of my recliner. 

• T-shirt Quilt class will be February 24 at 1-3pm 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 are, Sour Dough Starter, plus many more are being looked into.

We had over fifty visitors enjoying our Penguin Hunt as a great family activity. We continue to have fun activities for families to enjoy when they experience “Cabin Fever”. Thank you, Ruth Rewerts for bringing in many new puzzles for young and old. They range from 200 pieces to 2,000! I think it is time to set up our “puzzle in progress” table. 

Come see us at Nora’s Place! Our address is 108 N Union, Stafford 

The next Board meeting is Jan. 10 at 6 p.m.

Come join us at Nora’s. Our address is 108 N. Union, Stafford. 

Our library hours are: Monday morning 8 a.m. to noon; and Tuesday through Friday 2-6 p.m. Call 620-234-5762, emaillarabeelibrary@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.