STAFFORD — I am on a Kansas History reading kick right now. Not intentionally because it’s almost Kansas’s Birthday, more because there are many really good Kansas books out there right now. Last week it was the book about the Harvey family (which should be delivered to Larabee on Friday). This week it is “Doc” by Mary Doria Russell.
“Doc” is an audiobook from the State Library Card about Doc Holliday and the settling of Dodge City. The year is 1878, the peak of the Texas cattle trade. Doc moves to Dodge for his health and he begins an unusual friendship with Wyatt Earp. Kansas history unfolds in a personable & entertaining way giving us a look into the settling of the West.
We are looking forward to the new books from South Central Kansas Library (SCKLS) coming on Wednesday. We will have 350 new books for all ages. I have patrons waiting for new reads. It is a great service to libraries all over Southwest Kansas. If you live outside of a city and your county participates with SCKLS, you will see a small property tax to help support this great District Library Service. These tax dollars help us support city and country patrons by providing monies and expertise to help us keep our doors open.
This week, I received approval for a grant given by SCKLS for $500 for new programming. It is one of the many ways they encourage us to try new things. This grant is for our Young Adult population and meeting their needs. We are making an area for them to enjoy the socialization that Dungeons and Dragons provides and providing them books and games in an area just for them.
We are girding our loins for the beginning of “The BIG Move” taking place after rotation books come in. Bear with us for the rest of January as we try new arrangements of furniture to be more user friendly. I am actually excited about all the work because we believe it will give the library a new look that will also help the daily flow. I am thanking Mike Cargill and Sandy ahead of time for all the work it means for them and the excitement they have to try something new.
On Jan. 27, Recently Read will be back! We stopped for the holidays but our evening together has been severely missed. Come join us at 5:30 p.m. and share excitement about the treasure trove of books available. “Winter Reads to Contentment Leads,” the new list for book prompts, is available. Notice I didn’t call it a “Book Challenge”. It is just a list of ideas to lead you to new books and authors. Come check it out.
Coming up
• Monday mornings 10-11 a.m. - Preschool Story Hour
• D&D every Wednesday, 4-6 p.m.
• Winter Reads to Contentment Leads - Book Challenge has started.
• Every Wednesday except 2nd Wednesday - ESOL with Rachel Sandoval, 6 p.m.
• Book Rotation will be Jan. 21 and we will have 350 new books.
• Jan. 27 - Recently Read at 5:30 p.m. - come enhance our conversation.
Library hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday; 2-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Gerry Hildebrand is the head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library, 108 N. Union St. in Stafford. Phone 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.comor visit Facebook at Nora Larabee Memorial Library.
