Drake Public Library

Seeking Excellence

JeNel Barth

|

Drake Public Library Renovation

It is a busy and exciting time at the Drake Public Library as we prepare for the library renovation that will begin in September.  The project involves an interior remodeling that will convert an existing double height space, also known as “the glass floor” that is currently under-utilized, into a newly accessible, separate floor.  The added floor will allow for the creation of a reading room which honors the wishes of Bill Swab, who left a memorial fund to the library for this purpose.  We envision this space as a beautiful and comfortable space, with soft furniture, a fireplace, periodicals and a small portion of the book collection available for the public.  A place to relax, read, work or perhaps visit with a good friend.

We are proud that a design has been created that incorporates pieces of the historical glass and steel floor stacks.  Pieces of the glass floor panels will be used as a beautiful, decorative inlay in the new floor of the reading room and portions of the steel stacks will be utilized throughout the main floor as display pieces.

The current meeting room on the south side of the building will be divided into two spaces, one large conference room and one smaller room that will host groups of less than 20 people.  These spaces will be divided by a partition wall, topped with clerestory glass windows with historic photos of the Centerville area as part of the design.  This will be quite a showstopper and we are very thankful to Lisa Eddy and the Appanoose County Historic Museum for helping our architect find just the right photos to add to this piece.

We are also going to be redesigning and renovating the lower level bathrooms and are planning on adding a main floor bathroom.  This is an important aspect of the design so that we can maintain ADA compliance and update our facilities’ functions.

There will be study areas found throughout the building and the library’s layout will be reconfigured just a bit in order to create a better flow for patrons and staff.  The Genealogy collection will also be moved to its own space to make it more accessible to the public.

During these renovation, the Drake Public Library will be housed at a temporary location, the former Mr. Movies business next to the mall’s movie theater.  Be on the look out for information regarding the timing of this move. We will be moving as much of the collection as possible to the temporary location and we will continue to be open Monday through Friday, 10-6 and Saturday, 10-2.  Any materials that do not get moved to the temporary location will be in accessible storage.  If a patron wants an item that hasn’t made the move, they can put the item on hold. A staff member will then collect the item and contact the patron… just as if someone else had the item checked out.  We know that it won’t be perfect, but we are working very hard to plan on providing excellent customer service to our patrons during this time.

Our future looks pretty amazing as we look toward the completion of this renovation. In the meantime, the staff and I invite your continued support for the Drake Public Library in our temporary space as we strive to keep our community’s library a welcoming center for all.

Thanks for your support,

JeNel Barth

|

Homestead Blessings

“Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency.  It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of foodstuffs, and it may or may not also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing and craftwork for household use or sale.”  -from Merriam Webster

Modern Homesteaders often use renewable energy options including solar energy and wind power and some even invent DIY cars!  Many also choose to plant and grow heirloom vegetables and to raise heritage livestock.  Homesteading is not defined by where someone lives, such as the city or the country, by the lifestyle choices they make.

With the up and coming interest in homesteading in our area, the Drake Public Library has purchased a set of DVDs produced by Franklin Springs Family Media called “Homestead Blessings”.  The 9 piece series includes step by step directions in Bread Making, Candle Making, Canning, Cooking, Dairy Product Use, Gardening, Herb Preparation and Use, Sewing and Soap Making.

Of course my first thought was, “This would be great for our 4H kids that might be thinking about next year already!”  But really, this series is for anyone interested in learning these skills that don’t tend to be taught much anymore.  The films are full of helpful instruction, practical tips and fun filled insight into these homesteading skills and are presented by a group of women with practical knowledge and experience in each of these areas.

Are  you interested in learning more about these subjects?  Come to the Drake Public Library and check out one of these DVDs or look through our catalog for other homesteading materials.  There are other DVDs, books and magazines that you might be interested in seeing.  We are more than happy to help you find just the right thing within our own collection or look through the inter library loan system.

Small steps toward self-sufficiency can truly change or perhaps improve your quality of life.  And, you might just enjoy it!

|

Help Wanted

Part Time Librarian Assistant for Children’s Department

The Drake Public Library is seeking candidates to fill a part time opening in the children’s department, beginning immediately. This is a part time position (15 – 20 hours a week) with a set schedule that includes Saturdays.

The Librarian Assistant is responsible for daily operations at the Circulation Desk. This position requires the ability to work directly with children of various ages, a familiarity with authors, books and genres, a basic understanding of the internet and various computer programs, the ability to alphabetize and an understanding of the Dewey Decimal system in order to re-shelve materials accurately. You must be over the age of 18 and out of high school to apply.

Please fill out an application at the circulation desk of the library and submit it to the librarian on duty. Previous applicants may reapply.

 

|

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR 2017

The annual Scholastic Book Fair will be held at the Drake Public Library Monday, May 22 through Saturday, May 27 during normal business hours.  In years past, this event has been held in March but we are trying something new this year.  This year’s “table top” fair is being held at the end of May in order to help kick off Summer Reading Program season.

We are still looking for volunteers to help run the fair during business hours (10-6).  It is relatively simple.  Any adult with a bit of cash register experience can do it.  Its more fun with a buddy, so bring a friend!  If  you are interested, please contact us at 856-6676.  As a volunteer, you will be lucky enough to see the books that are available for purchase right away!

This year’s theme is “Happy Camper Book Fair: S’more Fun with Books!” and promises to be full of wonderful reading choices as well as a few fun novelty items.  There will be books of all types and price ranges for children pre-school through young adult.  Scholastic provides good quality reading materials that are very popular with kids and families.

This book fair helps us earn “Scholastic Dollars” to purchase books and other materials for the library.  We can earn up to 50% of our total sales!  Its been a wonderful resource for the Children’s Library and we hope that you will help support the Drake Public Library through this fun event.  Come to our book fair!

|

Writers Come Home – Authors Visit at the Drake Public Library

On Saturday, May 13 at 11am, two popular authors from Centerville, Kathryn Wood (CHS 1958) and Garry Cox (CHS 1960) have been invited home to share their poetry and storytelling skills with an audience of old and new friends.

Garry L. Cox is a teacher, poet, actor, playwright and public speaker. Garry will be reading from  his book of poetry, The Waters of Appanoose County.

“I’m really just a big ham-ever since I was in the Lincoln Elementary School Production of The Big Bad Wolf and brought down the house by diving head-first into a huge waste can we were using as a chimney.  Anything to please an audience.  Including standing still and sharing some poems I’ve written to express my gratitude for a life full of blessings.”

The Waters of Appanoose County is available at Amazon.com.  For an even more fun option, go to Garry’s website, garrycox.com and check out his blog and click on BOOK to purchase.

Kathryn Wood will be reading from her book, An Unbroken Promise.

“I currently live in Cedar Falls to be close to my daughter and her family.  I grew up in Centerville and graduated with the class of 1958.  I married Clyde Wood of Exline, Iowa and we had a son and a daughter.  My son is a history professor and teaches at a small college in West Virginia.  My daughter is a physical therapist in Cedar Falls.”

“Clyde died in 1987 and since then, I have been exploring life as a single person, walking a trail cut out for one.  Since the writing of An Unbroken Promise, I have also contributed a story as part of a book, Sex, Lies and Scandals in Two Rivers.”

An Unbroken Promise is available on Amazon.

Copies of Garry and Kathryn’s books will be available for purchase through cash or check during their visit to the Drake Public Library.

The Friends of the Drake Public Library are graciously hosting this event.

|

If Not For You by Debbie Macomber

“It really was a shame. No, not a shame…a disappointment, Beth Prudhomme mused, as she sat at the intersection waiting for the green light. She glanced out the car window at the man her friend had invited her to meet over dinner. Sam Carney was stopped in the lane next to her, also waiting for the light. Again she felt a twinge of regret, knowing that nothing would ever come of their evening together…”

Debbie Macomber returns following A Girl’s Guide to Moving On (New Beginnings, #2) with her third in the New Beginning Series If Not For You, a charming, fun, contemporary tale of unexpected romantic connections with Macomber’s own Hallmark signature style: Second Chances. Fresh Beginnings. Self-discovery. Healing.

Beth, reserved and smart, has started living her own life, out from under the thumb of her over controlling parents.  She has also agreed to go on a “blind date” with Sam, who is her exact opposite and her parents’ worst nightmare…a tattooed auto mechanic who’s rough around the edges.  Both Beth and Sam would have just written the date off as just another awkward set up.  But, tragedy brings them together and they develop the most unlikely of friendships and eventually fall in love.  Of course, there are certain hurdles that threaten to stand in their way. But that’s what makes the story interesting!

Spring has sprung and I have been in the mood to read something light, fun and a little romantic. This book fit the bill and has a sweet story that really grabs at your heart. If you read, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, some of those characters also show up in this book. Nobody does realistic, down to earth romance stories like Debbie Macomber.

|

Help Wanted Part Time Librarian Assistant

Help Wanted

Drake Public Library

Part Time Librarian Assistant for Children’s Department

The Drake Public Library is seeking candidates to fill a part time opening beginning March 15, 2017. This is a part time position (15 – 20 hours a week) with a set schedule that includes Saturdays. The Librarian Assistant is responsible for daily operations at the Circulation Desk.  This position requires a familiarity with authors, books and genres, a basic understanding of the internet and various computer programs, the ability to alphabetize and an understanding of the Dewey Decimal system in order to re-shelve materials accurately.  The ability to and desire to work with children of all ages is required. You must be over the age of 18 and out of high school to apply.  Please fill out an application at the main desk of the library and submit it to the librarian on duty.  Previous applicants may reapply.

|

We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter

Another book review by dedicated Drake Public Library reader and patron, Deb Egeland.  This book has been very popular among readers who enjoy historical fiction…although, it is based on a true story.

There have been a multitude of novels written about WWII and the Holocaust. “We were the Lucky Ones” is yet another. It is worth picking up, even if you’ve read many already.

This book does delve into the many horrors the Polish Jews had to face. What Georgia Hunter does in addition in this book is to show how fractured families became, the prolonged uncertainty of where and how siblings, children and parents were, and how devastating that was as well.

It was a horrifying and shameful time for the world. But a time that brought out tremendous strengths, allegiances, courage and fortitude. These attributes were called upon not only during the war, but also during the search for surviving family afterwards, and trying to figure out where they might safely land…and live.

Read the story. Then continue to read the ‘author’s note’ and the ‘since then’. There you will discover that the story that you thought too horrible, too intense, too heartbreaking to be real, was in fact true!

|

Georgia, A Novel of Georgia O’Keeffe by Dawn Tripp

This is a novel about the life of American master painter Georgia O’Keeffe, her love story with photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and her quest to come of age as a woman. In this novel of a couple, and of passion, betrayal, and art, Georgia comes alive as never before.

Georgia is a young art teacher and artist when she travels from Texas to New York to meet Alfred Stieglitz.  He is a married photographer, gallery owner and contemporary art promoter.  Their attraction is instant and their love affair begins just as Georgia also begins to develop as an artist. She soon gains notoriety as the artistic muse for Stieglitz’s renown nudes series. But Georgia begins to feel trapped in her role as subject while trying to hold her own in the art world.  Her desire to be seen and understood as an independent woman and artist pushes the boundaries of her relationship.  And, we watch as it transforms her into the powerfully independent woman and artist that we know of today.  You can see her independence shine through in the forward, “This is not a love story.  If it were, we would have the same story.  But he has his, and I have mine.”

For fans of the iconic artist, you will enjoy delving into her personal life and see this transformation for yourself.  The story itself is quite romantic and inspirational.  Her struggles and feelings, very real.  It gave me a little more insight into this artist that I have to admit, I idolize.  I read this with my Georgia O’Keeffe print books handy so that I might see the paintings that are mentioned throughout the book.  The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum website was useful as well.  Check out Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O’Keeffe if you are in the mood for the romantic but very interesting story of an iconic artist.

 

|

A Book Review of The Nix, by Nathan Hill

Deb Egeland has submitted another interesting book review on one of our newer releases.  Nathan Hill’s debut novel, The Nix was named as the #1 book of the year by Audible and Entertainment Weekly, as well as one of the year’s best books by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Amazon, Newsday, Library Journal and many others.

Nathan is a native Iowan, but grew up all over the Midwest: Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.  He has lived in New England, New York, the Twin Cities and Chicago, but has since fled to a warmer climate and makes his home in Naples, Florida.

Here is what Deb has to say about The Nix.

The Nix, by Nathan Hill is a very solid book, physically as well as in story.  The actual book is heavy and the story is involved.  The story has abandonment, sexual abuse, protest marches, police violence…characters who don’t seem to know for sure who they are, or quite how to find out.

In places, I found the telling to be rather tedious with specifics.  Other times I was restless and wondered where it was going.  Something kept me reading.  As I turned the pages, I also turned back the clock.  I was  teenage during the Vietnam protests, knew about “flower power”, lived in the Midwest and am familiar with Eastern Iowa and Chicago.  I could easily envision what was happening and where.

As I finished it tonight, I realized that it was a good read.  I enjoyed the “journey” the main characters were on.  If you are looking for a book that might take a little extra effort, look at this one.

Deb