Drake Public Library

Seeking Excellence

JeNel Barth

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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!

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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.

 

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

 

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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

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Thanksgiving at Drake Public Library

The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday makes me realize how very thankful I am for the Drake Public Library and for those of you who support us.  The Friends of the Drake Public Library fund children’s programming and so many other things!  Thank you for working very hard to make sure that our library has whatever we need.  Our Drake Public Library Foundation raises and manages funds through memorials and large donations.  Thank you for ensuring the future of our library and our services.

Our library Board of Trustees is a strong support for me.  Thank you for planning for the future, assisting me in developing policies, and advocating for the library throughout the community.  The City of Centerville provides funding for the library and I am thankful to have strong leaders within the City Council, the Mayor’s office and administrative team to help me and support the library.

The staff at Drake Public Library has some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met.  Thank you, Beth, Julie, Kristin, Pam, Chaz and our volunteers John, James and Nikki, for being reliable, knowledgeable, patient and kind.  I am very lucky to have these coworkers and friends.   Finally, our patrons…because without you, we wouldn’t be here!  Thank you for kind words, patience, timely suggestions, interesting conversations, and of course tasty treats!  Our patrons are some of the best and the staff at the Drake Public Library is very thankful for all of you.

happy-thanksgiving-wishesPlease enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.  We will be closed on Thursday and Friday so that our staff can enjoy time with their families.  Thank you!

 

JeNel