Monday Morning Eye Opener 04/06/09

A pretty Monday morning here, as Sioux City escaped a major snow storm. Admittedly, other towns around Siouxland were not quite so lucky. This has to be the end of winter weather, right? Today in EYE-OPENER:

1) Bus Trip to ALA Exhibits
2) Hawarden’s Healthy Hike Kickoff
3) April is National Poetry Month
4) Meetings / Events This Week

1) Bus Trip to ALA Exhibits: You’ve got to hurry to catch this opportunity—not the mention this bus—to the ALA Exhibits in Chicago this July. East Central Library Services is sponsoring an overnight bus trip to visit the exhibit hall at the American Library Association Conference. The bus departs from Cedar Rapids approx 6:00AM on Saturday July 11 and leaves Chicago the afternoon of July 12. Overnight lodging is at the Wyngate by Wyndham Hotel in Schaumburg. Cost of the room is $90.00, which included 2 double beds, breakfast, and all taxes—plus it’s ½ mile from Woodfield Mall.

At this writing, East Central LSA reports they have 14-18 seats available, depending on the size of the charter bus. Cost of the bus ticket is approx $60.00. So the first leg of the trip, you’ll need to reach Cedar Rapids by Friday evening to catch the bus on Saturday morning. Still, the AEA Exhibit Hall is an impressive and very social part of the ALA Conference. In 2008, there were 5,752 exhibitors and over 16,000 people at the exhibits. This year, a new exhibit called “What’s Cooking at ALA: The ALA Cookbook Pavilion” features live demonstrations from Chicago chefs, complete with taste-testing, a display of food-related cookbooks, reference books, magazines, and more.

This bus trip is sure to be a fun way to meet your colleagues to the east—and an affordable way to experience ALA Exhibits. Contact Lily Lau at East Central LSA quickly to reserve your seat. (llau@ecls.lib.ia.us )

2) Hawarden’s Healthy Hike Kickoff: Hawarden Public Library is participating in the Healthy Hike Reading Program sponsored by Iowa Public Television. This is IPTV’s initiative designed to inspire children across the state to start exercising and reading this spring. Dan Wardell, host of IPTV’s Kid’s Clubhouse, leads the effort and makes personal appearances at many of the locations.

One elementary school classroom and one public library in each county has been selected to participate; Hawarden Public Library is Sioux County’s designate. Newell, Aurelia, and Holstein are among the other 19 Northwest participating libraries. At Hawarden Library’s kickoff last Wednesday, kids and library staff hiked for 30 minutes. Even better, all the kids have pledged to hike 30 minutes each day—and read 30 minutes each day—throughout April.

At program’s end, participating classrooms take a “Healthy Hike” to their public library for a storytime and party. The top 10 hiking / reading counties will be treated to a surprise visit from Dan Wardell. Find cute photos on Hawarden Library’s blog and read more about IPTV’s Healthy Hike Reading Program at their website. Thanks to Valerie Haverhals, Director of Hawarden Public Library, for sharing this story!
3) April is National Poetry Month: Started by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, libraries, schools—and poets—come together to celebrate poetry and its place in American culture. Thousands of libraries, businesses, and non-profit organizations participate through poetry readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events. Our own Akron Public Library is celebrating National Poetry Month in a big way, with a 2-day event April 17-18 (see article below…)
From the Poets.Org website, there’s a spring book list of new poetry titles—think collection development. Find suggestions for many easy, low cost activities that libraries can sponsor. On a national poetry map, find out what’s happening state-by-state. And this is a cool feature: clicking the Poem-a-Day link let’s you sign up to receive a new poem every day of the month via email. The Info Please website has lots of good ideas too, loaded with links to famous poets—check that out, too. Is it time to bring out your inner poet?
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4) Meetings / Events This Week: Don’t forget about “Rhyme Time on the Prairie” hosted by Akron Public Library. The library is sponsoring this original 2-day event April 17-18. It begins on Friday April 17 with a dinner and poetry readings by 3 guest poets: Jeanne Emmons from Briar Cliff College, Jan D. Hodge from Morningside College, and Yvonne Hollenbeck from South Dakota. On Saturday April 18, there’s a luncheon and a series of 3 poetry-writing workshops. Each guest poet will have their books for sale both days. A brochure containing bios and background information about their books is available from Akron Library or from NWILS office.

“Rhyme Time on the Prairie” takes place at the Hole in the Wall Lodge in Akron, Iowa (14396 Diamond Avenue) Cost for Friday’s dinner and poetry readings is $32.00; cost for Saturday’s workshops and luncheon is $25.00. Interested area library staff and trustees are cordially invited, but aware that this event is open to the general public and seating is limited. Make reservations by April 9th by contacting Jeannie Frerichs at Akron Public Library (phone 712-568-2601 / email akronlib@hickorytech.net )

And for our school library partners who faithfully read EYE-OPENER each week: a reminder that Northwest AEA Media Advisory Committee meets on Wednesday April 8 at the Le Mars Conference Center (940 Lincoln St) beginning at 9:30AM.

Previous editions of Monday Morning Eye-Opener are archived on NWILS website…

Happy Easter Weekend To All 