Monday Morning Eye-Opener 2/22/2010

Good Morning! In today's Eye-Opener:

1) One Book One Siouxland

2) The White Stuff

3) Meetings / Events This Week

1) One Book One Siouxland: Now in its 5^th year, One Book One Siouxland in back, bringing Siouxland together around one great book. This year, readers voted for the winning title from among 5 finalists. It’s The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. From Sioux City PL publicity “…Set in Germany during WWII, it is the fascinating story about a foster child who values stories enough to steal them…as one Sioux City reader exclaimed ‘once you’ve read The Book Thief, you can’t stop talking about it!’ The novel offers much to discuss, whether in coffee shops, libraries, or wherever friends gather…”

Book discussions are planned at a variety of venues in and around Sioux City, including Sioux City and South Sioux Public Libraries, The Daily Grind, Caribou Coffee, and North Sioux City Senior Center. In addition to the book discussions, other programming centers around the Holocaust and WWII. A photography exhibit at Western Iowa Tech features the photos of Vernon Tott who, in April 1945, was a 20-year-old infrantryman in Ahlem, Germany. “…not quite sure why—perhaps as proof of what his eyes refused to believe—he used a second-hand camera to record the horror of what he saw, but also the hope in the faces of survivors. Years later, he and the survivors he photographed reconnected and their story was made in to a documentary titled The Angel of Ahlem…”

In another program, Dr. Danuta Hutchins will present “WWII—Torn Out Memories & More” at 2:00PM on Saturday February 27. Herself a survivor, Dr. Hutchins will compare her experience as a child in occupied Poland to the life and struggles of the character in The Book Thief. This program is free to the public, sponsored by Humanities Iowa, with Sioux City Public Library hosting at its downtown location (529 Pierce Street)

One Book One Siouxland is jointly sponsored by the public libraries in Sioux City, South Sioux City, and North Sioux City. Visit the website to learn more. And add The Book Thief to your reading list!

2) The White Stuff: Last month, a neat article in Siouxland Magazine sparked this idea for a library display. The article was titled “The White Stuff: A Look at All Kinds of White Things.” Like most of us, the author was trying to find an upside—a fun side—to what’s been a brutal winter season. Besides snow, she named a dozen other white things to talk about. And I thought her idea would make a good library display, whether on a tabletop or in a display case.

Here’s some “white stuff” stuff you could use. Drum up your own display title or let your patrons make the connection. And certainly add to the list—everything but snow!

Pillows
Sheets
Marshmellows
Q-tips
Soap
Cotton balls
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Socks
Diapers
Light bulbs
Opera gloves
Pearls
And…a white sport coat, a pink carnation J

3) Meetings / Events This Week: Northwest LSA Board meets tomorrow Tuesday Feb.23, this time at Le Mars Public Library. The meeting convenes at 1:00PM and is open to the public. Area library personnel are welcome to attend; the agenda is posted on NWILS website.

Later Tuesday evening, Archer Library Board meets at 5:00PM. The topic is finances; thanks to Archer PL board for the invitation to join them.

Then it’s the annual New Children’s & YA Literature Booktalks on Wednesday February 24. Sponsored by the LSAs and AEAs, this one is done over the ICN at locations across the state. 3 media specialists highlight the best books from 2009 for preschool ages through grade 12. The cost is $10.00—please make checks payable to Northwest Iowa Library Services (P.O. Box 1319, Sioux City, IA. 51102-1319) Registration closed last week…