I made it through the wedding where I was playing piano (nailed it! Congrats Kate and Ryan! Also, I was honored to play for you both!) and have been watched some sweet Olympics. I missed Gabby Douglas’ all-around gold in gymnastics but today I watched the men’s 10K race, which was amazing! I doubt they will show it on prime-time tonight so I’ll go ahead and spoil it for you: UK and US go 1, 2 and the runners happen to be training partners. Also, Galen Rupp is the third American in 100 years to medal in the Olympic 10K. 100 years! Go Galen Rupp!
Anyway, at social gatherings and what not over the last few weeks, friends have asked me if I find it a struggle to plan book-related library programming. It’s an interesting question and I feel a little bad about my answer, which is usually, “Umm, no. I don’t really do too much book-related library programming. We mostly just have fun.” For example for the last couple of weeks, here are the programs that I’ve had: Zombie Apocalypse program, “Library Olympics,” henna tattoos, Book Babble book group, and I have a movie showing and a tie-dye program planned for next week. So out of those few programs, I can think of three of them that could possibly be book related. There have been tons of zombie books written and I had a bunch of them there for teens to check out. Same deal for the henna tattoo program and the instructor also taught us a lot about the art and the cultures that use it. Then the book group is pretty evident.
But tie-dye? Movie showings? “Library Olympics” where we played CD discus, deleted book bowling, and balloon musical chairs? Not so book related but I think that’s ok. I’ve talked about before how my library philosophy isn’t just about reading or books. I obviously love books and think that reading is important. Literacy of all types is essential for success and happiness. But the library is also a place for the community, a place for patrons. Sometimes those patrons come to the library for books, but just as often they come for the other services we provide. I think library programming that is fun – which I hope mine is – is especially important for teens. I think we need to show them that someone cares about them and is interested in providing fun events for them just because. So we make zombie sock puppets! And zombie sock puppets are awesome.
Here’s what books I’m reading now, too: Across the Universe by Beth Revis; I’m listening to In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larsen, and skimming Love, Poverty, and War by Christopher Hitchens.
Soon off to wedding #2 in Connecticut for the lovely Katharine and Micah!
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