Adventures in Libraryland: If you can't visit make the trek to the Smoky Mountains, visit the library and read all about Appalachia

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
By AMY CRUMP/Library Director

Missouri is one of my favorite states. I did most of my growing up on the bluffs of the Missouri River and when I didn't live here, my parents would bring me and my siblings back almost every summer to visit my grandparents. As an adult living in Illinois, I always got a thrill when I saw the river bluffs as I drove back to visit family.

But if ever I was to live someplace beside Missouri, it would be somewhere in the Smoky Mountains. I visit as often as I can, which is usually once a year. Last week, I spent a total of 30 hours in a car for the privilege of spending a couple of days up in the Smokies with my family. It was really wonderful -- the foothills look a lot like the river bluffs and then you go higher.

And as we left on Sunday morning, we really got a nice send-off: the sunrise in the mountains was gorgeous. For those armchair travelers among you, we have a nice selection of books that feature the Smoky Mountains and Appalachia. Stop by and take a look.

Please allow me to introduce Bobbie Mackey, our new children's coordinator. Bobbie comes to us from Fun-Time Preschool where she taught the 4-year-old class.

One of her favorite holidays is Halloween so she came at the right time. She has already decorated the children's room for Halloween and has all sorts of plans for the Family Fun Night on October 29.

Please take time to welcome Bobbie when you're in the library. We are so excited to have her as part of the library staff.

The winner of the Banned Books Week tote bag is Diana Workcuff. Congratulations!

On beyond Google

This week's featured website is the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. If you want information about state services to seniors, from adult daycare to legislation affecting seniors, go to www.dhss.mo.gov.

Check it out

For those of you who weren't lucky enough to catch Prof. Tim Baumann's program on the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown on the Missouri Valley campus, he is giving an encore performance at the library on October 17 at 7 pm. It will be a fascinating look at one of our first colonies. Refreshments will be served.

Circle of days

Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m., MPL Board of Trustees meeting.

Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m., Tim Baumann presentation on the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown.

Thursday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m., Presentation by the Director of the Western Manuscripts, courtesy of the Marshall Writers Guild.

New materials

Fiction

"Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan

"The Jesus Chronicles: Mark's Story" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

"Songs Without Words" by Ann Packer

Non-fiction

"No Time For Good-bye" by Linwood Barclay

"Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History" by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich