Of
course, everyone knows that National Library Week is pretty high up on my list
of happy weeks. I decided to be a
librarian in the 7th grade and hardly ever wavered -- just a little
blip of thought when I discovered that degreed librarians are required to go to
college for at least 5 years. But, dedication persevered
and here I am, more than 30 years later, still a librarian who enjoys National
Library Week.
This is
the week to celebrate our libraries and their role in our communities. Coming on the heels of the 2012 MN Bureau of Business and Economic Research report which concluded that the return on
investment for every dollar spent on libraries brought $4.62 back into our
communities, I say it’s a pretty good role. After all, not many people can say
they quadrupled their money.
This year,
Virginia Public Library is once again planning some great events:
 |
| The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks |
April
10th – Noon in the Library Auditorium: Not only
is this National
Library Workers Day, but it is also the day for our community discussion of
this year’s One Book, One Community
book selection. So, on the way to the auditorium,
give your favorite library worker a hug and continue on to discuss The
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Everyone is encouraged to read this riveting
book and discuss its many themes. Like all of the library's Brown Bag Programs,
this one is designed to fit into the work week, so feel free to bring a
lunch and enjoy the discussion during your lunch hour. To make our week even more festive, the
Friends of the Library will provide coffee 'an!
 |
| Poetry of Place |
On
April 11th – Noon in the Library Auditorium: What a great opportunity! Poets Sheila Packa and Michelle Matthees will
lead a poetry reading and workshop. The reading will feature the poets’ work as
related to place. Sheila Packa grew up south of Biwabik and has a deep
understanding of how place helps define identity and can be celebrated in
poetry. Michelle Matthees shares how place informs her poetry, especially as it
relates to travel—including her recent trips to Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Local poets are encouraged to share their poetry as well.
The workshop will
immediately follow the reading and will explore and celebrate the role of place
in our lives. Using guided writing exercises, participants will explore themes
like memory, tradition, pride and even alienation. This workshop is designed
for everyone, from beginning to more experienced writers.
Sheila Packa is the
author of Echo & Lightning and Cloud Birds, editor of Migrations: Poetry
& Prose for Life's Transitions, and served as Duluth’s Poet Laureate from 2010-12. Michelle
Matthees is a current Minnesota State Arts Board Fellow and the author of Served, Outside, and Junket.
This informative and
interactive program is geared toward all audiences. Admission to the event is
free thanks to sponsorship by the Arrowhead Library System and funding by money
from Minnesota’s
Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
 |
| Blue Guitar Highway |
On April 12th
– Noon in the Library Auditorium: Local folk
singer-songwriter Paul Metsa, who creates not only folk music, but also music
in most styles to be found in America, will present a fantastic program for our
Brown Bag Series. Bring a lunch and listen to Paul discuss his new memoir, Blue
Guitar Highway which will be available for purchase and signing.
(BTW, we're hoping he will also bring his guitar!) Once again, coffee an' will
be generously provided by the Friends of the Library.
For more information on
these events or others, please call 748-7525 or visit the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us. And remember, during this week especially,
that your library is at the heart of your community.
--Dawn Heisel, Public Services Librarian
No comments:
Post a Comment