Queen City Reads!

Award winning Minnesota author Brian Freeman kicks off Virginia Public Library’s inaugural Queen City Reads program! 

The Virginia Public Library and the City of Virginia, with the support of the Friends of the Virginia Public Library, are pleased to announce the Queen City Reads program, a community-wide reading program for the residents of Virginia. 

Queen City Reads is a community reading program during which all members of the community are invited to read and discuss the same book.  Our Queen City Reads program is designed to encourage citizens of Virginia to engage in conversation.  Possible side effects include the discovery of new authors and the addition of new friends to readers’ lives. 

The inaugural Queen City Reads choice is Brian Freeman’s Goodbye to the Dead, which has been called “a superior psychological thriller that adroitly weaves obsession, sex and revenge into a page-turning mystery.” (Open Letters Monthly)  Copies of the book are available to borrow through the Virginia Public Library and the Arrowhead Library System. 

There will be two events in the library auditorium.  The first will be a book discussion at noon on Thursday, February 23.  Bring your interest and questions and be prepared for lively discussion.  A brochure with discussion questions will be available the first week of January. 

The second Queen City Reads event is the big one:  Brian Freeman, author of the popular Duluth-based Jonathan Stride series and recipient of multiple awards, will be at the library on Thursday, March 2, 2017, also at noon.  Brian will talk about his work in the publishing industry, discuss Goodbye to the Dead with us, and remain for further talk and to sign copies of the book. 

This program, brought to you by the Virginia Public Library and the City of Virginia, is funded by the Friends of the Virginia Public Library.  Call the library at (218)748-7525 for more information.

Hot Reads for Cold Nights!

When the weather is cold, it’s time to find a hot read and join Virginia Public Library’s annual “Hot Reads for Cold Nights” reading program.  This is the 18th year that "Hot Reads for Cold Nights" is being sponsored by the Friends of Virginia Public Library.  Area residents over 18 are invited to register in the library or online to participate.  To register online, click on this link and select the Hot Reads program.

This program is designed to promote reading for adults since reading is equally important for all ages. Each book read during the program will earn one entry in a big giveaway on February 29^th. Participants must visit the library to check out library books and submit their entries.

Hot Reads Tuesdays will continue on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-12:00. Each week, members of the Friends of the Library will provide coffee and bakery to area readers.  This is a great time to find out about new books and visit with your neighbors.

The Hot Reads celebration continues with the launch of the 2015 Winter Brown Bag Lunch Series beginning on January 14^th at noon with our first Adult Coloring Program. Adult coloring books have become very popular and libraries across the country are bringing this stress-relieving activity to their users.  Bring your own coloring pages and pencils, or use pages and pencils provided by the library.  

Our first Cook the Book program was so successful in December that we will be doing it again at noon on January 28^th!  Registration is open until Tuesday, January 26^th, for Cook the Book:  Soups & Breads.  How does it work?  Come to the Reference desk to sign up and to choose your recipe from the book we have chosen to use.  Whip up your creation at home and bring it to the library to share with other participants.  The library will provide participants with copies of the selected recipes.  Please note:  Registration for this program is required.

What would February be with out the annual Book Lover's Tea?  This year’s Tea, on February 11^th, will feature author Ava Finch--nom de plume of Sarah Stonich.   'They' will talk about the writing life, adopting a pen name, and how their Minnesota roots inspire them. Both are hoping there will be potica at the tea.  Please note:  Advanced registration for the tea is essential!  Reservations must be made by February 5^th. 

Many of you know Mark Munger, District Court Judge.  Thursday, February 25^th, at noon is your opportunity to meet with Mark Munger, Minnesota author!  Mark is the feature speaker for our final event for this Hot Reads season.  Using examples from his own work, he will talk about The Other:  Exploring Issues of Ethnicity, Religion, and Gender in Fiction.