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.  

July Quilt Installed at Library

The collaborative quilt project between Virginia Public Library and the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild continues in July with a quilt aptly filled with sparkle.  With a surprising color combination of red, purple and silver, “Ladies Choice” was designed and quilted by Karen Lamppa, a long-standing member of 4 regional quilt guilds.

Mrs. Lamppa was raised in a family that valued the art of handwork in the form of knitting, embroidery, sewing, weaving and also quilting.  She believes this is why she was destined to embrace the fiber arts which led to a major in Home Economics.   She became a local celebrity in 2007 when one of her quilts was accepted by the Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky to be displayed in a series called “Stitches from the Upper Midwest”.  This work was one of only 30 selected from entries from 4 States.

Ladies Choice

“Ladies Choice” is the result of a 6 month block of the month challenge for the All Range Quilters project for which the primary requirement was to include an umbrella and a flower.  Karen’s personal challenge was to use fabrics from her stash for her blocks.  It was only after she finished the blocks that she found the perfect fabric for her outer border which highlighted her unusual color choice. 

Nancy Maxwell, Director of Virginia Public Library has been “amazed by the quality of works displayed by our local artists and their dedication to their craft.   This project has been an inspiration for many of our patrons.”

The motto of the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild is “Inspire, Instruct & Improve.”  Area sewers are welcome to attend the monthly meetings of the Guild.  These are held the 3^rd Tuesday of each month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the basement of the First Covenant Church at 232 5^th St South.  Quilting retreats are sponsored by the guild every Spring and Fall.  For more information, contact Darcy at 750-7035 or Betty at 741-4348.  New members are always welcome!

Be sure to visit the library to tour the lobby throughout the next 4 months to see each new installation.  For more information on this project, or other services the library provides, please call 748-7525 or check the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us.