Summer 2011

Summer has been so fun helping with Summer Reading. I loved sharing my knowledge about countries such as China and the Philippines.

For the Philippines I used my personal photos and information from living in the Philippines for 13 years. I had not made Filipino Pancit for years! I changed the recipe a bit from the children's story book (Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant), because I wanted our kids to have a more realistic type of Pancit that an average Filipino family might eat. I was really surprised that the kids loved it. Surprised because sometimes kids don't like different foods.

I also used a YouTube video to help kids see how people in the province make huge woks of Pancit! The were amazed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2TxylXunaQ&feature=email.


For China we read the book Lin Yi's Lantern by Brenda Williams and Benjamin Lacombe.  It shows the importance of the Chinese Moon Festival. It also explains how children in Asia might help purchase food and other needs in the local market. We then made moon lanterns for crafts.

I also used another informational digital recording on the Mid-Autumn Festival that described the making of moon cakes and a moon lantern, plus cultural insights. http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/harvest-moon-festival.htm

Thoughts from Library Conference in Topeka, KS

While sharing experiences and work done in library in Colby (Pioneer Memorial Library) towards helping those looking for resources in the process of job/career hunting a thought popped into my head. It stemmed from the discussion of Kendra Morgan who I was working with from Project Compass (Webjunction). She was sharing with the audience about helping patrons improve their 21st Century skills. While I was speaking with the audience our successes and then our hopes for the future, I realized and said that
        
      "What we need is 21st Century finances to purchase 21st Century equipment."

This was because I saw how our library needed to add at least 12 laptops that are connected to a laptop cart with wireless and electricity within the cart. This way we can have seminars either in our meeting room upstairs or our basement downstairs to teach modern software and new technologies that patrons can access in the Cloud. There is so much that can be done if we have the equipment for patrons to use so they can become proficient using such equipment. I'd also like to see students/youth be able to use them to grow in their own creative abilities.

Dreaming, planning and working toward the future is always fun and challenging. Let's go forward and see our hopes become reality.

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

How can one even begin to express the busyness since January! We have really blown through January, February and March 2011. So much has happened in the library! We had Matt Ludwick discuss his book in January and enjoyed snow storms which closed the city down three times. Twice we closed the library due to -30 degree weather, ice (cars slipping into the street) and then a day of wonderful snow coming down heavy and beautiful.

We’ve been working learning and implementing a new catalog system, adding new computers, Microsoft 2010 and more to our library. I have worked through the process of new library cards that look fresh and light. They will be revealed and rolled out during National Library Week with a silent auction and also a free drawing of 7 cards for those that attend our weekly lunch during National Library Week. I’d show you what they will look like, but I’d like to keep them under wraps a bit longer. They include a new slogan for our library that a Friends member came up with. I think it speaks volumes about what libraries do. This too will be revealed soon.

We have had a great Jazz event in February, complements of the Colby Community Library Jazz band and library staff who made the deserts. On Valentines Day evening we held an event that honored relationships. We showed some videos on the wall while they played, read some poetry about love and relationships and just listened.

 

The library also celebrated 150 years of Kansas by having Tom Averill speak to us about his book, “What Kansas Means to Me.” What a fabulous easy going speaker! He just oozes history and makes one want to attend a class of his just to learn and glean from his thoughts and insights.

We enjoyed collaborating with AAUW in celebration of Women’s History month. During Booked for Lunch we had well known author speak about her writing history including writing historical documentation of African Americans in Kansas, short stories and mysteries set in Kansas.

We also had a 7th Annual Murder Mystery by the Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library. The play was the Murder of the Great Chef. I ended up being in the play since one of cast was sick at the last moment. I enjoyed going out and finding the things to wear to play the local bag lady. Great fun was had by all!

We are working hard preparing for a civic event this week. Colby is getting ready to vote on a new Mayor. We have 3 candidates and we are organizing a “Meet Your Mayoral Candidate” event on Thursday. They will answer questions sent to the Library by local citizens.

Besides being busy organizing these types of things, we have attended high school basketball games with our exchange student and cooked lots of cookies and things. The CHS Faculty, Administrators and others did a "dance" for the Orange & Black Basketball Tournament. My sweetheart took part in that fund dance.

There has been judging of debate and forensics for high school events (Cherry did not compete in these). We have worked with the local Colby Energy Challenge events as well. My book club is a great group to laugh and talk with. Recently, we shopped in Denver for Prom!  And in between times, I try to get a book review in weekly for our local paper, work with the Thomas County Community Coalition, attend church and soooo much more. Life is full!

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country | American Libraries Magazine

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country American Libraries Magazine

Simple and concise! Lets build our libraries!

Happy Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving today and I am thinking of all the goodness that has happened this year. Even though so many talk about the problems in America, when you watch the Macy's Day Parade and others, you realize that we still have so much in America. If we didn't we would not have such ability to celebrate with such opulence.

Now -- not to ruin your Thanksgiving--Please read the book "The Unhealthy Truth," by Robyn O'Brien. Its about genetically altered foods, especially soy. It talks about our processed foods and some of the hidden sources of problems to our health. READ THIS BOOK!  BE INFORMED!

Enjoying the Experience Again of Cross-cultural Communication

 My husband and I are so enjoying the experience of communicating with someone that speaks English as a second language. It makes you realize how much you take for granted! It makes remember how difficult it was when I was trying to learn another language and live in the host country. My hubby says I need to slow my speech down but that is a bit difficult. Cherry's range and knowledge of English vocabulary is really excellent but sometimes I find myself having  to rethink a sentence because the think I am saying is quite colloquial and is not easily explained!

Here is our first picture together when she arrived! She looked great considering she'd just traveled half way around  the world and her body clock was completely upside down! What a trooper.

Becoming a Parent to a Foreign Exchange Student

Since my vacation, my husband and I finally decided that we would actually host a foreign exchange student. We had been talking with PAX a foreign exchange organization about this. They sent us bio's on high school students from around  the world. We narrowed it down to about 15 and then narrowed it further until we have 3 candidates. Once we had more information  on them we asked for our first, 2nd and third choice. Then the student had the ability to learn about us and choose whether the student wanted to live in the  area and be a part of our family. The student said yes. We were sort of on pins and needles because throughout the process the student could say no. Also, all background checks and things  had to be clear, verbal interviews with those that knew us had to be positive. There is never any guarentee!

We have chosen and been chosen by a student from China.Getting ready was really fun. We e-mailed back and forth about her likes and dislikes about many things but especiall for colors for her room. In the end we had her pickout her bedding for her room. We have discussed food likes and dislikes. She is easy going and is not picky. She experiments and then tells us what she thinks. What is really fun is that she will tell us what she likes whether it is food, programs or other topics. My personal experience with some Asian cultures is that their culture is such that they may not tell you what they think out of politeness. Of course there may always be levels of sharing of what one thinks in all cultures, including my own. It usually depends on the feeling  of saftey, or care for another's feelings. 

Our student is a delight and a real joy to have in our home. She studies hard but has lots of fun with friends. The students in our public school have been so open and inviting to her. I cannot say enough about the students in Colby, KS. I  worried about her coming to a small town environment where we have limited exposure to ethnic differences. We have some, but not like a big city. The youth are really terrific! She was invited to go shopping the first weekend after school started with some girls, she has been invited to go eat out with some students several times, she has been nicely recruited off the bleachers (where we were sitting during the first scrimmage of the football season) to join a group to watch the match and also be involved in activities. Three other ladies and Cherry got ready for the Homecoming dance. She has studdy-buddies and friends galore! Kudos to the Colby youth!

She has been here a full month now and we already see how she has livened up our lives and home! We are glad that Cherry has come to be with us for the school year! Thanks to her parents for trusting us!