Out with the old and in with the new!

With the library book sale coming up in April, you have a great opportunity to clear your shelves of books that you’ve read or no longer need. Just bring them to the library! Donations that are not added to the collection make up a large proportion of the book sale inventory. Friends of the Library members work diligently year-round to sort, price, and store the thousands of books, videos, tapes and cds that come through our doors. We are proud to be a major recycler in the community, helping to move books and other items from one owner to another. This helps keep them out of the landfill and brings enjoyment and learning for as little as pennies per item.

Our spring sale begins with a Friends of the Library member preview night on Thursday, April 12. If you haven’t yet joined, you can do so that evening at the library. A basic membership is $15, with families paying $20. Life members pay $150. Life members can shop from 5 to 9 pm, with all Friends members joining in from 6 to 9 pm. On Friday, April 13 the sale opens to the public at 9 am and continues through April 18, with special pricing the last three days. See the complete schedule at
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/emporia/services/specialserv/booksale.htm

Friends members are needed to work at the sale. Contact Virginia Summervill at 342-5015 to arrange for your time.

Last year’s fall and spring book sales brought in over $16,600. This level of funding allows the Friends to make significant contributions to the library for programming, collection, and equipment.

We appreciate the effort that goes into the sale, and especially thank Mary Unruh, Chair, and her book sorting committee, for their hard work and dedication. The book sale is truly a year-round endeavor.

Bring us your books, buy new books, and feel the satisfaction of helping the library! Thank you!

Sue Blechl, Director

Are you E-Clueless?

When it comes to technology and the Internet, we all have areas of uncertainty and discomfort. That’s why librarians in Emporia are coming to the rescue. We’ve created a series of FREE workshops on a variety of computer related topics to help get everyone up to speed. Computer literacy is as important in today’s world as reading and math. We don’t want anyone left behind.

We’re planning two types of classes: skills & techniques and content. The classes will be held at various libraries around Emporia, and will be taught by librarians and other experts. We hope that our programs meet a need in the community. Please help us to get the word out about these great opportunities!

All the details can be found at the link cited below.

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/emporia/services/adultserv/resources.htm

More classes will be held in future months, with the schedule posted soon.

Happy Computing!

Sue Blechl, Library Director

We’re Celebrating!

The City of Emporia and the library have much to celebrate. The City’s 150th Birthday Party on Feb. 20th was a grand success. Our Friends of the Library Bookmark Design Contest Winners were honored there, and over 2,000 Emporians participated in the activities. Happy Birthday!

The library will continue to support the Sesquicentennial all year long. Monthly book discussions focus on our heritage, and programs sponsored by the library and the Flint Hills Genealogical Society continue to be popular. For your convenience we’ve set up a special book display focusing on Emporia’s history. We all have much to learn about how our community came to be.

The July 3rd concert with Kelley Hunt and Callie Agler features local talent who have made it big. On July 4th there will be a huge parade and street festival, plus fireworks. Don’t miss it!

Later this year we’ll be involved in two special events. The library will host a pool party at the Jones Aquatic Center for children in our summer reading program and their families. This will be a free event – another way to celebrate 150 years. During the week of October 8, the library has arranged for the Magic School Bus traveling show to visit Emporia. There will be stops at each elementary school and a whole day at the library. It’s our special birthday gift to the children (and adults) of our area.

Happy Birthday, Emporia!

Sue Blechl, Director