Over the holidays I sat down to read a book recommended to me by teen librarian Liz Strauss. The book was One of Us is Next and was written by Karen McManus. I won’t go into the details about the plot. At one point in the book a popular athlete (Cooper) was coming home from college and everyone in town wanted to see him and get his autograph. A small group of Cooper’s friends planned to meet in the back room of a local cafe. But other people heard about the gathering and crowded into the cafe in hopes of getting a glimpse of the famous hometown hero. Here is the description of the crowded cafe: “not only is every table full, but Mr. Santos brought out all the extra chairs that are usually stored in the basement and it’s still not enough. People are standing in groups against either side of the wall, shuffling back and forth as I weave through them with a drink-laden tray for Addie and her friends.”
My library brain immediately thought: They should have had this homecoming in the community room at the library where more people could be accommodated.
That’s when it hit me. I am constantly on the lookout for possible programs at the library…even while I am reading for pleasure.
Many times, people come to me (or leave word at the front desk) suggesting a topic or speaker that would be interesting to people in our community. I always follow up on these suggestions and I almost always find a person willing to share their experience with us.
So, the invitation is open. Contact me if you are willing to present a program, or if you know someone who has had an interesting and unique experience, or if you would like to suggest a topic. I welcome your input. After all, this is YOUR public library!
What do Legos, cork-screw openers, Russian nesting dolls, 3-D printed objects, china dogs, coke items, 19th Century oddities, famous signatures, and space memorabilia have in common? They were all on display at the library. This is just a small sample of the amazing subject matter that we have exhibited.
Are you a collector or a hobbyist? If the answer is yes, have you considered displaying your collection with the library?
We have three display cases, two in the foyer and one by the front desk. Every month, we highlight a different display. If you are a patron, you have no doubt noticed the wide assortment of subjects that we have been fortunate to feature.
We also have a new artist’s show each month in the Community Room, including various media including paintings, drawings, photographs, prints etc. The library is always appreciative of collectors, hobbyists, and artists who offer to share their work.
If you would like to participate, we would certainly welcome your collections. Please contact Jan Ridenour 330-343-6123.
Do you know that feeling of butterflies in your stomach? The element of surprise and anticipation? Come “check out” our Blind Date With A Book display starting Monday, February 7th through February 19th!
The books are wrapped up in red paper and have 5 clues as to what the book is about. We have a variety of genres including historical fiction, memoirs, suspense and heartwarming stories. You can’t judge a book by its cover! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Have you been thinking about joining a book club in 2022? Here are invitations from two book clubs hosted at the Dover Public Library.
Tuesday Night Book Club
The New Year is here! Full of potential and possibilities. Everyone is asking, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” I for one plan to dive into a good book. And what better way than to share that, than in a book group. The Dover Public Library has different book groups that will fit into anyone’s schedule. I happen to oversee the Tuesday Night Book Group. We meet the second Tuesday of each month in the main part of the library at 6:30 to 7:30.
Reading can take you on an adventure without leaving your house. And, being part of a book group you share the love of reading. At our group it’s ok to say you didn’t like the book. You can express your opinion. Plus, the added bonus is you read books you never would have picked out, and you learn so many interesting, knowledgeable facts. Like, did you know that there’s a correct way for the toilet paper roll to be installed on the roller? Yes, we learned that at Tuesday Night Book Group.
When we meet this January we’ll discuss any Christmas book you read over the holidays.
February 8th: Maverick, a biography of Thomas Sowell by Jason Riley
March 8th Fuzz: When Nature Breaks The Law by Mary Roach
April 12th, Lost Girls : An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker
Come check us out and share the love of reading.
~DeniseCampbell Johnson
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC)
The CLSC was started in 1878 and is America’s oldest continuous book club. It was founded in order to provide people who could not afford the time or money to attend college the opportunity of acquiring the skills and essential knowledge of a college education. Every year, the Chautauqua Institution selects must-read books that broaden our knowledge of current topics and expand our intellectual curiosity.
We, the members of the Chautauqua Book Club at the Dover Library, do our best to honor the institution’s mission. We meet from noon to 1:00 PM in the community room at the library on the last Thursday of every month.
Join us on February 24 when we will discuss The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. This novel is the story of a network of people who are connected to the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota in 1953, when the Chippewa are fighting for the survival of their tribe. Thomas Wazhashk, the night watchman at the Jewel Bearing Plant and tribal chairman, gathers the elders together to tell them about a new bill in Congress that would terminate federal recognition of all Indian tribes, thereby ending all government services and forcing tribes to relocate to new lands. He is successful at organizing a delegation that travels to Washington, D.C. to protest the bill.
In addition to Thomas, the author introduces us to other members of Turtle Mountain: 19-year-old Patrice “Pixie” Paranteau who supports her family with the wages she earns at the plant; her older sister Vera who left the reservation and later found her way back to tribal life; Lloyd Barnes, a non-native teacher at the school who runs a boxing club for the students; the star boxer named Everett “Wood Mountain” Blue. The author shows the interconnectedness of these people and their need for each other.
We’d love to have you join us at noon on Thursday, February 24 to explore this moment in the history of our nation. Feel free to bring your lunch. If you have questions, please contact Sherrel at the library at 330-343-6123 or at srieger@doverlibrary.org.
