Altamont Library Notes for Monday, March 9, 2015
— From Grimm Biz Seminars & Coaching
Staff appreciated: The new director of the Altamont Free Library, Joe Burke, far left, speaks with library supporters Kelly Pickering, second from left, and Meg Seinberg-Hughes, right, along with part-time library employee Albert Rusch at the March 1 open house, held to show appreciation for the library staff.
Happy Seuss Week!
Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to children of all ages as Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Every year, schools and libraries all over the United States and across the world celebrate his birthday.
One of the great joys of being a Altamont Free Library worker is that we get to share books that we enjoyed as children to new generations of readers. Earlier this week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit two classes at Altamont Elementary School to read some of Dr. Seuss’s most beloved stories.
I would encourage all of you to take this opportunity to revisit some of Dr. Seuss’s books. Perhaps you will find meanings and metaphors in some of his books that you might have missed as a younger reader.
Consider, also, the historical and biographical context in which the stories were written. “The Sneeches,” for one example, was published in 1961 in the midst of the American civil rights movement, and its central message — “Sneeches are Sneeches and no kind of Sneech is the best on the beaches” — speaks to the superficiality of differences between people.
Seuss was out in front of the environmental movement, publishing “The Lorax,” a warning about the consequences of not respecting our natural resources, in 1971. Examples of his forward thinking abound.
On top of which, Seuss is just plain fun to read especially aloud. His tongue twisters and nonsense words and driving, rhythmic meter make his books an instant hit with kids of every age. So, come by the library and save some room in your tote bag for a few of Dr. Seuss’s greatest hits.
Felting
Originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, our Pinterest Craft Night will now be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. Jan Hornbach will demonstrate and assist us in the very cool technique of felting. Please join us.
eReaders 101
Flummoxed by your Nook? Curious about the Kindle? Ready to throw your iPad across a room? Let us help. Bring whatever eReader you’ve got (or take a gander at one of ours before you buy one yourself) and we’ll help you download books to it and help troubleshoot any basic problems you might be having.
Adult trivia
Adult Trivia Night is back. Hosted by our very own Mary Beth Mulligan, bring a team and BYOB to this brain twisting trivia contest on Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. Entrance is $5 and the winning team takes half of the door.
Build a birdfeeder
Celebrate the first day of spring on Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m., by building your very own birdfeeder. We’ll have supplies for several different types of birdfeeders, so there’ll be something for a kid of any age to do.