Murder Mystery 2009 - A Great Success & Lots of Fun

Lots of Laughs and Gafaw's at the Mystery Night!

Guests at the 2009 Murder Mystery !

Booked for Lunch and Kansas Reads with Nancy Pickard March 4, 2009

March's Booked for Lunch combined with the Kansas Reads program to featured special speaker Nancy Pickard, Kansas author of her book The Virgin of Small Plains. She explained to listeners how often a character in a book sometimes takes on a life of their own. She admitted that the main character in this book actually decided to go up the stairs, thereby opening Nancy's insight into what the motive and outcomes could be for the book. Nancy is a delighful author who's observational abilities and deep insight into local areas within Kanas have greatly influenced this wonderful mystery.

Ad Lib - At the Library for Middle School Kids

Middle school age students met on Saturday February 28, 2009 where they had the opportunity to play games, create crafts and also experience their first try a Rock Band played on the new Wii system (donated by the Kiwanis club of Colby & State organization).

Booked for Lunch - on Philanthropy - February 4, 2009

Booked for Lunch was held February 4, 2009. Melinda Olsen, executive director for the Thomas County Community Foundation shared with us about the benefits of philanthropy to a community. She share with us how making funds available for many organizations to serve the various needs in the community help to draw our young families back to Colby once they have finished their education. She continued to encouraged us to plan ahead and designate funds that can be a benefit to this community in years to come. TCCF is currently building permanent endowments for Thomas County so that Thomas County residents will thrive!

Booked for Lunch - December 2008

This year the Pioneer Memorial Library added a special December - Booked for Lunch. We did readings on both children and adult materials. We learned how universally accepted the song of Silent Night is among the nations. The food and fellowship was also very good!

Halloween at Pioneer Memorial Library

Library Patrons and Staff had loads of fun dressing up just for Halloween. Children's Librarian, Judy Kleinsorge and Melany Wilks, Library Director dresses up as Thing 1 and 2 (part of the Cat and the Hat, Dr. Seuss book). Children received candy inside a mummy. The children learned that the mummy just loved to "get all wrapped up in a good book."

Libray In Motion - Middlers Travel to Dancing Leaf: Cultural Learning Center

Middler youth of Colby participated in the Library in Motion event organized by Children’s Librarian, Judy Kleinsorge of the Pioneer Memorial Library. Funds were donated to help with the cost of the trip through the Thomas County Attorney Special Law Enforcement Fund at the Thomas County Community Foundation and the Friends of the Library organization. Students arrived on Saturday morning October 11th ready for a few hours of travel and the possibility of a cold and wet day. This however did not damper their enthusiasm or spirit. Together the adult chaperons and youth traveled to Wellfleet Nebraska to visit the Dancing Leaf: Cultural Learning Center. There, we were intrigued by discovering new knowledge about the ancient existence of the Paleo Indians, prehistoric mammals and dinosaurs. Les Hosick, the owner created memorable pictures of how ancient mammals such as elephants and rhino type animals would have roamed the Southwest Nebraska and North West Kansas area 10,000 years ago. During this presentation he showed us tusks, teeth, jaw bones, and even leg parts from this time period. His story then turned to the Indians known as the Upper Republican Culture. We had the extreme pleasure to actually sit inside a replica of an earth lodge that archeological evidence shows existed from the time period 800-1300 years ago. Les Hosick made the way of life and traditions come alive for us, as we considered this ancient culture as more stable and less migratory in nature. He demonstrated the efficiency of the lodges, the matriarchal traditions of the tribes, the games and ways of hunting. We then took an hour walking tour around the hillside, creek and general area learning about medicinal plants, hunting, water being the source of life, and the gift of trees and animals to their very existence. Youth were able to make musical instruments, find out about different types of food sources, including both plant and animal. We were taken to the top of one hill where a medicine wheel was recreated to examine the cycles of life as they apply to the moon and the sun. At the end of the tour we were given a rare privilege by being taken into their private home where we literally pounded yucca leaves flat in order to make friendship bracelets. Some of our youth were expert in this, while others like my self needed remedial leaf bashing assistance! I must say–that yucca plant fibers become very strong when a natural twist is allowed to form. Even two weeks later my bracelet shows no sign of weakening. This was what the lesson was about. Friendship was to remain strong even in the midst of difficult circumstances and hardship! Once our friendship was established we ate food that might have been eaten by Native Americans: buffalo stew, raw vegetables, homemade (blue) corn muffins, and hot sliced baked apples, topped off with ice tea. If you are interested in experiencing this, take an online tour at http://www.dancingleaf.com/index.html. There you will find pictures, and information even about staying overnight in the earth lodge. I intent to go back and take others along!

October 2008 Booked for Lunch

The library held it’s second “Booked for Lunch.” The author Doris Johnson discussed two books she had written, Gutsy Women and The Cookie Crumb Trail. There were 50 attendees who enjoyed explanations about why Doris chose the women she did in her book. Since Doris grew up in Brewster, many of the women in the book were from this area. We also enjoyed a few stories along the way. Next month’s (November) “Booked for Lunch” will be presented by Janice Frahm, on the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.

New Sound Sytem Donated by Secrest Foundation part of Thomas County Community Foundation

The PML's new sound system was used in our first Booked for Lunch September 2008. We have used it numerous time during several different events sponsored by the Pioneer Memorial Library. It has made the use of the basement area so much better. Patrons and staff have enjoyed using the system to present workshops and special events without the need for extra training.

Activities during Summer 08

Bongo Barry encourages crowd to get the beat!

The Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby was a-buzz this summer as they served over 1200 people through the Summer Reading Program activities. The activities included storytime/activity sessions (five each week), four special events, the Reading Challenge Game, and the “Black-Out” party for those who completed the reading game (26 of them did!).

The highlights of the summer were the special events made possible by the generosity of area sponsors. The Bug Juice Jamboree with Thad Beach kicked off the summer at the library on June 5. Everyone settled in around the campfire at Camp Bugaboo for hilarious original participatory songs and traditional sing-alongs. This program and the books, supplies, snacks and party were funded through the support of the Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library.

On June 19 the Butterfly Pavilion of Westminster, Colorado presented Summer Safari: Live Bugs to a crowd of 175 people. Everyone got up close and personal with live insects, spiders and other arthropods from around the world. This visit was made possible through a grant from the Midwest Energy Community Fund.

Then to start the Fourth of July weekend off with a bang, Bongo Barry of Healthy Sounds from Overland Park was on the stage in the library parking lot on the evening of July 3. Over 135 people brought lawn chairs or blankets and settled on the lawn east of the library for an interactive program entitled Buggies with a Beat. This program was supported by a generous grant from the Thomas County Attorney SLEF Fund from the Thomas County Community Foundation.

The final event was held July 17 and engaged a large crowd. The 2008 players of the Reader’s Theater presented Ladybugs and Gentlemoths: A Bug Collection. Local middle-school youth presented an amusing and entertaining collection of skits and poems.

Written by Judy Kleinsorge - Children's Librarian

Down Under

On Saturday, May 5th, the library took 20 middle school students on a trip "Down Under." On this Library in Motion trip we visited the Underground Tunnels in Ellinwood, KS, the Kansas Underground Museum and Salt Mines in Hutchinson, KS and rounded things out with a bouncing good time at Pump It Up! in Wichita!

Judy Kleinsorge summed up the trip well in saying that, "The 'Down Under' trip will be hard to top. The tour of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum was truly a unique experience, especially since it had just opened to the public. The students really had no idea what to expect except that it would be a little like a cave. As we were touring on the tram, I was thrilled to hear them saying, over and over, 'This is SO awesome!' I think the stop at the pile of salt rocks to load up sacks was the highlight of the tour. Kids and rocks, it couldn't get any better than that."

We had a great trip and would especially like to thank our sponsors who made this trip possible including: the Colby Law Enforcement w/ the Thomas County Community Foundation, Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library, and Pioneer Memorial Library Foundation, Inc.

The Magic Show!

Mr. Alphbetrix was here on Thursday, May 31 to help us kick off our summer program of Get a Clue! We had more than 140 people watch Mr. Alphabetrix do the unthinkable.




His bag of tricks was a great sign of things to come at the library! We have a lot more of great things to "pull out of the hat" so don't forget to check-out all the things to do at the library this summer!

National Library Week - 2007

Thanks for all those who came and supported libraries across the nation during National Library Week, April 15-21. Here at Pioneer Memorial Library we had 5 different reviewers present a book during each day of the week. They were:

Jim Oliver – Lucille and the XXX Road by Jim Oliver

John Van Nostrand – Great Plains by Ian Frazier

Skip Sharp – An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917 - 1963

Ralph Fischer – The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Smallwood

Carol Rahn – Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Thanks to all the reviewers for your time and effort. You made for a great week!

Carol Rahn - our Friday reviewer

Great food!

and most importantly...great crowds!

2007 Murder Mystery

The Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library hosted another sold out performance for 2007! Thanks to all of our Murder Mystery actors who played up their parts with pizzaz. The list of actors were:

Mike Larmer - Mason Rumpole
Josh Jennings - Rocky Stallion
Brette Pfeifer - Madonna Bux
Mike Karnes - Lt. Clueseau
Molly Oliver - Nurse Hatchet
Ron Redick - Porky Prudhomme
Terry Stover - Indy Kowalski
Tom Harbaugh - Guy Happy
Jim Myers - Heathcliffe Bux
Kristy Karnes - Jane Bronte
Joyce Mahin - Librarian

Director - Amanda Wahlmeier

Porky Prudhomme hams it up...

Guy Happy

Nurse Hatchet "mingling" with the crowd

Rocky Stallion was a temporary trillionaire
Madonna Bux is in denial...

Thanks to all who came and to our sponsors Colby Convention Center, Colby Bowl and Fun Center, Colby Dental Hygiene Students, Someplace Special and Amanda Wahlmeier for doing a superb job in directing the mystery. It was a murderously good performance!

Library in Motion

Once again, a group of the middle school students drug two librarians on another trip. This time they "rock n' rolled" across Kansas and stopped to have a few adventures along the way. The first stop was Rock City just outside of Minneapolis. Next on the list of stops was Mushroom Rock (pictured above top) near Brookville. Once that stop was explored, it was on to lunch at Made from Scratch in Wilson. One of the last stops was the Garden of Eden (pictured above bottom) in Lucas. And finally, on to Pete Felton's gallery and miniature golf in Hays. Thanks go out to the Thomas County Sheriff Law Enforcement Fund and the Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library for helping make this trip possible.

Creature Feature 2006

Jack & Thea Haugen with the Sternberg Museum brought some slithery snakes (and a few other notable reptiles) to the library on July 6 to celebrate the theme of Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. It turned out to be a crazy day when nearly 150 people showed up to see the show! Things got downright hyssssterical when the snakes were taken out of their cages one by one to be viewed by the audience. After the show, everyone that was daring enough got to touch one of the snakes. That included the biggest snake in attendance….an oversized bull snake named “Papa.” Thanks Sternberg Museum, it was a riveting array of reptiles!

Capone

We had a “doggone” good time at Hot dogs with the Top Dog. Jeff Friesen, the Director - officially dubbed the Top Dog - cooked up some hot dogs while our local police K-9 named Capone stole the show. Here he is showing what he is capable of to Ron Alexander, Colby police officer. Capone put on an impressive performance. Everybody in the crowd learned at least one thing. It is best to obey the law if you don’t want to tangle with Capone!

Pinkerton

Thank you Mr. Kellogg for sending Pinkerton to Pioneer Memorial Library to kick-off the summer programs. He has been very obedient and we were all very thankful to see he is potty trained! We were sorry to see him go though, the kids loved him!

Summer Program Kick-off

Judy Kleinsorge is our wacky, but extremely fun and creative, children’s librarian. Here she is acting almost normal as she prepares for the summer program theme of Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. If the kids have half as much fun as Judy does its going to be a great summer!