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!

Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales

Don't be a Hermit this summer!

Get out and take part in the library's Summer Reading Program.

This year's theme is "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales"; so books and activities will focus on animals, especially pets. We are planning a couple of special events in July and we are looking forward to a very special visit from a very special character at the end of May!! Fliers will be distributed at the library and schools after the 1st of May and you can keep checking back here for more information. Summer Reading is for kids of all ages - - so plan on joining us!

An Amazing Journey

Twelve middle school students drug two library staff members to Kearney, NE on Saturday, April 8, 2006 for an "Amazing Journey". The first stop was at Cabela's to view the exhibit of mounted wildlife, then a great lunch at Skeeter Barnes. The group spent the afternoon at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument where they toured the exhibit, attended an oral history presentation, and navigated the "TrailBlaze Maze". If you ever want to get from point A to Point B in the quickest way possible, Kalyn is your gal!! Of course, expended energy meant increased appetites, so the group headed off to Eileen's Colossal Cookies for yummy frosted cookie treats. Thanks so much to the Thomas County Sheriff's Department for their generous donation to this drug-free activity.

2006 Murder Mystery

Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library hosted the second annual Murder Mystery. Evidently everyone was "dying" to go because it sold out for the second straight year! A great cast of characters took part in the play including:

Jim Oliver as Dr. Bill
Patrick Toth as Inspector Ace Gumshoe
Jada Tubbs as Duchess Ellington
Michael Karnes as Earl "Fatha" Hiney
Michael Hawkins as Jellyroll Goodman
Wanda Spresser as Opera Windbag
Pat Tubbs as Maybelline Lipgloss
Corey Sorenson as Gopher Clueless
Relda Galli as Clarinetta Fitzgerald
Linda Ladenberger as Lena Savoy

Thanks to our sponsors including: Someplace Special, Colby Bowl, Ashley Wright, Bickner Electric, CCC Dental Hygiene Students, Convention Center, and Dana Unruh Catering Service.

Jellyroll Goodman


Thanks for coming!


Duchess Ellington


Gopher Clueless

Family Night

Every Tuesday night @ 7:00pm join Judy Kleinsorge and Pioneer Memorial Library for Family Night. Something new and different is available each week. If you join us this week plan on a pirate theme. Shivers me timbers!!

Karissa Singer makes her Pirate hat.

Arrrgh....Matey! These seaworthy chaps wouldn't burn you out and loot you would they???

Thanks to Midwest Energy

The library was the recipient of a Midwest Energy Community Fund Grant. This grant provided funds toward copies of children's books that needed to be replaced due to age or poor repair. We were able to purchase 52 copies which include books by some of our favorite authors like Dr. Suess, Russell Hoban, Stan & Jan Berenstain, Don Freeman, Virginia Burton and Ezra Keats. We feel very fortunate to be able to offer new issues of old favorites to our patrons.

Chocolate and all that jazz....

Thanks to Bruce Dawson and the Fort Hays State Jazz Band for making a trip to Colby to give us an outstanding evening of jazz. The tunes were as smooth as the chocolate that flowed through the chocolate fountains. Thanks to the Pioneer Memorial Library Friends of the Library for making it all happen.

National Children's Book Week

Pioneer Memorial Library, Colby Rotary Club, and the Colby Resource & Referral teamed up this year to celebrate National Children's Book Week. The goal set by libraries across Kansas was to read to all children ages 0-5. To do this, we attempted to read in as many daycare centers as possible during the week of November 14-20, 2005. The honorary book that was chosen this year by the State Library of Kansas and donated to all of the daycares in Thomas County and Northwest Kansas was No Matter What by Deb Gliori. Above is a picture of Debbie Tittel, Asst. Director at Pioneer Memorial Library reading to some preschoolers.

Halloween at PML

The Puddle Duck Preschoolers showed up at Halloween this year but luckily we were prepared. The library decided to treat rather than trick and a few more people left as satisfied customers. Happy Halloween!

Debbie (red shirt) and Glovine (flowered shirt) making sure everybody gets candy.

Willie Nelson sang, "Mama, don't let your boys grow up to be..."(j/k)

Ewww...Grossology

Pioneer Memorial Library took 20 middle school students to Denver on Saturday, October 22 to see the Ewww....Grossology exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Hammond Candy Factory, and finally the Corn Maze at the Denver Botanic Gardens. We left Colby at 7AM and didn't get home until 11:30pm! It was a long day but we had a good time learning about flatulence, candy, and getting lost (the corn maze). Thank you to the Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library and Colby Law Enforcement for sponsoring such a great day!

The future of the Hammond Candy Factory?

Fearless leader (and children's librarian) Judy Kleinsorge appears to have lost her way.

How's them noodles Christina?

David and William posing as boogers!

Trivia Night

Wow, what a night! 6 teams battled it out for bragging rights and a steamy cup of Starbucks coffee. Thanks for sponsoring trivia night Starbucks!

After 10 rounds of 10 questions (for a total of 100 questions) everyone went home mentally exhausted. The Colby High School Scholar's Bowl team came in third by answering 57 questions correctly.

The Library Board & Co. came in a strong second by answering 65 answers correctly.

And the winners were...the Colby Rotary Club. Congratulations, enjoy that Vienti cup of Starbucks coffee!

Congratulations everyone on a job well done and thanks for participating!

As I Remember It

For the October Booked for Lunch Ray Imhof and Doris Johnson came and reviewed the book As I Remember It. The book is a collection of memories from Esther, the mother of Ray and Doris. Esther spent all but the first 6 years of her life in Northwest Kansas. For more information on this book go to http://www.trafford.com and do a "quick search" for As I Remember It.