Pictures of Pre-Chautaqua events

The four events were hosted by scholors of the Kanasa Humanities. They spoke on the various themes of Chautaqua. We viewed the movie "Grapes of Wrath," discussed the book, "Mules and Men," watched the movie "The Dust Bowl," and reviewed the book, "All The Kings Men."

Book Review and Discussion - Mules and Men

In March some of us gathered to discuss the book, "Mules and Men," by zora Neale Hurston. Ann birney conducted the lively discussion.

Kansas Humanities scholar, Ann Birney led us in a discussion about the book "Mules and Men" by Zora Neale Hurston. This was done in preparation for the June 2010 Chataqua event. We had a lively discussion and lots of fun.

February 21st a group of patrons traveled through a snow storm to watched "The Grapes of Wrath" staring Henry Fonda in preparation for the June 2010 Chataqua event.

Pre-Chataqua events for the Library

The Library prepared four Chautauqua events each month from February to May.

Book for Lunch - May 2010

The Library invited Mike Baughn, who is the curent chairman for the 125th Anniversary Thomas County Committee. He is an avid history buff for the Thomas County area. He discussed the book, "They Pointed Them North," by E.C. Abbot.

Snap Shot Day in April

The Pioneer Memorial Library had a snapshot day of all the events that happen in our library on one day. We interview people, took pictures, had regular events. It was really fun to hear from the patrons on what they do in our library. this is a short Animoto clip--we could have added much more, but just wanted something to share with you!

http://animoto.com/play/6XnyEoYQQ6EYweYt1DHIdQ

National Library Week 2010

The Pioneer Memorial Library hosted a variety of speakers and authors April 12th to April 16th. Special lunches were served every day.

Rick Ress discusses "Master of War: The Live of General George H. Thomas," by Benson Brobrick. What we discovered was that General Thomas had high standards and believed in hard work. We cam away appreciating the fact that Thomas County was named after the General.

Lee Whitely spoke on the highways in the area of Kansas. He also discussed how politics, the railroad and other things influenced the survival of town. His work has been published and a PBS video on the parks as well.

Joanne Sunderman discussed "Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the fight for Lincoln's Legacy." She explained to the audience the importance of the rule of law during impeachment and how Kansas legislatures saved Andrew's Presidency.

The local Colby Writers Club presented work for the community today. A devotional work, "Seasons of Salt: Meditations," by Millie Horlacher, a fiction book about depression and Alzheimers; "All Stubborned Up," by Nancy Larsen-Sanders, delightful poems, stories from genological research on family.

Joanne Emerick held the audience spell-bound by discussing and reading from her soon to be published book, "Courage Before Every Danger." She was so good that the audience begged us to have her back when her book has come out.! "Courage Before Every Danger" is about the 31st bomber squadron that flew during World War II (http://31stbombers.org/; also see http://31stbombers.org/NEWSNOTES.htm).

Murder Mystery - 6th Annual !!

Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library, library staff and others wrote a murder mystery for the 6th Annual Murder Mystery. In recognition of the 125th Anniversary of Thomas County, we thought that we should use the broad brush facts of the characters in the County that helped to found this vital part of Northwest Kansas. Some of the pictures we took were not a crisp as we would like, but we had a great time laughing, gaufing and just having lots of fun.

Names were changed to protect the innocent and the writers of this play!! Enjoy some of the photos from our Flicker page!

Book For Lunch - Designer Babies

The Pioneer Memorial Library colaborated with the Colby Community College during their 2010 Lectureship series. We invited Sue Evans of the Regional Prevention Center to reveiw the book, "Designer Babies: Genetic Choice."

The participants discussed various types of genetic modifications possible and then were given an opportunity to take a poll of a variety of choices they would want for themselves and their community.

Booked for Lunch - Journey Stories and the Dust Bowl

February 2010, Librarian, Judy Kleinsorge did a wonderful puppet presentation on the Dust Bowl Days in the early 1900's. Mrs. Marmalade and she went over some of life issues found in "Rose's Journal. This included putting water or milk in a mason jar with a metal lid. Then when they wanted to drink from the jar they punched a whole in the jar lid and placed a straw in it so that dust would not get inside.

Library Volunteer's Make Attire for Mrs. Marmalade!

The Pioneer Memorial Library is very blessed to have volunteers who often help us with putting together crafts and things. This last month, Mother and Daughter helped with Mrs. Marmalade's attire for her very special upcoming debut with Children's Librarian, Judy Kleinsorge. At this event they would be discussing Journey Stories and the Dust Bowl during the Book For Lunch event in February.

Booked for Lunch - 2009 Fall Season

Booked for Lunch starts each September and runs until May. Each month we have a guest speaker discuss a current book or topic of interest to those in the community.

Clarice Howard is the librarian for the Talking Books Library Service for the visually impaired and those with handicapps that affect their reading. (http://www.skyways.org/KSL/talking/)

She not only share about 2 wonderful books, but demonstrated how the new digital talking book equipment is now easier to use.

Our First speaker was Linda Goosen reviewed "Extreme Measures," by Wine Flynn. She presented a very clear picture of the books intrigue and drama. She made many of want to begin reading his series of books as well.

Food for Fines - December 2009

The Pioneer Memorial Library collected food in leu of library fines from December 5th to December 23rd. We collected over $500.00 worth of food stuffs supplied by patrons who wanted to pay their overdue fines while helping others.

Pioneer Memorial Hosts Legislators for Kansas

Brian Perkins, Legislative Assistant for health care and other areas to Congressman Jerry Moran spoke with citizens from the Thomas County Area. Pioneer Memorial Library hosted a large contingent of adults and students to discss the issues of health care reform and current legislation.

A whole class studying government from the Colby High School Dist. 315 attended this discussion. They contributed some very tough and important questions to the discussion.

Kansas Representative, Jim Morrison talks with residents about the many concerns: Education funding, the Kansas deficit and how to solve the problem and other needs of the state.

He also took time to read to Preschoolers and Toddlers in our Storytime sessions on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings. The children loved it.