at the Clarion Library

The night of Santa's Visit...

2011-12-24T10:45:00.000-08:00

'Twas the night of Santa's visit, when all through the Library,
All the children were excited to see what he would carry,
in his pack that he had...
all were good, no one was bad.
In cute Pajamas they came to talk to the man - oh so merry.
(see also http://www.clarion.lib.ia.us/use-the-library/patronpics)

They made treats with a grape, graham crackers and cream cheese,
From a cinnamon stick, beads and a pipe cleaner - Christmas trees!
They stamped bags for a gift
To give someone a lift
Drank hot chocolate - and we didn't hear a sneeze.

Some kids came early, and we made snowflakes from paper,
And learned to draw a puppy, kitten and a friend or a neighbor.
The library is fun
we hope you can come
Even if Santa's not here, you can find lots to savor.

Statue on the front lawn of the library:

2011-08-05T16:20:00.001-07:00

The birds flying out from the open book symbolize different types of knowledge. The owl represents science and math; the falcon, history; the jay, literature; the meadowlark, music; the hummingbird, fantasy; and the tern stands for the arts.

Summer Reading Program

2011-06-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great turnout for the Blank Park Zoo and their animals from around the world.

Changes in surrounding Landscape.

2011-05-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, spring is here. But also, after standing empty for a year, the house west of the library was torn down.

Art Work on Display this week by Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Students

2011-05-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

Art Show

2011-04-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

There was a conference Art show displayed and judged at the Clarion Public Library.

Pope joan's travels

2011-03-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

View Joan from home to Rome in a larger map

Having fun on Wednesday night

2011-02-17T06:48:00.001-08:00

New Library staff, Rachel Kruger and Deb Sebby.

Some girls got me involved in having a puppet show last night. The big brown circle is supposed to be a donut from one of the stories we found. One fun story to act out was "5 little children jumping on the bed..." we got the phone out to call the doctor, and since they had a phone, they decided to take a picture.

April

2010-04-26T08:42:00.001-07:00

One couple stopped in before prom to check out a couple books and show Nancy their fancy getups.

some boys showed up, too.

The girls are playing Wii baseball on this early out day at the library.

Spring is making it's way here

2010-03-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Doing homework on a balmy day in front of the library after Wii Wed.

Climbing on the library's bike rack after having a Wii bowling tourny in the meeting room on an early out from school day.

The Library Participating at Winterfest 2-6-2010

2010-02-07T16:29:00.000-08:00

Marshmellow snowmen and their creators.

Marshmellow snowman maker touching noses with her creation.

Nancy and her daughter came by and visited with Volunteer, Sonja Reiland, and Becky.

kids at the library

2010-02-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

You can see more pictures of library patrons

at

http://www.clarion.lib.ia.us/use-the-library/patronpics/atct_album_view?b_start:int=72&-C=

Meeting room pictures

2009-10-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

center of room looking East. This room is 48 feet by 25 feet.

long tables looking to SE, where refrig and stove are. 3 chairs on each side of the tables with a chair on each end.

Long Tables to NW

Empty rooom looking to the East.

no chairs or tables looking towards east windows

view of chairs with refrigerator and stove

chairs only to west

Chairs only to east

Youth

2009-10-09T23:56:00.001-07:00

I had a laugh to see this yesterday.

Here is what the building looks like from different angles

2009-10-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

I received some more pictures

2009-10-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

Cooks, Nola, Jeff and Sarah

Here are pictures of the program or ceremony we had on the first day we opened.

The Ribbon has been cut and we are back in the swing of things

2009-10-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sept. 29 we had a ceremony at 10 a.m. with 130 + attending and we gave tours to students and anyone who wanted to look around. We had a great time. There are a few things to work out, still, like putting signs up so people can find things on their own, if they want to, and labeling keys and putting away all the books that people are bringing back. People checked out more than usual before we closed for moving, and it is keeping us very busy as they have been read and returned and more are needed. We like busy and hope it stays this way.

2009-7-20

2009-08-02T23:39:00.001-07:00

Construction 2009

2009-01-17T23:12:00.000-08:00

Despite below zero temperatures and LOTS of snow, the crew works diligently and we see here that the roof is going on to the new edition.

Scroll down to see Construction progress -- Thank you to all who helped

2008-10-08T17:44:00.001-07:00

Counselor Kakacek and Principal Rosendahl supervise the students.

Fifth grade helpers before the ground breaking ceremony.

These guys shelve them at the 912 Central Ave., East location.

Is this the supervisor, or what?

She's working hard moving books from shelf to shelf.

movers putting book shelves into their truck.

A High school student.

High School students helping to move out computers and their tables.

Ruritan clearing out the carpet.

Rotary helping to move storage items.

Leanna helping to clear things out.

Construction!

2008-09-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

November 20, 2008 pic from the West side of the library.

November 20, 2008 steps totally gone

November 20, 2008 from East.

11-7-2008 The second story is going up!

10-22-08 an overcast day helps keep the shadows away.

10-15-08 looking from upstairs, downthrough where the elevator used to be.

Inside the library is empty. Gutted.

10-15-08 moving sand in. I imagine this is the area of the new elevator.

10-15-08 take from the 2nd story of the library, looking north at the workers.

10-8-2008
From farther away

From the South West 10-8-08

10-8-2008

October 8, 2008 from the East

10-2-08
The walls are going up!

9-26-08
WOW! a lot happens in a week!

9-26-08

9-19-08

They put a fence up to keep us from wandering in to the danger zone!

Then they dug a big hole to the North.

The first thing they did was to remove the platforms beside the steps. (Also, asbestos was being removed from the inside)

Temporary Library

2008-09-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here is how the temporary location looks as you approach from the west of the building.

The entry way, where we have book sale items:

The children's area is what you see first as you get past the entryway:

The Circulation Desk:

Magazines:

OK, so it looks like a library, big deal!
Linda had mapped out where the books should go, and figured out about how much space was needed. She kept saying it would all fit easily. But we are still amazed. All these pictures need is people ... can't you see yourself finding a good book here? We hope to see you soon!

Library Groundbreaking 9-12-08

2008-09-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

What a great celebration! The Library Board worked hard to get to this day. They are pictured here: Colette Johnson, Jeff Hansen, Pat Kirstein, Karianne Johnson, and Terry Hackley.

Colette was the emcee of the program. The Mayor was the first to speak. He opened with a joke, and before we knew it, Kitty McCool was introduced. She told how she approached The Library Board giving the first donation towards making an expansion on the library. This picture shows from left: Nola Waddingham(Library Director), (representative for Dean Snyder Construction Company who has the contract for building the addition), Randy Cram (architect), Mike Nail (Mayor), Colette Johnson (Board Chairman), Kitty McCool at the podium, Judge Newt (retired judge and donor) and Rose Marie Draheim.

Judge Newt Draheim had some inspirational words, and Randy Cram, the architect, took the podium for some comments. Nola spoke, and finally, Florine Swanson. Many community members showed up to witness this historical moment.

Many groups had the chance to "break ground" with golden shovels and hard hats. The DeCoster family have given a named gift for the children's section of the new library. Alina DeCoster and her son represented the family at this program.

Clarion-Goldfield 5th graders gave up recess time during the week to make the refreshments enjoyed by those in attendance. Several students were on hand that day to carry chairs, serve refreshments, and dig a little dirt.

Gramstads: Rosella actively researches Geneology information. Their building is being used for the temporary location at 912 Central Ave. East.

Three Cups of Tea

2008-05-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our Book Club read this book by Greg Mortenson who is doing something I would love to do. He's able to work with Pakistani people, learning their culture, and helping them to educate their girls. This book kept my attention until the first school was built. After that he also worked with refugees from Afghanistan and with Afghanistan schools. I would like our nation to put efforts into this, rather than into making war with weapons. http://www.threecupsoftea.com/Intro.php

Master Butcher's Singing Club by Louise Erdrich

2008-02-09T23:31:00.000-08:00

This Book had lots of great discussion points. It starts right after World War I and concludes sometime after World War II and several characters were part of these wars. A German man's Immigration to America, small midwest town knowledge of everyone's business, cancer, family relationships, alcoholism, singing - and it's effect on people, Indians - esp. Wounded Knee Masacre. I enjoyed this book and the surprise ending led me to read it over again with a new perspective. I laughed outloud at some of the descriptions of strength, and smell, and petty interactions. What did you think of it?

"Old School" by Tobias Wolff

2007-11-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

This book crossed my desk to return to another library. I wonder if our book clubs come close to helping people think very far beyond...

"How did they command such deference - english teachers? Compared to the men who taught physics or biology, what did they really know of the world? It seemed to me, and not only to me, that they knew exactly what was most worth knowing. Unlike our math and science teachers, who modestly stuck to their subjects, they tended to be polymaths. Adept as they were at dissection, they would never leave a poem or a novel strewn about in pieces like some butchered frog reeking of formaldehyde. They'd stitch it back together with history and psychology, philosophy, religion, and even, on occasion, science. without pandering to your presumed desire to identify with the hero of a story, they made you feel that what mattered to the writer had consequence for you, too.

Say you've just read Faulkner's "barn burning". Like the son in the story, you've sensed the faults in your father's character. Thinking about them makes you uncomfortable; left alone, you'd probably close the book and move on to other thoughts. But instead you are taken in hand by a man who involves you and a roomful of other boys in the consideration of what it means to be a son. The loyalty that is your duty and your worth and your problem. The goodness of loyalty and its difficulties and snares, how loyalty might also become betrayal - of the self and the world outside the circle of blood. You've nver had this conversation before, not with anyone. And even as it's happening you understand that just as your father's troubles with the world-emotional frailty, self-doubt, incomplete honesty- will not lead him to set it on fire, your own loyalty will never be the stuff of tragedy. You will not turn bravely and painfully from your father as the boy in the story does, but forsake him without regret. And as you accept that separation, it seems to happen; your father's sad, fleshy face grows vague, and and you blink it away and look up to look at your teacher...

Book Club - 11-15-07 white oleander

2007-11-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've just started reading White Oleander. A young girl lives in awe and fear of her beautiful swedish mother who reads poetry in her spare time. She works editing copy, and takes her daughter to work with her.

When this girl is alone, she often visits her alcoholic neighbor.

Her mother has rules about men, but breaks them for a man who she enjoys being with, but soon he goes on to other women. Her mother seeks revenge, leaving white oleander blossoms as a symbol that she has been to visit.