“Join the circle of knowledge @ your library!” is the theme of National Library Week April 13-19. The Orcas and Lopez public and school libraries are celebrating all month long with readings storytelling, lectures, movies and more.
Orcas
The Friends of the Orcas library are hosting a poetry reading by Joseph Green on April 18 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room followed by an all-day workshop on April 19. The library will have displays of local poets’ works throughout the library during the entire month of April.
Also on April 19, the library hosts the next presentation in the Crossroads lecture series at the Orcas Center at 2 p.m. John and Julie Gottman will discuss their path-breaking research on marital stability, divorce prediction, and parenting.
The Orcas Library is unveiling the new video magnifier for people with visual impairments during the month of April and Implementing a new audio book service in which cardholders can download recorded books to their MP3 players via the internet.
A new series of English as a Second Language (ESL) courses begins on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the twice weekly storytimes for children continue to be hosted by librarian Nita Couchman on Thursdays and Saturdays during the month of April.
Sports columnist Art Thiel of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer will visit the Orcas Library to discuss “All Things Sports in Seattle” later in the month.
In 2007, the Orcas Island Library had 6444 registered borrowers and over 46,000 print and non-print items. Attendance was 137,000 patrons.
Lopez
The Lopez library will celebrate the entire week of April 14-19 with refreshments, free giveaways and a drawing for prizes. “Come in and fill out a survey about the library services to enter the drawing,” said Librarian Lou Pray. “It’s a way to show appreciation to our patrons.” Mugs, bags and gift certificates to Vortex and Isabel’s are among the prizes.
On Tuesday, April 15 the monthly Literary Salon invites patrons to discuss and share their favorite recent read from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the library fireside. “This is a ‘no-guilt’ salon, says the library staff. “Participants can show up without anything to share, drop-ins are welcome.”
Movie night at the library on Wednesday, April 16 will be a screening of Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” at 4:30 p.m.
Teen Literature Day is April 17. The Lopez School Library is joining the public library in the worldwide “Operation Teen Book Drop.” The Lopez campaign, “Rock the Drop,” invites patrons to share their favorite books by leaving them in collection boxes at either the Lopez public or Lopez school library where others can select and read them during the month of April.
The Friends of the Lopez Library will hold their annual meeting on April 17 from 5 to 7 p.m in the library meeting room. The public is welcome to join the organization for hors d’oeuvres and give input.
On Saturday, April 26 a special story-telling hour will be presented for teens and adults by storytellers Alie Smaalders, Janet Baltzer, Rosie Sumner and Lorrie Harrison at 7:30 p.m. at the library fireside.
Earlier in the month, the Lopez Library hosted Washington poet laureate, and Waldron Island resident, Samuel Green in a reading from his most recent collection “The Grace of Necessity.”
The Lopez Library has seen a 30 percent increase in attendance and a 33 percent increase in circulation over the past six months. “Since the library levy passed, we have further improved our collection of books, films and children’s materials,” said Pray.
