Giveaway and a Monkey

Update

Cindy Maxton and Cassie Cochran are our winners!

Congratulations!!

Don't forget our ongoing giveaway!  Just comment on this blog or like our post on Facebook to be entered to win one of two summer prize packages. 

 



Also, we are hosting Miki the Monkey this afternoon at the First Baptist Church gym.  Come and see his crazy antics at 2:00!

Giveaway!

We are giving away two summer gift baskets.  They include books, beach towels, sunscreen and book related paraphernalia.  One is themed for adults, and the other for children.

 

To enter to win, either comment on this post or like the Giveaway post on our Facebook page.  We will draw for winners at 2:00 on Tuesday, July 1st.

 



 

 

Good luck!

Book in a Jar

Recently, Lisa saw this idea online and we thought we would try it.  We took a book that had been removed for the shelves due to poor condition and put it in a jar.
 

If you can guess the title of the book, you will be put into a drawing for a cool prize.  You are allowed to pick up the jar, shake it, and turn it, but you cannot take off the lid.  We have several books we have removed from the shelves lately so we will be changing out the jar regularly.  Come on in and see if you can guess what the book is!!

Also, come back to this blog next week for a GIVEAWAY!!

The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne can bench press 350 pounds, which he says won't impress anybody in a power lifting gym, but is impressive in the world of librarians.  His fascinating book details his struggles with Tourette's syndrome and his faith (Mormonism).  He tells how he came to use weight lifting as a means of combating his Tourette's symptoms. 

He also is a librarian at Salt Lake City's Public Library, a massive building housing about 500,000 items at a time.  The collection actually numbers over 1,000,000 items, but according to Mr. Hanagarne about half of the items are checked out at any one time.

Mr. Hanagarne's thoughts on libraries and their function in a community are intriguing:

• "It's a safe place to explore, to meet with other minds, to touch other centuries, religions, races, and learn what you truly think about the world."
• "A community that doesn't think it needs a library isn't a community for whom a library is irrelevant.  It's a community that's ill.  It doesn't know what it needs."
• "Anyone could enrich their life by spending some time here, if only they were willing to look around."
• "I really want this building to serve the purpose for which it was intended - as a breeding ground for curiosity."
• "The public library contains multitudes.  And each person who visits contains multitudes as well.  Each of us is a library of thoughts, memories, experiences, and odors."
• "The library taught me that I could ask any questions I wanted and pursue them to their conclusions without judgment or embarrassment."

Embedded at the bottom of this page is a video of Mr. Hanagarne speaking about his Tourette's.  It's impossible to imagine having to live with the issues he has.  The book is engaging and compelling.  It is available for check out at Franklin County Library.

Chance's Corner: Hot Air Balloons

Ever had one of those "spur of the moment" adventures? Well I had one this past Saturday in Sulphur Springs, Texas at the Hopkins County Dairy Festival. There was a FREE hot air balloon show behind the Shannon Oaks Church, and I just can't turn down anything free. As usual, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

I was very impressed with the hot air balloon show. I plan to attend next year!











The Ladybugs Find a New Home

Today we released our ladybugs.  We received them as weird yellow and black bugs in the larvae stage, watched them curl into their shells in the pupae stage, and watched them emerge a few days later as ladybugs.  The information in the Ladybug Land package said that the ladybugs would not live very long in the habitat once they had emerged, so today we sent them to their new homes on our plants outside.

 

 However, after we released them, we found one more, still hanging out in the library...

 

Do you see him?  Shortly thereafter he found a new home on the plants outside as well!

Now, we are in need of roly-poly bugs, so if you have any bring them in.  We have a habitat, but no residents. 



More Science Stuff!

All the science-y things that I have on the ledge above my computer have been so popular that we decided to get a few more.  Lisa had the opportunity to run in a Hobby Lobby store, and picked a several things up.

I put together this salt-water powered robot this morning.  It works on a battery made of aluminum, carbon and salt.  It was simple to put together and fun to watch work.

This hand boiler is interesting too.  The liquid inside is ethyl alcohol and the heat from simply holding the bulb in your hand causes the liquid to boil.

We also have a gyroscope, which Chance can make work, a "hippie-stick" which explores centrifugal force, and a space age crystal growing kit, which I haven't got set up yet. 

We've already conducted one experiment, by watching the reaction between milk and coke (it grossed out most of the staff!) and plan to conduct several more.  Come on in and see what is going on this summer at the library!

Petting Zoo Pics!

221 people enjoyed the animals today.  There was a llama, a cow, pot bellied pigs, a giant turtle, ducks, chickens, and goats. 

 

 

Next up is Pint Sized Polka!  It'll be Thursday at 3:00 in the First Baptist Church gym.  See you there!

Bubble Day Pics!

162 kids of all ages enjoyed playing with Bubbles today on the square at our first event of the summer.  There are many more activities to come, so be sure and check our schedule.  Next up is the petting zoo Tuesday from 10:00 - 12:00, also on the square.  Hope to see you there!

Library Replica

Recently a few different high school students came in asking about the dimensions of our building for a geometry project.  We didn't realize that they were creating an actual physical replica.  Today, now that grades are in, one student brought his project and donated it to us.

We thought it turned out really well, and were very excited that he decided to donate it to us!  Come on by and see it!