Ark Valley News - From the library

From the library
By Janice Sharp, director
Last Updated: October 19, 2017

Book sale raised over $1,000 for library

The library is under construction in more ways than the new facility in Lions Park. Staff has started to combine the fiction genres into one adult fiction collection.

Fiction, western, mystery, science fiction and all paperback books are now being alphabetized into one collection. The western, mystery and science fiction books all have genre labels, so searches now will be by author. Staff will be happy to assist anyone searching for a book during this process.

We had planned to combine the genres when we moved into the new library, but decided it will be easier to move if the collections are already combined. We appreciate your patience.

The Friends of the Library fall book sale was a success. We started with about 5,000 items and sold 1,450 items and made $1,027.55 from the sale.

The Sedgwick County Jail picked up 31 boxes of paperbacks and magazines, 95 boxes were taken to Open Door Ministries, one box went to a refugee auction, one box went to Via Christi foster child program and 105 CDs went to three small public libraries.

We are again receiving donated items that will either be added to our collection or saved for our spring sale. Thanks for shopping. We plan to have another sale to coincide with the spring Chamber garage sales.

The Wine with Friends event was also a success. Over 30 people attended to taste a variety of wines and socialize at the Grace Hill Winery. We were given a tour of the vineyards and “behind the scene" areas, then participants could visit the Tasting Room to purchase wines of their choice. Ben Anderson provided the delicious appetizers. There were wonderful positive comments about the Friends doing an event that was different and fun. We raised over $600 for the building fund.

The library will begin a period of Free Fines for Food beginning Oct. 23. Each $1 of fines will be waived with the donation of a nonperishable food item. The food item must not be expired, damaged or homemade to qualify. Four packages of Ramen noodles will count as a $1 item. If the patron has a $10 fine, the patron must bring in 10 items. We will accept cash as well, which will be donated to the emergency fund. All food items will be taken to the Valley Center Food Pantry. The period of free fines will end Nov. 11.

Please contact the library to find out if you have outstanding fines on your account or overdue items to be returned. Patrons can check their own accounts by logging into the database listed on the front side of their library cards and providing their patron account number and password listed on the back side.

The October meeting for the Friends of the Library will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 24. Come and share your thoughts on new events by the Friends.

It's time to mark your calendar for the Fall Family Chisholm Trail Night at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28. We'll have a campfire to roast wieners, authentic games such as horseshoes, roping, running hoop game, and branding a shirt or jeans with a branding iron. All food will be provided, but those planning to attend should bring lawn chairs. A rain date has been set for Nov. 4.

You should RSVP to the library by Oct. 26 so we can have adequate food and children's white T-shirts for the branding (you may bring your own shirts if you wish). We will provide shirts for $1 each.

The library will participate Oct. 31 in Trick or Treat Main Street. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. along the businesses on Main Street, from Meridian to the railroad tracks. We will host the costume contest with judging for infants and preschoolers at 6 p.m., kindergarteners and first-graders at 6:10, second- and third-graders at 6:20, fourth- and fifth-graders at 6:30, and sixth grade and older (including adults) at 6:40. There will be prizes for the top three picks in each category. The monster punch and candy provided by the library will be in front of Le Venue due to previous over-crowding. The costume contest will be outside as well.

The library will hold a bookfair at Barnes & Noble from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4. We will have storytellers each half hour, a crafts table and a table with preselected books that can be purchased for our library. The preselected books are included in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.

We will have vouchers with our bookfair ID to present when making a purchase. When stating that the purchase supports our library, we will receive a percentage of the purchase for the Friends Building Fund. Purchases can be also made online at bn.com Nov. 4 through 8 with the bookfair ID. We hope to see you there. The flyer is posted on our website, and coupons are available at the circulation desk.

Upcoming events

Oct. 15 thru 21 — National Friends of Libraries Week

Oct. 24 — Friends of the Library meeting

Oct. 25 — Rotating book collection switched with new selections

Oct. 28 — Chisholm Trail Fall Family Night

Oct. 31 — Trick or Treat Main Street

Nov. 4 — Storytellers at Barnes & Noble

Nov. 7 — City Council

Nov. 13 — Library Board meeting