Thu Feb 5 6:30pm – 7:30pm
(Timezone: Central Time)
Blandin Foundation (map)
Tom Hanson, former foreign Service Officer and a volunteer consultant with Minnesota International Center's Great Decison program, will talk about the foreign policy challenges faced by President Obama.
This event kicks off the Great Decisions Discussion Series beginning February 18 with "Energy and the Global Economy"
This week at the library:
Thursday, February 5, 6:30 pm "Foreign Policy Challenges Faced by President Obama" at the Blandin Foundation Auditorium
Tom Hanson, former Foreign Service Officer and a volunteer consultant with Minnesota International Center's Great Decisions program, will talk about upcoming foreign policy issues.
This event kicks off the Great Decisions Discussion Series beginning February 18 with "Energy and the Global Economy" at noon at the Grand Rapids Library
Saturday, February 7, 10:00 am "Ready, Set, Goal" workshop by Karen Christenson
In the Library Community Room
This 3-hour workshop is designed for women who wish to uncover their life dreams. It will help to answer the question: "How do I see myself and my life's purpose?"
Preregister at www.getlearning.com or call 327-5730. $8.00 charge
February is Love Your Library Month!
February is Library Lovers' Month all over the country. Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of public, school and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone to recognize the important role libraries play in the cultural and economic success of local communities and the nation as a whole.
Tell us your library story: We have a bulletin board with places to post cards that complete the thought: "I love my library because…." We'd love to hear your thoughts!
Bring an Apron to display
In honor of the visit by EllynAnne Geisel, curator of The Apron Chronicles, now on display at Iron World, we are doing a mini-display of aprons. If you have a favorite apron, or one with a great story attached to it, bring the apron and the story to the library for display. Don't forget this can include carpenter's blacksmith's or other aprons traditionally worn by men. Attach your name and the accompanying story. Later in March we'll do a gathering to share stories and aprons.
For more events connected to the exhibit see Iron World's Web Site at www.ironworld.com/events/apron/ or pick up a flyer at the library.
Community Read
In conjunction with the exhibit, the area libraries have chosen "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson, for "Iron Range Reads" Thanks to the generous contribution of the Grand Rapids Area Library Foundation, we have multiple copies available for check out at the Library. This hilarious memoir of growing up in the 50's is fun to read, but also a great discussion starter for talking about the differences between growing up in the 50's and 60's and growing up later.
We have plenty of books, books on CD and Large Print Books to check out. Pull together a group of friends to discuss this one!
Book Groups
Book groups are invited to let us know if you are open to new members. We often receive inquiries from people wanting to know about book groups open to new members. Leave contact information, meeting times and any other pertinent information at the reference desk
January 31 was the last day of the children's winter reading program Slide into a good book
We had 186 children sign up for the winter reading program and take a reading log! Nearly half completed the log and returned it to receive a book.
Coming up next week and later in February
Feb 12, 7 pm James Heitala on Solar and Wind Generated Power for the Small User
Feb 14, 10:30 am I love to read family storytime with many guest readers
Monday, Feb. 16 Closed in Observance of Presidents' Day
Feb 18, 12:00 Energy and the Global Economy
First in the Great Decisions Discussion series
Brown bag lunch, learn and discuss
Feb 19, 7 pm Ellen Baker, author of Keeping the House
on creating stories based on objects
Teen Events
Feb 20, 3:30 Teen Book Club
Feb 28, 2:30-5:30 pm Claymation Stop-Motion creation
ECFE Book Times Mondays 9:30 & 10:30
Storytimes for Preschoolers and their caregivers with games or crafts afterwards.
Check out the Library's Blog at www.grandrapidsarealibrary.blogspot.com
For more details on any of the programs, go to the Library's Web Site: www.grandrapids.lib.mn.us
