King Corn, birthdays, news!

Next Saturday, Feb. 5,  at 10 am there will be a screening of the documentary "King Corn" in the large meeting room. This is the story of two young men who undertake to grow an acre of corn and attempt to follow it to market.  It turns out that growing the corn is the easy part.  This is thought-provoking film.  One of our Board members, Katherine Wilson-Thompson, will be leading the discussion.  Please mention this special program to friends and patrons!

Tax help begins Tuesday, Feb. 1!  The tax folk will be at Main on Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm.  It's first come, first serve.

Avoca is having a book sale!! Actually, it's a book, dvd, video and all sorts of things sale!  The proceeds will go toward the children's Summer Reading Program and other needs at Avoca.  Great prices, great selection, great cause!  It'll be February 10-12-- that's Thursday through Saturday-- during normal operating hours.  Spread the word!

There's a wonderful new exhibit in the Virgie R. Fleenor Gallery.   Carl Jessee and Bill Brinkley are two talented local artists. Joyce has already given it a big "thumbs up!" Bird fanciers and barn fanatics will especially enjoy this one.    Let me know if your feet itch after you see "Sole Food!"  I think my favorites were the one of Carl at work by Bill and the installation of the Bristol Sign by Carl.  Which are your favorites?

Happy Birthday!

Kay LaSpina on January 29

Tommy Woodby on Jaunary 31

Becky Berry on February 3

And speaking of birthdays,  Christine's daughter Moira celebrated her third birthday recently!

   And. . . by next birthday, Moira will be a big sister!  

There's more good news to report:  

Patron Bill Ivey is out of the hospital and doing much better!  We expect to see him back with his Friday group sometime in the future.  

Happy Chinese New Year on February 3!

It's the Year of the Rabbit, which I hope will mean a more peaceful year after the Year of the Tiger. Good luck, everyone!

Tax Prep, King Corn, An Out of This World Cat, and Other Stuff

Remember when Jud appeared on WJHL?  Well, he's not the only celebrity in the family!  Meet Pogo Barry!   Pogo had gone walkabout and was gone for two weeks.  She ended up at the Sullivan County Animal Shelter but found that the accommodations a bit less than those to which she was accustomed.  Accordingly, she hailed a passing news crew who had come to the shelter to do a story on helping folks to keep their animals.  Pogo just needed a few seconds of fame  to get back home.   Needless to say, her ploy worked!  Congratulations to all concerned!

Oh-- you want to know which one is Pogo? You can't miss her!  She's quite the trend-setting kitty:  just take a look at those stylish ears! An ear-bobbed beauty if ever I saw one!

Joan stopped by to tell us that Crowe got a very good report about her back.  She can start doing some light tasks.  Then Crowe called to tell us how well she was doing too!

Stuff You Should Know Department

Tax Preparation: The folks will be filling out taxes for free again this year, starting Tuesday, February 1. They'll be here on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.  It's first come, first serve; they will be e-filing as far as we know.

Food for Thought:  Jud has posted some documents from OCLC about public perception of libraries. As Robert Burns said "O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us."  (Except of course he actually said something more like "O wad some Power the giftie gie us /To see oursels as ithers see us!") Anyway, here's what one survey says about libraries and how people view us.  Click on  Google Documents.

King Corn:  Main will be showing the documentary "King Corn" on Saturday, February 5th, at 10 am.  This is a fascinating documentary! Two young men rent an acre of corn, learn what they have to do to grow corn, and then follow it to market.  Sound simple?  Reality is anything but!  Katherine Wilson-Thompson will be leading the discussion. Encourage folks to come to this eye-opening event!

January news updates.

Lots of good news this time!

• Judy's husband Harold is home and is doing very well. 
• Former staffer Tonia Totten has a new library in which to work! The Bristol Herald Courier did an article on the new Glade Spring Library, but Washington County News has a photo of Tonia herself!  Read all about it HERE! (Click on the blue word)

The program with Artie Kornfeld was a great success!  Several staff members were present to hear about Woodstock first hand. Some sixty or seventy people were there, including a few who had actually been to Woodstock! It was an interesting mix of folks, both young and old.  Kathryn has posted a great series of photos at the library's Facebook page.  Here's just a sample:

Peace & Music, y'all!

Remember, if you have news for the blog, want to comment on a new book you've read, or have a suggestion, please see Jeanne.  Or email her.  Or leave her a note.  Just don't leave a message with any of the cats, as they're notoriously bad conveyors of information.

Staff news update

We've just heard that Judy's husband Harold has been hospitalized with what may be a slight stroke.  He is doing well, but the doctors wanted to keep him under observation.

I'm sure that both would appreciate prayers and good thoughts.

January events, past and future!

If you didn't see Jud on WJHL last week, click on the link below to see it online:

Jud on WJHL

If you don't want to watch online but still have a VHS player, Jeanne has a videotape.

On Tuesday, January 18, the library will be hosting Artie Kornfield! He's been active in the music business for years, worked with folks like Sonny & Cher, Bruce Springsteen, Jan and Dean,  and too many others to mention. However, it was his vision of getting people together for a rock concert back in the 60s that is probably his most lasting legacy: three days of  peace and music that  set the standard by which all other such gatherings are measured.  Artie will be here for a presentation as well as signing copies of his book, The Pied Piper of Woodstock.  It should be fun! The program starts at 7 pm, so break out your tie-dyed shirts and peace signs for this chance of a lifetime event:  to meet "The Father of Woodstock!" 

In other general news, we don't have a start date for the free tax preparation nor do we know exactly when we will get all the tax forms.  We have a few, but they're coming in very slowly.  The Slater Center will have free tax preparation starting February 1 but the person must call first to get an appointment.  That number is 423-764-4036. They will be doing returns on Monday mornings and Tuesday afternoons only.

Happy Birthday to Karen Gaylor on January 15!

And does anyone need to be reminded that we will be closed on Monday, January 17, for Martin Luther King Day?  I didn't think so.  Have a great holiday!

TV news & a New Year's wish!

TV Alert!!  

Jud is going to be interviewed on Daytime Tri-Cities on WJHL Channel 11 this Thursday, January 6!  He should be on between 10 and 11 am.  He'll be talking about books to cozy up to during the winter.

Janice Crowe stopped by for books and sends her regards to everyone. Mr.Gilley reports that his son-in-law is doing very well and has been allowed to go home.  He thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers.  

One of our long-time patrons, Bill Ivey, is in the hospital.  Please send good thoughts and prayers to Bill and Jerry.

Finally, I wanted to pass along a wish to all. This isn't an original wish, but one I borrowed via some other bloggers from the one and only Neil Gaiman.  Not only is Mr. Gaiman a wonderful writer of short stories, graphic novels, children's books and novels, but he does a a fine New Year's wish as well.  This was posted at his blog:  

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.  I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." 

 I hope everyone had a fine New Year's Day!   I should have fabulous luck  because not only did I have the soup but my first visitor was indeed a dark headed gentleman.  

His ears are a bit big and he did not bear gifts, but that was just as well. Fred's idea of the perfect present and mine vary quite a lot.

 Happy 2011!