Your Library Connection

Summer, Storytelling, and Cinema Success… Thank you!

This summer has been an exciting and busy time for the Independence Public Library!  We have been able to offer one new program, one greatly expanded program, and one tried and true summer reading program for children.  Funding for these programs has come from donations and sponsorships.    

1.  Tried and True…
The summer reading program was Dragons, Dreams, and Daring Deeds.  It was fun to explore the times of castles and dragons with the Medieval theme!  The summer reading program is tried and true, but we still try a few new ideas each year.  This year we had two big successes with our summer reading program…first our family evening programs were all well attended with approximately 100 people at each of the three programs!  The second success was having 50% of the children participating complete the program.  Other years we have had approximately 20% of students who signed up complete the program.  We attribute this to our new Dragons and Dreams’ Store which gave kids more of an incentive to finish 25 days of reading.  Thanks so much to all those who donated money, supplies, entertainers, food, or volunteer time to make the program a success!  Special thanks to the VFW for generously allowing us to use their facility and to Amy McGraw, the library’s assistant director, who does most of the footwork in organizing the six-week event!

2.  Bigger and Better…
Our second annual storytelling festival was an event for all ages!  With the addition of a Medieval Faire, there was a wide variety of entertainment available.  Medieval craftsmen,  musicians, medieval combat fighters, storytellers, games, a clown, juggler, character artist, fortune teller, magician, king, queen, and a Royal Reader Crown and tattoo, plus 275 or more people and Merlin’s Medieval Menu added up to create one fun-filled afternoon!  The profits from this fundraiser will be used to purchase library books. Thank you to the Parks and Recreation Department for providing a beautiful setting for the event and Independence Light and Power, Telecommunications for electrical service.  A big thanks also goes out to the sponsors of the event:  BankIowa, Bill’s Pizza and Smokehouse, Fareway, Independence Federal Bank for Savings, Security State Bank, and Sweets and Treats.  Thanks to all others who helped make the event a success, whether it was through volunteering, loaning costumes, planning, entertaining during the event, setting up or taking down…it wouldn’t have happened without lots of community support and individual help!

3. New and Improved… 
Our new program is similar to the community movies shown in small towns around the area in the past.  It is improved with the technologically-advanced equipment available today.  Riverside Cinema, commonly known as movies in the park, has been completely supported through donations and sponsorships.  These events have been a hit from the beginning, with over 200 people at each of the four movies offered so far.  There is one remaining movie, scheduled for September 8^th at 8:00 pm.  Come and join us at the River Walk Park for this fun community event!  Thanks to the Amy Jane Hoffman Memorial, Court and Maud Bentley, Friends of the IPL, Independence Ambassadors, John Deere CCU Grant, and Wilbur and Carolyn Nielsen, the generous donors who made this dream a reality.  Thanks also to the many sponsors who, in combination, paid for all the movie public performance rights!  Special thanks to the movie committee and volunteers who have helped with the initial planning and on-going production and set-up:  Mark Blaker, Gary Buresh, Dean McGraw, Lois Stout, and Mark White.  Thanks to the Parks and Rec Department for allowing the library to use the beautiful pavilion and park as the location for the movies.  Thanks to Independence Light and Power, Telecommunications for providing electrical service for the events.       

It’s been an exceptionally busy summer, but also fun!  I hope that you have been able to enjoy some of the library’s programming this summer.  If not, keep your eyes out for future events.  Thanks again to all those who have supported our many ventures this summer! 

Library Tidbits:

• Monday, August 22^nd at 1:30 pm is the date and time for Mark Dvorak, traditional folk singer, to perform at the Senior Center.  This event is being co-sponsored by the Friends of the Independence Public Library and the Buchanan County Senior Center.
• The last Riverside Cinema event of the year will be Thursday, September 8^th at 8 pm at the River Walk Pavilion.  For more information, see www.indylibrary.org.
• In case you haven’t heard, the library building committee is working with an architect and the city of Independence has committed a generous $700,000 and the site west of the Lee Mansion to build a new library.  If you are interested in helping or have comments, please contact a building committee co-chair, Mary Stevenson 334-2866 or Dave Iverson 334-4479, or the library at 334-2470.
• The library has new hours…please check to make sure we will be here when you want to be.  Mon 10 – 8 (no evening story time), Tues 10 – 8, Wed 10 – 8, Thurs 10 – 1, Fri 10 – 5, and Sat 10 – 3.
• Morning story times (ages 3-5) are scheduled for Wednesday mornings at 9:30.  They will start Sept. 7^th and are held at the library.
• FREE Basic computer classes will start again in September.  We will offer Computer Basics at 9 am Sept. 8^th, Word Basics at 9 am Sept. 15^th, Internet Basics at 9 am Sept. 22^nd, and E-Mail Basics at 9 am Sept. 29^th.  Call 334-2470 to register as we have only six spots available!

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