Happy Halloween!

As Ms. Lois has the day off for some ghoulish, ghastly, glee, I, Ms. Nissa, am posting a silly, scary Halloween story for all of you. Enjoy!

A man is walking home alone late one foggy Halloween night, when behind him he hears:

BUMP...

BUMP...

BUMP...

Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he makes out the image of an upright casket banging its way down the middle of the street toward him.

BUMP...

BUMP...

BUMP...

Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him.

FASTER...

FASTER...

BUMP...

BUMP...

BUMP....

He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him. The casket crashes through his door, with the lid of the casket clapping...

clappity-BUMP...

clappity-BUMP...

clappity-BUMP...

on his heels, as the terrified man runs. Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, he locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps. With a loud CRASH, the casket breaks down the door. Bumping and clapping toward him. The man screams and reaches for something, anything, but all he can find is a bottle of cough syrup! Desperate, he throws the cough syrup at the casket...and,... and,...

The coffin stops. :-D

Happy Halloween!

Cool Things On Display in the Spencer Public Library

I was like a kid in a candy store at Spencer Public Library. OK, I love libraries but this had great appeal. Mary, the Spencer Public Library children's librarian, said that the dragon head was used in a parade. I loved the Cheshire cat. Can't you see Dewey knocking it to the ground and wiping the smile off his face? :)

I freaked out (okay, I freaked out quietly) when I saw the Harry Potter drawing in the children's room. I want one!!!! You all know how I feel about the Harry Potter series. I also like the Cat in the Hat (every library needs one of those.) Where is our talented person in Pomona? Who can draw Harry Potter for us? Come forward ASAP!!
I told Mary I wasn't above stealing ideas. She said, "steal away." Do you think I would have made it out of the door with that portrait? Dewey wasn't there to guard the door...

For now I'll remain envious. But seriously, if anyone could make a drawing for us...

Next installment: Halloween parade at Spencer Public Library.

Infant Story Time Trick or Treat

Like I've said before, we make 'em cute in Pomona! Grandma Sue had a great turnout with the 0-2 year old group this morning. After a short story time they paraded around the library to get treats. They don't go to as many stops as the Tuesday toddler group but this is just right for the infants.

Joke of the day: What room should you take babies to when they cry?
Answer: To the bawl room. :)

Going In To Spencer Public Library

This top picture is taken in the adult room, in the section where they shelve the western fiction. Dewey liked this area and slept there often. The middle picture is a tribute to their Carnegie library. We had a Carnegie library which I have posted about before. It was on Main St. in Pomona and was torn down years ago. We have a picture of it downstairs if you are interested in looking at it. This Carnegie library in Spencer was on the spot where the library stands today. They memorialized it in this tribute beautifully. I'd like to do something like that for our old Carnegie as well. The only Carnegie that I know still exists in this area is in Upland. They recently restored it and it stands proudly today.

The third picture is of Dewey. I don't know what happened, I must have been shaking because it is so blurred. (Maybe I was in shock because it was so nice and cool in this town!) This beautiful portrait stands on the wall to your right as you enter the library.

Next installment: Cool things on display...

Spencer Public Library pt. 2

Before we go into the library I wanted to finish with the outside. This area is right outside the children's room. The glass wall that you see houses the children's area with some pillows on the floor. This is where Dewey is buried. The stone marker is beautiful and was donated by the local mortuary. The statue of the Mother reading to her child was donated by the former library director and author of "Dewey," Vicki Myron. It is a beautiful tribute to her mother.

Next post: We're going in!

Pomona Public Library's Book Cart Entries

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These are the different book carts the various departments have decorated in honor of our big read, "To Kill A Mockingbird". All of the departments have been really creative and it would be worth your while to come in and see them! I especially like the picture of most of the staff.

Another joke of the day: What do little ghosts wear on their feet?
Answer: Boo-ties. :)

The Big Read, Week 5

This week's cart was ours. Our theme was "radio and music in the 1930's". Ms. Nissa and Grandma Sue had all the ideas. I helped cut and paste to the board. My talents do not lie in the crafting area!

We have no intentions that our cart will win. Reference definitely outdid themselves and our hats are off to them! However ours does have music. Under the cart we have an mp3 player playing actual radio songs from the 1930's. We even have a copy of "War of the Worlds" playing. Now that's cool!

Come in and see all of our book carts. All of the library staff did a great job in thinking "all things 1930." The big read and reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" has been a great experience!

Joke of the day: What did the little vampire say when they handed it the prize?
Answer: "Fang you very much!"

Spencer Public Library pt. 1

It was a beautiful day in Spencer, Iowa on October 25, 2008. I arrived at the library around 9:30am. The library was easy to find and I really liked the rounded outside. I got out of the car and thought, "So this was Dewey's kingdom." It felt very worthy. I stopped to take pictures and then I went inside. I saw the circulation person (later I learned her name was Joy.) I was leery to approach given my experience the night before. But Joy had a very nice smile on her face which gave me the confidence to ask her, "Did you know Dewey?" The smile got bigger and she said, "Dewey and I were buddies." Hooray, a friend! We got to talking and I told her I was a children's librarian from Pomona, California. She immediately grabbed this person flying by and said, "Mary. This is Lois, a children's librarian from Pomona, California." Mary threw on the brakes gave me a big smile and we began talking of all things great about being a children's librarian. It was awesome! I think we could have talked for hours. Fortunately, she had a Halloween program and I got to see part of it. I took some pictures which I will share at another time.
To be continued...

Next installment: Spencer Public Library pt. 2

Halloween Trick or Treat - We Make 'em Cute in Pomona!

Did we ever have fun today? You betcha! Every year the Tuesday before Halloween we dress up and go trick or treating around the library. It's one of my all time favorite things to do! Take a group of toddlers, dress them up and it just doesn't get any cuter than that!

The stories today were: Big Pumpkin, There Once Was A Witch, Take a Ride on the Ghost Train, and The Chocolate Chip Ghost. We trick or treated in these departments:
Technical Services, Administration, the sorting room, adult reference, and the circulation desk. I always like going downstairs into technical services because it is the one time a year that the public can see that space.

Thanks for participating and I'll see you next week. Stay cute!

Joke of the day: How do you fix a pumpkin?
Answer: With a pumpkin patch! (Courtesy of Ms. Nissa) :)

Traveling to Spencer, Iowa

Hello young Pomonans! I left my house Friday morning at 7:00am and drove to Ontario International Airport to our next town east of us, Ontario, California. I didn't take a picture of the airport as you have probably been there or will be there. I flew U.S. Airways from Ontario to Phoenix, Arizona. I had an hour lay over and then flew Phoenix to Omaha, Nebraska. I chose Omaha over Des Moines, Iowa because according to Map Quest it was 7 minutes shorter to drive! I landed about 5:00pm, rented a car from Enterprise and drove the 3 hours to Spencer.

When I rented the car a young man helped me do the paperwork. He was very friendly and asked where I was going. I tried to be evasive but he pressed me. Finally I said that I was going to Spencer, Iowa to go to a book signing. I told him the author wrote about their library cat. He looked up suddenly at me and said, "Dewey?" Yes, Dewey. How famous is this cat? Very.

I drove up to Spencer in the dark. I'd love to say it went perfectly but I made a left instead of a right at hwy 175, OK? I figured it out fairly soon and turned around. Do you know what it is like to make a U turn on a dark country highway? It's terrifying!

At 9:00pm I made it into Spencer. Hooray! I was all excited about being there and I went to register at the hotel. I remembered how friendly the Enterprise car guy was and decided to make conversation with this lady. I mean she is the first Spencer person I met. She must be friendly, right? I asked her if she ever met Dewey. She thought a minute and said, "Do you mean the CAT?" Yes, I nodded my head. She said, "No I never met him. Did you came here for THAT?" Nodding my head I got out of there. Shoot! I guess not everyone's a fan. I wonder if she was the lady that threatened to bring her cow into the library if they didn't get rid of Dewey. It wouldn't surprise me.

Next installment: Spencer Public Library.

I'm Baaack!

OK, I know you all are to young to remember what movie that phrase came from. Just humor me, OK? I'll begin posting about my trip soon, I just wanted to get out our weekly activities. Here they are:

Monday 10/27: 12:00-2:00pm ELF (Come and play with our Early Learning Family toys.)

Tuesday 10/28: 12:15pm Preschool story time with Ms. Lois
3:00pm After school story time with Ms. Lois
4-6pm Homework Assistance Center with Cal Poly Pomona

Wednesday: 3:30-4:30pm Grandparents and Books with Grandma Jean.
4-6pm Homework Assistance Center

Thursday: 12:15pm Infant Story time with Grandma Sue
3:00pm Big Read story time with Cal Poly Pomona students
3:30pm Big Read crafts with Cal Poly Pomona students
4-6pm Homework Assistance Center

See you here! I've been gone three whole days. I missed you! Come in and say hello.

Joke of the Day: How do skeletons deliver the mail?
Answer: By Boney Express. :)

Hello From Spencer, Iowa!

10 Spencer for Hire?
Originally uploaded by moosegirl

Here I am at the Spencer Public Library where Dewey Readmore Books used to live. It's a beautiful library with a very nice children's area and very friendly people who work here. I have been welcomed warmly and felt free to look around and take pictures.

I can use the public terminals for two hours for free! I guess I understand why we have the rules we do but it is so nice to come in here and to use the facilities for free, even though I live in California!

It's very cold out here! When I was packing to come here it was so hard to think that somewhere else could be cool. I threw in a jacket as an after thought. I'm so glad I did.

They have a big picture of Dewey on the wall as you enter the library. Outside the children's window, Dewey is buried with a very nice marker. There is a statue next to him that is a tribute to Dewey's Mom's mother. The former library director, Vicki Myron, found Dewey in the book drop and decided to keep him. She became his "Mom" and Dewey lived at the library for 19 years.

I am taking lots of pictures and will blog them when I get home. I am so glad I came to Spencer. It is a warm place, (OK, I don't mean weather wise) and I can't wait to get my book signed this afternoon by the author. I brought the library's copy in hopes she will sign it as well.

Take care young Pomonans! I'll see you Monday.

Week 5 of the Big Read

Today was our fifth week in our big read. Our theme this week is friendship and tolerance. We had stories on these themes and then the kids made friendship cards. Our Cal Poly students have been wonderful in their hard work on this project. They are always on time and are very friendly with us all. We really appreciate it!

This weekend I will be in Spencer, Iowa to meet Dewey Readmore Books' Mom. In my previous post on Dewey I shared Dewey's story. When I get back I'll have pictures and more to tell you!

Another joke of the day: What does Tuffy the cat sit on all night?
Answer: Defense. :)