Halloween Parade and the last few pictures in the Spencer Public Library

I love children's programming so I felt very honored to watch the children parade through the library. Children in libraries is what it is all about. You can learn a life full of reading when you start them young.

I was talking with Joy and Mary when this man at one of the computers who heard I was from California asked me if I had any literary contacts out here. I wish I could have given him at least five phone numbers. But you now what? He was at his community library pursing his dream. NEWS FLASH: Life lesson: That's what it's
all about.

The other thing I wanted to share with you before we leave the library is the book drop where someone put Dewey. You can see the outside drop then the box with the books is where he was found with some books on top of him. I don't know if you can tell but that box is all metal and I'm sure on a very cold January morning he was very uncomfortable. In the book Vicki says that when Dewey started getting famous, eleven people claimed to have put Dewey in that box!

Next installment: The Signing.

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.

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!

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