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This Week at the Library:
Parsons – Parsons Public Library will offer a three-part book discussion series September through November on the theme “Coming of Age in Rural America.” Members of the community are invited to attend the free programs, which will take place at the library, 311 S. 17th St.  Dr. Joyce Thierer The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 27, at 6:30 PM. Joyce Thierer will lead a discussion of Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the story of the idyllic childhood of Laura’s husband, Almanzo Wilder, as he grew up on a farm in rural New York. Dr. Thierer, who has been a popular leader of book discussions at the Library in the past, divides her time between Ride into History, an historical performance touring troupe, and teaching history for Emporia State University. She holds a Ph.D. in history from Kansas State University and master’s degrees in history and library science from ESU. Her specialty is the history of the American West, with an emphasis on rural women’s lives in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dr. Theirer’s book, Telling History, was published in 2009 by the American Association for State and Local History. The book series will continue with a discussion on October 11, at 6:30 PM, on Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry, set in the small farming community of Port William, Kentucky. On November 15, 6:30 PM, Winter Wheat by Mildred Walker, about growing up on a Montana wheat farm just after World War II, will be discussed. The “Coming of Age in Rural America” series will hold interest for residents of Southeast Kansas. If America today is largely a country of city-dwellers, there’s no doubt that our nation came of age on the family farm. The stories of growing up that comprise this reading series are interwoven with the story of American agriculture as it evolved from the self-sufficient homesteads of the 19th century to the large mechanized farms of today. But while farming and its place in American society may be changing, the young heroes and heroines in these books discover that their identity remains inseparably tied to family, land, and neighbors. Readers will find in these books a varied portrait of youth in rural America: at times nostalgic, at times painful, but full of wisdom and grace. The series is sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council, a nonprofit cultural organization, as part of its Talk About Literature in Kansas (TALK) program. The Council’s Resource Center is furnishing the books and discussion leaders for the Parsons TALK series. For more information about KHC, visit www.kansashumanities.org. To check out books and for more information about the reading series, contact the library at 421-5920. August 26, 2010, PARSONS, KS – Parsons Public Library announces a series of four special programs to be hosted at the library this fall to explore the history and culture of Kansas. The four-part series will kick off the library’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Kansas statehood in 2011.  Leo E. Oliva The first program will be Kansas Military Forts, presented by Leo E. Oliva on September 9 at 6:30 pm. Military posts – Leavenworth, Scott, Riley, Larned, Harker, Dodge, Hays, and Wallace – have been important in Kansas for more than 150 years. Oliva will discuss how these forts were essential to westward expansion and served a critical function during and after the Civil War. Oliva, a retired professor of history at Fort Hays State University, has authored several books on frontier military history. He is the editor of the Santa Fe Trail Association Quarterly, Wagon Tracks, and writes the weekly newspaper column, Our Kansas Heritage. “In 1959, I attended the 100th anniversary celebration of Fort Larned and since then I have been researching and writing about Kansas frontier history for 50 years,” shared Oliva. “Military posts are among the first Euro-American settlements in Kansas and today two remain active posts and two are National Parks. The stories of the forts comprise a major part of federal participation in the state’s rich heritage.”  William D. Keel On October 18 at 6:30, the second program in the series will be The German Heritage of Kansas, to be presented by William D. Keel. Keel will discuss the major German immigrant groups and their impact on Kansas. Keel is professor of German and chair of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Kansas.  Jim Gray On November 8 at 2:30, Kansas Cattle Towns will be presented by Jim Gray. Texas longhorn cattle, rowdy cowboys, gamblers, gunslingers and tempting women combined to produce the archetypal Kansas cattle town. Mr. Gray, who is an author, speaker, and promoter of cowboy heritage in Kansas, will reveal the Wild West as it really was.  Brian Craig Miller The final program of the series will be Kansas and the Civil War in American History and Memory, to be presented by Brian Craig Miller on December 2, at 2:30. This program will include a critical re-examination on how the Civil War affected the state of Kansas and why the Kansas struggles have been largely ignored in American history. Miller is a professor of history at Emporia State University and has researched, published, and lectured extensively about the public memory of the Civil War. The four programs are part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas 150 Speakers Bureau commemorating the Kansas sesquicentennial. The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program, and encourages Kansans to participate in their communities. Local funding assistance for the programs was provided to the library by a grant from Parsons and Greater Labette County Tourism. About Kansas 150: January 29, 2011 marks 150 years of statehood for Kansas. Kansas 150 is a grassroots effort among state agencies, communities, and individuals across the state to educate Kansans about their heritage and commemorate the 150 milestone. For more information about the statewide commemoration, visit ks150.org. Members of the community are invited to attend the free programs, which will take place at the library, 311 South 17th St. For more information about the programs, contact the library at 620-421-5920. Young Adults had a great time at Game Day on Tuesday August 24, 2010.
It was a reward for YoungAdults who completed their reading logs and/or came to every program during the summer. What’s agame day with out game food! We had Root Beer Floats, Soda, Candy Bars, Twizzlers and Sour Chex Mix. Thanks to local businesses like Howerter’s Appliance, Sears, and Tom and Sarah Haney who loaned us a TV for the afternoon. Also Thanks to Jacob and Samantha Graven for the Playstation 2, GameCube, games, and help! We played Rock Band on the Playstation 2, Super Smash Bros on the Game Cube & many games on the Wii.The Wii was loaned from Southeast Kansas Library System in Iola, Kansas. Thanks to all who helped make this day happen! THANK YOU! For information on up coming library events, see our September – December newsletter! Just click the link Our Current Newsletter under What’s New? We have a busy winter a head of us and we hope to see you. During the month of August 2010, overdue fines will be forgiven on any item returned in good condition (excluding Interlibrary Loans). Patrons will still be responsible for any outstanding fines on items that were returned prior to August 1. Patrons will also still be responsible for replacement cost of any material returned damaged. On September 1, 2010, a new overdue policy takes effect, as follows:
These policies were adopted by the Library Board of Trustees on 6/8/2010. THERE IS STILL TIME TO TURN IN YOUR SUMMER READING LOGS!! Turn in your summer reading logs and receive EXTRA tickets for the school drawing! All logs must be turned in by August 20, 2010 to receive this bonus! This Week at the Library:
 Concrete Stepping Stone Program for Young Adults WOW! What a wonderful way to end Young Adult Summer Reading Programs!! 17 Young Adults turn out for the final program, Concrete Stepping Stones held on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. The kids had a great time designing and creating their very own stepping stone. Special Thanks go to Pam Atteberry, Amber Mathis, Delores, & Willie for their hard work in making this craft a success. Summer Reading is almost over! If you have not turned in your reading logs, you have until Friday, July 30, 2010! This Week at the Library:
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