School is out for summer! As noted on our Facebook page this past week, research has shown that children may lose as much as an entire grade level during the summer if they don’t continue to read. We at the Stromsburg Public Library are working to make reading a regular part of your child’s summer.

Summer reading forms are up on the library webpage at www.libraries.ne.gov/stromsburg and may be dropped off at the library any time. Forms are also available at the library. Summer reading will be held July 2^nd, July 9^th, July 16^th with the Kindergarten-2^nd grade meeting at 9 a.m. and the 3^rd-5^th grade meeting at 10:30 a.m. On July 26^th we will have The Mad Scientist here to show us some of the crazy things we can do with science! All ages will meet at 10:00 a.m. that day. Again, if anyone would like to donate prizes for these kids as they attain their reading goals, please contact Monica at the library.

The staff at the library will also be able to monitor AR tests for the students over the summer! No more trying to remember that book you read in June when taking the test in August. No more waiting until August to read because you don’t want to read books that won’t count for your points. No more excuses for not reading during the summer!

All families of Cross County Schools are eligible for a FREE library card whether they live in Polk County or not. Each family is given a card for everyone to check out materials under. Books and magazines have a two week check out period, DVD’s have a one week check out period.

Finally, the Stromsburg Public Library will be changing things up a bit this summer with SUMMER HOURS. Beginning June 1 and running through July 31, we will be open 1 p.m.-5 p. m. on Monday and Friday, Tuesday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday we will be open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. This means, yes, we are open one morning during the week and one evening a week as well as being open over the noon hour one day. We hope this accommodates as many of our patrons as possible. Have a great summer and we hope to see you at the library!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 is a busy day at the library! Starting at 11 am, we will have our Rainy Day lapsit. We will be talking about weather especially the sun and rain!

That evening, at 7 pm, the book club will meet to discuss this month’s selection, “The Fault in Our Stars”. Feel free to jump in and enjoy this discussion!

As Tuesday is also the last day of school for Cross County, I’m sure we’ll be very busy in between!

Make sure you stop by the library and enjoy the model airplanes that are display. The display is courtesy is of Bob Greenwall.

By Diana Johnson

As I write my final article for the Stromsburg Public Library, I look back at the 16 plus years with fondness. This position has truly been a gift. I have met so many kind, pleasant people, who have walked through the doors. I have been fortunate to work with different board members, who believe in functioning as a team with the director to carry out the mission of the library: providing information and services for lifelong learning and enjoyment.

The last 16 years have seen the replacing of the old card catalog with a database for finding materials, a move to a new library facility, and cataloging/circulation software now accessible in cyberspace or the “cloud.” Finding library materials is accomplished on any computer through the library web page and library updates are accessible on the our Facebook page.

I want to thank everyone who made the retirement reception so special. Those who made all the preparations and those who stopped in to wish me well. It was a lovely afternoon. The library is now in the capable hands of Monica Tidyman, who has done an outstanding job as assistant. She is welcoming, an avid reader, and tech savvy.

You are invited to an OPEN HOUSE in honor of DIANA JOHNSON for her many years of service to the  library.  

Stromsburg Public Library

 Tuesday, March 25, 2014

1:30 pm—5:30 pm

*(Note time change since announcement in Polk County News)

Best wishes to Diana in her retirement!

Patrons enjoyed a special Brown Bag Lunch program at the Stromsburg Public Library this Tuesday. Charlotte Endorf presented her program, “Nebraska Spirit: The North Platte Canteen” featuring the story of the North Platte Canteen and personal stories from people who worked at the Canteen and servicemen and women who enjoyed their stops at the Canteen.

The North Platte Canteen is a little known piece of Nebraska history that shows the true spirit of Nebraskans. The “One Book, One Nebraska” selection for 2014 is Bob Greene’s book, “Once Upon a Town” which features the story of the North Platte Canteen. The book is the result of the author’s search for “the best America there ever was,” and may be checked out at the Stromsburg Public Library.

Tuesday, March 11, we will be holding a brown bag lunch at the Stromsburg Public Library. Our program will be “Nebraska Spirit: The North Platte Canteen” by Charlotte Endorf.  Endorf is a popular speaker who has done numerous informative tours, most notably on the Orphan Train. Endorf has also written a book on the North Platte Canteen and comes to the library courtesy of Humanities Nebraska.

The program will be held at 12:00 pm in the main library. Pack a lunch and come enjoy this free program held in conjunction with One Book, One Nebraska.

By Diana Johnson

Activity at Stromsburg Public Library begins in the morning and ends later in the evening Tuesday, February 18. A lapsit for children ages one to four accompanied by their parents takes place at 11 a.m. Valentines and friendship are the themes. Sharing books is a great way for parents to bond with children and encourages children to read.

A community discussion of Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen, a book by Bob Greene, is scheduled for 7 p.m. that same day. The book describes how a community of only 12,000 people provided welcome, friendship, and food to more than six million soldiers on troop trains passing through the North Platte depot during World War II. The book is the 2014 selection of the One Book One Nebraska program.

“Nebraska Spirit: The North Platte Canteen” is the title of a program by Charlotte Endorf which will be presented as a Lunch & Learn Brown Bag session March 11, at 12 noon. Save the date! Endorf is a popular speaker who has done numerous informative tours, most notably on the Orphan Train. Endorf has also written a book on the North Platte Canteen and comes to the library courtesy of Humanities Nebraska.

By Diana Johnson

“You would hear the train whistle from off in the distance . . . and it would send a tingle down your spine.” This quote from the One Book One Nebraska selection for 2014, Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene, describes the passion felt by the residents in and around North Platte for all the World War II servicemen during the war.

Author and journalist Greene wrote the nonfiction book after searching for what he described as the best America there ever was and he found it in North Platte, Nebraska. The book’s subtitle, The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen, emphasizes the author’s admiration for the community’s sacrifices.        During the war American soldiers from every city passed through the small railroad depot on troop trains en route to Europe and the Pacific. Every day of the year for the war’s duration local volunteers staffed and funded the canteen from 5 a.m. until after midnight when the last troop train pulled away. No matter the length of the stop, welcome, food, and friendship were shown to the servicemen.

To acquaint and celebrate this One Book One Nebraska program Stromsburg Public Library invites the community to read this book and join in the discussion February 18, at 7 p.m. at the library. Extra copies of the book of less than 300 pages are available for checkout, easily accessible on the central display area attractively arranged by Assistant Librarian Monica Tidyman.

Owners of Nook ereaders may bring them in Tuesday, February 11, to learn more about its features. Staff can also assist with setting up the necessary accounts to check out digital audiobooks and ebooks from the statewide Overdrive library. A password or pin is now required to access Overdrive. Simply come in or call the library at 402-764-7681 to get the password.