Thank you for the wonderful support you have given us through your gifts in November and December. Gifts have come in many forms: financial support, items for our school, the gift of your presence daily and weekly using the services we offer and sharing your daily happenings, the sound of a 3-year-old walking in the front door excited to come to Nora’s Place, ladies enjoying each others’ company making Gnomes, families learning English. Thank you all!

Wednesday night was a busy night at the library. We had people in one room learning English and in the Children’s Room they were making Gnomes! Rachel Sandoval is still doing ESOL class on Wednesday night. Let us know if you need to join her and we’ll get you in contact with her. Gnomes was the language of fun in the other room, while cute little characters were being crafted under the guidance of Nancy Hildebrand. Nancy has a knack of leading us in fun, creative, no stress art. Mark your calendar for Feb. 5 when she will help everyone create art for your Valentines. More details later.  

I have been reading new-to-me authors this week, thanks to my Kansas Library Card:

Allison Brennan, Christina Lauren & Suzanne Fortin.  Allison writes heart-stopping FBI Thrillers, Christina writes fun Romance, and Suzanne took me to a Mystery in today’s France that began during German occupation in World War II. I also revisited old favorites Danielle Steele and Fannie Flagg with books we have in the library. Don’t forget, we have three ways to get you the book you need: our own collection, Interlibrary Loan and the Kansas Library card reading or listening on your device.

I also took a dive down a rabbit hole enjoying traveling to the Ozarks through Kim’s County Line https://kimscountyline.blogspot.com/. Randy and Kim visited Thorncrown Chapel, which is where our daughter Jordan was supposed to be married until COVID canceled plans. (Josh and Jordan had a small but beautiful wedding – 12 immediate relatives – in our historic and also beautiful Methodist church.)  Kim shared pictures and history of this unique glass church in the Ozarks. Randy and Kim have been traveling through National Parks and wherever else these newly retired farmers have dreamed of going. You can take the same trips vicariously by looking at Kim’s older blogs.

• Our Fall Book Challenge is in its final month. There is still time to participate for a fun prize. We will start another challenge in January.

• Monday morning we are looking forward to Preschool Story Hour 10-11 a.m.

• Jan. 13, 10 a.m. to noon, come and go as needed, we have arranged a “Cookies and Color” event during our Preschool Story Hour. This event is put on by Stafford County Economic Development to visit with people in our county about childcare. They want to hear from Stafford parents, daycare providers and anyone who cares about the children in our community. What do you need to support you  and your children? They have a $25,000 grant to help put ideas to work. Please put this date on your calendar, share the date with friends and come join us to develop a plan to help your family.  Be thinking of ideas to share and bring your kids with you. It will be a fun and productive morning.

• Feb. 5, save the date for art with Nancy Hildebrand.

Next Board Meeting: Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. 

Gerry Hildebrand is the head librarian for the Nora Larabee Memorial Library. Phone 620-234-5762, email larabeelibrary@gmail.com or visit Facebook at Nora Larabee Memorial Library.