16th Seduction (Women’s Murder Club) by James Patterson
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child
Against All Odds by Danielle Steel
Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank
Secrets In Summer by Nancy Thayer
The Broken Road by Richard Paul Evans
Nighthawk by Clive Cussler
Testimony by Scott Turow
No Middle Name: Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories by Lee Child
New DVDs coming for May:
“Collateral Beauty”
“A Dog’s Purpose”
“Fist Fight”
“Logan”
Pre-School Pals for May: Mondays at 10:30 AM:
Monday, May 1: “Bring May Flowers”
Monday, May 8: “I Love My Mom”
Monday, May 15: “My Garden”
Monday, May 22: “Birds of a Feather”
Leading off the month, “Book Bloom” will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 6 to 8 PM at Columbia High School. It is being held a little earlier this year, as there are new coordinators and there were conflicts last year with other district events. The premise remains the same: all students attending receive a free book (provided by a Title 1 Family Literacy grant). Students are welcome to swap books, visit displays, and try yummy and nutritious snacks. I’ll be representing our library along with Renee Christiansen, Youth Services manager for the county, and Joe Miller of the Comic Store will once again have free comic books
Free Comic Book Day here at the library is Saturday, May 6. Our thanks to Joe Miller for providing these free reading materials! Two comics per person, please. Arrive early – when they are gone, they’re gone.
May Community Program on Monday, May 8, at 6:30 PM is “Understanding Medicare”. Led by Stephanie Yarberough of the Discover Medicare consortium, this program offers state-approved, accurate info on many aspects of Medicare, including:
Enrollment Timelines and Special Election Periods How to Enroll in Medicare
What do Parts A, B, C & D mean and what do they cover?
What if I am Still Working?
Avoiding Future Penalties
Advantage Plan vs Supplement
Rx Coverage and the Donut Hole
Government Assistance Programs
Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome too. Call 717-271-2326 to register or register online at www.discovermedicare.com.
Crochet with Mitzi evenings for May: May 9 and May 23 at 6 PM. Newcomers are always welcome and clear instruction is provided. Come out and learn a new skill or get together with fellow crocheters for fun and conversation.
I will be participating at Our Lady of the Angels’ Health and Wellness Fair on Friday, May 12, from 9 AM until noon. This program, designed for all students, encourages healthy lifestyles, nutrition, and keeping your body moving. The prizes from our prize wheel include books, kites, glow sticks – all designed to promote a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Saturday, May 13, is the Annual Red, White, and Blueberry Festival at St. John’s Herr. The library always holds a Book Sale table at this event. Due to popular demand, I will be providing many children’s books for sale this year – along with some adult titles as well. Since St. John’s Herr is part of Luthercare, many of the Luthercare preschool and school age agencies are also participating. Come enjoy meeting the alpacas, playing carnival games, listening to live music, and tasting the world’s largest blueberry pie. Naturalist Jack Hubley will also be presenting a program. Saturday, May 13, from 10 AM to 2 PM.
On Wednesday, May 17, at 10 AM we celebrate National Law Enforcement Officers Week with officers from the Columbia Borough Police Department. This will be held in the Locust Street Park Gazebo, right behind the library. You’ll find out what police officers do in their days’ work, the kinds of equipment they use, and will even get to sit inside a police car (without going to jail!) For all ages.
Young Adult Book Clubs will meet at the Columbia High School Library on Wednesday, May 17. Middle School students will be discussing “Rose Under Fire” (rescheduled from April) and High school students are reading “Note to Self” by Connor Franta.
“Rose Under Fire” capitalized on the students’ interest in World War 2. Many of them read the Diary of Anne Frank and were interested in reading another book about survival in the concentration camps. Rose Justice was a female pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary before her capture, and, while interred in Ravensbruck, met a Nachthexen (“night witch”) who is a female fighter pilot for the Soviet air force. These strong female characters appealed to students of both sexes.
When the high school students suggested Connor Franta’s book, I had no idea who he even was! According to my research, he is an “internet celebrity” who has a You Tube channel, a vlog (video blog), and has written two books: A Work in Progress and Note to Self. Note to Self chronicles Connor’s struggle with clinical depression and anxiety. It includes stories, essays, poetry, and photography. Studies show that up to 25 percent of teens suffer from a treatable form of clinical depression and anxiety. So this title is an important one for teens and their loved ones.
Spencer, our Reading Education Assistance Dog, (along with his handler, Kelly Skiptunas!) will be starring in a movie! Titled “Black Beauty Breed 2: Forever Faithful”, it features Rottweilers working to benefit their communities in various ways. It also features several medical advances designed to combat health issues indigenous to this large breed and other dogs as well. The movie, filmed in February 2016, also features teacher Alex Brown and his former students from Park Elementary School. Several library staff will be attending the premier of this film on Wednesday, May 24 at 6 PM at the Strand Capitol Theater in York.
The Columbia Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 29. Happy Memorial Day!
Family Film Night: “Sing” on Wednesday, May 31, at 6 PM. For all ages. Non messy snacks and drinks with a lid are welcome.
Of course, our Summer Reading Program is on everyone’s mind right now. This year’s theme is STEM and engineering: “Build a Better World.” Again, there will be four levels: Read Aloud (ages four and younger), Junior (ages five to nine), Tween (ages 10 to 12), and Teen (ages 13 through 19). We have many programs lined up for this summer, beginning with Mo Willems’ costume characters “Elephant and Piggie” on Monday, June 12, at 1 PM. Programs will gain be held at Park School gym or Locust Street Park gazebo. Summer Reading packets may NOT be picked up before June 3 (no exceptions). Thanks to Kelsey Bucks of Park & Taylor for her assistance with promotion, to Renee Christiansen for all of her hard work in scheduling and set-up, to our presenters for their time and expertise, to Jack Gamby and the Lions Club for allowing us to use the gazebo for concerts, and of course to our sponsors: McDonald’s, Strasburg Rail Road, Country Barn, Lancaster Barnstormers, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Rita’s Ice, Leisure Lanes, Lancaster Ice Rink, the Comic Store, That Bounce Place, Skyzone Trampoline Park, Refreshing Mountain Ziplines, Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster Cupcake, and the Laser Dome. New sponsor this year: Water’s Edge Miniature Golf!
New Performers for us this year include: Bricks 4 Kidz, Mike and Roberta Straka, Giggle Magic, and Elephant and Piggie costume characters. Returning are: Ryan Bridge (the “Bugman”), Jesse Rothacker, Miss Maggie Sings, Fred McNaughton, juggler Chris Ivey, magician John Andrews, the Princess of Dutch Wonderland, and Matthew Dodd. And of course we can’t forget all of our Columbia heroes: Columbia Borough Fire Department, Red Rose Search andRescue Bloodhound Team, the Columbia Borough Police Department, Columbia QRS 8, “Hank the Health Hero” from CHI St. Joseph’s Children’s Health Dental Center, and Dianne Carter and K9 “Train” from Southern Regional Police Department.
We are again going to post scavenger hunt signs to find throughout Columbia this summer! Beginning June 3, we will be posting pictures of famous world structures in local businesses here in Columbia. The picture will say “Build a Better World”. When you find a world landmark poster, write down the name of their business on your entry paper. Children who find all the posters at various businesses and correctly identify their location will receive a free book! Entry forms may be picked up beginning June 3.
The Columbia Public Library is located on 24 S. 6th Street, next to Park Elementary School. (Cattycorner to CVS Pharmacy and across the street from St. John’s Lutheran Church) Phone number is 684-2255 and web address is www.columbia.lib.pa.us. Find us on Facebook! Please stop by and visit often!
