Library News for the week of May 4, 2022

Beltane, or May Day, has come and gone, but there’s still a great deal to celebrate during May at the Converse County Library Glenrock!

BOOK ‘N’ BREW CLUB

The Book & Brew Club for adults will meet May 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Frank’s Fort Diablo. There may be some Margaritas involved for an early Cinco de Mayo treat.

This month we are reading The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. It is historical fiction based on the story of a real woman, Belle da Costa Greene, who headed up and helped create JP Morgan’s private library of rare and ancient books. Her amazing success as a single career woman in turn-of-the-century New York City is even more impressive, given that she was under the pressure as a light-skinned African American to “pass” as white in order to keep her job as well as her place in the society of the time.

One reviewer, Fiona Davis, bestselling author, found the novel, “A marvel of a story. This unflinching look at one woman’s meteoric rise through New York’s high society is enthralling, lyrical and rife with danger. Belle’s painful secret and her inspiring courage will capture – and break – your heart. The library has the book available for check out.

We always welcome new members to the book club.

PBS NATURE CAT

Also on May 4 Children’s Librarian Rita Heath is excited to be hosting PBS Nature Cat for a special appearance at 1:30 p.m. Come and meet this brave backyard explorer to learn more about the fun kids shows and activities on Wyoming’s PBS station! Visit www.wyomingpbs.org/naturecat to learn more.

COOKBOOK CLUB

After a Covid hiatus, our Cookbook Club is getting back together! We will meet at 6 p.m. May 9 at the Glenrock Town Park if the weather cooperates; if not, we will meet at the MakerSpace at the Glenrock Library.

The theme is Asian or Island Food, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This club meets once per month to share delicious food and recipes. Everyone brings something to share, as well as extra copies of the recipe to hand out.

JERRY BARLOW

May will also bring us a rescheduled concert by Celtic Fingerstyle Guitarist Jerry Barlow. He came to see us in March, but due to an equipment malfunction was unable to perform.

Jerry is excited to return and play for us May 10 at 6 p.m. For planning purposes, please sign up in advance. If you were signed up for the original concert, we will keep you on the list.

SMITHSONIAN

EXHIBIT

Converse County Library is proud to be one of only six locations in Wyoming to host a Smithsonian-curated traveling exhibit this month. We will be the last appearance in Wyoming of Crossroads: Changes in Rural America. We are honored to invite the public to take in this exhibit, which celebrates the challenges, changes and charm experienced by those of us who are lucky enough to live in less populated areas. 

The exhibit is locally sponsored and administered by The Wyoming Humanities Council. CCL received a grant to provide support in offering different kinds of programming during the exhibit, which will run at the CCL Douglas May 14-June 25. There will be a grand opening wine and cheese reception, sponsored by the newly re-formed Converse County Library Foundation Board May 21 from 3-5 p.m. and the public is cordially invited to attend the gala affair and take in this fascinating exhibit!

In addition to the Crossroads Exhibit in Douglas, the library there is also featuring a Quilt Show, with beautiful work from the PHD Quilters in the community.

Both of the libraries in Glenrock and Douglas will be closed May 13 for staff to assemble and install the Crossroads exhibit, which arrives in several huge packing crates! 

There will be two events at the libraries in May in conjunction with the exhibit: A screening May 18 of a documentary by Wyoming film-maker Leigh ReaganSmith, A Noble Pursuit, about a community coming together to preserve wild land in Glenrock and a presentation on Converse County history by professional historian Kylie McCormick May 25. Watch for more information on those events to come. Douglas will host these events on the 17th and 24th of the month respectively.

SEEKING MEMBERS

We are actively seeking members for the CCL Foundation Board; anyone interested should contact CCL Director Cindy Moore at 358-3644, or Glenrock Branch Manager Jennifer Kofoed at 436-2573. 

Our quote this week is from Fennel Hudson, “May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel alive.”

To sign up for events, find our more information on clubs or just about anything else, give Tamara Lehner a call at 436-2573 or email her via tlehner@conversecountylibrary.org