Alpine Public Library News

Way Out West Texas Book Festival

The Rotary Club of Alpine will host the WAY OUT WEST TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL to benefit the Alpine Public Library and its Marathon branch.

The multifaceted event is scheduled for August 8-9 at the Sul Ross Espino Conference Center. Participants will gather at 7 p.m., Friday, August 8, for a Chuckwagon Supper and Songfest on the grounds of Kokernot Lodge, where singer/guitarist/author Mike Blakely will perform, and special invitees will be introduced. This ticketed event will require reservations.

Programs throughout the day Saturday, August 9, will feature authors who have written books on Western Fiction, Texas Rangers in Fact and Legend, Natural History of the Big Bend, and other such topics. These programs are free and open to the public. Some sessions will feature panels of authors hosted by a moderator, while others will highlight one or two authors.

On Saturday, August 9, authors and publishers may rent booth space in the reception area of the conference center to sell their books to the visiting public.

A Grand Silent Auction will take place during the day in a designated area of the Espino center. In order to bid, attendees must have purchased tickets for either the Chuckwagon Supper or the Saturday Night Banquet Finale, a dressy affair with a gourmet menu with the evening entertainment provided by Kinky Friedman and guests. The auction will end just as the banquet begins at 7:00 p.m., and guests will claim their auction items before they leave.

To date, authors Elmer Kelton, Jim Glendinning, Mike Blakely, Sharon Spinks, Joaquin Jackson, Bobby Byrd, Lee Merrill Byrd, Tim McKenzie, Denise Chavez, David Carlton, Joe Nick Patoski, Roy Morey, Benjamin Saenz, Sarah Bird, Cyndi Hughes, Larry Thomas, Mike Cox, James H. Evans, Bob Kinford, The University of Texas Press, Texas Tech University Press, Cinco Puntos Press, Iron Mountain Press, have made plans to attend.

“We expect a great deal of enthusiasm for this event,” said Festival Committee Chair Wanda B. Morgan. “We have just begun to fill in the dots in what we hope will become a premier literary festival for the entire state.”

Committee members Jean Hardy and Arlene and Steve Griffis round out the planning group, which is actively seeking volunteers and participants. Authors, publishers, journalists, and other publishing professionals, as well as those individuals with interest in supporting the Alpine Public Library, are encouraged to contact Arlene Griffis at info@wowtxbookfestival.com(or 432-386-4695) or any member of the committee.

For more information visit: http://wowtxbookfestival.com/1.html

Living with Nature IV
“Sustainable Living and Greenbuilding Festival”
Friday-Sunday, August 1-3, 2008

Come enjoy three days of fun, live music, children’s activities, and presentations on green activities like solar energy, rain water harvesting, alternate transportation and more. This event is being produced by volunteers and sponsored by Blue Water Natural Foods as a fund raiser for the Alpine Public Library and the Marathon Community Center.

The Festival will also feature Buffalo Ranch tours, arts and craft vendors. More events and activities will be announced as they are scheduled.

If you or your business or organization would like to be a part of the Living with Nature Festival pick up a registration form at the Alpine Public Library (before July 1^st for pre-registration) or contact Bennett Jones at 837-3008 for more details. Volunteers are also greatly needed for everything from ticket sales to clean-up.

Many fund raisers have taken place to benefit the library. People of all ages have participated. However, one of the most unique participants has been Lydia Nell Jones, age 10. By May of 2008, she had already donated $300 to the Capital Campaign! But, that was not enough for Miss Jones. On Saturday, May 31, with the help of her parents and others, she hosted a large yard sale. Events included the sale of snow cones and even a silent auction. Though Lydia has a mature outlook on helping the library, it was nice to see her youthful vigor while she held the donated funds in her Fischer Price cash register.

How much did Lydia raise, you ask? The total was a whopping $623.15. When Lydia and her mother presented the donation to the Director, she was asked why such a young person is so involved in fundraising for the new library. Her reply was: “I like to read.” “And you guys offer her books,” added Ms. Jones. Thanks Lydia , it’s nice to know that future generations are interested in the future of our local library.

In 2009, all television signals will be digital. Do you have an analog TV or questions about digital conversion? If so, please visit www.dtv2009.gov.  Or, you can visit www.alpinepubliclibrary.org and click the links section. The DTV 2009 site will even tell you how to get a free converter so your television will do digital signals.  If you have any questions, please ask a librarian.

The IRS has begun sending the promised economic stimulus payments.  Are you wondering when you will receive yours?  To find out, visit www.irs.gov.

Be prepared to provide the following information:

A link to the specific irs.gov webpage can be found on the library’s main website, in the links section.

Contact the Alpine Public Library if you need additional assistance.

The 2008 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering kicks off on
February 29th - March 2nd.

This years Gathering is dedicated to
cowboy poet Ray Owens

For more information on events, accommodation details, poets and more go to the cowboy-poetry website at:

http://www.cowboy-poetry.org/news.html

Look for our new comics and graphic novels on the shelf behind the circulation desk! If you are unfamiliar with some of our titles a bibliography is available which includes annotations describing each graphic novel or comic. Here is a listing of our newest additions:

The DC Comics Encyclopedia
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 1-3
Emily the Strange (Boring Issue #1 and Dark Issue #3)
Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1-3
The Marvel Encyclopedia

If you have donated to the Alpine Public Library or our capital campaign and need a record of  your monetary contribution for income tax purposes, please contact Jodye at the following email address: alpinepl@sbcglobal.net

We’ve just received several new Internet and computer-use guide books. Whether you are a beginner or would like to become a more efficient web-surfer, our new guides are easy to use and packed with information for everyone. These will be displayed on the bookshelf behind the front door. Here is a list of the new books:

Blogging For Dummies

Ebay For Dummies

Google-pedia

The Internet For Dummies

Macs For Dummies

MySpace For Dummies

PayPal For Dummies

 After a brief winter break, the Question of the Month is back.  Your input is once again appreciated:

Would you attend free computer classes offered at the library?

Skills learned could include:

Setting up an email account                      

Email attachments

Posting a blog entry                   

Research on the web

o                    Yes

o                    No

Please  post a reply here  or  fill  out a form  at the Alpine Public Library.

Thanks for your input.