Alpine Public Library News

The Alpine Public Library is seeking a volunteer with scrapbooking skills and supplies to update our library memory book!  Drop by the library for info.

Thanks!

Great news for you outdoorsy types!  A new volunteer, Sylvia Richards, has recently completed a compilation of hiking trail information resources for the Alpine and Big Bend Area.  The packet is available at the circulation desk for you to peruse. 

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.

The Alpine Public Library would like to give their sincere thanks to volunteer and temporary Alpine resident, Liz Hofacket.  She has performed duties ranging from book covering to filling in at the Circulation desk throughout the summer.

Liz will be moving out of the area next week.  Her sunny disposition and willingness to perform any task asked of her will be sorely missed.  We hope that one day Liz will return to Alpine on a permanent basis.

A going away luncheon in honor of Liz was held yesterday at the Alpine Public Library.  Sandwiches, salad and beverages were served.  Liz reminisced about her previous library experiences and described her future plans.  We wish Liz all the best in her future endeavors.

My name is Valerie and I have received a grant called “Grow Your Own Librarian”. The grant requires me to volunteer 150 hours at the library, and learn all that I can from my mentor Mrs. Connie Roe and her staff. You will see me every Friday for the next month or so learning to do all the things that librarians do. I plan to get a Masters in Library Science and become an official librarian in west Texas. There are several reasons I’d like to be a Librarian but most of all I think libraries are amazing places. I have had help on my taxes, found hidden parks, found a job, and entertained myself all for free at libraries.

My favorite librarian was one who used to help me find books at the Houston Public Library when I was in college. He looked just like Andy Warhol and wore a black leather jacket, boots and bad hair. I thought he was the coolest librarian I had ever seen. I would go to him and tell him what kind of project I was doing. The problem was, I was majoring in Graphic Design and many times I needed to make cultural references that did not directly relate to a topic. Ultimately, I never knew exactly what book I needed. He would take me all around the library grabbing books off the shelf until I had a handful of books. I was amazed at his ability to find all the books I didn’t know I would need. (If you have a favorite librarian too, I’d love to hear about it- leave me a comment.)

More about me: I am from Houston and arrived in Alpine last January with my boyfriend Dave, and my cat Fred. I also brought along a 200lb old lever-pull printing press which I learned to use at the Houston Museum of Printing. I plan to fix it up and begin printing on it soon. My other hobbies include exploring strange Texas places, hiking, and making art.

Stop by the library on Friday and say hello!

SUPER BROWNBAG

BOOK SALE!!!

$5.00 for a brown bag and you can fill ‘er up!

1 or 20 – we don’t care!

Need to make room for new arrivals!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Alpine Public Library

Driveway north of the library

(money goes to the old library)

Sponsored by:

The Friends of the Alpine Public Library

This is a great site….thanks for all of your hard work! Liz