Springtime Programs Blossom at the Library

By Susan Braunstein, Programming Librarian

Lilacs are so close to opening, pasque flowers are poking through the snow or mud and the birds are dining their way through my monthly budget for bird seed, and create such a wonderful raucous sound in the yard. It is a lovely reminder that the natural world is coming alive again.

With the splendor of spring comes the desire to get out in the dirt and get those plants going. One of the library programs in May will whet the appetites of gardeners and plant lovers when master gardener Cathie Draine presents “Getting to the Root of Things.” This Lunch and Learn program will be offered on May 21 from noon to 1 p.m. Cathie will talk about the activity of plant roots, how they are involved in nourishing the soil, and attracting helpful bacteria. Those attending the program will also learn about root pruning and transplanting.

Cathy has recommended several books for the library’s collection, and people can discover the inner workings of the land through titles such as, “Teaming with Microbes,” by Jeff Lowenfels; “Life in the Soil: a Guide for Naturalists & Gardeners, ” by James Nardi; “Ecology for Gardeners” by Steven Carroll and Steven Salt; the Lasagna Gardening series by Patricia Lanza; and “Secrets to Great Soil,” by Elizabeth Stell. There will also be a variety of other gardening books displayed at the Lunch and Learn program that are available for check out.

Young people also have the chance to experience some fun events leading up to and during Children’s Book Week, May 12-18. Special visitor the “Wild Thing” from Maurice Sendak’s book will be in the library and might pop into a local school when library staff shares information about the Summer Reading Program with classrooms beginning the second week in May.

Family Storytimes in May will include photo opportunities with Wild Thing, along with a reading of “Where The Wild Things Are” and a pizza party.  That happens Tuesday, May 6, at RCPL North at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, May 13, at RCPL Downtown at 6 p.m.  Be sure to bring your camera!

The winners of the Big Read essay and art contests will be honored and awarded their prizes on May 3 from 1-3 p.m. at RCPL Downtown. Alexander Marrs, a junior at Stevens High School, won first place in the art contest for his mixed media on canvas entry; second place is Tina Nelson, a sophomore at Stevens High School who submitted a photograph capturing the book Fahrenheit 451 in a single shot; and third place is Grant Mason, a junior from the Jefferson Academy who entered a pencil drawing.

Essay contest winners answered the question, “What Book Would You Save?” and are 1 st place, Sarah Holz, a Stevens High School senior, who would save “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle; second place, Daniel Lang, a 7 th grader from St. Joseph Home School, who chose the Bible; and third place, Kassia Symstad, a 6 th graders from Hot Springs Middle School who picked, “Weirdos from Another Planet,” by Bill Watterson.

Craig Schaefer, a member of the Black Hills Writers’ Group, will also attend the award event. He will share information about the BH Writers’ Group, talk about what it takes to be a writer, and discuss how the winning essays were chosen. Victoria Ledford, the education curator at the Dahl Arts Center, will share her expertise in the art world, as someone who sets up exhibits and coordinates art classes and other programming at the Dahl. Victoria was the judge for the art entries.

The library’s last Discovery Days of the spring will give students a chance to learn about the artistic style of graffiti; Dennis Halterman of the Factory will show kids how to create a different style of art on May 2 from 1-3 p.m. at the downtown library. The art created by the students will be featured in the library’s Youth Services area after the program.

May is also celebrated in South Dakota as the Archaeology and National Historic Preservation Month. The library will be the place to catch the program “Recreating Rapid City,” sponsored by the Rapid City Historic Preservation Commission and the Rapid City Public Library. This event scheduled at the downtown library from 1-3 p.m. on May 18, is designed for children age 5-12, and focuses on the city’s original town and tipi sites with stories about the founding fathers and American Indians. Nancy Gowen and Dacotah Hollow Horn Bear will demonstrate how to construct log cabins and tipis. For more information about other historic preservation program throughout May, contact Jean Oleson Kessloff at 348-5398.

Gardening, history, art, writing, stories, crafts and Wild Thing are all rolled into a marvelous May at the library.