OUR "LIBRARY ROCKS" SUMMER READING PROGRAM made for a busy summer at the Library with around 492 people, kids through adults, participating in the reading program. We enjoyed seeing so many of our library friends showing up for books and conversation!

SEPTEMBER 17-23 IS CONSTITUTION WEEK. 

WHAT'S THAT, YOU ASK?

It’s your country’s foundation! It’s a week of celebration for the freedoms this country was founded on.  

The “first” Constitution, known as The Articles of Confederation, was ratified  in 1781, but through the years it was failing to accomplish it’s purpose. So, in 1787 The Confederation Congress, as the government was known, called a convention of state delegates to Philadelphia to propose a plan of government for revising the Articles of Confederation. 

It took  months, but finally on Sept 17, 1787 the draft constitution received unanimous approval and  was signed by the delegates. During this period of time in our country’s history, the populace was composed of the Federalists who wanted a strong central government, and the Anti-Federalists who wanted more power in the states and not in the central government. Needless to say, there was a lot of heated debate. By June, 1788 the constitution was ratified by the states and the new government along with its first president began. What a time that must have been! Maybe the discourse in politics today isn’t so new after all. 

I can’t say enough about the books we have here at the library concerning our nation’s history. There is so much history I really doubt many of us know about. I know I have been enlightened by just researching the information for this blog! There’s stuff I never knew had happened. 

Constitution Week is a good time to review our country's history and contemplate on how our freedoms came to be in the first place  - the sacrifices and lives that were given, the debates and compromises that occurred. In this current time of so much bickering and name-calling, it would do one well to read up on their history and remember what it actually took to become the United States of America.

COME SEE THE CONSTITUTION DISPLAY that the local DAR Chapter (Daughters of the American Revolution) has put together here at the library and learn something new about your American heritage.

CELEBRATE A SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY by checking out a book by an author born in September. Of course there are many more September author birthdays to choose from, but here's just a quick list on a few of  the classics. (info from wikipedia.org)

September 15 (1890) is mystery writer Agatha Christie’s birthday. Born in Torquay, Devon in the southwest part of England, Agatha Christie is known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. She is best known for her creation of the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Notable works include Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Death on the Nile, The Murder at the Vicarage, Partners In Crime, The ABC Murders, And Then There Were None,  and The Mousetrap  the world’s longest running play.

September 21 (1947) is American author Stephen King’s birthday. His books  of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction and fantasy have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books. King has published 58 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and six non-fiction books. He has written around 200 short stories, most of which have been published in book collections.

21 September (1866) is English writer H. G. Wells’ birthday. He was prolific in many genres, writing dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, satire, biography, and autobiography, including even two books on war games. He is best remembered for his science fiction novels. His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897),The War of the Worlds (1898) and The War in the Air (1907). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

September 24 (1896) American author F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the “Lost Generation” of the 1920s. He finished four novels: This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, The Great Gatsby, and Tender Is the Night. A fifth, unfinished novel, The Love of the Last Tycoon, was published posthumously. Fitzgerald also wrote many short stories that treat themes of youth and promise along with age and despair.

Children, Teens, Adults,  the 2018 Summer Reading Program, Has Begun! "Libraries Rock" runs from June 4 through July 14 here at the Belle Fourche Public Library. Just check in at the front counter to get signed up. Prizes are awarded along the way. Read for 10 days, at least 30 minutes per day (you can read more, and we hope you do, but the minimum amount is 30 minutes to get credit), then bring in your reading log and claim your prizes. 20 days of reading, will earn more prizes and 30 days of reading earns the final group of prizes, along with a brand new book of your choice from our book cart, and the chance to put your name in the drawing for one of several big prizes in your age group - kids, teens or adults.

 Call 892-4407 to SIGN-UP for Summer Story Hour for kids going into K -1st grade and Story Time for 3-4 year-olds. Our morning sessions are pretty full, but there is still room in the afternoon session at 1 p.m. for Story Hour and at 1:30 p.m. for  Story Time. Summer Story Hour and Story Time is held each Tuesday, beginning Tues. June 5 through Tues. July 10. Come join Miss Wanda and Miss Betty, as they read some of the new story books we have here at the library from our kids corner. We will also do a cutting and a drawing story, and the library puppets will perform a different show each week.

Author Book Talk Monday Evening, May 7, From 5 – 7 P.M. Crazy Horse family members Floyd Clown and Doug War Eagle along with author William Matson will be at the Belle Fourche Public Library to discuss and sign their book "Crazy Horse: The Lakota Warrior's Life and Legacy" based on the family's oral history.

The Edward Clown family, nearest living relatives to the Lakota war leader, presents the family tales and memories told to them about their famous grandfather. In many ways the oral history differs from what has become the standard and widely accepted biography of Crazy Horse. The family clarifies the inaccuracies and shares their story about the past, including what it means to them to be Lakota, the family genealogy, the life of Crazy Horse and his motivations, his death, and why they chose to keep quiet with their knowledge for so long before finally deciding to tell the truth as they know it.

Books will be available for purchase and the author will be happy to sign it!

99th Anniversary of Children’s Book Week April 30 – May 6. 

Hey Kids! Stop in and see us and pick up some fun gifts from our gift table to celebrate the week! 

Children’s Book Week originated in the belief that children’s books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.
Through these efforts, the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association sponsored a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America in 1916. Then, in 1944, the newly-established Children’s Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. In 2008, the administration of Children’s Book Week was transferred to Every Child a Reader (Children's Book Council charitable arm).

CALLING 3 and 4 YEAR OLDS FOR STORYTIME! Tuesday, May 8, at 10:30 a.m. - Come explore words, sounds, books and stories with Miss Wanda and Miss Betty as we do finger plays, cutting and drawing stories, read a special story book together and see a performance by the Library Puppets. 

CALLING 3 and 4 YEAR OLDS FOR STORYTIME! Tuesday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. - Come explore words, sounds, books and stories with Miss Wanda and Miss Betty as we do finger plays, cutting and drawing stories, and read a special story book together. The Library Puppets are excited about springtime and will be performing a springtime show for you! Storytime is held the 2nd Tuesday each month. 

APRIL 15-21 IS COWBOY POETRY WEEK. We invite you to come and check out the Cowboy Poetry display of South Dakota cowboy poets' books that we have available. Some of these poets are closer to home than you might think! Cowboy Poetry records the heartbeat of the real working west, in a tradition that spans three centuries. Ranchers, cowboys and western writers represent the voices of this vital - yet endangered - rural culture. For more information, go to www.cowboypoetry.com.

april 8-14 National Library Week celebrates its 60th Anniversary! American Ballet Theatre principal dancer and bestselling author Misty Copeland has been selected to serve as honorary chair. This year’s theme is “Libraries Lead,” which emphasizes the leadership of libraries and library workers in their communities and the role of libraries in helping patrons develop their own leadership skills.

The idea that cultivated National Library Week began in the mid-1950s when research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious.  They ranged from "encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing strong and happy family life." 

In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!"

Read more about the 60-year history of National Library Week (click on this link) at American Libraries magazine, and check out the list of past National Library Week themes.

THE STAFF AT THE BELLE FOURCHE PUBLIC LIBRARY INVITES YOU TO STOP IN FOR A VISIT and see what your local Library has to offer you! 

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH - Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

Part of National Poetry Month is Poem in Your Pocket Day which will be April 26 this year. It is celebrated throughout the U.S. as well as Canada. On this day, select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, street corners, and on social media using the hashtag #pocketpoem. 

IT'S BEEN A LONG WINTER but we're almost there! Soon we will have more warm days than cold. NOW is the time to start making your list of projects for the warmer weather that's coming. We have a LOT of books to help you plan and give you guidance on how to get those projects done. From gardening and soil preparation, starting your own egg supply with a flock of chickens, landscaping a backyard get-a-way, building your own yard furniture . . . lots of ideas for when that warm weather hits!

THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, from 1-2 p.m. we are celebrating Dr. Seuss's Birthday. Join us along with some special guests that are coming to read some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books. There will be cake and gifts to take home, too! So, don't miss out on the fun!

Monday, January 15, the Library Will Be Closed in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will be open Tuesday at the regular time, 10 am - 6 pm.

It's Become Quite Apparent That Winter Has Arrived! What better way to spend the time than snuggled up with a good book? It's a great time to catch up on some of that reading you've got on your book list. And while you're thinking about it, come browse through our soup cookbooks and simmer up some homemade soup.  Now that's the way to spend a snowy day!