From Greg Mortensen's ("Three Cups of Tea," "Stones into Schools") amazing visit, to record checkout and library card statistics, to the opening of the BRIC, 2010 has been a year of growth and excitement. As someone once said, "We're just getting started."
Let's hope the wishes, goals, ideas and resolutions listed below make 2011 the best year yet for the library and its patrons.
Still looking for New Year's Eve ideas? There are a few tickets available for the New York New Year's Eve gala at the Nevada State Library. Raffle tickets for a trip to New York are also available. Contact Phyllis at 885-9807.
Mark Twain collection
Local Mark Twain scholar Jerry Bartholomew owns an extensive collection of Twain writings (400 primary first editions), children's books (30) reference books, and books about Twain (700 and counting), and the library would be the perfect home for these incredible materials.
One can just imagine the opportunities: The chance to keep the collection together; the tourism possibilities partnering the library with Virginia City and the V&T railroad; the recognition of the library as a Twain research facility; and the historic enhancement of Carson City within the state and around the nation. Currently the library lacks the space, but in a new library, this collection could figure prominently.
New Year's goals and resolutions
Phyllis Patton, Library Board of Trustees chairperson, stated her goal best and for all of us when she said: "My goal for 2011 is to continue to work on realizing the dream of a new library for this community: one that will enhance the life of every citizen of the community and the surrounding area. I will work tirelessly to achieve this goal for as long as it takes. "
Andrea Moore, program outreach coordinator: My "to do" is to read the next Capital City Reads book selection of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," by Annie Barrows. Carson City Library has partnered with our neighbors to the south as they launch OneBook Douglas on March 1. Carson City and Douglas County libraries will host the author during National Library Week, April 2011.
Amber Sady, youth librarian: We plan on completing our Literacy for Life project, hopefully by the end of January, by giving out the last of the library cards to the Carson High School seniors and a few at the Pioneer and Charter high schools. Further projections include a completely re-designed summer reading program for summer 2011, the theme of which is Travel and World Culture; and the slogan is: One World, Many Stories. We also plan to include a lot of recycling with this theme.
Lorie Schaefer, retired teacher and volunteer: "I will continue to recycle magazines and books by donating them to the library."
Tammy Westergard, deputy director of development: I plan to learn to better utilize the Apple computer (graphics programs) available at the BRIC.
Sandy Foley: I want to improve my library technology/photography skills by including pictures related to the library in this column and by reading and evaluating the various book formats available at the library. I also want to read the "Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1."
• Sandy Foley is vice chairperson for the Library Board of Trustees.