Library news for the week of Dec. 23, 2020

We at the Converse County Libraries feel for everyone who has suffered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges in 2020! We’ve tried to help in what ways we could and hopefully provided comfort and entertainment for our communities during these past months.

THAT’S A WRAP

We’ve done take-home craft kits for kids, and adults, had teen activities to help with boredom and frustration. We’ve had Zoom meetings to do everything from read books for storytime, to carve pumpkins, celebrate Diwali, learn about gratitude, hold book discussions, to presenting a zany Murder Mystery party! We’ve met puppeteers, authors, counselors and actors! We’ve had some socially distanced excursions to the Casper Planetarium for Halloween and Christmas.

The staff at the Converse County Libraries are blessed to be in our communities where people, no matter their differences, come together in tough times and care for each other. We feel privileged to be a part of your stories, helping to make life just a little better (or less stressful), and more interesting, however we and our books are able to!

JOLABOKAFLOD

Think about adding Jolabokaflod, which means “Christmas Book Flood,” to your holiday this year. It comes from an Icelandic tradition which began after World War II. Icelanders seriously promote literacy in their culture. On Christmas Eve, everyone in the family gets the gift of a new book to open. Then, the whole family goes to bed early to read their books. It doesn’t even require a purchase, if you wish, you could visit us before we close the library on Dec. 23 at 6 p.m., and check out a book for everyone in the family!

OUR GRATITUDE

We’d like to thank all of the folks in our communities who’ve helped us with our events this year, and donated to our programs and prizes. We’d thank our wonderful Library Board of Trustees and the Converse County Commissioners for their support and guidance. Thanks to Liz at KKTY Radio, and the staff/editors at the Glenrock Independent and Douglas Budget who help us to get the word out about our activities. Thanks to the library staff who put things together, and to the community members/patrons who take part in our programs. and check out our books and materials. We thank the artists, teachers, and performers who’ve been an integral part of our programs.

SANTA CLAUS CAME TO TOWN

We had another successful year for our Polar Express City Lights Tour in Douglas and Glenrock, even though in the pandemic we couldn’t go by bus! Instead, people came out in their own vehicles to make up the train. Our hearty thanks to the people who made it possible: The Glenrock Police Department and the Douglas Police Department for leading the way, Richard Mezger for his expertise, Dennis Switzer and KKTY Radio for music along the way, Arbor Café at Memorial Hospital of Converse County for delicious cookies, Blend Coffee in Douglas for providing a place for Santa, Rock Bottom Café who wanted to provide a place for Santa, but was foiled by construction, and, of course, Santa himself for making a merry time merrier.

We wish all of you Happy Holidays, however you celebrate. Here’s to a happier, healthier 2021 for all of us! We will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1.

 Our quote for this week is from Professor Dumbledoor on Christmas gifts: “One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.