Nature’s First Green is Gold

by Britney

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year.  I love the turn from hot to cool (and with it, tuck away my shorts and tank tops and pull out my jeans and sweaters), feel an intense desire to be outside, and happily spend yet another season a devoted subject of the Pumpkin King. (I don’t even mind raking leaves.)  Autumn is more than just a season to me; it is a feeling deep in my soul.

One of my favorite memories of the time I spent living in New York was being there during Halloween, and taking my son on an adventure to Sleepy Hollow (yes, it’s a real place) to poke around the town, its historic sites, and, at the end of the day, experience Horseman’s Hollow, a haunted house experience terrifying in a way only Halloween in Sleepy Hollow can be.  It was low 60s and overcast with a little bit of a breeze; the type of day you can wear your boots, a sweater, and a scarf without looking ridiculous, and can drink mulled cider with a cinnamon stick and not look pretentious.  The village was quaint and oozed nostalgia, and it seemed like every step we took brought us one step closer to meeting Katrina VanTassel, Ichabod Crane, and the Headless Horseman.  That day is one of those crystalline moments in time that shines in a way that makes most other days look dull.

It’s long been said that autumn is a season of change.  Here, at the Library, we’re experiencing that firsthand.  We’re looking at several “changes” here.  Some of them are exciting, some of them are bittersweet, but all of them are opportunities for the Library to expand and grow.

If you’re a regular at the Library, you’ve no doubt noticed quite a few new faces.  Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some staff members, as they left us to take embark on fantastic new adventures.  We will miss them, their contributions to the Library, and the strengths they brought to our team here, but we wish them all the best and know they’ll be outstanding in their new positions.  The individuals who have recently joined Team Library are enthusiastic, energetic, and have their own strengths and areas of expertise that we know will be great assets to the Library.  Additionally, one of our Library Cornerstones has retired, and we will miss her dearly with our collective Library heart.

One of the characteristics of change is the necessity of looking forward.  So, in light of greeting the future with positivity and excitement, here are some of the things we’re looking forward to this fall:

• New Services – We are rolling out several new things this fall.  These include things for all ages.  Some of our new offerings are services-related, some are programming-related, and some are collection-related.  Here’s just a small sampling:
  • For Adults: Passport Packs – These kits are subject-based, and contain several types of materials (books, music CDs, DVDs).  Kindles – We will be adding three more Kindles (Inspirational, Romance, and Christmas).  Services – We will be offering notary services.  Programming – We will be offering regular adult programming year-round.  Board Games – We will be circulating an entire collection of board games.  Additionally, we will be offering specialty Programming for Seniors the second Tuesday of each month.
  • For Teens: MakerSpace Kits – These boxes will include electronics kits, levers and magnetics kits, and Busy Boxes. These boxes will be in the Teen area, and will be available for Teens to use while in the Library.  Programming – We will be offering regular and specialty Teen programming, and hope that our Teens think of the Library as “their” place.  Board Games – We will be circulating an entire collection of board games.
  • For Kids: LaunchPads – These pre-loaded tablets are age-appropriate, and are full of fun learning games!  Discovery Packs – We have fifteen brand new packs on a variety of subjects and with a variety of materials.

So, as we go forward into a new season and a new chapter at the Library, we look backward with appreciation at what we’ve accomplished and those who helped us do so, and we look forward with anticipation at where our Library adventures will take us.