What's In a Name?

Lettice.  Cale.  Or, if you want to be more traditional, Kale. Maybe Romaine is more to your taste. A recipe for a salad, you ask?  That would be a good guess, but no.  These are actually trending baby names.  Yes,  Baby Lettice.

We have babies on the brain at the library lately since one of our own is due any minute now.  We're always excited to get new patrons, and the youngest patrons are the library's future.

Did you know that you can get your child of any age a library card?  Just have your own card in good standing, and you can get each of your children their own cards, too.  I still remember the day I got my first library card. I remember how excited and privileged I felt.  Having attained the great age of 5, I was now ready for the responsibilities and rights associated with a library card.  I would walk down 12th Street to the Carnegie Library on Hammond Avenue at least once a week.  I was a quiet child and I enjoyed the quiet pursuits of watching the fish in the aquarium, looking at the stereopticon, and of course, choosing and reading books. The Boxcar Children?  The Fannie Farmer Cookbook? Maybe be daring and get both? My choices were ceremoniously brought up to the desk beneath the Mother Goose painting and the nice librarian would look up my card and check them out to me.  I have very warm memories of that Children's Room.

Circa 1975 Children's Ro

Circa 2015 

You can build your own happy memories with your child in our Children's Room, too. The aquarium is gone, but the painting of all the Mother Goose rhymes is still there as well as the nice librarian.

Any child from newborn on up can get their own library card.  And studies show that when you read to your baby, you build important connections in the brain's language, social, and emotional areas.  Holding baby close while you read to him/her fosters feelings of safety and happiness for both of you, and helps baby learn to connect reading with those good feelings.

How about trying out the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program?  Sound daunting?  If you read only one book to your child each night for 3 years you will have read well over 1,000 books!  You may include ANY books your child listens to, whether read by you, a grandparent, sibling, teacher, Kindle, computer-you get the idea.  So long as your child listens to the entire story, even if it's the same one over and over, it counts towards the 1,000 total.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is just one of many activities in our Children's Room.  There's Story Hour every Tuesday at 10:30, LEGO Club the first Monday of every month, a new craft every month, movies, Summer Reading Program-check out the newsletter at superiorlibrary.org and then stop by the Children's Room to start building your own memories.

Be sure to bring in baby Cale so we can meet him (or her?).

Do you have fond memories of the library?  I would love to hear them! 

A Trip Back in Time....

May 1, 1888.

Picture a bright, clear Spring day.  Mr. John Doe is in his dining room, enjoying his breakfast and reading the two local papers, the Superior Inter-Ocean and the Superior Times. Mrs. Jane Doe is nearby, pouring coffee and going over her morning's correspondence.

"John", she says, "when you go to the polls this morning, don't forget to vote 'Yes' on the library ballot."

John nods his assent.  As though he could forget!  She has been badgering him about this topic for weeks.

"I know, Dear.  I believe as strongly as you that Superior needs a library.  The city is growing.  Someday we will be as big as Chicago.  All great cities need a library."

John Doe pecks his wife on the cheek and heads out the door.  He has several errands to do before he gets to his office today.  He has noticed an ad in the paper for a new barber.  Mr. Joseph Hinds, formerly of Duluth, has set up shop in rooms at McCormack's Saloon. Mr. Doe could use a haircut.  This week is his 2nd Anniversary.  He has plans to surprise Jane with tickets on the train to St. Paul.  And he must stop at Mrs. Dink's today.  She has a new shipment of millinery, and Jane was going on about a pretty blue hat she was admiring in the window. The hat will make a perfect anniversary gift.

But before anything else, Mr. Doe does the most important thing that he will do today. He stops at the polling place to cast his vote in favor of establishing a library in Superior, Wisconsin.

April 24, 1889

Jane sweeps into the house late on a blustery April afternoon. The sky is spitting snow, but inside it is warm and cozy. John is near the fire, buried in his paper as usual.

"I'm sorry to be so late, John," she says as she removes her cape and hat. " I stopped by the new library rooms to take a look around.  I met the librarian-Mrs. Delia Freestone.  She seems like a very nice lady, but she has her work cut out for her.  All those books to prepare!And  I heard that her wages are $35 a month.  She will definitely be working hard for them."

Library in upper right building

John nods and keeps reading.  "What's for dinner?", he asks.

March 1901

"Well, I see Mr. Carnegie is going to help Superior with the building of a library.  I suppose the city will have to cough up some money for that too. What's wrong with the one we have?"  John throws down the paper.

"But Dear,  it's such a small amount for such a good cause.  Little Billy only had that tiny library to use, but Little Sally will grow up having a proper library to go to.  The rooms they are using now are crammed to the ceiling.  This will be bright and airy, and so centrally located."

"You're right, darling. You usually are.  Now what are we having for dinner?"

June 1902

Jane and Little Billy walk happily through the doors, bringing the scent of lilacs into the house. Their arms are full of books. Even Little Sally has one.  All three are chatting happily about the new library.

"John, you missed the Grand Opening!  There were so many people there.  I think all 4 cars in the city showed up!  And the building is just gorgeous.  It looks so dignified."

John smiles at his happy wife.  When she's happy, he's happy.  But it's past time for dinner.

                                                             

September 1918

"Darling, I see in the paper that the East End library is finally opening.  Too bad it was delayed by that coal shortage last year."  John turns a page in his morning paper.

"Yes, now Billy's family will have a library much closer to their house.  It will be very nice for them-Little Billy Jr will be able to walk there. Who would have thought 30 years ago that Superior would end up with two libraries?  John, I never thanked you for your vote that day. You spoke for me, too, when you cast your ballot in favor of the library. And now not only our family, but many families to come, will enjoy the fruits of that decision. Thank you."

Thank you, indeed.