5-8-2026

The recent monsoon rains and brisk winds blew in a celebrity guest last week. Dorothy stopped by the L Frank Baum Birthday Party on May 1^st to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and take pictures with partygoers.

Elizabeth Hernes, an East Troy resident and vocal talent, donned the red shoes and blue gingham to start the party. The original 1939 movie followed. When not watching the movie and enjoying snacks, participants played Oz themed BINGO, created a hot air balloon craft, or finished a scavenger hunt run by Glinda. Miss Maria knows how to throw a party. Remember I said that in July when she throws the Tea Rex Party.

Staff was excited to receive a new display shelf. The previous week we weeded roughly 300 paperback books that last left the library before the world heard of Covid. The result was an empty spinning display and floor space for the new shelf. The display shelf was expected to take five weeks for delivery. Instead, they called the next day to arrange for a date. Very exciting. Our excitement was quickly contained once it was discovered the notches cut into the underside of the shelves didn’t align with their supports. Right now, it is a very large and heavy paperweight. Thankfully, it is on wheels so that right now we are trying different placements. The manufacturer has promised to send us replacement shelves, which will hopefully be here by the end of the originally anticipated five weeks.

Miss Brandy was given the task of creating new displays. She was initially very nervous about it. We brainstormed ideas. During her next shift she started telling me what she planned to pull and wishing there was more space for them. As soon as those shelves arrive, there will be. This week she created a May the 4^th Be With You display within an hour of opening on Monday.

Look for new themed displays. As Brandy pointed out, not everyone gardens which was a go to in the past. Plans include pulling books from the Lower Level as a reminder that they exist and were maybe missed when they first came out. The exact percentage eludes me, but studies show books on display are significantly more likely to be checked out then books on the shelf for the same reason books will be brought upstairs to be displayed. It will also come in handy during the summer when Summer Reading prizes fill the front display and winter when Christmas books make their yearly appearance.

We hope the new display will bring about exciting discoveries for our patrons.

Reading Now: Freshwater for Flowers by Valerie Perrin

Listening to Now: Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson (Last one outlined by Frank Herbert and, therefore, my last one.