Spring Clean-up Booksale

President’s Column: 2010 Activities

The Friends' Board for 2011, with Elizabeth Ritman, President.

The Friends had a busy year in 2010 with ongoing and new activities. Thanks to the generous
donation of many thousands of books by the Rochester community, the Library was able to add
or replace 10,593 items in their collection for an estimated value of $250,684. The Friends of Rochester
Pubic Library sorted all of the contributed materials to permit the selection of these items for the
current RPL collection.
Not only were the Friends responsible for regular bookstore sales of other selected items throughout
the year, but we staffed and managed five large auditorium book sales including Rochsterfest and
Winterfest and multiple other special sales.
Our bookstore profits check for 2009 given in January 2010 was $50,000. In addition, the Friends
made another pledged cash contribution of $25,901 to pay for specific requested library projects,
plus special requests of $4,000 during the year, for a total value of $330,581. Our 2010 pledge of $15,000 for a self-check machine is carrying over to 2011.
The Friends:
--Volunteered for the Minnesota Library Association meeting in Rochester, where we won the
MLA “Best Friends Project” Evy Nordley Award, including $1,500 for “The Threads of Our Community”
quilt project. We hosted a celebration of the quilt unveiling for the artists and families.
-- Helped with the RACE exhibit.
--Participated at the August ARTIgras event at Mayo Park with a booth that gave us visibility.
--Won a $1,500 prize from the Unique Management Services survey drawing. The money was
donated toward purchase of a Mac Pro laptop computer and software to enable the Library
staff to improve their online communications and video projects.
--Donated money to buy six new tables for the children’s area and $1,565 to pay for the electrical
work needed in replacing the computers in the Children’s area of the Library.
--Donated $400.00 toward purchasing a Cricut Cutter Machine for the Children’s Department.
--Bought new carts and tables for the book store and book sorting area.
--Sold books online, which has enhanced our ability to pledge more money to the Library.
--Backed the Library sponsored Rochester Reads event, Summer Children’s programs, Library programming, databases and software, materials and training with $25,901.
--Provided volunteers and refreshments for the History Hullabaloo in January 2011, sponsored by the
Minnesota Historical Society to aid students with their research for History Day projects.
--Increased our visibility through the Internet and social networking. In addition to the Library’s
website, we have a bookstore blog and are on Facebook and Twitter.

Projects we are continuing are: Read With Me (books for the young child), mailing books to the military in
various areas of the world, donating books to Channel One, recycling of printer cartridges, paying for a parking space for volunteers in the ramp next to the Library, and providing a Library staff appreciation
breakfast.
A big “Thank You” to our members, who donate so much time to the Library, as well as dues for membership. You make all of the above possible.
Shirley Edmonson, Friends Past President (2010)

Children's Picture Book Day

March 28th is Children's Picture Book Day!
This is a perfect time to read to your child (of any age!) The Friends' Bookstore still has a great selection of wonderful children's books. With the sale of the past month, stock has completely changed.

New Arrivals



healthy ideas for spring in our new display



The Friends Bookstore has had great new arrivals in books (fiction and non-fiction), craft pamphlets and cds/vhs tapes! Now is a good time to stock up on reading material, especially as it is too early to get out into the yard!



We also have an excellent selection of new magazines all priced at 50cents - unbeatable!

Libraries Change Lives - Bookstore Volunteer

Paige Turner and Madison Wurth
Sue McMillian was my Confirmation sponsor and as my sponsor she was helping me come up with ideas for community service projects. Since she volunteered at the Friends Bookstore she asked me if I would like to do one of my projects at the Winter Book sale in the auditorium. I had a lot of fun volunteering that day, partially because I was surrounded by books, but I have to admit the cookies were an important part too. I met Gail Harris that day and she had me fill out a volunteer form. That summer in 2009, when Sue was scheduled in the store I went with her. The bookstore and I, you could say, fell in love with each other because I have not left yet.
    I have always liked reading books and that is why I have spent so much time at the library and the bookstore. I think libraries are misunderstood by so many people, mainly teenagers, these days because when they think of libraries they associate it with school and studying but they are so much more than that. Yes, the library is useful for school but it is also a place where you can go somewhere else entirely just by sitting down and reading. It is also a place for people to go if they need to get away from their daily lives and read the newspaper, pick up their favorite magazine, find a movie to enjoy with their families on a Friday night, or just to take one of the many, useful classes that happen at the library. One of my favorite memories from the library before I started in the bookstore, was the photography class I took when I was in middle school. I still have the pictures from that class and still have an interest in photography due to the fun I had taking that class.
    Everyone I have met that works or volunteers at the library, is always willing to help you with whatever you might need and is always good for conversation or some funny story. Those people are part of the reason I keep going to the library because they always make it entertaining. They are also full of good ideas on how to improve the library or create something to help other people. The many things the library offers, like the homework help, different book groups, movie nights, story times for children, and the activities that are offered for the whole family are reasons that make our library special. I think any place that is open for anyone at any age, is a good thing. I encourage other people to go to the Library as well as volunteer.
    On most Sundays and a couple Saturdays, I volunteer in the bookstore. I enjoy going every week because I never know exactly what I will be doing until I get there. There was one week I got to the bookstore and there was a message on the phone. This lady said that her husband had donated some special books of hers and she did not know until after he had donated them and she wanted them back if that was possible. I called her back and got information on what the books looked like and began searching for them. It was not until a couple hours after searching for them that I called her back and told her I had no luck. As I was talking to her I realized that the area code was not in Minnesota and asked where she was calling from. She was from Rochester Hills, Michigan and had called the wrong library. That is just one of the many entertaining things and I never know if I will find something that they didn’t even know they wanted.  I like how I can count on a few customers to come in every Sunday and now I know their names. I have had customers bring me in pictures of their wedding or a graduation because they know I will be there. I also like when whoever I am working with asks me to take books out of their hands if they try to buy anything because even though one book may not cost much, if you’re in there for three hours you could walk out with no money.
    One of my other favorite parts of working in the store is the wide-variety of people that come in. I have seen people from New Jersey, Colorado and New York because they are here visiting Mayo Clinic. There are also the people that only come in every couple of months when they visit family but make sure that they stop in the store before they leave town. There was one man I met a couple of months ago who said he was in town visiting his family and had been out shopping with his wife all day. She had asked him to drop her off at home before he came into the store because he takes too long when he is here. He just laughed like it was not true but by the time he left I would say a good fifteen other customers had already been through the entire store and left. People like him who love books is why I enjoy volunteering in the store each week.
After I graduate from high school and start college, I plan to arrange my schedule so I will still be able to volunteer because it is something I look forward to during my week and also gives me a good excuse to go to the library!

Unusual and Special Books

March is National Women's History Month and the Unusual and Special Book Collectors have put together a lovely display in their Case in the Library entrance.  All books are ready for purchase, don't hesitate to ask! There are some fascinating biographies available.

Suitcase Science

Check out the Library Website for additional information - there are three classes to chose from*!

*Saturday, April 9 2:00, 3:00, & 4:00 pm
Presented by the Science Museum Of Minnesota

*In great theatre, meet the Object Whisperer and hear the science story behind peoples stuff. Every item you touch speaks and if you listen closely, you'll hear a story of science. Suitcase Science is a community-inspired theatre piece and exhibit that highlights many scientific disciplines: anthropology, geology, chemistry, sociology, and more!

This is a project funded with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Library Expansion – Will it Happen?

By Audrey Betcher, Library Director
The library expansion was included in the list of projects slated for the sales tax extension. The list of projects was approved by the Rochester City Council in December. We are very excited to be included!
Before library expansion can take place, the sales tax extension needs to get approval from two more
entities: the state legislature and the voters of Rochester.
Rochester has had a local sales tax since 1983. It has been of great value to Rochester, Olmsted
County, and the State of Minnesota. Past projects included: flood control, local costs for Highway 52
and for other major City and County Arterial Road projects, and funding for Higher Education Facilities
at RCTC and the University of Minnesota – Rochester.
In 2010 the City had an extensive public process to identify projects for the sales tax extension. The library
presentation was one of many that the citizen committee heard. The City is asking the state legislature to allow the Rochester citizens to have a referendum to extend the current half cent sales tax.
If the state legislature approves the referendum, then the citizens of Rochester will vote on whether
they want to extend the sales tax. Only if both are approved will the library expansion take place.
If the expansion takes place, here are our preliminary expectations:
The third floor of the library would be completed and a fourth floor would be added above the rectangular
portion of the library. The total addition on both floors would be approximately 30,000 square feet. (The current building is 85,470 square feet.)
The entire amount the library requested was not approved. We don’t know yet exactly what that means for the library expansion, but we expect some of the space to be shelled in to be completed at a later date.
I know nothing is certain as the sales tax extension moves forward through its processes, but I am very jazzed to think about the possibilities of how we can better serve the public through a better space.

Visiting Author Series - Kent Nerburn

 Kent Nerburn has enjoyed a multi-faceted career.  As a sculptor, his work has been frequently exhibited in his native Minnesota.  As an author, his writings reflect his training in theology and his long association with Native Americans. He as been awarded the Minnesota Book Award twice, and is also a widely published art critic and longtime educator.

Tomorrow: Sunday, March 20 - 2:00 pm in the auditorium

Find Kent Nerburn online

This program was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and cultural Heritage Fund.

Spring Wine Fundraiser

Don't forget that we still have the Literary Wine selection at Andy's! There are displays in three locations at Crossroads, the NE and the Marketplace stores. We have some great new labels and are designing a few more for summer. There are even case discounts.

They are still great gift ideas especially paired with a good book. We have the Friends' Book Sale coming up April 2,3rd in the Library Auditorium, as well as our Friends' Bookstore Second Saturday Sales each month. AND remember that the Friends's Bookstore is always full of nearly new and wonderul used books. We have expanded hours and have recently added a debit/credit card reader for "plastic purchases"!

For the very thrifty, a reminder that Andy's will also be having their own special of "paying the tax" in April (13-15)! 

A portion of the wine proceeds will go to the Rochester Public Library Foundation.

St Patrick's Day in the Bookstore!

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. For hundreds of years this day was a religious holiday in Ireland. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast-on the traditional of Irish bacon (now corned beef) and cabbage.

St. Patrick was born around the year 385 in a village in Wales. When he was sixteen, Irish raiders took many of the young village men back to Ireland as slaves. Patrick worked for six years as a herdsman in the Irish countryside. In his sixth year, he escaped, but soon heard a voice telling him to convert the Irish to Christianity. He spent 12 years in France studying religious texts and visiting numerous monasteries. When Patrick returned to Ireland, he founded monasteries, schools and churches, and converted much of the population to Christianity. He and his workers transformed many pagan rites into Christian traditions.


Wearing of the Green Goes Global-


St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as further afield in Japan, Singapore, and Russia. The Irish government began a national campaign in 1995 to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. In 2006, nearly a million people took part in Dublin's St. Patrick's Festival, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.


In the United States, the first St. Patrick's Day parade was on March 17, 1762 when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City. For the next 35 years, the parade helped the soldiers and immigrants reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society were formed and each group held annual parades featuring bagpipes and drums (previously popular in the Scottish and British armies).

National Book Week

It's National Book Week.
The rules: Grab the closest book to you, copy the 5th sentence on pg 56 as your status. Don't mention the book.

Please comment. I had great fun looking at the stack of books next to me, and reading each line on page 56!

History Hullabaloo

The Minnesota Historical Society and the University
of Minnesota sponsored this History Day program,
and the Library hosted it here on January 5 and
22 mostly for Olmsted County students, although
students from Jackson county also made the
three-hour drive. Participating students were
mentored individually by Historical Society staff
and U. of MN. student history majors, with our
Library staff aiding in locating materials for their History Day completion project. The Friends
staffed the registration table and provided juice, cookies and coffee for the participants and parents.
Special thanks to volunteers Elizabeth Ritman, Elaine Schmidt, Majel Hall and Carol Mikesh.

Rochester Public Library Award

NBC LEO Honors Four City Programs which Encourage, Promote Cultural Diversity


Washington, DC – Four cities were honored this morning for implementing quality and innovative programs in communities to enhance and promote cultural diversity. Each year, the City Cultural Diversity Awards recognize city programs which encourage citizen involvement and show an appreciation of cultural diversity. The awards are sponsored by the National Black Caucus of Local Elected officials (NBC LEO), a constituency group of the National League of Cities (NLC).

Cities honored for 2011 are: Southfield, Mich., (first place, population category 25,001 – 100,000); Fargo, ND (runner-up, population category 25,001 – 100,000); Hollywood, Fla., (first place, population category 100,001 – 400,000); and Rochester, Minn., (runner-up population category 100,001 – 400,000).

Each city was honored Monday 14th March 2011, at NBC LEO’s annual Celebrate Diversity Breakfast during NLC’s Congressional City Conference in Washington, DC. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, addressed attendees at the breakfast.

Award-winning city programs:
· In mid-October, 2010, Southfield, Mich., hosted their International Festival, an annual cultural event bringing together residents from diverse backgrounds to share and learn about one another’s heritage and cultures. In partnership with the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit Inc., the city sponsors the festival which features international music and dance performances, children’s activities, cultural exhibits, ethnic arts and crafts demonstrations and imported and handmade products and food from around the world. For more information, contact Nimrod Rosenthal, Community Relations Director, 248-796-5130, nrosenthal@cityofsouthfield.com.

· The Native American Commission in Fargo, ND, strives to strengthen the Native American community in order to promote understanding, recognition and respect for Native American cultures while enriching the whole community. The nine member board which advises the Fargo City Commission connects appropriate services and organizations to address the most critical needs of the Native American community and propose creative and comprehensive solutions. For more information, contact William YellowBird, Safety Coordinator, 701-241-1321, wyellowbird@cityoffargo.com.

· The Diversity Network in Hollywood, Fla., was designed to be the catalyst for developing innovative approaches to capitalize on and celebrate the unique diversity of the city’s workforce and the community. Through this network, city departments develop annual strategies aimed at creating an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the city’s many differences. The network has previously hosted activities including a Taste of Ethnic Sampling, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and various celebrations of Black History Month. For more information, contact Kee Eng, Network Chair, 954-967-4526.

· In 2010, Rochester, Minn., hosted the RACE: Are We So Different? Exhibit, which examined race and racism by showcasing scientific, historical and cultural perspectives on race. Through a collaboration of more than 53 organizations, businesses and school systems, including the Mayo Clinic’s Allied Health Diversity Committee, more than 37,000 people visited the exhibit, which created a community dialogue on issues of race in the community. For more information, contact Gretl Kruse, Operations Manager, 507-538-6356, kruse.gretl@mayo.edu.

The City Cultural Diversity Awards program was established in 1995 by NLC’s NBC-LEO constituency group to promote cultural diversity in community governance through citizen and community participation. Winning cities are selected from a pool of applicants and are grouped according to population.

NBC-LEO President-Elect Deborah Denard Delgado, Councilmember, Hattiesburg, Miss., chaired this year’s awards competition. Judges included Audwin Samuel, Councilmember, Beaumont, Texas; Lavonta K. Williams, Councilmember, Wichita, Kan., Helen Kawagoe, City Clerk, Carson, Calif.; Gilbert Wong, Mayor, Cupertino, Calif.; Greg Pettis, Councilmember, Cathedral City, Calif.; Gilbert Lopez, Vice Mayor, Coolidge, Ariz.; Dorothy “Dot” La Marche, Vice Mayor, Farragut, Tenn.; and Joyce Sheperd, Councilmember, Atlanta, Ga.

For more information on the City Cultural Diversity Awards, visit NBC-LEO’s website at www.nbc-leo.org.

The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials was established in 1970. A constituency group of the National League of Cities, NBC-LEO advocates for the interests of African-American local elected officials. Its mission is to provide African-American municipal officials and their colleagues with forums to share ideas, discussion groups to develop strategies for improving municipal governance, debates on policy issues and programs that contribute to the success of America’s cities and towns.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

Friends 2011 Annual Meeting

The Friends Annual meeting January 31, 2011 followed
a delicious lunch arranged by Theresa Friedhoff
and committee in the Library Auditorium. A
hand out of activities of the Friends for 2010 was
available, along with Board and committee members
and other pertinent information. Retiring Board
members: Emily Anderson, Al Dollerschell, Karen
Krueger, Dick Massaro and Ruth Stroebel were
thanked for their service on the Friends Board.
New officers were elected for a two year term, President:
Elizabeth Ritman, Vice President: Barbara
Eakins, Secretary: Carol Stucki and Treasurer: Dave
Anderson. New members were elected to the Board
for a three year term, Denny Anderson, Phyllis Hambright,
Liz Ruffalo, Julie Taylor and Bruce Witts. Reelected
to the board for a three year term were:
David Anderson, Helen McIver and Carol Stucki. All
2010 Board members, committee members and volunteers
were thanked for their time. Mary Barrett
gave an overview of the book store activities for
2010.
A total of 20,667 hours were donated by volunteers
for 2010. Minnesota counts a volunteer hour worth
$21.00.This gave the Library $434,007 in volunteer
time. Audrey Betcher, Library Director, thanked the
Friends for their continued support, in time, advocacy
and financial.
Al Dollerschell presented an interesting and informative
talk along with pictures of his archeological experiences
in Jordan. Elizabeth Ritman presented
the 2011 board and committee members, and plans
for the Friends. A drawing was held for four gifts.
Shirley Edmonson, Friends President 2009-2010

Friends’ Bookstore gave $52,000 to the library!

Every year the Friends’ Bookstore donates their yearly profits to the library. This year business was doing so well in the bookstore, they were able to donate $52,000! These funds go towards library programming, expanding our collections, etc. The Bookstore is run completely by volunteers and their inventory consists of donations from generous donors who want to share their books with other people in the community and help the library at the same time. It really is a win-win situation!

Bulletin Board: March

We have expanded our event heading on our Friends Bulletin Board, for Literary Events that occur in Rochester, In Minnesota, Around the United States and Around the World! Let us know if you have any items that you know of; otherwise check out this site for interesting details on books, authors or publishers.     Don't forget that we also post our Book Sales for the Friends, the Bookstore and the Unusual and Special Books. April is a VERY busy month, full of literary events and adventures. Join us for National Library Week activities, National Volunteer Appreciation Week and much more.

Coming Up on March 26 is Children's Picture Book Day - a fabulous time to read to your child!

Second Saturday Sale: March 12

Follow Paige's advice : save some green ($$$) with our great prices and celebrate St Patrick's Day!

Join Paige Turner on Saturday March 12 for the Friends' Bookstore Second Saturday Sale Event!

In the Foyer of the Library, in front of our bookstore

Welcome Spring with our Fix it up, Clean it up Sale 

Get a free self-help book of equal or lesser value

with any $5 purchase.



Spring Clean-up Booksale

Friends' Bookstore Second Saturday Sale

March, 12, 2011

Fix it up, Clean it up - Get a free self-help book of equal or lesser value with any $5 purchase.

Visiting Author Series - Gayla Marty

 Gayla Marty grew up on a farm in east central Minnesota and studied journalism at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, including a year at the Université de Tunis in Tunisia, North Africa. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Minnesota and has written many short articles, two plays, and readings for liturgy and worship. Her first book, Memory of Trees: A Daughter’s Story of a Family Farm, was published by University of Minnesota Press in April 2010. She lives in Minneapolis and works as a writer and editor with an interest in culture, agriculture, and natural history.

Tomorrow, Sunday, March 6 - 2:00 pm in the Rochester Public Library Auditorium
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Find Gayla Marty online

NEA's Read Across America

Read with your child today!!
The National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA's Read Across America. Now in its thirteenth year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

NEA's Read Across America Day, NEA's national reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too!

On March 2, the National Education Association calls for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult.

Visiting Author Series - Kent Nerburn

 Kent Nerburn has enjoyed a multi-faceted career.  As a sculptor, his work has been frequently exhibited in his native Minnesota.  As an author, his writings reflect his training in theology and his long association with Native Americans. He as been awarded the Minnesota Book Award twice, and is also a widely published art critic and longtime educator.


Save the Date: Sunday, March 20 - 2:00 pm in the auditorium

Find Kent Nerburn online

This program was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and cultural Heritage Fund.

Visiting Author Series - Gayla Marty

 Gayla Marty grew up on a farm in east central Minnesota and studied journalism at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, including a year at the Université de Tunis in Tunisia, North Africa. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Minnesota and has written many short articles, two plays, and readings for liturgy and worship. Her first book, Memory of Trees: A Daughter’s Story of a Family Farm, was published by University of Minnesota Press in April 2010. She lives in Minneapolis and works as a writer and editor with an interest in culture, agriculture, and natural history.

Sunday, March 6 - 2:00 pm in the Rochester Public Library Auditorium
Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Find Gayla Marty online