CCL to ‘Focus on 20/20’ as new year begins
Library staff greeted 200 visitors to the “140th Birthday” celebration at the Colby Community Library (CCL) on Dec. 5, offering refreshments, door prizes, community service project crafts, trivia, and areas filled with memorabilia. It was a wonderful day to reflect on the past 140 years, and library personnel are anxious to share what the 141st year of service to area patrons will hold.
This year, the CCL will “Focus on 20/20” for its monthly themes. Just as 20/20 is perfect vision, staff members at the CCL are designing perfect activities for all ages throughout the year.
Can you “Spy with your little eye” exciting books and movies? Will you “Focus” on activities and clubs offered at the CCL? Could you visit and “see” what the library offers for services? Will you “seek” and attend programs this year? As a kick-off for 2020, the library will be giving away “eye” items in January when patrons check out items: book bags, bookmarks, eyeball bubblegum, bouncy eyeballs, and magnifi ers. Stop in and peruse “eyecatching” displays each month designed to celebrate 20/20.
Books for sale
Forward Bank, Colby location, will be collecting books for the annual Colby Cheese Days Book and Movie Sale this year. From Jan. 1 to July 1, books and movies (in good condition) may be dropped off at Forward Bank during regular business hours. (Do not bring the materials to the CCL, as all sorting will be done at Forward Bank.) The sale, sponsored by the Friends of the CCL, will run July 16-18 at the Lions Shelter in Colby.
Who says only kids can have all the reading program fun? Adults are invited to pick up a “Focus on 20/20” Reading and/ or Movie Challenge listing. There are 25 reading or movie viewing challenges on each sheet.
Read your own personal choices all year long to find books fitting criteria on this listing—or do the same with movies. Complete a listing (or two or three) to be eligible for gift certificate drawings at the end of 2020. Books and movies need to be checked out from the Colby Community Library to be eligible for the challenge.
Thank Goodness It’s Friday (TGIF) registration begins Jan. 6 for The Basket Patch basketweaving classes. The adult classes, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Colby Community Library, will be held in the RCU Community Room at the CCL on Friday, Feb. 7.
The afternoon advanced class will held from noon until 4 p.m. The evening beginner class will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Food will be available between classes.
Pre-registration and payment is required in person at the library. Check the CCL Facebook page, website, or visit the library to see the two basket choices.
The CCL Evening Book Club will be analyzing “Absolute Power” by David Baldacci on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The CCL Afternoon Book Club will be meeting Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. to discuss “Accidental Tourist” by Anne Tyler.
Can’t join the book clubs and need some reading suggestions? “Vicky’s list of Best Fiction Reads for 2019” is available, as are packets of favorite book club reads.
Craft and Hobby Night is Friday, Jan. 17. Doors to the RCU Community Room at the CCL open at 4 p.m. for general crafting. Join a great group of adult crafters for an evening of individual crafting fun. An entrée will be ordered; guests are asked to bring accompaniments and beverage of choice.
Story sessions are moving to the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. Jan. 8 will kick off the winter/spring sessions. Pre-schoolers are invited to listen to stories, sing songs, learn poems, dance and move—all activities designed to stimulate learning. Sign up for the CCL’s “1,000 Books B4 the End of Kindergarten,” too.
Service projects
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for Friday, March 6 from 1-9 p.m. (Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.) The Maddie Thums Memorial Sew-a-thon is held annually in memory of former library volunteer and St. Joseph Hospital nurse Maddie Thums. This year, participants have several options to sew for Marshfield Medical Center and the CCL’s youth programs.
Make-a Difference Day will be the same day for the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace program, promising “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” Items will be sewn, and those who would like to contribute but cannot sew can donate new twin-sized bedding items or sponsor the cost of a bed. Plan to spend the day with kind-hearted people working on projects for the betterment of our community.
ShowCase Players
Stop at the CCL, beginning Jan. 27, and register to win tickets to A Nice Family Christmas being presented by the Show Case Players March 12-15. The CCL is proud to support the efforts of local, live theater.
Check the CCL’s website at www.colbypubliclibrary.org or the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/colbypubliclibrary or call 715-223-2000 for more details on what will be happening at the Colby Community Library in 2020. A calendar of events for January- May 2020 is available online or stop in at the library to pick up a copy.
