Bike Rodeo
Posted May 18th, 2013
Throughout the last ten years that the annual Bike Rodeo has been at the Community Center, 2,000 helmets have been given away alongside bicycle saftey education. Since that time, only 4 helmets have been broken in accidents. Dr. Jay Shubrook says, "We'd like to think we were responsible for saving those lives."
Today's Rodeo started out with rain, but it didn't dampen the free fun had by all. We had two of our Book-a-Bike bikes for community members to test -- the popular recumbent and the tag-a-long.
The Bike Rodeo is presented by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Student Association American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.
Wright State does it again
Posted May 2nd, 2013
A team of three co-instructors and twelve students helped reshape the functionality of a whole library in less than a day and a half. This is the second year the Lib
raries have benefited from Wright State's Ethics of Sustainability in Applachia class, as they spent their 2012 spring break helping shift the fiction and non-fiction in Athens. But this year's efforts were for the Glouster Public Library. A space has been created for young adults, and the children's and adult shelving areas have been shifted. With Wright State's class focus on social and environmental sustainabilty, the capstone of the class is giving up a week to serve. The team also helped numerous other organizations in the area, including: Good Works, Monday Creek Restoration Project, Rural Action, Green Edge Gardens, and ReUse Industries. Many thanks to Wright State instructors and students!
Athens Public Library Open House: April 27, 2013
Posted April 27th, 2013
Couldn't have asked for better weather for an Open House. :) Many folks dropped by from 1 - 4pm at the Athens branch to celebrate what we love best: our local community. Events throughout the afternoon: creating wood block prints 
with Skip French; reading outdoors while strolling on a Book Walk; testing gardening skills by making paper pots for seeds with Kira Slepchenko, and exploring the science of grafting with Troy Thompson; listening to pianist Bob Montalto's lovely tunes; and snacking on local foods. Thanks to all for helping us celebrate our favorite thing -- you!
Book-a-Bike
Posted April 15th, 2013
When you were younger, you might have spent a lot of time on a bike. Wind blowing through your hair, hands tight on the steering wheel, the happy sound of a bell...
These days, biking has grown in popularity, as have bike-lending programs, especially in larger cities.
Our community has a bike path, one that continues to extend to connect us all to one another.
And now, you can explore that path. On a bike. From the library. For FREE. :)
Spring break Carnival
Posted March 26th, 2013
The Athens branch celebrated Spring Break by putting on a lively Carnival during the afternoon hours. Balloon hats were made and donned, faces were painted, bowling was played, marshmallows were shot, stories were told (by Mrs. Ohio Beauties of the Nation), and books were given away after a BookWalk (like a CakeWalk). There are many more scheduled activities for this week at each branch. Please see myacpl.org/events for more listings.
To warm you...
Posted March 13th, 2013
Last year's daffodils were blooming early, too. And we had thunderstorms! The one on the right is from March 16th.
This is from this year. The first daffodils bloomed over the weekend, technically making the date March 10th. Today's were undeterred from the morning snow and cold.
:)
Legislative Day: Ohio Public Libraries
Posted March 7th, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013 surprised the majority of Ohio in the wee hours of the morning with a snowstorm. The snow was thick, fluffy, and wet, and caused a plethora of delays and closings round the state.
But it was also Legislative Day, and an important one for Ohio Public Libraries.
Librarians around the state made their appointments and presented their case about the proposed budget and the need for continued support to continue with what we do. Because it is so much more than just about books.
As Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, William Batchelder, put it: "A regular day at the library for you might be a big day at the library for someone else."
Senator Bill Beagle was presented with the Andrew Carnegie Award in recognition of support of public libraries in the State of Ohio. He mentioned that he was once a stay-at-home dad, and he practically "lived at the library".
A generally well-received round of positive support was met by all, but even Speaker of the House Batchelder reiterated that the battle isn't over. We need to constantly remind the powers-that-be. "You've got a lot of support in the legislature," says Batchelder, "but you always need to convince them of your mission."
Athens County Public Libraries' mission: community resources for information and entertainment with friendly service and welcoming spaces.
The Capitol Rotunda; meeting with Senator Lou Gentile, leaving the Capitol building
Amy Tan visits with us
Posted February 27th, 2013
What a treat to have bestselling writer Amy Tan come to visit with us today. She chatted about the writing process, of wrestling with words, the joys of discovering the voice of her characters, and, the wonders of being a pet-owner. :)
Special thanks to Ohio University and the Kennedy Lecture series for allowing this opportunity.
Please attend her free lecture tonight at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium at 7:30pm!
Amy Tan, in our town, at our library, on Wednesday at 2pm. :)
Posted February 23rd, 2013
"When I write, I begin with a simple question: How do things happen?" Amy Tan writes this in her biography, The Opposite of Fate, a Book of Musings.
And things happened for Ms. Tan, starting at the age of 33, when she began writing fiction. Her first book, a collection of short stories called The Joy Luck Club, was published when she was 37. Since then, she's written The Kitchen God’s Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Saving Fish from Drowning, The Opposite of Fate, The Moon Lady, and Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat.
A Kindle "single" is out now, called Rules for Virgins. The Valley of Amazement will be published in November 2013.
As part of the Kennedy Lecture series at Ohio University, Ms. Tan is slated to speak at 7:30pm on Wednesday, February 27, at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
As a part of her visit to our town, she has also agreed to sit down and chat in a one-on-one interview at the Athens branch of the Athens County Public Libraries at 2pm that day. Little Professor will be selling her books, and she will autograph them following the interview. Herbal Sage tea from Donkey Coffee will be served, along with cookies from the Village Bakery.
Please come for this very special treat! Seating is limited, so come early! The event is free.
Dear Patron: a special song for you... (written and sung by one of our librarians) :)
Posted February 14th, 2013
