Tag Archives: adult programs

Events/Programs

One Town One Title Begins

Today marks the beginning of book distribution for 2019’s One Town One Title for Pine Island! Our book selection this year is Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. The book tells the story of Santiago, the young Andalusian shepherd who dreams of buried treasure in Egypt and embarks upon a challenging and enlightening journey to find it. With all the simplicity and symbolic richness of a fable, Paulo Coelho’s novel is both a hunt for buried treasure and a spiritual quest, with a hero who overcomes trials along the way with the help of disguised teachers who guide him.

There is a variety of programs and activities planned over the next two months, so take a look at the One Town One Title website for more details!

Events/Programs

One Town One Title Event: Book Club

The library book club meets this Wednesday from 6-7pm at Betty Sue’s Better Brew Cafe. We are discussing the One Town One Title selection, Voices in the Stones by Kent Nerburn. Please join us if you can! If you have not yet gotten your free copy of the book, come on in to the library to pick one up. They are also available at Betty Sue’s & the Pine Island Bank.

Not able to make it to the book club but still interested in discussing the book? Here is a list of discussion questions created by Nerburn reader, Ann Culter:

  1. How has religion, in part, made us separate from the earth as opposed to being part of it? Have our individual rights of self worked against compassion and caring of the less fortunate?
  2. How has the lack of teaching the Native American story hurt these people, ignoring their very existence, marginalizing their accomplishments (among them, the practice of sustainability for thousands of years and looking ahead seven years), and reducing their image to caricatures?
  3. How did the boarding schools crush Native American culture? How did that affect Native American parenting? How did that cause PTSD?
  4. Do we, as descendants of white European culture, bear some responsibility for the “blood on the trail” barrier between our cultures? Are we able to acknowledge the injustices done to this culture? What is the power of acknowledgement?
  5. What continued disparity exists presently in funding of Native American programs in relationship to our own? Why?
  6. Do we fail to listen and, instead, try to push our views on others? What is the Native American view of religion?
  7. How does our society view and treat the elderly as a whole as opposed to Native Americans? Why do Native Americans serve their elders first?
  8. What is the value in an elder guiding a young one, not by violence, but by the stigma of being shamed?
  9. What lessons did Native American children learn by being solely responsible for a task? How does that differ, or does it, from our culture?
  10. What power do words have, and how is this power aided by the ability to remain silent?
  11. How has our Western way of dominance reduced our ability to see life in all things around us, compelling us to control it? Regarding sustainability and preserving the earth, air, and water, how well is that working for us? We think that we can solve everything, but can we? What about Hanford, the Valdez, the leaking pipe at Standing Rock?
  12. What are we leaving for future generations of our children? Are we leaving them in good health or in poor health with shorter life spans? What can we do individually and collectively do about this?
  13. What will you remember about this book? What will it change within you?
Events/Programs

One Town One Title: Voices in the Stones

Voices in the Stones coverOne Town One Title 2018 is underway!

For the next month, there will be opportunities to read more about Native American life and discuss what we’ve learned with our friends and neighbors!  You can get more information on our programs on the One Town One Title page of our website, but here is a quick breakdown of what is happening between now and April 12:

  • Free books (through April 12 or while supplies last!) available at the Library, Pine Island Bank, and Betty Sue’s Better Brew Cafe
  • Tribal Justice Screening and Community Discussion – March 27
  • Book Club discussion of the book – April 4
  • Author Kent Nerburn visit – April 12

Please take a look at the One Town One Title page for more information on each event and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Events/Programs

Book Signing tonight!

We have a book signing tonight! Jeff Thompson (using the pen name T. Norman) is coming to sign his debut book, The Blood-Stained Heir from 6:00-7:30 at the library. Thompson was a 2009 graduate of Pine Island High School and he is excited to share his fantasy adventure story with his home town. He will have his book available for purchase for $10.

Events/Programs

Blind Date with a Book

Blind Date

During the month of February you can go on mystery date! All of the wrapped packages on the display upstairs are romance novels, waiting to whisk you away from the everyday. Just take a wrapped book to the circulation desk to check it out!

Take your “date” home and get acquainted. It may be funny, have a Christian bend, be a classic, or even be a contemporary romance. There will be no lulls in conversation, awkward questions, or the need to dress up.

Sure, it might turn out to be a dud, or it could be the diamond in the rough you wouldn’t look twice at  otherwise. There’s no knowing until you check it out…

Don’t worry if you don’t like it. You can just bring it back and no one’s feelings will be hurt.

Stay tuned for a version of this in the youth library too!

Events/Programs

Book Talk: With Love to All

With Love to AllCome to a book talk on the World War I experiences of Minnesota brothers Marland and Stanley Williams on October 19. With Love to All: The World War I Letters and Photographs of Two Minnesota Brothers Marland and Stanley Williams was published by the Goodhue County Historical Society in June 2017. The talk with begin at 6 pm in the Pine Island History Center.

Assembled and published for the first time, this collection of photographs and letters by the Williams brothers is a compelling and personal narrative of army life during World War I. Upon the United States’ declaration of war in April 1917, seventeen-year-old Marland and his older brother Stanley volunteered for duty. Marland was a bandsman with the 125th Field Artillery of the 34th Sandstorm Division – among the first Minnesota units sent to Camp Cody, New Mexico, for training. His treasure trove of photographs and letters describe every aspect of the 125th F. A. during its nearly year-long training experience and journey to France. Stanley enlisted as a member of the Minnesota 151st Field Artillery, part of the legendary 42nd Rainbow Division. As one of the first units to fight in France. Battalion Sergeant Major Stanley Williamss letters give a glimpse into Rainbow Division’s combat experience as it endured many of the war’s most costly battles.

Book editor Elizabeth Williams Gomoll, granddaughter of Marland Williams, will bring these letters and photographs to life, providing an intimate, inside perspective on these principled and dedicated Minnesota brothers during a momentous period of American history. After the talk, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of With Love to All and have it signed by Ms. Gomoll.

Elizabeth Williams Gomoll is professional genealogist. She is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists Northland Chapter, and co-editor of the Minnesota Genealogist quarterly journal. Liz is also a professional flutist, performing with the Rochester Symphony and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra. When weather permits, Liz and her husband Roger find joy in flying their 1928 open cockpit biplane.

This program is sponsored by the Pine Island Van Horn Library, Pine Island Area Historical Society, Goodhue County Historical Society, and the Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation.