Between the Stacks: 5/4/2022

The Library is again hosting Teen Mental Health First Aid on May 6, 2022, from 8 AM to 5 PM. This important workshop is free and open to the public who wish to help prevent suicide in our young people as well as learn the basics of mental health issues. All materials for the class will be provided for participants, as well as lunch and snacks. To sign up for the workshop or learn more about it, please contact the Library at 287-3763. The sign-up deadline is Wednesday, May 4.

Saturday, May 7 is another celebration of learning about wellness! The Library, in conjunction with the Jefferson County Health Department, will be holding a Wellness Scavenger Hunt around town. Families, friends, or just those who love to get out and walk are welcome to start at the Library at 10 AM and visit the ten sites around town. There is information at each stop and those who finish will receive a prize from the Public Health nurses. This is a great way for the entire family to get some fresh air while learning about a variety of different health tips and issues.

Next Friday, May 13, Deanna Mydland from PBSKids will be doing her magic at Storytime. The program begins at 10:30 AM and all those with preschoolers, toddlers, or babies are welcome to come. Deanna always has a variety of different things to do, centering around preschool learning.

As many of you know, May is the month the staff prepares for the Summer Reading Program. Our calendar is lighter this month than normal so staff may gather supplies, make decorations, plan programs, and contact speakers. If things seem a little messy during the next couple of weeks just know we are moving things around to hang all sorts of sea creatures, pirate ships, and more. This year the theme is "Oceans of Possibilities" and the ideas have been pouring in as we look at all the different ways our landlocked crew can learn about the oceans. The fun begins on June 6 and anyone from babies to seniors in their 90s can sign up for prizes, free meals, and more.

I want to take a minute to thank the amazing teens, parents, volunteers, and of course the Library staff for all their hard work on the Holocaust Project. Also, I want to give a special thank you to Cindy Busarow, the daughter of two survivors, who shared her family's history with the group and made it real for all of us. The program last Thursday night was amazing, and people have been stopping me on the street ever since to tell me how impressed they were that a group of teens could produce such a tribute to those who perished during the Holocaust. They have decided to continue the Holocaust Book Discussion group, which normally meets on the last Thursday of the month at 6 PM. Adults and teenagers are welcome to come and join the group this year to learn about this historical period.

"The students I've met tonight representing these real people from the Holocaust are so passionate and owning the individual. They've studied them, they love answering questions. When you ask them about the value of the project, they feel it is so vital that we never forget what happened. It is just very remarkable," said Caroline Bitz, a board member of the Montana Humanities Council.