Remember last November, when we had a two-week Shakespeare festival at the library? This year, it's Jane Austen's turn.
Back in January her best known novel,
Pride and Prejudice, celebrated its 200th birthday. At the time I thought, "gee, wouldn't it be great if we could do something to celebrate?" And then I got caught up in planning the Road to the Oscars, and the seed library, and LEGO Club, and the summer reading program, and pretty soon it was October. And then I remembered about Jane.
And amazingly enough, I found out about an
actress who gives a presentation as Jane Austen who agreed to come to Green Lake in November. And I stumbled across a heritage dance troupe who said they would love to come and demonstrate period dances. And Austen Fest was born.
I have to thank my co-workers for indulging me in these author celebrations. A special thanks needs to go to Marykay Carroll and the Constant Reader Book Club she runs at the library, because they are reading
Northanger Abbey as part of the festival. It's certainly not their typical book club selection. I'm sure I will be asked to read something out of my literary comfort zone in the very near future...
And that's kind of the point, isn't it? Libraries open people of all ages and all walks of life up to new ideas and viewpoints every day. Come check us out.
Having entirely too much fun with this -
Linda DeNell, Director
Caestecker Public Library
P.S. Guys, we haven't forgotten you. If Jane Austen just isn't your thing, check out the
author visit we're having on November 19th. See? Now smile and think about the brownie points you'll score if you come to tea, too :)