Deborah Sica's blog

Sharyn and John collaborated on a wonderful Fireplace and Mantle bulletin board this past week. Each staff member decorated a stocking and the stockings were hung with care. We just want to tell Santa we have been good all year and hope there is no coal that will be delivered to Northwest Library! Come and check out our bulletin board in person. It is located behind the Circulation Desk at the library. 

As we approach Thanksgiving celebrations, I want to share with the Northwest Library Community the things I am grateful for as the Branch Librarian. Firstly, the Friends of the Northwest Library. This group of dedicated and determined volunteers raise so much money for the library. They host three book sales per year, keep the ongoing book sale up and running, sort the volumes of donations, contribute to programming, share ideas and knowledge about local community contacts and are some of THE nicest people I know. Secondly, volunteers! The library currently has 14 on staff, but we have well OVER 400 volunteers of various ages and various levels of donated time. They help us with library services, help to keep us a clean and well-oiled library machine. We could not do it without them.

Santa came early this year! He brought me a digital reader! I am now able to download up to 350 books on an electronic device that weighs no more than one pound! Our Overdrive Downloadable Collection is compatiable with many electronic devices. My digital library has been downloaded from our Harris County Public Library eBooks Collection and from the Google Books Public Domain section. It is truly an amazing technology! No, I will never give up my actual, physical books, but I will be happy to add an additional 350 free books to my personal home library!

This morning our Assistant Branch Librarian, James Meadows, gave a library tour to a local Boy Scouts Troop so they could earn the Books and Reading Merit Badge. Did you know the library carries the Merit Badge Books. Check out this link for the Books and Reading Badge Pamplet. You can order this guide and many others and have them brought directly to your library. 

Yesterday, The Houston Grand Opera came and visited us here at Northwest Library. We had over 80 people in attendance. They sang an opera written by Composer Enrique Gonzalez-Medina. How Nanita Learned to Make Flan was entertaining for all ages. It was a wonderful sight to see three year olds that just came from Toddler Storytime come and enjoy the artistic talents of local Opera Singers. The story was of a little girl named Nanita who made a magical pair of shoes that transport her far from her beloved father. While away, she learns to make the most delicious flan. With the help of a talking parrot and an old woman, she finds her way back and shares her new culinary skills with all at her first communion. What a wonderful tale for all! What true talents we have right here in Houston! Thank you, Opera to Go.