Nancy Agafitei's blog

Susan Greer, Ways and Means Chair for the Barbara Bush Library Friends, is pictured beside a very unusual tree in the library lobby. Susan says, "The Undecorate the Tree fundraiser is a creative way for the Friends to raise their goal of $2,011 for buying books for the library in 2011. When it first went up, the tree had over 200 envelopes on it. Library users were invited to take off an envelope, add a donation of any size to it, and drop it in the donation box at the Customer Service Desk. As of Dec. 21, with only ten days to go, we are 1/3 of the way to our goal."

Donations have ranged from a few cents to $100. Probably the most creative was a supporter who donated $20.11. The Friends would like the tree to be completely undecorated by Dec. 31. Can you help support your community library by Undecorating the Tree?

                                     Everyone is invited to the 8th Annual Community Open House at the Barbara Bush Library on Saturday, December 4, from 2:00 - 4:00pm. Children will be entertained by the Carranza Puppets at 2:30pm. Musical groups from local intermediate schools will perform throughout the afternoon: Strack Orchestra (2:00pm); Strack Choir (2:30pm); and Doerre Orchestra (3:30pm). Refreshments have been generously donated by Rockfish Seafood Grill, H.E.B., Kroger Food Stores, and Randall's Foods. This event is sponsored by  Barbara Bush Library Friends as a way to say "thanks" to our community for its support of the library.

Title to be discussed: In the Heart of the Canyon, by Elisabeth Hyde. Date of meeting: Thursday, Nov. 18, 1:30pm in the Earl Elliott Room. Repeated Friday, Nov. 19, 2:30 pm in the Women's Council of Realtors Conference Room. Summary: This is a gripping new novel about a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that changes the lives of everyone on board. Next Selection: Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery.

        October is National Reading Group Month, designed to salute reading groups everywhere.  It fosters their growth and promotes the love of literature. It's an opportunity for reading groups to reflect on their accomplishments and plan for the future. It's the perfect time to join or start a group.  National Reading Group Month is an initiative of the Women's National Book Association (WNBA). Founded in 1917, WNBA promotes literacy, a love of reading, and women's roles in the community of the book. Check their website for some Great Group Reads.      

Peggy Mitchell, a Barbara Bush Library customer, was the winner of a $100 Amazon gift card in the 2010 Adult Summer Reading Club random drawing from all who registered and logged at least four books read this summer. Peggy is a regular Saturday visitor to the Barbara Bush library, being occupied during the week with her job as an engineer for a local oil company.  She is a big fan of being able to search the catalog online and make requests for items she wants to read. Her favorite choices are mysteries and biographies.

Carina Arredondo, a Circulation Assistant at the Barbara Bush Library, was the winner of a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card provided by the Barbara Bush Library Friends. Carina's name was drawn from a hat from among all branch library staff who read at least four books this summer. Her favorite genre to read is manga. Carina recently graduated from the University of Houston. After seven years with Harris County Public Library, she will be moving on in her career to teach bilingual kindergarten at Smith Academy in the Aldine ISD. She will be using the gift card to buy items for her new classroom.