The Circu-Letter 2002 Issue 7
The Circu-Letter
2002 Issue 7
Making Connections @ the Heart of Our Community
Johnny Appleseed Plants Another Seed
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) planted apple orchards throughout the frontier, including Ohio. He wore a pan on his head as he walked barefoot, carrying a sack of apple seeds. Or, so the story goes...This legendary figure becomes familiar to most children at some point in their education. At the Louisville Library, a statue of Johnny Appleseed has helped keep the legend alive - and has become a source of amusement for staff, parents, and other patrons who have watched children make "Johnny" their friend.
There have been countless hugs and kisses showered on this three foot tall friend, who possibly intrigues kids because of the pan on his head and the fact that he is just about their own size. Indeed he has been a wonderful confidant to children visiting the library.
Conversations among staff members sharing cure stories about kids and the statue "planted a seed" to share these stories about our front door greeter. (Read on for stories about three very special friends of Johnny.)
The idea to share these stories eventually evolved into a daylong celebration of Johnny Appleseed on Thursday, October 10, complete with refreshments served to patrons. The day will culminate in a one-man show, Johnny Appleseed, presented by Ken Hammontree of Living History Productions. (This event is being sponsored by the Friends of the Library.)
Early in his career, Ken, a former history teacher, discovered that his students showed more interest in history when it was presented to them in the first person. He has portrayed a variety of historical characters such as Tecumseh, Daniel Boone, and Warren Harding. Recently, he portrayed Simon Kenton in the "Ohio Chautauqua 2002" program sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council. Ken, a former Canton resident, now resides in Mansfield. Ken will present a program suitable for the entire family.
Please join us at the library on october 10 at 7:00 pm as we enjoy a living tribute to the richness of the johnny Appleseed legend.
"PJ" Evening Story Time to be Offered
Calling all oreschoolers: put your pajamas on right after dinner beginning Monday October 7, and come down to the library for story time! (The children are NOT required to wear their "pjs" but they are certainly welcome to do that.)During this fall's preschool story time program, the library will offer a "PJ" evening story time for children ages three through kindergarten. The story time will last half an hour, from 6:30 to 7:00 pm.
This evening program is in addition to our two daytime story times.
The fall story time session begins the week of October 7 and ends the week of December 9, 2002.
Please call Mrs. Brown at 330-875-1696 or stop by the Children's Department to register for all of our preschool events.
Winner of Indians Tickets Announced
Congratulations again to our Indians tickets winner, Brandon Mottice, and thanks to everyone who participated in the adult summer reading contest.The tickets and parking pass were donated by First Merit Bank.
A Message from the Director
Betsy Ketchum, Director
Fall is here - my favorite season of the year. School has started again with football, homework, etc. I thought I would write a little bit about the "extra collection" of children's books on the second floor of the library.Those books are all additional copies of books that are specifically purchased to be used by the teachers and students of the Louisville Public Schools. Last year, the School Collections Department provided approximately $120,000 worth of books to Louisville classrooms. Classroom collections are also supplied to teachers from other schools upon request.
When the books are not visiting classrooms, they are available for use by library patrons. When you see that C.2 in the call number (Example C.2/J/YEP), just ask at the circulation desk and a staff person will be happy to bring the book down to you.
Also, thank you to Shirley Criss who wrote us such a nice note thanking the library for participating in the "Fun Days in the Park" program. Those of us who read stories enjoyed it very much. We also appreciated the kind words.
Library Hosts Louisville Literary League 35th Anniversary Celebration
Although Oprah, Kelly Ripa and Good Morning America have all started their own book discussion groups, such groups are not a new phenomenon in Louisville. For the past 35 years, women in Louisville have had the opportunity to meet together and discuss the best if what books have to offer.On Sunday, September 29, 2002 at 3:00 pm, the Louisville Literary League will celebrate its 35th anniversary as an organization. The Louisville Public Library is hosting the celebration.
The Literary League and the Louisville Public Library have had a long relationship. Members of the Literary League volunteered to staff the very first preschool story time offered to Louisville residents. League members Par Smith and Judy Edwards presented preschool story times for 4 years with the library providing the books. When the library moved from its Main Street location to its present site on Lincoln Avenue, Louisville Literary League members assisted by helping to move books. More recently, League members served refreshments during the Local Author Series sponsored by the library. The library always has always assisted the group in obtaining copies of its reading selections.
All former members of the Louisville Literary League are invited to attend this anniversary celebration. Potential new members are invited as well. The program will include a history of the group by founding member Kay Duplin and a portrayal of Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt by League member Janey Davis. For further information about the group, you can call Mrs. Lang at the library, 330-875-1696.
Did You Know?
...Library staff has been asked the following questions in the past month:- Where can I get a miniature of the Statue of Liberty?
- Do you have music for a luau?
- How many kilowatts per hour does a computer use?
- How old is Clifford the Big Red Dog?
- What famous financier died on the Titanic?
- What is the formula to convert timber into board feet?
- Do you have a video on driving a truck that is carrying hazardous cargo?
- Who is the largest producer of peanuts in the world?
...There are 71 reading theme kits for children available for borrowing? Barbie, weddings, tea parties, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, animals, birds, bedtime and sleepovers. These are just a few of the kits that have books, games, activities, and toys that focus on a theme. The kits are intended to facilitate nurturing a love of reading while having fun. There is a notebook in the library listing the kits and they are also available in the library catalog by searching the title "reading theme-kit."
Scrapbooking Workshop
Thursday, November 7, 2002, 7:00 pm
Start planning your Halloween photographs now. Krista Loveless of Scrap in a Snap is going to be giving a special holiday scrap-booking workshop. You'll learn how to sort your photos, matting, framing, choosing the right colors, how to use die cuts and punches, lettering and proper storage. You will complete one 12 x 12" page.Krista has been scrap booking for five years and has taught numerous classes. She promises to teach us all how to properly preserve our memories. The class will be limited to 10 people, pages 13 to adult, so you must preregister.
Please call Mrs. Lang at 330-875-1696 to register for this workshop. The cost for the materials is $3.00, payable at the workshop. Since you will be creating a "spooktacular" Halloween page, please bring 3 to 5 of your favorite Halloween photos. Join us at the library where learning is a lifelong adventure.
The Legend of Louisville's Johnny Appleseed
A generation of Louisville preschoolers has been welcomed at the library door by the friendly face, and unconventional headgear, of a little, ceramic man, just the right size to become a friend.The little statue of Johnny Appleseed, which stands just to the left of the library's front door, used to reside at the top of the stairway in the Local History Department until Assistant Director Barbara Digianantonio decided to bring him downstairs. Since then, he has become the confidant, playmate and occasional "boyfriend" of quite a few Louisville children.
"The children talk to him as if he were one of them," says Mrs. Digianantonio who, as the head of the Reference Department, has had plenty of opportunity to observe this phenomenon. "They hug and kiss him, and one little girl even got in a fight with her brothers for insulting Johnny, who she considered her boyfriend. It's pretty cute."
One of Johnny's biggest fans is Carson Davis, who descends from a long line of Louisville Library patrons starting with his great-grandfather, Carl Boyle, and continuing through grandmother Roseanne Linder and mother Melanie Davis.
The small statue, which stand only about 42 includes high, is just the right size to be a pal to a preschooler. It was purchased for the library sometime in the 1970's by then Director Mary Louise Lowe. Since that time, Johnny's colors have faded and his paint has chipped, but his tin pan hat and proferred apple continue to capture the imaginations of Louisville children.
The Chapman Connection
How John Chapman Lives on in Louisville
Did you know about the famous connection to Johnny Appleseed right here in Louisville? A family of Monday night library "regulars" just casually mentioned to circulation staff one evening that there was a family connection to John Chapman. (Be careful what you share with the staff!) The family subsequently agreed to be a special part of the library Johnny Appleseed celebration. Please enjoy meeting the Hoover family (mother Wendy, father Walter, sons Keegan - age 6 and Dylan - age 3) in answers to an interview with Mrs. (Chapman) Hoover!
How are Keegan and Dylan related to John Chapman?
The boys' maternal grandmother's maiden name was Chapman. She was a 5th cousin to
John Chapman. Keegan and Dylan are 7th cousins.
How does your family know of this connection?
There is an oral tradition, of course, but my great uncle (Ervin Chapman) in
Washington D.C. did the research about 30 years ago. The sources of this information
are reliable.
How do you and your husband share the heritage with Keegan and Dylan?
I relay this family connection through videos, books and stories, as well as
pointing out that the library Johnny Appleseed statue is of their cousin. They
don't quite get that yet!
Is there some family magic with the boys and the library statue?
Dylan, who doesn't like to wear shoes just like Johnny didn't, seemed drawn to the
statue almost immediately when he was allowed to go for "library night." Every visit
he greets and says good-bye. Sometimes he spends a lot of time "talking" to the
statue with his arms around teh statue's neck. Dylan usually kisses him goodbye
(ugh!). When we take his hand to walk away, he's usually looking back at Johnny
Appleseed. Keegan, being older, is more analytical and notices that "He's got a pan
on his head" and "he's not wearing shoes."
(Thanks so much to Mr. and Mrs. Hoover for sharing their family story and for helping us take a picture of their sons with their 7th cousin during "library night.")
Friends News
This year's used book salewas a great success! After expenses, we had a profit of $1288. That is $104 over our profit from last year. Big thanks go out to all who volunteered their time to help us with the work involved. A special thanks to Georgeanne McGinnis, a Library Board member, who spent a morning working at the sale, and to the Sluss family for allowing us to set up a sign in their yard. Other volunteers have donated their time sorting books through the year, as well as helping with the work of the sale. Items not sold were donated to Goodwill Industries. All volunteers were invited to a luncheon Friday afternoon "under the Big Top" sponsored by the Library Board of Trustees.
On Display
In the FoyerDinosaur Collectibles (courtesy of Eva and Rachel Archer).
In the Museum Case
Apple for the Teacher (courtesy of Mary Ann Jerles).
