To the Library and Beyond
In 1985, April 17 fell on Wednesday also; that day a group of literature lovers gathered for the first meeting of the Prairie Community Library Association.  The Library continues to flourish after 39 years of literary history. 
At last!  Library volunteers are planning in earnest to move shelving back to the Community Hall basement.  Many thanks to Kristin Frisch for volunteering to help bolt them back together.  Remember to volunteer by sending your message to cottonwoodlib@gmail.com.  
This month we acknowledge the American Library Association Youth Media Awards; apologies for misspelling Newbery last week!  We continue to enjoy Diversity and “[Dropping Everything to Read]” whenever we can.  We hope our Financial Wellness will see us through another year, because we also have Jazz Appreciation – and three cheers for School Libraries!  Nationally, we continue awareness of Autism and Stress; we embrace Braille Literacy and Deaf History; we relax with Hobbies and Poetry.  Do you have a Poetry Hobby?  If so, we wish you would share your poetry. 
The week of April 14 – 20 is, appropriately, National Volunteer Week!  “Volunteering brings fun into our lives and helps us learn something new,” and "Goodness is the only investment that never fails."  Monday 15 April is Rubber Eraser Day – just in case you know someone who may have made a mistake; it is also World Art Day – mistakes are really just art.  Tuesday 16 April is National Librarian Day to celebrate and honor librarians, because even volunteer librarians can help you find a book and probably even smile to let you know they love their job.  Making the most of National Poetry month, Wednesday 17 April is National Haiku Poetry Day, a type of poetry that we westerners probably do best by accident.  Thursday 18 April is National Columnists’ Day; Friday 19 April is Poetry And The Creative Mind Day, and Saturday 20 April is International Climate-Fiction [Cli-Fi] Day, a great subject to novelize your thoughts. 
In 2019 Prairie Community Library loaned 2,228 items.  In 2023, January – September, 533 people attended Story Hour. 
Please recommend improvements to the Library’s direction, priorities and customer service.  Thank you all!