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Month: December 2015

Happy Holidays!

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Just because I’m a bit confurious (confused + curious) sometimes, I decided to search the library catalog using the word “holiday”.  My reasons are a bit convoluted, but it boils down to – “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”.

Doing a subject search of the word holiday* with the asterisk, brings up 43 different headings.  There are a couple of Billie Holiday entries, so let’s say 40 holiday entries.  Granted many of the items listed under holiday are items about Christmas, but there are many about other various holidays celebrated in the United States as well as other countries.  Not all of the holidays are Christian, either.
So, Christmas is a holiday, but not the only holiday listed in the library catalog.
Next I did a Google search using the search terms “December holiday*”.  853,000,000 results are listed. WOW!
Like most people worldwide, I click on the link to the Wikipedia entry.  I jump to the December entries.  Wikipedia very nicely separates its entries by several categories.  In total, I count 42 holidays.  42 in December alone!
Again, confurious, I count 25 holidays listed for the last 10 days of December.  Okay, several of the holidays are celebrated on the same day.  As an example, Anastasia of Sirmium feast day, Decemberween, Malkh, Newtonmas, Quaid-e-Azam’s Day and Christmas are all celebrated on December 25th.  Again, WOW!
I can be a traditionalist, I do, and will say “Merry Christmas”.  I also have no problem saying “Happy Holidays!”
As I finish writing this, I guess I will be more apt to say “Happy Holidays”, as I have no idea which of the 6 you may celebrate on the 25thof December.
So, in the end “Happy Holidays to you, and yours!”
Ann Russell, Technology Librarian

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”

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“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”

Yes, it has started again.  The 7th episode of the much beloved movie series has been released to movie theaters this month.  It set a box office record – breaking $57 million at the U.S. box office for its preview showings on Thursday night.  Yes, these are movies that have become part of our popular culture and collective consciousness.  We’ve seen the costumes at Halloween and the toys that have spun off from the movies.  But are you aware of all the books – fiction AND nonfiction – that have been spun off from the movies that are available to you via the public library? There is an unbelievable plethora of choices.
There are many graphic novels such as Star Wars, the Clone Wars and Star Wars, dark empire.  Timothy Zahn has written several novels expanding the Star Wars universe: Star Wars, Outbound Flight and Star Wars, Survivor’s Quest are just two of them.  Other authors who have done the same thing are Matthew Stover, R.A. Salvatore, and Michael Stackpole.  Check them out.
There have been even comic takes on the whole Star Wars fantasy.  Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs brought new comic dimensions to slightly familiar characters.  If you still have access to a VHS video machine, the library has a wonderful short feature called George Lucas in Love.  It is a takeoff on the film Shakespeare in Love, which traces the “true” origins of the Star Wars saga to a young George Lucas suffering from writer’s block as he tries to complete his final screenplay for USC Film School.  Ever wonder where Princess Lea’s head braids came from?  This cute short film will reveal all.
Finally, there are untold number of titles available via your library card as e-books and audio books through Overdrive on the Gardiner Public Library website.
Enjoy!

Being Mrs. Claus for a day!

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I was honored this year to be Mrs. Claus for the city of Gardiner in their Christmas Parade.  I was not sure what I was in for.  The fun began with co-workers and friends offering ideas for my costume.  Being a thrifty person, I looked for things that I had on hand to wear.  Thank goodness, I knew someone who works with theater students and had a perfect wig, apron and white gloves.  Oh, the endless blessing of friends.

Well I had my costume set until the day came and I started to try things on. I came out of the bedroom with a black skirt on and my hair pulled back.  My grandson looked at me and said “You look just like Mrs. Claus.”  I knew then that what I would wear would work.  Dressing in the truck before the parade was a challenge, but again how often do you do that.  Then it was sit and wait.

 

I checked in at the table for the parade.  Next I stood and waited to be told when the horse-drawn sleigh was ready.  There was a sleigh with tons of lights on a flatbed trailer that I was convinced would be our sleigh.  Later I realized that was not my ride because I had been told it would be a horse-drawn sleigh and there was no horse on that sleigh.  I looked further to the back of the parade and spotted a white horse trailer.  I realized that was where I should be, so I walked to the back of the parade to meet Santa.  Santa and the horse-drawn sleigh stopped to pick up Mrs. Claus.  Needless to say I was a bit nervous having never done this before.  Thank goodness Santa knew just what to do, waving and saying “Merry Christmas”.  I soon learned the ropes.

 

Riding a moving sleigh was a bit of a challenge that I also, got used to.  The crowds were small at first and then we came to the first set of lights for Water Street and the mass of people was unbelievable (which I did not expect).  It was nice to see so many people show up to see the parade and support the city of Gardiner.  It took your breath away and then you say “I will be okay, I can do this, just smile and say “Merry Christmas”.  The children’s and adult’s faces just light up when they see Santa.  It did not matter their belief or age.  Everyone was so excited.  Waving frantically at Santa, hoping to catch a wink of his eye.  It was just amazing to see this happen.  Seeing people I know brought tears to my eyes and I got very emotional at first.  I had fun blowing kisses to my dear friends and one time a friend still did not realize who I was until a family member told her who Mrs. Claus was.  The parade came to an end and I had had a blast.
Now it was on to reading Christmas stories in Lisa’s Legit Burritos to the children (which is something I am very comfortable with) while Santa was visiting with children in Johnson Hall.  And of course Mrs. Claus uses her local library to pick out her stories that she reads to the good little girls and boys.
One of the best comments I got after doing this event was from one of our regular storytime attendees: “Miss Ginni, how do you know Santa?”
I could not have done this event without the support of family, friends and co-workers so I say “Thank you for this opportunity to the whole city of Gardiner”.  The feeling was something I will never forget.  It makes you realize just how special the season of giving is.
 Ginni Nichols a.k.a. Mrs. Claus, YA Librarian