2012 - Starting off with an end?

In more ways than one, unfortunately.  The less happy "end" is that our coffee bar is once again without a proprietor.  Rita's Roast has been forced to close after a series of unfortunate events beset our contractor.  We are going to spend some time assessing the value of offering the service to our patrons versus the difficulty in keeping such an operation going.  What are your thoughts?

Coffee, tea, or...?

The positive "end" is that the library has launched an entire series of programs aimed at one thing - preparing for the unexpected.  The "Are you prepared...?" series has started off with great success.  Coming up are a series of weather and driving preparedness lunch-and-learn sessions.

Also, our newest book discussion group will meet for the first time at 7pm on February 2nd.  Our first book is One Second After, by William Forstchen.  I am really a novice at book discussion groups, but I am excited to be able to help get this one off the ground!  Apocalyptic fiction is our focus (at least for the first two books) and we are planning on reading a total of 6 books this year.  Will they be the final 6 books I read?  I guess we'll have to wait and see if the world really does end at the end of this meso-american long count calendar cycle!

I am looking forward to more positives than negatives in 2012.  That may sound like I am setting my sights low, but I'm not, really.  The challenges confronting libraries are many and dauntingly complicated in some cases.  However, Hutchinson is lucky to have a public library staffed with smart, savvy people and I have every confidence that they will rise to the challenges and find innovative, useful ways to overcome them.  Come in and try our programs, ask about our services, and most importantly:  Give us feedback about what you would like from your public library!