Pioneer Memorial Library Blog

Down Under

2007-06-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 5th, the library took 20 middle school students on a trip "Down Under." On this Library in Motion trip we visited the Underground Tunnels in Ellinwood, KS, the Kansas Underground Museum and Salt Mines in Hutchinson, KS and rounded things out with a bouncing good time at Pump It Up! in Wichita!

Judy Kleinsorge summed up the trip well in saying that, "The 'Down Under' trip will be hard to top. The tour of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum was truly a unique experience, especially since it had just opened to the public. The students really had no idea what to expect except that it would be a little like a cave. As we were touring on the tram, I was thrilled to hear them saying, over and over, 'This is SO awesome!' I think the stop at the pile of salt rocks to load up sacks was the highlight of the tour. Kids and rocks, it couldn't get any better than that."

We had a great trip and would especially like to thank our sponsors who made this trip possible including: the Colby Law Enforcement w/ the Thomas County Community Foundation, Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library, and Pioneer Memorial Library Foundation, Inc.

The Magic Show!

2007-06-19T08:55:00.001-07:00

Mr. Alphbetrix was here on Thursday, May 31 to help us kick off our summer program of Get a Clue! We had more than 140 people watch Mr. Alphabetrix do the unthinkable.

His bag of tricks was a great sign of things to come at the library! We have a lot more of great things to "pull out of the hat" so don't forget to check-out all the things to do at the library this summer!

National Library Week - 2007

2007-05-07T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all those who came and supported libraries across the nation during National Library Week, April 15-21. Here at Pioneer Memorial Library we had 5 different reviewers present a book during each day of the week. They were:

Jim Oliver – Lucille and the XXX Road by Jim Oliver

John Van Nostrand – Great Plains by Ian Frazier

Skip Sharp – An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917 - 1963

Ralph Fischer – The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Smallwood

Carol Rahn – Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Thanks to all the reviewers for your time and effort. You made for a great week!

Carol Rahn - our Friday reviewer

Great food!

and most importantly...great crowds!

2007 Murder Mystery

2007-03-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library hosted another sold out performance for 2007! Thanks to all of our Murder Mystery actors who played up their parts with pizzaz. The list of actors were:

Mike Larmer - Mason Rumpole
Josh Jennings - Rocky Stallion
Brette Pfeifer - Madonna Bux
Mike Karnes - Lt. Clueseau
Molly Oliver - Nurse Hatchet
Ron Redick - Porky Prudhomme
Terry Stover - Indy Kowalski
Tom Harbaugh - Guy Happy
Jim Myers - Heathcliffe Bux
Kristy Karnes - Jane Bronte
Joyce Mahin - Librarian

Director - Amanda Wahlmeier

Porky Prudhomme hams it up...

Guy Happy

Nurse Hatchet "mingling" with the crowd

Rocky Stallion was a temporary trillionaire
Madonna Bux is in denial...

Thanks to all who came and to our sponsors Colby Convention Center, Colby Bowl and Fun Center, Colby Dental Hygiene Students, Someplace Special and Amanda Wahlmeier for doing a superb job in directing the mystery. It was a murderously good performance!

Library in Motion

2006-10-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Once again, a group of the middle school students drug two librarians on another trip. This time they "rock n' rolled" across Kansas and stopped to have a few adventures along the way. The first stop was Rock City just outside of Minneapolis. Next on the list of stops was Mushroom Rock (pictured above top) near Brookville. Once that stop was explored, it was on to lunch at Made from Scratch in Wilson. One of the last stops was the Garden of Eden (pictured above bottom) in Lucas. And finally, on to Pete Felton's gallery and miniature golf in Hays. Thanks go out to the Thomas County Sheriff Law Enforcement Fund and the Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library for helping make this trip possible.

Creature Feature 2006

2006-07-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

Jack & Thea Haugen with the Sternberg Museum brought some slithery snakes (and a few other notable reptiles) to the library on July 6 to celebrate the theme of Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. It turned out to be a crazy day when nearly 150 people showed up to see the show! Things got downright hyssssterical when the snakes were taken out of their cages one by one to be viewed by the audience. After the show, everyone that was daring enough got to touch one of the snakes. That included the biggest snake in attendance….an oversized bull snake named “Papa.” Thanks Sternberg Museum, it was a riveting array of reptiles!

Capone

2006-07-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

We had a “doggone” good time at Hot dogs with the Top Dog. Jeff Friesen, the Director - officially dubbed the Top Dog - cooked up some hot dogs while our local police K-9 named Capone stole the show. Here he is showing what he is capable of to Ron Alexander, Colby police officer. Capone put on an impressive performance. Everybody in the crowd learned at least one thing. It is best to obey the law if you don’t want to tangle with Capone!

Pinkerton

2006-07-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you Mr. Kellogg for sending Pinkerton to Pioneer Memorial Library to kick-off the summer programs. He has been very obedient and we were all very thankful to see he is potty trained! We were sorry to see him go though, the kids loved him!

Summer Program Kick-off

2006-07-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Judy Kleinsorge is our wacky, but extremely fun and creative, children’s librarian. Here she is acting almost normal as she prepares for the summer program theme of Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. If the kids have half as much fun as Judy does its going to be a great summer!

Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales

2006-04-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Don't be a Hermit this summer!

Get out and take part in the library's Summer Reading Program.

This year's theme is "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales"; so books and activities will focus on animals, especially pets. We are planning a couple of special events in July and we are looking forward to a very special visit from a very special character at the end of May!! Fliers will be distributed at the library and schools after the 1st of May and you can keep checking back here for more information. Summer Reading is for kids of all ages - - so plan on joining us!

An Amazing Journey

2006-04-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

Twelve middle school students drug two library staff members to Kearney, NE on Saturday, April 8, 2006 for an "Amazing Journey". The first stop was at Cabela's to view the exhibit of mounted wildlife, then a great lunch at Skeeter Barnes. The group spent the afternoon at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument where they toured the exhibit, attended an oral history presentation, and navigated the "TrailBlaze Maze". If you ever want to get from point A to Point B in the quickest way possible, Kalyn is your gal!! Of course, expended energy meant increased appetites, so the group headed off to Eileen's Colossal Cookies for yummy frosted cookie treats. Thanks so much to the Thomas County Sheriff's Department for their generous donation to this drug-free activity.

2006 Murder Mystery

2006-03-17T09:23:00.001-08:00

Friends of Pioneer Memorial Library hosted the second annual Murder Mystery. Evidently everyone was "dying" to go because it sold out for the second straight year! A great cast of characters took part in the play including:

Jim Oliver as Dr. Bill
Patrick Toth as Inspector Ace Gumshoe
Jada Tubbs as Duchess Ellington
Michael Karnes as Earl "Fatha" Hiney
Michael Hawkins as Jellyroll Goodman
Wanda Spresser as Opera Windbag
Pat Tubbs as Maybelline Lipgloss
Corey Sorenson as Gopher Clueless
Relda Galli as Clarinetta Fitzgerald
Linda Ladenberger as Lena Savoy

Thanks to our sponsors including: Someplace Special, Colby Bowl, Ashley Wright, Bickner Electric, CCC Dental Hygiene Students, Convention Center, and Dana Unruh Catering Service.

Jellyroll Goodman

Thanks for coming!

Duchess Ellington

Gopher Clueless

Family Night

2006-02-21T07:54:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday night @ 7:00pm join Judy Kleinsorge and Pioneer Memorial Library for Family Night. Something new and different is available each week. If you join us this week plan on a pirate theme. Shivers me timbers!!

Karissa Singer makes her Pirate hat.

Arrrgh....Matey! These seaworthy chaps wouldn't burn you out and loot you would they???

Thanks to Midwest Energy

2006-01-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

The library was the recipient of a Midwest Energy Community Fund Grant. This grant provided funds toward copies of children's books that needed to be replaced due to age or poor repair. We were able to purchase 52 copies which include books by some of our favorite authors like Dr. Suess, Russell Hoban, Stan & Jan Berenstain, Don Freeman, Virginia Burton and Ezra Keats. We feel very fortunate to be able to offer new issues of old favorites to our patrons.

Chocolate and all that jazz....

2005-11-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Bruce Dawson and the Fort Hays State Jazz Band for making a trip to Colby to give us an outstanding evening of jazz. The tunes were as smooth as the chocolate that flowed through the chocolate fountains. Thanks to the Pioneer Memorial Library Friends of the Library for making it all happen.

National Children's Book Week

2005-11-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

Pioneer Memorial Library, Colby Rotary Club, and the Colby Resource & Referral teamed up this year to celebrate National Children's Book Week. The goal set by libraries across Kansas was to read to all children ages 0-5. To do this, we attempted to read in as many daycare centers as possible during the week of November 14-20, 2005. The honorary book that was chosen this year by the State Library of Kansas and donated to all of the daycares in Thomas County and Northwest Kansas was No Matter What by Deb Gliori. Above is a picture of Debbie Tittel, Asst. Director at Pioneer Memorial Library reading to some preschoolers.

Halloween at PML

2005-11-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

The Puddle Duck Preschoolers showed up at Halloween this year but luckily we were prepared. The library decided to treat rather than trick and a few more people left as satisfied customers. Happy Halloween!

Debbie (red shirt) and Glovine (flowered shirt) making sure everybody gets candy.

Willie Nelson sang, "Mama, don't let your boys grow up to be..."(j/k)

Ewww...Grossology

2005-11-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

Pioneer Memorial Library took 20 middle school students to Denver on Saturday, October 22 to see the Ewww....Grossology exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Hammond Candy Factory, and finally the Corn Maze at the Denver Botanic Gardens. We left Colby at 7AM and didn't get home until 11:30pm! It was a long day but we had a good time learning about flatulence, candy, and getting lost (the corn maze). Thank you to the Friends of the Pioneer Memorial Library and Colby Law Enforcement for sponsoring such a great day!

The future of the Hammond Candy Factory?

Fearless leader (and children's librarian) Judy Kleinsorge appears to have lost her way.

How's them noodles Christina?

David and William posing as boogers!

Trivia Night

2005-10-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a night! 6 teams battled it out for bragging rights and a steamy cup of Starbucks coffee. Thanks for sponsoring trivia night Starbucks!

After 10 rounds of 10 questions (for a total of 100 questions) everyone went home mentally exhausted. The Colby High School Scholar's Bowl team came in third by answering 57 questions correctly.

The Library Board & Co. came in a strong second by answering 65 answers correctly.

And the winners were...the Colby Rotary Club. Congratulations, enjoy that Vienti cup of Starbucks coffee!

Congratulations everyone on a job well done and thanks for participating!

As I Remember It

2005-10-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

For the October Booked for Lunch Ray Imhof and Doris Johnson came and reviewed the book As I Remember It. The book is a collection of memories from Esther, the mother of Ray and Doris. Esther spent all but the first 6 years of her life in Northwest Kansas. For more information on this book go to http://www.trafford.com and do a "quick search" for As I Remember It.

Fear Factor

2005-09-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

The first 3rd 2 (3rd Tuesday of each month) in September for middle schoolers was interesting! 12 middle schoolers willingly endured six rounds of gut-wrenching food products. Not many people find Oreos and Bubble Gum to be a particularly good combination. Worse yet, try eating Jello through knee-high pantyhose stretched over your head. After the smoke cleared and all 6 rounds were completed, only two had a perfect record! The face-off was a blind-folded attempt to five 25 cents worth of change in a bowl of jello. Nick Larmer faced off with Alex Diercks in the finale and Nick was declared the winner. (but only by a nickel) Check out these pics!

And the winners are....

Governor visit

2005-07-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius made it to the Pioneer Memorial Library on Tuesday, July 5! It's not very often that the Governor makes it to the library so we made the most of it. The Governor read and then later donated the book No Matter What by Deb Gliori.

National Library Week

2005-04-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

We are hosting book reviews everyday of the week to celebrate National Library Week. This includes authors and locals that are willing to share their knowledge about some great books. We kicked off the week by having a 102 year old man review his book My First 100 Years! Needless to say he had a lot of information to cram into 30 minutes. Man has he seen some changes.