Making reading fun
Weiss launches successful children’s programming Rockwell CityBy JO VETTER Messenger correspondent
Article Photos
ROCKWELL CITY - In just eight months on the job Rockwell City Children's Librarian Sarah Weiss has launched two book clubs, started movie nights at the library and organized six library parties.
"She has a lot of energy, energy to spare," said Rockwell City Public Library Director Denise Pohl "You need someone in that position who is enthused about what they do and Sarah definitely is."
When the new library opened last August, Weiss was hired to work 15 hours a week on children's programming. She has no background in library science.
"I've never gone to college," Weiss said. "I have no formal training unless you count growing up in my mom's day care or running the portrait studio."However, the lack of training didn't stop Weiss from applying for the position.
"When I heard about it, I figured 'I can do that.' I've always been around kids my whole life," she said.
Weiss began the position the same time the new building was opened.
"I thought it was important to go into the new library with a new perspective, not just to make the library bigger and better, but the children's programming bigger, too," Pohl said.
Weiss said that she was given a lot of freedom to shape the children's programming.
"I pretty much got to come in and start all over," she said. "But I had to step into some pretty big shoes."
She recalled the Rockwell City children's librarian from her own childhood days.
"Leslee Mogenson was the best at this job that there will ever be," Weiss said. "She's awesome. I just hope I do it a fraction as well as she did it."
Weiss said she loves her job.
"I feel like I'm taking advantage of them for getting paid to do this 'cause I'm just having fun," she said.
Weiss may be enjoying herself, but she said the Rockwell City community is enjoying itself, too. The new library programming offers inexpensive, local entertainment.
"With the economy the way it is, libraries are being used more than ever," Weiss said. "People can't afford to buy books and take their families to the movies."
Since last November, patrons of the library have been enjoying various movies as soon as they are released on DVD.
"I try to schedule movie nights for the week they come out," Weiss said.
The first movie night featured "Kung Fu Panda" and the library charged a dollar and served free popcorn.
She said that United Bank of Iowa loaned the library its popcorn maker and donated all the popcorn supplies that night.
"But I decided we needed our own popcorn machine," Weiss said. "That was when Denise learned not to underestimate me. "
After the library board said no to the purchase, she got the OK from Pohl to pursue a donated machine.
"It took me half an hour," she said. "Champion Chrysler, Addicted to Ink, and Palmer and Swank Funeral Home donated a popcorn machine and all the necessary supplies to the library."
Since then, the library has screened nearly 20 DVDs, including three showings of "Twilight" which brought in 169 viewers.
All the money goes to renewing the library's license they must hold in order to host the movies, she said.
In less than a year, Weiss has led local volunteers in hosting a princess tea party, a Wildcat football party, a haunted house, a Christmas party, a library luau, and an Easter egg hunt all at the Rockwell City library's new facility. All of which were funded by the Friends of the Library.
Community members read stories, dress up in costumes, hand out treats, do face painting, and help in many other ways.
She said the library support organization allows $50 a month for children's programming.
In addition to hosting events, Weiss also helps the public library interface with the school district.
"Every other Tuesday I read to Mrs. Ricke's first-grade class," she said. "I also take them books that correspond with what they're studying."
Weiss has also launched both a middle school and high school book club. The high school group meets every Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
On a recent Wednesday night two of the group's four members were on hand. Both girls are freshmen at Rockwell City-Lytton High School.
Emma Schmit held up a piece of paper and said, "Genocide prevention month"
The group quickly worked to set up a table and Weiss gathered everything she could find on genocide.
Schmit and fellow book club member Kara Smith took the pile of books and a video. They set up a display table by the entrance to the library while Weiss looked on.
"I believe in supervising the chaos," Weiss said. "It's their club."
"I've always wanted a book club," Smith said. "Sarah makes it fun; she makes it so you want to come."
Next on the agenda was discussing procuring items for the groups upcoming silent auction. The funding will help pay for interlibrary loans and field trips.
The book club will travel to see movies made from books and then discuss how the two compare. The group also needs multiple copies of its current reading selection, so access to interlibrary loan is vital.
To raise the necessary funds, the book club has e-mailed 56 authors requesting autographed books to sell at its fundraiser.
"Thirteen have said 'yes,' so far," Weiss said, "and three have already come in."
She showed Smith and Schmit books signed by Neil Gaiman, Jeff Kinney and Wanda Brunstetter.
"Everything I do has to be big, has to be huge to excite people," Weiss said. "We have such momentum with the new library building. We have to keep going.'
Contact Jo Vetter at (515) 573-2141 or editor@messengernews.net
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SPORTSMAN
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04-27-09 2:52 PM
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Hey can we get Weiss a job at the Ft.Dodge library? The people that work for the Ft.Dodge library are not even friendly, much less help a person find something! And if you bring a child in with you they really hate that!!
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